Saturday April 12, 2014 - Vintages Release Report

To print this report click here for the PDF version.

I am using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to the stars:

5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average

Key:  Wine colour indicators - Red are red wines, Yellow are whites, etc.

The Foci … Easter (ETR) and Italian Appassimento (APP)

The Skinny … Light load in the great wines to buy department, but the ones really worth buying are quite worth it.

Argentina …

Alamos 2013 Viognier ($13.95 - #507830) – rich and lively with pear and pineapple puree.  (*** ½+)

Catena 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #985002) – rich dark fruit, black and blue berries, vanilla, cocoa; just really delicious fruit.  (****+)

Trivento 2012 Amado Sur Malbec / Bonarda / Syrah ($16.95 - #037036) – juicy black cherry and cassis with hints of white pepper.  (*** ½+)

Australia …

Grant Burge 2012 5th Generation Shiraz ($18.95 - #361295) – I like the price while the wine is tasty with subtle black berry fruit.  (*** ½+)

Jim Barry 2010 The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #677476) – great dark fruit with an element of spice to keep it truly honest.  (****)

Canada (British Columbia) …

Dirty Laundry 2011 Merlot ($31.95 - #366179) – soft and fruity with mainly blueberry and mocha keeping it together.  (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review

Featherstone 2013 Rosé ($14.95 - #117861) - *** ½+ (ETR)

Fielding Estate 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #131235) – *** ½+

Lailey 2012 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #193482) - ****+ (ETR)

Rosewood Estates 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #318345) - ****+ (ETR)

Tawse 2011 Sketches Cabernet Merlot ($20.95 - #130252) - *** ½+

Chile …

Conchy y Toro 2008 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere ($19.95 - #169862) – nicely spiced black and blue berries.  (*** ½+)

France (Bordeaux) …

Chateau La Croix de Gay 2010 ($49.85 - #259150) – smoky black fruit and cedar.  (****)

France (Burgundy) …

Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Clef du Bief Moulin A Vent ($24.95 - #371807) - gentle and easy with good fruit.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Abruzzo) …

Ulisse 2012 Unico Pecorino ($19.95 - #249128) – grilled pineapple rind, pineapple core and banana skin; light, crisp and delightful.  (****)

Italy (Piedmont) …

FontanaFredda 2012 Gavi di Gavi ($18.95 - #366948) – lemon and peach fight it out and the winner just happens to be you.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Tuscany) …

Caparzo 2011 Rosso di Montalcino ($19.95 - #333575) – pleasant and fruit driven; a classy little wine.  (****)

Podere Dell’Anselmo 2010 Chianti Montespertoli ($19.95 - #371690) – nicely spiced with cherry and blackberry, good herb and smoky notes too.  (****)

Italy (Veneto) …

Astoria 2012 Millesimato Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ($21.95 - #369504) – nice sweetness, pleasant and summery.  (*** ½+)

Monte Zovo 2011 Sa’Solin Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #650713) – mocha, coffee and smoke rules the roost here.  (*** ½+) – APP

Speri 2011 Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($21.95 - #370353) – nice cherry core, which makes the wine clean and incredibly chuggable, but the acidity makes it food friendly.  (****) – APP

Tedeschi 2012 Capitel Nicalo Appassimento Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #984997) – simplistic label does not mean simplistic wine; this one is loaded with flavour and good value.  (****+) – APP

Tenuta Sant’Antonio 2010 Selezione Antonio Castagnedi Amarone del Valpolicella Classico ($43.95 - #685107) – rich, robust, dark fruited and chocolaty.  (****+) – APP

Zenato 2010 Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore ($25.95 - #479766) – lots of juicy aspects here with black cherry, hints of chocolate with a touch of floral and fig.  (****) - APP

New Zealand …

Julicher 2010 99 Rows Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #367979) – spiced-black cherry, anise, and white smoke with good length.  (****)

Momo 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #009167) – bright and lively with grapefruit and lime zest.  (*** ½+)

