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Tastings: March 2003
24 March 2003
94PTS
Bonny Doon Framboise NV
Washington, United StatesWonderful pungent raspberry nose that is as pure as it gets. Wow, rich warm jammy intense raspberry flavours that are simply sensational. I'm not sure there's a better raspberry potion in the world that I've tasted. A little goes along way.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ca' del Solo Big House Red 2000
California, United StatesDusty floral raspberry aromas waft out of this screw cap finished bottle. There is bright acidity which is what you would expect from a wine with barbera and sangiovese in the blend along with plenty of plummy black cherry and raspberry fruit. Big as house but long and smooth in the finish.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cardinal Zin "Beastly Old Vines" 2000
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesLook for a big spicy pepper lifted berry jam nose followed by a warm spicy raspberry licorice flavours. The structure is soft but with firm tannins in the finish. Despite the fruity nose old wood and earth dominate the palate. The 23 per cent of carignane grapes contribute to the earthy, mushroom notes in the finish. A solid zin.Prices:| BC | $37.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ca' del Solo Malvasia Bianca 2001
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesMalvasia Bianca is muscat in Piedmont. Look for a very clean nose with spicy muscat floral characters and pure muscat fruit with mineral honey apple flavours. Its prominent acidity would be the perfect foil to Thai coconut curry or pork tenderloin and apple chutney. Well chilled it would become a sophisticated summer sipper for the patio.Prices:| BC | $22.75 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pacific Rim Riesling 1998
United StatesOld mature nutty cream riesling nose flecked with Vaseline and bruised apple. Very soft in the mouth with round creamy citrus flavours. This is quite an eclectic wine that should work well with a simple pork cutlet or spicy Asian dishes. If you are fan of the super clean super fresh style riesling it's not for you.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
The Fort Wine Co. Wild West Blackberry NV
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis fortified fruit wine has been oak aged for eight months and offers an expressive nose of blackberry jam with warm, vanilla spice and chocolate. It is smooth, round and rich with quite a porty alcoholic finish and enticing spicy chocolate black berry flavours. Clean, well made and tasty.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $14.90 | 200ml |
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0PTS
Quinta Vale D. Maria Vintage Port 2000
Rio Torto, Cima Corga, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalBruised fruit aromas from our half bottle sample left I requiring a new sample. No score.Prices:| BC | $59.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $51.50 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Quinta do Crasto Vintage Port 1999
Cima Corga, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalCrasto vintage port is produced from grapes grown in 100% Grade "A" old vineyards, with an average age of plus 70 years. The field plant of over thirty different varieties were hand picked and then 100% foot trodden using natural yeasts in the estate's traditional stone "lagares." The wine was bottled without any filtration or fining after two years in wood. Look for a peppery earth and licorice nose that reflects more terroir than fruit. It is super rich on the palate with a spicy plum and raspberry flavours in the aftertaste. Quite elegant and peppery with a tea leaf and dried plum skin finish. A solid effort here for mid term drinking that should be perfect for restaurants.Prices:| BC | $59.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Quinta do Crasto Late Bottled Vintage Port 1997
Cima Corga, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalFollowing the philosophy of bottling the best grapes of the Quinta in exceptional years the LBV 1997 was produced from hand-picked grapes from Crasto's 40 to 60 year-old vines. The natural yeast fermentation of the traditional foot-trodden must was halted using the estate's own brandy. Look for fresh berry coffee licorice peppery aromas and similar strong flavours with a big, peppery, plum fruit and licorice finish. There's a tiny bit of tannin still to dissipate and it remains a touch fiery in the finish. It will improve through 2005.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.00 | 750ml |
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20 March 2003
88PTS
Domaine des Blagueurs Sir-Rah Syrah 1998
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceTypical French meaty sausage smoky blackberry cherry fruit nose. Super smooth and round throughout the palate. Dried licorice and earth with some black raspberry and tangerine skin. Fat powerful, full-bodied, dry red that needs drinking.Prices:| BC | $19.75 | 750ml |
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19 March 2003
85PTS
McWilliam's Hanwood Chardonnay 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaBig fat Aussie chardonnay with bags of melon and orange scented fruit. Simple round soft and fruity with more orange and vanilla flavours and just a touch of lees in the finish. An uncomplicated summer sipper that is best well chilled.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
R. H. Phillips Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesThe Phillips sauvignon is 100 per cent Dunnigan Hills fruit and is mixed with 10 per cent sémillon. Its very light with lean mostly citrus highlights with a dusting of melon but altogether light in extract. The finish is soft and round with lemon highlights. Oysters would be a good fit.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
R. H. Phillips Chardonnay 2001
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesThere's a twinge of spice in this fruity style chardonnay with good mouthfeel. More tropical in the mouth with melon and baked apple fruit flavours. Solid everyday California chardonnay at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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16 March 2003
89PTS
Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Sonoma County, California, United StatesSweaty wool, mineral, grapefruit, gooseberry aromas with a touch of vanilla and dry lees. Round and viscous with mineral, green apple, grapefruit rind, gooseberry and vanilla flavours. Long, clean slightly citrus lees finish. Crisp but warm finish. The '01 has a touch of sémillon and is 40 per cent barrel fermented in 25 per cent new French oak.Prices:| BC | $49.50 | 750ml |
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14 March 2003
86PTS
Torreón de Paredes Merlot Reserva 2001
Rengo, Valle del Cachapoal, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe reserva version of the merlot has a spicy herbal, minty, green olive nose. Similar earthy, minty, resiny flavours dominate on the palate with supple but dry tannins in the background. It's soft, smooth and ready to drink but we would prefer a bit more ripe fruit.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Little Boomey Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
New South Wales, AustraliaCool spicy cassis and berry jam fruit. Very smooth and viscous on entry. Ripe smooth entry smooth textures and round weedy cassis finish. A serviceable, if not a bit green, cabernet sauvignon.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Little Boomey Shiraz 2001
New South Wales, AustraliaQuite a spicy/peppery shiraz with plum jam aromas and flavours. It has a soft commercial fruity style with cherry berry fruit flavours and earthy undertones. Simple everyday red.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yellow Tail Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaSpicy sausage berry jam nose with some floral notes. Lots of super ripe, black cherry licorice and fruit flavours that are sure to entice consumers looking for soft ripe, fruity red wine. Decent grip and intensity for the price.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaThis smooth slick, fruity little 'quaffer' has an attractive spicy berry fruit nose and flavour. Perfect for the beach or around the barbecue. Simple uncomplicated and affordable.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
McWilliam's Hanwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaThey say 2001 was a difficult year in South Australia and this mostly Coonawarra-based cabernet reflects the situation. Look for a green bean and roasted coffee herbal nose with a touch of compost in the finish. The flavours are cassis fruit mixed with coffee toffee and a touch of earth. It's dry soft, smooth and easy sipping but without much character. A basic cabernet at a basic price. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
McWilliam's Hanwood Shiraz 2001
South Eastern Australia, Australia The nose is a distinctive mix of pepper smoky coffee aromas with saddle leather undertones. It's soft and round on entry with more smooth commercial undertones and pruny cherry fruit flavours. The finish is soft too with more coffee vanilla and oak flavouring.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
California, United StatesExpect smoky coffee oak streak with green pepper aromas. The entry is chunky with smoky coffee and roasted pepper flavours. The finish is short and dry. The wine is fine but at this price it should be offering more varietal and or appellation character.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
R. H. Phillips Syrah 2000
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesIt would appear the addition of 15 petite sirah adds much to this syrah with its open peppery plum jam nose flecked with the scent of roasted coffee beans. Look for big black cherry fruit with a rich spicy finish. Fine palate presence and a well-stuffed finish make this red a winner.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
R. H. Phillips Merlot 2000
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesThe Phillips merlot with its 11 per cent petite sirah and two per cent each of malbec and petit verdot has a spicy minty nose with enticing cherry vanilla aromas in the background. The entry is light and smooth with earthy pepper prune flavours in the finish. A straight-ahead everyday red that is more than ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Franciscan Oakville Estate Magnificat 1999
Napa Valley, California, United StatesGreen bean olive and pepper aromas mark the nose of this dense round rich red. On entry it's quite dry and resiny with more weedy flavours and more peppery resiny undertones in the aftertaste. It's elegant, well-made and structured but where is the fruit. Perhaps the '99s are near as good as many thought they might be.Prices:| AB | $45.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $58.00 | 750ml |
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13 March 2003
88PTS
Castaño Hecula 2001
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainThe wine is made from 100 per cent monastrell (mataro or mourvèdre) vines that are 40-years old and dry farmed. There's no fining no filtering. Deep dark colour. Lovely plum jam and earthy notes on the nose and rich peppery savoury fruit flavours in the mouth. Dry smoky garrigue Euro finish that demands food. Anything grilled on the barbeque will work here and the neighbours will love it. Good value.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.45 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Terra da Lobos 2001
