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Tastings: April 2003
30 April 2003
86PTS
Quails' Gate Chenin Blanc Limited Release 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh open crisp nose. Tart citrus lime rind aromas and flavours. Reasonably ripe with some sweet fruit and a refreshing finish. A fun summer sipper that should be served well chilled and used liberally on the patio. Well made.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
CedarCreek Meritage Estate Select 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis meritage blend is 55 per cent merlot, 40.5 cabernet sauvignon and 4.5% cabernet franc. Smoky pepper resiny shoe leather nose. More smoky spicy vanilla with lots of black cherry. Smooth round textures and a peppery olive finish. Fine ripeness and here and good rich flavours in the aftertaste. Bravo.Prices:| BC | $30.09 | 750ml |
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89PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky cherry, vanilla, coffee aromas jump out of the glass. Soft and sweet vanilla on entry with more round cherry kirsch fruit. It has an attractive New World style but the smoke and cream and mocha tend to obscure the pinot fruit character. Less new oak or less time in the bottle would probably give it more pinot character but it is nevertheless a well made wine.Prices:| BC | $35.09 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Chardonnay Estate Select 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLovely open mineral peach fruit nose with just a hint of lees and butter. Very fresh cool climate chardonnay with more mineral peach flavours and streaks of buttered popcorn in the finish. Fresh clean B.C. style that would be great with a summer snapper dish.Prices:| BC | $20.09 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Noir Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium dark colour. Intriguing open licorice root and tar nuances lay over top of black cherry and vanilla aromas. Smoked tea black cherry fruit with some roundness on entry and just a dusting of dry astringent tannins in the finish. Balanced and elegant and will undoubtedly shine in another year. Well done.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe blend is 50/30/20 merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Fine colour. Big herbal cassis fruit nose heavily streaked with spice smoke and pepper. Firm black fruit flavours on entry with black cherry and smoky fruit in the finish and just a touch of orange peel and pepper. Elegant and lean with some dryness in the finish.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Vidal Icewine 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig mineral, nectarine, marmalade aromas with notes of vinyl, honey and mint. Ripe, round and balanced with good sugar and acidity balance. Ripe apple, apricot, marmalade flavours dominate with a fresh citrus, mineral finish. An elegant style with good acidity and definitely a star for Vidal.Prices:| BC | $51.99 | 375ml |
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87PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBlack cherry, cigar, barnyard and pepper aromas with a touch of olive. Soft, round elegant style with light tannins. Pleasing palate with spicy, cranberry, smoky, vanilla flavours and a touch of orange peel, olive and cigar on the finish. Drinkable now but should improve for a year or two. Good value.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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27 April 2003
85PTS
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPale orange edge colour. Strawberry spicy dill compost character on the nose. Quite round and soft. It's light textured but with some fruit and a cool leafy Worcester sauce finish. A highly drinkable, solid effort available at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Domaine des Perdrix Vosne-Romanée 2000
Vosne-Romanée, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceOpen ripe cherry almond barnyard nose with liquorice root undertones. Big showy fruity entry with roundness and elegance. Firm but soft tannins dissolve into a toasted black cherry fruit finish. Powerful warm finish with just a touch of herbal carrot notes. Solid well balanced and fairly priced. Drink now and over the next two years.Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos du Roy 1er Cru 1999
Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, FranceBig spicy savoury nose laced with barnyard/strawberry jam aromas. Solid entry with good weight and intensity and but with a very low fruit factor. More cedar bark and oak toast than fruit. The finish is big and dry. Needs time, food, and a price cut.Prices:| BC | $47.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine Faiveley Nuits-St-Georges Les Porêts Saint-Georges 1er Cru 1997
Gevrey-Chambertin, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceMature open barnyard nose with compost and cherry jam. Rich super round entry with fine elegance on the mid-palate and in the finish. Long concentrated mature flavours with a full rootsy cherry compost flavoured finish. Fine Burgundy.Prices:| BC | $76.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers 1er Cru 1999
Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceGamy barnyard savoury aromas with some black cherry but not overly fruity. Dry delicate cedar bark flavours with pepper and earth and game. It requires food to help smooth out the finish. Pleasant, but hardly big time, and not worth the money.Prices:| BC | $114.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Domaine Faiveley Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru (Monopole) 1999
Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceLovely deep red colour. Serious dark fruit nose with spicy, earth and peppery black cherry highlights. Smooth entry with big, chunky textures on the mid-palate. Lots of spicy fruit and fine length with no shortage of tannin to yet disperse. Rootsy licorice vanilla finish. Will need time to come around.Prices:| BC | $109.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moillard Mercurey 1999
Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, FranceMedium dark colour. Toasted oak and vanilla nose with a subtle, cherry/licorice, menthol barnyard nose. Good rich smooth entry with similar flavours and a fresh raspberry and acid finish. Requires food to smooth out the drier tannins. Good value.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Nuits-St.-George Les Chaboeufs 1er Cru Cuvée Signature 2001
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceBarnyard waxy, black cherry, licorice fruit nose with spicy, peppery undertones. This is a big, chunky, blocky red pinot with firm spicy black cherry, orange rind flavours and dry cedar bark tannins and oak. Will need more time to settle down, shed some oak and tannin, and develop that classic Burgundy patina.Prices:| BC | $86.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Echezeaux Grand Cru Cuvée Signature 2001
Echezeaux, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceOpen oak toast and cardamom nose with barnyard and cherry jam underneath. It's fairly firm on entry with elegant, vanilla, cherry spicy flavours but not much after. The finish is short and dry with more cedar bark flavouring. There's some potential here but it will need time. Another typical '01 that's low on fruit.Prices:| BC | $159.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $130.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2004
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceTypical Beaune styling with spicy Worcester aromas and peppery beet root cherry undertones. It has a fine balanced entry with more cedar bark flavours with a strawberry, raspberry fruit character peeking through minty, rootsy finish.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $42.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Savigny-les-Beaune Les Peuillets 1er Cru Cuvée Signature 2001
Savigny-lès-Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceMinty barnyard carrot top with a touch of orange spice. Dry with cedar bark flavours but much better structure and elegance with cherry spice streaks in the finish. It has round, Burgundy -like flavours that are to be applauded. It's dry but that's the '01s.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Volnay Cuvée Signature 2001
Volnay, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceRipe cherry nose with Worchester sauce and barnyard streaks throughout. Fine structure and elegance here but fairly low in fruit. Sour cherry flavours mark a tight dry finish. Time will help but only if some fruit surfaces.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $42.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Fixin La Mazière Cuvée Signature 2001
Fixin, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceStrawberry beet root compost nose with some toasted oak. Better extract than the '01 Monthélie with some vanilla licorice flavouring but again more dry tannins. Tight and not offering much pleasure at this point.Prices:| BC | $39.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Monthélie Le Meix Bataille 1er Cru Cuvée Signature 2001
Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceClean savoury sour cherry and spiced nose with just a wisp of vanilla. Firm entry with quite an earthy raspberry flavour on the mid-palate before finishing dry with some astringent tannins and some bark flavours. Simple skinny styling.Prices:| BC | $46.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Savigny-les-Beaune Cuvée Signature 2001
Savigny-lès-Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceBig toasted oak nose with black cherry fruit underneath and a dusting of barnyard and compost. Much better structure here with fruit and tannin in balance and it's supple. We would like more fruit but there's enough spicy, cherry, rootsy flavours to make this a pleasant drinking Burgundy.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $32.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Syrah 2002
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaClean meaty sausage nose streaked with chocolate and licorice flavours. Black cherry jam and alcohol predominate on the palate. Rich and ripe but needs meat or cheese to cut through the alcohol.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.50 | 750ml |
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25 April 2003
85PTS
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti 2000
Tuscany, ItalyTypical peppery gamey notes mixed with touch of prune and vanilla. Soft smooth, dry entry that's balanced and there is enough earth, prune and bitter almond flavours to carry the day. Solid affordable and representativePrices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 1999
Tuscany, ItalySlightly riper than the regular version with more roasted sausage and coffee prune notes. Richer intensity but with big dry tannins and a resiny, bitter almond, cherry fruit flavoured finish. A bit old-fashioned and thus will need time to settle the dry tannins. Otherwise enjoy now with a big T-bone steak. Somewhat disappointing for a 1999.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Clos Roque D'Aspes 1999
