Alan’s May 2002 Vintages Release
Tasting Notes
Release dates May 4 and May 18, 2002 The tasting this month just happened to be scheduled slam bam in the middle of exam week. I barely had forty minutes in between tasting the results of student practical evaluations to slip out and taste the wine. Student graduation dinners and "schools out" celebration parties also took their toll on me both physically and emotionally. This year’s graduating hospitality students were amazing and I will miss them. Given that I had already spent four hours tasting food in exams, the notes that follow are merely speedy opinions and observations of the release. To note, the Lindermans Padthaway 1998 Shiraz is on sale at $13.95. This equates to a four dollar saving from the original $17.95 price tag. There is apparently too much of this wine in the system and it is not moving. The importer has to absorb the price dive and move the wine out otherwise they could loose the listing. It is full of ripe, blackberry fruit, traces of coffee, plum and earthy tannins much of which has accumulated in the bottom of the bottle. If you are influenced by numerical ratings, it recently acquired an 88 point rating from the Wine Spectator. This month the board is trying a pilot project that breaks the release into two different dates. Why I am not sure. It just means some wines are available on May fourth and the rest will be in the stores on the eighteenth. For those of you that leave things to the last minute, like myself, there are still a few spots available for the classics 2002 spring/summer edition catalogue at the "London Club" on Wednesday, May 8. For tickets call VINTAGES Customer Service at (416) 365-5767 or toll free at 1-800-266-4764. MAY 4, 2002 RELEASE 422808 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2000 $ 14.95, Niagara Peninsula,
Vineland Estates. 706994 PINOT NOIR 1998 $ 54.95, Carneros, Robert Mondavi. 574491 ZINFANDEL 1999 $ 29.95, 'Heritage Clone', Sonoma, Dry Creek Vineyard. Full bodied, packed with strawberry, spice, bright cherry, raspberry, peppercorn and a touch of coconut. Very luscious without being overly sweet. Loved it! 719716 'MANSO DE VELASCO' 1998 $ 34.85, 'Viejas Viñas', Curicó
Valley, Chile, Miguel Torres. 701359 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1999 $ 19.95, 'Les Launes', Delas
Frères. 958843 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1998 $ 19.90, Les Hauts du Fief', Cave
de Tain l'Hermitage. 974964 'SER GIOVETO' 1997 $ 33.30, Toscana, Rocca delle Macìe. 725895
'ONTANON' RESERVA 1995 $ 27.85, Rioja DOC, Bodegas Ontanon. WINES RELEASED MAY 18, 2002 594325 'EXP' SYRAH 1999 $ 19.95, Dunnigan Hills, RH Phillips. 731109
'Cordillera' 1999 $ 25.70, Curicó Valley, Chile, Miguel Torres. 982892 SYRAH/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2000 $ 14.00, Maipo Valley,
Viña Errázuriz. 731364 CHÂTEAU PIPEAU 1998 $ 29.95, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. SOUTHERN RHONE RELEASE. MAY 18 990366 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 1999 $ 28.95, Le Bois d'Amaurel',
Clos St. Jean. 989061
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 1999 $ 29.85, Domaine Grand Veneur, Alain Jaume
et Fils. 956326 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 1999 $ 29.95, Domaine Monpertuis,
'Classic', Paul Jeune. 729962 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE 1999 $ 12.95, Saint-Esprit, Delas
Frères. 989657
GIGONDAS 1999 $ 29.90, Vieilles Vignes, 'Les Reinayes', Delas Frères. 974733 RASTEAU 1999 $ 23.90, Domaine de Grange Blanche, Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages,
Gabriel Aligné. Cheers, Alan Kerr's Home Page and Main Index
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