Tejo, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalSpicy cherry jam with a touch of herbal gamy notes. Soft and round on entry this red has fine mid-palate cherry berry fruit with touch of elevated acidity to lift the finish. Fun red well -priced drink all summer around the barbeque.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chivite Gran Fuedo Vinas Viejas Reserva 1998
Navarra and Basque Country, SpainSmoky spicy sweaty saddle leather nose with a touch of gamy earth. Soft round and resin-y with vanilla and smoky tobacco leaf flavours on the palate. Lightweight and elegant with a cool fruit finish. Perfect dinner wine.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Conde de la Salceda Reserva 1998
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, SpainThe Reserva is kept for 3 years in American oak casks and 2 years in bottle and is called Conde de la Salceda. Look for an enticing spicy clove and toasted oak aromas to preview a vanilla/cherry jam and cola nose. Fine flavour intensity and mouthfeel with more black fruit flavours. Still youthful and showing some tannin but nothing that will hurt it in another three to five years.Prices:Read Full Note
88PTS
Viña Salceda Rioja Reserva 1998
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, SpainWhen Rioja is right it is irresistible. Look for a lovely smoky dark berry fruit nose streaked with spice and game highlights. Smooth elegant and round on the palate with more toasted oak and cherry vanilla flavours. Well made and showing nicely at the moment. Would make an excellent dinner wine; bring on the lamb.Prices:| BC | $32.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Niepoort Redoma Douro Rosé 2000
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalDisappointing pale colour with a garlic toast/lees nose flecked with raspberry fruit. Strong earthy, mineral flavours with a quite tart dry acidic finish. Dry but not all that appealing. Past its prime?Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Quinta do Vallado Douro Vinho Tinto 2000
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalDense dark rich colour. Savoury pepper/licorice root and black plum flavours everywhere. It's big and rich on entry and very powerful mid-palate fruit. This is quite an improvement over the drier earthier '99 thanks to a whack more fruit. Barbecued lamb will do the trick here taming the youthful dry tannins that should dissipate by 2005. Serious red wine.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 1999
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalIntense peppery licorice/anise aromas mixed with spicy sausage and black plum jam underneath. Super smooth an elegant on the palate and much less rustic than the tinta roriz but with a little less extract. Fine aromatics and styling with mostly peppery anise and smoky tea character. A sophisticated red at a sophisticated price. A new Portugal indeed.Prices:| BC | $49.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $47.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Quinta do Crasto Tinta Roriz 1999
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalOpen smoky mesquite and black plum nose with pepper and smoke throughout the finish. Rich smoky licorice fruit assaults the palate with pepper and a definite pruny/port tea flavours but without the corresponding alcohol. Interesting and well made but pricey when compared to the reserva. Still one must pay for the rarity.Prices:| BC | $49.90 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto 2000
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalExpect and attractive cherry berry licorice fruit nose and textures that are suave and soft on as this wine slides down effortlessly. This is well chosen fruit, perfectly handled and very stylish. A fresh mouth-watering red that is perfect with food. This is a real winner for the price.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.80 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto Reserva Old Vines 1999
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalGorgeous smoky toasted oak nose flecked with black berry black plum and vanilla. There is wonderful elegance on the palate with licorice, vanilla and cola flavours. Not a huge wine but its nicely balanced. More New World style than you might imagine. Very likeable red.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.65 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Nuviana Tinto 2000
Huesca, Somontano, Aragon, SpainCodorníu has invested a whopping $21 million US in the new winery, called Nuviana to produce what they hope is high quality red, white and rosé wine labelled Vinos de la Tierra del Valle de Cinca made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo and Syrah. This cab/merlot/syrah blend has good colour and an earthy leafy rubbery tobacco nose. Similar wet cigar leafy cabernet merlot nose. Cool soft, round and ready-to-drink it will fit in perfectly around the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $7.98 | 750ml |
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12 March 2003
85PTS
Tarapaca Shiraz Reserva 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSmoky coffee sausage with caraway (rye bread) and roasted bell pepper aromas. Dense smooth entry with a peppery sausage aftertaste. The finish is slightly acidic and dry. Not quite up to the same standards as the previous edition.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tommasi Valpolicella Ripasso 1998
Veneto, ItalyThis 70/20/10 blend of corvina/rondinella/molinara grapes is made by re-fermenting (ripasso) Tommasi Valpolicella Classico (as reviewed above) on the warm grape skins from which the Tommasi Amarone has just been pressed. Used only in the best years the process enriches the Valpolicella making it quite an extraordinary experience. The fruit is exuberant and dark with blueberry-like flavours flecked with spicy baked apples. Rich round long but not too alcoholic this is a wine you can easily enjoy with strong cheeses and big dinner entrées or that will cellar for a decade or more. Excellent quality.Prices:| BC | $28.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tommasi Merlot Le Prunée 2000
Garda, Verona, Veneto, ItalyDeep colour. Fairly intense earthy resiny barnyard peppery fruit nose. Soft merlot textures on entry followed by dry smoked cherry flavours with more pepper and spice in the finish. Classic Italian styling and a wine that demands food. Grilled sausages or osso buco style meat would be perfect here.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Estancia Meritage 1999
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis 76/24 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot has a big volatile pruny nail polish nose with vanilla coconut and green bean olive aromas. The flavours are a mix of peppery, stewed fruit that finish hot and dry. Not a great bottle of wine and frankly not what you would normally expect from Estancia. We will re-taste it before posting a score.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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10 March 2003
0PTS
Benziger Merlot Reserve 1999
Sonoma County, California, United StatesCorkedPrices:| AB | $69.43 | 750ml |
| BC | $71.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1999
Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County, California, United StatesLook for a big spicy peppery, cigar and saddle leather nose with blackberry jam, cassis, vanilla and chocolate aromas. Rich, round and elegant with soft, supple tannins. Juicy cassis, blackberry, peppery, clove and vanilla flavours with a coffee, chocolate, olive and mint finish. Very polished, balanced style for current consumption or hold for up to five years.Prices:| BC | $77.50 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Benziger Chardonnay Reserve 2000
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBenziger chardonnay vines are getting old (26 years average age) and that's good news for wine lovers. Look for buttery, vanilla, spicy lees flavours mixed with mango, tangerine and floral, chalky, melon highlights. The textures are rich and round but elegant on the palate. More chalky, mineral, citrus pineapple, flavours streaked the toasted vanilla finish. Fresh, delicate and full of finesse.Prices:| BC | $53.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Benziger Chardonnay 2001
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis one hundred per cent barrel fermented chardonnay has an enticing spicy lees nose mixed with a riot of mineral, vanilla, butterscotch, citrus rind and melon aromas. Quite rich and round it's slightly oily with more melon, spicy lees, mango, butterscotch, citrus and mineral flavours and a creamy, toasted vanilla finish. Fine acidity and balance mark this very elegant all Carneros fruit effort.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Benziger Fumé Blanc 2001
North Coast, North Coast Region, California, United StatesExpect pleasant mineral, grapefruit rind, melon and fresh hay aromas. Round and fresh with delicate flavours of melon, butter, grapefruit with a chalky mineral aftertaste. Tasty grapefruit/orange finish with firm acidity and fine balance. Enjoyable, graceful wine. It's North Coast appellation but its 75 per cent Sonoma County fruit.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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09 March 2003
90PTS
Masi Grandarella Appassimento 1999
Verona, Veneto, ItalyWe struggled to extricate the cork from the bottle and it crumbled as we pulled it out. Look for a black cherry raspberry licorice nose with sweaty leather and warm cooked fruit undercurrents. Very smooth on the palate and warm on entry showing elevated alcohol and vanilla coffee mocha flavours. Masi thinks of this as a super Venetian. The blend is an unusual refosco/corvina/carmenère. Definitely for fans of Amarone. The production method for Grandarella is based on the technique of partially drying the grapes prior to fermentation. Each variety is picked separately, and slightly later than normal and fermented separately prior to the final blending of the individual wines.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Masi Brolo di Campofiorin 1997
Verona, Veneto, ItalyBrolo di Campofiorin is a special selection of Masi's Campofiorin label. The production technique is an ancient vinification system used in Valpolicella and known locally as "refermentation" or "rigoverno". The traditional practice has evolved so that lightly dried whole grapes are now used during the refermentation phase. This second alcoholic fermentation, which lasts some 12-15 days, enriches the wine in alcohol, in colour and tannins. Look for an unusual nose of intense port-y black raspberry licorice and sweaty leather with almond underneath. Similar intense flavours with more spicy cloves and black cherry jam and licorice. Round and balanced and would be perfect with spicy duck or pork.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
EXP Viognier 2001
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesPleasant mineral orange blossom nose with a honeyed spiced character in the background. Rich fat oily textures coat the palate on entry with plenty of honeyed fruit flavours and a touch of residual sugar. More mineral/orange peel flavours in the finish. Soft, attractive consumer style.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine de Molines Viognier Réserve 2000
