quicksearch
IMPORTS <$15 FIZZ 87 Lindauer Brut N/V Chardonnay - Pinot NoirNew ZealandAB $0.00 Exclusive to Hyatt Hotel; BC $14.99 specialty listing; MB $0.00Good continuous fine mousse.
IMPORTS <$15
FIZZ
87 Lindauer Brut N/V Chardonnay - Pinot Noir
New
Good continuous fine mousse. Green apple, grassy, light toasty, floral, citrus nose. Fresh, crisp, elegant palate with slightly foamy mousse. Sweet lemon, green apple skin, toasty, honey, peach pit flavours. Affordable, fun style.
WHITES
89 Cono Sur Gewurztraminer Limited Release 2005
Bio-Bio Valley, Chile
BC $10.99 specialty listing
Lovely ripe nose with honey, ginger, sausage, peach, spicy mineral nose. Very round, soft, ripe palate but quite dry and balanced. Spicy, citrus, sausage, honey, nectarine skin flavours with a slightly buttery, mineral finish with good acidity, intensity and length.
88 Torres Vina Esmeralda 2005 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer
Catalunya, Spain
BC $13.99 Specialty; QC $15.00
Esmeralda dates back to 1961 when Torres began to experiment with European varieties not previously grown in Catalonia especially in the mountainous area of the Upper Penedès. It is always intense and floral on the nose mixing mineral, lemon oil and spicy, nectarine skin notes. This is the original summer sipper conceived by Miguel Torres long before the style was in fashion. This is a bright zesty white with lemon lime, lychee, green apple, quince and fruit cocktail undertones. Delicate yet capable of standing up to powerful spicy dishes. Try with calamari or mussels. The blend as always remains an 85/15 moscatel/gewürztraminer mix.
88 Trio Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
AB $12.99 private wine shops; BC $14.95 specialty listing; NB $14.80; QC $15.30
If there is a more impressive sauvignon blanc under $15 I haven't tasted it. A mix of clones blends mineral and flint specks into this fresh clean bright white with tropical fruit and smoky/grassy apple fruit undertones. Fine intensity and length with persistent fruit on the finish. Good value.
87 Carmen Chardonnay 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
AB $13.50; BC $13.95; MB $10.99; NF $11.98; ON $9.95; QC $12.20
Open peach, floral, grassy, green apple, light vanilla aromas with a touch of citrus rind. Dry, round, fresh and crisp with light buttery, green apple skin, grassy, green melon, mineral and lime rind flavours. Fresh, cool style, very
87 Carmen Gewurztraminer 2005
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $13.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Calibrium; MB $11.99; NB $12.99; NF $12.98; NS $10.99
Aromatic floral, spicy, perfumed, lychee, sausage nose with nectarine skin notes. Dry, round, elegant and fresh with very perfumed, floral, mineral, lychee, green apple skin flavours. Nice finesse, easy, simple style. There is five per cent
87 Cono Sur Viognier Limited Release 2005
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle
BC $10.99
This wine goes from strength to strength and the price must be embarrassing to many other wines. The nose is full spicy open and brimming with orange citrus notes. Only 40 per cent of the wine sees wood the rest is kept in stainless steel. The palate is fresh and dry with honey and mineral flavours. Serve well chilled all summer this is patio superstar.
87 Errazuriz Escultura Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
AB $14.99 private wine shops; BC $12.90 specialty; MB $9.83; ON $11.60; QC $12.60
Originally a sauvignonasse vineyard it was all grafted over to sauvignon blanc and its all for the better. The '05 is fresh, clean, and peppered with green sweaty herbal citrus undertones. Fresh, food friendly and well balanced. Fabulous value in a 60,000 case brand and another statement about the direction of Chilean sauvignon.
87 Fetzer Gewürztraminer Valley Oaks 2005
BC $14.99 Specialty
Finally a new white wine vintage comes to the market in a timely fashion. Love the great fresh nose of spicy, floral, peach and light lychee aromas with some green apple skin and a touch of orange. Round, elegant, fresh and slightly sweet with reasonable acidity. An attractive peachy mineral, lychee, honey flavours with a rose and ginger finish. Simple and well balanced for Asian food or sipping on the deck. Good value. Hopefully the next one will be in screw cap.
