{"id":2440,"date":"2015-08-26T08:12:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T08:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/26\/saturday-september-5-2015-vintages-release-report\/"},"modified":"2015-08-26T08:12:00","modified_gmt":"2015-08-26T08:12:00","slug":"saturday-september-5-2015-vintages-release-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/26\/saturday-september-5-2015-vintages-release-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday September 5, 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> Uncork Something Great (USG<\/strong>)
The Skinny …<\/strong> Might be about “Uncorking Something Great” but sadly there is a very uninspiring collection of whites to choose from; but on the other hand there are quite a nice selection of reds to choose from especially from Argentina, Spain and Italy<\/p>\n

Argentina …<\/strong>
Kaiken 2012 Ultra Malbec ($19.95 – #50849) – continues to be one of your best value, full flavoured Malbecs that hits all the right notes.  (****+) – USG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Canada <\/strong>(British Columbia) …<\/em><\/span>
Dirty Laundry 2012 Not So Knotty Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #353144) – nice fruit driven Chardonnay with cantaloupe, pear and peach notes.  (*** ½+)
Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Flat Rock 2014 Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($16.95 – #43281) – *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2013 Chardonnay Estate<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #268342) – *** ½<\/p>\n

Chile …<\/strong>
Montgras 2012 Antu Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($17.00 – #425900) – minty and meaty with good dark fruit, not as robust as in the past but still a good wine.  (*** ½) – USG<\/strong><\/p>\n

France<\/strong> (Beaujolais) …<\/em><\/span>
Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Rochegres Moulin-a-Vent<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #424861) – mineral with black cherry and some there’s even some weight; drink now or hold 3-4 years.  (****)
France<\/strong> (Bordeaux) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau de la Riviere 2009<\/em><\/span> ($34.95 – #653147) – plum, blackberry, peppery, licorice and some definite tobacco notes.  (*** ½+)
Chateau Haut-Logat 2010<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #424556) – gritty tannins are wrapped around red currants and blackberries.  (*** ½+)
France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span>
Domaine Laroche 2012 Les Vaudevey Chablis 1er Cru<\/em><\/span> ($38.95 – #416057) – soft and supple with apple, peach pit, melon rind and hints of buttery-vanilla to round it out.  (****)
Jean-Marc Brocard 2014 Chablis<\/span><\/em> ($21.95 – #424820) – pleasant minerality, lemon, lime with a hint of pear.  (****)
France<\/strong> (Loire) …<\/em><\/span>
Paul Prieur et Fils 2014 Sancerre ($26.95 – #350421) – grass\/hay along with grapefruit pith.  (*** ½+)
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Le Ferme du Mont 2011 Cotes Capelan Chateauneuf-du-Pape<\/em><\/span> ($80.00 – #78857) – Rich red and black fruit with chocolate, cherry, blackberry, licorice, and spice – nice balanced tannins.  (**** ½)
Le Gravillas 2013 Gigondas<\/span> <\/em>($22.95 – #78808) – juicy black fruit with herbal notes.  (*** ½+)
M. Chapoutier 2013 Belleruche Cotes du Rhone Grenache\/Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #328831) – well-rounded red fruit in an easy drinking style.  (*** ½+) – USG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> (Piedmont) …<\/em><\/span>
Ferdinando Principiano del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba Barolo 2010<\/em><\/span> ($44.95 – #210955) – floral, sour cherry, ripe with red licorice and herbs.  (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Puglia) …<\/em><\/span>
Schola Sarmenti 2008 Dicotto Primitivo<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #379842) – plum and black cherry with great vanilla seam down the middle and a finish that shows herbal and spice.  (****) – USG<\/strong>
Schola Sarmenti 2006 Roccamora Nardo’ Negroamaro<\/em> <\/span>($16.95 – #379768) – cassis, anise, rich black fruit and black pepper finish.   (****) – USG
Italy<\/strong> (Tuscany) …<\/em><\/span>
Piccini 2008 Sasso Al Poggio<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #134809) – cherry, anise, and spices; this one has a soft and supple palate.  (*** ½)
Italy<\/strong> (Umbria) …<\/em><\/span>
Villa Mora 2008 Montefalco Sagrantino<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #342394) – Dark fruit, anise and herbs.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

