Key to the 5-star rating system:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good
Wine colour indicators – Red, Whites, etc.
The Foci … South of France (SoF) and South Africa (SA)
The Skinny … There are some goods wines in both focus categories, but there are even better wines outside the scope. There’s an Arizonian wine (yes from Arizona) that’s a decent conversation piece, there’s a Limited Edition Chilean Cab that delivers (just like it did in last year’s version) and Italy and Spain each offer a couple of excellent values, again. Check out the “What I’d be Getting” section at the bottom for the best value wines of the release.
Argentina …
Atrevida 2015 Malbec ($16.95 – #494518) – dark fruit and dark chocolate. (*** ½+)
La Posta 2015 Pizzella Malbec ($15.95 – #166298) – nice balance of red fruit and spice put together with a delicate use of oak. (*** ½+)
Pascual Toso 2014 Barrancas Toso ($16.95 – #494609) – blue and black fruit, spice with solid tannin backbone. (*** ½+)
Australia …
D’Arenberg 2016 The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne ($17.95 – #662775) – lanolin, tropical, guava and mineral. (*** ½+)
Don’t Hesitate 2015 Shiraz ($17.95 – #434159) – spice, pepper, cassis and blackberry. (*** ½+)
Franklin Tate 2015 Cabernet/Merlot ($19.95 – #489930) – mocha, plum, cassis, violet and cherry-cola. (*** ½+)
Thorn-Clarke 2014 Shotfire Shiraz ($21.95 – #18796) – spicy black cherry, mocha-cocoa with lots of plum and spice on the finish. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Fern Walk 2015 Pinot Gris ($17.95 – #514869) – pear, nectarine and tropical fruit with subtle lemon-lime-ade on the finish; Pinot Gris with attitude. (****)
Gray Monk 2013 Cabernet/Merlot ($20.95 – #464123) – a soft and seemingly mature red that has juicy cherry, white smoke, oak and plum. (*** ½)
Joie Farm 2016 “A Noble Blend” ($25.95 – #454793) – soapy with lanolin, floral and peach, all in a good way. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
16 Mile Cellar 2012 Rebel Pinot Noir ($22.95 – #520783) – ****
Chateau des Charmes 2014 St. David’s Bench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 – #935957) – *** ½+
Featherstone 2016 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 – #80234) – ****
Fielding 2015 Red Conception ($19.95 – #189183) – *** ½+
Chile …
Cono Sur 2015 Viento Mar Block 21 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($19.95 – #419010) – delicate red fruit, white pepper, smoky character and cranberry finish. (*** ½+)
Perez Cruz 2015 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 – #431015) – minty black fruit, cassis, blackberry, plum, pepper and spice; drinks well and all a good price. (****)
Tabali 2015 Pedregoso Gran Reserva Viognier ($13.95 – #406967) – lemon, tropical and floral with nice acidity; well-balanced. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Bellevue Figeac 2014 ($24.95 – #496661) – red plum, smoked-cherry, violet and sandalwood. (*** ½+)
Chateau de Lamarque 2010 ($39.95 – #440198) – smoky mocha, black cherry, coffee bean and big tannins. (*** ½+)
Chateau Gazin-Rocquencourt ($47.95 – #496570) – tannin-driven with dark inky fruit, cassis and spice notes. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Alain Geoffroy 2015 Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru ($31.95 – #733501) – mineral, apple-pear, fresh, lively, clean and focused. (****)
Chateau de Chamirey 2014 Mercurey ($39.95 – #499624) – spice and pepper, black cherry strawberry, layered and silky. (****+)
Domaine Maldant Pauvelot 2014 Savigny-Les-Beaune ($36.95 – #487413) – soft and subtle with floral, smoke and cranberry-white pepper notes. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Paul-Jaboulet Aine 2015 Pierre Aiguille Gigondas ($34.95 – #989665) – blueberry, cherry, vanilla, plum and a touch of spice; this is one pretty wine. (****)
France (South of France) …
Chateau des Erles 2013 Fitou ($29.95 – #654590) – blackberry, cherry, vanilla, and cassis; well-grounded. (*** ½+) … SoF
Gerard Bertrand 2014 Grand Terroir La Clape Syrah/Carignan/Mourvedre ($18.95 – #370262) – black cherry, spice, garrigue and tannins. (*** ½) … SoF
Hauts de Janeil 2016 Grenache Blanc/Viognier ($14.95 – #485672) – gentle yet fruit driven: peach, pear, apple with guava and melon on the finish. (*** ½+) … SoF
Hecht & Bannier 2016 Cotes de Provence Rosé ($19.95 – #410035) – apple skin and raspberry. (*** ½) … SoF
Italy (Alto Adige/Trentino) …
Ferrari Trento Brut ($24.95 – #352153) – crisp, clean, brioche, lemon, and green apple, a lively and cheerful bubble. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Beni di Batasiolo 2015 Nebbiolo ($16.95 – #908079) – a good drinking straight Nebbiolo with plenty of red, black and blue fruit; it’s all over the map but in a good way. (****)