87 Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2004
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $14.00 private wine shops; BC $14.99 specialty listing; MB $13.99; NB $14.99; NF $14.99; NS $13.41; ON $13.10; SK $15.98
Spicy, grapefruit, lees, vanilla, buttery, waxy aromas with an earthy, floral, fruity note similar to hops. Round, fresh, crisp palate with a touch of oiliness. Green apple skin, bread-y, floral, grapefruit, lees and vanilla flavours. Zippy, warm finish with nutty lees. Solid value.
87 Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Tupungato, Central Region,
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $12.95 speculative listing - Winspeer
Bright melon, gooseberry, kiwi, grapefruit aromas. Elegant but tight with canned grapefruit juice and gooseberry, mineral, grassy flavours. Fine intensity but with high acidity. Needs mussels, oysters or clams to shine. Bravo and good value.
87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2004 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Marsanne - Roussanne - Viognier
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone,
BC $14.99 Specialty
Like the 03 but even fresher thanks to less heat overall during the growing season. The nose is exuberant with clean spicy, mineral, citrus, pear aromas. The flavours are similar with more mineral and nutty citrus, buttery fruit flavours. Love the balance and vivacity. Well done. If this is the
87 Rabl Grüner Veltliner Spiegel 2003
Kamptal,
BC $14.95 specialty listing; ON $17.95 consignment - Vintage Trade
Slate, lime, green apple, floral nose with mineral chalky undertones. It's fresh and round on the palate with slightly viscous but elegant floral, orange rind, petrol, baked apple and slate flavours. A weightier wine than riesling with a bit less fruit. Good value.
87 Santa Julia Viognier 2005
Mendoza, Argentina2
BC $10.90 specialty listing
Very floral, spicy, buttery, mineral, honey, sausage aromas. Ripe, round, fresh, crisp palate with a slight oiliness. Good mineral, honey, butter, citrus, spicy, creamsicle flavours. Good intensity and balance if a touch hot. Great value.
87 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
AB $12.80 private wine shops; BC $14.99 general listing; MB $11.92; ON $12.45
The Reserva sauvignon is made with pre-selected fruit approaching 10 years of age. It opens crisp and tight on the nose with hints of bell pepper and gooseberry. With no malolactic and two month lees contact this baby is cool, creamy and fresh with a grapefruit rind, passion fruit finish. Bring on the shellfish.
87 Vina Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc Coleccion Privada 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua,
BC $13.99 specialty listing
Another solid edition to add to the under $14 category. Fresh and bright on the nose with gooseberry, green apple skin and lime rind aromas and flavours. Fresh, well-balanced and stylish
86 Benjamin Nieto Chardonnay 2005
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $14.25 private wine shops; BC $12.99 speculative listing - Free House Wines & Spirits
An unoaked style. Mineral, green apple skin, floral, slightly smoky nose with a touch of butter. Dry, round, crisp style with green apple, floral, peach pit, lime, stony mineral flavours with a touch of nectarine skin and lemon peel in the finish. Fresh style, a good seafood wine with some elegance. Excellent value.
86 Fetzer Pinot Gris Valley Oaks 2004
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $0.00 general listing; ON $13.95; QC $14.95
Floral, mineral, quince, lemon, candied apple. Round, soft, slightly sweet entry with lees, mineral, floral, citrus, baked apple flavours. Solid commercial style for any occasion.
86 Finca Los Primos Chardonnay 2005
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
BC $8.95 specialty listing
Always good value Los Primos seems to capitalise on the inherent resources of Argentina's vineyards. Look for a fresh version of chardonnay with green apple skin and peachy background notes. Dry and fresh with more green apple skin and lime rind in the finish. Solid simple straight up chardonnay at a great price.
86 Carmen Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $13.50 private wine shops; BC $13.50 specialty; NB $12.99; NF $11.98; NS $10.99; PEI $12.98
Picked four times to blend slightly under ripe, to medium, regular and over ripe grapes to give this wine a lively grapefruit rind, mineral, green melon and grassy, gooseberry nose. Dry, round, elegant palate with more grapefruit rind and mineral, grassy, melon rind flavours. Easy drinking, lighter style for most meals. Good value.
86 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2004
BC $13.80
Big petrol, mineral, baked apple, floral, peach skin nose. Round, crisp, slightly off dry palate with mineral, citrus skin, petrol, cooked peach, green apple skin flavours. A touch warm but has good acidity.