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceRich mineral floral honey nose with just a trace of citrus and orange blossom underneath. Soft round smooth and oily on entry followed by a crisp clean tangerine skin and honey flavour profile. Elegant styling with good persistence. Slightly alcoholic. Halibut with mango salsa would a magic pairing.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Domaine de Molines Sauvignon - Viognier 2000
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceForward mineral/grapefruit aromas with quite a perfumed/floral undertone. The textures are round and smooth but the finish is very crisp and clean. A floral/mineral citrus style viognier flecked with honey in the finish. A solid viognier at a very fair price.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Château de Nages Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2001
Costières de Nîmes, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThis creamy smooth 60/40 blend of grenache blanc and roussanne is streaked with honey and anise. The slippery buttery entry has a pronounced spicy lees butter and mineral aftertaste. It finishes dry and a bit more austere than its viognier-based cousins. Well made.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Montresor Amarone della Valpolicella 1998
Veneto, ItalyThe blend is 50/40/10 corvina/rondinella/molinara grapes harvested in October and dried for about 120 days. Look for pruny weedy almond cherry aromas with a bit of sweaty leather. Rich cherry/strawberry licorice flavours that fade into a soft ready to drink finish. Quite ripe almost sweet in the aftertaste. The wine is aged for 4 years in Slavonian oak casks.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Marchesi Pancrazi Pinot Noir 1999
Tuscany, ItalyThe story of is unusual to say the least. In 1975, 3,300 vines identified as Sangiovese were planted on the Marchesi Pancrazi estate's clayey/schistous soil. The grapes were vinified as Sangiovese and anonymously blended into the everyday family wine. Since little is expected of sangiovese in this region few people thought much of the wine... until 1989, when a Bordeaux-educated friend of Vittorio and Cristina Pancrazi, wine-maker Niccolò D'Afflitto, determined the sangiovese they were growing was actually pinot noir. When you smell this Tuscan pinot and its spicy vanilla compost nose with barnyard undertones you also detect some characteristic black cherry fruit. Its round light and soft on the palate with mostly earthy compost flavours and only a dusting of cherry fruit flavours. More of a curiosity than anything else. In this case we prefer Sonoma County pinot at $30 less.Prices:| BC | $56.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Di Majo Norante Ramitello 1999
Molise, ItalyCorkedPrices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Di Majo Norante Don Luigi Montepulciano 2000
Molise, ItalyPeppery vanilla coffee and black cherry aromas. Smooth and dry on entry with only medium extract and not a lot of fruit. A Bordelais-style Montepulciano with a peppery/vanilla finish. Needs food to really shine but pricey for what you get.Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Tenuta del Portale Aglianico del Vulture 1998
Basilicata, ItalyThe finest vineyards and wines of Basilicata are in Vulture and some say the finest grape is aglianico. Hand harvest and grown at 500 metres on mostly volcanic soil it's aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 20 to 24 months. This is the first vintage for Portale and it offers you some pruny resiny peppery gamey aromas streaked with licorice... quite old style. Stewed cherry flavours and light extract are followed by dry finish. Showing its age and needs drinking.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Canale Black River Merlot - Pinot Noir 2001
Alto Valle del Río Negro, Rio Negro, Patagonia, ArgentinaStewed prune fruit nose with pepper resin and saddle leather in the background of what is an odd mix of pinot noir and merlot. Its smooth warm, chunky textures finish quite dry with more stewed fruit and pepper flavours. Almost port-like in taste and smell.Prices:| BC | $13.50 | 750ml |
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06 March 2003
86PTS
Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileIntense young cabernet nose of pepper and cassis. It has a similar attack on the palate with a young minty, sappy, character and some dryness in the finish. Needs another six months to settle down and soften up.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileEarthy resiny barnyard aromas with fairly ripe cassis. Juicy fruit entry with bags of spicy cassis and licorice flavours. Well-balanced medium weight and smooth drinking. Very impressive for the price and should be on a lot of restaurant wine lists.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Equus Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileTypical herby/olive/cassis nose with mocha tobacco flecks in the background. Dry resiny flavours attack the palate with more smoky earthy undercurrents and minty tobacco flavours in the finish. It's well-balanced and elegant but we would prefer a bit more ripeness.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Sunrise Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileResiny candied earthy mint nose. Firm green herbal cassis fruit flavours with a simple dry sawdust-like finish. Not much here to taste.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $8.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $8.80 | 750ml |
| NB | $9.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $10.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Concha y Toro Trio Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileMinty ripe cassis nose with mocha smoky shoe leather and earthy aromas. On the palate you can taste spicy cassis and mocha flavours with an underlying lifted berry fruit (volatile) flavour. A bright, well-rounded, easy-drinking cabernet with good textures and a smooth vanilla finish.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Alto de Terra Andina Syrah Cabernet 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileWow. Expect an enticing chocolate and vanilla nose with a touch of cola, ripe blackberry and pepper. Simple light cherry chocolate flavours with a bit of smoke are surprisingly low on extract with a smoky oak finish. Disappointing considering the price and its promising nose.Prices:| BC | $20.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Alto de Terra Andina Cabernet Franc Merlot 2001
Valle del Maipo, ChileOpen forward chocolate tobacco "Franc' nose flecked with olive and cherry notes. Quite smooth and rich on the palate with more chocolate tobacco and minty olive flavours. Reminiscent of some right bank Bordeaux wines. Well made and unique for Chile.Prices:| BC | $20.95 | 750ml |
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05 March 2003
89PTS
Stag's Hollow Renaissance Pinot Noir 2000
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn enticing wild cherry nose marks the entry of this soft and silky pinot. Plenty of warm spicy fruit signals diligent farming. Its touch warm but otherwise well made with firm textures and more cherry fruit in the finish. The aftertaste is free of any dry bitter flavours and that really impresses us.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stag's Hollow Renaissance Merlot 2000
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaJammy minty cassis and cool strawberry fruit jam nose. Delicious flavours, supple textures and very consumer friendly. Solid effort with only a touch of dryness in the finish but that will fade with food and time. Only 120 cases made which may explain the steep price.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
G. H. Mumm & Cie Brut Rosé NV
Champagne, FranceLovely pale rose/salmon color. Fruity, fragrant pear, raspberry, creamy toasty aromas and flavors. Additional berry, green apple flavors and cream on the palate. Quite rich and long, very nice persistent mousse. Fine value for rosé champagne.Prices:| BC | $56.95 | 750ml |
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03 March 2003
87PTS
Speri Valpolicella Vigneto La Roverina 2000
Verona, Veneto, ItalyThis 70/20/5 blend of corvina/rondinella/molina has dry peppery/prune nose but it's much fresher in the mouth with cherry plum and almond flavours and just the right amount of acidity. Clean fresh and mouth-watering. Well made if pricey for Valpolicella.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.25 | 750ml |
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02 March 2003
93PTS
Gaja Barolo Gromis 1998
La Morra, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyProduced from two vineyards owned by Gaja in La Morra: Cerequio and Silio. Very typical leather, tar, violet, spicy pepper nose with lots of prune, smoky, cigar tobacco highlights. Rich, round and moderately tannic but quite ripe. Big coffee, cigar, vanilla, peppery, spicy, prune plum flavours with a slightly tarry finish. A very balanced, elegant, taut style that will attract serious Barolo drinkers to hold for the next ten years.Prices:| BC | $79.99 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 1997
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFrom three non-contiguous vineyards owned by Gaja comes the ripe plum, cherry jam, smoky, gamey, vanilla licorice nose streaked with resin, cardamom and orange rind. Fine complexity with big, ripe tannins and balanced structure and acidity. Look for cherry, mulberry, spicy, orange peel flavours with game, licorice and pepper flavours. A rich, refined Brunello that will improve for at least the next three to seven years. An excellent 1997 example.Prices:| BC | $120.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Gaja Nebbiolo Sperss 1998
Marenca-Rivette, Serralunga, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyBeginning with the 1996 vintage, this wine and all the other Gaja single vineyard designates bear the Langhe Nebbiolo DOC appellation. This is essentially a Barolo with about 94% nebbiolo and 6% barbera. It has a pruny, orange rind, smoky leather, cigar nose with very peppery, spicy notes. Dry, moderately tannic and tight with a bit higher acidity the flavours are a mix of cherry, cranberry, spicy orange, cigar, and pepper. Sperss is a classic, leaner style Italian red with a tannic finish. Good but without the same concentration of the Gromis.Prices:| BC | $259.99 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 1997
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalySugarille is a single vineyard that is part of the Pieve estate and although the vines are only fifteen years old, the vineyard name appears in the inventory of the estate as early as 1547. The wine is rife with spicy, cigar, black cherry jam, licorice and smoky vanilla aromas with underlying hints of leather and game. Ripe and round with softer, more elegant tannins than the Rennina it is quite spicy with licorice, black cherry, almond, orange rind flavours and a peppery, vanilla finish. A more feminine style with a bit more finesse than many Brunello. Needs four to seven years to fully integrate.Prices:| BC | $151.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Gaja Barbaresco 1999
Piedmont, ItalyCoffee, leather, tar, spicy, prune, cherry jam aromas with menthol and licorice, very nice complexity. Rich but elegant with riper tannins but still a bit tight and lean for aging with a touch of ripe acidity. Cherry jam, plum spicy vanilla, tarry licorice flavours with a touch of violet. Very good, needs five to ten years to really shine.Prices:| BC | $205.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Gaja Sito Moresco 1999