Faugères, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceGiant black licorice, black raspberry nose with similar flavouring on the palate. Intense licorice root and raspberry jam flavours with chunky textures and a dry, coffee finish. The high percentage of mourvèdre gives it an unusual flavour and texture profile. Impressive now but should get even better over three to five years.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Selvamaggio 1997
Montebenichi, Arezzo, Tuscany, ItalyGreen bean coffee vanilla nose with some medicinal undertones. More coffee compost and cooked green bean flavours preview what is an intense warm red with lots of smoky toasted oak and vanilla in the resiny finish. Complex and will keep well for a decade. The blend is 70/30 cabernet/sangiovese.Prices:| BC | $39.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $37.50 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Veneroso 1999
Tuscany, ItalyThe blend is 50/45/5 sangiovese/cabernet sauvignon/merlot. New Age ripe nose with spicy coriander, vanilla, leather, game and cigar ash. It's big, rich and intense with mouth-filling blockbuster cassis and cherry jam fruit and more vanilla and coffee in the aftertaste. There's also lots of big chewy Tuscan tannins that will need time to settle out. We like the balance and weight. New oak and vanilla mark its long finish.Prices:| BC | $59.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $54.95 | 750ml |
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21 April 2003
84PTS
Tenuta Moraia Soldimela Vermentino 2001
Maremma, Tuscany, ItalyRich aromatic nose with fig, anise, lemon oil and almond marzipan nose. Dry round and crisp but fairly bizarre flavouring. More almonds and mineral citrus flavours streaked with herbaceous. Plenty of interesting notes here but maybe too many for one glass.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Umani Ronchi Serrano Rosso Conero 2001
Marche, ItalyPeppery savoury meat pie nose and classic lean dry acidic Italian structure. There's decent extract and earthy prune flavours but the peppery savoury character takes a back seat to some substantial acidity. Grilled meats would help settle down the acidity and smooth out the finish.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Santa Julia Syrah 2002
Mendoza, ArgentinaSweaty, licorice, meaty nose that is quite typical of Argentine syrah. The entry is soft and round but dry with chewy textures although there's some appealing ripe black plum fruit flavours beneath the core. This will have some appeal but it needs a fatty dish to tame the sweet and bitter aftertaste.Prices:| BC | $12.90 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Vina Las Garzas Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileMushroom earthy spicy meaty nose with a touch of leafy cassis. Round smooth firm entry with more leafy, spicy cassis flavours. Simple but varietal and drinkable and the price is right. Pour liberally around the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $7.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2001
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileChocolate and cassis make this nose with a touch of leather. Rich round and fairly supple on entry with more cassis fruit in the aftertaste. Quite warm but stylish for a young cabernet -- a baby "Don Max" at a very attractive price.Prices:| BC | $14.43 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaIntense peppery black fruit nose with a touch of sweaty Argentine game character. Full and round in the mouth with good cabernet fruit intensity and weight that is marred only by a bit of bitterness in the finish. A charbroiled steak would smooth everything out.Prices:| BC | $13.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.50 | 750ml |
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81PTS
Julius Wile Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
California, United StatesCherry sawdust earthy leather aromas and almost identical flavours. Reasonably round but with a warm, acidic, dry and unpleasant aftertaste. No joy here.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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20 April 2003
86PTS
Rawson's Retreat Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaOpen clean spicy, berry jam nose. Chocolate berry prune flavours with fine weight and richness. Simple, soft and round but well made and well priced.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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19 April 2003
83PTS
Aresti Merlot 2001
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileHerbal dank drainpipe nose with raspberry and menthol cherry aromas. Soft and round but low on fruit with more savoury meaty undertones and less fruit. Dry slightly off flavours in the finish.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Merlot Bull Pine Vineyard 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGreat colour with a big, smoky, oak toast nose and black cherry fruit aromas. More chunky textures and plenty of dry astringent tannins. More smoky, resiny black cherry fruit with quite a dry finish. Needs a minimum two years to settle down and tame some of those tough tannins. The question is will there be any fruit left to enjoy.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek Merlot 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaExpect a pale colour that is definitely lighter than in previous years. Cherry jam and spicy vanilla with a touch of minty coconut (or warm day on the beach) on the nose. Round and supple on entry with good intensity of flavours but the finish is dry and slightly astringent. More Italian the Okanagan. Barbecued flank steak would be a good idea here.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Errazuriz Merlot 2001
