Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Saturday December 8, 2012 - Vintages Release Report



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.

Foci ... Fizz (FZ) and Holiday Gatherings (HG)
The Skinny ... Two amazing red wines from Chile, an aged Chenin from South Africa and a delightful German Riesling make the grade this time.

Argentina ...
Susana Balbo 2010 Signature Malbec ($23.95 - #79798) - big and purple with smoked coffee bean, blackberry, cassis and a smoky vanilla finish. (****)

Australia ...
Ben Glaetzer 2010 The Bishop Shiraz ($39.95 - #627869) - chocolate and coffee with rich black cherry and plum. (****)
De Bortoli 2008 Noble One Botrytis Semillon ($29.95 / 375ml - #917252) - sweet supple and honey dried white fruit with apricot mango and pineapple. (****) - HG
Kurtz Family 2008 Boundary Row Shiraz ($27.95 - #29371) - pretty smooth with plum, cinnamon and vanilla, especially on the finish. (*** 1/2+)

Canada (Ontario) ... click on wine for full review
Cave Spring 2009 Chenin Blanc ($17.95 - #627315) -
Calamus 2010 Cosmic Red ($19.95 - #258129) -
Lailey 2007 Cabernet Franc ($30.00 - #591388) -
Paul Ross 2007 Riesling ($35.00 - #206813) -
Tawse 2009 Quary Road Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #307686) -

Chile ...
Concha y Toro 2011 Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #301424) - since my last tasting this wine has developed more coffee notes and more spice, it's drinking well and will drink over the next 2-3 years. (****+)
Natura 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay ($14.95 - #61895) - juicy peach and apple with citrus zestiness and nice acidity on the finish. (*** 1/2+)
Ninquen Antu 2010 Chilean Mountain Vineyard Syrah ($16.95 - #675371) - great value, minty blackberry, plum and spice with hints of chocolate and a nice weight. (****+)
Santa Carolina 2009 Reserva de Familia Carmenere ($17.95 - #34942) - pleasant chocolate, brambly, blackberry and biting cherry. (*** 1/2+)

Hungary ...
Puklus Pinceszet Tokaji Aszu 3 Puttonyos 2007 ($20.95 / 500ml - #980805) - apricot, dried peach and a little orange peel. (*** 1/2)

France (Alsace) ...
Charles Wantz 2010 Excellence Gewurztraminer ($17.95 - #298539) - spicy, lychee with a nice sweet finish; almost cream in nature. (****)
France (Beaujolais) ...
Jacques Depagneux 2011 Cote de Py Morgon ($18.95 - #299925) - lots of easy to drink cherry fruit. (*** 1/2+) - HG
France (Burgundy) ...
Louis Jadot 2009 Pouilly-Fuisee ($29.95 - #732917) - nice green apple and lemon pith, hint of peach in the mid-palate with a minerality finish. (****)
Domaine Chanson 2009 Beaune Clos des Marconnets 1er Cru ($49.95 - #299792) - nice spiced blackberry and earth notes with plenty of tannins. (****)
France (Champagne) ...
Beaumont des Crayeres Grand Prestige Brut Champagne ($46.95 - #903443) - biscuity with lemon and hazelnuts. (****) - FZ
France (Loire) ...
Marc Bredif 2010 Vouvray ($19.95 - #685362) - touch of delicate sweetness with honeycomb, lemon peel and floral notes too. (*** 1/2+) - HG
France (Midi) ...
Domaine Clavel 2010 Bonne Pioche Pic Saint Loup ($19.95 - #297986) - yummy seductive in the glass, dark in colour with black cherry, chocolate and plum with white pepper and some mineral action. (**** 1/2)
France (Rhone) ...
Famille Perrin 2010 Les Christins Vacqueyras ($23.95 - #973453) - blackberry, cassis, cocoa, baking chocolate and nice hit of black pepper. (****)
Foncalieu 2010 Reserve du Crouzeau St. Gervais Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($15.95 - #142943) - raspberry, strawberry, plum and chocolate. (*** 1/2+)

Germany ...
Dr. Pauly-Bergweiller 2011 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese ($24.95 - #727370) - nice bit of acidity keeps this from being over-the-top sweet. (*** 1/2+) - HG
St. Urbans-Hof 2011 Riesling ($16.95 - #995746) - very pretty; there's much going on here with peach, mineral, citrus zest and even some exotic fruit like pineapple. (****+)

