{"id":4513,"date":"2018-03-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/29\/saturday-march-31-2018-vintages-release-report\/"},"modified":"2018-03-29T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-29T09:00:00","slug":"saturday-march-31-2018-vintages-release-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/2018\/03\/29\/saturday-march-31-2018-vintages-release-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday March 31, 2018 – Vintages Release Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

 <\/p>\n

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> Sonoma (S<\/strong>) and Golden Oldies (GO<\/strong>)
The Skinny …<\/strong> Another two-fold focus with Sonoma and Old Wines being on the docket … sadly the old wines just seem like “lost in the warehouse” selections, with some notable exceptions, and the Sonoma wines seem very run of the mill (again, with some exceptions) – the real treats are in the main release with Puglia and Spain being the most notable – and one of my favourite Burgundy values is back from the Talmards.<\/p>\n

Argentina …<\/strong>
Don Cristobal 1492 2016 Bonarda<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #261941) – this one is super simple with plenty of red berries and quaffability. (***+)
Vina Cobos 2016 Felino Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #119099) – floral and citrus with delicious apple, peach and pear. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Australia …<\/strong>
Kilikanoon 2014 Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #481051) – rich black fruit, cedar, vanilla and cherry.  (*** ½+)
Kilikanoon 2013 Prodigal Grenache<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #482547) – easy drinking, gentle fruit, earthy yet fruity: dark and red with some pretty floral notes. (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2016 Clare Valley Estate Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #711556) – apricot, apple and hazelnut. (***+)<\/p>\n

Canada (Ontario) …<\/strong> click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Bachelder 2015 Niagara Chardonnay<\/em><\/a> ($24.95 – #302083) – *** ½+
Cave Spring 2016 CSV Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($29.95 – #566026) – *** ½+
Coyote’s Run 2016 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #053090) – *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2012 Estate Cabernet\/Merlot<\/em><\/a> ($24.95 – #395855) – ****+
Rockway 2015 Block Blend Red<\/em><\/a> ($19.95 – #546556) – *** ½<\/p>\n

Chile …<\/strong>
Loma Larga 2015 Lomas del Valle Quinteto<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #546721) – If you’re a fan of Ontario Cabernet Franc it’s time to check out the competition; 60% Cab Franc with Merlot and Malbec mixed in: vanilla, cherry, blackberry and a minty finish. (*** ½+)
Terra Noble 2015 Gran Reserva Carignan<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #542118) – smoky blackberry, black cherry and mocha.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

France<\/strong> (Bordeaux)<\/span> <\/em>…
Chateau L’Ermitage 2014<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #425496) – big black and ballsy, mocha, black cherry and coffee on the finish.  (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span>
Domaine Louis Moreau 2016 Chablis<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #124305) – apple, citrus, lime, with a nice crisp character and minerality. (****)
Domaine Ninot 2015 Vieilles Vignes Mercurey<\/em><\/span> ($38.95 – #534388) – earthy and black currant with plum, black cherry, and boysenberry; rich and juicy on the finish. (****)
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2016 Macon-Uchizy<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #733958) – Another delicious Chardonnay from the Talmards at a great price: pear, ginger, lemon, apple with some bitter melon on the finish. (****)
France<\/strong> (Champagne) …<\/em><\/span>
Paul Dangin & Fils Cuvee Fantasie Champagne<\/em><\/span> ($40.95 – #514299) – nice biscuit notes with almond, lemon zest, and baked apple.  (*** ½+)
France<\/strong> (Loire) …<\/em><\/span>
Thierry Delaunay 2016 Le Grand Ballon Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #469593) – grass and pea pod with hints of melon.  (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Paul Jaboulet Aine 2015 Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #526731) – lovely blueberry, smoked raspberry and herbal notes.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Germany …<\/strong>
St Urbans-Hof 2016 Old Vines Riesling<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #995746) – hint of sweetness with talc and apple notes with peach, floral and pretty orchard fruit.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Greece …<\/strong>
Ktima Pavlidis Thema 2014 Agiorgitiko\/Syrah<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #202622) – spice, plum, and coffee with nice tannins.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> (Abruzzo) …<\/em><\/span>
Il Feuduccio 2014 Fonte Venna Montepulciano D’Abruzzo<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #541474) – raspberry, menthol, juicy and a touch herbal. (*** ½)
Italy<\/strong> (Piedmont) …<\/em><\/span>
Sansilvestro 2016 Sabbie Roero Arneis ($15.95 – #541482) – light and crisp with apple, lime and yellow plum. (*** ½)
Italy<\/strong> (Puglia) …<\/em><\/span>
Papale 2014 Linea Oro Primitivo di Manduri<\/em><\/span>a ($23.95 – #261784) – spicy black cherry with a sweet plum finish. (*** ½)
San Marzano 2014 Vindoro Negroamaro<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #473181) – this is one of those paper-weight bottles you could hold a heavy door open with; it’s also rich and jammy with chocolate\/mocha, plum, black cherry and spicy, just use a cart when purchasing more than two. (****+)
Italy<\/strong> (Sicily) …<\/em><\/span>
Feudo Maccari 2016 Grillo<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #477877) – simply citrus with apricot and bosc pear. (*** ½)
Messer del Fauno 2016 Nero D’Avola<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #538132) – simple yet seductive with black cherry, raspberry and mocha. (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Tuscany) …<\/em><\/span>
Antinori 2012 Badi a Passignano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #384552) – sweet plum and herbal with blackberry, cassis, and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Castelli del Grevepesa 2013 Clemente VII Riserva Chianti Classico<\/em><\/span> ($23.95 – #643205) – smoky and bittersweet chocolate with blackberry and cassis notes. (*** ½+)
San Felice 2015 Chianti Classico<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #282996) – sweet black cherry, blackberry and earthy. (*** ½)
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
Tedeschi 2015 Capitel San Rocco Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #719294) – cassis, black cherry, mocha, blackberry with a punch on the finish. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

