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Tastings: October 2002
30 October 2002
87PTS
Tarapaca Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileHere the big, spicy, sausage and smoke aromas come with a hint of leather. Similar flavours mark the palate along with earthy, smoky gamy hints. The texture is soft and generous and carries through to the end. A solid red that's ready to go.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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26 October 2002
85PTS
Robert Skalli Chardonnay "Oaked Aged" 2000
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceFresh light simple style chardonnay with a peach honey coconut and mineral style nose. The extract is light with peach floral fruit and a slightly soft and buttery finish. Prices:Read Full Note
21 October 2002
84PTS
Yellow Tail Shiraz 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaTea and compost on the nose with streaks of pepper. Simple soft round textures with fruity cherry flavours and slightly acidic in the finish. Fun package fair price. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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17 October 2002
88PTS
Bava Libera Barbera d'Asti 1998
Piedmont, ItalyExcellent colour. Very firm structure as is the style of barbera. Lots of black cherry, almond, licorice and spice. Lovely balance and style and certainly stylish. Plummy licorice fruit and spicy warm flavours in the long finish. Think grilled pork. Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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14 October 2002
95PTS
Warre's Vintage Port 2000
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalVery peppery, spicy, black berry and plum jam, stewed apple, very aromatic with fresh fruit notes in the background. Ripe, round and somewhat tannic, has big licorice, peppery, earthy, mulberry, red plum jam flavours. Fresh and lively with good acidity. Very full with good grip, one of the best young Warre's tasted - quite big.Prices:| BC | $77.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $77.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Dow's Vintage Port 2000
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalFloral, licorice, peppery, spicy aromas with some overripe blackberry and grapey spirit notes. Rich, round and slightly tannic with moderate sweetness. Very peppery, spicy, berry jam flavours with licorice and chocolate in the finish. Tighter, elegant style but well balanced and nice grip in the finish.Prices:| BC | $77.95 | 750ml |
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08 October 2002
94PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceBig citrus, honey, chalky mineral, melon nose with some spicy, leesy toasty notes - great nose and love the fresh citrus apple tones. Rich, round and supple with ripe orange, lemon, red apple and mineral flavours. Very long and balanced with a nutty, honey, slate finish. Drink now or hold for at least five years. A more open, rounder structure than the Les Clos.Prices:| BC | $63.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $71.43 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Vaucoupin 1er Cru 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceBrocard says this one shows more roundness and opens earlier - true. Lemon rind, fresh apple, honey, slate, dry stone nose with hints of anise and sweaty lees. Dry, crisp but round and elegant, has good slate mineral, spicy nut, citrus rind and lees flavours. A bit drier style but longer and balanced with a crisp nutty citrus finish. Good now but will improve for three to five years.Prices:| BC | $35.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Domaine Sainte Claire Vieilles Vignes 1998
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceCurrent release is the 2000 but this was tasted to show aging potential. Yields on these 55 year-old vines are 25 hl/ha compared to the usual 55. This old vine bottling needs bottle age to develop the potential. Open chalky mineral, floral, nut, honey leesy slate and citrus rind aromas. Round, elegant and softer with ripe apple, very slatey, toasty mineral lees flavours and a honey, nut citrus rind finish. Dry, well balanced, very attractive. The winery says buy the 2000 and age it for five years or more. Estimated BC $36.00 for the 2000 vintagePrices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Montmains 1er Cru 2000
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceMuch more intense classic style nose with mineral, slate, citrus rind, nutty, spicy lees nose. Dry, crisp, tighter structure with big citrus/orange rind, green apple and mineral flavours. Good intensity, very crisp with finesse and elegance. A keeper, will improve in bottle for at least five years. The 1997 has improved significantly now, so lay this one away.Prices:| BC | $36.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.45 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Domaine Sainte Claire 2001
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceRipe red apple, cement, citrus rind, apple skin, lees aromas - quite aromatic. Round, rich and intense chalky, mineral flavours with ripe apple and orange rind notes. Very elegant and balanced with good acidity and flavours. Good value and attractive drinking now.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Jurassique 2001
