Archive for the Alan Kerr Category

Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of notes to report on from this release of June 23rd. The board shipped the usual quantity of wines to taste, but most were from the upcoming release scheduled for July 7th. Nonetheless, with due diligence, I offer my thoughts on several of the wines to hit the shelves this coming weekend.

677476 JIM BARRY THE COVER DRIVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 Coonawarra, South Australia $19.95
Heaps of dark fruit and sweet spice, backed up with earthy and mineral notes, a touch of lead pencil and tobacco. A lovely roundness on the palate, concentrated flavours of Cassis, sleek, slender and well balanced. Find this wine

377036 WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2016 McLaren Vale/Clare Valley, South Australia $24.95
Lots of dark sweet fruit, cake spice, sweet chocolate and cracked black pepper. The palate is chunky and globby, but the acidity does its job to mellow it out. A little over the top for me; the coconut is bold, but good dark fruit flavours do shine on the finish. Find this wine

478271 SISTER’S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 Coonawarra, South Australia $16.95
An interesting meld of plum, cherry and blackberry with hints of clay, mint, shoe polish, iron and even a bloody note. The fully expressed palate has a creamy texture and features Bounty candy bar, pure dark fruit, vibrant acidity and a long and tasty finish. A good value summer quaffer. Find this wine

562892 CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO PEUMO VINEYARD BLOCK 27 CARMENÈRE 2016 Peumo, Cachapoal Valley $34.95
A delightful wine loaded with heady aromas of red fruit, black raspberry, plum, and cedar. There is a backdrop of wet earth, lead pencil and potato peel. The palate is silky, showing off delightful flavours of blackberry, currant and eucalyptus. Find this wine

060020 SEQUOIA GROVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 Napa Valley $69.95
The aromas of black raspberry, currant and mint are enhanced by a touch of star anise and clove. The ripe palate is focused on blackcurrant, some tannins make their presence known and vanilla pops up on the finish. Find this wine

054841R. STUART & CO. BIG FIRE PINOT NOIR 2014 Willamette Valley $27.95
From the get go, this wine throws off really odd medicinal aromas, a strong herbaceous note, red apple and funk. Its palate is redolent of flat cola with coffee grounds and dried fruit. To me it is simply awful, but James Suckling touts this wine and as it garnered 93 points. Not sure we had the same wine here! Find this wine

446401 ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE ROUGE 2015 $31.95
Pinot as cooler climate Pinot should be. Raspberry and bright cherry notes appear alongside mineral, wet soil, dried herbs and Szechwan peppercorns. It has a lightly structured palate, but well balanced, lots of plum and raspberry notes, milky chocolate and gentle tannins. Not a bargain basement price, but still a decent wine. Find this wine

487090 TORNATORE NERELLO MASCALESE/NERELLO CAPPUCCIO 2015 Etna Rosso $22.95
Although this blend from Sicily (95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio) has a very light robe, underneath there’s a fair bit going on. Dark cherry, cola, caramel and balsa lead to dry palate of stewed fruit. Some dusty tannins and decent acidity. Find this wine

716266 SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2014 $28.95
Bright and gutsy, laden with raspberry anise and sweet cherry aromas. Pretty full bodied, showing good structure, whilst at this juncture, the tannin is in control. Nevertheless, the trodden notes of red fruit, sweet spice and promise good things to come. Find this wine

Cheers,
CZ

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Milestone Moments is the theme for June the 9th. Vintages is releasing wines that have changed the direction of the wine world. It’s an odd choice, but nonetheless, here are my thoughts on some of the wines available.

