I am happy to write that this release is full of some very good wines at more affordable prices than the previous two I reported on. Rarely do we see good quality Beaujolais in this part of the world, but there are a couple that caught my interest and several Spanish wines show particularly well too. There is only a single release this month, but it is a big one, thus there will be a lot of wines on the shelf to sort through. Notes are brief, but to the point. Please read on, buy some good stuff for your stockings and have a great holiday season.

WINES FROM THE UNCORK THE FESTIVITIES RELEASE

130195 13TH STREET SANDSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2011 Niagara Peninsula $29.95
Lots of dried currant, licorice root, elderberry, dark cherry and a tar/smoky note, with good concentration and acidity; plum and red currant flavours, toffee and pure fruit on finish with a touch of peppery spice. Find this wine

276477 GEORGES DUBŒUF DOMAINE MONT CHAVY MORGON 2013 $21.95
Ripe, full of damson, sweet plum , pepper, a lovely hit of flowers and some juicy plum. Quite a fleshy palate, some tannins, but non offensive. Find this wine

643239 DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2012 Côtes de Roussillon-Villages $24.95
A bold fruit driven wine, showing blueberry, blackberry, red licorice and sweet oak; the palate has a chewy texture, tight, creamy, silky tannins. A complex fruit bomb. Find this wine

298612 CHÂTEAU DE LA GARDINE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012 $39.95
Plenty of sweet spice, cigar leaf, barnyard, Dutch licorice and pure blackberry aromas. Chunky and creamy palate, a little disjointed now, but acids are perfect, tannins and serious, as is the level of fruit. Not to be rushed, needs much time. Find this wine

658351 CANTINE DUE PALME PRIMITIVO 2012 Salento $15.95
Sweet, zinberry aromas, black toffee, tar, maple syrup and blueberry; juicy and spicy, fruit laden great acidity and lovely creamy chocolate on the finish. Note to self-buy lots. Find this wine

388678 CASTELLO DI SPALTENNA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2011 $19.95
Earthy, eggshell aromas, raisins coffee grounds, balsa, solid red fruit, some plum and cherry aromas. Plenty of fruit on the palate, a note of anise and dried cherry on finish. Find this wine

225540 SARTORI CORTE BRÀ AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2008 $49.95
Opulent nose, full of Kirsch, sweet spice, prune, black licorice, with no excessive sweetness; nice flavours, dark fruit and mocha, some dusty tannin and a little heat. Find this wine

675207 DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2012 Bierzo $26.95
Oily, black olive, sweet black fruit, blueberry and cranberry notes. Juicy plum flavours, nice ripe fruit and silky tannins. Find this wine

723452 ONDARRE RESERVA 2008 Rioja $18.95
Savoury Tortiere, sweet spice, pressed flowers, saddle leather and subdued fruit. Mid-palate is drying, decent fruit and spice on the finish, but quite the tannic grip. Find this wine

167601 BODEGAS BALBÁS ARDAL CRIANZA 2005 Ribera Del Duero $16.95
Fleshy and juicy, full of plum skin, mocha, Turkish Delight, dried flowers and dark berries; fruit laden palate features raspberry and blackberry, bitter toffee, solid tannins and a long chunky finish. Find this wine

031781 ROSENBLUM ZINFANDEL 2011 Paso Robles $19.95
Sweet cherry, damson, raspberry and a floral note with plenty of ripe sweet red fruit on the palate. It is chewy and there is excessive residual sweetness especially on the finish. Find this wine

073817 RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 Napa Valley $22.95
Pure fresh hand squeezed blackberry and blackcurrant aromas, with a touch of elderberry and licorice, dusty terroir and forest floor on the chewy palate. Good fruit, acidity in balance, silky tannin and good length to the fruit laden finish. Find this wine