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyThe Sito Moresco is a blend of 35 nebbiolo/35 merlot/30 cabernet sauvignon. Look for a spicy, vanilla, barnyard nose with leather, prune and cherry jam aromas laced with mint and orange rind. Dry, lean, and somewhat tannic structure with some elegance, a Gaja hallmark. Peppery, spicy, smoky, prune, vanilla and cherry flavours. Definitely Piedmont with a tough finish. Needs at least five years for mature drinking. Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gaja Barbera Sitorey 1999
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyCherry jam, smoky leather, licorice spicy barnyard aromas. Rich and concentrated but with hard dry tannins and elevated acidity. Very peppery, dry earth, spicy, dried cherry flavours. A bit chewy and chunky on the finish with more earthy flavours than fruit. Needs 3-5 years more.Prices:| BC | $67.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ca'Marcanda Promis 2000
Maremma, Tuscany, ItalyLook for gamey, spicy, peppery, smoky olive aromas with a touch of vanilla and plum jam. Dry and lean with tight tannins but an elegant structure. Peppery, spicy, earthy, herbal olive flavours. This will require a few years to soften the tannins but also could use a bit riper fruit character. An IGT Toscana label it blends 55 merlot/35 syrah (Maremma) and 10 sangiovese (Montalcino). Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gaja Sauvignon Blanc Alteni di Brassica 2000
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyOpen fig, buttery, grapefruit rind, mineral nose with a touch of vanilla. Round, dry, elegant and restrained with grapefruit rind and nutty, lemon mineral flavours. Well balanced with good acidity and should drink well over the next few years.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gaja Rossj-Bass Chardonnay 2001
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyRipe peach, spicy, vanilla, mineral aromas with citrus rinds and floral notes. Rich round and quite dry yet elegant. Spicy, lees butter and mineral flavours with a citrus rind nectarine finish. A sophisticated, slightly austere style chardonnay that needs a few years to round out.Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tarapaca Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah La Cuesta Vineyard 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChilePeppery crushed herb nose with cassis and shoe leather. Reasonably soft on entry with quite an earthy coffee flavoured finish. Smooth and round and easy to sip. Fine balance. A solid buy. Use liberally around the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Anakena Chardonnay 2002
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileA very agreeable inviting mineral melon fruit with a light toasting of lees. Lean and soft on the palate with citrus rind and mineral flavours with a dry lees apple skin finish. Chablis with fruit is good descriptor. Typical cool Casablanca appellation styling.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Anakena Carmenère Reservado 2002
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileClassic spicy minty dill green cassis aromas yet smooth on the palate with plenty of mocha chocolate mint flavours and tobacco cassis. Leafy compost flavours mark a warm alcoholic finish. Very well-made and it should appeal to those who like the unique character.Prices:| BC | $19.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Anakena Merlot 2001
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileBig cherry black plum nose with mint and orange rind. Very aromatic. Tight and dry on the palate but with a whack of black fruit. Quite intense and flavourful but dry and warm in the finish. Nine per cent cabernet and 5 per cent carmenère. Good solid food wine.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2001
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSappy dill cassis character on the nose with hints of spicy herb and resin in the background. Smooth spicy chocolate mint with plum fruit flavours. Well made and tasting better in 2001 than it smells. Good value.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.25 | 750ml |
| SK | $12.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.45 | 750ml |
| ON | $10.35 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.49 | 750ml |
| NS | $12.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $11.57 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileMinty leafy sappy cassis character on the nose with a bit of earth and smoke underneath. Identical flavours on the palate with an earthy resiny finish and more smoke. Firm dry and ready to drink. Serve around the barbecue for best results.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.95 | 750ml |
| SK | $12.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.45 | 750ml |
| ON | $10.90 | 750ml |
| QC | $11.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.25 | 750ml |
| PE | $14.90 | 750ml |
| NS | $12.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $11.57 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileQuite an expressive cool-climate artichoke, grapefruit rind and bell pepper nose. Intense gooseberry sweaty mineral rind flavours with a touch of artichoke. More of a Marlborough-style sauvignon with good balance but it's herbal. Perhaps best served with a bowl of mussels.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Sunrise Carmenère 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileQuite a busy nose of cool peppery tobacco leaf flavours with earthy aromas streaked with coffee and prunes. Smooth oaky entrance, round textures and more earthy peppery coffee pruny flavours with a dusting of cedar sawdust. Solid but dry; best buy.Prices:| BC | $10.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.60 | 750ml |
| SK | $10.17 | 750ml |
| NS | $10.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Sunrise Merlot 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileThe Sunrise merlot has a somewhat disappointing nose of resin, green herbal and rubber. Its better in the mouth with a smooth warm, minty, dill cherry flavours but in the final analysis it may be too acidic and probably too expensive for what it is.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.50 | 750ml |
| SK | $10.29 | 750ml |
| MB | $8.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $8.80 | 750ml |
| NB | $9.99 | 750ml |
| NF | $10.02 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Concha y Toro Trio Merlot 2001
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileBig smoky aromatic oaky nose with a peppery, spicy, sausage character. Similar flavours in a smooth warm round style with more smoky, spicy plum flavours in the aftertaste. Just a touch of acidity lifts the fruit and seems to reveal a touch of orange. Excellent value.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Veramonte Primus 2000
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileIntense cigar ash and saddle leather with herbal cassis and cherry fruit aromas streaked with dill. Certainly representative of the 60 per cent carmenère, 22 merlot and 18 cabernet sauvignon blend and the cool, alto Casablanca region. Very smooth and suave on the palate with a little bit of heat (alcoholic) but there's plenty of minty tobacco and chocolate cherry fruit flavours to carry the finish. Another good effort in a difficult year.Prices:| BC | $27.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Reserve 2000
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileCigar and cranberry notes mix with vanilla saddle leather and a touch of exotic orange peel. Quite an elegant style showing a bit of bottle age and maturity. More cranberry fruit with just adjusting of dry tannins and coffee in the finish. It will require another year or two to reach its peak but for now it will be fine with birds like squab or quail. A fine effort from a so-so vintage.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Carmen Grande Vidure Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileQuite a stinky/compost vegetal tobacco saddle leather nose. The entry is much smoother and round with rich chocolate cassis flavours. Somewhat tightly wound (almost Bordelais in structure) with lower fruit and more earthy tones. A cool but serviceable style made for steak.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $16.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.85 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Carmen Wine Maker's Reserve 1999
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSweaty garrigue meaty gamy aromas with ripe blackberry jam undertones and sweaty saddle. Similar flavours in the mouth with smooth rich textures and hints of orange chocolate and tobacco in the finish. Slightly odd-ball in character but always well made. The blend is 50/20/20/10 cabernet sauvignon/carmenère/petite sirah and merlot.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.95 | 750ml |
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01 March 2003
85PTS
Wild Goose Autumn Gold 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLovely clean, fresh fruit nose. Pleasant melon fruit flavours that are a bit on the sweet and sour side but with some residual sugar. Open the patio and pop the cork. This pinot blanc/riesling/gewürztraminer will have major mass appeal.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Mateus Signature Douro White 2000
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalLight pear, mineral aromas. Soft, round, dry entry with lemon, citrus, pear flavours. Crisp acidic finish. Very simple white for the summer picnic.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port 2000
Rio Torto, Cima Corga, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalVery young grapey, black berry jam, peppery, rose and licorice aromas and a touch of tea leave. Round, moderately rich with good acidity and lighter tannins. A bit hot and drier tannin style with licorice, sandalwood, plum jam flavours. Good tannin grip in the finish. Well made.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tasca d'Almerita Regaleali Rosso 2000
Sicily, ItalyVery intense spicy, cherry, plum jam, licorice, earthy nose with some smoky pepper streaks. Big ripe cherry, cassis and licorice flavours with a spicy, peppery finish. Very soft, round and elegant. Lovely flavours and very supple, almost velvety. Drink while young, fresh and fruity.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Glen Fiona Syrah Puncheon Aged 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery Hermitage-like on the nose with a big meaty gamy nose mixed with spices, mint and ripe black berry jam, very good - big berry fruit, fine syrah definition. Dry, somewhat tannic but ripe, has a meaty, licorice, peppery, spicy, smoky palate with a long blackberry finish. A young, well-structured, French-style wine that will only get better. US $40 (WA) Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
California, United StatesOpen sweaty, weedy, cassis and spice nose. This is cabernet with tight cassis fruit flavours and a dry acidic finish. Simple grilled meats will help to round out the edges but you have to wonder whether it's worth buying all.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Canyon Road Merlot 2000
California, United StatesLeafy veggie cool merlot nose. Super soft and velvety textures and very easy to sip but you have to like the herbal sour cherry compost flavoured fruit. Be sure to serve with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Domaine de la Bastide Syrah 2000