ONTARIO

068825 HIDDEN BENCH FUMÉ BLANC 2016 Rosomel Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment$29.95
Hidden Bench is clearly one of the top producers in the Niagara region. Their barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, AKA Fume Blanc, gives up aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, melon and honey. The palate has bench deep mineral flavours along with lime leaf, lemon Thyme, citrus and vanilla. It is beautifully balanced with good length on the finish. Find this wine

USA

046342 PAUL DOLAN ZINFANDEL 2015 Mendocino County $29.95
A mix of clay, mineral, dried herbs, plum, blueberry, red currant and spicy Szechwan peppercorn. Its palate is tight, but the fruit is there and will be released once the tannin subsides. Lovely plum and toffee notes on the finish. Find this wine

708982 STAG’S LEAP WINE CELLARS ARTEMIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 Napa Valley $84.95
This blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot has pure Cassis/Ribena essence that is supported with layers of Fry’s chocolate cream and raspberry ripple. However, there is far more to this wine than the shop floor of a candy factory. It also shows notes of mocha, espresso, plum and Asian spice. Tannins are gentle allowing the dark fruit to shine; the sweetness is balanced by perfect acidity. Find this wine

269357 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 Columbia Valley $21.95
Dark fruit, leather, forest floor and sweet spice aromas carry through to a palate of chewy chocolate, currant and plum. Find this wine

715979 RAYMOND RESERVE SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 Napa Valley $44.95
Warm blackcurrant, touch of clay and mineral, solid palate, chunky, but full of creamy dark fruit, cocoa and gentle tannins. Find this wine

NEW ZEALAND

063941 MAHI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 Marlborough, South Island $20.95
All the usual suspects, gooseberry, kiwi and grapefruit line up. The palate is a little fat, but carries nice flavours of candied lime, tree fruit and melon. This is worth chilling and popping the cork for an opener to a summer barbecue. Find this wine

SOUTH AFRICA

556365 L’AVENIR FAR & NEAR CHENIN BLANC 2017 Stellenbosch $15.95
An interesting quaffer, laden with notes of honey, lime and pineapple leading to a high acid palate of guava, ripe pear and grapefruit. Find this wine

129353 THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK 2016 Swartland $39.95
This ripe and polished blend of Syrah with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut and Viognier is brimming with notes of blackberry, olive, blackcurrant, flint, mineral and chalk. Its palate is leathery, somewhat harsh, full of dark fruit and black pepper, but once this baby settles down, it will deliver much pleasure for sure. Find this wine

FRANCE

363101 CHÂTEAU DES LANDES CUVÉE PRESTIGE 2014 Lussac-Saint-Émilion $25.95
An interesting nose showing plum, currant, black raspberry, lead pencil and lavender. There is pleasing red fruit on the palate, but it is still so tannic and very astringent on the finish. Its future, who knows! Find this wine

711317 CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2015 $93.95
Layers of plum and black raspberry are pushed up by notes of tar, coal dust, juniper, dried cherry, black tea and Dutch licorice. Plenty of silky dark fruit on the palate, lively acidity, but the tannins are threatening and will soon shut this wine down. As usual, it will take time for it to rest and show its best. Find this wine

069518 DOMAINE POULLEAU PÈRE & FILS LES MONDES RONDES 2013 Côtes de Beaune $38.95
Floral and perfumed, lots of red fruit, macerated cherry, licorice root and earthy beet. As unique as the nose is, the palate shows overly mature fruit with cola flavours and sadly, the finish drops off way to soon. Find this wine

ITALY & SPAIN

216457 PIETRA PURA MANDUS PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2016 $18.95
Bold and revealing, whiffs of plum, blueberry, cake spice, lavender and Licorice Allsorts. It is quite sweet, but the creaminess and decent level of acidity tones it down. It is chunky, fun to drink and it finishes with notes of anise and burnt sugar. Find this wine

606921 MASI GRANDARELLA REFOSCO 2013 Refosco delle Venezie $28.95
Levels of dried fruit are high, but the notes of marshmallow, lavender, cake spice, and dried flowers stimulate interest. It has a silky palate featuring cherry brandy, strawberry coulis, dark fruit and balsa. Find this wine

209148 MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA FINCA YGAY RESERVA 2014 Rioja $34.95
Dark fruit, Chinese dried mushrooms, cherry liqueur and mocha on the nose. A ripe, but dusty palate with plenty of tannins powdery cocoa and bright acidity. Find this wine

FLAGSHIP WINES

Flagship wines are now not just for those residing in Ontario’s uppity neighbourhoods. Now these wines are available through the LCBO’s online ordering system.

