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Tastings: August 2003
31 August 2003
86PTS
Rawson's Retreat Semillon - Chardonnay 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaPenfolds Semillon Chardonnay is made with fruit sourced from vineyards in the Barossa Valley, South Australia and Lake Cullulleraine, Victoria and in 2002 a cool vintage the blend really sings. Lifted fruit aromas of pineapple and white peach mesh with nutty grapefruit and melon flavours. Simple well made good value white.Prices:| BC | $9.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe fruit for this wine comes from the Miamba Vineyard in Lyndoch Valley inside Barossa. Very open blackberry jam, vanilla, smoky licorice aromas with a touch of black cherry and saddle leather . Ripe, rich, round and smooth with licorice, peppery, black raspberry jam flavours and a long, fruity, jammy finish. Fresh finish with a touch of dry tannins.Prices:| BC | $28.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Grant Burge Barossa Vines Shiraz 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBig spicy, peppery, black raspberry and blackberry jam nose; really fruity. Ripe, round, soft textures with huge black raspberry jam, peppery, smoky flavours and a touch of acidity. Big fruit, soft and easy to drink style. The shiraz for this wine was harvested from Grant Burge vineyards and those of selected premium Barossa growers.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Concannon Chardonnay 2001
Central Coast, California, United StatesButtery, green apple, vanilla, pineapple aromas. Dry, nutty, green apple skin flavours with a big, buttery, vanilla oaky finish. Reasonable balance but could use a bit less oak in the structure.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Marimar Estate Chardonnay Don Miguel Vineyard 2000
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe Torres chardonnay grapes come from the Don Miguel vineyard in the western hills of Sonoma (Russian River, Green Valley) Look for nutty, creamy lees, baked pear, floral, citrus rind nose and an elegant, dry, rich, fresh white wine. Fine creamy lees, peach, citrus, baked apple flavours with some oily, buttery vanilla on the finish. Suave, long and stylish.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Langmeil Shiraz Valley Floor 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaNice peppery, licorice, earthy, spicy blackberry jam aromas with smoky leather. Rich, ripe and round with a touch of tannins. Lots of peppery, spicy, black cherry and blackberry jam flavours with a touch of vanilla cola. Lifted acidity on the finish but nicely balanced with lots of flavour. Good value.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hess Select Chardonnay 2001
California, United StatesFairly rich buttery, toasty, citrus aromas with pineapple floral hints. More buttery, oily textures with vanilla and baked apple flavours. Quite soft and warm on the finish with a touch of sweetness. Fine but could use some cooler fruit characters and acidity to join the new fresher style of chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2002
Mosel, GermanyLime rind, green apple skin, light peach aromas. Round, elegant, fresh, slightly sweet with soft acidity and nice white peach, citrus, green apple flavours. Attractive style, introductory style riesling for all consumers.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2002
Mosel, GermanyBig green apple, slate, mineral aromas with a touch of peach. Soft, round, ripe with nice sweetness but not a lot of acidity. Fresh red apple, peach, orange flavours with a delicate structure. Flavourful but made for current drinking and not long term aging.Prices:| BC | $21.75 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Selbach Riesling Bereich Bernkastel 2002
Mosel, GermanyIntense green apple, mineral, slate nose. Round, fresh, green apple citrus rind flavours. Soft and very elegant with some sweetness. Perfect for a summer afternoon or a fish with a fruity salsa.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sebastiani Chardonnay 2000
Sonoma County, California, United StatesToasty, buttery, ripe peach, mango aromas with some orange rind and honey notes. Soft, rich, round, oily textures with honey, toasty vanilla, mango and citrus rind flavours. A touch warm and oaky but very flavourful and a good value. Classic California chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Oak Bay Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2002
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBright floral, peach, lychee nose with some mineral notes. Soft, round, elegant style with soft acidity and some sweetness. Peachy, mineral, floral, citrus flavours. Fun easy-sipping gewürztraminer; great for summer or spicy Asian food.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
St. Hallet Blackwell Shiraz 1999
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe common factor with all grapes destined for the Blackwell Shiraz is they come from vineyards aged from 70 up to 100 year old. Mature, dry grown vineyards such as these produce tiny yields of highly concentrated fruit. Look for a spicy, peppery, mocha, blackberry jam, licorice and earth aromas. Big, intense, warm and fat with quite high acidity. Cherry cola, creamy vanilla, blackberry jam flavours with some leather, vanilla butter and mocha on the finish with some sweetness. Great intensity but the elevated acidity leaves this red tasting out of balance.Prices:| BC | $30.99 | 750ml |