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileGood colour. Open mocha cherry cola nose with streaks of compost, menthol and tobacco with plum jam in the finish. Round supple and rich with an earth, iron and black cherry finish. Warm, attractive easy-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Domaine de Molines Merlot 2000
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceEnticing spicy, savoury, peppery orange peel nose. Similar flavours with a touch of smoky compost. The dry Euro entry and aftertaste calls for roast pork or meat tortellini. Real character and regional terroir at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Merlot 2002
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky leather gamy Argentine nose. Rich entry with fairly prominent acidity. Raw smoky resiny cherry jam and black raspberry fruit flavours. Solid barbecue red.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.50 | 750ml |
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17 April 2003
89PTS
Bacio Divino 2000
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe 2000 Bacio Divino is number seven from winemaker and owner Claus Janzen and the style remains consistent with his vision of Euro-elegance. The wine is a mere baby at this point showing mostly raw power and fruit and some angular tannin. Still under the hood it is the Euro version of Napa and its gamy meaty blackberry fruit is made for the long haul. Fine to very fine potential.Prices:Read Full Note
91PTS
Bacio Divino 1999
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe '99 is a 62/28/10 blend of cabernet/sangiovese and petite sirah. At this early stage the wine is young, firm and dry (at least by Napa valley standards) and looking very super-Tuscan-like. The fruit is ripe but there's an undercurrent of cedar, licorice and mint that gives it a savoury edge. Impressive and should develop further through 2007.Prices:Read Full Note
91PTS
Bacio Divino 1998
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBig open gamy savoury red fruit nose with he 65 per cent cabernet sauvignon dominating over the petite sirah (10 per cent) and sangiovese (25 per cent). It's quite warm in the mouth showing some alcohol and more of that saddle leather and dry tannins. Again it shows some of the super-Tuscan styling including an elegant bouquets. Power, spice acidity and fruit make this as sophisticated as it gets in Napa. Another '98 that is belies the vintage reports of the day.Prices:| BC | $125.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Bacio Divino 1996
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe third edition of Bacio Divino 1996 (there was no BC made in 1994) boasts an addition of 8 per cent merlot to its 65 cabernet sauvignon and 21 per cent sangiovese and 6 per cent petite sirah. Initial description site spice and anise as obvious characters and they remain a focal point. Today vanilla remains an undercurrent of a very Bordelais /Tuscan style both in texture and taste. Sophisticated super -Tuscan styling and flavours with just a hint of California fruit in the finish. Very refined.Prices:| BC | $125.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Bacio Divino 1993
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe first Bacio Divino tasted a decade down the road blends 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% sangiovese and 10% petite sirah that is still very dark in colour. The young exuberant fruit od earlier notes is fading in favour of a patina of flavours and textures that include leather, compost and licorice with some dryness in the finish. It s clearly peaking at ten years but not without charm and grace. Surprisingly Tuscan-like.Prices:| BC | $125.00 | 750ml |
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15 April 2003
91PTS
Château La Tour Blanche 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceGorgeous honey apricot nose with a touch of eggy botrytis. Super sweet entry with good elegance but the acidity is low and the concentration not quite what it could be. Fine honey pear mineral finish. Supple round and surprisingly drinkable now. Great for restaurants and early to near term drinking.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 375ml |
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92PTS
Château Suduiraut 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceChâteau Suduiraut is located in the commune of Preignac and its vineyards border those of famed Chateau d'Yquem. The 99 has wonderful buttery, vanilla, and mineral nose with sautéed pear, honey botrytis and apricot aromas. There is fine acidity and weight with more citrus rind, mineral, apricot, honey and vanilla flavours. The finish offers baked toffee and butterscotch. Serious wine.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 375ml |
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88PTS