496646 CHÂTEAU BROWN 2010 Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France $66.95
Bordeaux as Bordeaux should be, juicy blackcurrant, blackberry and plum reinforced by layers of wet earth, tar, leather and Maltesers. Its construction is solid, the fruit shines, but tannins are still powerful. Best to give this wine some time as it does has great potential. Find this wine

337048 MARCHESI DI BAROLO SARMASSA BAROLO 2013 Piedmont, Italy $77.95
Notes of caramel, cedar, plum, dark roasted coffee beans and mineral with a chewy palate full of blackberry, cinnamon, Moroccan spice and mocha flavours. . Indeed, it is a lovely wine, or it will be as the tannins grip tightly. It too will need years to show its best. Find this wine

327452 GLENMORANGIE SIGNET HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT Scotland $337.95
I wish I could drink Scotch. Due to an incident in my teens, I can’t tolerate. I always try it and I really love the aromatics this Scotch shows, dried orange peel, tangerine, candied citrus and treacle. The palate is where it goes pear shaped. I just can’t handle the heat! Scotch lovers will find much pleasure with this bottle.

Cheers,
CZ

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Here are a few notes on some of the wines for Vintages release on May 26th. The theme of this release is Let’s Meet The Makers, but unfortunately, many of these were not available to taste. Thus, I just bundled them all together for you. Enjoy!

421032 CHARLES MIGNON PREMIUM RÉSERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE $49.95
This bargain basement bubby is showing plenty of lime, lemon grass, tangerine and dried red fruit aromas, with good foam and apple and citrus flavours all melded with bright acidity. Find this wine

993113 TAITTINGER PRESTIGE BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE $79.95
Plenty of earthy and mineral aromas, along with nice whiffs of fresh cut flowers, rose petals, red berry and strawberry. Nice crisp mid-palate, red currant and strawberry hints make an appearance. Find this wine

096016 EMMOLO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 Napa Valley $24.95
Enticing aromas of Asian pear, lemon balm, mineral, candied lime and a weird note of poo! A sweet palate featuring dried ginger, kiwi and dried herbs. For a Sauvignon Blanc, there is not enough acidity for my taste. Find this wine

221887 ROBERT MONDAVI FUMÉ BLANC 2015 50th Anniversary, Napa Valley $22.95
I usually enjoy this wine as it is consistently well made, and sold (at least in Ontario) at a fair price. This vintage is no exception. It has bright lively aromas of almond, pear, melon, apricot, vanilla and honeydew melon. There’s a creamy texture on the palate, nice ripeness with a kick of butterscotch on the close. Find this wine

268391 HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2015 Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment $24.95
A pretty perfumed wine, showing notes of strawberry, caramel, clove and bay leaf. Its palate has decent structure, lots of red currant, rhubarb and strawberry. There are unresolved tannins that need to settle. Medium-bodied and fruity. Find this wine

469189 WESTCOTT TEMPERANCE RED 2016 Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula $19.95
This Passe-Tout-Grains, blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay has an captivating nose of wet earth, barnyard, plum, pepper, black raspberry and beet. The palate is elegant; it has plenty of red fruit and plum flavours, nice chocolate undertones and it finishes well. Find this wine

462820 BOOTLEG RED 2013 Napa County, California $49.95
A blend of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Petite Sirah, 21% Zinfandel, 12% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot, which creates a wine I should enjoy. I do! It is earthy, full of mineral, thyme, Chinese mushrooms and black licorice. The fruit appears in the form of blackberry, black raspberry and blueberry. It is disjointed at the present, but has fabulous structure and potential. Tons of sediment already! Find this wine

096024 EMMOLO MERLOT 2015 Napa Valley, California $69.95
Loads of sweet dark fruit, plum, dark cherry bouquet, backed up by layers of sawdust, cedar, nutshell and vanilla. Very ripe on the palate, creamy, but at the same time tight and solid and there is a perception of over ripeness on the finish. Find this wine

