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Vintages 2024 Buyers Guide
unpaid-for non-advertorial reviews
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SEE ALL LINKED 2024 VINTAGES BUYS
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SAVE 20% - NOW ONLY $40.25
Stunning Syrah from François Villard
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Mairlant Saint-Joseph Syrah 2020
Vintages BEST BUY #35942 - $48.95 - now $40.25
Ripe, Bright, Plummy, Red Cherry ***/***+ (94 points)
I tasted this outstanding Saint-Joseph just in time to celebrate World Syrah Day - Friday February 16. It has an extremely deep intense purple colour. The nose is very intense, complex and concentrated, taking its own time to open open up with its gently earthy, warm, ripe, Damson-plum-black-currant driven fruit flavours. Delicious and even better on the palate. Dry, medium-full bodied, dense, mouthfilling, rich, ripe, plum-black-cherry-cassis flavours with a lingering, sandalwood-tinged, remarkably well textured finish. Mairlant is made from 100% whole cluster Syrah and aged for 18 months in old oak barrels. Only 1,400 cases produced, it has 13.5% alcohol and will improve over the next decade.
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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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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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