A taste of the real thing!
From the March 15 Vintages Release

Michael Vaughan
Friday, March 14, 2008

Welcome to Friday First. First, as you are able to buy most of the Vintages releases today, here are some of my top recommendations. 

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Vintages Easter Whites
With Easter just around the corner, nothing beats a glass of fresh Riesling.  The best value at Vintages is J. Lohr 2005 Bay Mist White Riesling (57299) at $14.95 from Monterey County. It’s only 11% in alcohol and has a pale straw colour and intense, honeyed, spicy, mineral-driven, schisty, ripe lemon-melon-apple nose. On the palate it’s very slightly sweet, honeyed and medium-light bodied with spicy, ripe apple purée flavours with a lingering finish.

From Mantinia in Greece is another terrific unoaked effort that is perfect for seafood - Domaine Tselepos 2006 Moschofilero (724583) at $15.95. It too is light in alcohol (only 11.5%) and has a refreshing, spicy, ripe lemon-melon nose with hints of grapefruit. Tangy, bright and medium-light bodied on the palate, the crisp, ripe lemon-melon flavours are accompanied by a lingering, refreshing, spicy, lychee-tinged finish. This 100% Moschofilero (an indigenous aromatic variety) is at its peak and shows good versatility.

My release highlight comes from Western Australia’s Margaret River Ashbrook 2005 Chardonnay (684076) at $24.95. A terrific complex, toasty value - it scored **+/*** out of three stars and weighs in at 14.5%. Very bright light straw in colour, the nose is both complex and intense with slightly nutty, toasty, lime-driven, ripe lemon meringue with some rhubarb notes. Well structured and medium to medium-full bodied, it has spicy, gripping key lime pie flavours with a lingering, dried Anjou pear finish. This taste treat seems to be at or certainly close to its peak. Approximately 50% was fermented in high quality, new French oak. Screwcap closure.

Best New March 15th Reds
I initially switched the tasting notes for two Paso Robles reds on offer.  In fact, the recommended Cabernet Sauvignon was tangy, bright and juicy Clayhouse Vineyard 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (57869) at $18.95. As for the 2006 Grayson Cellars at  $14.95, it tastes like a juicy Zin, not a Cab Sauv.

If you are looking for a tasty Pinot Noir for a poultry match, try Hungerford Hill 2006 Pinot Noir (58107) at $21.95 which comes from Tumbarumba in New South Wales. It has a medium deep red colour and spicy, attractive, plummy, ripe black cherry nose. Dry, quite well structured and medium to medium-full bodied, the flavours are intense focused on ripe plum and cedar-tinged cherry purée flavours plus a long, lingering, faintly minty finish.

From McLaren Vale, my Shiraz/Syrah choice is Shingleback 2004 Shiraz (57844) at $22.95. Look for mocha, plums & ripe cherries.

In the still very good department is 2005 Château l’Hospitalet La Réserve Rouge (682492) at $18.95. This La Clape designated Coteaux du Languedoc from Gérard Bertrand has been here before. A blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre has a deep intense purple red colour and a complex, slightly smoky, juicy, ripe plum and cherry nose with some sandalwood notes. On the palate - dry, ripe, well-balanced, medium bodied, fairly juicy, vibrant, plummy-cherry flavours with a smooth finish. Not quite as rich, chewy and flavourful as the last release of 2005, which appeared on April 28, 2007.

From Spain’s Penedès comes the stellar Miguel Torres 2003 Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon (617456) at $44.95. It is very deep intense purple colour and has a complex, cedary, plummy, dried black cherry nose. On the palate it is fairly well structured, medium to medium-full bodied and complex with intense, slightly spicy, ripe plum and dried red cherry flavours and a long finish.

Sparkling?
Graham Beck 2005 Brut Rosé Méthode Cap Classique (4085) at $21.95 from South Africa’s Western Cape is a winner. This blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay has a very light pink colour and a spicy, bright, ripe, plummy, red cherry nose. On the palate it is dry and very well balanced with medium bodied, gently juicy, subtle, ripe plum and cherry flavours with a rounded, lingering finish. Very easy to drink and perfect for Easter. 

If you are looking for great value Champagne don’t miss Georges Gardet Champagne Cuvée Saint Flavy Brut (924654) at $39.95. It has a fine, slightly spicy, very gently toasty, ripe lemon-melon nose and excellent mousse. On the palate it is dry, quite well structured, harmonious, ripe lemon-melon-apple flavours with excellent mid palate and fine tangy finish.

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