South Africa …<\/strong>
Bellingham 2016 Homestead Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #544247) – nice value in a basic Chardonnay. (*** ½)<\/p>\n

Spain …<\/strong>
Borsao 2014 Bole<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #471565) – smooth and supple with blackberry, plum, cherry and rhubarb. (*** ½+)
Castano 2016 Ecologico Barrica Monastrell<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #546085) – spiced plum and cherry. (*** ½+)
Palacios Remondo 2016 La Vendimia<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #674564) – Great value red from Spain with lots of cherry, raspberry, strawberry fruit backed by subtle oak and anise. (****)
Rioja Vega 2014 Crianza<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #471854) – meaty, cherry and white pepper. (*** ½)<\/p>\n

United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span>
Decoy 2015 Merlot<\/em><\/span> ($35.95 – #460642) – simple but tasty; juicy blue and black berries with cocoa backing.  (*** ½) … S<\/strong>
Frei Brothers 2015 Reserve Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #281758) – sweet and seductive with baked plum pudding and black cherry. (*** ½) … S<\/strong>
J Lohr 2015 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($49.95 – #686584) – coffee and mocha with blackberry, and oak, but it’s not over the top; smooth and silky. (*** ½)
La Crema 2015 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($34.95 – #719435) – juicy black cherry, plum, currants and spice.  (*** ½+) … S<\/strong>
Lake Sonoma Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #380188) – juicy and plummy with some cigar notes. (***+) … S<\/strong>
Lander Jenkins 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #161398) – gentle dark fruit, easy drinking. (*** ½)
Ravenswood 2010 Dickerson Single Vineyard Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($46.95 – #599183) – layers of sweet fruit flavour with spice, raspberry, anise, cinnamon, hints of herbal and mineral.  (****+) … GO<\/strong>
Seghesio 2016 Sonoma Zinfandel<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #942151) – seemingly simple but with depth and layering the more you sip: plum, black cherry, wood and spice.  (****) … S<\/strong>
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Columbia Crest 2015 H3 Merlot<\/em><\/span> ($21.95 – #209874) – H3 is Horse Heaven Hills and it’s a region in Washington that makes wonderful wines: blueberry, boysenberry, cherry and mocha. (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

________________________________________<\/p>\n

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear at selected Vintages outlet …<\/strong>
Cave Jean et Sebastien Dauvissat 2014 Montmains Chablis 1er Cru<\/em><\/span>, Burgundy ($51.95 – #485383) – *** ½+
Dunham Cellars 2014 Three Legged Dog<\/em><\/span>, Washington ($34.95 – #551515) – ****
Goretti 2009 Sangrantino di Montefalco<\/em><\/span>, Umbria ($49.95 – #542191) – ****
Keint-he 2013 Queenston Road Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span><\/a>, Ontario ($30.00 – #442814) – ****
Olarra Erudito 2009 Reserva Especial<\/em><\/span>, Spain ($44.95 – #378885) – *** ½
Quinta do Portal 2014 Reserva<\/em><\/span>, Portugal ($25.95 – #280578) – *** ½+
Tenuta San Leonardo 2013 Terre di San Leonardo<\/em><\/span>, Italy ($24.95 – #541383) – *** ½+<\/p>\n

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …<\/strong>
Amiral de Beychevelle 2014<\/em><\/span>, Bordeaux ($72.95 – #043877) – *** ½+
Antinori 2012 Pian Delle Vigne 2012 Brunello di Montalcino<\/em><\/span>, Tuscany ($64.95 – #651141) – ****
Chateau des Charmes 2014 Riesling Icewine<\/em><\/span><\/a>, Ontario ($67.00 \/ 375ml – #413724) – ****
Hedges Family Estate 2005 Red<\/em><\/span>, Washington ($79.95 – #001594) – *** ½ (GO<\/strong>)
Kistler 2015 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay<\/em><\/span>, California ($119.95 – #353706) – *** ½+ (S<\/strong>)
Poggio Sant’Enrico 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano<\/em><\/span>, Tuscany ($62.95 – #998211) – *** ½+ (GO<\/strong>)
Quintarelli 2014 Primofiore<\/em><\/span>, Veneto ($74.95 – #020867) – ****
Rodney Strong 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span>, California ($59.95 – #677690) – *** ½+<\/p>\n

What I’ll Be Lining Up For … (March 31, 2018):<\/strong>
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2016 Macon Uchizy<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #733958) – France
Palacios Remondo 2016 La Vendimia<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #674564) – Spain
San Marzano 2014 Vindoro Negroamaro<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #473181) – Italy<\/p>\n

Happy Shopping<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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