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Tastings: March 2001
21 March 2001
92PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru 1999
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceLovely nose. Open ripe apple with melon fruit, flint and mineral lees character and a wisp of smoke underneath. Skinny profile in the mouth. Lots of flavour (apples butter citrus) and intensity but quite a dry, if persistent finish. It needs another year or tow to really hit its stride. Fine potential.Prices:| BC | $59.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Montmains 1er Cru 1999
Chablis, Burgundy, FrancePleasant fresh green apple citrus aroma with a touch of citrus rind too. Lean mineral green apple flavours with a slightly chalky aftertaste. Well structured for a '99 but firm and lean in the finish. Solid effort but not cheap.Prices:| BC | $35.95 | 750ml |
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14 March 2001
86PTS
Tarapaca Merlot Reserva 2001
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileIntense coffee compost nose with tobacco and leather undertones. It tastes much like it smells with rich and smooth textures throughout. Lots of toasted oak and some dry tannins in the finish. Needs food and another year or two in bottle to soften up the edges.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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05 March 2001
87PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Portlandien 1999
Burgundy, FranceMineral, wet-wool, melon aromas on the nose. Dry mineral, apple lees flavours. Some resemblance to Chablis here thanks to a fruit source from hills over the Yonne River just outside the Chablis AC. Best with food. Dundarave Wine Cellars, Liberty Wine MerchantsPrices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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01 March 2001
83PTS
Stonehedge Merlot 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBig, spicy, green bean, smoky, cherry nose. Stemmy weedy flavours with a big whack of sugar in the finish. Very high price given the quality and appellation.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Wild Goose Autumn Gold 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen spicy aromatic flowery nose. Soft somewhat sweet, fruit flavours especially lychee nuts and spices. Easy drinking. Could be very interesting with spicy Thai or Indian food.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Wild Goose Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHerbal forest floor resiny spicy nose. Fairly soft and round lots of smoky tarry fruit flavours. The finish is dry but with some grilled meats off the barbecue it could be a bargain.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Wild Goose Maréchal Foch 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep dark purple black colour. Big gamy sausage spicy red fruit wine that is almost syrah like in character. Fairly intense in the palate with a dried fruit finish. Decent everyday red.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Estate Blaufränkisch 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBlaufrankisch is also known as lemberger. Earthy herbal strawberry nose with some smoke and pepper. The dry peppery flavours in the finish call for beef. Not cheap.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Nichol Vineyard Syrah 1998
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTypical peppery spicy nose with blackberry cherry fruit and some earth underneath. Fairly intense in the mouth but drier, leaner and more acidic than we were expecting from a 1998. The flavours are a mix of blackberry, sour cherries and peppers.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Nichol Vineyard Pinot Noir 1998
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSlightly minty leafy nose with floral cherry fruit scents. Light plum fruit flavours in a lean sophisticated jacket. Not opulent but reasonably round and well balanced with a cherry, smoke and mint flavour finish.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Nichol Vineyard Cabernet Franc 1998
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig crushed leaf, smoke, herbal and cassis nose. Black cherry fruit with smoky, resiny spicy flavours. Medium weight with good balance. Quite ripe with an orange rind, cassis, smoky finish.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz 1998
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThis is dense, very concentrated wine with flavours that last into next week. Very taut, dense, sinewy and vibrant on the palate with fine grained tannin and excellent to outstanding length. I'd sit on it five years to see what evolves. It could hold for two decades.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Vila Regia Tinta 1998
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalThe wine has a great nose with dark red fruit flavours and spicy aftertaste and good balance. The blend is a mix of touriga nacional, touriga francesa, tinta barroca, bastardo and tinta roriz the same grapes used to make fortified ports. Good value especially if you like the leaner more restrained Euro-style red. Elegant beyond its price.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Gordon Brothers Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesDill spicy clove and mint aromas. Light structure and dry fruit are the story here. The balance is reasonable but in the mouth its weedy and herbal. Not the style you expect at this price point.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gordon Brothers Tradition 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesRich cherry cola and chocolate roasted prune and sweet resiny nose. Identical on the palate. Big monster wine with incredible weight and power. A dot.com wine if there are any left to drink it. Wild boar. Blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Chateau Reynella Shiraz Basket Pressed 1998
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy earthy nose here with smoke, bacon and sweat. Blackberry and licorice characters dominate the mid-palate with more spicy, peppery, dry tannins in the finish. Good balance at this point and quite a big, warm, alcoholic finish. Good value. Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Chateau Bonnet Rouge Bordeaux Réserve 1998
Bordeaux, FranceA 50/50 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Cherry, prune, spicy pepper aromas, good ripeness. Slightly dry and lean but has good cherry, spicy, peppery, earth and tobacco flavours with a supple and balanced finish. Simple for the price.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau Le Louvetier 1998
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceLike its white sister, the red is made from younger vines but with the intent to illustrate both the Graves terroir and Lurton style. Ripe cherry, blackberry, waxy, rion, tobacco and earth aromas with a touch of vanilla. Round and slightly dry but well balanced with earthy, iron, blackberry, peppery spicy, tobacco flavours. Nearly ready to drink and definitely has the Graves character. Good introductory style.Prices:| BC | $19.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Torres Sangre de Toro 1998
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainSourcing better grenache within the new Catalunya DO, and adopting some Aussie technique newly improve this mainstay listing across Canada. Lovely fragrant, cherry pie, spice, anise aromas. On the palate, it's very supple with lovely balanced, fruit and overall charm. Good length. Chill lightly.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Vendimias Selectas 1998
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe Gran Sangre is a blend of garnacha, cariñena and syrah, that spends 4 to 6 months in new American oak followed a further 10 to 12 months in 2 and 3 year old wood. Stewed tealeaf nose with toasted leather. Earthy, stewed, meaty cherry fruit flavours with fine mid-palate elegance and a touch of alcohol in the finish. Solid everyday red. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Torres Coronas Tempranillo 1998
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe '98 Coronas - Tempranillo is an easy-going but serious red with some 15 per cent cabernet used to bolster the tempranillo. Look for lightly smoky, berry fruit with pepper aromas and flavours all set in a fresh, balanced, mid-weight frame. Tannin is fine grained, so drink at will. Good value.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Atrium Merlot Las Torres 1998
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis is a new, spiffy 100% merlot. The style is almost Chilean but with more depth and poise. Expect very deep colour, with a billowing aroma of black pepper, blackberry, tobacco, and fresh green herbs. Fairly full bodied, but well hinged on acidity and big tannin. Very good length.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Carmen Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileThis 55/45 syrah blend is a new an exciting development at Carmen. It has great colour and smooth peppery fruit and its fun to drink. An impressive start and another sign of the potential of Chile's vast vineyards.Prices:| BC | $20.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Carmen Pinot Noir Reserve 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileFermented in 5000 litre tanks and cold macerated for five days. Open top fermentation. No cold control. Then to barrel make malolactic to the barrels. 1,2 and 3 year-old barrels. 80 percent French. Sometimes they end the fermentation in the barrel. Fine color. Very expressive peppery nose. Pretty cherry fruit a nice streak of choke cherry some gamy hints quite complex and peppery. Earthy.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Carmen Merlot 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChilePeppery leafy stinky aromas. Dry crushed leaf flavours with pepper and earth and quite dry and a little bit green in the finish. Needs some fatty food to help smooth out the finish. Rapel Maule grapes 15 -20 percent oak staves and barrels. Vegetal, cassis, minty, stewed nose. Lot of Carmenère and purchased soft, round entry some minty character. Raw cassis fruit that dries out in the finish. Up to 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Carmen Merlot Reserva 1998
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileBig, rich, heady red wine that is extremely soft and round. Impressive sweet fruit style and along round soft rich finish. Impressive for 1998 and drinking well now. Prices:| BC | $20.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileMaipo and Rapel fruit half in barrels half in staves 5-6 months in 3,4, 5 year-old oak. Sweet, much more elegant flavours than in the 1998. Similar nose but better mouthfeel with flavours of cassis and capsicum. Soft, round entry but finishes very dry and slightly tannic. Minty, earthy, raw cassis fruit that dries out in the finish. Ten percent merlot.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Carmen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileCassis vanilla and smoky barnyard character here. Very impressive out of the bottle. Fairly lean in the mouth with what is best described as Bordeaux styling. The fruit comes off 30-year old vines on the estate at the foot of the Andes. Again intense but dry in the finish and not much fun to drink at this point.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Carmen Nativa Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileOlives herbal but some sweetness in the mouth too. Quite soft and round and elegant. Simple straight-forward wine. Clearly natural is expensive.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Carmen Wine Maker's Reserve 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSmoky vanilla black cherry and ripe cassis jam here with some spice at the end. Chewy meaty mid-palate that is rich and ripe for a cool year with peppery, spicy, smoky, gamey flavours all wrapped up in a moderately tannic jacket. Keep two to three years.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Carmen Grande Vidure Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe blend is 60 percent grand vidure and 40 per cent cabernet sauvignon. Dill pickle brine cassis leaf nose. Surprisingly rich on the palate with ripe spicy fruit flavours and a long soft cherry vanilla finish. Too bad about the cool climate nose. Good value.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Matua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 1998
Hawkes Bay, North Island, New ZealandSpicy, black pepper, minty, clove, herbal and cassis aromas. Soft, supple, forward style with vanilla cherry, and cassis flavours. Attractive ready-to-drink style. Simple and well balanced.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Red Rooster Pinot Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGood colour. Tight nose with some minty cherry gamy fruit highlights. Soft round simple pinot that's fun to sip on. Some tannin in the finish but generally clean and fun to drink.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Red Rooster Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRipe, leathery plum aromas with a touch of spice. Soft, round, "sweet" cherry jam fruit flavours. The finish is sweet too with a smoky resiny aftertaste. Simple but getting better.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation Collection 1998
Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSpicy pruny barnyard cola oak nose. More spicy coal peppery fruit but light and almost hollow on the mid-palate. The finish is dry and tannic like many other 98 cabs we have encountered.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $44.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Drostdy-Hof Merlot 1998
