Catch a Cab

95/100 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To Kalon Vineyard 1999
Napa Valley, California, United States
A select limited bottling from the finest cabernet sauvignon grapes of this vineyard, primarily from a section of 35-year-old vines. The flavours are a mix of intense blackberry and plum jam with spicy, dry cedar and an exotic mineral component. Complex warm, spicy, elegant and long with a dry cassis fruit and currant finish. Napa cabernet all wrapped up in an elegant jacket.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $225.00 Speculative - Maxxium Canada
UPC: 086003001656
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Distributor: Maxxium Canada

94/100 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Three Sisters 1999
Napa Valley, California, United States
"Three Sisters" are three small vineyards planted on the east side of Silverado Trail near Oakville Crossroad on steep rocky slopes with a west facing aspect. The soils are red volcanic. The fifth vintage has a coffee, savoury, spicy nose with black plum and cassis fruit undertones. There is fine richness on entry and dense fruity Christmas plum cake flavours that finish with a mocha/pepper finish. Warmer and richer than the "Benchland Select it too finishes with a wisp of black olive, anise ands mint.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $175.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $199.90 Speculative - Winspeer
CSPC: 702760
Producer: Cakebread Cellars
Distributor: Winspeer International Group Ltd. 

93/100 Frescobaldi Mormoreto Castello di Nipozzano 2000
Tuscany, Italy
Smoky, gamey, black pepper, spicy, tobacco and leather aromas with some blackberry and cassis. Rich, ripe and concentrated with ripe but dry tannins. Very balanced and warm with big spicy, smoky, vanilla, cassis jam and blackberry flavours with some orange spice and meaty notes on the finish. Very well made and intense. Will benefit with several years aging.
Tasted: 2003-09-08 by AG
Prices: AB $45.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $50.00 Specialty; ON $59.95 Vintages; QC $53.00
CSPC: 203927;   UPC: 8007425001706
Producer: Marchesi de' Frescobaldi
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing

93/100 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Unfiltered 2000
Napa Valley, California, United States
Big open mocha chocolate with black fruit, violet earth and smoke. Dense looking and smelling with a dollop of barnyard for complexity. Coffee savoury spicy black cherry jam flavours with a touch of olive and green bean. Dense fruit and flavours. Lovely wine and will improve. Cabernet sauvignon makes up most of the blend with additional malbec and tiny amounts of petit verdot.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG
Prices: AB $136.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $165.00 Specialty; MB $169.00; ON $169.95; QC $149.00; SK $132.00
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Distributor: Maxxium Canada

93/100 Wirra Wirra Cabernet Sauvignon The Angelus 2000
South Australia, Australia
The Angelus is a blend of Coonawarra and McLaren Vale fruit from top lots. It has a big briary, savoury, gamey nose with cassis jam, blackberry and smoky/vanilla coffee aromas. Round and supple with intense coffee, cassis jam, peppery, orange rind, vanilla and smoky olive flavours. Long and polished with some ripe, supple tannins on the finish. Delicious now but can hold for 3-5 years. An excellent cabernet.
Tasted: 2003-10-01 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $48.00
CSPC: 16014;   UPC: 9315125120979
Producer: Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Distributor: International Cellars Inc.

92/100 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Benchland Select" 1999
Napa Valley, California, United States
Benchland Select cab is made from selected vineyards planted on the benchland of the Mayacamas Mountains on the Napa Valley's western side. It's been bottled since 1995 as a 100 per cent varietal. The colour is dark and the nose is a mix of barnyard, black pepper and resin. Its dark fruit character has peppery spicy flavours on the mid-palate and throughout the finish. Refined and elegant with just a touch of heat in the finish. Solid Mountain Napa cab that is totally different in style from the big fat reds off the valley floor.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $175.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $199.90 Speculative - Winspeer
CSPC: 702760
Producer: Cakebread Cellars
Distributor: Winspeer International Group Ltd.

92/100 Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2000
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
Big sappy, cassis jam nose streaked with pepper, mint and spicy, green bean aromas with plenty of alcohol. Rich, ripe, smooth entry with more intense cassis jam, mint, orange rind and sweet, smoky, vanilla/green bean flavours. It's nicely balanced with good acidity. The tannins are a bit dry and lean with some heat on the finish but overall it's well made in the cool style.
Tasted: 2003-07-24 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $75.99 Special Order - Maxxium Canada
UPC: 608057104841
Producer: Vina Errazuriz
Distributor: Maxxium Canada

91/100 J. Bookwalter Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
This is the first vine-to-wine cabernet made under the tutelage of noted winemaker/consultant Selma Long and it shows. Look for a big powerful plum jam nose with leathery spicy notes and ripe blackberry. It's rich and smooth in the mouth with a long, spicy plum jam peppery coffee finish. Warm but attractive style and reasonable elegance. Obviously the young John Bookwalter is taking the business seriously.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by AG
Prices: BC $59.99 Specialty
CSPC: 611871;   UPC: 080960000500
Producer: Bookwalter Winery LLC
Distributor: Vinterra Wine Merchants

91/100 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Napa Valley, California, United States
The grapes for the Napa Valley cab are a blend of per cent merlot and 2 per cent cabernet franc from more than a dozen vineyards from Carneros in the south to Calistoga in the north. Look for an intense cassis, mocha, charred oaked nose flecked with spicy pepper highlights. It is a soft, round, flavourful red with smoky, spicy, black fruit flavours and a touch of prune in the juicy fruit aftertaste. Soft and elegant but not quite as intense as you might expect for Napa which probably reflects the vintage.
Tasted: 2003-06-04 by ST
Prices: AB $99.95 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $109.95 Specialty
CSPC: 191411
Producer: Cakebread Cellars
Distributor: Winspeer International Group Ltd.

91/100 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 2000
South Australia, Australia
At Penfolds the only cabernet made prior to 1990 was the 707 -- a red born to be complex and live long. In 1990 the decision was taken to make a red wine that was more accessible at an earlier age and the "407" was born. Except in 2000, (as with 1981 and 1995 vintages), conditions for cabernet were less than ideal and no Bin 707 was made. This year the fruit was primarily sourced from Coonawarra and Bordertown with those grapes making up over 60 per cent of the final blend with small parcels coming from Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Robe and Padthaway. As a result the 2000 "407" has been supercharged with some lots of wine it would not normally see. Thirty per cent of the wood is new (20/10 French/American and the result is ripe juicy fruit that is not only delicious and drinkable but a definite step above the '99.
Tasted: 2003-06-11 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $31.25; BC $33.00 Specialty; ON $32.95; QC $33.95
CSPC: 414987;   UPC: 012354071476
Producer: Penfolds
Distributor: Southcorp Wines Canada