2014 2nd Half Summary - REDS

 

The 76 Reds tasted from July 1st through December 31st this year are listed below sequenced by rating (r).  Shown in brackets is the month of tasting where the original notes can be found.  There are 23 wines rated 90 and above. These are considered not lacking in any aspect, are excellent to sip or as a complement to a meal. Another twenty in the 85 to 89 range are quite enjoyable and could be unreservedly served to guests. Thirty-four are rated 84 and below - these are consumable but there's an element that's not that enjoyable: thin, short or 'something I can't put my nose on'. See the side panel for more background.

Hyphenated to the rating (r-v) is a value indicating whether I consider a wine 'worth the price', one that I'd buy in 'multiples', or one I'd buy in 'quantity'. See the side panel for more background. Click here for the 2nd Half WHITES+.

Consider this one person's view and perhaps a starting point if it helps. Cheers, Ww

REDS:  (76)

• Meomi Pinot Noir 2012,  93-3  --  Monterey County, California,  $17.99US  (Sep)
• Vizcarra Senda del Oro Roble 2011,  93-3  --  V,  Ribera Del Duero, Spain,  #331249 $19.95  (Aug)
• Schola Sarmenti Roccamora Nardo' Negromaro 2006, 92-2  --  V, Puglia, Italy, #379768  17.95  (Oct)
• Vina Alicia Paso de Piedra Malbec 2010,  92-2  --  V,  Mendoza, Argentina, #301457  $19.95  (Dec)
• Michael David Petite Petit 2012,  92  --  Lodi, California, #213017  $24.95   (Dec)
• the Foreign Affair Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula,  92-1  --   O, Vineland Station, Ontario, #Winery  $34.95  (Jul)
• 13th Street Merlot 2012 VQA Creek Shores, 91-2 --  V, St. Catherines, Ontario, #270504  $17.95  (Dec)
• McManis Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, 91-2  --  V, Ripon, California, #212126  $19.95  (Sep)
• Majella 'The Musician' Cabernet/Shiraz 2012,  91-2  --  V, Coonawara, Australia, #142018  $19.95  (Dec)
• Dandelion Vineyards 'Lioness of McLaren Vale' Shiraz 2012, 91-2 --  V, McLaren Vale, South Australia, #357475 $19.95  (Dec)
• Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2011, 91  --  V, Napa,  California, #590356 $39.95  (Dec)
• 13th Street Merlot 2012 VQA Creek Shores, 91-2 --  V, St. Catherines, Ontario, #270504  $17.95  (Dec)
• Domaine de la Valeraine Vieilles Vignes Cotes Du Rhone 2012, 91-2  V, Rhone, France, 14.5% XD 6g/L, #374280  $17.95  (Aug)
• Tamaral Roble Tempranillo 2011, 91a-2  --  V,  Ribera Del Duero, Spain,  #375766   $16.95  (Aug)
• Cline Family Cellars Zinfandel 2013, 90-2  --  G,  Lodi, California, #489278  $14.95  (Dec)
• Beringer Founders' Estate Zinfandel 2012,  90-2  --  G, Napa California, #308205  $17.95  (Oct)
• Mojo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 90a  --  V,  Hahndorf, South Australia, #383539  $18.95  (Oct)
• McManis Family Vineyards Zinfandel 2013, 90-1  --  V, Lodi, California, #256735  $19.95  (Nov)
• McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, 90a-1  --  V, California, USA, #212126  $19.95  (Nov)
• Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Single Block Carmenère 2011,  90-1  --  V, Maipo Valley, Chile, #325415  $19.95  (Oct)
• Don Luis L. A. Cetto Selecion Reserveda Terra 2010,  90a-2  --  V, Mexico, Baja California, #388520  $19.95  (Dec)
• Maria Alvarez Serrano Abadia de Gomariz 2010, 90-1  --  V, Leiro, Spain, #344077  $20.95  (Aug)
• Michael David 6th Sense Syrah 2012,  90+  --  V, Lodi, California, #394395  $24.95  (Nov)

• Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT 2013, 89a-2  --  G, Puglia, Italy, #253856   $10.95  (Aug)
• Ravenswood Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel 2012,  89-2  --  V, Acampo, California,  #359257  15.95  (Sep)
• Bonterra Pinot Noir 2012 Organic, 88-1  --  V,  Mendocino County, California, #317685  $16.95  (Jul)
• Casas Patronales Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon 2011,  88c  --  V,  Maule Valley, Chile, #274134 $18.95  (Aug)
• Kilikanooon Killerman's Run Shiraz 2012, 88a-1  --  V,  Penwortham, Australia, #925453  $19.95  (Dec)
• Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2012,  88c  -- V,  Marlborough, NZ, #060137  $23.95  (Dec)
• Trapiche Reserve Malbec 2013, 87-1  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #614651   $11.95  (Sep)
• Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera d'Alba 2012,  87a-1  --  V, Piedmont, Italy, #023135  $16.95  (Oct)
• Sol de Andes Reserva Especial Syrah 2008,  87-1  --  V, Colchagua Valley, Chile, #274159  $16.95  (Aug)
• Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot 2012, 87  --  G,  Napa, California, #534255  $17.95  (Oct)
• Frei Brothers Reserve Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2012, 87  --  V, Healdsburg, California, #281758  $24.95  (Dec)
• the Foreign Affair Winery Pinot Noir 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 87  --  O, Vineland Station, Ontario, #Winery  $43.95  (Jul)
• Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2012, 86-1  --  Clarksburg, California, $8.99US  (Sep)
• L.A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2012,  86-1  --  V, Quadalupe Valley, Mexico, #983742  $11.95  (Aug)
• Raimat Castell de Raimat Tempranillo 2011,  86a  --  G,  Costers del Segre, Spain, #372177   $14.95  (Aug)
• Beringer Founders' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 86a  --  G, Napa, California, #534263  $17.95  (Oct)
• Liberty School Syrah 2011, 86  --  V, Central Coast, California,  #942383  $18.95  (Sep)
• Daniel Lenko Estate 2008 Old Vines Merlot VQA Niagara Peninsula,  86  O, Beamsville, Ontario, #075622 $30.05  (Nov)
• Trapiche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, 85  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #614669  $11.95  (Sep)
• Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2012,  85  --  V, Casablanca Valley, Chile, #389213  $15.95

• L.A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2012,  84  --  V, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, #983742  $11.95  (Dec)
• F. Coppola Diamond Collection Claret Black Label 2012, 84 --  Geyserville, California, $14.99US  (Sep)
• Small Gully Mr. Black's Little Book Shiraz 2011, 84  --  V, Barossa Valley, Australia, #287979  $17.95  (Aug)
• Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 84  --  V, Paso Robles, California, #738823  $19.95  (Sep)
• Torrevento Vigna Pedale Castel Del Monte Riserva 2009, 84ca  --  V,  Puglia, Italy,  #208256  22.95  (Oct)
• Bodegas de Familia Burgo Viejo Licenciado Reserva 2006,  84  --  V,  Rioja, Spain, #370023 $29.95  (Jul)
• Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2012, 84 --  V, Marlborough, NZ, #598813  $40.95  (Dec)
• Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2012,  83  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #222281 $11.95  (Sep)
• Beronia Tempranillo Reserva Rioja 2009,  83  --  G, Rioja, Spain, #243055  $13.00  (Dec)
• Tessellae Carignan Old Vines Côtes du Roussillon 2012, 83  --  V, Midi, France, #343517  $18.95  (Oct)
• Jekel Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 83  --  V  Monterey, California, #967893  $19.95  (Dec)
• Irony Small Lot Reserve Pinot Noir 2012, 83  --  V,  Manteca, California, #353227  $19.95  (Jul)
• Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Syrah 2010, 83 --  V, Maule Valley, Chile, #389700  $19.95  (Nov)
• Farnese Fantini Sangiovese Daunia 2013, 82  --  G, Abruzzo, Italy, #512327   $7.95  (Sep)
• Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 82  --  Clarksburg, California, $8.99US  (Sep)
• Beringer California Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2013,  82a  --  G, Napa, California, #113001  $9.96  (Oct)
• Esquinas de Argento Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, 82  --  G,  Mendoza, Argentina, #358812 $11.90  (Sep)
• Alamos Seleccion Malbec 2012,  82  --  V, Mendoza, Argentina, #322800  $16.95  (Nov)
• 1884 Estate Grown Escorihuela Malbec 2013, 82  --  Mendoza, Argentina, $16.99  (Sep)  
• 1884 Reservado Escorihuela Syrah 2012, 82  --  Mendoza, Argentina, $16.99  (Sep)
• Prunotto Mompertone 2011, 82a --  V, Alba, Italy, #388587  $18.95  (Dec)
• Aure Umoja Cabernet Franc 2011 VQA Niagara Peninsula,  82 -- V,  Beamsville, Ontario,  #367557  $19.95  (Nov)
• Borgogno Langhe Freisa 2012,  82  --  V, Piedmont, Italy, #388660 $21.95  (Oct)
• Blackstone Winemaker's Select Pinot Noir 2012, 81  -- G, Acampo, California,  #358937  $16.95  (Sep)
• Maison Belleroche Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Vin de France NV, 81  --   O, British Airways, #O  $n/a  (Jul)
• The Show Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 81a  --  G, Napa, California, #383885  $17.95  (Dec)
• Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2013, 80  --  G, Abruzzo, Italy, #446633  $7.75  (Sep)
• Fuzion Alta Reserve Malbec 2013, 80  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #135475  $9.95  (Nov)
• Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2012, 80  --  V, Healdsburg, California, #954834  $22.45  (Dec)
• Josef Chromy Pepik Pinot Noir 2012, 80  --  V, Tasmania, Australia, #162990  $22.95  (Dec)
• Ring-bolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 79a  --  V, Margaret River, Australia, #606624  $17.95  (Oct)
• Balance Pinot Noir Trek Vineyard 2011 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, 79  --  V,  NOTL, Ontario,  #367623  $18.95  (Jul)
• McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, 78  --  G,  South Eastern Australia, #214577  $15.00  (Nov)