Coastal Region, South AfricaThe Drostdy-Hof merlot has carved out quite a niche in the overcrowded merlot market. Lawrason says one of Canada's best selling merlots continues to impress. "The 1998 boasts deep colour and texture with sweet blackberry, nutty and chocolate flavours." Its quite supple and rich on the palate with what Lawrason terms "firm tannins and fine balance." I like the value here too.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Meritage 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, rubbery, spicy, vanilla, blackberry fruit. It's rounding out on the palate but it still finishes fairly dry and oaky. Smoky vanilla flavours but not much else. Dry finish.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDark colour. Spicy peppery nose with a smoky clove and prune character. A balanced, lightweight red with chocolate and cherry fruit. Dry and tannic with an astringent finish.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Cabernet Franc 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTypical franc. Dark colour, leafy smoky gamy earthy aromas. Dry lean and quite bitter. All earth and smoke but very little fruit- more like press wine than free run.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Gamay Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight color. Earth grass and light rubbery fruit nose. Soft but dry in the mouth with some cherry earthy spicy flavours. Balance is fine.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Lemberger 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy peppery black cherry. Nice round and balanced with earthy black cherry fruit. Soft round fruity finish. Excellent barbecue or cheese wine.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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79PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Pinot Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaStinky burnt rubber nose with some garlic highlights. Some richness in the entry with strawberry fruit flavours but the finish is lean and dry and the aftertaste is unclean.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
St. Francis Merlot 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesSpicy smoky, tobacco aromas with ripe dried cherry and plum fruit and coffee. Very similar palate with extra cedar and vanilla in the finish. Elegant and flavourful but somewhat dry and without the extract of the 1997 vintage. Drink now or over the next year or two.Prices:| BC | $47.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
St. Francis Merlot Reserve Nunn's Canyon Vineyard 1998
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesFabulous black cherry, violets, plum jam, fruit cake and smoky spicy nose. Huge intensity of flavour here with cherry plummy spicy fruit and a smoky vanilla finish. Very big tannins dry out the finish at this point and it will need a minimum five years to settle down. One for the cellar.Prices:| BC | $89.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Trapiche Pinot Noir 1998
Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaPretty cherry nose. Light color. Tart bitter flavours. Some stems simple slight bitterness in the finish. Needs more fruit and warmth. Cherries predominate the flavours.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Robert's Rock Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 1998
Western Cape, South AfricaA surprisingly good wine for the money, which blends cabernet sauvignon and merlot in a 60/40 mix. Clean spicy berry nose with supple soft fruit. This is a winner. Use liberally around the barbecue. Great value.Prices:| BC | $9.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Greg Norman Estates Cabernet-Merlot 1998
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaVery dark cherry colour. Strong peppery, roasted herb, spicy, smoked chili aromas with some tobacco and cassis jam. Round structure with medium concentration, somewhat tannic. Very spicy, peppery, earthy cassis and smoky flavours. Good but acidity is too high and will definitely need a steak or roasted kid to best match the structure. Also needs 2-3 years to soften out.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bonterra Vineyards Zinfandel 1998
Mendocino County, California, United StatesThere have only been three vintages of zinfandel but the '98 may be the best yet. It's all stainless steel fermented and aged in mostly old American oak. The fruit is plummy and the texture plush. The finish is spicy and slightly more peppery than the syrah. A perfect pizza partner or perhaps to accompany a port roast.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Markham Merlot 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesWinemaker Michael Beaulac blends 79 percent merlot, with 17 percent cabernet sauvignon and four percent cabernet franc for 15 months in French and American oak barrels. Lovely, light spicy fruit, with raspberry and plum overtones. It's not the biggest merlot in the valley but there's quality here, and it's fun to drink.Prices:| BC | $33.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Markham Zinfandel 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBright raspberry and briary spicy fruit is the story of Markham's zin, which contains 13 petite sirah and a dusting of primitivo that winemaker Beaulac says, adds a blueberry flavour. Look for pretty black cherry fruit, perfect alcohol balance and plenty of plush juicy fruit. Top-flight zin.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Freemark Abbey Merlot 1998
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United StatesIntense, sweaty leather tobacco with floral cherry jam aromas. An elegant style merlot that is lean and linear on the palate with medium extract and earthy prune leather flavours. Quite spicy and a little pricey for an average vintage.Prices:| BC | $52.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United StatesWeedy, earthy tobacco nose with sweaty leather in the rear. Round supple elegant in the mouth with cherry leathery fruit and cedar tobacco. Prune/plum fruit in the finish. A good '98 that will benefit from decanting to reduce the dank compost vegetative character that is quite pronounced when you pull the cork but that dissipates over time. Prices:| BC | $58.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 1998
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaWinemaker Sue Hodder is doing a great job at Wynns as evidenced by her terrific '98 Coonawarra shiraz. She say's, "the '98 comes from a great vintage when the rains fell at the right time, the yields were not particularly low and the balance was great." You'll find lots of ripe, coffee/vanilla and blackberry jam aromas with a dose of pencil shavings on the nose and intense red fruit that tastes pretty much the way it smells but with much more weight and sophistication when compared to the simply-styled Rosemount. Fine now but will hold for three to five more years. Excellent value.Prices:| BC | $20.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label 1998
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaDeep cherry purple colour. Open ripe cassis, blackberry, mint, earth and tobacco with lots of spice and pepper. Ripe, round and elegant with balanced, supple tannins. Peppery, earthy, tobacco flavours with ripe cassis jam, mint, cherry and coffee flavours. Young with a slightly tannic, acid finish but can drink now or over the next 10 years.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesMedium dark. Quite a busy bacon, resin, brine, green bean and olive aromas. Much better in the mouth with a vanilla smoky blackberry flavours and touch of briar. Fairly warm and dry in the finish. A difficult vintage to say the least. Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Simon Gilbert Card Series Shiraz 1998
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaLeast impressive of the new Simon Gilbert wines. Strikes me as just too candied and Christmas cake-like, sweet with jammy fruit and overt clove spice. Not much stuffing, but hot. Bit over the top.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bodega Lurton Bonarda 1999
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBonarda is also planted in Italy, although some authorities believe Argentine bonarda is, in fact, the variety known as charbono in California. Whatever its origin, it is difficult not to like the Lurton example. The aromas and flavours are both rich and earthy, with a brush of game meat. Remember, we are speaking about a wine that sells for $10, and nearly 60 percent of that price is tax. Throw any meat on the barbecue, and you have a match made for gauchos. It's rustic but well worth the money.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bodega Lurton Malbec Reserva 1998
Medrano, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaRicher extraction better flavour profile. More finesse and elegance. Very tasty and long. It spends nine months in American oak. Coming soon to Canada.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Bodega Lurton Malbec 1998
Medrano, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSoft fruity malbec. Simple fruity red but with some tough tannin in the finish. Straight-ahead, midweek red.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Bodega Lurton Bonarda 1998
Mendoza, ArgentinaDry earthy fruit. Fresh soft tasty easy drinking. Good intensity of flavour and weight and dirt-cheap.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Finca Flichman Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Mendoza, ArgentinaHerbal, peppery truffle aromas with a whiff of rubber boot. Dry chalky red fruit flavours. Some smoke and prunes with pepper in the finish. Needs food to help balance of the dry tannins.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Finca Flichman Reserva Syrah 1998
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaCrushed leaf cassis pepper nose. Resiny garrigue-like flavours with lots of black cherry fruit and pepper. Good intensity but it is also dry and hot. Unknit but still good flavours for a vintage most would like to forget. Cellar for a year or two.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Delas Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes 1998
Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceFermented in stainless steel and 30 percent will touch some wood it is made from 100 percent syrah. Quite a floral peppery nose. Lifted fruit and full of spice and earth and showing fine balance. It should improve over the next five years.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Delas Côtes du Rhône Val Muzols 1998
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThe Val Muzols is 85 percent Grenache with 5 to 10 percent syrah and a blend of cinsault and mourvèdre. Val Muzols is a drier more structured wine where the emphasis is on earth and spice. It has an intense peppery style with a mix of barnyard and earth in the finish. There's lovely balance and elegance in the mouth too. Great for beginners who would like to skip the intense flavours of the Rhone.Prices:| BC | $17.45 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Delas Côtes-du-Ventoux 1998
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThe Cote de Ventoux lies just east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape has deeper colour and slightly more intense nose. Quite peppery with some blackberry fruit aromas. Black raspberry fruit flavours mark the entry mixed with earth and pepper. Fairly dry but still in balance.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Delas Saint Esprit Côtes du Rhône 1998
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceMostly syrah 80 percent and 20 percent grenache. Raw fruity red with peppery overtones and soft dark berry strawberry fruit with just a hint of violent. Some spice and great finesse for a simple wine from a good year. Only 30 percent of the wine sees one-year-old oak ageing. Bright citrus streak lifts the finish and prepares it for light meat dishes.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rosemount Shiraz 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaThe final red and the label that built Rosemount is shiraz coming from McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Mudgee. The aroma is vibrant and lively with an excellent varietal definition of warm spices, brambles and dark plums. This is sup-ported by fine-grained tannins and a delicious underlay of toasty American oak. polished and silky, featuring sweet blackberry and anise flavors, with a slight bite of pepper on the light finish. Not as big and rich as previous vintages, but seductive nonetheless. 302349 Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet 1998
AustraliaStinky peppery berry fruit nose. Round, soft, berry fruit with earthy root-like finish. Good effort but hardly cheap.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tenuta Luce della Vite 1998
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFull-blown vanilla spice and pepper mark the nose and flavour. The attack is aggressive with cherry kirsch flavours and more spicy peppery fruit in the finish. Big and dry at this point with spicy oak dominating a light mid-palate. It's too early to tell which way this wine will go but it's more along the Tuscan-Euro style.Prices:| BC | $93.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Gehringer Brothers Ehrenfelser 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRipe green apple, peach herbal aromas. Soft, somewhat sweet, peach, apple floral earthy flavours. Good soft sipper for a fair price.Prices:| BC | $9.85 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gehringer Brothers Classic Dry Ehrenfelser 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVery open peachy floral nose with a touch of honey in the back. Dry mineral peach skin flavours. Clean crisp dry citrus finish. Great value summer sipper. Prices:| BC | $9.85 | 750ml |
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86PTS
San Pedro 35 Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileGarlic, minty aromas with hints of prune. Once you get past the nose it's a big, beefy wine. More earth, blackberry and pepper flavours with some tannins in the finish. Fine with flank steak or chicken. Good value.Prices:| BC | $11.35 | 750ml |
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85PTS
San Pedro 35 Sur Merlot 1998