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0PTS
St. Hallet Faith Shiraz 2000
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaCorked, try another bottlePrices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Freiherr von Neveu Durbacher Josephberg Klingelberger Auslese 2001
Baden, GermanyVery ripe peach, floral, perfumed spicy, mineral aromas. Big ripe apple, peach, buttery, mineral, floral flavours and a persistent finish. Relatively high alcohol and quite sweet but nicely balanced, will go well with a fresh peach tart with crème anglais or try savoury, spicy foods. Very good value.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Langmeil Shiraz The Freedom 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe Auricht family planted the first vineyard at Langmeil in the mid 1840s and a few acres still remain. These dry grown, hand picked, hand pruned old vines yield less than 2 tonnes per acre, thereby producing fruit with extreme intensity of colour and flavour. Look for intense black pepper, smoky vanilla, cherry cola, blackberry jam aromas with some meaty, licorice notes. Big, rich, intense mouth with black cherry jam, cola, vanilla, coffee, licorice flavours and a warm, spicy, berry jam finish. Some acidity and tannins give this a good structure, needs a good 3 years.Prices:| BC | $98.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $89.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Leasingham Shiraz Classic Clare Shiraz 1999
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaLicorice root, garrigue, plummy, smoky, coffee vanilla aromas with black pepper and meaty notes. Very rich, unctuous, concentrated palate with some big but dry, fine tannins. Intense vanilla, coffee, smoky blackberry jam and mocha flavours with lifted acidity on the finish. Needs 3 to 5 years to round out but should be worth the wait.Prices:| BC | $59.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Leasingham Shiraz Bin 61 2000
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaVery ripe, warm, coffee, smoky bacon, saddle leather aromas with peppery, blackberry jam streaks. Big ripe, rich, round structure with fine tannins. Intense smoky, peppery, black cherry and blackberry jam flavours with a smoky, vanilla, peppery finish. Fine value here and a red that can age a few more years too.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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29 August 2003
88PTS
LinCourt Vineyards Pinot Noir 2000
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesBlack cherry, orange peel/marmalade aromas with a touch of smoky compost. Soft and round on entry with similar fruit flavours and a nice lift of acidity. Lots of cherry black raspberry fruit marks the finish of what is a fine little pinot. Incredible value.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Walnut Crest Shiraz 2002
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileSaddle leather, gamey, dried cherry, peppery licorice aromas. Dry, round, simple style with smoky leather, licorice, black plum and peppery flavours. Solid, simple red for ribs and pizza.Prices:| BC | $10.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Frontera Sauvignon Blanc 2002
Region del Valle Central, ChileDusty, canned asparagus, mineral, garlic nose. Round, soft and simple with herbal, mint, grapefruit rind flavours and a dry, crisp finish. Simple white sold in a large affordable format.Prices:| BC | $14.94 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Villa Antinori Bianco 2002
Tuscany, ItalyVilla Antinori Bianco was first introduced by Niccolò Antinori (Piero's father) with the 1931 vintage and has remained virtually unchanged since then. In the 1980s, chardonnay was added to the blend for additional structure and today the tradition continues with fruit from the Monteloro Vineyards located to the north of Florence, near Fiesole. Look for a floral pear mineral quince nose with nutty undertones. The mid-palate boasts a similar, nutty, lemony fresh character with green peach flavours. Think veal.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chateau Haut-Mondain (Blanc) 2002
Bordeaux, FranceKiwi, grapefruit, mineral, wet wool aromas but still nice and fresh. Dry, round, fresh grapefruit rind, mineral, green melon and apple flavours. Dry, somewhat high acidity on the finish but well made and good value.Prices:| BC | $14.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau Mylord Entre-Deux-Mers 2002
Bordeaux, FranceTypical floral, mineral, fig nose streaked with fresh grapefruit and passion fruit. Definitely dry but round with more mineral, passion fruit, fig and grapefruit flavours. Crisp, yet balanced and elegant. Solid inexpensive Bordeaux white.Prices:| BC | $18.55 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaAnother warm, black pepper, licorice root, smoky oz shiraz with blackberry jam aromas, a touch of bacon and resin. Expect lots of round, smooth textures with moderately high acidity and a big smoky, resiny, bacon, vanilla, black cherry jam flavours. Still a touch dry but it is young and these should melt away over the nest year or two.Prices:| BC | $32.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Bertani Soave 2001
Soave, Verona, Veneto, ItalyLemon nutty, apple, brandy nose. Soft entry followed by the flavours of dried almonds with lemon oil. Very Italian. Crisp and dry in the finish. A bit too dry to enjoy.Prices:| BC | $13.98 | 750ml |