Spain …

Williams & Humbert Walnut Brown Oloroso ($13.95 - #437467) – hazelnut and almond with caramel, spice, fig, great spicy and acid finish.  (****)

United States (California) …

Aquinas 2009 Philosopher’s Blend ($32.95 - #361899) – rich and succulent with a mix of red and black fruit, vanilla and cherry take charge on the finish.  (****)

Bridlewood 2012 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #361824) – lots of vanilla and juicy cherry, maybe too much for a Pinot, then spiced plum swings in to rescue the finish.  (*** ½+)

Handcraft 2011 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361907) – blueberry, white pepper, coffee, violets and spice notes with chocolaty elements amongst the peppery finish.  (****) 

La Crema 2012 Chardonnay ($37.95 - #067231) – creamy texture with subtle pith notes, firm mouthfeel with peach and some tropical fruit along with vanilla and spice.  (****)

Lander-Jenkins 2011 Spirit Hawk Chardonnay ($19.95 - #162651) – pretty mango / pineapple and vanilla with depth, nice character and quite mouth filling; quite tasty with good acid backbone for freshness.  (****+)

St. Francis 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #671164) – juicy blueberry and blackberry with hints of vanilla.  (****)

United States (Oregon) …

Bachelder 2011 Oregon Chardonnay ($29.95 - #273334) - a mixed bag of aromas and flavours, from smoke, mineral and baked peach on the nose to white butter and mineral stoniness on the palate … it’s a touch fat in the mouth, but with lovely flavour (*** ½).

Domaine Drouhin 2011 Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #961284) – flavourful black cherry and spiced-cranberry notes.  (*** ½+)

United States (Washington) …

L’Ecole No.41 2011 Red ($29.95 - #366237) – juicy, spicy and woodsy.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that just appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …

Bollig-Lenhert 2005 Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spatlese ($22.95 - #368787) – Germany - ****

Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Clef du Bief Moulin A Vent ($24.95 - #371807) -  Burgundy, France - *** ½+

JCB No. 21 Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($27.95 - #371831) – Burgundy, France - ****

Luce 2008 Brunello di Montalcino ($109.95 - #120881) – Tuscany, Italy - ****

Pali Alphabets 2011 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #369835) – Washington, USA - *** ½+

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …

Speri 2010 La Roggia Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico ($55.95 / 500ml - #366997) – Veneto, Italy - ****+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – April 12, 2014 …

Catena 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #985002) – Argentina

Handcraft 2011 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361907) – California, USA

Lander-Jenkins 2011 Spirit Hawk Chardonnay ($19.95 - #162651) – California, USA

Tedeschi 2012 Capitel Nicalo Appassimento Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #984997) – Veneto, Italy

Happy Shopping

To print this article click here for the PDF version.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,

while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Saturday March 29, 2014 - Vintages Release Report

To print this report click here for the PDF version.

I am using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to the stars:

5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average

Key:  Wine colour indicators - Red are red wines, Yellow are whites, etc.

The Foci … Welcome to Vintages (WtV)

The Skinny … The highlight is “30 reasons to love Vintages” – a self-congratulatory nod to the “world’s best purveyor of liquor” … while I disagree with that last statement the release is not a bad one and there are six must gets aside from the usual good stuff to try.

Argentina …

Casarena Sinergy Reserva Red 2011 ($18.95 - #366104) – sweet red fruit with a coffee middle.  (*** ½+)

Colonia Las Liebres 2012 Bonarda ($14.95 - #219303) – Bonarda is Argentina’s answer to a juicy Cali-Merlot and this one delivers.  (*** ½+)

Las Moras 2010 Black Label Cabernet/Cabernet ($15.95 - #357921) – blackberry, tobacco and tea leaf.  (*** ½+) - WtF

Australia …

D’Arenberg 2012 The Hermit Crab Viogner / Marsanne ($19.95 - #662775) – Bosc pear, lemongrass and pineapple core. (*** ½+)

