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Key to the 5-star rating system:<\/strong><\/em> Wine colour indicators – Red<\/span>, Whites<\/span>, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Foci …<\/strong> Double Exposure: New World vs Old World (DE<\/strong>) Argentina …<\/strong> Australia …<\/strong> Canada<\/strong> (British Columbia) …<\/em><\/span> Chile …<\/strong> France<\/strong> (Beaujolais) …<\/em><\/span> Italy<\/strong> (Umbria) …<\/em><\/span> New Zealand …<\/strong> Portugal …<\/strong> South Africa …<\/strong> Spain …<\/strong> United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span> ________________________________________<\/p>\n 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: April 2, 2016 …<\/strong> Happy Shopping<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[258,153,72,257,190,230,58,120,62,152,48,231,240,232,79,241,160,243,133,47,259,170,233,103],"class_list":["post-3005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vintages-releases","tag-alsace","tag-argentina","tag-australia","tag-austria","tag-bordeaux","tag-burgundy","tag-california","tag-chile","tag-france","tag-israel","tag-italy","tag-loire","tag-midi","tag-piedmont","tag-portugal","tag-puglia","tag-rhone-valley","tag-south-africa","tag-spain","tag-tuscany","tag-umbria","tag-united-states","tag-veneto","tag-washington"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3005"}],"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> The “Double Exposure” feature is quite interesting pairing up New and old World wine styles, there seems to be something for everybody – meanwhile there’s a beauty from Spain and a Zinfandel that’s worth having in your cellar for BBQ season.<\/p>\n
Don Cristobal 2014 1492 Bonard<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #261941) – licorice, black cherry and spice; this is a different departure from the usual juicy Bonarda. (*** ½+)
Fabre Montmayou 2013 Reserva Malbec<\/span><\/em> ($18.95 – #261867) – cedar, herbal and violets with blueberry skin and black pepper. (*** ½+) … DE
Villa de los Enologos 2012 Casta de Salvajes Cronos Malbec<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #442301) – juicy blackberry, herbal with vanilla, coffee \/ mocha; interesting and fun. (****)<\/p>\n
Piping Shrike 2013 Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #48504) – blue and black berry, cassis, coffee bean and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Thorn-Clarke 2013 Shotfire Shiraz<\/span><\/em> ($21.95 – #18796) – always such a delicious wine this time with chocolate, black berry \/ cherry, herbal and spice. (****)<\/p>\n
Gray Monk 2014 Gewurztraminer<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #321588) – lush lychee, floral, peachy and delightfully fleshy. (*** ½+)
Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Coyote’s Run 2014 Estate Pinot Gris<\/em><\/a> ($16.95 – #450783) … ****
G. Marquis 2010 The Silver Line Epic<\/em><\/a> ($29.95 – #310367) … *** ½+<\/p>\n
Aresti 2014 Trisquel Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #443341) – peapod, herbal and grapefruit pith. (*** ½+)
Vina Tarapaca 2012 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #18721) – smoky-blackberry, cedar, green olive and chocolate. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Hiver Gourmand 2014 Morgon<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #383778) – black cherry and pepper. (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Bordeaux) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau de Lisennes 2009 Cuvee Prestige<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #444364) – wood and earthy with black and blue berry fruit. (*** ½+)
Chateau Lamartre 2010<\/span><\/em> ($32.95 – #444265) – dark cherry, coffee, spice, sandalwood and good tannins on the finish. (****)
France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span>
Maison Chanzy 2013 En Rosey Rully<\/em><\/span> ($26.95 – #446153) – gentle cran-cherry with white pepper and a touch of earthiness on the finish. (*** ½+) … DE<\/strong>
France<\/strong> (Loire) …<\/em><\/span>
Roland Tissier & Fils 2014 Sancerre<\/span><\/em> ($27.95 – #108514) – a very sippable Sauvignon Blanc that shows the herbal \/ citrus pith side of the grape. (****) … DE<\/strong>
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Brotte 2013 La Marasque Gigondas<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #443119) – wood-smoke, spice and chewy fruit. (*** ½+)
Mas des Bressades 2014 Cuvee Tradition<\/span><\/em> ($16.95 – #143099) – nice fruit of cherry, blackberry, vanilla, cassis with weak coffee on the finish. (****)
Brunel de la Gardine 2014 Hermitage<\/em><\/span> ($23.95 – #339861) – pretty violet, raspberry and cherry notes touched with a black pepper note. (*** ½+) … DE<\/strong><\/p>\n