459933 ROBERT MONDAVI MAESTRO 2014 Napa Valley, California $59.95
This wine, a Meritage blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot starts out with aromas of forest floor, cave air, moss, tobacco leaf, bitter chocolate and dried fruit. The palate has a lovely roundness, nice elements of spice, cherry liqueur and chalky tannin. Find this wine

159970 CLOUDLINE PINOT NOIR 2015 Willamette Valley, Oregon $26.95
Under the reigns of Domaine Drouhin, this pleasant Pinot offers up notes of cherry, cough syrup, plum red licorice and anise. It carries a nice silky texture on the mostly red fruit palate, it’s clean well balanced and has lovely fruit laden finish. Find this wine

460964 KLOOF STREET 2016 Swartland, South Africa $19.95
I must confess that my usual take on wines from South Africa is never that positive. Happy though to say that a bottle of two of this vibrant wine, loaded with notes of blueberry, sweet spice mocha and rhubarb will be coming home with me. Beautifully balanced, lots of red fruit, milk chocolate, silky tannin and bright acidity. Find this wine

672931 ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE 2014 Veronese, Italy $24.95
Pure blackcurrant essence, backed up with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. A bit of a fruit bomb on the palate that features blackcurrant plum and vanilla bean, but the acids do their job to balance. Find this wine

552901 LORCA MONASTRELL 2009 Bullas $15.95
Some funky notes of dank earthy sewer, potato peeling, dried shitake and plum/prune. I find black cherry and blueberry on the somewhat spicy palate. A hint of cedar and chocolate on the finish makes this a fun great wine to pour, especially at this price. Albeit low on the acidity level, it provides enjoyment. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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The release for May 12 features wines from the vast and diverse region of Bordeaux, but sadly only two of the wines were available to taste. One was very good one indeed, but whilst the other was tasty, it lacked the complexity of the first. Both are eight years of age, but the quality is clearly very different. Here are notes on them and a few others too. If spring is finally here to stay, enjoy it.

282475 DOMAINE DE VIAUD 2010 Lalande-de-Pomerol $32.95
Heady aromas of iron, lead pencil, black raspberry, cream soda and blueberry. Flavour laden palate delivers dried currants, pepper, plum, Asian spice and raspberry. There are silky tannins, but they do not impede. There’s plenty of lovely dark fruit on the finish with chocolate and clean acidity. It’s drinking nicely right now. Find this wine

445510 CHÂTEAU FLEUR HAUT GAUSSENS 2010 Bordeaux Supérieur $18.95
Blackcurrant, cedar and red fruit with a touch of tar and leather, a light to medium palate, with pleasant blueberry fruit; it’s tasty, but it falls short on the finish. Find this wine

ONTARIO

493973 THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER’S BLEND DOUBLE NOIR Niagara Peninsula 2016 $18.95
This blend of Gamay and Pinot, similar to the highly quaffable Passe-tout-grains of Burgundy, exudes notes of perfume, sweet spice and ripe raspberry, which focuses more on the Gamay than the Pinot. It’s nicely balanced, there is a little tannin, but acids are crisp and clean. Good choice for a simple burger or even smoked ribs. Find this wine

USA

498766 LAKE SONOMA ZINFANDEL 2014 Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County $26.95
A solidly constructed and well-priced Zin that carries both fruit and earthy notes. It starts with blackberry, black cherry, dried blueberry, black raspberry and Cassis. Soon notes of clay, caramel, balsa and mocha appear. The palate is ripe and juicy, but not over the top. It has a blackberry toffee texture, acids are spot on and the finish is long. Find this wine

936039 SILVER OAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 Napa Valley $204.95
Gone are the days when Silver Oak had more wood than old Sherwood Forest. This rendition is choco-block full of dark super ripe fruit enhanced by mint, eucalyptus, couverture and cocoa. The structure is dense; it brings on layers of cherry cola, Ribena, After Eight mints, black currant and plum. The tannins are ripe, but not austere; its finish is super long with traces of coconut, dried fruit and black toffee. Find this wine

