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Tastings: September 2002
21 September 2002
88PTS
Robert Mondavi Zinfandel 2000
Napa Valley, California, United StatesDeep dark red colour. Open rich, blackberry, raspberry fruit with spicy pepper vanilla. Round rich and smooth entry with black raspberry fruit and spice throughout. We like the balance despite the 15 per cent alcohol. Ripe forward style that will please drinkers today.Prices:| BC | $33.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Carneros 2000
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United StatesTight nose with hints of spicy cherry celery orange rind and barnyard. Elegant and round on the palate very peppery and smoky in the aftertaste. Mid-weight pinot in the mouth with a modicum of dry tannins that should fall away over the next year. Good effort. Prices:| BC | $59.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $42.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $41.10 | 750ml |
| MB | $52.25 | 750ml |
| ON | $57.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $59.25 | 750ml |
| NS | $52.15 | 750ml |
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19 September 2002
88PTS
Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva de Familia 1999
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSmoky leesy buttered popcorn with just a whiff of smoked Gouda. Intense round butter and smoked fig character with more lees flavours in the dry finish. The smoky barrel tends to dominate all the floral citrus fruit and balance of the wine. Peculiar white you could love or hate.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Chateau de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceAlthough the 1999 is still in market, the 2000 was available for tasting at the winery this year. Big smoky, spicy, gamy, black berry, black plum, garrigue and pepper aromas. Very rich, round and supple but intense with very ripe tannins. Ripe blackberry jam, plum, gamy, licorice, smoky mineral and leather flavours. Long and supple with very ripe fruit. Very appealing but will age well for at least ten to fifteen years. Keep your eyes open for this arrival.Prices:| BC | $68.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon To-Kalon Vineyard 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesFabulous fragrant aromas waft of the glass. Toasted oak, vanilla bean blackberry jam earth licorice and spice. Superb density and sweetness of fruit. Surely one of the best '98. Firm tannins more austere a tighter package than the reserve but they are supple. An estate wine versus the reserve which is a Napa valley wine. Marjorie Vineyard and Z Block. 97 Cabernet Sauvignon 3 percent pv and malbec Available only at the winery $150 USPrices:| BC | $225.00 | 750ml |
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11 September 2002
89PTS
Domaine de Beaurenard Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau 1999
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceVery gamy, mineral, licorice, earthy black cherry jam aromas. Rich, ripe and intense palate with big black cherry jam, peppery, spicy, licorice flavours and an earthy, prune plum finish. Defined tannins at the end but very balanced and long for a Rasteau. Drink now but will age a few years. Top quality. Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Delas Saint Esprit Côtes du Rhône 2000
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceQuite an interesting mix of raspberry, earth, orange rind and chocolate aromas on the nose. It tastes pretty much the same way as it smells with round textures and gobs of attractive high toned fruit flavours. Fine density and weight and quite an improvement over previous versions. Drink now through 2004.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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10 September 2002
86PTS
Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay Brut Méthode Classique 1998
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh green apple and mineral aromas with a touch of peach skin in the background. Sweet peachy green apple flavours with some lees. The finish is slightly bitter and alcoholic.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rodney Strong Chardonnay Chalk Hill Reserve 1999
Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig smoky lees aromas with streaks of honey, mineral and fennel and floral notes. Round and smooth entry with slightly oily textures. The flavours are smoky citrus lees and butters with good acidity throughout. Solid Sonoma chardonnay with fine elegance and good intensity.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc Santa Isabel Estate 2001
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileSlightly riper style here than the white label with honey melon and passion fruit. Round on the entry with kiwi grapefruit and a dry crisp finish. A medium weight effort at a top flight price. Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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08 September 2002
91PTS
Kaesler Old Vine Grenache 2000
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSoft plump ripe cherry raspberry aromas mixed with straw, mushroom, earth with a touch of heat. Very round, rich and ripe on entry with mouth-filling licorice cherry fruit flavours. Very tasty and will definitely be a hit with consumers. Drink or hold another two years for maximum pleasures.Prices:| BC | $32.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.35 | 750ml |
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07 September 2002
91PTS
Valdivieso Caballo Loco No. 5 "V" NV
