<\/p>\n
Key to the 5-star rating system:<\/strong><\/em> Wine colour indicators – Red<\/span>, Whites<\/span>, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Foci …<\/strong> Chile Simplified (CS<\/strong>) and Best Burgundian Bets (BBB<\/strong>) Argentina …<\/strong> Australia …<\/strong> Canada<\/strong> (British Columbia) …<\/span><\/em> Chile …<\/strong> France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span> Italy<\/strong> (Abruzzo) …<\/span><\/em> New Zealand …<\/strong> Portugal …<\/strong> South Africa …<\/strong> Spain …<\/strong> United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span> In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …<\/strong> If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …<\/strong> What I’ll Be Lining Up For (September 3, 2016) …<\/strong> Happy Shopping<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/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 … Chile Simplified (CS) and Best Burgundian Bets (BBB)The Skinny … There truly are some lovely Chilean wines in this release but the Burgundy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2927","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\/2927","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=2927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2927\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good<\/em><\/p>\n
The Skinny …<\/strong> There truly are some lovely Chilean wines in this release but the Burgundy wines are a real let down; there is also some delicious wines from Spain and a hell of a deal from France (see: Midi).<\/p>\n
Durigutti 2012 Blend<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #450171) – smooth and creamy with dark fruit; simple but tasty. (*** ½)
Serbal 2014 Malbec<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #444737) – juicy with blackberry and spiced plum. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
The Lackey 2015 Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #005199) – a gentle entry level Shiraz will all the hallmarks you’d expect. (*** ½)
Wits End 2014 Luna Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($17.00 – #311258) – peppery, smoky bacon and black pepper. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Quails’ Gate 2014 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($28.95 – #585760) – a nice earthy seam amongst the brambly\/black fruit and red pepper. (*** ½+)
Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/span><\/em>
Cave Spring 2013 Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer<\/a><\/em> ($17.95 – #302059) – ****
Chateau des Charmes 2014 St David’s Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit<\/a><\/em> ($17.95 – #346742) – ****
Featherstone 2015 Rosé<\/a><\/em> ($15.95 – #117861) – ****
Fielding Estate 2013 Cabernet Franc<\/a><\/em> ($21.95 – #036194) – *** ½
Inniskillin 2013 Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir<\/em><\/a> ($29.95 – #997353) – ****
Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Rosé<\/em><\/a> ($35.95 – #113035) – *** ½
Sunnybrook 2014 Spiced Apple Wine<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #374793) – *** ½+
Tawse 2015 Sketches of Niagara Rosé<\/a><\/em> ($17.15 – #172643) – *** ½
Tawse 2014 Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($20.20 – #370361) – ****+<\/p>\n
Errazuriz 2015 Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #462614) – grassy, citrus zest, green apple and nice acidity. (*** ½+) – CS<\/strong>
Signos de Origen 2015 La Vinilla Chardonnay\/Viognier\/Marsanne\/Rousanne<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #063909) – fun and flavourful but it’ll take you a few sips to get into it: a little spice with pineapple, pear, apple, peach and biting acidity. (****) – CS<\/strong>
Casa Silva 2013 Cool Coast Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #464420) – raspberry, beet root, strawberry; more fruit than earthy with a white pepper finish. (****) – CS<\/strong>
Arboleda 2013 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon<\/span><\/em> ($19.95 – #606764) – dark fruit with black and red berries and a touch of white pepper and smoke. (*** ½+) – CS<\/strong>
Montes Alpha 2013 Carmenere<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #143230) – roasted peppers and spiced plum. (*** ½+) – CS<\/strong>
Concha y Toro 2013 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #562918) – minty blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and tobacco. (*** ½+) – CS<\/strong>
Espino 2014 Carmenere<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #464412) – dark berry with mineral notes and spice. (*** ½+) – CS<\/strong><\/p>\n
Louis Bouillot NV Perle D’Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #048801) – crisp and lively acidity with citrus and vibrant minerality. (****) – BBB<\/strong>
Louis Max 2014 Cotes de Nuits-Villages<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #445312) – nicely spiced with red and black fruit and a long fruit. (****) – BBB<\/strong>
Andre Goichot 2014 Givry Les Servoisines 1er Cru<\/em><\/span> ($33.95 – #466151) – smoky, white pepper, and gentle raspberry fruit. (*** ½+) – BBB<\/strong>
France<\/strong> (Midi) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau de Segure 2013 Fitou<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #370254) – nice smooth entry, well-layered with blackberry, cassis, mocha, cherry and black pepper; good value. (****+)
Tessellae 2014 Old Vines Grenache\/Syrah\/Mourvedre Cotes du Rousillon<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #343517) – mocha, raspberry, cherry with good acidity and a silky mouthfeel. (****)
France<\/strong> (Provence) …<\/span><\/em>
Mimi en Provence 2015 Grande Reserve Rosé<\/em> ($18.95 – #452573) – light citrus\/lime with some apple skin to the finish. (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
E. Guigal 2012 Saint Joseph<\/em><\/span> ($36.95 – #030031) – lots of pepper and spice along with black fruit and earthiness. (****)