237776 KINGS RIDGE PINOT NOIR 2015 Willamette Valley $27.95
Flint, blackberry, wet soil, milk chocolate, strawberry, dried mushroom and cinnamon are to be found in this tasty little gem. Good fruit on the palate, strawberry jello sweetness, some black tea, dried red fruit and dusty tannins. Find this wine

486936 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE MERLOT 2015 Columbia Valley $21.95
Pleasing mix of black raspberry, blueberry jam, sweet spices, mocha and dried herb. It has an unassuming palate, nothing special, but well balanced, nice fleshy fruit on the finish along with a hit of cocoa and dusty tannin. Find this wine

ITALY

378257 BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2012 Tuscany $56.95
Maraschino and red cherry, balsa and perfume on the nose, some defined fruit on the palate, a touch of caramel, but a surprisingly short finish. Find this wine

338939 TOMMASI GRATICCIO APPASSIONATO 2015 $15.95
This blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Merlot is a peach! It teases with lovely whiffs of red fruit, red licorice, anise, lavender and Bouquet Garni. There’s mostly red fruit on the palate, where it carries a slight sweetness, but is balanced by fine acidity and there’s decent length to the finish. One to stock up on for the barbecue season. Find this wine

SPAIN

370023 LICENCIADO RESERVA 2012 Rioja $24.95
Enticing forest floor and pine needle aromas meld with mocha, cedar, cherry brandy and plum. Soft palate, nice red currant flavours, some thyme and bay leaf, gentle tannins and well balanced. Find this wine

166579 MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS RESERVA GARNACHA/TEMPRANILLO/CARIÑENA 2012 $14.95
A Vintages staple showing notes of tar, black licorice, dark fruit, forest floor and mushroom. Lovely roundness on the palate, some tannin, but nothing to spoil the fun. Just a little chalky on the finish, but a bargain basement wine that rarely disappoints. Find this wine

89284 RIDGE VINEYARDS ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 $94.95
Those lovely people at the board sent this wine, but it was not on the last release or this. Could be a “Flagship” product, but who cares, yours truly got to taste it and this is what I thought! The Draper perfume emits layers of pure dark fruit, dried mint, chalk, slate and mineral. Cherry liqueur, Asian spice and blueberry preserve make an appearance on the well-structured and nicely composed palate. Tannins are far from integrated and if one acquires a bottle or two, lay it down for at least five years. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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I was happy to taste a few of the wines from the upcoming release slotted to hit the shelves on April 28th. There is good news now for those Ontarians who might enjoy the wines that Vintages provide but live in remote areas where these wines never seem to get to. Thanks to modern technology, all consumers can use the Vintages shop online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Inventory is shown in real time so one should be able to see what’s available at all times. Even wines normally only available at the “flagship” stores (in other words, reserved for Ottawa and Toronto politicians and well to do’s) are now available to all. The feature of this release is wine from the Pacific North West. Please read on.

402180 PRIMARIUS PINOT NOIR 2015 Oregon $29.95
Lovely aromas of fresh cut flowers, plum, green herbs and dark fruit, with solid layers of beet, red licorice, black raspberry and Moroccan spice. Fabulous structure, and quite viscous; not a wine to drink just yet, but give it a year and it will settle down. Find this wine

199802 COOPER MOUNTAIN PINOT NOIR 2014 Willamette Valley$37.95
Plum and blackcurrant, with some Asian spice and cave air; lovely fruit based palate, plum and blueberry, with solid structure, but excessive sweetness that compounds on the finish. A little disjointed at this point, but time might help it settle. Find this wine

463000 14 HANDS MERLOT 2015 Columbia Valley$19.95
Plenty of dark fruit, espresso grounds, forest floor, juniper berry and sweet cherry. Clean palate, round and filled with milky chocolate, coconut, mocha and plum. Good value wine from one of Washington’s warmest growing seasons. Find this wine

488510 JOEL GOTT WASHINGTON RED 2015 Columbia Valley $24.95
Plain and simple, with nice aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, mocha, cedar and dried herbs. A blend of 49% Cabernet, 36% Merlot, 9% Syrah and 6% Malbec with a well-rounded palate, some aggressive oak and gentle tannin. Find this wine

220376 DUSTED VALLEY BOOMTOWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 Columbia Valley $19.95
Enticing fragrance of dark ripe fruit, stewed tea leaves, and creamy raspberry ripple. It carries an enjoyable texture, much like a blackcurrant smoothie, but has plenty of grip on the finish. Find this wine

OTHER WINES FROM THE USA.