Region del Valle Central, ChileTasted twice this year and bottle number two is coming around. The nose is opening up showing the sweaty saddle and prune cherry character of the previous edition with just a hint of cedar and spice. It is still elegant in structure with spicy sour back cherry, leather and smoke with good acidity. There is a touch of port-like alcohol in the aftertaste with grilled bell pepper but this is generally a solid red and Valdivieso is to be commended for keeping the price sensible.Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
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06 September 2002
90PTS
Yalumba Galway Pipe - Fine Old Tawny Port NV
AustraliaLight amber with green edges. Peppery, spicy, rancio, dried berry aromas. Round and supple, well balanced. Raisin, spicy, tea earth flavours, very long and supple, elegant style that is not too sweet. Average age 12-15 years.Prices:| BC | $34.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Cuvée du Vatican Réserve Sixtine 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceA 50/30/20 blend of grenache/syrah/mourvèdre. Réserve Sixtine is aged 50/50 in older larger wood and new barriques. Look for a sweaty gamy barnyard nose with mineral black cherry and pepper aromas. Big licorice black cherry and pepper flavours and lots of big tannins still to be dispersed. Big and rich but the nose, especially the sweaty gamey character tends to dominate at this point. Production is limited to a few hundred cases. Prices:| BC | $52.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Willowglen Chardonnay 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaOpen melon butter peach fruit aromas and flavours. Soft and round on entry with ripe peachy fruit flavours and citrus rind in the finish. Good value summer white.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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01 September 2002
87PTS
De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2001
Western Cape, South AfricaThe Bon Vallon is grown on heavy clay soils and comes with a citrus/lemon grapefruit nose. It's unwooded but left on the lees and regularly stirred. Fine creamy texture and lean fruity style. Very attractive food wine.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
De Wetshof Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Western Cape, South AfricaOpen ripe grassy melon nose. Lovely fresh citrus grapefruit flavours and a light easy-sipping style. Definitely shows potential.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
De Wetshof Bateleur 2001
Western Cape, South AfricaBateleur has a much more restrained nose compared to the d'Honneur. It gets 10 months ageing in new wood but the fruit seems well suited to carrying itself well. There is no malolactic and the style is fresh with citrus/lime flavours throughout. A soft ripe delicious drinking style with a red fruit finish. Quite showy at a young age.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
De Wetshof Lesca Chardonnay 2001
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaLesca comes of gravel soils at the estate. It's a wine named after Dani de Wetshof's wife. It's 100 per cent barrel fermented but does not go through malolactic. It often has a strong flinty style because of limestone soils. Lemon and lees and ripe canned pear all finish up in quite tropical style.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ruffino Libaio Chardonnay 2001
Tuscany, ItalyThere's something about Libaio and its mix of mostly chardonnay with just a touch of pinot grigio that has made it one of the most consistent commercial white wines made anywhere in the world. The Libaio Chardonnay 2001 (made by Ruffino) contains 10 per cent pinot grigio grapes all of which are grown on Ruffino's Castelvecchio di Libaio estate near San Gimignano. Look for a very pleasant pear and vanilla nose with similar flavours all streaked with citrus and vanilla in the finish. A cool, tasty, affordable Italian white.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Canyon Road Sauvignon Blanc 2001
California, United StatesIntense bell-pepper and jalapeno aromas jump out of the glass. Big lemon lime flavours with lots of grapefruit. There's less vegetal aspects in the flavour but it remains fairly aggressive and probably not to the taste of your average sauvignon blanc fan.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fouassier Père et Fils Sancerre Les Romains 2001
Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, FranceFloral mineral chalky gooseberry nose that's all French with a dry nutty lees background. Very flinty mineral lemon rind in the mouth. Sleek and clean with good balance and lots of dry grassy flavours in the finish. Oysters are the ticket here but wait a year. Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2001
New ZealandCanned jalapeno and bell pepper nose with a twist of grass. There's a bit of melon fruit but it sits underneath the grass. Almost identical flavours with a dry mineral finish. Not as fine as previous effort but we like the new low price.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Shingle Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandSweaty mineral gooseberry style with a healthy dose of grapefruit rind. Peppery mineral, gooseberry fruit flavours and a firm, aggressively dry finish. Definitely requires food this year perhaps something like grilled scallops. The good news is the price is down again.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Jacques & Francois Lurton Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Bordeaux, FranceThe J. & F. Lurton Sauvignon is produced from a blend of grapes grown in several districts in the Bordeaux. It's machine-picked at night, cold-fermented and the left for a few months on fine lees in tank. Look for crisp, dry flavours with hints of gooseberry, grapefruit and almonds. Textbook and affordable this is an excellent seafood wine.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bassermann - Jordan Deidesheimer Leinhöhle Riesling Kabinett 2000