Italy (Puglia) …
Passo del Cardinale 2014 Primitivo di Manduria ($18.95 – #496463) – sweet plum and cherry with leather and vanilla backing. (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Castellani 2014 Riserva Chianti ($14.95 – #970707) – soft and easy drinking with floral, mocha and dried cherry. (*** ½+)
Castello di Albola 2013 Chianti Classico ($18.95 – #339937) – dried cherry, smoke and spice. (*** ½)
Piccini 2012 Sasso al Poggio ($20.95 – #134809) – blue and black fruit with plenty of tannins and smoke on the finish. (*** ½+)
Tommasi 2015 Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo ($19.95 – #13755) – vanilla, cherry dominant, easy drinking. (*** ½)
Italy (Umbria) …
Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio Monvi 2012 ($17.95 – #497628) – smoky, toasty, coffee, mocha with plenty of spice and black fruit. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tedeschi 2015 Corasco ($19.95 – #216440) – lush red and black fruit with white pepper, cocoa and vanilla. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Villa Maria 2016 Private Bin Rosé ($17.95 – #234377) – dry with raspberry-strawberry and good acidity balance. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Sagrado 2013 Tinto ($14.95 – #380907) – plum and black cherry, chocolate and a creaminess on the rich palate. (****)
South Africa …
De Wetshof 2016 Limestone Hill Unwooded Chardonnay ($16.95 – #419622) – pleasant unoaked that must have lees contact involved in its making; there’s a pleasant weight with yellow plum, peach, sweet apple and floral. (****) … SA
Ernie Els 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 – #278358) – spice, rich cherry and a cola note with cassis and oak. (*** ½) … SA
Graham Beck 2011 Brut Rosé ($21.95 – #004085) – raspberry-cranberry mid-palate with some green apple and nice acidity on the finish. (*** ½+) … SA
Southern Right 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 — #512277) – gooseberry, chalky mineral and a good mid-weight on the palate. (*** ½+) … SA
Spain …
Campo Arriba 2014 Monastrell/Syrah/Tintorera ($17.95 – #511519) – nice spice quality that wraps itself in red and black berries, mineral and floral. (****)
Familia Castano 2013 Hecula Monastrell ($13.95 – #718999) – new label same delicious wine; rich blackberry, plum and black cherry with vanilla and toasty spices; great value. (****)
Paco & Lola 2016 Albarino ($18.95 – #350041) – lemon pith and floral. (*** ½)
United States (Arizona) …
Ardius 2013 Tank 9 ($19.95 – #507509) – sweet red fruit, red licorice, vanilla, cherry; surprisingly tasty. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 – #315002) – juicy red fruit shows through with some nice spice with cherry-raspberry and mocha. (*** ½+)
Esser 2014 Pinot Noir ($24.95 – #508440) – cranberry, black cherry, roast coffee and pepper. (*** ½+)
La Crema 2015 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($29.95 – #962886) – pure Cali-Chard: vanilla, butter and toasty; not as subtle as previous version. (*** ½)
Z Alexander Brown 2015 Uncaged Proprietary Red Blend ($21.95 – #519785) – plum, cherry, chocolate, and vanilla; juicy and pleasing. (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Powers 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 – 434456) – rich black fruit, cocoa powder and black pepper. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
2027 Cellars 2016 Wismer Vineyard Fox Croft Block Riesling, Ontario ($22.95 – #225490) – ****
Miguel Torres 2013 Purgatori, Spain ($44.95 – #452102) – ****+
Siegbert Bimmerle 2016 Riesling Kabinett Troken, Germany ($24.95 – #496489) – *** ½+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Clos du Val 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($61.95 – #325779) – *** ½
Domaine de la Cendrillon 2012 No. 1, South of France ($54.95 – #493890) – **** … SoF
Domaine du Grand Tinel 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($51.95 – #993964) – ****
Podere Colla 2011 Dardi Le Rose Bussia Barolo, Piedmont ($54.95 – #596890) – ****
What I’d Be Getting, If I Were You – (August 19, 2017) …
Beni di Batasiolo 2015 Nebbiolo ($16.95 – #908079) – Italy
Campo Arriba 2014 Monastrell/Syrah/Tintorera ($17.95 – #511519) – Spain
De Wetshof 2016 Limestone Hill Unwooded Chardonnay ($16.95 – #419622) – South Africa
Familia Castano 2013 Hecula Monastrell ($13.95 – #718999) – Spain
Passo del Cardinale 2014 Primitivo di Manduria ($18.95 – #496463) – Italy
Perez Cruz 2015 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 – #431015) – Chile
Sagrado 2013 Tinto ($14.95 – #380907) – Portugal
Happy Shopping