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileGood dark color. Open herbaceous, minty, carmenère peppery spice nose and flavours. Slight sausage character too. Round and smooth entry but dry and lean on the palate. Decent balance but best with food, try with BBQ ribs.Prices:| BC | $11.35 | 750ml |
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88PTS
San Pedro Castillo de Molina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileI have stood in San Pedro's Castillo de Molina vineyard at Lontué, which at 1150ha or 2840 acres is still the largest single vineyard block in South America. Look for plenty of soft blackberry, plum and coffee flavours with just a wisp of herbal cassis in the finish. It's ready to drink now.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Foppiano Petite Sirah 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesExcellent dark black colour. Intense smoky peppery saddle leather nose. Blackberry fruit flavours mixed with a smoky pepper vanilla finish that doesn't quit. Rustic but tends to age well. Dry finish.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
California, United StatesMondavi makes the '98 Woodbridge but it's just as well the Mondavi name is not too prominent on the label. A very difficult growing year is reflected in this medium dark cab with peppery compost, pruny, cooked cabernet aromas. On the palate, it is soft and simple with pruny, raisin flavours. Low on charm and varietal character. $25.95 per 1.5mLPrices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Woodbridge Merlot 1998
California, United StatesWet tobacco leaves, peppery and earth aromas more vegetation that fruit. Taste just like it smells with dry earthy acidic flavours. Not up to Mondavi standards.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico 1998
Tuscany, ItalyStinky sausage leesy aroma mixed with cherry jam and pepper. Reasonable balance here with a more supple structure. Look for spicy, tarry, cherry flavours with good intensity but here come the tannins in the finish.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Clone Zinfandel 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesCentury old bud-wood was grafted on to new rootstock and called Heritage clone. Big, super, ripe nose of cherries and blackberries, briar and pepper. Quite a warm, dry and lean version without the extract you might expect given the nose. The aftertaste is full of dry cherry-berry flavours that don't quite sing.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage 1998
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesQuite a big firm entry for a Meritage (the blend is 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 38 per cent merlot, 4 per cent cabernet franc and 3 per cent petit verdot). Lean and thin is the signature here perhaps reflecting what is an ordinary at best vintage. Time should help this wine if you can wait.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gandia Chardonnay 1998
Hoya Valley, Utiel-Requena, Valencia and Murcia, SpainFrom Spain check out the '98 Gandia chardonnay, made in the New World way at one of Europe most modern wineries. The winery was founded in 1820 in the somewhat obscure wine region of Utiel-Requena about 100km from the city of Valencia. Expect a lightish style chardonnay grown at Gandia's vineyards where the average elevation is 800 metres above sea level. Typically Euro style here with plenty of lemon and citrus fruit and quite a dry finish. Chicken is the menu match but keep the spicing to a minimum.Prices:| BC | $9.75 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Deakin Estate Shiraz 1998
Victoria, AustraliaGreat color. Big fruit driven carbonic raspberry nose with some floral spice hints. Round with good richness and a fruity berry character. Very pleasant sipper from Oz.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Laurent Charles Brotte Côtes du Rhône Les Brottiers 1998
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThe 1998 Les Brottiers has a light colour and a cassis/herbal fruit nose. It soft and simple without much stuffing and it finishes on the lean side. It's a solid everyday hamburger red, nothing more, nothing less.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Chateau de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 1998
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceThe giant '98 opens with a ripe, roasted fruit nose reminiscent of blackberry jam and game with a big pepper and spice streak running throughout. It's a huge wine in the mouth but with a fine sense of elegance. This will need more time to really settle into form, perhaps a decade, but this is a classic and should be in every collector's cellar.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
La Vieille Ferme Rouge 1998
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, Sud de France, FranceThe blend is 50/20/15/10/5 grenache / syrah / mourvèdre / carignan / cinsault. More intense spicy black raspberry jam fruit nose with a touch of roasted earth. Fine black fruit flavours upfront round textures but fairly dry in the finish. Needs food to tame those tannins. We suggest a cheese fondue. Good value. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Fairview Cellars Cabernet Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, dill, orange peel aromas with green olive and cherry scents. Very ripe cassis flavours with pepper, mint and dill. The finish is short and on the herbal spicy side. Good first effort. Prices:| BC | $16.50 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Fairview Cellars Cabernet Franc 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen, tea, stewed prune and cassis aromas. Drier fruit on the palate with smoky meaty gamy sour cherry flavours. Not too tannic but still dry in the finish. Goff first attempt.Prices:| BC | $16.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Sebastiani Zinfandel Sonoma Cask "Old Vines" 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesA blend of Dry Creek and Sonoma valley fruit. Lots of green peppercorn and berry fruit flavours. Good body again lighter than the '97 but with fine depth and structure. Nice touch of carignane petite syrah and mourvèdre for complexity. Solid value from 30 to 115 year-old vines.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau de Rozier 1998
Costières de Nîmes, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThe Château de Rozier 1998 is changing vintages in stores so you may encounter the more youthful 2000. The grape mix here is carignan, grenache noir and syrah and the nose is a mix of smoky dried crushed leaves and cream. It's big and rich on the palate with soft peppery jammy fruit. Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Valentin Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc 1998
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis reserve version made under the supervision of Californian Robert Pepi exhibits a clear jump in quality. It's a selection of sauvignon fruit from the best vineyards blended with chardonnay and sémillon for extra mouth feel. Pepi uses 30 to 40 per cent new oak the wine is sur lie aged for four to five months before it is blended with sauvignon racked and cleaned up within a month. 4000 cases produced. Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) 1998
Burgundy, FranceFabulous nose of spicy fruity black cherry pinot fruit. Soft rounfd mouth-filling textures and obvious pinot character. Big chewy tannins at this point but they will smooth out in the coming two to five years. Excellent quality. Delicious wine.Prices:| BC | $122.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Ursules 1er Cru 1998
Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceThe Clos des Ursules is a very polished pinot with white pepper and violets on the nose. Look for smooth flavours streaked with spice and tart black cherry fruit. There are still traces of tannin giving the wine a certain firmness in the mouth but the future looks bright.Prices:| BC | $67.80 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 1998
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileLight colour with a rootsy, earthy nose and cherry, strawberry hints. Very light on the palate but spicy. Not a lot of extract but all in all a decent, inexpensive, lightweight pinot.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Merlot 1998
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileDark, very inky cherry purple color. Spicy, vanilla, pepper, dill aromas and a touch of iodine. Earthy, dry peppery fruit with smoky, vanilla, herbal overtones. Dry, woody finish. Tough vintage.Prices:| BC | $26.45 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Vallerga Vineyard 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesSpicy pepper resin notes with vanilla and crushed leaf and olive. Cool cabernet notes associated with the vintage but mostly it tastes like it smells with chocolate and vanilla flavouring. Smooth polished style but not typical Napa. Vanilla and shoe leather mark the finish.Prices:| BC | $36.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Block Kuimelis Vineyard 1998
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSlightly cooked fruit nose with port overtones. Creamy vanilla and lots of waxy spicy blackberry fruit and cedar. Fine Sonoma structure and styling with sweaty leather notes in the finish. Big fruity red that has enough complexity to suggest its worth ageing through 2005. Good value for a single vineyard California wine.Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
St Supery Vineyards Meritage 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesClassic Napa cabernet with good cassis and blackcurrant fruit. Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Gray Monk Pinot Noir 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEarthy light berry aromas. Very light thin lean earthy berry flavours. Barely vinous. A rose barbecue picnic wine for chilling.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Redbank Long Paddock Shiraz Cabernet 1998
King Valley, Victoria, AustraliaCooler earthy, spicy, smoky, roasted pepper aromas. Medium body, round and flavourful with smoky, spicy, blackberry and licorice flavours. Touch of oak in the finish. Forward and enjoyable.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Redbank Percydale Cabernet Merlot 1998
Victoria, AustraliaSpicy, peppery, coffee cassis aromas. Quite soft in the mouth with spicy vanilla and cassis flavours. Simple straight up red that's low on fruit, so perhaps it would be better with food. Not cheap.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 1998
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileCool minty, cassis, leafy nose. Almost identical flavours with minty leafy overtones. Lean yet round and drinkable but a victim of a poor vintage.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva de Familia 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileCoffee vanilla and minty cassis flavours open up quickly in the glass with a pinch of barnyard and leather underneath. Fine richness with similar flavours but there's also a hint of hollowness in the finish. It is a good wine but it lacks the structure it should carry at this price level.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Hillside Pinot Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPale brown colour. Slightly sulphuric tealeaf spicy prunes aromas. Soft round candied, stewed prune fruit flavours with little pinot character. Ordinary at best.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Hillside Cabernet Franc 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPruny tobacco nose. Dry leafy earthy cedar flavours. Poor finish. Too dry.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Geyser Peak Merlot Block Collection Shorenstein Vineyard 1998
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig toasted oak nose off the top with vanilla reminds one of the "Parker" Pomerol templates. Sweaty saddle and ripe plummy characters carry the day with firm acidity. The structure is much leaner than the nose would suggest it might be. Simple for the price.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Gallo Sonoma Pinot Noir 1998
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesLight colour, cool aromas of rhubarb and then some burnt earth in the background. Not a lot of fruit here. All burnt earth in the mouth and light to boot. Not up to Russian River or Gallo standards.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Turning Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
California, United StatesDill spicy compost leaf pepper aromas. Very soft and rich in the mouth with pruny blackberry fruit and touch of leather. Good flavours but the nose can put you off. Dry finish.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThis is 100 percent cabernet sauvignon, blended from two top Columbia Valley vineyards: Seven Hills and Windrow. Made to be drunk early it has an aromatic nose with lots of black fruit and cassis aromas. There is a touch of that leafy, forest floor flavouring with a warm spicy oaky finish. McClellan used only a third to 40 percent new oak to allow the vineyard to have an imprint on the wine. Will develop over the next three to six years.Prices:| BC | $48.90 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesWonderful open coffee, earth and cassis fruit nose that is pure Walla Walla. Lots of bright, full flavoured, mid-palate fruit with just the right rubbings of mostly French oak. Very pure cassis fruit and gorgeous styling. An elegant, complex, cabernet that finishes long, sweet and spicy. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $54.90 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesWonderful open coffee, earth and cassis fruit nose that is pure Walla Walla. Lots of bright, full flavoured, mid-palate fruit with just the right rubbings of French oak. An elegant, complex, cabernet that finishes long, sweet and spicy. Impressive fine grained tannins should age beautifully.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Seven Hills Merlot Reserve 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe '98 reserve is 90 percent merlot and five percent each of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. The fruit is hand selected from the Old Block of 20-year old vines at Seven Hills Vineyard. The colour is red-black. Big dark fruit nose with warm vanilla and spice coming from the Russian, French and American oak used in ageing. Rich, ripe, round and sweet with a long soft, minty finish. Impressive now and will improve.Prices:| BC | $58.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Seven Hills Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesMade from a mix of old and medium aged vineyards. There's a touch of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon in the blend, which helps broaden the wine lending it a more brooding complex style. Look for a big, rich, supple wine with some bramble and stemmy flavours underneath that add muscle. Lots of supple juicy fruit and a glimpse into the new Seven Hills style, which is definitely more elegant.Prices:| BC | $48.90 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 1998