WINES FROM THE REST OF THE RELEASE

CANADA

230110 LAUGHING STOCK BLIND TRUST RED 2012 BC Okanagan Valley $37.95
Highly extracted, round and juicy,with aromas that spurt from the glass showing currant, black fruit, blueberry and mineral; juicy ripe palate, really refined, with a super long finish. Find this wine

225508 VINELAND PINOT MEUNIER 2012 Niagara Escarpment $17.95
Cranberry, sour cherry and strawberry are held in place by an interesting note of caramel and fudge. Fun to sip, and well balanced, with a pleasing candy apple finish. Find this wine

392449 MEYER PINOT NOIR 2012 BC Okanagan Valley $29.95
Dried dark fruit, mocha candy bar with a touch of forest floor; super varietal character on palate, lots of plum and cherry flavours, and a kiss of mocha on finish. Find this wine

073098 BURROWING OWL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 BC Okanagan Valley $44.95
Brimming with Middle Eastern spice, vanilla, black fruit jam and blackberry. Super fruit on palate, but so austere as the layers of tannin invade and dominate. Serious structure equals serious time on the cellar. Find this wine

USA

091058 BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Napa Valley $49.95
Light structure, notes of dried cherry, straw/hay, dark chocolate and a pretty black currant back drop. Well balanced palate, gentle tannins, dusty chocolate and blackcurrant blend nicely on finish. Find this wine

256768 BLACK STALLION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Napa Valley $29.95
Treacle dark fruit, mocha, dusty cocoa and a touch of clove on the nose set the stage for enjoyment, but the palate pales in comparison showing some sweet fruit and little else. Find this wine

709881 CHATEAU MONTELENA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Napa Valley $156.95
A lovely elegant, yet structured Californian Cab emitting hints of earthy rock, slate and mineral; the silky fruit is subdued at first, but makes its way forward. The palate too shows great composure by letting the fruit be known, but the dusty tannin is in control for now; soon this will be a stunner. Find this wine

014217 CLIFF LEDE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Stags Leap District, Napa Valley $79.95
Very earthy; wet leaves and forest floor abound, and with coaxing, other flavours of nutshell, mocha, Asian spice and vanilla play their part. Then the fruit shows up and makes a stand on the tasty palate, showing lovely texture, great concentration and super length to the finish. Find this wine

191833 DECOY PINOT NOIR 2013 Sonoma County (Duckhorn Vineyards) $35.95
Pretty aromas of red currant, mocha, sweet ripe cherry and cola. A little fleshy and sweet on the palate, with a chewy texture and sweet red fruit on the finish. Find this wine

061002 FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIRECTOR’S CUT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 Alexander Valley, Sonoma County $36.95
Chunky, showing blackberry and blackcurrant nicely seasoned with hits of chalk, mineral and dried herb; more than enough fruit on the palate and a finish of sweet red berries, vanilla and sweet chocolate. Find this wine

246900 FRANK FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Napa Valley $53.95
Much to admire, brimming with cassis, dried fruit, earthy and chalky notes. Super concentration of black fruits on the palate, superbly balanced, with refreshing acidity and a great finish that highlights Napa’s varying soils. Find this wine

992438 HEITZ CELLAR TRAILSIDE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Napa Valley $119.95
Absolute perfection. So floral, the pure fruit exudes from the glass, with lovely hints of baked dried clay, eucalyptus and more. Palate is sublime and seamless, so concentrated, with layers of rich fruit, sweet spice, perfect acidity. Find this wine

944843 KENWOOD JACK LONDON VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Sonoma Mountain $39.95
A little gem. I always had a soft spot for Kenwood’s wines and this does not disappoint, showing sweet currant, enhanced by caramel and mint on the nose; lovely cassis on the palate, with chocolate tannins; well balanced and pleasing. Find this wine

906404 LA CREMA PINOT NOIR 2012 Russian River Valley, Sonoma County $44.95
A powerful, but balanced Pinot, full of baking spices, blackberry coulis, mineral , pinecone and cola. Strawberry, damson and black raspberry on the palate, quite fleshy and vibrant; great balance and seriously tasty. Find this wine