Burgundy, FranceRipe apple, citrus rind, chalky mineral slate nose. Very ripe and round palate with very similar flavours. Good acidity, a bit lighter and leaner finish with a clean lime, apple aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $23.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Portlandien 2001
Burgundy, FranceFloral, citrus, mineral cement nose, very clean. Very elegant, dry palate with clean mineral, light toasty lees, lemon/lime floral flavours. Good finesse and roundness, more concentration than Jurassique but less than the 'K'. Prices:| BC | $23.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.45 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Jean-Marc Brocard Kimmeridgien Chardonnay 2001
Burgundy, FranceBig citrus, mineral, chalky green apple floral aromas, very intense mineral lees and apple skin notes. Very good toasty lees, mineral, ripe citrus and apple flavours. Very good acidity and balanced with a longer finish than other two soils. Good roundness for current drinking but will hold a few years. Good value.Prices:| BC | $23.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.45 | 750ml |
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05 October 2002
85PTS
Poplar Grove Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 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 | $15.90 | 750ml |
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04 October 2002
87PTS
Landskroon Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Paarl, Coastal Region, South AfricaIntense, dark berry, sappy, spicy, cassis jam aromas with a touch of smoke. Round, ripe black cherry fruit with peppery spice streaks throughout. This is an easy to drink cab with soft tannins and lots of smoky mint flavours in the aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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01 October 2002
86PTS
Escudo Rojo 1999
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileDark color leafy cassis earthy tobacco funky herbaceous flavours quite leafy. Round, soft, and well made but herbaceous. The strong leafy character makes gives it a strong one-dimensional character.Prices:| BC | $24.25 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chateau d'Armailhac 1999
Pauillac, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceSpicy vanilla leather with pruny coffee aromas. Reasonable intensity here some chewy tannins and lots of spicy toasted oak. Entry is round and soft but the finish is dry and stringent. Buy, drink and hold for four to six years.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Baron Philippe de Rothschild St. Émilion 1999
Saint Émilion, Libourne, Bordeaux, FranceDried cherry, orange rind and spice with the St. Émilion compost/hay stem aromas. Soft and round, but dry and lean with earthy stemmy flavours. Ready for to drink now could be fine in restaurants if priced attractively. Prices:| BC | $21.85 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tyrrell's Long Flat White Semillon Sauvignon 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaA nifty sémillon-sauvignon blend that's loaded with flavour within a tight, sweet and sour framework. Aromas combine green pineapple, kiwi, gooseberry-guava and peppery notes. Palate is very fresh, a bit sweet but quenching with lime-ade flavours on the finish. Very good length.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay 2000
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaRipe melon, peach, buttery vanilla aromas. Round, slightly oily palate with rich buttery, vanilla, peach and melon flavours. Light honey citrus finish. Good fruit, balance and continuing great value.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Lindemans Bin 40 Merlot 2000
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaSpicy smoky cherry cola nose that smells more California than Aussie. Sweet entry with smoky, berry-jam fruit. Simple soft and round with a touch of sweetness in the finish.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lindemans Chardonnay Padthaway 2001
Padthaway, South Australia, AustraliaSmoky lees burnt caramel nose. Medium weight lemon and butter with a dry citrus finish. Quite lean and cool with tart green apple and citrus flavours in the finish. Will be better served by using it with shellfish dishes. Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lindemans Chardonnay Limestone Coast 2000
Limestone Coast, South Australia, AustraliaSmoky floral, red apple aroma. Spicy apple smoky style but lean on the mid-palate and somewhat austere. It lacks the extract and intensity that would elevate it above the norm. Everyday in style and in price. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lindemans Chardonnay Padthaway 2000
Padthaway, South Australia, AustraliaSmoky lees burnt caramel nose. Medium weight lemon and butter with a dry citrus finish. Quite lean and cool with tart green apple and citrus flavours in the finish. Will be better served by using it with shellfish dishes.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Mouton Cadet Rouge 1999