Pfalz, GermanyMeaty earthy citrus rind apple slate and lime aromas mark the nose of this juicy fruit riesling. There is a fine fruity entry, with strong green apples and mineral streaks underneath. Persistent flavours end just a touch flat in this lightweight Pfalz.Prices:| BC | $27.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandThe aromas are a bit subdued but show grapefruit, jalapeno, gooseberry and grassy notes. Nicely open knit, vaguely frizzante, juicy palate with a quenching grapefruit, peppery finish. Better length than the nose portends. Good sipping style, or try with salads, curries.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
KWV Chardonnay 2001
Western Cape, South AfricaOpen ripe peach coconut and mineral with toasted oak and lees aromas. Fresh clean green apple grassy mineral flavours. Tasty and affordable. Fine effort.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bodega Lurton Pinot Gris 2001
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaVery youthful with slightly leesy, peppery, lemony, melon and ginger aromas. Fresh, spicy, just a bit off-dry on the palate. Fairly lime-like on the finish. Very good length.Prices:| BC | $9.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Chardonnay 2001
South Australia, AustraliaThe Weighbridge juice is all cold-fermented which leads to its delicious peachy, butter, melon fruit laced with lees, honey and citrus zest aromas. Look for a soft, round entry with a slightly oily texture and some heat (alcohol) in the finish. The flavours mimic the aromas with some mineral streaks. Clean, well balanced and fun to drink.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Peter Lehmann Semillon 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSensational fresh melon and lemon zest nose with a touch of floral fruit. Lovely dry, round, peachy, melon citrus fruit flavours. Perfection in sémillon. Fresh fruity and delicate. A perfect wine for summer and seafood such as garlic prawns with a dash of olive oil. Drink all summer. Great value.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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94PTS
William Fèvre Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FrancePower and minerality is the story of Les Clos. Love the subtle honey and vanilla aromas streaked with ripe red apple, floral, citrus marmalade, lees, grass and chalky mineral notes. Again, richer, rounder and longer than the prior two grand cru but crisp and balanced with good mouth feel. Honey, slightly toasty spicy lees, vanilla flavours with a strong apple, citrus, mineral finish. Elegant, delicate and flavourful. Good future, very well made and balanced. Will keep for five to ten years. Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
William Fèvre Grenouilles Chablis Grand Cru 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceGrenouilles is always more mineral, more delicate and more complex. Creamy lees, bright citrus rind, apple skin, floral, baked apple, slate mineral nose. Drier, tighter, bigger and rounder than Valmur with more honey, vanilla, mineral and melon flavours with an orange and lemon rind finish. Very elegant, round and long, not as oaky as Valmur but better richness and intensity.Prices:| BC | $66.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
William Fèvre Valmur Chablis Grand Cru 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceSlightly elevated intensity here with more vanilla, oak toast, honey and ripe citrus and lime. Baked green apple and a slate mineral undercurrent infuse its floral creamy lees. Dry, round and elegant it has good richness and balance with fresh acidity. More verve than Fourchaume and more complex. Quite a citrus rind aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $66.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
William Fèvre Fourchaume 1er Cru Chablis Vignoble de Vaulorent 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceVignoble de Vaulorent is one of the named plots that lie within Fourchaume. Ripe floral, apple aromas with a citrus and toasted lees all streaked with honey and peach. Dry, round and crisp but with good body and creaminess and bright green apple, mineral and honey flavours. Crisp, elegant nutty lees finish. A sophisticated style that is almost Puligny-like. Nicely made.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
William Fèvre Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru Chablis 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceFairly crisp in the mouth with mineral lemon citrus fruit aromas and flavours. Very pure and as they say at Fèvre It's wine that makes no concession. Get out the oysters and enjoy. Expect this to improve in bottle over the next year or two.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
William Fèvre Chablis Champs Royaux 2001
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceThe Champs Royaux is made with purchased grapes 40 per cent of which are fermented n older oak and 60 per cent in stainless steel vats. Citrus fruits and a mouth-watering finish mark the Fèvre style. It's a pure, if less than intense chardonnay that thankfully isn't too dry. Crisp and clean with a short but acidic tail. Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Max Ferdinand Richter Graacher Dompropst Riesling Spätlese Halbtrocken 2001
Mosel, GermanyFresh slate nectarine skin with just a whiff of smoke mark the nose. Full green apple nectarine flavours with honey and more mineral flavouring in the finish. Bone dry but extremely impressive balance and weight. According to Dr. Richter, the 2001 vintage in the middle Mosel, where his family has owned vines for over 300 years, is outstanding --- to be put on a par with the fabulous 1959. We agree. Buy and hold for as long as you like. Prices:| BC | $33.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Cono Sur Viognier 2001