480244 1000 STORIES BOURBON BARREL AGED ZINFANDEL California. 2015 $29.95
I fully appreciate that Bourbon is presently a much in-demand hipster beverage, but I have to ask the question why do this to Zinfandel? The barrel aging simply overpowers any complexity the wine might have started out with. Not for me thank you very much. Find this wine

544221 BERNARDUS SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS PINOT NOIR 2013 Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County$34.95
A little medicinal at first, then sweet spice, caramel, dark cherry, iron, mineral and underbrush appear. It has a solid palate, plum, dark cherry, mineral and wet earth with a super long finish, and great balance with lip smacking black fruit acidity. Find this wine

MORE WINES FROM THE REST OF THE GLOBE.

534768 THE THIEF GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2015 Barossa Valley, South Australia $24.95
A pleasing blend of mint, dried spice box, black fruit, saddle leather, Bounty candy bar and caramel. Its palate is lively, with good acidity and gentle oak, showing a gratifying mix of plum, blueberry, and black fruit. Find this wine

434464 CHÂTEAU SAINT-ANTOINE RÉSERVE DU CHÂTEAU 2014 Bordeaux Supérieur $16.95
Dusty, with notes of cigarette tobacco and hints of plum and sweet cherry. The palate is viscous and sweet as is the finish. one dimensional and bland. Find this wine

943290 FONTANAFREDDA SERRALUNGA D’ALBA BAROLO, Piedmont 2013 $44.95
Layers of dark fruit, cedar, sawdust, espresso, dried cherry, dried flowers, and Asian spice. Still youthful, but tannins are gentle, and pristine fruit, plum, cherry and mocha all deliver pure pleasure. This is a seriously tasty wine that will go on to reward the patient collectors decades down the road. Find this wine

368910 CARPINETO VINO RISERVA NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO, Tuscany 2012 $32.95
Charming whiffs of black raspberry, dark chocolate, anise, walnut, cigar box and leather. It is super juicy, full of red currant and cherry fruit and although enjoyable now, the dusty tannins suggest a couple of years away will change the end result. Find this wine

538561 BASILICATA CANTINA DI VENOSA VERBO AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2015 $17.95
A good value wine that boasts bold aromas of stewed red fruit, cherry cola, lead pencil and black tea, with a balanced palate of plum, red currant, red cherry and cedar. Find this wine

543710 BALBAS BARRICA OLD VINES TEMPRANILLO 2015 Ribera del Duero $14.95
This new addition to Vintages portfolio offers pure blackcurrant and sweet cherry combined with slate, mineral and Licorice Allsorts candy. A bit of a fruit bomb, but a well-balanced one that could be a winner at mid-week summer barbecues. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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Sometimes it is good to be wrong.

I recently posted notes on Ridge’s 2015 Geyserville Zinfandel blend and gave a not-so-favourable review. However, I did note that I thought the wine was possibly flawed. Geyserville and I have had a long time relationship and none consumed prior have ever tasted like this bottle did. The 2015 vintage celebrates fifty years of this coveted melange. Ridge’s first zinfandels came from the Monte Bello vineyards in Santa Cruz in the early sixties, while Geyserville wines date back to 1966. What magic Paul Draper administered with this wine stills shows through the capable hands of Eric Baugher. Baugher is the current winemaker who deftly constructs the wines at the Monte Bello winery as well as the Geyserville wine.

My non-favourable notes were spotted by someone at Rogers and Company, Ridge’s importer in Ontario. The company subsequently contacted me to inquire if I would like to taste another bottle! How nice and of course a no brainer. These are my thoughts on said new bottle.

