Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Saturday April 30, 2011 - Vintages Release


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

Two focuses in this release: Australian Wines (OZ) and Southern Italy (Italia) … The wines that are part of the spotlight are labeled as such:

Argentina …
Red - 
Chakana Reserve 2009 Malbec ($14.95 - #0018671) – juicy blackberry, black raspberry and really very quaffable. (*** ½)
Finca Flichman 2008 Gestos Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #0199711) – chocolate and spice with blackberry and cassis. (*** ½+)
La Posta 2008 Cocina Blend ($12.95 - #0199513) – lots of black fruit, very easy drinking wine, this is your Argentine blend for the Bar-b this summer, priced for purchase by the case. (****) 

Australia … 
Dessert –
Campbells Rutherglen Muscat ($19.95 - #0225423) – coffee, toffee, orange peel and a little bit of spice, sinfully delicious. (**** ½+) - OZ
Red –
De Bortoli 2008 DB Reserve Pinot Noir ($15.95 - #0221994) – raspberry, cherry, slight bite on the finish with a touch of sweetness. (*** ½) – OZ
Henschke 2007 Johann’s Garden ($54.95 - #0946061) – lots of chocolate and blackberry here, spicy kick on the finish. (****) – OZ
Henschke 2008 Keyneton Euphonium ($49.95 - #0720433) – this is dark fruited with a spicy character and delicious flavours. (****+) – OZ 
Jim Barry 2008 The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #0677476) – eucalyptus, blackberry and spice with a nice peppered finish. (****+) – OZ
Jim Barry 2008 The Lodge Hill Shiraz ($23.95 - #0998476) – spiced and peppered raspberries on the nose, strawberry and chocolate-cherries, this has got a certain lush appeal. (****) – OZ
McWilliam’s 2008 Mount Pleasant Estate Premium Vineyard Shiraz ($19.95 - #0082396) – cherry, raspberry and chocolate … tasty. (****) – OZ
Wakefield 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #0744235) – lots of cherry, easy drinking, sweet and juicy … this one’s quite the pleasing drink. (****) – OZ
White -
Madfish 2007 Gold Turtle Chardonnay ($27.95 - #0227686) – interesting for a Chardonnay, its more Sauvignon Blanc than Chardonnay, especially on the palate; decent acidity with a grassiness and citrus tone.  This one is for those who want Chardonnay on the label but Savvy B in the bottle. (***+) - OZ
Wakefield 2009 Chardonnay ($15.95 - #0711556) – pear and peach, maybe a hint of orange if you look for it, clean and creamy finish. (*** ½) - OZ
Yalumba 2009 Viognier ($24.95 - #0954644) – not big in the fruit department as I like with my chosen Viogniers, instead there is a lot of mineral and some spice. (*** ½) - OZ

Brazil …
Red –
Agnus 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #0223370) – very smoky and toasty, chocolate and coffee no but very little in the way of fruit, never tried Brazilian wine now’s your chance. (***) 

Canada … 
Red –
(Ontario)
Stratus 2007 Red ($44.20 - #0131037)
White – 
(Ontario)

Chile …
Rosé -
Montes 2010 Cherub Rosé Syrah ($14.95 - #0037887) – electric pink in colour delivers raspberry on the palate with good acid balance ... enjoy well chilled. (*** ½) 
White –
Cono Sur 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($12.95 - #0213587) – lots and lots and lots of grass, good wine for the first mow of the season. (*** ½)

France … 
Red – 
(Burgundy)
Domaine Pierre Gelin Fixin 2006 ($31.95 - #0210898) – the nose might need a little “fixin” but the palate is quite good. (*** ½)
(Midi)
Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Renaissance 2007 ($18.95 - #0148692) – licorice, blackberry and cassis on the nose, this follows suppley [ed. note: new word] in the mouth with good flavours worth experiencing. (****)
Sparkling – 
(Bordeaux)
Chateau Moncontour Tete de Cuvee Brut Vouvray ($15.95 – 0207936) – slight sweetness, lively and lemony with honey on the palate, good acidity; different but in a good way. (*** ½+)
White –
(Bordeaux)
Chateau Boyrein 2009 ($16.95 - #0205534) – I’m not one to crow about white Bordeaux but this had a lovely flavour profile worth coming back to again and again, all for a good price. (****)
(Burgundy)
Collovray & Terrier 2009 Tradition Saint-Veran ($17.95 - #0209593) – tropical, vanilla and a bit of butter, it’s a tasty little treat. (*** ½)
(Loire)
Domaine Tinel-Blondelet 2009 La Croix Canat Sancerre ($21.95 - #0196709) – hint of grass backed by lemonade and mineral notes. (****)