Mas des Bressades 2013 Cuvee Excellence<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #708750) – smoky mid-palate with cassis, raspberry, mocha and spice. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Illuminati 2010 Zanna Riserva Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Colline Teramane<\/em><\/span> ($38.95 – #023242) – smoky, mocha, cassis and black licorice. (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Alto Adige) …<\/em><\/span>
Peter Zemmer 2014 Pinot Grigio<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #095802) – white fruit, pleasant, crisp with green apple notes. (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Piedmont) …<\/em><\/span>
Azelia 2011 Barolo<\/em> <\/span>($48.95 – #291963) – spicy, woody and with plenty of dried fruit. (*** ½+)
Beni di Batasiolo 2015 Granee Gavi del Comune di Gavi<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #075168) – citrus, mineral and good acidity. (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Tuscany) …<\/em><\/span>
Borgo Scopeto 2013 Borgonero<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #421396) – this is good value in a well-made , easy-drinking Tuscan-blend with good structure and dark berries. (****)
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi 2013 Campo Al Sassi Rosso di Montalcino<\/span><\/em> ($21.95 – #429415) – red licorice, herbal and sweet cranberry. (*** ½+)
Vicchiomaggio 2012 Agostino Petri Riserva Chianti Classico<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #993360) – red fruit and violets with a touch of leather, earthy, smoky and nice grit on the finish. (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
Masi 2012 Brolo Campofiorin<\/em><\/span> ($26.95 – #976092) – mocha, plum, and spiced cherry; rich and flavourful. (****+)<\/p>\n
Akarua 2015 Rua Pinot Noir<\/span><\/em> ($27.95 – #295592) – well-balanced, sweet fruited with toasty oak, good balancing acidity and a smoky cranberry finish. (****)
Auntsfield 2013 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($31.95 – #361246) – dark fruit, smoky \/ grainy mid-palate and big tannins. (****)
Nobilo 2015 Icon Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #912337) – grapefruit cocktail with floral and hint of hay. (*** ½)<\/p>\n
Vadio 2012 Tinto<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #463257) – gentle vanilla, black cherry and white pepper. (*** ½)<\/p>\n
Rustenberg 2014 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #443374) – really smoky with fresh black pepper and mocha-licorice notes with hints of cassis. (*** ½)<\/p>\n
Clos Gebrat 2014 CG+<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #360511) – rich vanilla, mocha-cherry, chocolate and dark fruit. (****)
Convento San Francisco 2010<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #206409) – sweet fruited, mocha, vanilla, black cherry, with a smoky intensity on the finish. (****+)
Descendientes de J. Palacios 2013 Petalos<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #446484) – raspberry and licorice mingle with smoke and white pepper; gentle yet flavourful. (****+)
Montgo 2012 Monastrell<\/span><\/em> ($13.95 – #452136) – plum and raspberry with toasty notes and mocha undertones. (*** ½+)
Orben 2011<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #191379) – richer style of Rioja than you might be familiar with: vanilla, cassis, blackberry and plum with some spicy-tannins on the finish. (****)
Oro de Castilla 2015 Verdejo<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #745562) – pleasantly pineapple, floral with apples and pears. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Black Stallion 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($34.95 – #256768) – coffee-mocha, blackberry, cassis, black cherry and chocolate; well layered and nicely spiced. (****)
Ferrari Carano 2012 Tre Terre Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($40.95 – #458752) – butter, spice and vanilla; quite typically Californian and tasty too. (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2014 Los Osos Merlot<\/em> <\/span>($21.95 – #027516) – still a soft and silky Merlot with a juicy core or blueberry and raspberry. (****)
La Crema 2014 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($26.95 – #367896) – earthy with smoked meat, raspberry, cherry and a sweet fruit center. (*** ½+)
Rodney Strong 2013 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #456723) – lots of coffee, oak, cassis, blackberry, tarry and toasty. (*** ½+)
Rutherford Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($26.95 – #073817) – soft and silky with plenty of dark fruit. (*** ½)
Stags’ Leap Winery 2013 Petite Sirah<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #590356) – blue and black berry, quite floral and feminine; it’s a wine that’ll keep you coming back for another glass. (*** ½+)
Stonestreet 2014 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #991380) – big and blowsy with caramel apple and spice that reigns supreme. (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Columbia Crest 2014 H3 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #441998) – soft and supple with pineapple, egg cream and vanilla, finishes with a nice spice. (****)
________________________________________<\/p>\n
Jamieson Ranch 2013 Double Lariat Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($62.95 – #467175) – California (****)
Olivier Leflaive 2014 Bourgogne Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #942282) – Burgundy (****)
Schola Sarmenti Cubardi 2012 Primitivo<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #316083) – Puglia (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Antinori 2011 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino<\/em><\/span> ($61.95 – #651141) – Italy … ****+<\/p>\n
Clos Gebrat 2014 CG+<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #360511) – Spain
Chateau de Segure 2013 Fitou<\/span> ($16.95 – #370254) – France
Columbia Crest 2014 H3 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($20.95 – #441998) – Washington<\/p>\n