South Australia, AustraliaThe "Grange Cabernet" is always marked by big oaky vanilla nose and in 1998 the cabernet is sensational. Look for blueberry, tobacco and cassis with a spicy, waxy pepper character both on the nose and palate. Incredibly rich, round and intense, this is a monumental 707 that isn't too jammy, too alcoholic or too overripe. Long tobacco, peppery, cassis finish. This wine was made for the long haul over the next ten to fifteen years. It is a serious red that is made only in the best years. There will be no 2000 Bin 707 just as it was skipped in 1995, 1983 and 1970 to 1975 inclusive.Prices:| BC | $101.30 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietors' Grand Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen gamy cassis nose with plenty of toasted oak in the background. The flavours are of ripe black fruit all wrapped up in a soft "sweet" consumer style. While it's a simple style it will have wide appeal. Dry tannins and vanilla mark its longish finish.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Jackson-Triggs Merlot Proprietors' Grand Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy earthy resiny woody nose with just a hint of plum fruit. The soft entry and round textures give away the varietal as merlot but the fruit is dull giving way to leather and resin. It's young and will improve but its not showing much value at this point. Not as good as the '97.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 1998
South Australia, AustraliaSt. Henri is meant to be the antithesis of Grange. It's all about texture and ripe floral fruit unadorned with new oak. Look for spicy, blackberry jam, plum, and earth aromas mixed with licorice and leather in the background. Rich, round and velvety, it has a big chocolate, blackberry jam, licorice and spice flavours with those characteristic floral tones. Long plum jam, spicy blackberry finish that caresses the tongue with sweet, ripe fruit. An incredible drinking wine tailor-made for the restaurant crowd. Will improve in the bottle for many years but its gorgeous now. Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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96PTS
Penfolds RWT Shiraz 1998
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaA stunning second vintage that begs the question why hasn't this been done before. The RWT is an all-French oak shiraz but unlike the Bin 128 from Coonawarra, this is one hundred per cent Barossa. It's hardly a new concept in Barossa shiraz but it's a welcome diversion from Penfolds. The '98 RWT spends nearly 13 months in new French oak and is quite a bit bigger than its '97 prototype. Tasted twice and simply sensational. Intense coffee, blackberry jam, cedar, roasted pepper aromas and flavours with a big whack of smoky, bacon in the background. Long creamy vanilla, mid-palate flavour with cloves, jasmine and coffee mixed with ripe blackberry. Great finish that is smooth and round.Prices:| BC | $101.30 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietors' Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy peppery smoked tomato nose not a lot of ripe fruit aromas here. Well balanced structured but the oak is still predominating and it is probably too much for the fruit -- if it ever surfaces. Wood tannins dry out the finish.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Jackson-Triggs Pinot Noir Proprietors' Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaStewed prune and tomato aromas with some spicy oak. Soft dry cherry flavours very dry tannic finish. No pleasure here. Why make a big style without the fruit.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Jackson-Triggs Merlot Proprietors' Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVery dark colour. Stewed prune resiny character with some leafy olive hints too. Biog oaky entry and very tannic on the palate. Where's the fruit. Long dry finish. Overpriced for what you get.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz Bin 389 1998
South Australia, AustraliaPenfolds is trying to raise the cabernet portion of this wine into the 60 to 65 percent range but the '98 still contains 42 percent shiraz. Look for a dark, brooding nearly opaque colour and aromas of mint, damson plums, blackberry jam and black olives with just a wisp of mocha. An appealing sweet vanilla oak scent pulls your nose into the glass where you discover the Grange character sans the price or the searing intensity although you could argue the 1998 is as close as it gets. Very rich and intense, the palate adds even more of a coffee, smoky, pepper experience with cassis and blackberry jam and mint, you name it, it's all here. A blockbuster bottle. Even more amazing is the 120,000 case production of 389. Take a bow Penfolds.Prices:| BC | $37.10 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 1998
South Australia, AustraliaThis is year number eight for the 407 that is blended in both French and American oak. Expect a varietally expressive red packed full of mint, cassis, black olive, black currant and coffee aromas and flavours. The slightly leathery, tannic finish will enable it to age for some years. At 14 percent alcohol, this is a mouth-filling cabernet and one of the biggest 407s to date. Prices:| BC | $34.15 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Penfolds Shiraz Kalimna Bin 28 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaKalimna vineyard produces much of the base wine for Grange as well as setting the style for this multi-regional blend. Look for a smoky bacon and toasted oak nose with a mix of coffee vanilla and blackberry aromas. Similar flavours with more round ness and elegance than we have seen in the past. Young and needs time to more fully develop.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Penfolds Shiraz Bin 128 1998
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaThe Bin 128 is a Penfolds anomaly, thanks to its single region origin and French oak barrels. The '98 is inky black. The nose is a lovely mix of roasted pepper, ripe blackberry fruit, with some meaty, coffee, vanilla aromas. Flavours are very similar with some extra minty, cherry, licorice flavours in the finish. This is a huge, powerful, supple red wine from an extraordinary Coonawarra vintage. Perfectly ripe shiraz from a cool-climate is a very special treat. A wine to watch and good value.Prices:| BC | $32.70 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Penfolds Shiraz - Mourvèdre Bin 2 1998
South Australia, AustraliaThe '98 blend is 75/25 with the shiraz dominating. Just a tinge of herbal, cassis-like aromas with the more typical underlying black cherry, earthy, leathery flavours and spice in the finish. Bin 2 is an old and very individual Penfolds style that dates back to 1960. A classic Penfolds red that will need two to three years of bottle age to open up. Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 1998
South Australia, AustraliaThe '98 is a blend of 51 per cent shiraz and 49 per cent cabernet sauvignon grown at Barossa, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Coonawarra and Langhorne Creek. The 23rd edition is one of the best I've tasted sporting fresh white pepper, berry, and spicy aromas with plum fruit prune and licorice flavours. It's extremely supple thanks to the ninety per cent of Koonunga Hill that gets some barrel ageing. Penfolds winemakers consider the Koonunga Hill as the start of the premium red wine range and I would agree.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Mission Hill Family Estate Oculus 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGreat colour. Licorice, pepper, ripe blackberry fruity jammy cassis aromas. Very inviting. Similar flavours, more fruit and fairly elegant on the palate. This wine keeps improving in the bottle and one more year should really help. Fine effort. The blend is 36/32/32/ merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc; 12 months in 62 percent new French oak: 100 percent Osoyoos fruit.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother deeply coloured wine with an open herbal, leafy cassis nose and plenty vanilla and toasted oak. We like the Médoc-like structure, black olive, dill and blackberry fruit and the long finish. Slightly hot but overall a fine effort and another step forward at Mission Hill where John Simes is beginning to zero in on B.C. red wine.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Robert's Rock Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 1998
Western Cape, South AfricaA surprisingly good wine for the money, which blends cabernet sauvignon and merlot in a 60/40 mix. Clean spicy berry nose with supple soft fruit. This is a winner. Use liberally around the barbecue. Great value.Prices:| BC | $9.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
KWV Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Paarl, Coastal Region, South AfricaDeep cherry red colour. Clean berry fruit nose with crisp mouth-watering acidity. A light berry flavour and a spicy finish make it another good bet for the barbecue. Simple straight-ahead red at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
KWV Roodeberg 1998
Paarl, Coastal Region, South AfricaA nice jump up in quality here over a mediocre '97 and one of the best since the style was revamped in 1994. Look for a full flavoured red made from an unusual blend of cabernet sauvignon (45), merlot (20), shiraz (10) and ruby cabernet (25). Fine use of older oak to fill out the body and soften the finish. Could Roodeberg be back? Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mission Hill Merlot Barrel Aged Private Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGood colour with cooler tomato leaf, forest floor and barnyard aromas. Lovely smoky vanilla cherry flavours that have good intensity and weight. There's some dryness in finish from the young tannins but this wine has potential to improve. Good value.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Merlot Barrel Aged 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBlack colour. Very intense ripe cherry plum jam nose. Big round and well balanced with gobs of fruit and spice. There are still plenty of tannins to settle down but this is a great looking red wine with a fine future.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mission Hill Pinot Noir Grand Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight raspberry jam earthy forest aromas with some toasted vanilla in the background. Round soft and elegant on the palate with sweet berry jam and spicy, earth, mushroom flavours.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Mission Hill Pinot Noir Private Reserve Bin 99 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy barnyard aromas with light strawberry jam flavours. Soft round light bodied, earth, and spices and vanilla. Slightly lean and tannic.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mission Hill Pinot Noir Private Reserve Bin 88 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight, pleasant aromas of strawberry, earth, and spices. Taste like it smells. A pretty but simple pinot noir with decent varietal character. Only for restaurants.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chateau Carignan 1998
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FranceThe property encompasses 150 hectares, of which 65 are planted to 65 per cent merlot, 25 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 10 per cent cabernet franc. This is Carignan's top wine and is made from forty year-old estate vines, aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months. The '98 blend is 80/20 merlot/cabernet franc. Spicy, pepper, green olive, vanilla, smoky black cherry with cedar, earth and leather notes. Similar flavours with an earthy, straw, green olive, pepper finish. Forward, round and drinkable now but will age for about five years. Good style for restaurants and newbies to Bordeaux.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $36.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesHuge olive green bean nose with smoky cherry cola and coffee in the background. Tastes like it smells with a little sweaty leather. Elegant style but hollow mid-palate and dry tannins in the oaky finish. Maybe they shouldn't have made this wine in 1998.Prices:| BC | $84.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 1998
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyLovely inviting, open nose with spicy, plum fruit and violets on the nose. Classic structure here and while it's still young and showing dry tannins it will improve over the next year. Perfect steak wine made for restaurants.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castello Banfi Moscadello di Montalcino Late Harvest 1998
Tuscany, ItalyOrange marmalade floral nose. Medium bodied citrus lemon orange peel. No big deal. BC $29.15Prices:| BC | $29.15 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Castello Banfi Col-di-Sasso Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Tuscany, ItalyA 50/50 sangiovese/cabernet sauvignon blend. Open peppery prune, plum fruit. Dry but round on the palate with good acidity. Soft and round tannin structure. Ready-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $14.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Castello Banfi Centine 1998
