2015 2nd Half Summary - Reds

Union Station looking West

 The 45 Reds tasted from July 1st through December 31st of 2015 are listed below sequenced by rating.  Shown in brackets is the month of tasting where the original notes can be found.  There are only 6 wines rated 90 and above. These are considered not lacking in any aspect and are excellent to sip and/or as a complement to a meal. Nineteen, in the 85 to 89 range,  are enjoyable but may lack in minor degrees of fullness, varietal character or some other element. Another nineteen are 84 and below - these may be consumable but not necessarily enjoyable. See the side panel for more background.

The value that is hyphenated to the rating indicates whether a wine is 'worth the price', one that I'd buy in 'multiples', or one I'd buy in 'quantity'.  Again, the side panel has more detail. Click here for the 2015 2nd half WHITES+.

Consider this one person's view and perhaps a starting point for finding bargain wines.

Cheers, Ww

Reds (45):

• Gnarly Head Petite Sirah 2013, 92-3  --  V, Manteca, California, #427450  $17.95  (Nov)
• BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2013,  92-2  --  V, Mendoza, Argentina, #232637  $18.95  (Sep)
• Casa Castillo Monastrell 2012, 91- 2  --  G, Jumilla, Spain, #165621  $14.95 (12.0) (Aug)
• RompeSedas 2006,  91-2  --  V, Toro, Spain, #425868  $19.95  (Oct)
• Vieni Briganti Reserve 2012 VQA Ontario, 90-2  --  V, Beamsville, Ontario, #419440  $18.95  (Nov)
• Torres Celeste Crianza Tempranillo 2011,  90-1  --  V,  Ribadeo, Spain, #210872 $20.95  (Jul)

• Root:1 Carmenère Colchagua Valley 2013,  89-2  --  G,  Donihue, Chile, #350546,  $12.95 (Oct)
• Pasqua Passimento Rosso IGT 2013, 89-2  --  G, Veneto, Italy, #141952  $13.95 (Sep)
• Casas del Bosque Reserva Carmenère 2013,  89-2  --  V, Rapel Valley, Chile, #205872  $14.95  (Jul)
• Trapiche Extravaganza Red Blend 2014,  89-2 --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #360776  $15.95 (14.2)  (Aug)
• Apothic Dark Red Blend 2014,  89-1  --  G, Modesto, California, #392654  $16.15  (Nov)
• Bodega Paiman Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 89  --  V,  Chanarmuyo Valley, Argentina, #423186 $19.95  (Oct) 
• Ca' Momi Zinfandel 2013,  89-1  --  V, Napa, California, #396168  $21.95 (Nov)
• Leone de Castris Maiana Salice Salentino 2013,  88-1  --  G, Puglia, Italy, #717959  $14.95 (12.8)  (Aug)
• Velletri Terrae de Volsci Riserva DOP 2009,  88-1  --  G,  Lazio, Italy, #175141  $14.85 (Sep)
• Dominio del Plata Crios Limited Edition Red Blend 2013,  88-1  --  V,  Mendoza, Argentina, #366146  $14.95  (Sep)
• Catena Zapata Family Malbec 2013, 88-1  --  V, Mendoza, Argentina,  #478727 $17.95*  (Sep)
• Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin Lodi 2013, 88-1  --   V, Manteca, California, #678698  $17.95 (Dec)
• Torres Cordillera de Los Andes Carignan 2010, 87a-1  --  V,  Maule Valley, Chile,  #389692  $16.00*  (Sep)
• KWV Roodeberg Red 2013,  87-1  --  G, Western Cape, South Africa, #007187  $12.65  (15.1)  (Aug)
• Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2011, 87a  --  V,  Mendoza, Argentina, #017061 $17.00  (Jul)
• Alamos Malbec 2013,  86  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #295139  $14.95 (15.3)  (Aug)
• Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon 2013,  86  --   G, Manteca, California, #068924  $14.95  (Dec)
• NO. 99 Wayne Gretzky Estates Merlot 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 86  --  G, Winona, Ontario, #063966  $15.95  (11.4)  (Aug)
• Apothic Red Winemakers Blend 2013,  85 --  G, Modesto, California,  #234369 $16.15  (Nov)

• Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet 2013,  84  --  G, Livermore, California, #260851  $12.95*  (Dec)
• Rocca Alata Leggermente Appassito Rosso Veneto 2013,  84  --   G, Veneto, Italy, #398057  $13.60  (Nov)
• Fat Bastard Shiraz Pays d'Oc 2013, 84  --  G, Pay d'Doc, France, #563122 $14.95  (Oct)
• Gnarly Head Pinot Noir 2013, 84  --  G, Manteca, California, #358911  $14.95 (Dec)
• Vineland Cabernet Franc 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, 84  --  G, Winona, Ontario, #594127  $13.95 (13.5)  (Aug)
• Domaine Boyar Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, 83  --  G, Thracian Lowlands, Bulgaria, #340851  $7.90* (13.0)  (Aug)
• Vieni Briganti Red 2012 VQA Ontario, 83  --  G, Beamsville, Ontario, #435792  $12.95  (Nov)
• Fat Bastard Cabernet Sauvignon Pays d'Oc 2013, 83  --  G, Pay d'Doc, France, #028506  $14.95  (Oct)
• Sterling Vintner's Collection Pinot Noir 2014,  83  --  G, Sonoma, California, #226571  $15.95  (Dec)
• McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014,  83  --  V, Ripon, California, #212126  $19.95  (Oct)
• Ogier Heritages Côtes du Rhône 2013,  82  --  G, Rhone, France, #535849 $14.95  (Oct)
• Chapillon Siendra 2011, 82  --  V, Calatayud, Spain, #417675 $14.95  (Sep)
• Terra d'Oro Zinfandel 2012, 82  --  V, Amador County, California, #429225  $21.95  (Nov)
• Faustino VII Tempranillo Rioja 2012,  81  --  G, Rioja, Spain, #315234  $12.95 (Jul)
• The Wolftrap Syrah Mouvèdre Viognier 2014, 81  --  G,  Boekenhoutsloof, South Africa, #292557 $12.95*  (11.6)  (Aug)
• Celler Cercavins Lo Virol 2014,  81  --  V, Costers del Segre, Spain, #425702 $14.95  (Sep)
• Carpineto Dogajolo Rosso Veneto Toscano IGT 2013, 81  --   G, Tuscany, Italy,  #361501  $16.05 (Oct)
• Gérard Bertrand Fitou Grenache/Carignan 2011, 81  -- V,  Narbonne, France, #403683  $16.95  (Dec)
• Copper Moon 'Moonlight Harvest' Merlot NV,  80  --  Kelowna, BC, #173526  $9.45 (Nov)
• Fat Bastard Merlot VDP Pays d'Oc 2013, 79/NR  --  G, Pay d'Doc, France, #610857 $14.95 (Oct)

 (V - Vintages, G - General, O - Other, r-v  - Rating-Value, a - aerated, c - cellar, NR - Not Recommended)