{"id":2371,"date":"2015-07-26T10:12:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-26T10:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/26\/saturday-august-8-2015-vintages-release-report\/"},"modified":"2015-07-26T10:12:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-26T10:12:00","slug":"saturday-august-8-2015-vintages-release-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/26\/saturday-august-8-2015-vintages-release-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday August 8, 2015 – Vintages Release Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Key to the 5-star rating system:<\/strong><\/em>
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good<\/em><\/p>\n

Wine colour indicators – Red<\/span>, Whites<\/span>, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Foci …<\/strong> Loire Valley (LV<\/strong>) and Wine of the Pacific North West (PNW<\/strong>)
The Skinny …<\/strong> The selection from the Loire is pretty good so there is lots of choice there. The winner of the Pacific North West is Washington with a plethora of good wines, especially the reds. Meanwhile the old world wins out with Portugal, Spain and France pulling off some of the best values in this release.<\/p>\n

Australia …<\/strong>
Balnaves 2009 Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($33.95 – #45237) – floral, smoky-vanilla, plum-cherry and raspberry.  (*** ½+)
Rolf Binder 2012 Hales Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #54239) – nice balance, lots of blackberry and black cherry with a smoky-mocha-plum finish.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Canada<\/strong> (British Columbia) …<\/em><\/span>
Cedar Creek 2013 Riesling<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #423269) – petrol is emerging with hints of lime at its core.  (*** ½) – PNW<\/strong>
Dirty Laundry 2013 Say Yes Pinot Gris<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #423202) – offers nice balance of sweetness and dryness with Bosc pear skin, peach and a touch of honeycomb.  (*** ½+) – PNW<\/strong>
Gehringer Brothers 2013 Dry Rock Vineyards Cabernet Merlot<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #556001) – nice fruity wine with blueberry, plum and gentle spice.  (*** ½+) – PNW<\/strong>
Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Colio Estate 2012 Bricklayer’s Reward Block 3 Merlot<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #41908) – *** ½
Inniskillin 2012 Reserve Shiraz\/Cabernet<\/em><\/a> ($24.95 – #225482) – *** ½+
Keint-he 2013 Portage Pinot Noir<\/em><\/a> ($30.00 – #373415) – *** ½+
Rosewood 2014 Sussreserve Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($14.95 – #258806) – ****<\/p>\n

France<\/strong> (Bordeaux) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau Chantelys 2010<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #421214) – anise, black currant and cedar\/oak.  (*** ½)
Chateau Maurac 2010<\/em> <\/span>($23.95 – #365817) – plum, black cherry, spicy and chewy.  (*** ½+)
Chateau Plaisance 2009<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #404285) – big fruit for Bordeaux, black and brooding with nice weight and structure; balanced with fruit and oak\/cedar backing.  (****)
France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span>
Joseph Drouhin 2013 Macon-Villages<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #356956) – nice apple, pear with a hint of minerality, green apple skin and decent acidity.  (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Loire) …<\/em><\/span>
Bouvet Brut Excellence Cremant de Loire<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #303636) – nice acidity, fresh, crisp, lemon\/lime; a good way to get into bubbly without spending a lot of dough.  (*** ½+) – LV<\/strong>
Chateau Favray 2014 Pouilly-Fume<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #323642) – smoky-flinty and grapefruit pith.  (*** ½+) – LV<\/strong>
Domaine Bonnard 2013 Sancerre Rouge<\/em><\/span> ($23.95 – #65995) – delicate, dried cherry, earthy with hints of Pom juice.  (*** ½) – LV<\/strong>
Domaine des Cotes Blanches 2013 Sancerre<\/span><\/em> ($24.95 – #409292) – apricot, peach, zesty, fragrant and pretty.  (*** ½+) – LV<\/strong>
Domaine Jacky Marteau 2014 Sauvignon Touraine<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #745349) – almost New Zealand-like in its make-up and intensity but at half the price.  (*** ½+) – LV<\/strong>
Justin Monmousseau 2014 Vouvray<\/span><\/em> ($16.95 – #271940) – lovely bit of sweetness with good balanced acidity: pineapple, apple, pear and lime.  (*** ½+) – LV<\/strong>
France<\/strong> (Midi) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau de Lancyre 2013 Esprit de Garrigue<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #415695) – sweet red licorice entry with strawberry-raspberry linger.  (*** ½+)
Domaine Lafage 2013 Cote Est<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #179838) – fresh with citrus pulp and pith and a hint of pear sweetness.  (*** ½+)
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Famille Perrin 2013 L’Andeol Rasteau<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #976845) – lively cherry fruit with hints of herbal and oak.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Germany …<\/strong>
Wegeler 2012 Sweet Riesling<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #409672) – yes it is sweet but it is balanced with acidity along with peach and delicious apple.  (****)<\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> (Piedmont) …<\/em><\/span>
Paolo Conterno 2010 Riva del Bric Barolo<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #172783) – sweet fruit nose, nice palate showing cherry fruit with oak and herbal character.  (****)
Italy<\/strong> (Puglia) …<\/em><\/span>
Antica Masseria 2011 Jorche Primitivo di Manduria<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #417535) – big dark fruit, mocha licorice, plum and black cherry.  (****)
Italy<\/strong> (Tuscany) …<\/em><\/span>
Capezzana 2012 Barco Reale di Carmignano<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #508531) – coffee, mocha, black cherry and herbs.  (*** ½+)
Dei 2011 Vino di Montepulciano<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #285510) – fine structure with leather, herbal, licorice and enough fruit ties it all together at the back end to make it interesting.  (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
Giuseppe Campognola 2013 Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #313486) – the brown on the bottle hints at the burnt coffee bean and blackberry; not traditional but interesting.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