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalySmoky, oak-toast nose. Centine is a blend of Sangiovese (60 percent), Cabernet (20 percent) and Merlot (20 percent). A quick two months in Slavonian oak casks has softened the edges here. Spicy sausage/pepper aromas with some high-toned fruit. Tasty and complex given the so-so vintage in the region.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Sumac Ridge Meritage Black Sage Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaComplex barnyard and creamy vanilla blackberry mixed with smoke and earth. Similar flavours on the palate with some earthy pepper undertones but lots of oak. Some dryness on the palate but there is ripe fruit and structure that point to a bright future.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sumac Ridge Pinnacle 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPinnacle is produced from the finest lots of unfined, unfiltered, free-run juice of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes from Black Sage Vineyard. Pinnacle has been aged for a full 25 months in small oak casksGreat dark colour. Big volatile smoky oak, barnyard spicy cherry cream cola. Spicy clove flavours and more cherry cola flavours. Young and lots of oak dominating in the dry tannic finish. It needs more time to mature in bottle.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Sumac Ridge Pinot Blanc Reserve Icewine 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLighter peach fruit but lots of mineral highlights. Intense baked apple fruit flavours with quite a bit of volatile characters. Very intense. Big enough to pour onto ice cream.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 375ml |
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90PTS
Sumac Ridge Merlot Black Sage Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFine colour. More along the spicy resiny style. Lot' s of ripe '98 fruit, black cherry, licorice and spice with a touch of prune and vanilla in the aftertaste. Medium dry finish but this wine has softened considerably in the past six months. One of the best yet from Sumac. Drink 2002.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Sumac Ridge Cabernet Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium colour. Resiny burnt coffee and red berry nose. Quite dry on the mid-palate with earthy dry finish. Some bitterness too. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Sumac Ridge Cabernet Franc Black Sage Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGood colour. Spicy clove oak character on the nose with some cherry cassis. tobacco. Decent ripeness and fruit on entry but it's still young and dry on themed-palate and in the finish. Needs time but will the fruit last.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sumac Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sage Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep cherry colour. Again the familiar cassis sweet oak nose with some crushed pepper, licorice, barnyard and resin. Fairly big entry with lots of cassis, licorice and spicy, blackberry fruit on the palate and a slightly dry, tannic finish. This is now softening up but it will need a few more years to fully soften the tannins.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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78PTS
Sumac Ridge Pinot Noir Private Reserve Unfiltered 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaStinky, garlic rotting leaf nose. Soft dry and round with sausage and choke cherry flavours. Not very inviting for pinot noir.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThis is 100 percent cabernet sauvignon, blended from two top Columbia Valley vineyards: Seven Hills and Windrow. Made to be drunk early it has an aromatic nose with lots of black fruit and cassis aromas. There is a touch of that leafy, forest floor flavouring with a warm spicy oaky finish. McClellan used only a third to 40 percent new oak to allow the vineyard to have an imprint on the wine. Will develop over the next three to six years.Prices:| BC | $48.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Seven Hills Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesMade from a mix of old and medium aged vineyards. There's a touch of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon in the blend, which helps broaden the wine lending it a more brooding complex style. Look for a big, rich, supple wine with some bramble and stemmy flavours underneath that add muscle. Lots of supple juicy fruit and a glimpse into the new Seven Hills style, which is definitely more elegant.Prices:| BC | $48.90 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Seven Hills Merlot Reserve 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe '98 reserve is 90 percent merlot and five percent each of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. The fruit is hand selected from the Old Block of 20-year old vines at Seven Hills Vineyard. The colour is red-black. Big dark fruit nose with warm vanilla and spice coming from the Russian, French and American oak used in ageing. Rich, ripe, round and sweet with a long soft, minty finish. Impressive now and will improve.Prices:| BC | $58.90 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesWonderful open coffee, earth and cassis fruit nose that is pure Walla Walla. Lots of bright, full flavoured, mid-palate fruit with just the right rubbings of mostly French oak. Very pure cassis fruit and gorgeous styling. An elegant, complex, cabernet that finishes long, sweet and spicy. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $54.90 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard 1998
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesWonderful open coffee, earth and cassis fruit nose that is pure Walla Walla. Lots of bright, full flavoured, mid-palate fruit with just the right rubbings of French oak. An elegant, complex, cabernet that finishes long, sweet and spicy. Impressive fine grained tannins should age beautifully.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Indian Wells Vineyard 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesToast and cherry prune aromas with smoky barnyard and plum. Richer entry than the Canoe Ridge with rounder more voluptuous bright cherry fruit. Still has the smoky creamy cherry coal Ste. Michelle style and there are some dry tannins. Cellar for another two years before you begin drinking.Prices:| BC | $55.45 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery peppery, spicy, blackberry, black cherry aromas with a touch of smoke, barnyard and leather. Round, elegant and supple style with light, ripe tannins. Good peppery, blackberry, earthy, smoky, vanilla flavours. Balanced but will improve over the next few years. Good value and kills most California wine in the price range.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah Reserve 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesAttractive vanilla and spice nose (oak barrel nose) mixed with coffee and coconut. We like the elegance here and the styling not to mention the black cherry fruit. Lovely wine but at this point the smoky oak and vanilla is obscuring the true syrah varietal flavours. Hold another year or two.Prices:| BC | $54.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Cold Creek Vineyard 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesBarnyard cherry menthol tobacco aromas with a dose of pepper spice. Its smooth round texture belies the tannin and structure laying weight. More pepper, more earth, more spice and less of the cherry coal. Stylish and you can drink it now with food but it will hold the best. Try over the next decade.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVanilla, spice and even bigger pepper and mocha flavours. Richer, firmer style here with slightly drier fruit than the Canoe Ridge. Nice sweet vanilla, spicy, peppery cassis with a firm finish. Very well balanced with the ability to age.Prices:| BC | $50.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Northstar Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesA collaboration between long-time Washington winemaker Gordon Hill and acclaimed California winemaker Jed Steel, Northstar is dedicated to producing the world's best merlot with Columbia Valley grapes. Sweeter cherry cola aromas mark the nose of this pretty red. Not as polished or as soft as the preceding wine but still very impressive. Nice chocolate/mocha flavours and lovely weight and style.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Meritage Red 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe blend is 68/30/2 cabernet sauvignon/ merlot/ cabernet franc. Look for a lovely sweet, ripe cherry, blackberry fruit nose with the Ste. Michelle vanilla, and smoky cherry overtones. Quite a lean style that sits in the centre of the palate with sweet spicy vanilla flavours in the finish. The finish is long, supple and warm in a wine that hints at Bordeaux, California and finally Washington. Hold for five years.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSmoky spicy oak aromas with some tobacco. Big smoky vanilla oak and plum fruit but extremely tight and dry at this point. Lean dry finish. Will needs some time to soften up.Prices:| BC | $30.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quails' Gate Merlot Stone Mountain Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCoffee spicy clove aromas mix with stewed cherries and mint. Soft round alcoholic entry with good mid-palate fruit that disappears under all the new oak. Dry finish will need time to come around. Over priced.Prices:| BC | $33.80 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Quails' Gate Cabernet Merlot Limited Release 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep dark colour. Resiny peppery dry green bean aromas that persist on the palate. Dry lean structure with earthy oaky resiny flavours. Very dry tannins. The blend is 55 cabernet sauvignon 40 merlot and 5 cabernet franc. Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Quails' Gate Old Vines Foch Limited Release 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDark colour. Round and soft in the mouth with typical tobacco vegetal red berry flavours with a wisp of leather and volatility in the finish. More or less unchanged form previous editions.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Canoe Ridge Estate 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesOpen cherry cola smoke. Elegant smooth entry with fine balance and weight. There is a distinctive earthy profile underneath the cherry mint and creamy smoky vanilla fruit. Solid and not overpowering. Best aged in bottle until 2003.Prices:| BC | $44.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Canoe Ridge Estate 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesCreamy peppery vanilla nose with violets and cherries everywhere. The attack is soft with lots of sweet vanilla, spice and cherry fruit. Amazing ripeness. Elegant and peppery in the finish. Very appealing style cabernet consumers will love. Drink now and forget about the future. You can't get this in Napa for $41.Prices:| BC | $40.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Columbia Crest Syrah Reserve 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesDry peppery rich fruity nose. Sweet blackberry, pepper and licorice fruit flavours mixed with smoke. Barnyard leather characters. It's elegant on the palate with a slightly 'warm,' dry, peppery finish. Good effort.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
J. Lohr Cypress Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
California, United StatesMedium color with a strong vegetative cassis and coffee character and tobacco. It suffers a bit from the cool '98 vintage. Dry and lean with briary cassis earthy flavours. Lacks the warmth and charm of California cabernet. Disappointing for the price.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaQuite a ripe stewed fruit and vanilla spice nose. Soft round simple pinot with a smoky vanilla flavour. Some tealeaf in the finish. Good quaffing style pinot for picnics.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tinhorn Creek Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen smoky gamy pruny fruit. Soft round elegant style with lots of oak. The flavours run from the back to the front. Less extraction and weight but with plenty of flavour. Ready to drink but already drying out. Break out the cheese.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBright purple red colour. Ripe cherry fruit nose with spice smoke and vanilla. Similar flavours of cherry and smoke in a medium-weight, well balanced red. It does dry out a bit on the finish but its young. Should be just fine. Good value.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Columbia Winery Milestone Merlot Red Willow Vineyard 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United States76 per cent merlot 12 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 12 per cent cabernet franc and 11 per cent syrah. Always plenty of tannin. Name originates with Milestone variety. French coopered American oak. Vanilla cola mocha cedar bark flavours.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Columbia Winery Syrah Red Willow Vineyard 1998
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesHot peppery wine lacks real syrah definition. Soft and round but no real big deal. Ripe round soft rootsy and alcoholic in the finish. Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Columbia Winery Sangiovese Red Willow Vineyard David Lake Signature Series 1998
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery light, pinot noir like color. Intense cherry, spicy, perfumy, cedary barnyard aromas. Very soft and round with cherry berry flavours and pepper, vanilla and cedar. Slightly high acid but supple and well balanced. Mocha, barnyard and leather in the finish. More like pinot and definitely not Chianti in structure. Made from 69% Sangiovese Piccolo and 31% Sangiovese Grosso.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Leasingham Shiraz Bin 61 1998