224162 LAYER CAKE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 California $21.95
Lots of sweet plush fruit, blueberry preserve, currant, vanilla and a sweet oak. Given the nose, the palate is light, but there is plenty of red fruit and dark cherry flavours, good acidity and silky tannins. Find this wine

19485 PREDATOR OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2013 Lodi $21.95
Cedar, wood sap, bacon, deli meats, black licorice, black fruit toffee and cough syrup aromas; leaner palate shows red currant, cranberry and too much heat. Find this wine

234534 ELK COVE PINOT NOIR 2012 Willamette Valley $37.95
Showing well, with lovely aromas of blackberry, leafy forest, vanilla, fresh flowers, mineral and stone. Full palate, great balance, lots of plum, blackberry, with a creamy sweet spicy finish. Find this wine

333245 PLANET OREGON PINOT NOIR 2012 Willamette Valley $25.95
Fun wine, earthy and twiggy, almost weed-like at first, but dried fruit, pepper, rhubarb and dark fruit berries and cherry emerge on the nose. Good flavours of sweet red fruit, black raspberry and anise soar across the palate and continue their merry way through to the finish. Find this wine

FRANCE

390237 CHÂTEAU RICAUD 2010 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux $17.95
New World styled Bordeaux; blackcurrant focused, with dried mint and lead pencil notes, a simple palate and light structure, yet pleasing for all that. Find this wine

DOMAINE DE GRAND GARANT LE VIVIER FLEURIE 2013 $18.95
Powerful notes of lavender, sage and violet combine nicely with the dried blueberry and rhubarb aromas; nice juicy red fruit driven palate with mineral and dusty tannin. Find this wine

002238 CHÂTEAU DU COURLAT 2010 Lussac-Saint-Émilion $24.95
Intriguing terroir, dried mushroom, leather, black raspberry, iron, mineral and cocoa aromatics. Nice rich palate, featuring blackberry, currant, chocolate and an assertive hit of tannin that suggests time. Find this wine

390492 HIVER FESTIF JULIÉNAS 2013 $17.95
A little musty, but that soon blows off, giving lots of earthy, stone, cherry, plum and white pepper aromas. Lip smacking dark fruit, perfect acidity and firm tannins suggesting time. Find this wine

66399 MOILLARD TRADITION PINOT NOIR BOURGOGNE 2012 $24.95
Quite a dense, harmonious mix of blackberry, strawberry, red currant, dried mushroom and beet, along with a red fruit dominated palate of dried raspberry and plum on the finish. Find this wine

959627 CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011 $44.95
What a Beauty! Sweet cherry and Kirsch, dried flowers, sweet spice, cardamom, mocha and blackberry; black raspberry and mocha hit the palate, as do some aggressive tannins. Should be great given some time in the cellar. Find this wine

993964 DOMAINE DU GRAND TINEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 $49.95
Plum, dried cherry, black fruit, forest floor and Chinese mushrooms on the nose. Excellent silky mouth feel, nice cherry flavours, some spicy black pepper and clean acidity. Find this wine

394650 LAVAU RASTEAU 2012 $19.95
A new wine in the portfolio showing layers of black fruit, coffee grounds, coal dust, chocolate and wet earth. Chocolate and black fruit bound through the palate, acidity is brilliant, a little spice on the finish, great value wine. Find this wine

94643 VIDAL-FLEURY VACQUEYRAS 2012 $24.95
Deep and laden with blackberry, blackcurrant and cola notes with a pleasing back drop of stone and slate; nicely balanced, with some spice, a pleasing mix of red and dark fruit, and some tannins. Find this wine

397208 JOSEPH MELLOT LES MORINIÈRES CHINON 2013 $17.95
Black raspberry, currant, cigar box and chalk; solid structure, showing damson, plum, some spice and big dusty tannins. Find this wine