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85PTS
New Age Vino Fino Blanco 2002
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaA frizzante wine. Very spicy, floral, lychee, mineral, lemon oil aromas. Quite spritzy but round, elegant and creamy with slightly sweet spicy, lychee, peach, mineral nut flavours. Like a good drier style Asti.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Montes Folly Syrah 2001
Apalta Valley, Santa Cruz, Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileMontes Folly is grown on the very highest slopes of La Finca de Apalta vineyard, in Apalta Valley, with an inclination exceeding 45º degrees. Denomination of Origin is Santa Cruz, within Colchagua. Expect a dark black cherry almost opaque colour with an open intense, white pepper and sausage nose flecked with vanilla, smoky cola and black cherry jam notes. Similar smoky licorice, peppery flavours with black cherry, kirsch, vanilla, clove and coffee aftertaste. Rich, ripe and round but with some defined tannins and astringency. This will improve over the next three to five years. A very promising label for Chile. Prices:| AB | $73.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Montes Reserve Fume Blanc 2002
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChileBig grapefruit rind, mineral, passion fruit leaf aromas with a touch of gooseberry. Lots of mineral, canned grapefruit, spicy, gooseberry flavours. Very dry and warm but very crisp acidity with a nice oily texture and creamy finish. Good value in Alberta.Prices:| AB | $11.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Montes Alpha Syrah 2001
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileRich black pepper, vanilla, spicy, smoky, garrigue nose with fine black plum and blackberry jam notes. The style is a bit dry and tight with a little less concentration on the mid-palate than we expected. Still the peppery, spicy, cedary, smoky leather flavours are impressive. There's some elevated acidity and dry tannins in the finish.Prices:| BC | $31.45 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.75 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Montes Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2002
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileOpen passion fruit, mineral, lime rind, slightly floral melon aromas. Rich, round, slightly oily but balanced and fresh. Dry mineral, chalky, passion fruit, lime, grapefruit rind flavours with a touch of green melon and bell pepper on the finish. Very classy for a drier style. Good value.Prices:Read Full Note
91PTS
Ravenswood Icon 2000
Sonoma County, California, United StatesIcon is an 89/9/2 blend of syrah/grenache/mourvèdre. Look for a smoky, meaty, peppery, licorice root aroma with a pure blackberry and plum jam fruit finish. Peppery, creamy cola, licorice root and boysenberry flavours with a cedary, tannic, dry finish. Close to perfect but a little too much acid in the finish holds it back.Prices:Read Full Note
86PTS
Dominio Espinal Macabeo 2002
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainFresh lively, lemon, mineral-scented white with a similar flavours and added kiwi and nutty butter aftertaste. This is a refreshing, zippy style sipper but with some weight too. A fine summer sipper that would work well with delicate seafood.Prices:| BC | $8.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Wirra Wirra Shiraz R. S .W. 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaOpen peppery, chocolaty nose with licorice, bacon and vanilla aromas and plenty of blackberry jam. Rich, round and smooth, it is full-bodied and carrying just light tannins. Intense prune plum, boysenberry jam flavours flecked with smoky bacon and a spicy, peppery aftertaste. There is enough tannin and acidity on the finish to help it age for several more years. Very stylish and persistent. Well done.Prices:| BC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1999
South Australia, AustraliaThe pinnacle of Hardy's shiraz is the Eileen. Look for an open black pepper, blackberry jam, smoky, saddle nose streaked with leather, spicy, licorice root and some chocolate. It is rich, round and concentrated with lifted acidity and slightly dry tannins. Big spicy, peppery, chocolate, vanilla, smoky licorice, plum jam and boysenberry flavours will attract many with even more vanilla and chocolate in the aftertaste. Warm and somewhat tannic but intense. Will need 3 to 5 years to round out. Excellent edition.Prices:| BC | $89.99 | 750ml |
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28 August 2003
89PTS
Mission Hill Family Estate Oculus 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig cassis, black pepper and spicy, saddle leather notes mix with tobacco, orange rind and vanilla pudding aromas. This is a rich, warm, youthful tannic red that will need time to blend its substantial cassis, olive, pepper, orange rind and herbal/leaf flavours. The style is lean and reserved but we know it will grow in the bottle much like the 2001 a wine whose mark we have recently upgraded based on its showing with an additional year in bottle. It was the first vintage with petit verdot added. The blend is 45/35/15/5 merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot; 16 months in 80 percent new French oak: 92 percent Osoyoos fruit, 8 percent Oliver.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $35.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $32.27 | 750ml |