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileAt Cono Sur the viognier fruit is harvested at various stages of maturity to add layers of flavouring and some 20 percent of the blend is aged in new French oak for a period of three months. The '01 is leaner than previous version showing more honeysuckle and mineral characters with less honey and less fat fruit. It's dry, crisp and refreshing but without the luscious character of the previous wine. The style will appeal to the more seasoned wine drinker but the price should appeal to all.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Redbank Long Paddock Chardonnay 2001
Victoria, AustraliaOpen, butter popcorn lime and green apple fresh fruit aromas. Soft round entry with more citrus flinty lees and green apple fruit. Fresh zippy style white which meshes with its Victoria origins. Fine everyday white with lightly spiced seafood.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Badischer Winzerkeller Baden Dry QBA 2001
Baden, GermanyLight green apple, mineral, SO2, bread dough and slightly cheesy. Soft, round, apple mineral bread dough flavours. A bit sweet but an okay summer sipper for the deck.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Jackson-Triggs Sauvignon Blanc Proprietor's Reserve 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom Bear Cub and Bull Pine. No oak, no Ml only stainless steel. Fresh light grass melon fruit. Medium density big mouth feel less extraction. Simple straight-ahead style. Clean and fresh. Fine introductory style.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Jackson-Triggs Chardonnay Proprietors' Reserve 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen oaky style with garlic lees highlights. Oaky palate still sitting on top. Warm mid-palate, honey burnt toast. Round melon fruit flavours in the finish. Soft friendly consumer wine style.Prices:| BC | $11.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Jackson-Triggs Riesling Dry Proprietors' Reserve 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaInkameep Vineyard. Light floral mineral tones with green apple and papery streaks. Papery flavours with lemon and green apple flavours. Warm and acidic in aftertaste. Slightly oddball sweet and sour finish.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2001
South Australia, AustraliaKoonunga Hill Chardonnay is sourced from multiple districts with significant contributions from McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. The nose is open with bright, white peach aromas and toast. The flavours are a mix of green apple and melon fruit that finish with creamy textures and a whiff of butterscotch.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Penfolds Thomas Hyland Chardonnay 2001
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaWinemakers Oliver Crawford and Andrew Marks use 100 per cent Adelaide Hills fruit and barrel fermented it in 70 per cent new French oak barrels bearing light to medium toast. Spicy, buttery, lees and vanilla aromas dominate with light peach, toast and citrus rind in the background. Round and dry with good acidity, has nice spicy, vanilla, mineral and citrus rind flavours. Creamy mid-palate with some dryness in the finish. Well-balanced, crisp, leaner style with a strong green apple, citrus and lees finish. Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $22.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 1999
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaThe '99 Yattarna (the fifth edition) is made from hand-picked fruit grown at Fleurieu, Piccadilly and Adelaide Hills. The whole-cluster grapes are pressed and gently run off into French oak barrels (80 percent of which are new) to be barrel fermented and left on the lees for ten months. The entire wine goes through malolactic fermentation but there is zero filtration at bottling. There's nothing traditional about this Oz chardonnay that is made with the coolest most marginal fruit the winemakers can lay their hands on. Creamy, toasty lees, vanilla, and honey aromas are the nose with plenty of citrus melon, mango flavours in the mouth. Elegant yet powerful and simply a delight to sip with food.Prices:| BC | $83.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Rawson's Retreat Chardonnay 2001
South Australia, AustraliaOpen lemon melon apple fruit with a touch of spice, citrus and butter. Not a lot of intensity but bright citrus, apple fruit lift the palate with a light butter, melon finish. All Stainless steel fermented for a simple, clean, fruity style. Love the price.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Rawson's Retreat Semillon - Chardonnay 2001
South Australia, AustraliaNew package is attractive in this 55/45 blend of sémillon/chardonnay. Lots of vivacity with lime rind, peach, soft melon and some light mineral butter aromas. A touch of lees stirring and wood add a bit of mouth feel. Round, buttery, fresh lime, mineral and apple flavours. Great value.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mission Hill Pinot Blanc 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother winner from Simes is the 2001 Pinot Blanc. This is a delicious peach and tangerine scented white with a creamy, tart flavoured finish. A great apéritif style white that's perfect for Holiday entertaining.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2001