Château Bastor-Lamontagne 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceThe wine is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and oak barrels and is then matured in small oak barriques (25 per cent new) for 15 months. Expect a ripe nectarine and mineral nose with honey almost sugary aromas and just a trace of botrytis. Fat, baked pear flavours with more honey and citrus in warm finish. Introductory style, solid Sauternes for curious dessert wine fans.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 375ml |
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91PTS
Château Rayne Vigneau 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceAttractive floral citrus nectarine nose with some honey and botrytis in the background. A very stylish elegant sweet wine that should age gracefully. Lovely mineral citrus and honey flavours with a creamy buttery finish. Although it lacks intensity it more than makes up for that with elegance.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 375ml |
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89PTS
Château Coutet 1999
Barsac, Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceLight-ish in colour with a big citrus nose streaked with honey, a touch of matchstick and toasted oak. Smooth entry elegant style with toasted cream and mineral flavours with a touch of citrus rind. Not a lot of extract but there is plenty of finesse.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 375ml |
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87PTS
Château Liot 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceThe vineyards (Sémillon 85%, Sauvignon Blanc 10%, Muscadelle 5%) lie on a gravel/silt/alluvial topsoil and limestone subsoil. The grapes are fermented in vats and the wine is matured in oak barrels (15 per cent new) for 15 to 18 months. The wines are typically fresh and refined and display marvellous purity of fruit. They have medium-term cellaring potential but are also delicious to drink in youth. Look for a subdued mineral wet wool and crème brûlée nose with streaks of pear. Light buttery mineral pear flavours with a touch of burnt sugar and warmth. Fat easy sipper for drinking now through 2005. Good value.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 375ml |
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90PTS
Château de Malle 1999
Preignac, Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceLovely ripe honey peach butter and a slight dusting of lees and crème brûlée. Great acidity here and true elegance. It has a much firmer and longer finish than the group and it's crammed with honey and apricot flavours. Very stylish with a long warm finish.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 375ml |
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91PTS
Château Guiraud 1999
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceOnly Semillon (65%) and Sauvignon (35%) are planted at Guiraud. Look for an intense orange creamsicle nose with honey, citrus, vanilla and smoke aromas. Thick and rich on entry but with much better acidity in the finish. Its citrus, honey, mineral and butter flavours remain fresh and lively. Certainly one of the better 99's and will keep for 5-10 years.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 375ml |
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13 April 2003
90PTS
Brookfields Cabernet Merlot Reserve Vintage 2000
Hawkes Bay, North Island, New ZealandAn 85/10/5 blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec. Sweaty leather gamey, peppery, cooked cassis. Another elegant red with a ripe peppery pruny cassis flavour. Long smoky stylish finish. Very well done. Prices:| NZ | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Brookfields Syrah Hillside Reserve Vintage 2001
Hawkes Bay, North Island, New ZealandIntense blackberry prune fruit nose with lots of jump and style. Delicious, elegant, smoky plum fruit and just enough vanilla to round out the finish. A New World Hermitage style that's very exciting. Not cheap and unavailable in B.C.Prices:| NZ | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Vine Cliff Chardonnay 2000
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe 2000 Vine Cliff Napa chardonnay is made with 100 per cent Carneros fruit that was hand-harvested, hand-sorted and whole-cluster pressed. Eleven individual vineyard lots were used in the final blend. Expect a super ripe peach/mango nose with citrus lees and honey aromas, all very Napa. Similar rich flavours are showing some heat with plenty of tasty spicy lees. Excellent effort.Prices:| BC | $48.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Hardys Nottage Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2001
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaInviting ripe aromas of smoky blackberry cherry jam. Soft fruity entry with simple grapey flavours. An easy drinking red for the barbecue.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2001
California, United StatesLovely open mineral and spicy lees nose with streaks of smoky apple. Rich flavourful entry with nutty juicy apple flavours and a dollop of K-J oak. It's not as fat or oaky as it smells which is a good thing. It finishes a bit chalky and buttery but not too oaky. Good intensity of flavours.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2000
Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaVery appealing nose here of ripe tropical mango lees with a spicy, nutty, citrus undertones. The textures and flavours are flatter than the nose would suggest and the entry a bit hard but overall a solid effort form Western Australia.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay 2001