Germany …
White –
Domdechant Werner’sches 2008 Riesling Kabinett ($18.95 - #0722413) – lots of peach and apple nuances with slate notes across the palate, sweetness and acidity clash on the great flavoured finish. (****)

Italy …
Red – 
(Campania)
Terredora 2008 Aglianico ($14.95 - #0602284) – rustic yet quaffable, nice spiced raspberry finish. (*** ½) – Italia
(Puglia)
Giordano Collection 2008 Primitivo di Manduria ($16.95 - #0051797) – sweet plum, cherry and vanilla with some fig notes, delicious, supple and juicy. (****) – Italia
Torrevento 2006 Vigna Pedale Riserva ($19.95 - #0208256) – plum and cherry fruit on the nose with lots of flavour with an elegant appeal. (****+) – Italia
(Veneto)
Duetorri 2008 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #0159400) – good fruit with a hint of spice and a little chocolate on the way to a cherry finish; good value for this wine. (****)
Rosé –
(Sicily)
Planeta 2010 Rosé ($16.95 - #0111856) – really nice nasal appeal, almost lemony and Sauvignon Blanc-like on the olfactories with killer acidity on the palate. (*** ½+) – Italia
Sparkling –
Tenuta S. Anna Millesimato Brut Prosecco 2009 ($16.95 - #0216432) – vintage Prosecco is rarely seen; crisp lemon, green apple, almond biscotti with a touch of mac apple, very pleasant. (****)

New Zealand … 
Red –
Sileni 2009 The Plateau Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #0179754) – earthy-cherry and strawberry on the nose which follows on the palate with enough spice and charm to make this worthwhile.  Good price, good finish. (****) 
White - 
Durvillea 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #0206284) – serious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, grass aromas scream out of the glass and onto the palate, before reining itself in leaving grapefruit cocktail behind. (****)

Portugal …
Dessert -
Warre’s Warrior Reserve Port ($17.95 - #0197202) – mint chocolate cherries and plum, amazingly delicious. (**** ½)
Red -
Barao de Vilar Reserva 2008 ($17.95 - #0684712) – juicy red fruit with hints of spice and chocolate. (*** ½)

Spain …
Red -
Artazuri 2009 Garnacha ($12.95 - #0080812) – nose is exciting with lots of fruit but the palate doesn’t quite live up to the lure of the palate, though it's close … not a wine for the cellar, instead it’s a wine for this summer.  Take note of the excellent price (****+)
Capcanes 2009 Mas Donis Negre ($12.95 - #0208231) – lots of red licorice and raspberry kirsch, sweet juicy fruit, think Zinfandel here, light up the BBQ. (*** ½)
Vina Mayor 2007 Tinto Vendimia Seleccionada ($19.95 - #0208215) – lots of dark fruit with a juicy quality that quite appealing, plus there are firm tannins on the finish. (*** ½)
White –
Naia 2009 Verdejo ($18.95 - #0211045) – good ripe fruit, lemon-apple with a touch of mineral; finish departs rather quickly but it does manage a come back. (*** ½)

United States … 
Red – 
(California)
Atrea 2008 Old Soul Red ($27.95 - #0214825) – lots of alcohol here (14.8%), with chocolate and black cherry, quite enjoyable. (****)
Clos du Bois 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #0181685) – soft, juicy and cherry fruit; this is your BBQ red for the coming grilling season, plus the prestige of California on the label. (*** ½+)
Kenwood Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #0943225) – lots of cherry and strawberry, this one is juicy and what another taster called “cuddly”, I agree. (****+)
Sebastiani 2006 Merlot ($18.95 - #0219162) – juicy cherry with a touch of cranberry, pretty standard fare here but decently priced for California. (***)
Sequana Sarmento Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #0213884) – seriously dark fruited here with strawberry and some tannin bites, black cherry on the finish. (****)
White – 
(California)
Rodney Strong 2008 Chalk Hill Chardonnay ($22.95 - #0275552) – mineral, pear, a little spice; pleasant and not over the top with oak, shows very good restraint. (****)

Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on April 30, 2011:
Tenuta S. Anna Millesimato Brut Prosecco 2009 ($16.95 - #0216432) – Italy
Kenwood Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #0943225) – United States 
La Posta 2008 Cocina Blend ($12.95 - #0199513) – Argentina 

Happy Shopping.


 

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