723072 RIDGE GEYSERVILLE, Fiftieth Anniversary Bottling, 2015, Sonoma, California. $64.95
Immediately after the cork is removed, the luscious draper perfume oozes from the bottle. It’s a densely coloured wine, inky in the centre and ruby at the edge. Aromas of Black raspberry, blackberry, plum and Cassis appear backed up by hints of Dutch licorice, tar, Cardamom, slate, sawdust, walnut shells, leather and pepper.

It is full bodied on the palate, layers of super sweet dark ripe fruit, perfectly balanced, the acidity tames the sweetness. Notes of couverture chocolate meld with the fruit, and there’s minerality too. The finish has a lovely lift of acidity, plenty of dark fruit with a layer of blueberry coulis and silky tannins. Although this is enjoyable now, history has proven these wines need decades to show their best and this rendition will be in among the best. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

On November 25th, the shelves of Vintages will see an influx of the hierarchy of Californian wines and just in time for Christmas to boot. Having had the chance to try a few of them I can report that they are mostly good to exceptional, but the expense will be overwhelming for many.

936039 SILVER OAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 Napa Valley$184.95
A medium weight Cabernet blended with 10% merlot, 7% cab franc, and 3% petit verdot, showing a spicy nose of peppery vanilla and oak. Nice blackcurrant aromas along with mint, blackberry, sandalwood and biscuit. Soft and creamy on the palate, with some tannins, but not as weighty when compared to previous vintages, especially on the finish. Find this wine

142844 STAGS’ LEAP ESTATE THE LEAP CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 Stags Leap District, Napa Valley $99.95
An incredibly bold wine full of aromatics, mineral and fruit, showing plum, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, dusty soil and Dutch licorice. Pure fruit hits the palate; it’s meaty, fleshy, but well balanced. Although it tasty now, there is tannin that suggests that years down the road this will be a winner for those with patience. Find this wine

711663 CAYMUS SPECIAL SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 Napa Valley $199.95
Whiffs of Moroccan spice, dark cherry, sweet vanilla, blackberry, blueberry and cherry cola are intriguing. With time in the glass it also shows a tarry note with milk chocolate and mocha. Voluptuous texture, a fruit bomb with class. Lot of silky tannin and a sweet fruity vanilla finish. Find this wine
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It seems so long since I was able to get to London to taste. Happy to say, for the November 11th Vintages release, I was able to taste a few of the wines due to hit the shelf on Saturday.

France
566844 FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES, Rhone Valley 2015 $17.95
A mix of dark fruit, stewed plum, dark bitter chocolate and peppery spice. Quite chewy, some dusty tannin, nicely balanced and a decent finish. Good value. A year or two should prove this as a worthy investment. Find this wine

682617 CHÂTEAU LA GARDE 2010, Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux $51.95
Layers of violet, Dutch licorice, some earthy/mineral notes combine with those of black cherry and raspberry. Still youthful, but drinking nicely, with plenty of sweet fruit and juicy acidity. Find this wine

514257 MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE COLLECTION BELLENUM PETITE CHAPELLE GEVREY CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU 2001 106.95
This is a rich and sexy Pinot that still flaunts a garnet robe. It offers up aromas of red fruit, plum, Moroccan spice and dried herbs. The texture is smooth and silky, with a mix of plum, damson and sweet spice. Some tannins still, but time in a decanter will allow this wine to show even better. Not cheap, but compared to US prices, this is a steal! Find this wine

711317 CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2015 $89.95
The blend is 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% “other” varieties. Already it is developing complexity on the nose. Hints of cassis, mineral, coal dust, smoked meat and lavender all blend together creating an enticing aroma. The tannins are ripe, and the lovely flavours offer dark cherry, damson and plum, with dusty cocoa powder on the finish. Should age superbly well and again, well priced compared to the US market. Find this wine

132415 CHÂTEAU BOUSCASSÉ VIEILLES VIGNES MADIRAN 2006 38.95
Black and brooding, this is a tannic monster. Notes of ink, cured meats, dried mushrooms and floral aromas. The palate is very tight and overwhelmed by very aggressive tannins. A potentially interesting wine indeed, that will need plenty of time to show its best, if it ever does. Find this wine