86 Los Cardos Chardonnay 2005
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $12.50 private wine shops; BC $12.95 speculative listing - Winspeer
Floral bright fruit nose with lees, baked apple and baked peach aromas. Round, fairly dry and crisp palate with mineral, leesy, bread-y, honey, citrus, green apple flavours with a grassy note on the finish. Fermented in stainless steel with three months lees contact; some 25 per cent sees oak. A fine introductory, light style chardonnay.
86 Racines Sauvignon Blanc (Certified Organic) 2005
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.20 speculative listing - Marfful Consultants
Mineral, gooseberry, green apple skin, light lees, grapefruit skin aromas. Dry, somewhat austere palate with lees, green apple skin, grapefruit rind, chalky flavours with a lean, slightly funky, organic wine finish.
86 Rosemount Traminer Riesling 2005 Traminer - Riesling
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $12.00 fine wine boutiques; BC $12.99 specialty listing; MB $12.99; ON $12.10; SK $13.98
Fresh grapefruit, floral, spicy, orange creamsicle, mineral, light diesel aromas with a touch of lemon oil. Crisp, round, somewhat sweet entry with canned grapefruit, mineral, baked apple, spicy, lychee flavours. Sweet style with good acidity. Good picnic wine or for lighter Indian curries. Why it's still under cork, in an old-fashioned flange bottle, instead of under Stelvin is a mystery to us.
86 Rudolf Muller Riesling Chardonnay 2004 Riesling - Chardonnay
Pfalz, Germany
AB $9.95 private wine shops; BC $11.99 specialty listing
Green apple, citrus rind, mineral, peach, slightly grassy nose with a touch of matchstick. Fresh, round, elegant style with delicate red apple, chalky, melon, citrus flavours with a touch of butter. A touch lean on the finish but a fine food wine for the summer and Asian cuisine. Good value.
86 Stone Cellars Chardonnay 2004
California, United States
AB $14.00 private wine shops; BC $14.99 Specialty; MB $12.99 private wine shops; NF $14.82; NS $15.71; ON $13.95; PEI $15.95; SK $14.95
Beringer was the original name in chardonnay in the 1970s and '80s but that style, rich warm and oaky has long since faded. Stone Cellars in on track with a cleaner fresher, albeit soft with ripe fruit style that is more in tune with today's tastes. I like the creamy lees characters that help balance off the citrus and acidity. A crowd pleaser they recommend with pork tenderloin.
85 Fisheye Pinot Grigio 2005
BC $9.99 general listing; ON $9.99 general listing
Very floral, perfumed, baked apple nose. Round, soft, somewhat sweet palate with floral, spicy, peach, baked pear flavours. Friendly consumer style for the summer patio.
85 Fisherman Riesling Qualitätswein 2004
Rheinhessen,
AB $8.50 private wine shops; BC $9.95 specialty listing
Citrus, mineral, slate, petrol nose with some green apple skin but light intensity. Fresh, crisp, round with a sweet and sour entry. Lime skin, smoky, mineral, apple skin flavours. Crisp finish with some fruit. Easy sipper and solid value.
85 Marrenon Chardonnay 2004
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhone,
BC $10.99 Specialty
First bottle corked. Second is now in screwcap. Buttery lees, mineral, marzipan, green apple skin nose. Crisp, round, elegant style but somewhat dry. Lees, butter, citrus, mineral, baked apple flavours with a slightly bitter quince finish. Solid, clean, well made style for food and the picnic.
85 Nieto Senetiner Las Marias Torrontés 2005
Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $10.99 private wine shops; BC $9.99 speculative listing - Free House Wines & Spirits
Floral, spicy, peach, lemon oil, red apple nose. Dry, round, soft and slightly oily but good acidity. Mineral, green apple, peach pit, spicy, floral quince flavours. Simple, fresh, easy-drinking style for summer and seafood.
85 Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Western Cape, South Africa
AB $9.25 private wine shops; BC $9.99 specialty listing; MB $8.99; ON $8.55 general listing; SK $10.99 Spring 2004
Clean and fresh with grapefruit, grassy, apple skin aromas. Delicate, round, clean entry with a touch of sweetness. Grapefruit rind, grassy, baked apple flavours with a slightly sour grapefruit finish. Good value.