Portugal …<\/strong>
Ramos Pinto 2013 Duas Quintas<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #359893) – deep dark black cherry, plum, blackberry, mocha, chewy yet round, rich and thick like Port but dry and tasty; this wine is full of flavour for years to come.  (****+)<\/p>\n

South Africa …<\/strong>
Mulderbosch 2014 Chenin Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #675421) – honeycomb, lime, pineapple and melon rind.   (****)<\/p>\n

Spain …<\/strong>
Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz Valdehermoso Crianza 2011<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #422063) – black cherry, spiced-mocha and a touch of vanilla.  (*** ½+)
Cosme Palacio 2009 Reserva<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #14662) – sweet fruit centered, a little oak with plum and raspberry.  (*** ½+)
Vicente Gandia Nebla Verdejo 2014<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #422048) – grapefruit pith and zest with herbaceous notes.  (*** ½+)
Vivanco 2010 Seleccion de Familia Crianza<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #673491) – plum, blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, toasty with nice balance and spicy character.  (****)<\/p>\n

United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span>
Cline 2013 Ancient Vines Carignane<\/em> <\/span>($24.95 – #32177) – lots of chocolate, plum, mocha, spice, vanilla and smoky; so much complexity and excitement in one sip, imagine a full bottle.  (****+)
Easton 2012 Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #328377) – shows restraint from all that could be yet shows what is: cherry reigns with raspberry-strawberry, mocha, plum; sweet on the palate but with the right amount of balancing spice.  (****+)
First Press 2013 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #199810) – vanilla, mac apple and a little flinty.  (*** ½)
Napa Cellars 2012 Merlot<\/em> <\/span>($23.95 – #161299) – juicy blue and black berry with a hint of smoke.  (*** ½+)
Pali 2012 Huntington Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #417519) – nice bite of black cherry and black pepper.  (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Oregon) …<\/em><\/span>
Adelsheim 2012 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($41.95 – #683821) – nice balance of sour and sweet cherry, white pepper and delicate spice.  (****) – PNW<\/strong>
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Airfield Estates 2012 Runway Merlot<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #420703) – a little leaner than the other Washington Merlot but still with lovely fruit.  (*** ½+) – PNW<\/strong>
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #269357) – mocha, blackberry, black cherry, licorice with recurring mocha; lovely linger on the palate with balanced acidity.  (****) – PNW<\/strong>
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Riesling<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #685651) – fresh and fleshy, juicy with a touch of sweetness like white peach and honeydew.  (*** ½+) – PNW<\/strong>
Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #240093) – nice core of plum, gentle spice and crème de cassis.  (*** ½+) – PNW<\/strong>
Seven Falls 2012 Merlot<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #420711) – juicy mocha cherry, ripe and luscious.  (****) – PNW<\/strong>
Wines of Substance 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #419770) – this one is from Charles Smith and is a rich, juicy and yes substantive Cab from Washington with generous fruit, chocolate, vanilla and layers of dark and red fruit and herbs, a really beauty.  (**** ½) – PNW<\/strong>
________________________________________<\/p>\n

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet  …<\/strong>
Aberrant 2012 Amplus Grann Moraine Pinot Noir<\/span><\/em> ($69.95 – #424994) – Oregon (*** ½+)
Domaine Drouhin 2012 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #961284) – Oregon (****+)
Sbragia 2010 Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em> <\/span>($79.95 – #291054) – California (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …<\/strong>
Charles Heidsieck Reserve Rosé Champagne<\/em><\/span> ($84.95 – #409342) – Champagne, France (****+)
Dry Creek 2011 The Mariner Meritage<\/em><\/span> ($61.95 – #271320) – California, USA (*** ½+)
Piper-Heidsieck 2006 Brut Champagne<\/span><\/em> ($79.95 – #409326) – Champagne, France (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – August 8, 2015 …<\/strong>
Chateau Plaisance 2009<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #404285) – Bordeaux
Ramos Pinto 2013 Duas Quintas<\/span> <\/em>($17.95 – #359893) – Portugal
Vivanco 2010 Seleccion de Familia Crianza<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #673491) – Spain
Wines of Substance 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #419770) – Washington<\/p>\n

Happy Shopping<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … Loire Valley (LV) and Wine of the Pacific North West (PNW) The Skinny … The selection from the Loire is pretty good so there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vintages-releases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}