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBuy the Classic Clare for the cellar, and this to slake your immediate hankering for Aussie shiraz. It only lacks at bit of poise and depth compared to its big brother. The nose is still full of very ripe, cassis-prune fruit, nuttiness, smoke and licorice. The palate is still quite thick and juicy with a dryish tannic and salty finish. The length is very good.Prices:| BC | $21.45 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Poplar Grove Farm Winery Cabernet Franc 1998
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep colour. Peculiar nose, perhaps overripe and slightly volatile. Smoked spices and herbal undertones. The wine spent 21 months in French oak. Quite dry and tannic, very ripe port like black cherry, smoky, dried spice flavours. A bit overripe and hot. It could be better balanced. Only 165 cases made.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Poplar Grove Farm Winery Merlot 1998
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAll the Poplar reds have a bit of volatility or lifted fruit. This merlot is slightly unclean on the nose but much better in the mouth with earthy cherry smoky fruit flavours. There's a lot of dry tannins in the finish that need to drop away before you can enjoy the vintage.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stag's Hollow Merlot 1998
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLovely dark color in a serious Bordeaux style with minty, spicy cherry jam and earth aromas. Rich texture with some softness and medium weight. Good spicy, cherry, vanilla peppery flavours. Shows the potential of this vintage and the vineyard. Will be released this fall and could be one of the better B.C. merlot.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hardys Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaMinty, green bean, peppery, spicy cassis and coffee aromas. Dry, herbaceous minty, pepper, spicy, cassis flavours with coffee and earth in the finish. Slightly lean with dry tannins and medium extract, more herbal, dry style.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hardys Shiraz Nottage Hill 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaSlightly herbal, carbonic berry jam, peppery spice aromas. Very soft with berry jam, peppery coffee cooked flavors. Prefer the cab/shiraz or merlot.Prices:| BC | $12.30 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hogue Cabernet - Merlot 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesDill mint and weed Washington nose, with blackberry fruit. One dimensional easy drinking round and soft with earth coffee mocha. Fine everyday effort. BC Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
EXP Syrah 1998
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesOne of California's largest syrah producers makes a very intense, highly wooded style that's almost coarse but very tasty. Lifted wood smoke, leather, nutmeg and blackcurrant aromas also have a slightly green edge. Full bore, open knit, hot and spicy on the palate with excellent length. Needs grilled red meat.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Estancia Pinot Noir Pinnacles 1998
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesTea leave, soy, strawberry jam aromas with a hint of prune and barnyard. Round, soft and elegant on the palate with soy and strawberry jam again showing through. Some leafy compost and earth flavours in the finish. Cooler climate characters show but has decent mouth feel and balance.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Calona Vineyards Cabernet Franc Artist Series 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium red colour. Spicy herbal licorice aromas with touch of cherry and resin. Dry lean style here, fairly well balanced with fruit that is on the olive herbal side. Could be fine with a T-Bone steak and another year of age.Prices:| BC | $11.45 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Calona Vineyards Rougeon Artist Series 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDill, drainpipe and stew tomato nose. Soft round damp earthy flavours. Mocha fruit flavours in a soft easy to drink style.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Calona Vineyards Merlot Southern Valley Private Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAttracted leafy coffee cherry cola with some warm vanilla highlights. Earthy leafy coffee cherry flavours that finish dry. Good balance and a fair price.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Reserve 1998
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig smoky toasted barrel bacon nose with celery salt and strawberry jam in the background. Lighter ands rounder in the mouth with less tannin that let's you better enjoy the fruit. Orange rind strawberry flavours make for a pleasant glass of pinot.Prices:| BC | $55.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander's Crown 1998
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig dill and weed aromas with smoked spice. Amazingly soft entry but the fruit mostly disappears into a melange of spicy,peppery dry tannins. More like a Brunello than a Sonoma Meritage.Prices:| BC | $45.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rodney Strong Zinfandel Knotty Vines 1998
Northern Sonoma, Sonoma County, California, United StatesOpen fruity nose of blackberry and black cherries with dried licorice too. Ripe berry vanilla flavours but with a dry peppery tannic finish. Very young and will improve with another year in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Rodney Strong Merlot 1998
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSmoky oaky sweaty resiny nose with cherry and a hint of green bean. Very soft and round and easy to drink. Not overly varietal and not quite as beefy as the 1997 but ready to drink and should do well in restaurants. Oaky without the fruit. Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hardys Nottage Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaRound and soft on the palate with peppery, spicy, mint, coffee berry jam aromas and flavors. Well balanced with a slightly dry tannic finish (the Hardy style) that will be complemented by many meat dishes or cheese. Good value.Prices:| BC | $12.30 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hardys Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 1998
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaMinty, green bean, peppery, spicy cassis and coffee aromas. Dry, herbaceous minty, pepper, spicy, cassis flavours with coffee and earth in the finish. Slightly lean with dry tannins and medium extract, more herbal, dry style.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Hardys Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
South Australia, AustraliaA blend of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills worked in open top fermenters and run off into basket presses. Spicy, minty, leafy, cassis jam aromas with coffee, olive and tobacco in the background. Soft, rich and round with ripe cassis jam, spicy, coffee mint and blackberry flavours showing, definite Coonawarra influence. Slightly acid in the finish but has elegant, soft tannins. Long tobacco and spice finish. Needs 2-5 years.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Fetzer Syrah 1998
California, United StatesThe syrah opens with typical peppery, spicy, smoked sausage and pepperoni aromas. The flavour is similar with added resiny earthy characters in the finish. It's soft and east to sip but it lacks any real fruit character. Reminds us a bit of the South African style. Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Fetzer Pinot Noir Reserve Bien Nacido Vineyard 1998
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesRipe plum and cherry fruit aromas with spicy, orange rind and forest/barnyard undertones. Round and concentrated with somewhat dry, tight tannins. Good toasty oak, orange, plum and cherry flavours. A bit big and alcoholic. Will need a few years to soften and reduce the oak.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Fetzer Valley Oaks Zinfandel 1998
California, United StatesThe Fetzer flagship varietal is zinfandel (first commercial release 1968). To cope with rising prices the blend or source of grapes is from the much broader California AVA. The wine spends 11 months in new and used (mostly) American oak and the winery added 13 percent petite sirah to bolster the wine's colour and structure. Look for a full-flavoured red showing aromas of dried berries spice and chocolate. Similar flavours with a dash of tobacco and prune suggest you drink this wine this summer. It's an adequate red but could use more intensity. Pair with barbecued ribs.Prices:| BC | $16.45 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fetzer Zinfandel Barrel Select 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesSoft sweet flavours good weight and soft round fruity style. Dense chewy supple fun red with a big spicy finish.Prices:| BC | $20.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Oaks 1998
Mendocino County, California, United StatesEarthy, prune, blackberry aromas with tarry, menthol spice notes. Soft and round with pruny, blackberry, peppery, spicy flavours and a touch of oak. Solid red for the dinner table. The grapes were sourced predominantly from the coastal regions of California, complimented by fruit from the interior valleys of the state.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Collage Zinfandel - Shiraz 1998
California, United StatesA 76/24 blend of zinfandel/shiraz could only be made in California. Look for spicy, peppery, licorice aromas, berry jam and tarry tones on the nose and light peppery, earthy, spicy berry jam flavours. A lightweight quaffer with a soft, simple finish.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
CedarCreek Cabernet Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium red colour with an open spicy cherry scented nose. Similar flavours on the palate with some smoke. The finish is dry with some tight tannins yet to disperse. Needs a steak to soften it up. Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLovely open spicy vanilla nose with some cherry jam and a smoky Worcester highlights. Fine balance none of the usual dryness in B.C. pinot with a warm spicy smoky gamy vanilla flavours. Will be quite a sensation when it's released this winter.Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
CedarCreek Estate Select Pinot Noir 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVanilla spicy earthy character on the nose with cherry jam. Soft vanilla cherry entry with earthy tobacco dried fruit and Soya flavours in the finish. Fairly dry now with forest floor aftertaste. Drink up. Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
CedarCreek Merlot Platinum Reserve 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSlightly volatile nose, lots of upfront black cherry fruit and vanilla. Very spicy character with lots of toasted oak in the finish. Still very young and will need more time to settle down. We look forward to a finished bottle to taste. Expensive.Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
CedarCreek Merlot 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen leafy tobacco nose with a spicy clove vanilla character and black cherry fruit. Round and soft in the mouth with good balance but still a touch dry in the finish. Well balanced and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Lamaione Merlot 1998
Tuscany, ItalyThe '98 harvest wasn't easy with heavy August rains and showers throughout the harvest. The result is less firm, much softer Lamaione. The fruit is slightly green and the palate is dry but it remains an elegant wine. The good news is it's drinking well now - perfect for restaurants. This is the eighth edition of Lamaione and the second since the vineyard was officially subdivided into two - the other half goes to Luce the Mondavi Frescobaldi joint venture. We look for better things to come.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Trivento Syrah 1998
Mendoza, ArgentinaRicher peppery fruity flavours that finish slightly roasted and dry. Syrah ripens well before the malbec which no doubt helped in 1998. Excellent value here. Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Trivento Bonarda 1998
Mendoza, ArgentinaSimple easy to drink tred that is soft but with good weight. Delicious good value red.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mazzei Badiola 1998
Tuscany, ItalyQuite a big nose of here of ripe black cherry and peppery earth. Some sausage spicy meaty flavours with typical Tuscan tannins but there's plenty of cherry jam and licorice flavours. Good weight and length and a fair price.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1998
Tuscany, ItalyBig "new," vanilla oak nose mixed with saddle leather and ripe plum and cherries. Big spicy, tarry, cherry flavours and more vanilla. Well-balanced and tasty but then comes the 1998 vintage and its super dry tannins. New World sangiovese.Prices:| BC | $52.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles 1998
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceSomewhat closed but with hints of cherry/strawberry jam, vanilla, cassis and orange rind aromas. Ripe and round with excellent concentration and ripe tannins. Vanilla, spicy, pepper flavours with sour cherry, cassis, licorice and a slightly smoky finish. Well balanced with finesse and elegance. Good value in Burgundy. Expect it to last 3-7 years.Prices:| BC | $65.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Le Corton 1998
Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceLots of earthy, barnyard, gamey, spicy, licorice aromas with cherry jam, forest floor, pepper and oak toast. Big young rich style with slightly dry but ripe tannins. Fine intensity of flavours with cherry, berry jam, earth, spicy clove and vanilla. Good length and moderately elegant for a Corton but definitely a chunkier style. Needs 4-6 years to fully shine. Prices:| BC | $77.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot 1998