Bordeaux, FranceThe Cadet rouge mixes grapes from Cotes Bourg, Cotes de Blaye, Cotes de Franc and Entre-Deux-Mers. A normal blend would feature about 55 percent merlot, 30 percent cabernet sauvignon and 15 percent cabernet franc. Look for a spicy, earthy, somewhat weedy aromas with dried cherries, toasted earth and a spicy pepper finish. A dry, light, easy quaffer.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Lindemans Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaDull flat nose of pepper, spice and earth. It has an odd sweet fruit entry, an acidic mid-palate and a hot finish. It's drinkable as a red wine but not varietal enough for us and at $13 it is out of its league. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2000
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaOpen jammy berry aromas mixed with earth and pepper. Round soft ripe berry fruit with plum and cherry highlights. Medium weight and simple but fun to drink and affordable.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1999
Pauillac, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceOpen coffee tobacco on the nose with toasted sweaty leather aromas. The elegance is a big plus but there is no shortage of the New Wave Bordelais smoke and toast flavours. Tobacco and prunes and medium intensity mark the mid-palate and finish. Not a big Mouton by any standards. Count on a decade in the cellar at most. Not cheap. Prices:| BC | $255.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Baron Philippe Graves Blanc 2000
Bordeaux, FranceOpen mineral, figgy melon fruit with grassy passion fruit undertones. Delicate entry then a fairly tart lemon mid-palate with a dry finish. This wine calls out for oysters. The finish is tart, grapefruit rind and mineral. Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Marcarini Barolo La Serra 1996
La Morra, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyLa Serra is the other side of Marcarini Barolo: a historical vineyard covering 3.1 hectares (7.6 acres), less forward, albeit contiguous to, Brunate, on the same hillside, with identical south/south-western exposure. The grapes take a little longer to ripen on the vines; the later harvest, together with a cooler, windier microclimate, is conducive to softer, rounder Barolo, with greater finesse. The 1996 is almost a perfect Barolo. It's pinot -like colour belies the finesse and strength of this red that mixes mushroom and violet scents with similar flavours. It's big and brawny yet elegant and will be a great wine in the future. Buy and cellar for a decade.Prices:| AB | $75.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Charlotte's Home 2001
Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig steely, ripe kiwi/gooseberry character with melon floral characters and a streak of spice. The mostly Alexander valley fruit is 90 per cent stainless steel fermented. Round entry with dry, green melon kiwi and passion fruit flavours that make us want to label it a Cal-Zealand style sauvignon. Unique and attractive, should work well with a wide range of seafood.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $19.15 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tarapaca Chardonnay 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen smoked apple, mineral and pear fruit aromas. Medium weight, softish chardonnay mixing honey, apples and peach flavours. Good balance and a crisp clean finish. Solid everyday wine.Prices:| BC | $11.45 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceVery open dark plum, prune, barnyard, sweaty leather and spice aromas. Ripe, round and elegant with very supple tannins. Black plum jam, prune, leather, smoky spice flavours with a long finish. Very balanced and elegant, supple. Medium term aging but another excellent 2000.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceSpicy, gamy, smoky, leathery, black cherry and plum aromas with a hint of garrigue. Round and soft with good concentration and soft, forward tannins. Fine cherry, plum jam fruit intensity with pepper, spice and anise in the finish. A bit of tannin and acidity in the finish should help it age five to seven years but has good ripeness and structure. Good value for near term drinking.Prices:| BC | $31.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Yalumba Chardonnay Barossa 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaFresh green apple pear fruit aromas with a dash of vanilla lees and mineral. Round entry with a fullness throughout the palate. Look for vanilla, baked apple and citrus rind fruit to carry the day. Well made.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.45 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
South Australia, AustraliaLess oak more jammy fruit and pepper highlights. Soft fresh juicy fruit with a touch of dry tannins in the finish. A touch dry and acidic but hundreds of thousands would disagree. Solid if unspectacular and it's gone up another dollar this year. Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileFresh gooseberry passion fruit aromas jump out of the glass. Good aggressive style her with more gooseberry, passion fruit, grapefruit rind and mineral finish. Good value oyster wine.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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November 2002