Bocale 2012 Montefalco Rosso<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #434316) – blackberry, cassis and black pepper. (*** ½)
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
Corte Majoli 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #84061) – a little coffee, black cherry and spice. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Stoneleigh 2015 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #324228) – zesty version that’s gentle on citrus with notes of pea pod and fresh grapefruit. (****) … DE<\/strong><\/p>\n
Titular 2013 Red<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #445148) – good dinner wine with nice acidity, subtle fruit with a little dose of wood on the finish. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
The Chocolate Block<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #129353) – touch of white pepper, mocha, violet and spice. (*** ½)
Waterkloof 2014 Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #443382) – refreshing pear and apple with some honeyed notes and good acidity. (*** ½+) … DE<\/strong><\/p>\n
Bodegas Langa 2012 PI-3.1415 Concejon<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #313841) – juicy red cherry and hint of cedar. (*** ½)
Duquesa de Valladolid 2014 Verdejo<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #391649) – lively honeycomb, beeswax and apple skin. (***+)
Gonzalez Byass Solera 1847 Cream Sherry<\/span> <\/em>($18.95 – #446476) – one of my all-time favourite Sherries is back, it’s a delightful creamy version, with a touch of acidity for balance; not as good as past incarnations but still quite tasty. (*** ½)
Torres 2012 Salmos<\/em><\/span> ($30.95 – #450734) – mocha, cherry and cassis with blackberry and toasty notes on the long finish. (****)
Vina Vilano 2011 Crianza<\/span><\/em> ($21.95 – #82180) – this gorgeous piece of business might be the best wine of the release: dark fruit, wood smoke, vanilla, all with a juicy core. (****+)<\/p>\n
Bridlewood 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #449751) – easy drinking mocha and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Decoy 2014 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #191833) – sweet cherry, sandalwood and spice. (*** ½) … DE<\/strong>
Matanzas Creek 2013 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($27.95 – #932707) – pretty fruit forward with vanilla, peach, apple, hints of pear; creamy smooth, delicate, nice fruit and good acidity. (****+)
Ravenswood 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #942599) – goegeous Zin with cherry, plum, blackberry, mocha with a spicy finish. (****) … DE<\/strong>
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2013 Karia Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($48.95 – #054585) – high alcohol but it’s expected in a Cali-Chardonnay; ripe pineapple, peach, vanilla, ripe and round – this one’s for those California Chardonnay lovers. (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Oregon) …<\/em><\/span>
Iris 2013 Pinot Gris<\/em><\/span> ($23.95 – #445726) – touch of orange peel gives this wine something extra to look forward to; also with some beeswax and good acidity. (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Hogue 2013 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #275123) – fruit forward Cab with smoky, cedar, vanilla, spice and dark fruit. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n
Feudo di Santa Croce LXXIV 2013 Primitivo di Manduria<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #434217) – Puglia … (****)
Groth 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/span><\/em> ($112.95 – #606517) – California … (*** ½+)
Jean-Luc Colombo 2012 Terres Brulees Cornas Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($72.95 – #448837) – Rhone … (****+)
Palazzo 2009 Right Bank Red<\/span><\/em> ($92.00 – #423194) – California … (****)
Pegaso 2010 Granito<\/em><\/span> ($44.95 – #442749) – Spain … (*** ½)
Sylvain Mosnier 2013 Cote de Lechet Chablis 1er Cru<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #318139) – Burgundy … (****)
Yealands 2013 Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($49.00 – #416784) – New Zealand … (****+)<\/p>\n
Baron-Fuente 2006 Grand Millesime Brut Champagne<\/em><\/span> ($56.95 – #155119) – Champagne (****)
San Felice 2010 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino<\/em><\/span> ($59.95 – #991075) – Tuscany (****+)
Whitehall Lane 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($69.95 – #606509) – California (****)<\/p>\n
Mas des Bressades 2014 Cuvee Tradition<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #143099) – Rhone
Ravenswood 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #942599) – California
Vina Vilano 2011 Crianza<\/span><\/em> ($21.95 – #82180) – Spain<\/p>\n