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThe straight syrah "varietal" has become popular in UK and US supermarkets where the less they have to learn about French appellation laws the better. I tasted both the 1999 and the 2000 because the vintage is turning over in B.C. so expect to see both wines in liquor stores. The 2000 has a chewy, meaty texture with similar meaty, gamy, peppery syrah flavours. It's young and will improve throughout the winter.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Carmen Merlot 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileSappy cassis, barnyard and forest floor. Round and soft with a little less of the plush characters and more of the Euro style. Gamy cherry sappy fruit that is fun to sip and would be even better with food. Good value.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Carmen Pinot Noir Reserve 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileStinky, gamy, barnyard/leafy, cherry nose. Similar flavours with burnt earth and smoked cherries. Quite intense and round and alcoholic. Many will like the ripe intense style but it lacks the elegance and styling of true pinot.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileMeaty barnyard cassis aromas. Soft roundish, entry with simple fruity cassis flavours and a dry finish. There is not much here given previous examples. Simple.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Zonin Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2000
ItalyDelicious all-purpose young Italian red from a big winery that has spruced up its winemaking. Bright with a fairly deep colour. Soft, ripe berry fruit with a light, cedar-woodsy scent, and bit of black licorice. Quite rounded, fresh, with nice fruit sweetness. Slightly bitter finish. Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2000
Victoria, AustraliaChocolate prune and compost aromas mark the nose of this Victorian wine. The demeanour is cool with smoky sausage but the flavours are lean and acidic with quite a sour cherry dry finish. Ordinary at best.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Haras Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Barrel Sample) 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileAlvaro Espinoza ex Carmen winemaker and owner/producer of Antiyal makes Viña Haras de Pirque. The 2000 has big open intense aromas of smoke spice and peppery clove with blackberry and sweaty saddle. Similar big brooding flavours with lots of cassis and Chilean tannins in the finish.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Equus Chardonnay 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileLovely, enticing nose of apples and honey. Sweet honeyed, green-apple fruit with a creamy texture. Round in the mouth but with a good clean crisp finish. Fine quality, new wave Chilean chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Shingle Peak Pinot Noir 2001
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandCrushed pepper and leafy overtones mix with earth and barnyard. Firm round entry and showing fine elegance--Burgundian in a Volnay style. Richer rounder fruit in the mouth with a pretty smoky cherry finish. Excellent value when compare to run-of the mill Bourgogne.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Red Rooster Pinot Noir 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTomato leaf, herbal, spicy aromas, very unripe. Round and moderately soft, has spicy, tomato, herbal flavours with a touch of crab-apple and acidity. A bit too vegetative and green for pinot noir.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Beringer Zinfandel 2000
California, United StatesOpen warm spicy rootsy berry nose. Soft round sweet fruit red with smoky root beer-like flavours. Cooked jam flavours mark the finish. An affordable, quaffable red wine that will work with most grilled meat items of the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Beringer White Zinfandel 2000
California, United StatesUnusual stewed rhubarb and strawberry aromas with a streak of mineral. Sweet fruity, round and flat - a strawberry rhubarb Popsicle in a bottle.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Maculan Cabernet Breganze 2000
Veneto, ItalyDark brooding briny leafy cabernet nose with a whiff of cassis. Quite elegant and round in the mouth with good blance. It's slightly dry and green at this stage but a little extra bottle age will help the Euro -styling. Paul Pontallier (Château Margaux) and Michel Rolland (Mr. Merlot) have a hand in the Maculan wines and it shows.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Gamay Rosé Dry 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSweet Maraschino cherry nose. Smooth round and soft with a good dose of acidity underneath and less sweetness in the finish than the nose would suggest. Good weight but slightly muddled finish.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Pinot Noir Gold Label Series 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep dark red colour. Cranberry red fruit aromas with a touch of smoky bacon and rosemary. Firm earthy sour cherry fruit good intensity and length. Perhaps more gamay-like than pinot and its dries out in the finish but it is good effort.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Hawthorne Mountain Ehrenfelser Icewine Gold Label Series 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaYellow colour. Open orange marmalade, floral, mineral citrus characters. Ripe rich, apricot marmalade mineral flavours. Very intense and full flavoured in the finish without any cloying flavours. Perhaps the best expression of the Ehrenfelser is Icewine. Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 375ml |
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85PTS
KWV Roodeberg 2000
Western Cape, South AfricaOne of South Africa's most famous blends for over 50 years, this medium-full bodied red features fairy rich, ripe prune-berry fruit, smoky oak, charcoal and leathery notes. Some sour notes on the palate, but has very good density, extract and length. Rustic, with some Cape iron-earthiness. The varietals are not specified but pinotage is recognizable in this vintage. Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
KWV Merlot 2000
Western Cape, South AfricaSoft supple red with leafy, cherry fruit with chocolate mocha highlights. Just a touch of acidity showing through at the end. Pleasant soft and easy sipping. Pricey for what you get.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Freemark Abbey Viognier Carpy Ranch 2000
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United StatesLovely ripe melon/mango honeysuckle aromas that follows through on the palate. The texture is rich, round and oily with citrus/pineapple acidity that pulls it all together. Big, honey and citrus finish. Rich, ripe and good value in Alberta.Prices:| BC | $44.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Le Bombarde Cannonau di Sardegna 2000
Sardinia, ItalyPeppery, black plum, licorice, spicy cherry aromas with a smoky, sweaty saddle note. Very soft, round and supple with plenty of spicy, peppery, black cherry and smoke flavours. A bit hot in the finish but great fruit and well balanced. Great spaghetti wine or with grilled meats. Good value.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Bodega Lurton Syrah 2001
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaAfter so much success with Argentinean bonarda, sangiovese and chenin blanc you had to expect the globetrotting brothers Lurton would entertain the notion of making a Mendoza syrah. The Lurton 2001 Syrah grown in the Uco Valley is similar in style to the Flichman but there's more acidity here and a leaner (French if you like) structure. If you like your reds firm and dry this is a solid everyday label at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca Flichman Syrah 2000
Mendoza, ArgentinaLook for gamy, shoe leather flavours flecked with dried composted and prunes. The structure explains why well marbled meats grilled over an open fire are so popular in Argentina.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaA bit reserved with attractive blackberry mint, tobacco from the cabernet component. Mid-weight, quite initially sweet and simple with ripe wild berry fruit on the palate. Good tension here for food, despite sweetness. Good length. Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Rosemount Shiraz 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaGood colour depth and a lovely ripe nose of sweet black cherry and vanilla, with underlying eucalyptus and nutmeg spice. Quite supple, rounded and sweet on the palate, with fine tannin. Great sipping shiraz because it's so well balanced. Very good length. The price is right in Ontario. 302349 Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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78PTS
Villa Teresa Merlot (Organic) 2000
Veneto, ItalyUnpleasant matchstick and sweaty nose. Sour cherry earthy style but there isn't much fruit and or intensity. Poor wine.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Dry Rock Vineyards Merlot 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLook for a medium light colour before a dried earth and black fruit nose. The entry is soft and but with lots of cherry earth and dried cedar flavours. It's young and will need a year to settle down and lose some of its lean dry character.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Foppiano Petite Sirah 2000
Sonoma County, California, United StatesFresh blackberry and all spice with cedar and vanilla and just a touch of the saddle leather. Rounder on entry with rich, chewy smoky mocha blackberry flavours. The finish is long and dry with substantial tannins.Prices:| BC | $28.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot 2000
California, United StatesResiny pruny, leather nose. Dry entry round textures but not much fruit character. This varietal continues to disappoint and really detract from the Mondavi name. Do we really need a Woodbridge merlot.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Santa Cristina Antinori Sangiovese 2000
Tuscany, ItalyFetching, quite fragrant blackberry, chokecherry fruit with licorice, some peppery heat and just a trace of earthy oxidation. Quite open, sweetish entry, with a warm finish. Fairly dry tannin needs a year. Good length. This vintage includes 10% merlot.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tormaresca Aglianico - Cabernet 2000
Puglia, ItalyTormaresca, the estate, is composed of two properties: a 100-hectare (247-acre) estate located in the Castel del Monte D.O.C. region, 40 miles from the Adriatic Sea; and a 500-hectare (1,235- acre) estate near San Pietro Vernotico, closer to the sea in the Salento DOC region. Tormaresca, the wine, has an open warm inviting black licorice and menthol aromas. It's super soft on entry with more licorice, and this time, mixed with peppery raspberry fruit and just a dusting of dry tannins in the finish. Grilled pork chops would help smooth out the finish. This is New World style from Old Italy and it works. Good value.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bellingham Shiraz 2000