Volnay, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceEarthy, toasty oak, cherry jam aromas with barnyard, forest floor tones and a spicy marmalade background. Moderately ripe and round with vanilla, oak toast, earth and spicy cherry jam flavours. Soft, round feminine structure with some grip and intensity. True Volnay style, balanced and available at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $53.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Valdivieso Merlot Barrel Selection Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileFragrant mint, orange spice and smoky nose with some leather. Round soft texture with good mouthfeel and fine balance. Long finish with lots of leathery, smoky, plum and orange spice flavours. Supple and well balanced.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileFresh fruit aromas of dried cherries and prunes with spice, smoke and tea in the background. Similar flavours in the mouth with no greenness. Lots of tobacco, cedar toast and cherry in the finish. Round styling and structure. Excellent quality.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Valdivieso Merlot Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileThe reserve merlot comes off the exquisite La Primavera Vineyard in Sagrada Familia, A cooler, longer than normal vintage slowed down the ripening process producing richer, softer tannins. The color is dark purple and dense to the rim. Lovely open vanilla, cassis and plum scents, with plummy, spicy, mulberry, dried fruits in the finish. Full-bodied and concentrated but soft and delicious in the mouth. Big California New World style that reminds us of south Sonoma. What we like is the grip and tannin here and perhaps the ability to age.Prices:| BC | $22.50 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileA selection of fruit from the Colchagua and Curicó regions most of which is 15 years old. Quite clean and fresh and very open Look for cedar, cherry, spice, tea and prune aromas. Clean, open flavours in the mouth with no greenness. Lots of smoky, prune, tea/tobacco flavours with an oak toast and cassis finish. Round styling and structure. Excellent quality.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileThere's a dash of cabernet franc and malbec in this wine and aged in 44 percent new French and American oak. Gorgeous nose of blackberry fruit, cedar, pepper, toasty oak and coffee. Round, supple tannins that are balanced but young. Cassis, minty, smoky, prune and blackberry flavours with a vanilla sheen on top. One of the best yet from Valdivieso, very stylish.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileResiny rubber boots, slightly vegetal peppery, green bean, earth aromas and flavours. We like the concentration but there's too much tannin and perhaps a too aggressive varietal character. The finish is hot and resiny. Prices:| BC | $13.30 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Valdivieso Malbec 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChilePurple inky color. Minty, vegetal, mushroom aromas with some pepper. Very malbec. Soft round supple red with minty, earthy, spicy herbal overtones. Use liberally around the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Valdivieso Malbec Single Vineyard Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileAttractive spicy vanilla oak and cherry aromas with saddle leather and mushroom highlights. Round but a touch tight with good length and richness. Similar flavours to the nose with some tight tannins in the finish. Fine spicy clove cherry finish.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Valdivieso V Malbec 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileFine balance and ripe fruit but not the wine it should be for the price. Lots of vanilla, toast, very spicy coriander, earthy, plum aromas. Soft tannins and elegance with spicy, vanilla, orange rind and cherry flavours. Finish is somewhat dry and earthy with some acidity. Stylish dry malbec that will appeal to some.Prices:| BC | $59.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Almaviva Primer Orden 1998
Puente Alto, Valle del Maipo, ChileVery dark cherry colour. Intense ground white pepper, minty, licorice, shoe leather aromas with mushroom, earth and cherry in the background, very unusual. Rich, supple, and intense with white pepper, leather, cherry and licorice flavours, somewhat gamey. Long and balanced with good complexity and weight. The somewhat tannic finish should round out in 2-4 years. It is a substantial improvement over the previous vintages.Prices:| BC | $129.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Valdivieso Pinot Noir Reserve 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileMostly Lontué La Primavera fruit. Again lots of smoky, toasted-oak, strawberry jam and barnyard aromas with underlying fruit flavours of cherries and plums. Long liquorice, earthy finish. Similar styling to the 1997 but with more concentration and depth. Still young and should improve over the next year in bottle.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Pinot Noir 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileGood color. Black cherry, gamy, herbal fruit aromas and flavours. Rounder, softer style with a spicy/rootsy, stemmy finish. Fine straight-ahead pinot at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Valdivieso V Pinot Noir 1998
Region del Valle Central, Chile"V" is new territory for Valdivieso as they pursue the ultimate in Chilean pinot noir. From the best lots off the best sites comes a big smoky (sausage) nose that comes from the Francois Frères heavy toast barrels. Rich, round and supple, has orange, spicy, smoky bacon and plum flavours with an earthy, choke cherry aftertaste. Good balance but slightly acidic in the finish. Unusual pinot, produced in a cold year.Prices:| BC | $54.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 1998
Region del Valle Central, Chile100 percent barrel aged in American oak of which 30 percent is new. Tight minty herbal nose. Almost Bordeaux like in taste and feel. Will need time to come around. Try in a year.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileMaipo and Rapel, 20 per cent barrel aged 6-8months American oak ageing, some inner stave. 35-45 days maceration skin contact. Spicy black pepper dryness on the mid-palate.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Caliterra Merlot Reserva 1998
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileA blend of 50/50 Rapel and Maipo fruit. It's the first year for a reserve merlot. A cooler vintage gives this red more elegance and spice on the nose. Much better than the regular with less herbaceous fruit and more chocolate. Quite a big wine. Touch of olive and bell pepper but not anything to be concerned about. Bottled in March 99 in a blend of 50/50 French and American oak. There's 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix. Estimated BC price $18Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileBig, dark and alcoholic is my take of the 1998 Montes Alpha Cabernet. Compost and prunes mix with resin, cassis and hints of barnyard, spice and vanilla. The styling is more Bordeaux than California but it suffers from what is really a tough year for most cabernets. A recent tasting of the 1999 shows it to be much superior.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Apalta Vineyard 1998
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileSmoky gamy, fried green beans with a sappy cassis character. Round smoky, coffee, cassis, black cherry flavours make this a hit. Big flavours and firm tannins suggest it needs food but this will be even better as it ages over the next three to five years.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 1998
Puente Alto, Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileDeep opaque colour. Intense smoked spice, cassis berries and sap - the Don nose. Lovely smoky leather cassis fruit and very supple and soft on the palate. There's some dryness in the long waxy vanilla finish but otherwise this is surprisingly good for a tough cool vintage. Menthol and cassis.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Sunrise Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileSurprising rich, ruby red colour and full bouquet. The aroma and flavour is a bit leafy with some earth too. It has more backbone and structure than the merlot.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sunrise Merlot 1998
Region del Valle Central, ChileHerbal aromas with lots of dried then freshly ground spice in the background. The texture is soft both on entry and the mid-palate with just a hint of tannin that dries out the finish. Smooth inexpensive merlot.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Errazuriz Max Reserva Syrah (Shiraz) 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileBig, deep color. Made from three clones all fermented together. (In 99 they were fermented separate). Aged in one-third new oak barrels -- 50/50 French and American. Look for smoky roasted pepper aromas and flavours with tobacco and earth. The cooler year lowered the alcohol although in normal years they will use cabernet to reduce it and add complexity to the wine. Good but normally it will be more powerful.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Errazuriz Sangiovese 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileMade from grafted "over" cabernet sauvignon vines. Attractive nose of cherries. The use of one-year old French oak helps hold the fruit together. Round, tasty fruit with no bitterness or dryness. Easy to drink with a full rich finish. Very impressive.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Errazuriz Pinot Noir Reserva 1998
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileLess color but more interesting nose than the '97. Much better balance with tasty strawberry fruit and spice and just a hint of dryness in the finish. Simple.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Errazuriz Merlot 1998
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileDank earthy rootsy dank nose not very attractive. Lots of peppery vegetal flavours perhaps reflecting the cool year. Not up to Errazuriz usual standards.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Errazuriz Merlot Reserva 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, Chile89 Errazuriz 1998 Merlot Reserva Casablanca Valley, Aconcagua, Chile This wine is mostly Carménère planted in 93 so the nose has a touch of capsicum. Lovely elegant soft texture on the palate. Fine balance but still on the herbal stemmy side.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileFrom the Domaine El Ciebo Estate. Medium cherry ruby. Herbal peppery, spicy, aromas. Basically stainless steel with inner staves. On the palate, ripe tannins are sweeter and riper than the '96. Earthy herbal stinky quality to the wine that is not so bad to taste.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileIntense cassis aromas with a touch of barnyard and earth. On the palate it has similar cassis earth and vanilla flavours but without a great deal of complexity. Well made but not as refined or rich as the 1997. We look forward to the 1999.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Seña 1998
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileThe cool '98 vintage of 90/5/5 Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenère / Merlot has a pronounced minty, sappy cassis aroma with a whiff of barnyard. Elegant round and fine balanced but the extract is low and it is slightly acidic. Smoky earthy flavours mark the finish of an oaky wine selling at a premium price. We expect more from Sena and think thye might have thought about not making the wine in 1998. BC $67.95, AB $58.00, MB $66.56, ON $79.95 (AG)Prices:| BC | $67.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Matanzas Creek Merlot 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesStinky garlic and leafy cassis aromas with vanilla and spice. Soft round slick and smooth but it suffers a bit from the cool vintage. Elegant and polished with nice cherry plum fruit in the finish but the structure indicates limited ageing potential so drink it young. Perfect for restaurants.Prices:| BC | $105.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Matanzas Creek Syrah 1998
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig intense peppery gamey garrigue aromas with lots of blackberry fruit in the background. Lovely balance despite a true blockbuster style. A fine mix of Euro tannins and blackberry licorice smoky scents with big Aussie fruit. Firm and not near ready to drink. Wait another 3 to 5 years and this will be a winner.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Kendall-Jackson Syrah Vintner's Reserve 1998
California, United StatesBig earthy, peppery, sweaty game aromas with some blackberry jam. Slightly dry texture with similar flavours and a somewhat hot/alcoholic finish. Good effort but the fruit needs to be riper. Somewhat angular at the moment. Pricey.Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner's Reserve 1998
California, United StatesThe grapes are cold soaked for two to five days before fermentation. Look for soya, compost, black cherry aromas in a light and round pinot with angular plum jam, soya and forest floor flavours that reminds us of the old Monterey style. Soft but not a lot of fruit.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot Mawson's 1998
AustraliaAnother Coonawarra red with minty leaf and cassis tones and a touch of barnyard and leather. Juicy black cherry/cassis fruit with smoky leafy tobacco overtones. Quite firm at this point in both acidity and tannin. This will need to age for another 2 to 3 years before it begins to open up.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Batasiolo Barbaresco 1998
Piedmont, ItalyBatasiolo is one of the largest producers in Piedmont, making about 160,000 cases of wine a year. The regular Barbaresco, made with purchased grapes, smells of cherries and sweaty tobacco. You get similar flavours but the textures and flavours are dry and lean in the mouth. Will need several years to soften up but may not have the fruit to endure.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Batasiolo Barbera d'Alba 1998
