Monday, December 1, 2014

Vintages Release Report December 6, 2014 - we hit 50,000 page views!

Thanks to all the readers out there. This week we surpassed the 50,000 visitors mark. 

  
Here we are – the final  Vintages release of the year. The previous release had some very tempting entries and if you broke your bank to buy some of them you may be disappointed in yourself this time around. I must say it was almost worth a paid admission last week to see the folks lined up at 9:00 am on a Saturday morning for the 2010 Pontet Canet @ $250 and the Faustino 1 at about $40!  Ahhhh,  first world problems, aren’t they grand?

Back to this release, there are some well priced wines in this one. Argentina and South Africa lead the charge among the reds. Two malbecs - One under $20 and the other at almost $40 look very good as do the two South African blends.  After that, I’ll leave the selections to your palate. Any and all of the wines listed below should bring you pleasure. 
REDS
ARGENTINA – Bring on the medium rare prime rib for any of the following 4 – if you’re in the market for a malbec, this is the order I’d pick them in
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2012   1199 $19.95 – Balbo has been a fave for quite some time and a real rarity in the macho world of Argentina winemaking.
TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2011   647 cases $18.95 
CLOS DE LOS SIETE 2011   630 cases $21.95 – Michel Rolland’s (and 6 others ) investment has taken on some age now. 
CICCHITTI GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2004  300 cases $22.95 – Note the year, this has some age on it now and an old review from the no longer active Jay Miller.
SOUTH AFRICA
MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2011    167  cases $19.95 – A WS Top 100 Pick this year, this is always a pleasant wine. A fine Bordeaux blend for prime rib, there are so many from which to choose this week but this was among my top picks.
ERNIE ELS BIG EASY 2012 279 cases $19.95 – A kitchen sink blend with Rhone varieties sharing centre stage with Cabernet Sauvignon.
MIDI
DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2012 (M. Chapoutier)   913 cases $24.95- Lots going on here. Black fruit, licorice,  some herbiness. Needs some time to let it all settle down and then will be excellent . It’ll age like a Gigondas given the right cellar climate.
AUSTRALIA
DOMAINE TERLATO & CHAPOUTIER SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2012   1199 cases $23.95 – Another of Chapoutier’s global wine holdings, not so in your face as the Dandelion.
DANDELION VINEYARDS LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2012   1198 cases $19.95 – A big, black fruited, peppery mouthful.  
WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   383 cases $24.95  - The bottle image has the look of Idi Amin with  all those medals but Wakefield is a terrific producer of well priced wines.
TUSCANY
IL MOLINO DI GRACE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006   997 cases $23.95 – Nicely aged and from a terrific vintage. With food, excellent.
SPAIN
In the mood for a Spanish wine? Try some of the Finca El Encinal 2010 from last release. And Doug says if you can find the Bordon from Oct.25th, buy it.
 CALIFORNIA
RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   1299 cases $22.95 – A very pleasant unpretentious  cabernet.   
WASHINGTON STATE
 POMUM SHYA RED 2008   209 cases $24.95  - New to me. I might have to try one.

WHITES and BUBBLIES
Lots of inexpensive bubbles this time around! Try the Mumm Napa from the general list too – very good around $26.
JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT 2011   239 cases  of 6 $22.95 
PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT D'ALSACE   151 cases $17.95 
CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE   648 cases $19.95 
ALBERT BICHOT BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE   359 cases  of 6 $21.95 
FREIXENET ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA   489 cases  of 6 $19.95 
MOUNTADAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2009   611 cases  $21.95 
 JACKSON-TRIGGS DELAINE CHARDONNAY 2012   55 cases of 6 $24.95  
DOMAINE LOUIS MOREAU CHABLIS 2013   399 cases $24.95   
BIG BUCKS
TRAPICHE VINA JORGE MIRALLES TERROIR SERIES SINGLE  VINEYARD  497 cases  of 6 $39.95 – Within a release or two this seems to be the annual spot for this wine.  A single vineyard wine, very well made, for that special prime rib roast or steak. The same vintage was available last year at the same price. It would have been nice to try one of the other of Trapiche’s single vineyard releases but that would necessitate some work  by  the LCBO buyer I guess.  Too much to hope for? Apparently.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIRECTOR'S CUT CABERNET   449 cases $36.95 – I like this wine but it’s too much this time around.
ELDERTON ODE TO LORRAINE CABERNET   467 cases  of 6 $39.95  -Last release was a disappointment. Very thin, I almost thought I was pouring an old world Bordeaux blend.
LADIES WHO SHOOT THEIR LUNCH SHIRAZ 2012 (Fowles Wines)   479 of 6 $35.95 – Well marketed, well made.
Want a Canuck Christmas wine? Try either of these –
LAUGHING STOCK BLIND TRUST RED 2012     110 cases $37.95 
BURROWING OWL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011      167 cases $44.95 
MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2011   249 cases  of 6 $62.95  - What was an annual treat for me is over my price threshold now.
BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011   501 cases $49.95  - Good wine, bad vintage.
CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008   398 cases  of 6  $49.95  
CAPRILI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009   209 cases $44.95  
CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011   199 cases $44.95  
CHÂTEAU DE LA GARDINE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012   300 cases $39.95  
DOMAINE DU GRAND TINEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010   199 cases $49.95  


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