Italy (Campania) ...
Terredora 2009 Aglianico ($15.95 - #602284) - coffee, mocha and cranberry. (*** 1/2)
Italy (Piedmont) ...
Balbi Soprani Brachetto D'Acqui ($16.95 - #298570) - sweet bubbly and delicious, lively red berries: raspberry / strawberry with touch of cherry and currants. (****)
Italy (Tuscany) ...
Fassati Pasiteo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($22.95 - #642009) - mocha, cherry, plum and strawberry. (*** 1/2+)
Poggio il Castellare 2006 Brunello di Montacino ($47.95 - #293555) - leathery-cranberry, cedar spice and sandlewood, good acidity drives the finish. (****)
Italy (Veneto) ...
Maculan 2011 Pinot Grigio ($13.95 - #734921) - nice peachy citrus throughout. (*** 1/2)

Japan ...
Gekkeikan Horin Ultra Premium Junmai Daiginjo Sake ($39.95 - #951509) - I'm no sake afficianado but this is one delicate and delightful sip. (*** 1/2+)

New Zealand ...
Akarua Rua Pinot Noir 2011 ($19.95 - #295592) - a cross between Burgundy and California; quite nice with good acidity and earthy notes and minerality; cherry, cranberry cocktail; quite pretty and worth the price. (****+)
Goldwater 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #295261) - peach, passionfruit with grassy and green apple. (*** 1/2+)
Oyster Bay Brut Sparkling Cuvee ($21.95 - #163634) - grassy with great acidity and a pleasant lemonyness. (*** 1/2) - FZ
Waipara 2009 West Ram Paddock Red ($19.95 - #295576) - juicier, fruitier than one would expect: strawberry and framboise note with a real sexy mouthfeel. (*** 1/2+)

Portugal ...
Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port ($24.95 - #223958) - orange peel with spiced cherry nuances, a nice nutty finish. (****) - HG
Herdade do Arrepiado Velho Red ($19.95 - #295337) - a real raspberry-vanilla cherry laced gem from Portugal; almost jammy but real delicious. (****)
Offley 2007 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($19.95 - #70086) - offley good, offley lovely, offley affordable: spicy with concentration of dark, dried fruit all with a dark spiced-chocolate covering. (**** 1/2+)

South Africa ...
Kanu 2006 KCB Chenin Blanc ($14.95 - #907089) - a lot of interesting nuances: vanilla, honeycomb and a spiced finish. (****)

United States (California) ...
Belle Glos 2011 Meomi Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #130138) - continues to be a favourite, juicy and delicious with blackberry, woodsmoke and dried cranberry sweetness with nice spiced-mocha finish and good tannins. (****+)
Darioush 2007 Duel ($48.95 - #291013) - blue and black berry duel it out while spice plays a prominent role between the two. (****)
Gloria Ferrer Va De Vi Ultra Cuvee ($26.95 - #20070) - nice hint of sweetness with delicate apple and lemonade notes. (*** 1/2+) - FZ
Irony 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #25106) - juicy Cali-cab, red fruit and layered with tobacco and currants. (*** 1/2+)
J. Lohr 2009 Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($38.95 - #686584) - chocolate, back cherry and vanilla. (*** 1/2+)
Morgan 2009 Twelve Clones Pinot Noir ($38.95 - #642249) - very cherry and strawberry with good acidity though quite juicy. (****)
Pedroncelli 2006 Four Grapes Vintage Port ($19.95 - #204487) - port grapes are used but they lack the port-like climate and port-know-how, it's sweet and has merit but will never overtake the real thing. (*** 1/2)
Stonestreet 2007 Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #285098) - nice spicy tannins and darkly-fruited. (****)
The Prisoner 2011 Proprietary Red ($49.95 - #104299) - big alcohol, big fruit, nice flavour all the way to its core. (****)
Trentadue 2010 La Storia Petite Sirah ($23.95 - #291047) - jammy Zinfandel-esque core; plummy-raisined with sweet fruit. (****)
United States (Washington) ...
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #269357) - mocha, black cherry; smooth and supple. (*** 1/2+)


If You Can Afford It - wines that are worth their high price ...
Chateau St. Jean 2008 Cinq Cepages ($75.95 - #710913) - United States (****)
Mitolo 2009 Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon ($57.95 - 659599) - Australia (****+)
Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne ($59.95 - #814723) - France (****) - FZ
Ravine 2007 Reserve Red ($55.00 - #204966) - Canada (*** 1/2+)


What I'll Be Lining Up For - December 8, 2012 ...
Akarua Rua Pinot Noir 2011 ($19.95 - #295592) - New Zealand
Ninquen Antu 2010 Chilean Mountain Vineyard Syrah ($16.95 - #675371) - Chile
Offley 2007 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($19.95 - #70086) - Portugal
St. Urbans-Hof 2011 Riesling ($16.95 - #995746) - Germany


Happy Shopping