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe Cakebread grapes are whole-cluster pressed helping to add to its smooth silky texture and then 60 to 70 percent of the wine is barrel-fermented and up to a quarter goes through malolactic fermentation. Look for citrus, mineral, honey aromas with a touch of spicy lees. The taste profile is similar with honey apple skin and citrus notes throughout. The finish is warm and dry. Solid if unspectacular for the price.Prices:| BC | $74.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $65.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Calvet Octerra 2001
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceOcterra is an 80/20 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot grown in the Pays d'Oc using sustainable viticulture techniques. It's aged in French oak barrels for 12 months in the Calvet cellars. Look for a touch of vanilla, oak and sweaty saddle on the nose streaked with a spicy cassis. Rich, supple and soft on entry with more smoky flavours and a dry, peppery, cassis finish. Crafted for food and they suggest rabbit with rosemary or roast pork with figs and grapes or braised beef with carrots.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Triennes Les Auréliens Saint Auguste 1999
Côtes de Provence, Provence, Sud de France, FranceOpen spicy smoky nose with sweet cassis and licorice undertones. Smoky black cherry and tea flavours with more rich round textures and some soft but chewy tannins in the finish. A well-balanced, stylish red that needs another year or two bottle ageing.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Triennes Les Auréliens Rouge 1999
Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceThis cabernet-sauvignon/syrah blend goes through a long 30-to-35-day fermentation on natural yeasts before spending 12 months in old Dujac oak. Look for a smoky garrigue and resiny nose. The entry is firm with more smoky, resiny, cassis flavours. More Euro in style, more lean and with higher acidity.Prices:| BC | $17.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay 2002
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBright citrus blossom, apple and honey nose. More mineral threads with oily baked apple flavours in the short buttery finish. A solid, simple, everyday chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $13.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Trivento Chardonnay 2001
Mendoza, ArgentinaSurprisingly rich nose for the price with plenty of pear/apple and honey aromas. The texture is soft and oily with more apple and citrus rind flavours and a touch of sweetness in the finish. Good effort at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $8.94 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $8.41 | 750ml |
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10 April 2003
89PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Semillon Seven Hills Vineyard 2001
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesGood ripe grapefruit aromas with mineral, chalky, grass highlights intermingled with light vanilla and fig. Both rich and round the fruit is totally ripe with melon, ripe kiwi, fig and mineral flavours. Well balanced and elegant and should drink well now or over the next year.Prices:| BC | $41.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $37.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Apogee 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSpicy, peppery, coffee mocha aromas with black berry, liquorice earth and sweaty leather notes. It's rich, round, elegant and blessed with light tannins. The flavour is a mix of sweet black cherry, pepper and licorice flecked with mocha and earthy. It should develop over the mid-term but with good complexity. The blend is 57/39/4 merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc all from Pepper Bridge Vineyard.Prices:| BC | $77.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $69.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard 2001
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThis Estate Syrah is a blend of three different blocks of syrah from Seven Hills Vineyard with just a touch of carmenère added for its peppery complexity. L'Ecole No 41 is a partner in the 150-acre vineyard expansion at Seven Hills Vineyard along with Pepper Bridge Winery and Leonetti Cellars. Look for a warm but spicy, mocha, peppery, coffee nose flecked with orange and a whack of black raspberry jam. Cherry, licorice root and garrigue thread underneath this complex red with black raspberry jam, kirsch, creamy vanilla flavours. A bit warm (alcoholic) and acidic on the finish yet it's all balanced by great jammy fruit.Prices:| BC | $64.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $59.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesAn almost brutish red at this young age with spicy, peppery, blackberry jam and resiny notes on the nose. It's rich and round if slightly austere, yet balanced with strong cassis jam, blackberry, pepper, coffee and vanilla flavours in the finish. Excellent potential here but will need three to five years to soften up and settle down.Prices:| BC | $66.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $59.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Merlot 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesL'Ecole No 41 is perhaps best known for merlot that winemaker owner Marty Clubb makes in a traditional "Bordeaux" style. Small lot fermentations are punched down by hand, tannins are minimized and it is all gently racked into a combination of new and older French and American oak barrels and aged for 18 months. Look for a peppery, earthy, spicy, mocha nose with black cherry aromas. Ripe, round and elegant with juicy, black cherry, spicy, mocha flavours. Quite forward but attractive for earlier term drinking.Prices:| BC | $62.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $56.95 | 750ml |