Western Cape, South AfricaOn the other hand the Bellingham Shiraz opens with rich black berry and leather aromas laced with pepper and smoky American oak. Intense black cherry fruit marks the flavour with spice and vanilla streaks throughout. There's a fine lick of acidity in the undercarriage to supports the sweet, ripe tannins that linger in the finish. Good effort; fine value.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bellingham Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Western Cape, South AfricaBellingham Sauvignon Blanc is another South African contender (this is surely the Cape's best emerging varietal) that smells and tastes a bit Kiwi-like. From young vines grown at fairly high altitude this shows cool-climate influence with lifted green nettle, bell pepper, citrus aromas and mid-weight mouth feel. Zippy, lean and refreshing on the palate.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Deakin Estate Shiraz 2000
Victoria, AustraliaThe Deakin shiraz boasts a spicy, vanilla, peppery nose with meaty, smoked gamey smoke aromas and ripe blackberry fruit. It's round, soft and pleasant with more spicy, vanilla, toasted smoke flavours in the finish. The tannins are light suggesting simple barbecue fare or even pizza. Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Firesteed Pinot Noir 2000
Oregon, United StatesVery light pink colour. Alcohol no fruit. Not sure what the point is here.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hugel Pinot Noir Jubilee 2000
Alsace, FranceBarnyard and rubber boot nose quite blowsy with little varietal character. Too extracted for the flavours that they are extracting. Too much skin contact, out of synch and of little interest to a market that has ready access to so many quality, pinot noir. Where's the sweet fruit.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages Combe aux Jacques 2001
Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceClassic Beaujolais aromas of raspberry and pepper. Soft pretty cherry berry fruit. Easy sipping, soft round wine that allows for a sensible introduction to the world of light reds.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2001
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe flagship red maintains its fresh, simple appeal with this new vintage. Look for sweet cherry/licorice fruit on the nose and a touch of smoky barnyard hints in the background. The textures are soft and the taste is warm (14% alcohol). This is a juicy, ready-to-drink red with a pleasant pinot character. Excellent value. Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Cono Sur Merlot 2001
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe '01 merlot is a pleasant surprise with its spiced plums and cassis aromas streaked with dried herbs and smoke. The flavours mix cherry, cassis and spice all lightly oaked and fashioned in an easy-drinking style. An excellent vintage that is easy to like for the price.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChilePrunes and stewed tea with smoky leather, pepper and oak aromas mark the nose of the cabernet. The entry is warm (alcoholic) with spicy oaky flavours with a bit of blackberry and earth. Simple and ready-to-drink but not quite up to the standard of the merlot or the pinot noir.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Merlot 2000
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile20 Barrels is a new upmarket line from a house known for cheap and cheerful. This is massive, rich merlot with almost opaque colour. Very lifted minty, cassis, lead pencil aromas. Full, thick and dense on the palate with firm tannins despite all that fruit. Excellent length. Prices:| BC | $22.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Redbank Fighting Flat Shiraz 2000
King Valley, Victoria, AustraliaAn odd mix of seashore earthy, tobacco ash, pepper and spicy sausage. Translation: a cool-climate style. Soft round easy sipping style here and ready to drink. Look for a spicy pepper mocha tobacco flavours with a dash of blackberry and licorice. Good effort.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Redbank Long Paddock Shiraz Cabernet 2000
King Valley, Victoria, AustraliaEnticing vanilla, cedar earth and mocha scented nose. Soft and round and peppery on entry with a sweet and sour demeanour. Simple candied berry fruit and a tart lemony finish.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Abbaye Saint-Hilaire Coteaux Varois 2000
Provence, Sud de France, FranceCassis and green bean from the cabernet dominate the nose with streaks of gamey raspberry fruit. The style is elegant. It goes in smooth but shows some dryness in the finish. Balance is fine but more fruit would be appreciated. Still a solid buy under $10.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Evans and Tate Shiraz Margaret River 2000
Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaSweet pepper leather and licorice with a smoky charred blackberry fruit character. Mouth-filling smoky mocha vanilla and black raspberry cherry fruit. Supple and elegant with only slightly elevated tannins and acid in the finish. A well balanced wine with a bright future at a fair value.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Jackson-Triggs Shiraz Proprietors' Reserve 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAmerican and French oak. Deep almost opaque colour. Spicy well developed wine. Generous wine. This is an amazing wine for a second year crop. Warm round generous big fruit flavour. Chunky dense dry fruit tannins. Well made and very friendly in the glass.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz Proprietors' Reserve 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA 75/25 cabernet sauvignon - shiraz blend. Full chunky tannins and weighty mouth feel. Warm round generous big, fruit flavours. Chunky dense, dry fruit tannins. Promising start.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Jackson-Triggs Meritage Proprietors' Reserve 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDeep almost opaque colour. Open volatile pepper and barnyard nose with strong blackcurrant/cassis aromas. Rich entry but the wine immediately leans out on the mid-palate with resiny coffee pepper aromas and not much fruit. Very hot and showing wood tannins in the finish.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Noir 2000
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRaw raspberry sour cherry nose with a whiff of barnyard and compost. Good effort here. Smooth entry with spicy vanilla jam and a touch of coffee. It's young and there's some dryness to dissipate but this looks like it's worth keeping another year. A pleasant surprise.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Merlot 2000
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen spicy leather prune attractive nose with vanilla and oak. Initial entry is spicy and pruney with smoky and oak and then substantial dry tannins kick in to dry out your mouth and leave a bitter taste. The thin mid-palate cannot carry the oak.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz 2000
South Australia, AustraliaThe bookend to the Thomas Hyland chardonnay is the shiraz made from select parcels of fruit McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Forty per cent of the blend was matured for 15 months, and 60 per cent for 10 to 12 months in used French and American hogsheads. Look for bright heady mulberry and blueberry fruits are interlaced with the obligatory spicy oak, licorice, and eucalyptus. Fruitcake and chocolate and savoury plums all make this a winner.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Penfolds Shiraz - Mourvèdre Bin 2 2000
South Australia, AustraliaThe millennium blend is a 74/26 mix of shiraz / mourvèdre. Spicy, mushroom, pepper, raspberry, tar and earth aromas mark the complex if slightly rustic nose. It's soft and round with a velvety palate and boasting plenty of spicy, raspberry, floral, fruit laced with earthy, leathery flavours and a tarry, spice finish. Bin 2 is an old and very individual Penfolds style that dates back to 1960 and always needs two to three years of bottle age to fully open up. Good value.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2000
South Australia, AustraliaThe 2000 is a 61/39 fruit salad of Barossa, Coonawarra, Langhorne Creek, Clare Valley, Seymour and Victoria fruit that opens with sweaty leather and cassis aromas, roasted pepper and hints of black cherry. Much rounder and softer on the palate with fine blackberry, spice and peppery earth flavours. Expect hints of licorice and leather in the finish. Already showing some maturity. This is fine value with big flavour all made in the same manner as Bin 389.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
KWV Shiraz 2000
Paarl, Coastal Region, South AfricaMedium dark colour, juicy jammy fruit some chocolate. Some mid-palate heat (alcohol) and quite a lot of acidity. A simple red wine that will be ready-to-drink by mid to late fall.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Seven Hills Merlot 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSmokey toasted oak rich full blown merlot. Very impressive wine in the mouth perhaps over the top but nevertheless one consumers will love. Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Quails' Gate Merlot Limited Release 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky vanilla bacon character on the nose with some spicy earth. Earthy cherry smoky leather flavours with an oaky vanilla sheen. Soft and round and easy to sip. Many will like the oaky cherry flavours in the aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Quails' Gate Merlot Allison Ranch 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOkanagan Valley, British Columbia Spicy mint streaks with prune plums and earth aromas. Quite rich on entry with smooth textures. The flavours are a mix of plums and prunes with a slightly acidic finish. East to drink and very affordable. Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Columbia Crest Syrah Grand Estates 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery soft round spicy meaty syrah, some density and weight and softness. Simple friendly easy drinking style but not necessarily recognizable as syrah, Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesIntense fruit here and a strong ripe cassis nose, Showy entry with smoky overtones and supple tannins. Smoky, earthy aromas and black currant flavours permeate the wine at several levels. Excellent value.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Joseph Drouhin Laforet Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2000
Burgundy, FranceExtremely delicate aromas of floral and raspberry fruit with a trace of vanilla. Well balanced in the mouth with earthy raspberry flavours and a firm dry acidic finish. Elegant but simple example of entry level Burgundy.Prices:| BC | $21.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Columbia Winery Sangiovese Red Willow Vineyard David Lake Signature Series 2000
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Red Willow sangiovese comes off five separate blocks and is usually the last variety to be picked in mid to late October. Winemaker David Lake says as the vines age the crop levels are coming down and the sangiovese is showing more backbone. The nose has a pronounced cherry scent; the flavours are mix of cherry coffee and mocha flavours.Prices:| BC | $41.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Poplar Grove Merlot 2000