85 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc 120 2005
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $10.75 private wine shops; BC $11.99 general listing; QC $11.95
The 120 sauvignon is an 85/15 blend of sauvignon fruit from Maule and Casablanca and none of it sees oak. Fresh and clean it opens with some bell pepper aromas spiked with grassy, chalky grapefruit notes. Similar on the palate with sour tart lemongrass flavours. Simple straight-up modern sauvignon.
85 Van Loveren Pinot Grigio 2005
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa
AB $11.95 private wine shops; BC $13.99 specialty listing
Floral, baked apple, canned citrus, plastic aromas. Round, soft, fresh, slightly sweet palate with green apple, floral, buttery, mineral flavours. Simple, easy style.
ROSÉ
88 Torres De Casta Rose 2005 Garnacha - Cariñena
Catalunya, Spain
BC $12.99 specialty listing
Now available in screwcap the De Casta rosado a blend of garnacha tinta and cariñena, has a light cherry colour and a wonderful clean fresh mineral, cherry, black raspberry nose flecked with almond, aromas. Ripe, round, crisp and balanced with a touch of sweetness. Cherry, buttery, raspberry, floral flavours. Good intensity, finesse and flavour profile, a great value and tasty to boot. The Torres folks suggest you drink it with recipes that use tomato or tomato sauce, including Italian pasta.
87 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 2005 Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvèdre - Cinsault
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
AB $12.00; BC $13.99 specialty listing; ON $10.95 general listing; QC $13.90
Attractive, pale raspberry colour. Very floral, raspberry, strawberry, mineral, citrus and rhubarb nose. Dry, round, soft, easy style with earthy, mineral, floral, raspberry and sour cherry flavours. Good balance if a bit lean. Delicate and dry for summer.
85 Carmen Rosé Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Syrah - Cabernet Sauvignon
Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $13.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Calibrium
Fresh, cranberry, herbal, floral, spicy, chalky, sour cherry nose. Similar clean fresh crisp palate with citrus, cherry, cranberry, green olive flavours. A touch green and warm on the finish. Fun patio sipper.
85 Los Cardos Rose Malbec 2005
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $12.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Winspeer
Floral, cherry, sweet berry nose with some mineral. Slightly sweet, round, warm palate with cherry, mineral, strawberry, citrus flavours. Solid, affordable picnic wine with a touch of acidity on the finish. It is what it is.
85 Mateus Tempranillo Rose 2005
Douro -
BC $9.49; MB $8.45; NB $9.45; NF $9.54; NS $10.45; ON $7.45; PE $10.50; QC $9.55; SK $10.95
Light raspberry colour. Floral, perfumed, citrus, cherry, peach and incense nose. Fresh, soft, round, moderately sweet style with raspberry Kool-Aid, cherry, citrus, earthy tobacco flavours. Clean, fresh, picnic wine or on the afternoon deck. A bit sweet overall.
85 The Little Penguin White Shiraz 2005
South Eastern
AB $10.99; BC $12.99; MB $11.49; SK $12.49
Fresh floral, candied apple, cherry, mineral nose. Clean fresh, soft and fairly sweet with berry, cherry, earthy, apple, mineral flavours. Fun sweeter style supper sipper with fruit and viscosity. Serve well chilled.
REDS
89 Carmen Pinot Noir Reserve 2004
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
US $11.00 estimated retail
Carrot top, celery root, spicy, vanilla, smoky barnyard and compost aromas with a black cherry, plum streak. Round, dry, elegant, delicate style pinot noir with fresh black cherry, smoky, spicy, raspberry and orange peel flavours. Nice finesse and delicacy with some leafy, rootsy, strawberry notes on the finish. Well done.
89 Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $18.50 private wine shops; AB $9.70 (375 ml) private wine shops; BC $10.95 (375 ml) specialty listing; BC $19.95 specialty listing
Lovely sweet rip cassis nose with spicy, peppery, menthol, saddle leather and coriander nose. Ripe, round, dry but supple with light grainy tannins. Intense cassis jam, menthol, cherry, cedar, and tobacco flavours with sweet oak vanilla and black olive on the finish. Good finesse if a bit acidic at the end. Very good value for cabernet fans.
