About Michael Vaughan's Website
Our roots 30+ years in the making
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See you on Thursday July 18th at the Inter-
National Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration
The School of Cool – Educational Sessions
Thomas Bachelder, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal, Michael Vaughan
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Vintages 2024 Buyers Guide
unpaid-for non-advertorial reviews
SEE ALL LINKED 2024 VINTAGES BUYS
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Luis Marin Old Vine Amethyst Edition
Garnacha Crianza 2020
VINTAGES JULY 6 BEST BUY - #37517 - $13.95
Harmonious, Bright, Fruity **/**+ (88.5-points)
NEW in Vintages. Fairly deep purple red colour. Gently spicy, ripe, plummy nose with some cedar-mineral notes. Dry medium bodied, harmonious, ripe, plum-red-berried flavours with a lingering, well balanced, gently cedary finish. This versatile crowd-pleasing 100% Garnacha was sged for 6 months in French oak and has 13.5% alcohol and 2 g/L residual sugar.Great for that casual BBQ summertime party.
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A Great Unique Canada Day Red
Reif EstateThe Magician Shiraz/Pinot Noir 2019
Vintages BEST BUY # 2464132 - $29.95
Solid, Rich, Ripe, Harmonious *** (92 points)
Previously released and just retasted this 2019 edition of The Magician is the best yet. Only 56 cases were available. Extremely deep intense purple colour. Attractive, complex, intense, faintly spicy, ripe, plum-cherry-raspberry-cassis fruit on the nose with some gently cedary, red licorice notes. Dry, medium-full bodied, rich, fairly dense and well structured with very ripe, plum-cherry-cassis fruit flavours and cedary notes on the lingering, bright finish. Only a portion of the actual blend of 83% Shiraz and 17% Pinot Noir is kiln dried for 3 weeks (appasimento-inspired) and aged for 24 months in a mix of French oak. It has 13.5% alcohol, under 2 g/L residual sugar and a hefty 6.5 g/L total acidity and comes in an extremely heavy bottle with a wax sealed cork. Wonderfully approachable now - you can also get it directly from the winery.
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Tbilvino Tsinandali Dry White 2023
JUNE 8 VINTAGES BEST BUY - #266585 - $16.95
Fresh, Dry, Bright **+ (89-points)
What a great warm weather discovery! Bright light straw colour. Attractive, fresh, very slightly spicy, gently floral, ripe apple-yellow-grapefruit nose. Dry, medium to medium-light bodied, very bright, fresh, apple-lemon-melon flavours with a lingering, crisp, harmonious, refreshing finish. This very tasty well-priced blend of Georgia’s indigenous vitis vinifera Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes has 11% alcohol and 2 g/L residual sugar. To add complexity and mouthfeel, 10% was aged in French oak. Versatile and ready-to-drink, it is excellent with chicken, seafood and especially oysters.
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Kir-Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023
A BEST BUY - VINTAGES - #25707 - $18.00
A Bright, Fresh, Ripe, Winter-Melon-Pear *** (90-points)
ASSYRTIKO is internationally accredited as THE #1 GRAPE of Greece. This vibrant ripe 2023 Assyrtiko is a must try for all wine lovers. Pale straw in colour, it has a very fresh, slightly spicy, somewhat floral, honeysuckle nose with citrusy, fresh melon-pear fruit along with some mineral notes. Dry, medium to medium-light bodied, harmonious, slightly spicy, very fresh, winter melon and ripe pear flavours with a lingering, crisp, refreshing, well balanced finish. This extremely well-priced crowd-pleaser is ready-to-drink and perfect with pasta, poultry and/or seafood (especially mussels and calamari). It spent 4 months on the lees and has 13.5% alcohol and 2 g/L residual sugar.
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United Stars Koncho Saperavi 2022
JUNE 8 VINTAGES BEST BUY - #466458 - $15.95
Ripe, Harmonious, Ready **/**+ (88.5-points)
Made from the Saperavi grape which is indigenous to Georgia and the country’s most planted red grape variety. Fairly deep purple-red colour, it has an attractive, slightly floral, spicy, ripe, plumy-black-cherry purée nose with a touch of cedar. Dry, medium bodied, ripe, blueberry-plum-raspberry flavours with a lingering, slightly cedary, harmonious finish. A real ready-to-drink crowd-pleaser, it was matured for 12 months in oak. Referred to as a Barolo on a budget, it is terrific with Italian tomato-based dishes. This is the best shipment to date.
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