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe merlot for the 2000 is harvested from the home vineyard at 15.2 per cent alcohol. Huge improvement on the nose here compared to previous versions with ripe cranberry and smoky leafy vanilla undertones. Big smoky sweet cherry fruit marks the entry before it finishes slightly acidic and dry. Nice improvement in style.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Hogue Merlot 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSmoky meaty sausage rubber stinky aromas. Quite rich and round on entry with plenty of extract and young but soft tannins. The flavours are more smoky, resiny and hot with more leather than fruit showing. It needs a bit of time but where's the fruit and that nose?Prices:| BC | $27.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Hogue Cabernet - Merlot 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesOpen smoky bacon leafy Washington nose with a wisp of resin and dark berry fruits. Lovely round entry soft fruit with lots of coffee and black cherry leafy fruit flavours. The finish is dry and a touch vegetal.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2000
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe colour is light with a touch of brown at the edge. Smoky dill and barnyard aromas waft out of the glass with toasted oak highlights in the background. A skinny-style, lightweight pinot without much extract. More cedar and toasted oak barrel flavours than fruit. Pricey for the quality.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fetzer Pinot Noir Barrel Select Barrique Aged 2000
Sonoma County, California, United StatesLovely sweet fruit cherries and round with soft tannins. Chewy fruit, good length some spice and weight. Lovely wine made form fruit grow at Carneros and Healdsburg. Only 438 barrels produced. Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Fetzer Zinfandel - Shiraz 2000
Mendocino County, California, United StatesA 60/40 blend of zin and shiraz. Big spicy briar berry jam nose excites but the flavours are drier than we expected. Earthy, rootsy, peppery notes mark a dry, press wine finish. Simple quaffer. BC $13.95 Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tolten Cabernet Sauvignon Colección Privada Los Tilos Estate 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileSpicy smoky, garrigue aromas with blackberry and cassis underneath. Ripe round rich fruit that enters with a softer edge and sweeter fruit before the dry smoky stemmy oak finish. Needs time to soften around the edges.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tolten Cabernet Sauvignon T Series 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileLeaf cassis and pepper with a resiny barnyard character too. Round and supple on entry but dry and hot in the finish. Typical inexpensive Chilean cabernet - it has richness and balance offset by a rusticity of flavours.Prices:| BC | $14.90 | 750ml |
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83PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Noir 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaStave floating in tank. French medium toast. Micro ox made in tank pinot. Flavours from oak with oxygen are superior. Black Hills fruit. Better fruit nose but drier bitter flavours. Simple cherry fruit flavours.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mazzei Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2000
Tuscany, ItalyBig vanilla, cedar, smoky, coffee nose with cherry, licorice and peppery tobacco notes in the background. Rich, ripe and round, quite balanced and moderately elegant, has very spicy, cedar, vanilla, coffee flavours with hints of smoky, cherry jam. Toasty oak, tobacco, earthy finish. Somewhat brighter acidity and slightly tannic but well done. Will need a few years to fully round out.Prices:| BC | $32.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Franc - Merlot Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileCentral Valley, Chile Distinct cranberry, spicy, smoky nose. Very smooth entry and finish with reasonable ripeness. Smoky cherry, cranberry fruit tries to overpower the weedy, earthy peppery flavours but it's a dogfight. Smoke and resin mark a balanced finish. Perfect for grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet - Merlot Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileLook for typical Chilean green fruit aromas showing earth pepper, dill and cassis. Similar flavours with more earth and cassis. Still clinging to the Bordelais model but it needs a bit riper fruit. Not really 'reserve' class.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileLight berry nose with cassis and menthol highlights. Good mouthfeel with ripe dark berry fruit flavours and plenty of alcohol. Youthful cabernet with some dryish tannin in the finish. Fair value for the money.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Merlot Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileDull nose with dank barnyard sweaty aromas. Smooth entry and reasonable richness on the palate. But the finish is dry. Awkward at this point and not up to its usual standards.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Merlot 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileMinty herbal garrigue spiced nose with sour cherry highlights. Lovely merlot textures with some plush and black cherry fruit flavours. Fine quality for the price and a lovely spicy earthy finish. Should hold well over the next year or two.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Merlot 2001
Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen peppery, resiny, black cherry nose with crushed leaf aromas. Young and ripe on the palate with smooth tobacco cherry cassis flavours. A touch leafy in the finish but we like this and think it will further improve in the bottle over the next six to eight months.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileRich peppery gamy barnyard style here with less fruit and more earth. Look for a bit of mulberry-like fruit and lot of peppery earthy resiny flavours. Fairly good intensity but then at this price you expect it. Dry and tannic in the finish.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen earthy, peppery nose with a smoky jam nose. Quite dry on the mid-palate and in the finish with black licorice flavours. Lean and reserved and not showing much charm. At this point, we reserve judgement about a vintage that hasn't inspired us.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileClean fruit aromas of cassis and dark berries with mint and barnyard. Good balance of fruit and tannins and well rounded. Cassis tobacco and spice flavours mark the finish. Good quality and a fair price.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Valdivieso Syrah Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileSmoky leafy nose with intense, cassis jam and blackberry fruit. Almost sappy. Soft earthy, pepper fruit and smoky, shoe leather. Round and easy to drink with dark coffee, character and quite a peppery finish.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdivieso Malbec Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileLovely dried lychee, prunes and soya aromas with tobacco and earth. Very complex. Big smoky dried berry fruit and leather. Powerful red with good intensity will work well with barbecue. Good value here. Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Valdivieso Malbec 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen leafy cassis aromas with mushrooms and sausage - quite busy. Tastes like it smells but the textures are soft and round and it's easy to drink. Fun wine but the price is out of whack.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Pinot Noir Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileCrushed raspberry black cherry fruit mixed with spice and earth. Similar flavours with warn thin dry finish. This is good pinot with decent intensity for the price but it is young and needs some time to settle down.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Valdivieso Carmenère 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileBig minty resiny compost carmenère nose with a touch of orange rind in the finish. Soft round and simple entry with no shortage of minty peppery fruit and herbal menthol flavouring. Typical carmenère.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Valdivieso Carmenère Barrel Selection Reserve 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen mint leather, vanilla earthy aromas. Soft and round on entry with some weight but fairly tart in the finish. A skinny, soft red with herbaceous green pepper overtones that is ready-to-drink now. Not particularly great value.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Arboleda Merlot 2000
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileRich spicy sweet vanilla oak nose followed by sweaty leather scents. Spicy vanilla plum fruit fills the mouth before finishing with smoky oak and slightly dry tannins. Taut acidity. Will need twp to three years to settle down. Most of the fruit comes off the La Arboleda estate and after fermentation it spends 12 months in French and American oak.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Apalta Vineyard 2000
Apalta Valley, Santa Cruz, Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon/Carménère is a 70 /30 blend that opens with smoky, gamy, fried green beans aromas mixed with cassis. Round smoky, coffee, cassis, black-cherry flavours make this a hit in the mouth. 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
Montes Alpha Syrah 2000
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe first syrah was made in 1999 and showed great promise. The Montes Alpha 2000 Syrah is even better thanks to very low yields and a sparse, stony, high altitude vineyard. It has been aged in French oak for one year and had only one soft filtering. Aurelio has added 10% cabernet sauvignon, also from Apalta, to the final blend. Intense dark cherry red color, it has a great aroma with floral, tobacco and leathery notes. Strong and full bodied on the palate, with soft and mature tannins. A very long, elegant and satisfying after taste. A superb Syrah.Prices:| BC | $31.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Casillero del Diablo Syrah 2000
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileEarthy, bell pepper and cassis aromas mark the nose with a touch of smoked leather underneath. Round, ripe, plush fruit textures on entry with lots of black plum and black berry fruit and plenty of pepper and licorice highlights. Great value here.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Sunrise Merlot 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileCooked cassis with compost and spice notes. Simple soft round red with minty herbal flavours in the finish. Simple grilled chicken with rosemary would help. Affordable ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $9.45 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2000
Region del Valle Central, ChileVeggie herbal minty cassis stemmy aromas. Soft and round and very easy to drink with soft flavours of compost, tobacco and coffee flavours. Entry level and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $8.45 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Errazuriz Merlot 2000
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe 2000 Merlot is not as plush as the preceding '99 vintage showing more dill, mint and sweaty vegetable aromas before the cherry flavour kicks in. It has a lovely entry that is round and soft but definitely on the spicy, leaf cool spectrum of merlot.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileThe regular 2000 Cabernet is on the weedy cassis side and warm vegetal characters. It has a surprising richness in the mouth given the cool nose with mostly round, supple fruit. Expect an intriguing mix of leather, herbs, chocolate, earth and dried prunes. Grill meats will tame the youthful edges.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Batasiolo Barbera d'Alba 2000