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOkanagan Valley, British Columbia Creamy vanilla mineral floral overtones here in what is a very attractive nose. Elegant and round structure with vanilla buttered apples and mineral less character. Fine sophistication with just a touch of dryness in the finish. Well balanced.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quails' Gate Riesling Late Harvest 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSweaty mineral perfumed nose with minty green apple highlights. Similar mineral floral apple flavours. We like the acidity and vibrancy here and it works well with residual sugar. Good effort and better value than most icewines. (375mL)Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese 1999
Mosel, GermanyOpulent rich fat peachy fruit. Simply put, this is sensational wine and its perfectly harmonious too. Nowhere near its final essence but you can still enjoy it now. Will live for decades. This is the magic of the Mosel.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Quails' Gate Dry Riesling Limited Release 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh open mineral apple flavours with a touch of Vaseline. Big citrus lemony zest and mineral flavours. On the skinny side but it could work well with buttered clams. Cheap and cheerful summer sipper.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Quails' Gate Gewürztraminer Limited Release 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen clean floral spicy peach nose with very similar flavours on the palate. Round and sweet on the palate. Simple patio picnic style wine with recognizable varietal character that's perfect for those hot summer days.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen peachy fruit cocktail nose with buttery toasted oak and lees notes. Good full flavoured white with good acidity and toned down oak. We like the oak moving to the background and the fruit coming forward. Look for ripe apple peach and butter popcorn flavours. Best yet from Quails' Gate and should be a crowd pleaser with consumers.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Columbia Crest Chardonnay Grand Estates 2001
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesOpen vanilla, spice and toasted oak nose with creamy lees (80 per cent barrel fermented) and floral fruit. It has round, creamy, buttery, spicy oak flavours and textures with honey and mango in the finish. Long integrated vanilla finish. But lovely balance and weight with a persistent finish.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Columbia Winery Pinot Gris Otis Vineyard 2001
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesYakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington The fruit for this attractive style pinot gris comes out of the Grandview/Prosser area of Yakima. There's no wood used and the 100-percent stainless steel fermentation offers up a mix of pear, baked apple and slate aromas. It's not an Alsace style but rather Northwest showing mineral and spice and just atouch of ripe fruit in the finish. Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Poplar Grove Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2001
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVegetal gooseberry bell pepper nose. Huge citrus rind green apple skin flavours. It doesn't really remind us of gewürztraminer or of late harvest. Its fresh and zesty and clean in the mouth but it appears to be more pinot gris or riesling than gewürztraminer.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2001
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGreen apple and lime rind with a touch of gooseberry and earth. Quite a gamut of flavours with its ripe sweet entry, acidic mid-palate and bitter lemon rind finish. Clean and fresh but we'd love to see less bitter flavours in the finish. Bring on the cheese to balance the aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $17.90 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Calona Vineyards Chardonnay Artist Series 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLees, spicy toast, peach and buttered popcorn aromas. Soft and entry with a flinty lees, mouth-watering tart apple flavours. A leaner style for Calona but all in all a fresh everyday B.C. chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Calona Vineyards Sovereign Opal Artist Series 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy sausage, vegetative nose with some floral notes. Round and soft on the palate and will appeal to the neophyte. Good spicy peach fruit flavours and a soft sweet finish.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tolten Sauvignon Blanc T Series 2001
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileMineral passion fruit and grapefruit rind mark a nose with touch of gooseberry and cardboard. Intense lime/grapefruit and green apple flavours with corresponding acidity. Crisp mouth watering tart finish. Will be best with oysters or squid.Prices:| BC | $13.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
CedarCreek Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGrapefruit rind mixes with honey and vanilla in a stylish way with kiwi honey nose. Dry grassy mineral sémillon character shows through with some pear and grapefruit underneath. Tight and austere at the moment but should be fine spring 2003.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig fresh ripe pear and baked apple nose. Fresh lively citrus fruit flavours. Super clean B.C. cool characters with a lime rind finish. Well done, fun-to-drink-white wine.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig fresh ripe pear and baked apple nose. Fresh lively citrus fruit flavours. Super clean B.C. cool characters with a lime rind finish. Well done, fun-to-drink-white wine.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
