{"id":2417,"date":"2015-08-10T10:12:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T10:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/10\/saturday-august-22-2015-vintages-release-report\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T03:55:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T03:55:52","slug":"saturday-august-22-2015-vintages-release-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/10\/saturday-august-22-2015-vintages-release-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday August 22, 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 Focus …<\/strong> Top Scoring Wines (TSW<\/strong>)
The Skinny …<\/strong> There are some really over-rated wines in this release, but there are also some real gems: check out the range of good wines from Spain and Portugal, seven in total, plus a Merlot from BC that’s well worth your time to get to know. There’s also a real steal from the Rhone Valley – you’ll know the one I mean once you see it. It’s also a real weak white release so don’t be expecting much.<\/p>\n

Argentina …<\/strong>
Trivento 2012 Golden Reserve Malbec<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #588731) – cassis, black cherry, and plum; robust and quite fruity.  (****) – TSW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia …<\/strong>
Tahbilk 2013 The Tower Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #412205) – cherry, smoke, meaty, dark fruited and white peppered.  (*** ½+)
Turkey Flat 2012 Butcher’s Block Shiraz\/Grenache\/Mourvedre<\/span><\/em> ($19.95 – #90241) – nice flavour with smoky, blackberry and herbal\/savoury notes with a little tea leaf on the finish.  (****)<\/p>\n

Canada<\/strong> (British Columbia) …<\/em><\/span>
Gray Monk 2013 Pinot Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #321612) – pear and apple bolster a touch of sweetness in this light, flavourful and juicy offering from the west.  (*** ½+)
Black Sage Vineyard 2012 Merlot<\/em> <\/span>($22.95 – #593053) – juicy fruit, mostly red, with vanilla, mocha cherry, gentle spice, blueberry skin like tannins; really enjoyable.  (****+)
Canada<\/strong> (Nova Scotia) …<\/em><\/span>
Benjamin Bridge 2013 Nova 7<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #256289) – summer sipper for the end of the summer, this is one you pick  up now and drink the day later: sweet floral and peach with a little spritz.  (*** ½)
Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Charles Baker 2012 Picone Vineyard Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($35.20 – #241182) – ****+ – TSW<\/strong>
Featherstone 2010 Onyx<\/em><\/a> ($29.95 – #372433) – **** – TSW
Featherstone 2014 Four Feathers<\/em> <\/a>($14.95 – #341586) – *** ½
Southbrook 2013 Triomphe Chardonnay<\/em><\/a> ($24.95 – #395855) – ****
Southbrook 2013 Triomphe Chardonnay<\/a><\/em> ($22.95 – #172338) – *** ½+ – TSW<\/strong>
Stratus 2012 Kabang Red<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #380022) – *** ½+
Thirty Bench 2013 Red<\/em> <\/a>($24.00 – #320986) – *** ½+
Vineland 2013 Sauvignon Blanc<\/a><\/em> ($16.95 – #551168) – *** ½+<\/p>\n

Chile …<\/strong>
Vina Maipo 2012 Gran Devocion Carmenere\/Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #274100) – minty-herbal, floral, blackberry and cassis.  (****+) – TSW<\/strong><\/p>\n

