{"id":4532,"date":"2018-04-12T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-12T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/12\/saturday-april-14-2018-vintages-release-report\/"},"modified":"2018-04-12T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T09:00:00","slug":"saturday-april-14-2018-vintages-release-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/2018\/04\/12\/saturday-april-14-2018-vintages-release-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday April 14, 2018 – Vintages Release Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 <\/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> Grapes Gone Global (GGG<\/strong>) and Lighter Side of Red (LSR<\/strong>)
The Skinny …<\/strong> There’s a whole whack of surprising wines and most of them are not the ones you would expect, the “Global” wines best the originals, but the light reds, for the most part, are a disappointment. Highlights include a Plan de Dieu red and a Chardonnay from Chile; also a look at a $23 Portuguese red that’s mind-blowingly good for the BBQ this coming summer.<\/p>\n

Argentina …<\/strong>
La Escuela 2014 La Grava Malbec<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #547851) – mocha, blackberry, vanilla and black cherry.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia …<\/strong>
Enchanted Tree 2014 Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #540286) – chocolate, plum and black cherry with nice spicy finish.  (*** ½)
Pirathon by Kelleske 2013 Shiraz<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #130278) – mocha, black cherry and a savoury edginess.  (*** ½+)<\/p>\n

Canada<\/strong> (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review<\/em><\/span>
Featherstone 2017 Black Sheep Riesling<\/em><\/a> ($16.95 – #080234) – *** ½+ … GGG<\/strong>
Malivoire 2016 Gamay<\/em><\/a> ($17.95 – #591313) – *** ½+ … LSR<\/strong>
Tawse 2015 Growers Blend Pinot Noir<\/em><\/a> ($25.95 – #130989) – *** ½+ … LSR<\/strong>
Vieni 2016 Gamay Noir<\/em><\/a> ($17.95 – #498519) – ***+
Wildass 2016 Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/a> ($18.95 – #376814) – ***+<\/p>\n

Chile …<\/strong>
Matetic 2015 Corralillo Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #544270) – vanilla, buttery, apple, peach, tropical and hints of citrus.  (****)<\/p>\n

France<\/strong> (Burgundy) …<\/em><\/span>
Louis Jadot 2015 Chablis<\/em><\/span> ($32.95 – #468751) – lemon, mineral, apple; pricy but tasty.  (*** ½)
France<\/strong> (Languedoc) …<\/em><\/span>
Francois Lurton 2015 MJ Mas Janeil Le Petit Pas<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #537993) – simple yet tasty fruit forward wine with a touch of smoke.  (***+)
France<\/strong> (Rhone) …<\/em><\/span>
Roc des Templiers 2016 Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #539916) – nice easy drinking version of the Plan, subtle smoke with a dark fruit core.  (****)
France<\/strong> (Southwest) …<\/em><\/span>
Chateau Haut-Monplaisir 2012 Prestige Cahors Malbec<\/em><\/span> ($25.95 – #462374) – smoky dark fruit, garrigue, spiced plum and a touch woodsy.  (*** ½) … GGG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Germany …<\/strong>
Weingut Ludi Neiss 2016 That’s Neiss White<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #523936) – fresh fruit driven, peach, pear and tangerine.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> (Piedmont) …<\/span><\/em>
Prunotto 2013 Barolo<\/em><\/span> ($41.95 – #928721) – fine herbs, strawberry, orange zest and sour cherry.  (*** ½+)
Italy<\/strong> (Puglia) …<\/span><\/em>
Tormaresca Torcicoda 2015 Primitivo<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #320929) – plum, cherry, vanilla and balsamic strawberry.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong>
Italy<\/strong> (Veneto) …<\/em><\/span>
Antica Vigna Appassionato<\/em><\/span> 2011 ($16.95 – #536250) – juicy mocha and black cherry.  (*** ½)
Remo Farina 2016 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #999946) – mainly cherry with a hint of earthy.  (***+) … LSR<\/strong>
Zardetto Molin Conegliano Valdobbiane Prosecco Superiore<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #514521) – lemon and apple with a slight biscuit note.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

New Zealand …<\/strong>
Astrolabe 2016 Province Sauvignon Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #010421) – punchy grapefruit, grassy with a citrus pith finish.  (*** ½) … GGG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Portugal …<\/strong>
Perequita 2015 Reserva<\/em><\/span> ($15.95 – #488007) – cherry, plum and strawberry.  (*** ½)
Sao Miguel 2015 Escolha dos Enologos<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #445122) – rich and elegant, black fruit, cassis, blackberry, plum and smoke; this one is worthy of a BBQ.  (****)<\/p>\n

South Africa …<\/strong>
Fleur du Cap 2014 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #548495) – coffee, cassis, nice oak integration, earthy dark fruit: black cherry and blackberry.  (****)
Ken Forrester 2016 Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #231282) – lanolin, peach pit and salty grapefruit.  (*** ½) … GGG<\/strong>
KWV 2014 The Mentors Orchestra<\/em><\/span> ($24.95 – #548529) – hint of dirt but there’s also smoky, blackberry, mocha and cassis.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