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87PTS
HVe Shiraz 1999
Hunter, New South Wales, AustraliaMature nose. Smoky saddle leather nose with pruny sandalwood aromas. Soft smooth, elegant entry but it turns dry quickly and then the acidity kicks in on the palate. Smoky, dried cherry, prune fruit flavour in the finish. Needs drinking.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Alkoomi Jarrah Shiraz 2001
Great Southern, Western Australia, AustraliaLovely open nose of blackberry and plum jam aromas with a savoury minty gamy undertone. Vanilla smoke and ripe fruit greet the palate with plenty of extract and alcohol. Mouth-filling stylish and fun to drink. Reasonably elegant for Oz and chocked full of fruit flavour.Prices:| BC | $44.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Alkoomi Frankland River Shiraz 2001
Great Southern, Western Australia, AustraliaOpen meaty, licorice, stewed prune and tea leave nose with a whack of spice in the back. Big rich mid-palate with dark fruit and more licorice, gamy undertones. There's heightened acidity here too but this time the structure of the wine carries it better. Warm, tannic and intense. Good but will need a year or two to settle down.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Alkoomi Southlands Shiraz 2002
Western Australia, AustraliaDeep dark colour. Quite a peppery spicy boysenberry blueberry jam character with licorice root underneath. Soft and round with substantial mouthfeel. More black plum jam and fruit helps to negate the acidity. Solid, food-style red from Western Australia.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Fetzer Syrah Valley Oaks 2000
California, United StatesMature pruny earthy peppery compost aromas. This is a soft, dry, ready-to-drink style syrah with more pruny fruit flavours and some elevated acidity. The finish is soft and resiny. A bit out of whack at this point. Given it sage you may want to move on to the next vintage.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.95 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Viña Paraíso Syrah 2000
Mendoza, ArgentinaCork taint here; it will be re-tasted.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2001
Riverina, New South Wales, AustraliaSoft open nose with spicy dill, cloves and a bit of a weedy herbal character. Soft entry but fairly active acid on the mid-palate. Not much to this edition of shiraz that is usually a wine with more fruit and weight.Prices:| BC | $16.45 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Evans and Tate Shiraz Margaret River 2001
Western Australia, AustraliaSmoky cola savoury licorice spicy black fruit nose with undercurrent of mulberry briary jam. Rich round smooth and warm with spicy damson boysenberry jam flavours. Long cola vanilla finish. Will be a hit with consumers. Needs a year or two to really settle into its own. Lovely bottle.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Evans and Tate Shiraz Gnangara 2001
Western Australia, AustraliaBright lifted nose of plum jam pepper and licorice root. Soft entry with that slightly elevated mid-palate acidity and a soft round finish. Fairly elegant styling with a meaty blueberry fruit finish. Easy sipping and ready to drink. This would be best served with grilled meats to help tame the acidity.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2000
Mendoza, ArgentinaFine dark red colour. Smoky vanilla aromas with lots of pepper spice and clove overtones. Smooth entry with more smoky coffee savoury mince meat character on the palate. Well made and typical for the variety in Argentina; a little less new oak will make a big improvement, in the meantime a little more bottle age here will help smooth out the finish.Prices:| BC | $24.98 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Sandalford Shiraz 1999
Western Australia, AustraliaThis Sandalford is a blend of Margaret River - Mount Barker fruit. Look for a big roasted, smoky, saddle nose with coffee and dried black cherry fruit that is full-bodied and rich on entry. The style is dry but the smoky coffee, soya, plum flavours draw you deep into the wine. Impressive, long, coffee/vanilla finish. Good value.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
J. Lohr Syrah South Ridge 2000
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, United StatesThis smells like syrah, with its smoky sausage meaty aromas and blackberry/blueberry fruity notes underneath. It is very soft but dry on entry with a whack of mid-palate acidity that can pucker you up. The fruit is boysenberry and enticing but the finish is too dry and too acidic for the price.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Houghton Shiraz 2001
Western Australia, AustraliaThe wine is a blend of grapes from Frankland River and Swan Valley. Look for a smoky, resiny, peppery, vanilla smoky nose. Similar resiny, dry earthy peppery mark the entry and mid-palate with more of that pronounced Oz acidity. The finish is black raspberry and earth but less acidity and more fruit would be more desirable.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.00 | 750ml |
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26 August 2003
92PTS