88 Gloria Ferrer Merlot 2002
Carneros,
US $19.00 retail
Tobacco, black cherry, blueberry resin and spicy notes mix with cassis jam, smoky vanilla and some black olive. Round, dry, full bodied with slightly chunky but ripe tannins. More cassis, cherry, olive, coffee, clove and vanilla flavours with smoky, cedar and tobacco fruit with hints of orange and tomato. Good balance with a touch of acidity makes this perfectly suited to food.
88 Sebastiani Barbera 2004
US $24.00 winery direct
Spicy, mocha, peppery, vanilla pudding, cedar, black cherry aromas. Round, dry, supple palate but elegant with light tannins. Peppery, black cherry jam, coffee, vanilla, cedar flavours. Ripe, oaky, spicy Starbucks style, ready to go.
87 Benjamin Nieto Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $14.25 private wine shops; BC $12.99 speculative listing - Free House Wines & Spirits
Chocolate, cassis, spicy, gamey, peppery, leather aromas. Ripe, round, soft and supple entry. Cassis, peppery, spicy, black olive, smoky, gamey, savoury flavours. Good concentration and balance, and fair value.
87 Castillo de Monseran Garnacha 2004
BC $9.95; QC $9.05
Gamey, meaty, spicy, floral, black cherry aromas with some leather and barnyard notes. Soft, round, supple forward style. Spicy, black cherry, plum, licorice, meaty, peppery flavours. Dry, slightly hot finish but has good fruit and acidity. Drink now, great value everyday red.
87 Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2005
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $9.99 general listing
A new year from Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2005 and it's still selling for less than $10. Cono Sur is releasing several new high-end pinots but at this price, with these flavours it's hard to walk past this bottle. Spicy, licorice root and black cherries all with a touch of earth. By this by the case but be sure to decant each bottle and serve it blind. No one will believe you can buy pinot at this price.
87 Los Cardos Malbec 2004
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Winspeer
Somewhat reduced nose with sweaty saddle, smoky, mineral, roasted game and peppery, black cherry aromas. Dry, round, soft and warm with stewed plum, smoky, peppery, minty, resin flavours with a touch of black raspberry. A bit dry and warm but has good fruit at the end. Be sure to decant before 15 minutes before serving to clean up the front end.
87 Mad Dogs and Englishman Bierzo Godello Chardonnay 2004 Godello - Chardonnay
Bierzo, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $14.99 specialty
The godello grape might not grab your attention but its mineral, citrus, peach, floral, aromas will. The palate is dry and fresh but juicy with grapefruit, mineral, apple, quince flavours. A touch dry yet it has fine juicy flavours with a chalky, grapefruit rind finish. Solid seafood wine.
87 Pascual Toso Malbec 2004
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $8.95 private wine shops; BC $11.99 Specialty
Big spicy, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, savoury, licorice, olive aromas with a gamey note. Ripe, round, dry and elegant with light smooth tannins. Lots of peppery, savoury, black cherry, earthy, vanilla, coriander flavours. Good solid entry-level malbec.
87 Rubens Tempranillo 2004
La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $14.99 specialty listing
Peppery, spicy, tobacco, cedar, meaty aromas with floral, cherry, resin and leather underneath. Dry, round, soft and supple with red licorice, cherry, spicy, floral, orange peel flavours and a smoky, leather, tobacco finish. Good fruit and balance, ready to roll.
86 Arrogant Frog Ribet Red 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Vin de Pays d'Oc,
BC $13.99 specialty listing
French wineries having fun, indeed poking fun at themselves, is not something we see too often. Arrogant Frog Ribet Red is just that and it has a snappy red screw cap and label to boot. The blend is cabernet and merlot the source is the earthy dry smoky, supple fruit of the
86 Benjamin Nieto Malbec 2005
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $14.25 private wine shops; BC $12.99 speculative listing - Free House Wines & Spirits
Spicy, prune, smoky, meaty, black cherry and garrigue nose with a waxy, cedar streak. Dry, round entry with a touch of acidity. Earthy, meaty, black cherry, chocolate, spice and cedar flavours. Solid food style wine but could use a bit more fruit intensity.