France<\/strong> (Loire) …<\/em><\/span>
Henri Bourgeois 2014 Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #672345) – refreshing and full of citrus, both pith and pulp.  (*** ½+)
France<\/strong> (Midi) …<\/em><\/span>
Gerard Bertrand 2011 Grand Terroir La Clape Syrah\/Carignan\/Mourvedre<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #370262) – gentle white pepper, meaty and juicy with nice cherry.  (*** ½+) – TSW<\/strong>
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Domaine Saint-Etienne 2013 Les Albizzias<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #415166) – savoury and earthy elements backed by raspberry and boysenberry.  (*** ½+)
La Ferme du Mont 2012 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #171371) – Licorice, spice, blackberry, spiced-cranberry, loads of acidity with great mid-palate layered with red and black fruit; keeps getting better and fruitier with each sip, finishes with licorice, black cherry and blackberry.  (****+)<\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> (Alto Adige) …<\/em><\/span>
Alois Lageder 2012 Mimuet Riserva Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #424150) – Italian take on Pinot Noir with beet and strawberry all lightly oaked.  (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Puglia) …<\/em><\/span>
Masseria Altemura 2013 Sasseo Primitivo<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #366955) – plum and cherry with lots of flavour and just the right amount of spicy goodness.  (****)
Italy<\/strong> (Tuscany) …<\/em><\/span>
Borgo Salcetino 2012 Rossole<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #412619) – soft and supple, juicy even; easy drinking.  (*** ½+)
Castellani Filicheto 2011 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #184937) – floral, blackberry, coffee bean, herbs and tobacco.  (*** ½+)
Lornano 2009 Le Bandite Chianti Classico Riserva<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #230672) – herbal and elegant with cigar notes and mocha on the finish.  (****)
Michele Satta 2012 Bolgheri Rosso<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #39834) – well-balanced, good spice, dark fruit with a little mocha on the back end.  (*** ½+)
Mocali 2009 Brunello di Montalcino<\/em><\/span> ($44.95 – #64956) – almost sweet upon entry with cherry-tobacco, vanilla-tea and a dusty finish that bites back.  (****)
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
S. Cristina Massoni 2014 Lugana<\/em> <\/span>($19.95 – #200097) – grapefruit pith, tropical fruit with a nice weight on the palate; not a guzzler but a delicate sipper.  (****)
Scriani 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico<\/em><\/span> ($47.95 – #413989) – coffee, black cherry and mocha on the nose; palate is herbal, mocha-cherry, spice with a sweet mid and elegant finish with plum, black cherry and gentle spice.  (****+)
Valpantena 2013 Torre del Falasco Ripasso Valpolicella<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #642421) – sweet and savoury with cherry, spice and hint of cocoa.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Portugal …<\/strong>
Carvalhais 2012 Duque de Viseu Red<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #546309) – easy drinking red for the BBQ.  (*** ½)
D<\/em>elaforce 2013 Touriga Nacional<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #324517) – rich red full of plum, blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate and white pepper.  (****)
Herdade do Rocim 2011 Red<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #423574) – well priced for this herbal, plum and red \/ black fruit number that has plenty of savoury and spicy notes on the finish.  (****+)<\/p>\n

Spain …<\/strong>
Balbas 2005 Reserva<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #85183) – mellow and smooth with plenty of blackberry, juiciness and spice.  (*** ½+) – TSW<\/strong>
Celler Cercavins 2014 Lo Virol<\/span> <\/em>($14.95 – #425702) – real sweet black fruit and plum with chocolate back up; simple but fun.  (*** ½+)
Finca de la Rica 2011 El Nomada<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #425785) – peppered blackberry, black cherry but not overly fruity, all with a nice vanilla seam.  (****)
Palacios Remondo 2014 La Vendimia<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #674564) – big cherry nose with touches of raspberry; a real berry bowl flavour.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span>
Ca’Momi 2013 Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #396168) – plum, vanilla, black cherry; a decent Zin for the money.  (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2012 Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($44.95 – #186148) – a little herbal and black cherry that goes a long way to giving you a long savoury finish.  (****)
La Crema 2013 Monterey Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #367896) – juicy, herbal, cranberry and sour cherry.  (*** ½+)
Madison’s Ranch 2011 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #414102) – juicy and sweet fruited with oak, black berries and cherry.  (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Pendulum 2011 Red<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #46300) – smooth and silky with red currant, mocha-latte, plum and gentle spice; ready to drink and enjoy.  (****+) – TSW<\/strong>
________________________________________<\/p>\n

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …<\/strong>
Cakebread 2011 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($162.95 – #924175) – ****
Poggio Bonelli 2011 Poggiassai<\/em><\/span> ($31.95 – #85365) – ****
Vidal Fleury 2012 Condrieu<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #414516) – *** ½<\/p>\n

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …<\/strong>
Foxen 2013 Tinaquaic Vineyard Estate Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($54.95 – #414219) – *** ½+<\/p>\n

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – August 22, 2015 …<\/strong>
Delaforce 2013 Touriga Nacional<\/em> <\/span>($20.95 – #324517) – Portugal
Herdade do Rocim 2011 Red<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #423574) – Portugal
La Ferme du Mont 2012 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #171371) – France
Masseria Altemura 2013 Sasseo Primitivo<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #366955) – Italy<\/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 Focus … Top Scoring Wines (TSW)The Skinny … There are some really over-rated wines in this release, but there are also some real gems: check out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2417","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\/2417","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=2417"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7482,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2417\/revisions\/7482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}