Evans & Tate 2010 Metricup Road Shiraz ($22.95 - #606905) – nice flavour with a raspberry-plum core.  (****)

The Black Chook 2012 Shiraz/Viognier ($17.95 - #66738) – best Chook I’ve tried since the very first one I’ve tried; nice balance of dark fruit, touches of floral and a nice whack of spice on the finish.  (****) – WtV

Yalumba 2011 The Strapper GSM ($19.95 - #295873) – nice blend with fruit that stays and plays with nice herbal and spice notes instead of going out on its own to overpower the wine with a nice finish.  (****+)

Canada (British Columbia) …

Gray Monk 2011 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #251835) – definitely earthy, smoky with smoked cherry and violets.  (*** ½+) - WtV

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review

Coyote’s Run 2012 Red Paw Vineyard Chardonnay ($21.95 - #336115) – **** ½ (WtV)

Featherstone 2011 Four Feathers ($14.95 - #341586) - *** ½+

Featherstone 2011 Red Tail Merlot ($19.95 - #131540) - *** ½+

Fielding Estate 2013 Rosé ($15.95 - #53421) - *** ½+ (WtV)

Rockway Vineyards 2011 Small Lot Reserve Red Assemblage ($16.95 - #321893) - *** ½+

Tawse 2012 Gamay Noir ($18.95 - #322545) - ****

Chile …

Vina Tarapaca 2011 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #018721) – there’s the mint I’m looking for mixed with black fruit and spice; here’s a typical, good Chilean Cab.  (*** ½+)

France (Alsace) …

Joseph Cattin 2011 Hatschbourg Pinot Gris ($20.95 - #260240) – while not a fan of Alsatian Riesling their Pinot Gris and Gewurtraminers do float my boat; this shows a thickness and sweetness that only Alsace can do, and do it with balance.  (*** ½+)

France (Bordeaux) …

Chateau Fleur de Jean Gue 2010 ($24.95 - #729137) – spiced-cocoa and anise with black cherry, blackberry and oak.  (*** ½+) – WtV

Clos Lunelles 2010 ($49.85 - #258053) – heavy smoke and coffee notes with anise and pumped up tannins.  (*** ½+)

France (Burgundy) …

Louis Michel & Fils 2012 Chablis ($25.95 - #356758) – pretty with apple, citrus and mineral, not as expressive on the palate, but plenty pleasing. (*** ½+)

Maison Roche de Bellene 2011 Vieilles Vignes Chassagne-Montrachet ($49.95 - #241158) – has lots of character, good intensity and nice weight.  (*** ½+)

France (Loire) …

Cave du Haut-Poitou 2012 Vallee Loire Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #357293) – New Zealand like nose but with restraint shown on the palate with grapefruit pith and grassy notes and a long finish.  (****)

France (Rhone) …

Domaine la Guintrandy 2009 Vieilles Vignes Cairanne ($19.95 - #362624) – savoury and juicy with raspberry, black cherry and some fine herbal and spice notes.  (****+) - WtV

Italy (Marche) …

Casal di Serra 2011 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore ($17.95 - #268169) – fresh and lively with grapefruit pith and zest, a touch of floral, and there’s a pseudo thickness here that’s pleasantly welcome.  (****)

Italy (Piedmont) …

Gemma Giblin 2006 Riserva Barolo ($40.95 - #185025) – has an unexpected sweetness especially for a Barolo, there’s cran-raspberry elements with a beauty of a spice character. (****)

Italy (Tuscany) …

Assolati Montecucco Sangiovese 2008 ($26.95 - #369405) – sweet red fruit core backed by a nice spice and touch of floral.  (****)

Dievole 2010 La Vendemmia Chianti Classico ($19.95 - #283101) – nice hit of strawberry-plum jam at its core.  (*** ½+) – WtV

Giordano 2010 Chianti Riserva ($17.95 - #366971) – shows some elegance of cassis, plum and black raspberry.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …

Cloudy Bay 2012 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #598813) – big flavour and juicy core, earthy, cranberry, hint of spiced plum and black cherry.  (*** ½+)

Coopers Creek 2012 Select Vineyards Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #066092) – typically tinged with the usual Sauv Blanc character plus grapefruit blossom; this is a lively one and pretty at that.  (*** ½+) – WtV

Invivo 2012 Pinot Gris ($18.95 - #367771) – shows some interesting Gewurztraminer character which is unexpected in Pinot Gris; pretty floral and spiced orange, weird yet wonderful. (****)

Kim Crawford 2013 Pansy! Rosé ($17.95 - #650325) – lots of strawberry and cherry with some bubblegummy notes to the nose, but finishes dried than expected.  (*** ½+)

Omaka Springs 2010 Falveys Vineyard Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #367714) – much more toned down and elegant, shows depth with spice, gentile fruit and good acidity.  (****)

Portugal …

Dalva 1997 Colheita Port ($30.95 - #169045) – hazelnut, fig, dried cherry and spice; all make for a tasty treat.  (****)

Lua Nova Em Vinhas Velhas 2010 ($15.95 - #266882) – silky smooth with lots of plum; easy to drink.  (*** ½+)

South Africa …

Bayten 2012 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #269084) – plump white fruit with apple, pear and peach adding vanilla and hints of butterscotch for good measure all with a spicy finish; nice weight without the weighted price, this is good value Chard.  (****)

Spain …

Aljibes 2007 Red ($20.95 - #359976) – pleasant and silky smooth.  (*** ½+)

Barahonda 2011 Sin Madera Monastrell ($15.95 - #366823) – juicy, choco-blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and sweet tobacco; this one has great value in the bottle.  (****) - WtV

United States (California) …

Carol Shelton 2010 Monga Zin Old Vine Zinfandel ($25.95 - #282525) – surprisingly delicious: cola-spice-vanilla, oddly approachable.  (****+)

Chateau St. Jean 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #977173) – nice balance of fruit and spice along with vanilla, black cherry and spice.  (*** ½+)

Rutherford Ranch 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #73817) – black and blue fruit with a chocolate core.  (*** ½+) - WtV

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In-Store Discoveries – wines that just appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …

Blindfold 2012 ($39.95 - #374207) – California, USA - ****+

Bonaccorsi 2010 Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir ($51.95 - #368225) – California, USA - ****+

Chateau Calon-Segur 2010 ($149.85 - #259010) – Bordeaux, France - ****

Chateau Giscours 2010 ($124.85 - #259093) – Bordeaux, France - *** ½+

Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2010 ($84.85 - #257295) – Bordeaux, France - *** ½+

Le Clos Jordanne 2011 LCJ Vineyard Pinot Noir ($45.00 - #33902) – Ontario, Canada - ****+

Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet 2010 ($62.85 - #258491) – Bordeaux, France (****+)

Tawse 2010 Robyn’s Block Chardonnay ($45.95 - #662841) – Ontario, Canada - ****+

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …

Andretta 2007 Brunello di Montalcino ($53.95 - #367367) – Tuscany, Italy ****

Chateau Batailley 2010 ($68.95 - #259218) – Bordeaux, France ****

Rodney Strong 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.95 - #382325) – California, USA ****+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – March 29, 2014 …

Barahonda 2011 Sin Madera Monastrell ($15.95 - #366823) – Spain

Bayten 2012 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #269084) – South Africa

Carol Shelton 2010 Monga Zin Old Vine Zinfandel ($25.95 - #282525) – California

Domaine la Guintrandy 2009 Vieilles Vignes Cairanne ($19.95 - #362624) – France

The Black Chook 2012 Shiraz/Viognier ($17.95 - #66738) – Australia

Yalumba 2011 The Strapper GSM ($19.95 - #295873) – Australia

Happy Shopping

To print this article click here for the PDF version.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,

while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.