Piedmont, ItalyGrilled cherry licorice fruit nose with floral overtones. Earthy licorice cherry fruit and a wisp of tobacco. Well styled, soft round and very easy to sip. Should appeal to both beginners and sophisticated tipplers. Good value.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvée Alexandre 1998
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe reserve version has better colour and the nose is spicier with more sweet vanilla tones coming from the oak. There are plenty of spice cherry and dill aromas in what is a fairly dry and leaner merlot on the palate. Quite French in style, with better vanilla and orange spice in the finish. A success given the vintage but not cheap.Prices:| BC | $26.65 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Casa Lapostolle Merlot 1998
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileFrom the cool '98 vintage comes this earthy, peppery red with rubber tire-like aromas. The wet tobacco leaf nose is tough to get by and the taste is similar. Dry, lean, coffee tobacco flavours. Definitely not up to Lapostolle usual standard for merlot.Prices:| BC | $19.35 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Benziger Merlot Reserve 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesDark cherry colour. Smoky cherry garrigue and spice aromas with vanilla and menthol aromas. Round, supple entry with peppery plum and prune flavours. Drinkable now but has tight tannins that will hold for several years. Not as intense as the 1997.Prices:| BC | $71.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesTight spicy garrigue aromas with barnyard cassis jam and rosemary. Similarly tight on the palate. Dry extracted smoky vanilla earth flavours with less fruit than normal. Dry tight finish will need plenty of time or food or both.Prices:| BC | $77.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Yalumba Shiraz Barossa Shiraz 1998
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaShoe leather and tea leaf with smoky prunes marks this mature nose. Rich smooth mocha peppery earthy but the finish is dry and short at this point. Will need more time to open up and show its stuff. Cellar for another three years.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesOpen ripe cassis, barnyard, leather, cherry, earthy nose with some dusty, spicy, green bean and pepper notes in the background. Dry and somewhat tight with leaner tannins, the wine is still very well balanced and quite polished. Good vanilla, earthy, peppery, dusty cassis flavours with a spicy, vanilla, leather finish. The leaner, dry tannins are again like many 1998's from Napa. Mid-term ageing potential, needs three to five years to soften the structure.Prices:| BC | $99.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
De Bortoli Pinot Noir Yarra Valley 1998
Yarra Valley, Victoria, AustraliaBarrel fermented using one-third new, one-third one year old and one-third second year filled barrels. Medium dark colour. Barnyard and toasted oak with spicy, black cherry fruit and just a whiff of forest floor. Richer rounder, mid-palate fruit laced with spices and black cherry but it finished slightly dry. A good effort, which may improve over the next year.Prices:| BC | $36.75 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore 1998
Veneto, ItalyRich spicy black pepper nose with a hint of truffle. Quite intense spicy sweet cherry flavours. Well balanced and full of flavours. Quite a good little red for the price and better than most of the cheap Chianti in the market.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bonterra Vineyards Sangiovese 1998
Mendocino County, California, United StatesBig huge cinnamon clove shoe leather aromas jump out of the glass. Very similar flavours with lots of vanilla and oak showing through. The finish is Tuscan lean and begs for food.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Coastal 1998
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesMedium dark colour. Soft sweet pinot fruit with some black cherry flavours. Better acidity here. More finesse. On the edge of pricey for what you get.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Robert Mondavi Merlot 1998
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesHerbal nose with some stemmy fruit. Fairly rich and full flavoured in the mouth but with hints of briary herbal fruit tones. Not much to distinguished this from its hundreds of faceless competitors.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Robert Mondavi Coastal Merlot 1998
Central Coast, California, United StatesDeep colour. Dusty dry earthy aromas with celery and carrot in the background. Dry, coffee, earthy flavours. Lean, light and a touch bitter. No real joy here for the price. Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Yalumba Barossa Shiraz 1998
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaShoe leather and tea leaf with smoky prunes marks this mature nose. Rich smooth mocha peppery earthy but the finish is dry and short at this point. Will need more time to open up and show its stuff. Cellar for another three years.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Yalumba The Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaMinty olive sweaty leather and coffee Coonawarra aromas. Rich and round structure here with big tannins that are mostly round. Look for a smoky cherry cassis fruit flavour that finishes long and peppery with an olive brine streak at the end. Wait three to five years for this baby to reach maturity. The price has doubled over four vintages.Prices:| BC | $43.95 | 750ml |
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72PTS
Château de Nages Réserve du Château Rouge 1996
Costières de Nîmes, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceSkunky, eggy, green herbal citrus aromas. Soft, grassy, citrus peach flavours. Slightly bitter, somewhat defective wine with the sulphur nose.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Château de Nages Réserve du Château Rouge 1998
Costières de Nîmes, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceBright youthful purple colour previews its big intense ripe fruit nose. Sweet peppery jammy fruit dominates the palate with roundness and weight. Fine mouth feel. Very tasty. The best de Nages we have tasted yet. A fine candidate for the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $13.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 1998
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, SpainSweaty mousey leather barnyard pruny nose with coffee vanilla and mocha highlights. Similar flavours of coffee mocha and prune with a dusting of tannin. Fairly firm acidity and dry flavours in the finish. Definitely Old World style here. Hold three of four years for best results.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estates 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesRich spicy vanilla oak nose laced with blackberry. Similar flavours on entry with bright peppery blackberry fruit on the mid-palate and a distinct vanilla cherry finish. Elegant structure but at the moment firm dry tannin dominates the back palate. Look for this wine to improve as it mellows out over the next three to five years.Prices:| BC | $83.50 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Villa Arceno Merlot 1998
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyResiny, spicy, peppery, prune plum aromas with a touch of vanilla, barnyard and tobacco. Rich and round with vanilla, cherry, spicy, leather and tobacco flavours. Somewhat dry, lean tannins in the finish with vanilla and plum notes. Well made for the vintage and will benefit from 2-4 years aging. Prices:| BC | $43.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Villa Arceno Arguzzio 1998
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyA blend of sangiovese, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. Open vanilla, spicy, peppery, blackberry, earth and resin aromas with a light background of plum and tobacco. Moderately tannic with ripe cherry, blackberry, vanilla, and smoky cedar flavours. Dry Tuscan tannin structure but the flavours are very ripe. Good quality will need 5-10 years to round out.Prices:| BC | $43.95 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Vérité La Joie 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesMade from micro-crus of mountain vineyards of which 90 percent are located in Sonoma and 10% in Napa County. Open chocolate/mocha prune plum aromas with hints of leather resin and vanilla. Super soft, velvet glove textures with similar flavours and a long smoky spicy finish. Rich and round with only a dusting of dry tannins in the background. Should peak around late 2005 to early 2006.Prices:| BC | $175.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hartford Court Pinot Noir Marin 1998
Marin County, California, United StatesSmoked salami and barnyard with black cherry and smoky resin nuances. Jammy berry fruit and smoke on the palate with quite dry tannic finish. Lacks charm and weight but probably reflects the poor vintage more than anything.Prices:| BC | $92.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Hartford Court Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard 1998
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesOpen smoky bacon aromas with raspberry/cranberry fruit. Softer rounder version of the Marin county label with a little bit better fruit component. There are still some dry and bitter tannins in the finish that need another year to dissipate. Solid if unspectacular pinot, obviously suffering from the poor, cool '98 harvest.Prices:| BC | $118.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Great Estates 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesPepper, earth, spice, leather and tobacco aromas with good cassis and blackberry fruit. Round, ripe and elegant with light, supple tannins. Good spicy, peppery, cassis, olive, sweaty leather flavours with a toasty, tobacco vanilla finish. Very supple and suave, a lighter but well made style for the vintage. Good fruit and balance.Prices:| BC | $89.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Kendall-Jackson Merlot Great Estates 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesSmoky, toasted oak, blackberry, mint and raspberry aromas with tarry, licorice tones in the background. Slightly skinny, leaner style tannins and mid-palate. Cherry, plum, smoky, spicy mint flavours with long vanilla, cherry, tarry finish. Good richness, elegant but not as full blown. Prices:| BC | $79.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Kendall-Jackson Merlot Great Estates 1998
Sonoma County, California, United StatesOpen peppery, prune plum, spicy, tobacco, cherry aromas with vanilla, barnyard and resin notes. Rich and concentrated with ripe, round tannins. Big cherry jam, cola, resiny, spicy, peppery, mint flavours. Big chewy style with a smoky, resiny, cherry finish. Needs 2-5 years plus to fully soften and integrate. Prices:| BC | $79.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Kendall-Jackson Merlot Grand Reserve 1998
California, United StatesThe best lots from Sonoma's Alexander Valley, Dry Creek and upper Russian River make for a cherry cola, spicy, peppery, minty coffee nose. Lush currant, black cherry fruit with understated spicy clove notes, cedar, mint and coffee makes for showy notes. Well balanced but needs 2-3 years to round out. Prices:| BC | $59.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 1998
California, United StatesMostly French oak and Napa, Sonoma, and a splash of Mendocino fruit are the core of this label. Blackberry, waxy, cassis aromas with chocolate and a touch of barnyard invite you into the glass. This is a full flavoured cabernet that tastes of cherry, blackberry, smoky earth and vanilla. Round, forward and well balanced with good complexity.Prices:| BC | $65.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Villa Arceno Merlot 1998
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyResiny, spicy, peppery, prune plum aromas with a touch of vanilla, barnyard and tobacco. Rich and round with vanilla, cherry, spicy, leather and tobacco flavours. Somewhat dry, lean tannins in the finish with vanilla and plum notes. Well made for the vintage and will benefit from 2-4 years aging.Prices:| BC | $43.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Villa Arceno Arguzzio 1998
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyA blend of sangiovese, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. Open vanilla, spicy, peppery, blackberry, earth and resin aromas with a light background of plum and tobacco. Moderately tannic with ripe cherry, blackberry, vanilla, and smoky cedar flavours. Dry Tuscan tannin structure but the flavours are very ripe. Good quality will need 5-10 years to round out. Prices:| BC | $43.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pepi Colline di Sassi 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesA mixture of 54/24/18 sangiovese/cabernet sauvignon/merlot from prime Napa and Carneros vineyards. Very peppery, spicy, roasted earth, prune plum, gamey leather aromas. Rich, round, well balanced wit ripe prune plum, gamey, vanilla, leather and chocolate flavours. Ripe tannins in the finish with some nice toasty oak. Needs about 2-3 years to fully flesh out but well done.Prices:| BC | $37.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Dark Horse Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBarnyard clove spicy with berry jam and vanilla highlights. Ripe blackberry cassis flavours but not a lot of extract. It's young and so the tannins are still quite prevalent but they should melt away in a year or two.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Cabernet Franc 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig ripe vanilla cassis smoky oak and cherry fruit. Big oaky palate at the moment with some rich fruit. Still young and dry and will need time to come around.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Noir Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium dark. Cherry jam and spice with hints of tar. Far better balanced than most of its peers. Still some tannins but quite a leap ahead of the pack.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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April 2001