New Zealand …<\/strong>
Coopers Creek 2013 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #57802) – juicy cherry seasoned with dashes of white pepper and well-balanced acidity.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Portugal …<\/strong>
Croft 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #87601) – no secret I like LBV, this one is no exception, a true delight of spice, black and red fruit, chocolate-cherry and well-balanced.  (****+)<\/p>\n

South Africa …<\/strong>
Mulderbosch 2012 Faithful Hound<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #922443) – continues to impress with good mocha, currant and spice.  (*** ½+)
Sutherland 2013 Sauvignon Blanc<\/em> <\/span>($14.95 – #203877) – soft lemon, melon, hint of gooseberry; all very subtle.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Spain …<\/strong>
Alceno 2012 Premium 50 Barricas Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #398933) – vibrant Syrah from a place a you don’t expect if from and at a good value too.  (****) – USG<\/strong>
Inspiracion Valdemar Graciano 2005<\/em><\/span> ($34.95 – #423525) – ten years old and quite tasty with herbal character surrounds dried blackberry and raspberry.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span>
Franciscan 2013 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 -#496125) – fresh with butter cream notes along with peach, pear and apple fruit and a crisp middle and good finish.  (*** ½+)
Gallo 2012 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #394197) – inky black and leathery with good juicy cassis, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla oak.  (****)
The Big Easy 2012 Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #83212) – certainly not easy and hard to pick out as Syrah, but there is creamy, smoky, mocha and peppery notes; it is a lovely sip.  (*** ½+) – USG<\/strong>
United States<\/strong> (Oregon) …<\/em><\/span>
Elouan 2013 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #420760) – somewhere between the juiciness of California and the earthy-austerity of Oregon.  (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Sagelands 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #420810) – juicy yet delicate with simple plum, blackberry and herbal notes.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________<\/p>\n

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …<\/strong>
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils 2012 Forets Chablis 1er Cru<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #231936) Burgundy, France – *** ½+
Gundlach Bundschu 2011 Merlot<\/em> <\/span>($39.95 – #397497) California, USA – ****
KWV 2014 The Mentor Chenin Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #419580) South Africa – ****
Les Vins de Vienne 2011 L’Arzelle Saint-Joseph<\/em><\/span> ($37.95 – #115030) Rhone, Franc – *** ½+
Te Whare Ra Toru 2014<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #415141) New Zealand – *** ½
The Hilt 2012 The Vanguard Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($64.95 – #407841) California, USA – (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …<\/strong>
Cakebread Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($99.95 – #710426) California, USA – **** (USG<\/strong>)
Dom Perignon 2005 Vintage Champagne<\/em><\/span> ($219.95 – #280461) Champagne, Franc – **** (USG<\/strong>)
Ridge 2012 Monte Bello<\/em><\/span> ($190.95 – #711085) California, USA – ****+
Tignanello 2011<\/span><\/em> ($102.95 – #986786) Tuscany, Italy – **** (USG<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – September 5, 2015 …<\/strong>
Alceno 2012 Premium 50 Barricas Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #398933) – Spain
Croft 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #87601) – Portugal
Kaiken 2012 Ultra Malbec<\/em> <\/span>($19.95 – #50849) – Argentina
Schola Sarmenti 2006 Roccamora Nardo’ Negroamaro<\/span><\/em> ($16.95 – #379768) – 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 Foci … Uncork Something Great (USG)The Skinny … Might be about “Uncorking Something Great” but sadly there is a very uninspiring collection of whites to choose […]<\/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-2440","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\/2440","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=2440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}