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94PTS
L'Ecole No 41 Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesAt 12 years old Seven Vineyards is now delivering consistent fruit with enticing spicy, cherry jam, vanilla, and leather, orange and chocolate aromas. On the palate similar rich, concentrated, ripe flavours await with a dollop of tannin. The flavour mix is orange spice, cherry jam, olive, pepper and cocoa with fine structure. Excellent potential form a vintage that will be remembered for some time.Prices:| BC | $73.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $67.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Whitman Cellars Syrah 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesBlack raspberry, black cherry jam, smoky, gamey oregano garrigue aromas. Very soft, big jammy palate with smoky, garrigue, black cherry flavours. A bit short and dry for Walla Walla but the dryness should fade with time.Prices:| US | $24.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Whitman Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe '00 cabernet is sourced from both Seven Hills and Pepperbridge vineyards. It's ripe blackberry jam, peppery, spicy, vanilla coffee aromas melt into a round, elegant, more forward style red with spicy, peppery, licorice flavours and a blackberry, earthy vanilla finish. Consumer friendly albeit with a slightly heavier hand of smoky oak. The blend is 86/14 cabernet sauvignon/merlot.Prices:| US | $40.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Whitman Cellars Meritage 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesWhitman Cellars was a pleasant discovery for us. The Meritage has a coffee/vanilla, blackberry cassis nose flecked with mint. It's ripe and concentrated on the palate with soft-ish tannins. It's a bit alcoholic but the mocha, cassis, blackberry and spicy peppery finish tends to absorb your attention. Good potential here - the blend is 77/23 cabernet sauvignon/ merlot.Prices:| US | $24.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Whitman Cellars Merlot 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSpicy, earthy, orange, cherry, vanilla aromas. Dry, moderately elegant tannins with earthy, spicy, peppery cedar flavours. Lacks the fruit and balance of most Walla examples -- more like a B.C. red.Prices:| US | $32.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery Bordelais in style with that peppery, black olive, spicy, black berry jam, vanilla and coffee nose with a touch of green bean underneath. Fine, concentration with slightly austere, firm grainy tannins and plenty of cassis, coffee, pepper, blackberry and clove flavours. Fine flavour concentration but with big tannins and some alcohol. Needs five to seven years to come around. The blend is 96 cabernet sauvignon and four percent merlot coming from a 70/30 pick of Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards.Prices:| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Pepper Bridge Merlot 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe second vintage of Pepper Bridge merlot was the first to be handled at the new gravity-fed, state-of-the-art winery. Look for a sweet vanilla nose with smoky, leather, cherry aromas with a touch of barnyard. Rich with fine concentration and slightly grainy, dry tannins. Tasty spicy, cherry, cocoa and vanilla flavours in a more restrained French style. Well made.Prices:| US | $45.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Reininger Syrah 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesAs new as this wine is and as young as syrah in Walla Walla is this is impressive. Look for dark black cherry, raspberry fruit, with spicy mocha and garrigue notes. It's rich, round, and balanced with nice spicy, peppery, black raspberry jam flavours and a bit of mocha, smoky vanilla and earth on the finish. It's a bit tannic and hot but it's so young -- time in the bottle will heal all.Prices:| US | $32.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Reininger Merlot 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesReininger Winery was the first of five boutique wineries located at the historic Walla Walla Regional Airport. The '00 merlot has a big peppery, spicy, coffee, chocolaty black cherry nose. On the palate it somewhat elegant with soft, grainy tannins. There is fine pepper, orange, olive, cherry and coffee flavours throughout. Definitely needs time to dissipate the tannins. The blend is 89/8/3 merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc.Prices:| US | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesSpicy, clove and peppery, resiny, blackberry nose streaked with licorice. On the palate it's rich and round with a warm soft structure full of cassis jam, pepper and spicy cocoa flavours. Good balance but a tad flabby and warm on the finish.Prices:| US | $32.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesPlenty of Walla Walla pepper, spice and cassis jam on the nose streaked with resin, sweaty leather and a hint of green bean and coffee grinds. Quite big in structure with some tannin and more spicy, coffee, earth and pepper flavours. Still closed and backward at this young stage. Will need a minimum of three years in the bottle to soften up.Prices:| US | $30.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Seven Hills Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard 2001