177584 DOMAINE LES YEUSES LES ÉPICES SYRAH 2012 Pays d’Oc $15.95
So weird, reeking of coffee, mocha, black cherry, cocoa and coconut shell; reminds me of a Pinotage. Palate has some black fruit, but the coffee and spice flavours totally overpower. Find this wine

ITALY

106591 PAITIN SORI’ PAITIN BARBARESCO 2010 $41.95
Nose of forest floor, grass, perfume, sweet spice, cherry liquor, polished. Lighter palate than expected, with pretty cherry, sun dried cranberries, spice and drying tannins. Find this wine

181396 PECCHENINO SAN GIUSEPPE BAROLO 2010 $53.95
Black fruit, shoe leather, Basset’s Licorice Allsorts, shoe polish and leather nose. Dried cherry and plum on the palate, very juicy and grippy. Find this wine

394593 PIER PAJUN BARBERA D’ALBA SUPERIORE 2009 $17.95
Notes of tar, clove, prune, wood and a floral-edged tinge; punchy palate, full of spice, plum, pepper, sobering acidity and seriously harsh tannins. Needs time to settle, but will be fun. Find this wine

913889 RE MANFREDI AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2010 $24.95
Dark and murky, with dried fruits, straw, barnyard and violet on the nose. Solid palate, nice dark fruit, great acidity, hints of sweet spice, and firm tannins. Find this wine

268136 PODERI ANGELINI PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2009 $19.95
Dark, full of molasses, Camp coffee, anise, moss and fruit that comes in the form of blackberry, plum and damson. Earthy note on palate, with sweet fruit and some tannin. Find this wine

383604 CASTELLO MONTERINALDI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 $19.95
Fruit roll ups, some earthy notes, dried cherry, tight fruit and drying palate. Find this wine

382945 IL MOLINO DI GRACE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 $23.95
Wet soil, pond water, lavender, blackstrap molasses, salted licorice, dried cherry and plum aromas; good fruit on palate, sweet spice and plenty of fairly aggressive tannins to deal with. Find this wine

398073 CAPRILI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 $44.95
Juicy aromas of caramel, black fruit, cola, dates, tar, sandalwood, and balsa. Superb palate, offering black cherry and plum; chewy, rich and flavour packed, but still serious tannins. Find this wine

237263 CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 $49.95
Amazing aromatic notes of shoe leather, nutmeg, sticky toffee pudding, sweet spice and milk chocolate, with nice streak of blackcurrant on palate. Rich and chewy, quite spicy and tannins suggest time. Find this wine

SPAIN

391557 MONASTIR S.XII CLUNY 2006 Navarra $19.95
Powerful aromas of dark cherry, sweet plum, mocha, dried mushroom and vanilla; big, chewy and quite spicy, dusty tannins, needs time. Find this wine

384396 ABANDO VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA CRIANZA 2008 Rioja $18.95
Funky sewer aromas, mineral, chalk, slate, mocha, and layers of enticing dark sweet fruit; a chunky palate, with lovely sweet fruit, currant and chocolate tannins. Find this wine

674572 PALACIOS REMONDO LA MONTESA CRIANZA 2011 Rioja $18.95
Floral and herbal, with lavender, sweet spice, black cherry and blackberry. Good plum, black raspberry and spice on palate, good length, tasty lick smacking acidity. Find this wine

082024 MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAN RESERVA 2005 Cariñena $16.95
Elegant and very together, with good concentration of fruit. Hints of tar, mint, plum and cassis; a powerful palate, with great acidity, some tannins, and currant, mocha and cocoa on finish. Find this wine

Have a wonderful New Year.
Cheers
CZ

Related posts:

1. Alan Kerr’s February 6th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
2. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s December 5th, 2009 Release – Tasting Notes
3. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s December 11th Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s May 10th Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 27th Release – Tasting Notes