86 Carmen Pinot Noir 2004
Region de Aconcagua, Chile
AB $13.51 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Calibrium
Light compost, licorice root, black cherry, carrot, orange rind aromas with green tea scents. Round, elegant, dry and fresh but warm. Good balance with big black cherry, licorice, rootsy, compost, spicy flavours. Soft, delicate finish. Solid little pinot at a great price. 55/45 Casablanca/Leyda fruit.
86 Carmen Syrah 2004
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $12.60 private wine shops; BC $13.95 specialty listing
Spicy, peppery, gamey, meaty, tobacco, leather nose mixed with some prune and black cherry fruit. Soft, round, warm and dry with light tannins. Licorice root, peppery, spicy, cherry, resiny, coriander flavours. A touch light on the finish but has some elegance and balance. Good fun and well priced.
86 Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $13.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 specialty listing; MB $11.99; NB $12.99; NF $12.98; NS $10.99; QC $13.20
Big spicy, minty, cedar/laurel, bay leaf nose with streaks of tobacco and saddle leather nose. Dry, round, soft entry with chocolate, tobacco, cedar, olive, cassis and resiny bay flavours. Dry, elegant finish. Pepper steak is the perfect match here. Good value.
86 Castello Banfi Col-di-Sasso Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Sangiovese
Tuscany, Italy
BC $14.95 specialty listing; ON $12.95 Vintages; QC $14.95
Cherry, gamey, spicy, sausage, floral, cassis aromas. Soft, round, supple, easy drinking dry red. Look for licorice, smoky, cherry, cassis, and peppery, minty flavours. Simple, smooth style but youthful with some light, dry tannins showing. Good for grilled meats and pasta.
86 Chateau de la Meulière 2001 Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
BC $11.99 (375 ml) speculative listing - The Seacove Group; BC $22.95 speculative listing - The Seacove Group
Peppery, tobacco, smoky, cherry, leafy, olive aromas with some cherry and cassis at the end. Soft, round, dry, elegant palate with light, tight, cedar-y tannins. Cherry, tobacco, cedar, peppery, spicy, olive flavours. A simple, elegant style but not big on fruit. Drink now or over the next year.
86 Le Bombarde Cannonau di Sardegna 2004
BC $14.99 specialty listing
Similar to last year's with meaty, peppery, spicy, smoky, licorice root aromas mixed with saddle leather, menthol and black cherry. Soft, round, dry and warm with raspberry, spicy, peppery, clove, menthol, root beer flavours. Solid finish with a unique flavour profile. Try with beef or duck.
86 Los Cardos Malbec 2005
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region,
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $13.95 specialty listing
Unfinished tank sample. Big black cherry dried plum nose with mushroom, tobacco and peppery undercurrents. Ripe, round, supple entry with smoky, black cherry, ash, licorice flavours. Light, chalky tannins on the finish with some minty, savoury, tobacco aspects in the aftertaste. Trim and firm if a touch leafy. Should be a good one in time.
86 Racines Syrah (Certified Organic) 2004
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.20 speculative listing - Marfful Consultants
Savoury, smoky saddle leather, licorice root, floral, peppery, barnyard aromas. Soft, light, dry and round with black cherry, chocolate, peppery, cedary, rootsy, leather flavours. Good balance if a little light on the palate.
85 Carmen Merlot 2005
Region del Valle
AB $13.50; BC $13.95 specialty listing; NB $12.99; NF $12.98; NS $10.99; ON $10.95;
Leafy, spicy, minty, tobacco leaf, peppery, cherry nose. Dry, soft, round, easy style. Capsicum olive, peppery, resin, tobacco, waxy, sour cherry flavours. Solid but a bit too herbaceous overall. Not our favourite.
85 Carmen Carmenère 2004
Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $13.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 speculative listing - Calibrium; MB $11.99; NF $12.98; NS $10.99
Fine peppery, spicy, minty, coriander nose with cherry, tobacco leaf, resin aromas. Soft, round, supple, warm palate. Some 40 percent of the fruit is barrel aged. Spicy, minty, cherry, chalky, chocolate, tobacco and olive flavours. Quite elegant and balanced, much better in the mouth than the herbaceous carmenère nose might lead one to expect.
85 De Bortoli Petite Sirah dB Selection 2003
South Eastern Australia,
BC $11.99 specialty listing
Open spicy nose with a definite black fruit blueberry scent. The entry is soft and round with vanilla leather blueberry fruit flavours. The tannins are a bit clunky but for a medium weight barbecued red, streaked with acidity, it should get the job done.
