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Tastings: June 2002
18 June 2002
87PTS
Yalumba Barossa Shiraz 2000
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy pruny sweaty leather with some weedy overtones. Soft and round on entry with a smoky pruny earthy with a wisp of raspberry. Leather and tobacco dominate the fruit; the finish is acidic. An elegant Barossa syrah at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Robert Hill Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaLook for a refreshing nose that draws you into the wine. Fresh and lean on the palate with zippy citrus fruit and straw flavours. This sauvignon is consistently tight and firm reflecting its cooler Eden Valley origins. Surely one of thebest in Oz. Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay 2001
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThis is delicious chardonnay. It begins with attractive toasted oak nose. The fruit is soft with bright peach and mango flavours and along balanced finish. The wild yeast ferment gives it that extra yeasty complex taste in the finish. Reminiscent of the excellent "Wild Ferment" chardonnay from Errazuriz.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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16 June 2002
91PTS
Hartford Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2000
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesHartford's Sonoma Coast chardonnay is comprised of individual lots that fail to make its very best labels, which is good news for bargain hunter chardonnay drinkers who like big time appellation fruit. The 2000 Sonoma Coast mixes single vineyard Russian River and Green Valley fruit with a handful of growers along the Russian River and the southern edges of Sonoma Coast including batches from Durrell and Dutton Ranch Vineyards. Look for quite a leesy Burgundian style white wine (fermented in 1090 per cent French oak) with exotic fruit aromas of tangerine, lemons, citrus fruit and green apple skin flavours. Classy California chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $41.50 | 750ml |
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13 June 2002
91PTS
J. Bookwalter Lot 14 Red Wine NV
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Lot 14 is non-vintage and lot specific. Rich open, chocolate, black plum and vanilla aromas with a touch of orange spice in the back end. Similar flavours with rich round textures and spicy fruit. A bit hot and alcoholic but if you like sweet, smoky, vanilla and cherry jam flavours, and many do, this is the red for you.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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11 June 2002
86PTS
Lingenfelder Satyr Brut NV
Pfalz, GermanySatyr began with a 1994 Riesling Kabinett base wine from the Goldberg vineyard. A year later, during the harvest of 1995, freshly pressed riesling grape juice of Spätlese quality was added, the wine was bottled and the tirage began. After 5 years on the yeast, the wine was disgorged and Riesling Spätlese juice from the 2000 vintage was added as dosage. Look for a slate/earth/diesel apple fruit nose with heavy, floral, Pfalz aromas. More floral apple highlights finish dry, lean and tight. Good expression of terroir but on the dry side for North America.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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10 June 2002
87PTS
Quinta D'Aguieira Bical - Maria Gomes 2000
Dão, Northern Portugal, PortugalOpen buttery, spicy, peach, mineral and pear aromas with a touch of muscat floral notes. Round and soft with medium body, has mineral, citrus, buttery pear flavours and a touch of nutty lees in the finish. Good acidity and intensity overall but needs to be drunk young and fresh.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quinta D'Aguieira Touriga Nacional - Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Dão, Northern Portugal, PortugalPeppery, earthy, black berry, licorice, cassis and smoky tea aromas. Ripe and soft but very dry on entry. Smoky, licorice, black cherry, earthy pepper falvours. The finish is somewhat lean with light, dry tannins and some acidity. Needs food to round out the dryness. Somewhat pricey.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Aveleda Estremadura Tinto 2000
Lisboa, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalSpicy, peppery, smoky gamy aromas with some resin and black cherry streaks. Dry, round and elegant with bright cherry, almond, spicy resin flavours. Simple, cheerful red with some acidity and dryness in the finish, basic barbeque wine but good value at $8.95.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Aliança Foral Grande Escolha 1998
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalA blend of tinta roriz, tinta barroca and touriga nacional that is all aged in small oak barrels for about 9 months. Look for a spicy, weedy, tobacco nose laced with vanilla and cherry aromas streaked with resin and leather. Round with some acidity and dryness in the finish but otherwise this is an elegant style red with peppery, spicy, black cherry and earthy fruit flavours. Needs oilier foods for a best match.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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09 June 2002
87PTS
Calona Vineyards Sonata NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBaked prunes and butterscotch aromas with peppery, earthy, herbal tones. Very soft and rich on the entry with a fiery mid-palate and a sweet prune, vanilla and pepper finish. Easy to drink and will probably improve in the bottle for a couple of years. Made from rougeon and cabernet franc and aged 2 years in oak casks.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 500ml |
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07 June 2002
88PTS
Yalumba Clocktower Australian Tawny NV
AustraliaNutty rancio buttery aromas. Certainly has the nutty pruny Tawny character. Ripe raisins and butter with a hint of muscat. Smooth rich and round with some alcohol peeking through. Good value. Light the fire, grab a book and let the world rush by.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.75 | 750ml |
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06 June 2002
85PTS
Valdivieso Sparkling Merlot NV
ChileDeep dark, cherry red colour. Fairly intense cherry fruit aromas, earth and almonds jump out of the glass but the flavours are drier with stemmy, earthy notes. A curiosity that as a category is attracting a reasonable number of consumers. Big enough to serve with duck. Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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05 June 2002
94PTS
Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz 1997
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaMade from 104 year old vines it has an intense peppery nose with nutty licorice leather black cherry aromas. Similar intensity on the palate with lots of pepper and smooth rich textures. The finish is swimming in raspberry, black cherries earth leather and licorice flavours. Rich and intense without being fat and opulent.Prices:| BC | $50.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.45 | 750ml |
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01 June 2002
86PTS
Farnese Primitivo 2000
Puglia, ItalyVery peppery, earthy, intense black cherry and licorice aromas with a touch of sweaty game. Soft, round, easy sipper with big prune plum, cherry, spicy licorice flavours and touch of earthy sausage in the finish. Fresh, simple and likeable. Great value.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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July 2002