CedarCreek Gewürztraminer 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaQuiet dried flower and resiny aromas. Light dry peppery mid-palate with lemon floral citrus fruit flavours. Quite firm and dry in the finish. Not a great deal of gewürztraminer character.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral spice and citrus skin aromas. Similar floral flavours with rose petal and citrus rind in the finish. Another good label for light Asian foods or perhaps a prawn salad.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
CedarCreek Dry Riesling 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMineral nectarine citrus skin on the nose. Soft creamy light citrus fruit flavours with lots of nectarine and green apple. Delicate styling high acid finish. Again our pick with oysters or spicy Asian dishes.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sunrise Chardonnay 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileTight green apple peach fruit nose with similar fruit flavours on the palate. Medium intensity and weight. It's refreshing, light, and fun to drink almost summer sipper-like in style. Good value.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileMelon passion fruit and citrus rind but in a subdued form. Light and slightly washed out. Soft and a touch flabby. Not as crisp and as intense as previous version.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Alexander Mountain Estate 1997
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe blend is 94 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 6 cabernet franc all aged for 17 months in French oak, 77 percent of which was new. Open peppery earth and blackberry fruit nose --- very cabernet. Focused centre palate fruit with plenty of firm tannins mixed with an earthy leather prune character. Again there's an elegance and lean mid-palate at this young stage. Will need time to develop. Prices:| BC | $250.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaOpen pepper leather and cassis nose. Very soft entry with quite an elegant feel in the mouth. Low fruit but plenty of pepper, earth and terroir to entertain the palate. Should be a hit for the price.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay 2001
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaGreen apple skin with peach and citrus notes. Round and soft entry with a spicy baked apple and butter in the finish. Should appeal to chardonnay drinkers looking for value and flavour at the entry level.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Syrah 2001
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaRipe sweet fruit is the focus here. It is soft and supple and very easy to sip, Uncomplicated and ripe enough to offer wide appeal and why not at this price. There is some dryness and earthy Argentine character in the finish but anything off the grill will smooth it out.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2001
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaClassic dark, earthy/leather fruit nose. Quite sweet and ripe on entry with plenty of cassis fruit upfront and a touch of green fruit flavour round back. Rich round and supple, this new-wave look at Argentine malbec will be sure to turn heads. The price is terrific.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Valdivieso Sauvignon Sémillon (Organic) 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileGrassy gooseberry aromas with some wet wool. Soft and round but not a lot of fruit. Citrus melon rind and grass preview a very dry finish. Ordinary at best.Prices:| BC | $15.90 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Valdivieso Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileFresh grapefruit rind aromas with passion fruit characters too. Skinny refreshing citrus juice entry with a grassy passion fruit finish. Clean, fresh and cheap. Bring on the oysters.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Chardonnay 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileLovely fresh fruit nose with mineral and peach highlights. Citrus mineral, green apple flavours mark the palate with a dry, lime rind finish. Solid everyday international style white that will work well with food.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Valdivieso Chardonnay 2002
Region del Valle Central, ChileYoung garlic lees apple aromas. Dry leesy lean citrus fruit and bitter in the finish. Not very impressive. Have they rushed this to the market? Not up to previous standards. Let's hope it settles down in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $12.90 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileFresh dry and clean, it mixes melon and grapefruit flavours in perfect balance. It's all you could want in an inexpensive sauvignon that would pair well with local shellfish.Prices:| BC | $12.45 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.25 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Marqués de Riscal Rueda Blanco 2001
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, SpainRioja-based Marqués de Riscal turned to the Rueda in Spain's Castilla-Leon region in search of better white wine in the mid-90s and has been rewarded by wines like Rueda Blanco 2001. The inexpensive label shows generous, floral notes, gooseberry and yellow star fruit, green tea and just a hint of spice and peppery in the finish. Fine length and power for the money. Drink now and through the summer with local seafood.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $7.90 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Sandhill Sauvignon Blanc Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBaked apple melon grass aromas showing more ripeness than previous efforts. Bitter green grassy mineral mid-palate with quite a dry finish. A bit too much rind flavour and alcohol.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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October 2002