It has been a while since I was able to pop up to London and taste some of the merchandise due to hit the shelves on Vintages next release this Saturday August 17th. What will be released is a mixed bag with some pleasant surprises especially in the price range of $20.00 or less. Easy Italy is the feature focus that offers several wines from lesser known regions. (click labels to enlarge)

USA

719211 CLINE ANCIENT VINES ZINFANDEL 2011 Contra Costa County, Central Coast $19.95
Pleasing aromas of blueberry, cake spice, black raspberry and plum. Its texture is quite creamy, with sweet flavours of ripe fruit, milk chocolate and mocha. Nice acidity balances the sweetness, finish is ripe and tasty. Find this wine

161190 GROVE STREET CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Sonoma County $18.95
A nicely structured Cabernet showing, dark fruit and blackcurrant mixed with dusty cocoa and cough candy, bearing a nicely balanced palate and a simple clean finish. Find this wine

161273 CLOS DU BOIS PINOT NOIR 2011 California $18.95
Plum and dark cherry with some herbaceous notes and a touch of beet and sweet cherry cola on the nose. It’s sweet on the palate, although acidity is noted; it is not enough to tone down the cloying quality on the finish. Find this wine

210047 COLUMBIA CREST H3 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Horse Heaven Hills $19.95
This is a most impressive wine that starts with earthy barnyard aromas that quickly take second place to layers of dark fruit, plum, dark chocolate and mocha. Tasty palate, well balanced, with gentle tannins, the only spoiler being a touch of heat on the finish. Wine of the month. Find this wine

AUSTRALIA

336966 TOURNON MATHILDA VICTORIAN SHIRAZ 2010 Victoria $19.95
A blend of treacle, fig, sour cherry and black pepper on the nose, all coming together on a palate full of lively acidity, black fruit and dark bitter chocolate. Somewhat clumsy now, but has potential to be an interesting wine in the near future. Find this wine

FRANCE

336909 CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR GRANDS LANDES 2010 Montagne Saint-Émilion $17.95
Whiffs of dark berry, leather and espresso grounds, a palate of sweet fruit, gentle tannins and a good core of acidity render this wine simple, pleasing and quaffable. Find this wine

342725 DOMAINE DES HOUDIÈRES FLEURIE, Beaujolais 2011 $16.95
Fans of Gamay will be happy with this wine that exudes lovely aromas of dried flowers, sweet cherry, freshly ground black pepper and warm pie crust. Its purity on the palate is most enjoyable, showing off red fruit, cherry and bright acidity. Find this wine

340307 CHÂTEAU LAROCHE JOUBERT 2010 AC Côtes de Bourg $16.95
A closed nose that reluctantly starts to show some cassis and Ribena aromas along with wet soil, thyme and sage. The palate is lively with good structure, fine fruit, some dusty chocolate tannins and a long clean finish. Well priced and worth putting away for a year or two as good things should happen. Find this wine

076349 DOMAINE GRAND VENEUR CLOS DE SIXTE LIRAC 2010 $23.95
I seem to remember this costing way less the last time it was released. However, even at this price it is one tasty bottle of wine brimming with aromas of blueberry, cherry liquor, Dutch licorice, black pepper, balsa, gravel and mineral. Sleek on the palate, full bodied and fruit laden, tasty finish albeit some heat. Find this wine

143099 MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION 2011 Costières de Nîmes $14.95
An equal blend of Grenache and Syrah that results in a quality and well-priced wine boasting aromas of tobacco, cigar leaf, heaps of black tea, intense dark fruit and cedar. The palate is ripe, has low acidity, it’s spicy, with a rich ripe texture and gentle tannin. Exceedingly tasty for the money. Find this wine

328179 DOMAINE MARIE BLANCHE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES SIGNARGUES 2010 $16.95
Coffee, thyme and dark chocolate subside to show a core of blackcurrant, black fruit, dark licorice, coal dust and mineral. Good structure, although tight and somewhat closed down on the palate. Given time, this too should prove to be one tasty bottle of juice. Find this wine

ITALY

204016 TALAMONTI TRE SAGGI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2008 Abruzzo $15.95
Aromas of warm sweet berry pie, some stewed plum, a note of cigar leaf and tart black cherry. Creamy on the palate, lots of milky chocolate, sweet fruit, but a little cloying on the finish. Find this wine

211813 APOLLONIO TERRAGNOLO PRIMITIVO 2007 Salento Rosso, Puglia $18.95
Funky and fun, scents of Turkish Delight, dark sweet chocolate, dried cherry, milky cappuccino, moss and dried mint. The chunky palate shows sweet fruit, minty chocolate and gentle tannins. Find this wine

268367 GIROLAMO CAPO DI GALLO AGLIANICO 2011 Puglia $18.95
Some heat, notes of baked and dried fruit, smoky meat, tar and vanilla. The palate is big, ripe and almost over the top. Find this wine

177527 TAURINO RISERVA SALICE SALENTINO ROSSO 2009 Puglia $14.95
Lots of intensity on the nose featuring stewed fruits, mineral and coal dust. Simple palate of red currant jelly, a little clove and licorice root. Well balanced and pleasing. Find this wine

339101 FEUDO MACCARI NERO D’AVOLA 2011 Sicilia $14.95
An odd assembly of wet leaves, coffee grounds, damp earth and new leather. Beneath all this lies a layer of sweet red fruit, plum and black raspberry. Mineral notes run through on the palate that combined with the tannins, overpower the fruit. Find this wine

297556 ARGIOLAS PERDERA 2010 Monica di Sardegna, Sardinia $17.95
Aromas of plum, smoky barrels, cedar and sage lead to a palate of sweet red fruit, black cherry and smoked meat. Not a long finish, but balanced and clean. Find this wine

086314 TENUTA DI TRECCIANO CHIANTI COLLI SENESI 2011 $15.95
An aroma laden wine showing herbs, mineral, black raspberry and other dark fruits. Although chewy and tannic at the moment, the raspberry and plum notes do their level best to show through. Overall, a nice Chianti for not a lot of cash. Find this wine

342394 VILLA MORA MONTEFALCO SAGRANTINO 2006 $19.95 Umbria, Italy
Beautiful mix of damp cave air, Asian spice, dried mushroom, dark fruit and air dried meat that turn to a brilliant palate with impeccable balance although there is tannin that suggests resting for a year or two. Super fruit and mineral flavours, excellent acidity, only comment is the 15.5 %, it does add a burning sensation on the finish. Wine of the Month. Find this wine

338921 VILLA ANNABERTA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2009 $35.95
Spicy arugula and black pepper, polished mahogany, plum and cigar leaf on the nose, acidity is low, lots of black fruit and licorice flavours. Find this wine

210872 TORRES CELESTE CRIANZA 2010 Ribera del Duero $22.95
Packed with notes of blueberry, currant, sandalwood and vanilla, the wine is youthful, quite chewy and tannic, structure is solid, nice notes of mocha and chocolate on the finish. Find this wine

292763 FINCA NUEVA CRIANZA 2008 Rioja $16.95
Dark berry, cherry, damson and balsa, the palate echoes the sweet cherry notes adding blueberry and dusty tannins. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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1. Alan Kerr’s August 21st, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
2. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s May 14 Release – Tasting Notes
3. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s May 28 Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s June 25 Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 27th Release – Tasting Notes