85 Delicato California Merlot 2004
AB $11.95; BC $13.99 specialty listing; MB $11.99; NF $13.91; ON $11.95; QC $14.60
Deep colour with a strong earthy cherry tobacco notes on the nose. Very soft and sweet on entry with smoky cedar and black cherry fruit flavours. Simple soft round and easy drinking. Solid introductory merlot you can pour liberally around the barbecue.
85 House Wine Red 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot -
Columbia Valley
AB $0.00
Reduced nose with some rubbery, peppery, resiny, smoky spice aromas and some animal, black berry underneath. Dry, soft, round, slightly tannic entry. Peppery, smoky, roasted bell pepper, vanilla, tobacco leafy flavours with an herbaceous, metallic, ropey, hot finish.
85 Long Flat Red Cabernet Shiraz 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $9.99 private wine shops; BC $11.99; MB $10.15
Peppery, earthy, spicy, rootsy, cedar nose with a bit of reduced blueberry fruit. Soft, round, dry entry with light tannins. Earthy, peppery, cassis, blueberry, tobacco and cedar flavours. Warm, slightly acidic, dry finish but not candied. Your basic barbecue red.
85 Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $12.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 Speculative - Winspeer
An '05 unfinished tank sample...Tobacco leaf, peppery, black olive, spicy, cassis aromas. Dry, slightly tight, astringent entry. Peppery, leafy, black olive, cassis flavours with a touch of tobacco. Youthful tannins. Needs a year or two to round out. Re-taste in late 06.
85 Marrenon Merlot 2004
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $10.99 specialty listing
A second shipment of the 2004 has arrived under screwcap and as predicted is sporting a bit more fruit and showing a little less resiny characters. Still quite spicy with a cassis, licorice root and garrigue nose. Lean with spicy cherry, tomato leaf flavours. Simple straight up merlot that could use decanting for 30 minutes for best results.
85 Nieto Senetiner Las Marias Malbec 2005
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $12.99 private wine shops; BC $9.99 speculative listing - Free House Wines & Spirits
Spicy, cherry, leather, smoky game aromas. Round, dry, soft, full palate. Smoky leather, prune, roasted mushroom flavours with a spicy, black cherry finish. Solid, easy, affordable barbecue red with some light, cedar-y tannins and flavours on the finish.
85 Obikwa Shiraz 2004
Western Cape, South Africa
AB $9.25 private wine shops; BC $9.99 specialty listing; MB $8.99; ON $8.95 general listing; SK $10.99
Smoky, saddle leather, prune, gamey, black berry nose with some tobacco leaf. Soft, round, easy sipping entry with a bit of sweetness. Smoky, mocha, meaty, spicy, prune flavours with some roasted tomato and cherry. Simple, easy sipping barbeque red.
85 Santa Rita 120 Rosé 2005
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
US $7.00 estimated retail
Spicy, cherry, tobacco, cassis nose. Round, soft, fresh and somewhat sweet with good acidity. Tobacco, cherry, spicy, mineral flavours. Quite crisp at the end, a simple summer picnic wine.
85 Stone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
AB $14.00 private wine shops; BC $14.99 Specialty; MB $12.99 private wine shops; NF $14.82; NS $15.71; ON $13.95; SK $14.95
Peppery, spicy, smoky saddle leather, tobacco nose. Round, soft entry with some acidity keeping a touch of sweetness checked. Earthy, smoky, leather, cassis flavours with some tobacco and vanilla. Easy drinking consumer style.
85 Terra Andina Merlot 2004
Region del Valle
AB $12.00; BC $12.95 Specialty
Improved with 6 months in bottle. Spicy, tobacco leaf, peppery, cherry, herbal, menthol nose with some licorice. Round, supple, smooth but dry palate with light, slightly lean tannins. Peppery, licorice root, black cherry, chocolate, mineral, spicy vanilla flavours. A bit green on the finish with some tobacco but ready now.
85 Terra Andina Cabernet - Merlot 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $8.95 Specialty
Big leafy, smoky jalapeno, peppery, green bean nose with olive and cassis undertones. Dry, round and soft on entry with cedar, resiny, minty, leafy, tobacco, licorice root flavours. Easy sipping, minty herbal style best served with grilled meats.
