1st Half 2017 Summary - Reds

A Soft Landing among the Lupins

1st Half 2017 Summary - Reds (36)

Thirty-six Reds tasted from January 1st through June 30 this year are listed below. These are sequenced by rating. The month of tasting is shown in brackets and is where the original notes can be found. There are thirteen wines rated 90 and above. These are not lacking in any aspect. They are excellent to sip and/or served as a complement to a meal. Another ten, in the 85 to 89 range, are enjoyable but are lacking some vinicultural aspect: perhaps fullness, balance, varietal character …. ie. the many things that make wine so mysterious. Whether a specific wine is preferred can be a matter of personal taste or the circumstance in which the wine is being offered.

In reality, all wines listed are subject to a common influence – the taster’s taste. Feel free to disagree or decide to describe your own ‘opinion’ on any wine. It often helps to decide your own basis for describing a wine especially if voicing it in a group. No one is right nor are they wrong but a common ground leads to a better understanding.

The hyphenated number attached is an indication of ‘worth’. This number, from 1 to 3, represents whether a wine is 'worth the price', one that I'd buy in 'multiples', or one I'd buy in 'quantity'.

Consider this one person's view and perhaps a starting point if it helps. Click here for the 1st Half 2017 Summary - Whites+
Cheers, Ww

Reds:

• J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, 93-2 -- V, Paso Robles, California, #656561  $23.95 (Jun)
• Wakefield Clare Valley + McLaren Vale Jaraman Shiraz 2014,  93-2  --  V,  Auburn, South Australia, #377036  $24.95(Mar)
• Wakefield Shiraz 2014, Auburn, South Australia, 92-2  --  V, #943787  $18.95(Jan)
• Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonardi/Syrah 2014,  92-2  --  V, Mendoza, Argentina, #037036    $16.95(Feb)
• Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2015,  91a-2  --  G, Colchagua, Chile, #308189  $12.95 (May)
• Sister’s Run Epiphany Shiraz 2014, 91-2  --  V, McLaren Vale, Australia,  #269464   $17.95 (Jun)
• Robert Oatley Signature Series Shiraz 2014, Australia, 91-2  -- V, #327387  $19.95(Jan)
• Le Cirque Grenache Noir/Carignan/Syrah 2013, 90-2  --  V,  Midi, France, #277079 $16.95(Jan)
• J.P. Chenet Premier de Cuvée Merlot-Cabernet Pays d’Oc 2015, 90-2  --  G, #621995 $12.45(May)
• Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Pinot Noir 2014, 90-1  --  V,  Limari Valley, Chile, #469213  $19.95(Feb)
• Cavino Deus Mavrodaphne of Patras NV, 91-2 (Sweet)  --  V, Aigio, Greece, #452060 $13.95(Mar)
• The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier 2015,  91-2  --  V,  McLaren Vale, South Australia, #066738  $18.95(Mar)
• Shoofly Pinot Noir 2015,  91-2  --  V,  Victoria, Australia, #477067 $16.95(Apr)
• Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT 2015,  90a-3  --  G, Puglia, Italy,   #253856  $10.95(Apr)

• Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 2013, 89-1  -- V, Delicato Vineyards, California, #678698  17.95(Jan)
• Dramatis Personae Selecto Reserva 2010,  89-2  --  V, San Rafael, Argentina,  #450650  $14.95(Apr)
• Las Mulas Merlot Reserva Organic 2015,  87-1  --  G,  Central, Valley, #454868  $12.95(May)
• Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2013,  87  --  V,  Colchagua Valley, Chile, #322586  $17.95(Mar)
• Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2014, 87  V,  McLaren Vale, Australia,   #357475  $18.95(Apr)
• J.P. Chenet Cabernet- Syrah Pays d’Oc 2015, 86-2  --  G,  Pays d’Oc, France, #090472 $11.95(May)
• L.A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2013, 86-1  --  V,  Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, #983742  $12.95(Feb)
• Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel 2014,  86-1  --  G,  California, USA, #272393  $11.95*(Feb)
• La Posta Pizzella Malbec 2015,  85a  --  V, Mendoza, Argentina, #166298  $15.95(Apr)
• Faustino Rivero Ulecia Silver Label Reserva  2009, 85  --  V, Rioja, Spain,  #481416   $17.95 (Jun)

• Sein 2011, 84 -- V, Alicante, Spain, #391896 $17.00(Jan) 
• G. Marquis The Red Line Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 VQA Niagara Peninsula 2015,  84  --  G, Niagara, Ontario,  #473090  $11.95*(Feb)  
• Montes Limited Selection Carmenère 2014,  84  --  V,  Colchagua Valley, Chile, #256685  $14.95(Mar)
• Wakefield Promised Land Shiraz 2015, 84  --  G, Auburn, South Australia, #441543 $14.95(Apr)
• Carmen Reserva 1850 Premier Carmenère 2016, 84  --  G,  Colchagua Valley, Chile, #169052  $10.95(Apr)
• Montecillo Crianza Rioja 2011,  84  --  G,  Rioja, Spain, #144493  $11.95(May)
• Diabolica Red Wine 2014 VQA Okanagan Valley,  84  --  G, Oliver, BC,   #373001   $14.95(May)
• Niepoort Dão RÓTULO Red 2013, 83 -- V, Dão, Portugal, #452722 $18.95(Jan)
• J.P. Chenet Reserve Pinot Noir 2015,  83  --   G,  France,  #142406  $13.95 (Jun)
• Monte Antico 2012,  83  --  G, Tuscany, Italy,  #069377  $15.95 (Jun)
• Alamos Malbec 2015, 82a  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #295139  $15.95 (Jun)
• Ghost Pines Merlot 2013, 82  --  G, California, USA, #454876  *$16.95 (Jun)