Piedmont, ItalyMade from the barbera grape this red opens with black licorice and earthy spicy aromas. It splashes across the palate with good acidity and a sense of vibrancy but generally it's a soft sipper. Less fruit and an earthier, spicy flavour mark the 2000 edition.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Batasiolo Nebbiolo Langhe 2000
Piedmont, ItalyDesigned as an introductory nebbiolo it has the gamey sweaty cigar ash nose with smoky overtones light cherry fruit. Licorice cherry smoky flavours and firm dry finish. Well made; a classy spaghetti red at an affordable price. 8002915000504 Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Batasiolo Barbera d'Alba Sovrana 2000
Piedmont, ItalyBatasiolo single vineyard Barbera comes from Sovrana a special plot of vines selected for their intense fruit character and more concentrated flavours. It is aged in French barrique for 12 months. Big colour and ripe cherry vanilla aromas waft out of the glass. Ripe and round on the entry with tobacco, pepper, cherry fruit and quite a whack of acidity in the finish. Perfect with fatty foods or ripe cheeses. Well made wine from a good vintage.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Alexandre 2000
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileNice chunky cherry style fruit with just a whiff of cedar. Good cabernet styling, ripe fruit and soft tannins. Light forward style and would be fine with most grilled meats or chicken. Ready-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yalumba Shiraz Barossa 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 |
| AB | $17.75 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Yalumba Grenache Tricentenary Vines 2000
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaRipe cherry jam vanilla cherry cola nose with a touch of peppery sausage aromas. Very elegant styling and well balanced. There's less fat fruit here and more of the dry cherry licorice and pepper fruit flavours. A matter of style but this "French" version needs a bit more time to settle down.Prices:| BC | $40.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tarapaca Carmenère Reserva 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileMuch better intensity here. Smoke pepper spice and ripe cassis/cherry fruit mark the nose and palate. Round and rich with good structure and length. Lovely smoky plum leather character and just a whiff of tannin for the future. Good red wine.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tarapaca Carmenère 2000
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileOpen leafy crushed berry nose. Very soft on entry showing peppery cassis sour cherry flavours. The finish is soft round and plush with just a touch of alcohol. Quite an appealing texture.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tommasi Pinot Grigio Le Rosse 2000
Valdadige, Pedemonte Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, ItalyTight nose with spice, mineral, pear fruit aromas. Dry and firm on entry with quite an oily viscous texture in the finish. Round, ripe and ready to drink now.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceSmoky, peppery, spicy gamy licorice aromas with a strong black cherry background. Rich, ripe, intense fruit with big black cherry, plum, licorice, game and roasted pepper flavours. Very elegant and round with ripe tannins in the finish. Drinkable now but will improve for five to eight years. Very balanced and suave, representative of the 2000 vintage.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Belloni Vineyard 2000
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBelloni vineyard is a true field blend of old vine zinfandel 75 per cent, and 25 per cent petite sirah / carignane / alicante bouschet. It has a fabulous black cherry plum fruit nose with a whack of spice and pepper. More of the same on the palate with plenty of lifted cherry blackberry fruit and smoky spicy cedar bark in the finish. Expressive and delicious.Prices:Read Full Note
90PTS
Ogier Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2000
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceMade from 80/10/10 grenache/syrah/cinsault and mourvédre. Earthy, licorice, barnyard, raspberry peppery prune aromas. Rich and round with intense cherry, raspberry jam flavours and a spicy, licorice, pepper and prune finish. A bit more structure but very drinkable now and over the next five years. Very fruity and elegant.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rancho Zabaco Sonoma Heritage Vines Zinfandel 2000
Sonoma County, California, United StatesOpen ripe fruit here with aromas of black cherry and blackberry fruit streaked with dusty tannins and spice. Quite a sweet bramble berry prune/plum palate with smoky coffee and vanilla undertones. Quite an appealing style and well balanced. The 25 per cent petite sirah and syrah gives it a warm rich finish.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill Vineyard 2000
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesGreen sweaty sawdust aromas mixed with earth and pepper. Big chunky dry almond cherry fruit entry with mostly rustic tannins. Quite dry. More primitivo in taste and style than zinfandel. The vineyard is planted to 76 per cent zinfandel and 24 per cent mixed black varieties which explain the less than classic zin character. Eclectic.Prices:| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Ravenswood Single Vineyard Big River Zinfandel 2000
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig River Vineyard boasts 70 to 80 year old vines growing in the warm Alexander valley. Look for a huge ripe nose packed with ripe plum fruit and streaked with blackberry highlights. Smoky chocolate toffee and more fruit on the palate. Very pleasing with big soft tannins and just enough acidity. Bring on the duck or lamb. One to age. Sensational.Prices:| BC | $73.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Dickerson Vineyard 2000
Napa Valley, California, United StatesDickerson vineyard is on the west side of Napa Valley just off, you guessed it, Zinfandel Lane! There's a ripe mocha dark blackberry licorice character on the nose. On the palate it shows quite a bit of acidity with mocha licorice and coffee flavours with a bit of spicy stewed fruit. Just a bit too much acidity for the average consumer to really enjoy at the moment. Hold this another five years for better results.Prices:| US | $40.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard 2000
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesMoon Mountain is home to Monte Rosso an old vineyard tended by the Louis Martini family. Look for an attractive sweaty coffee blackberry and pepper nose. Fairly dry on entry but there is plenty of fruity blackberry mocha flavours on the mid-palate. Vibrant but warm with peppery mocha finish. Hold for a year or two or serve with roast pork to offset the tannins.Prices:| BC | $73.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Ravenswood Single Vineyard Barricia Zinfandel 2000
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesBarricia (a contraction of the owner's first names Barbara Olesen and Patricia Heron) is vineyard located in the "banana belt" of Sonoma Valley protected from the fog and cool air that filters in off the Pacific and San Pablo Bay. It has a bit of odd-ball nose mixing drain-pipe, pepper and licorice with some volatile black cherry characters. Smooth textures enhanced by the high alcohol with more peppery resiny cherry fruit finish. Well balanced, drinkable unique zin.Prices:| BC | $73.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Ravenswood Single Vineyard Teldeschi Zinfandel 2000
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesWith only 76 per cent zinfandel in the mix there is plenty of room for 12 per cent petite sirah that brings pepper and spice and 12 carignane that brings raspberry fruit and acidity. We love the rich enticing nose of ripe raspberry/blackberry jam streaked with pepper. It's ripe and warm on the palate with plenty more black fruit flavours in the finish. Big rich, powerful beefy zin that will benefit from another year or two in bottle. Excellent quality.Prices:| BC | $73.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $74.45 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel 2000
California, United StatesOld barrel sawdust cherry fruit aromas. Soft round supple fruity mid-palate with a dusting of spicy sausage and mocha coffee fruit. Simple tasty straight-ahead zinfandel sourced from a variety of California vineyards that is pretty decent considering its hefty production of 120,000 cases.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Amador County 2000
Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California, United StatesBrambleberry spicy peppery fruit nose streaked with tarry cherry licorice scents. Fairly elegant entry with lots of black plum jam and peppery licorice flavours. Fairly tannic for its structure but should be fine in a year or two or more.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ravenswood Zinfandel Napa Valley 2000
Napa Valley, California, United StatesRich chocolate vanilla and ripe blackberry aromas on the nose. Pleasant spicy peppery blackberry fruit but it's not without some dry-ish tannin at this point. Hold for another year or two to allow the tannin to dissipate. The 00 is 95 per cent zinfandel.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2000
Lodi, Central Valley, California, United StatesOnly 2- to 4 tons per acre are pulled off Kettleman Road Vineyard offering up an appealing ripe blackberry mocha cherry nose. Quite a rich attack of sweet ripe zinfandel fruit awash in pruny black plum jam flavours and a long warm finish. Look for a bit of tannin but this should continue to improve. Not wonderfully clean but more in the old-style comfortable format. Good value. Ten per cent alicante bouschet, 8 per cent petite sirah and 7 per cent carignane.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Ravenswood Rancho Salina Vineyard 2000
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe blend of the Rancho Salina is 63 per cent merlot 22 cabernet sauvignon and 15 per cent cabernet franc. Look for a mocha plum cherry-cola nose. A soft supple entry with more cedar bark flavours and acidity than ripe fruit with smoky resin coffee characters in the finish. Not a lot of tannin but what there is fairly dry. Best at this point with rich meat dishes that will help tame the tannins.Prices:| BC | $73.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ravenswood Gregory Vineyard Red Table Wine 2000
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesA somewhat surprising nose of dill, green olive and coffee streaked with vanilla in the background. Firm and acidic on entry with not a lot of flesh or fruit on the mid-palate. Plenty of mocha and smoke but the finish is dry and short. Not particularly ripe for Sonoma; in fact it smells more like a merlot (29 per cent) than a cabernet (61 per cent). Not an attractive consumer style.Prices:| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sergio MO Mionetto Spumante Extra Dry NV
Veneto, ItalyRipe red apple nose with a streak of citrus. Enticing creamy textures and dry fruit flavours. Contemporary master vintner Sergio Mionetto produces this wine based on a formula handed down by Francesco Mionetto, who founded the property in 1887. A touch of two ancient grape varieties, unique to the region, are blended with the finest Prosecco grapes. The result is a dry, slightly fruity, creamy peach apple wine with just a hint of acidic crispness. Think after dinner.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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April 2003