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesEnticing cherry/orange spice nose with olive, dill and chocolate/vanilla aromas. Its round, moderately soft tannins are nicely balanced the flavours are orange mocha, olive dill and cherry. Young, very good fruit that reminds us a bit like a fine Pomerol.Prices:| US | $30.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah 2001
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesA 65/30/5 blend of merlot/cabernet franc/petit verdot that has quite a spicy, cardamom, olive, dill, cherry jam aroma with some smoky, coffee peppery notes. Rich and concentrated but with slightly austere tannins. There are fine peppery, spicy, tart black cherry and licorice flavours all wrapped up into a young red with fine potential.Prices:| BC | $74.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Cayuse Vineyards Syrah 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Cailloux Vineyard is more masculine in structure. The vines are only four years old. The nose is a spicy, peppery mix of blueberry jam, black cherry, licorice and violet aromas. Rich, round and somewhat hot with cherry, licorice, spicy garrigue flavours. A bit drier with more grainy tannins and a touch of hollowness but with good balance and intensity.Prices:| US | $45.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Cayuse Vineyards Syrah 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe single vineyard "En Cerise" is meant to be more feminine in structure but with such young vines -- only 3 year-old vines -- it's difficult to know just yet how that will work out. Look for a very spicy, big black cherry, black raspberry jam aromas with garrigue, licorice and violet. Supple, ripe tannins with spicy, vanilla, black cherry jam and raspberry flavours. Warm but quite elegant and pure with plenty of length.Prices:| US | $45.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Cayuse Vineyards Camaspelo 2000
Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesA blend of 57/26/17 cabernet sauvignon / merlot / cabernet franc under organic production with yields about 15-20 hl/ha. Complex nose with peppery, cocoa, spicy, black berry, cedar, anise and cassis jam aromas. Round, elegant soft tannins with spicy, black cherry jam/kirsch, vanilla, mocha flavours. Very refined and balanced.Prices:| US | $45.00 | 750ml |
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09 April 2003
92PTS
Woodward Canyon Merlot 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesA blend of 84/16 merlot and cabernet. Ripe cherry jam, smoky coffee, peppery orange spice aromas. Rich, round and moderately tannic with cocoa, black pepper, spicy, black cherry and orange spice flavours. A bit hot and tannic but great intensity.Prices:| US | $37.50 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines 2000
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesA bit port like on the nose but very intense spicy, peppery, resiny, blackberry jam aromas with clove and orange spice notes. Very rich, ripe and concentrated with big cassis jam, coffee, orange spice, vanilla, black pepper and resin flavours. Huge wine with big tannins, will need years to come around but wow, what flavours.Prices:| US | $67.50 | 750ml |
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07 April 2003
92PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage Red 1999
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesVery spicy, vanilla, black cherry, blackberry, coffee and black pepper aromas with hints of green bean and mint. Rich and concentrated with very peppery, spicy, vanilla cola, licorice, black cherry jam flavours and a cherry licorice cedary finish. Somewhat tight, grainy astringent tannins indicate this will need a minimum of 3 to 5 years to mature but worth a try. Great label design by Stanislaw Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtoya.Prices:| US | $48.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Col Solare Red Table Wine 1998
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesCherry, vanilla cola, peppery, gamey, blackberry, clove and cassis aromas. Rich, concentrated and round with very ripe blackberry, cassis jam, peppery, spicy clove flavours and a long vanilla, tobacco, licorice finish. A bit hot but very nice intensity with good fruit and spice components.Prices:| BC | $125.45 | 750ml |
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03 April 2003
84PTS
Benevento Sangiovese Merlot 2001
Campania, ItalyDeep gamey, savoury, black cherry nose with just a touch of smoky sausage to keep it interesting. Soft, very dry, light and fresh with liquorice, black cherry, sausage meat flavours. It's a wine for spaghetti or grilled flank steak that delivers flavour for its miniscule price. This is as good as it gets for $7.Prices:| BC | $6.95 | 750ml |
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02 April 2003
87PTS
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Shiraz 2001
South Australia, AustraliaPeppery spicy blackberry resiny licorice character. Taste like its smells with even more spicy fruit undertones. This is a fun, fresh, fruity red with just a hint of dryness in the finish. A solid everyday Oz shiraz that's ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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May 2003