Spain …<\/strong>
Baron de Ley 2010 Gran Reserva<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #642496) – supple and simple, earthy and herbal, smoky and spicy with plenty of dried fruit.  (*** ½+)
Borsao 2016 Tres Picos Garnacha<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #273748) – plum, cherry and smoky bacon.  (****)
El Goru 2015 Monastrell\/Syrah\/Petit Verdot<\/em><\/span> ($13.95 – #443945) – simple, easy drinking red with cassis and blackberry.  (*** ½)<\/p>\n

United States<\/strong> (California) …<\/em><\/span>
Cline 2016 Viognier<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #128421) – tropical sweetness with pineapple, guava and peach.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong>
Decoy 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($36.95 – #186171) – juicy black cherry, mocha and a little smoke; well-integrated tannins, a real satisfying sip.  (****+)
Gloria Ferrer 2014 Carneros Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($36.95 – #925925) – firm tannins, strawberry, black cherry with earthy, smoky and spicy notes.  (*** ½+) … LSR<\/strong>
Hess Collection 2014 Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #906420) – blueberry, vanilla, oaky-smoky, black cherry and licorice.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong>
Ironstone 2016 Chenin Blanc<\/em><\/span> ($17.95 – #515130) – grapefruit, pear, lime and a little bit of pith on the finish.  (***+)
La Crema 2016 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($29.95 – #962886) – peach and baked apple, nice mid-weight with a simple spiced finish.  (*** ½+)
Noble Vines 2014 337 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #483321) – sweet cherry, fruit forward dark fruit and mocha.  (*** ½)
Poseidon Vineyard 2015 Estate Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($39.95 – #544957) – floral, apple, tropical, mead-like notes, hazelnut and a nice smooth finish.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong>
Tom Gore 2015 Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #458810) – creamy pear, pineapple, and caramel with some bite to the finish.  (*** ½+)
United States<\/strong> (Oregon) …<\/em><\/span>
Rex Hill 2014 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span> ($42.95 – #275735) – lively plum, cherry and blackberry.  (*** ½+) … GGG<\/strong>
United States<\/strong> (Washington) …<\/em><\/span>
Powers 2014 Spectrum<\/em><\/span> ($16.95 – #551465) – interesting Washington blend with sweet cherry, cassis and blackberry fruit notes.  (*** ½)
________________________________________<\/p>\n

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …<\/strong>
Boscarelli 2013 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano<\/em><\/span>, Tuscany ($39.95 – #477620) … *** ½+
Domaine du Petit Metris 2015 Clos de La Marche Savennieres<\/em><\/span>, Loire ($24.95 – #250571) … *** ½
Giordano Amarama 2015 Primitivo Appassimento<\/em><\/span>, Puglia ($39.95 – #548925) … ****+
K 2014 The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah<\/em><\/span>, Washington ($54.95 – #552182) … ****+
Legon 2014 Premium<\/em><\/span>, Spain ($32.95 – #270645) … ****
Mollydooker 2016 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz<\/em><\/span>, Australia ($54.95 – #327379) … ****+
Tenuta Lageder 2016 Porer Pinot Grigio<\/em><\/span>, Italy ($29.95 – #473843) … *** ½<\/p>\n

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …<\/strong>
Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne<\/em><\/span>, France ($86.95 – #384529) – ****+
Chateau Gombaude-Guillot 2008<\/em><\/span>, Bordeaux ($99.95 – #552455) – *** ½+
Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils 2015 Les Clous Meursault<\/em><\/span>, Burgundy ($62.95 – #661322) – **** … GGG<\/strong>
Faust 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span>, California ($59.95 – #238261) – ****
Masi 2012 Costasera Riserva Amarone della Valpolicella Classico<\/em><\/span>, Veneto ($69.95 – #324137) – ****+
Ornellaia 2014<\/em><\/span>, Tuscany ($199.95 – #722470) – ****+
Paul Hobbs 2015 Pinot Noir<\/em><\/span>, California ($84.95 – #119081) – ****
Roux Pere & Fils 2015 Beaurepaire Santenay 1er Cru<\/em><\/span>, Burgundy ($54.95 – #527994) – **** … GGG<\/strong>
Silver Oak 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span>, California ($118.95 – #943472) – *** ½+<\/p>\n

What I’ll Be Lining Up For … (April 14, 2018) …<\/strong>
Fleur du Cap 2014 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon<\/em><\/span> ($19.95 – #548495) – South Africa
Matetic 2015 Corralillo Chardonnay<\/em><\/span> ($18.95 – #544270) – Chile
Roc des Templiers 2016 Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages<\/em><\/span> ($14.95 – #539916) – France
Sao Miguel 2015 Escolha dos Enologos<\/em><\/span> ($22.95 – #445122) – Portugal<\/p>\n

Happy Shopping<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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