USA
479055 FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION CLARET 2015 Sonoma County $29.95
A crowd pleaser, with simple tones of currant, plum, sweet spice and smoked meat. A little fleshy on the palate, and quite sweet especially on the finish. Find this wine

524223 PURPLE COWBOY TRAIL BOSS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 Paso Robles $24.95
Plum, cherry cola, oak, cedar, tar, sweet spice and blueberry with very fresh almost jam like aromas. Sweet and globby on the palate, simply not for me. Find this wine

Cheers,
CZ

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(Editor’s note: On Saturday, July 22nd, our friends Joel Goldberg and Michael Schafer staged an amazing Zinfandel tasting at Chez Goldberg that Kim and I would have loved to have attended. Sadly, due to previously scheduled engagements, we couldn’t be there, but our partner in crime, Alan Kerr aka Canadian Zinfan had the date open, and has dutifully filed the following report.)  Click images to enlarge.

“I love blush wines too,” is an answer I commonly hear when I proclaim Zinfandel is one of my favourite varietals. Or, “Yeah, Zins are tasty, but they don’t age well.” Well as it turns out, thanks to the courtesy and kindness of both Joel Goldberg and Michael Schafer, I was able to taste some fabulously aged Zins, none of which had anything to blush about, and with the exception of one, were all really exemplary examples of how super tasty and age worthy this grape can be. I have deciphered some of my scribblings of the wines I tasted and here are my thoughts.

ZINFEST 2017: A Gold/Schaf Production
TABLE #1: ZINTO THE ABYSS
1986 Ravenswood Canard: I have never heard of this Vineyard, but the resulting wine has lots of tomato and red fruit aromas, a solid palate with notes of plum, chocolate and some dusty tannins. Find this wine1989 Topolos Rossi Ranch: Mineral, parsley stems, plum, blueberry, cherry and leather all come together nicely and are holding up very well. Find this wine

1993 Marietta Angeli Cuvee: Sweet spice and caramel, plenty of toasty oak; tasty, but the fruit is fading slightly. Find this wine

1995 Marietta Angeli Cuvee: Layers of youthful fruit featuring black fruit, black raspberry, some chocolate and a long creamy finish. Find this wine

2000 Marietta Angeli Cuvee: Metallic and mineral aromas, massive tiers of fig, plum, black raspberry and black cherry. The finish is fruit driven and still showing plenty of tannins and spice. Find this wine

1993 Gary Farrell Collins Vineyard: A blast of pepper and stewed fruit balanced by clean acidity, but starting to fade on the finish. Find this wine

1993 Topolos Ultimo: Even though the colour is light, there are gutsy flavours of red cherry, blueberry, cake spice and forest floor. Nice brambly fruit on the palate, a solid finish and showing very well. Find this wine

1994 A. Rafanelli: Sadly corked. Find this wine

1995 Topolos Pagani Ranch: Wow, what a treat! An amazing blend of Asian spice, mineral, slate, licorice Allsorts, mint, mocha and a whack of dark fruit. It could live on for a few more years. Well done. Find this wine
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The onslaught of premium wines continues with this release showcasing more great wines from California, Italy and Australia. As with the last release, there are several wines priced for those with lower budgets so everyone should be happy. Niagara reds wines from the 2012 vintage are making their way to the shelves. After tasting a couple, I believe it is going to show it is clearly a benchmark vintage. Please read on…

ONTARIO

131037 STRATUS RED 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake $44.20
A brilliant and skillfully crafted wine from Stratus that offers both power and elegance. The blend of 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 3% Tannat is brimming with sweet cherry, blackcurrant, plum, Asian spice, star anise, vanilla and coal dust. It has a solid structure and is showing some peppery tannin. The texture is velvety texture, it has fine-tuned acidity and great length. Find this wine

142638 STRATUS PETIT VERDOT 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake $38.20
Super ripeness, showing lovely dark fruit, blueberry, damson, mineral, clay and floral notes. Way more tannic than its sister red, but super concentration of fruit and again, perfectly balanced acidity. This is a serious wine that will be best laid down and forgotten about for a number of years. Find this wine

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