Langmeil Grenache The Fifth Wave 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaOnly 600 cases made from 75-year old vines. Great black raspberry jam, orange peel, vanilla, peppery, gamey aromas with gamey, licorice, blueberry notes. Rich, round and intense with dry, supple tannins. Long coffee, black raspberry, peppery, spicy, marmalade flavours with a mineral, pudding, smoky, licorice root finish. A touch alcoholic and a bit tannic at this stage but this will improve over the next 3 to 5 years. Great intensity of aromas and flavours.Prices:| BC | $48.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Langmeil Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre Three Gardens 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaPeppery, licorice root, gamey, black cherry, blueberry aromas with some hints of vanilla and barnyard. Ripe, round and soft with a touch of acidity. Rich black raspberry, peppery, christmas pudding flavours with a chocolate, vanilla orange finish. Elegant, warm and very smooth for current drinking or hold a year or two.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Langmeil Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBig peppery, spicy, pencil lead, smoky, blackberry jam and cassis nose with a hint of coffee. Round, soft and supple with big cassis jam, blackberry, smoky vanilla flavours and a coffee, earth finish. Smooth, supple and easy to drink.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.95 | 750ml |
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23 August 2003
87PTS
Watermark Shiraz 2000
AustraliaFragrant aromatic, peppery, spicy nose with a touch of resiny, sandalwood blackberry fruit character. Dry soft supple textures melt into a minty leathery dried bramble fruit finish. Solid mature and ready-to-go. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaA deep dark colour previews a spicy berry jam nose. Similar flavours with sugary berry fruit and cooked prunes in the finish. Cheap fruity and smooth.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Durbanville Hills Shiraz 2000
Coastal Region, South AfricaWhat a great smoky meaty peppery shiraz nose. In fact it's more syrah than shiraz and does it ever taste good. Rich savoury licorice and pepper flavours with a generous dollop of black plum jam make this a delicious syrah. The textures and tannins are refined. This would easily disappear into a tasting of French syrah from Crozes-Hermitage. Dry farmed, low yields big flavour.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Robertson Winery Shiraz 2002
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaLeathery earthy savoury sausage notes mark the nose. It's warm (alcoholic), soft round and sweet with a distinctive cherry prune finish. Simple and not without appeal if you prefer its smooth round warm textures on the palate.Prices:| BC | $11.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2001
Coastal Region, South AfricaFloral licorice jasmine aromas with peppery savoury meaty undertones and a wisp of mocha vanilla. Rich ripe peppery fruit that mirrors the New World syrah style. Big alcoholic smooth and easy sipping this should fly off wine lists. Black plum jam, licorice and sweet berry fruit flavours. It's almost Washington State-like with its warm, sweet richness.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bellingham Shiraz 2001
Western Cape, South Africa Big smooth fruity red with black plum and meaty peppery fruit aromas streaked with licorice. Soft round supple entry but with acidity and plummy berry fruit flavours. Quite an elegant style that finishes up with earthy tobacco notes - a Combination French Australian style.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Drostdy-Hof Shiraz 2000
Western Cape, South AfricaPruny port-style nose with Christmas pudding and pepper highlights. Better dryness here on the mid-palate less fruit and extract and more shiraz peppery black licorice characters. A solid food wine.Prices:| BC | $13.25 | 750ml |
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84PTS
De Bortoli Shiraz Riverina 2001
Riverina, New South Wales, AustraliaLook for a smoky/meaty, savoury nose with a touch of cherry fruit. The entry is soft with more bitter cherry fruit flavours and a smooth textured, slightly acidic cherry almond finish. Simple straight-up shiraz.Prices:| BC | $11.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Deakin Estate Shiraz 2001
Victoria, AustraliaOpen savoury licorice blackberry jam nose with some peppery highlights. Soft, fresh peppery entry with good mouth feels more black cherry and licorice spice in the finish. Acid and spice mark its mid to longish finish. Solid everyday shirazPrices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.25 | 750ml |
| QC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mural Syrah 2002
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileGarrigue savoury pruny licorice nose. Good richness and smooth textures on entry with more peppery licorice cherry fruit and a dry earthy finish. Simple solid barbecue red.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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21 August 2003
91PTS
d'Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaDark black cherry colour. Huge spicy, black pepper, blackberry jam, pruny, resiny, smoky jasmine nose. Big sweet, rich fiery entry with some defined tannins. Warm, full bodied with intense black cherry jam, vanilla and smoky licorice root flavours. Great fruit, very impressive, very Australian and well made. Will require a good five years ageing to evolve but could be a hit now with the cigar group. The first declared vintage of this wine was in 1928, and the winery has been sourcing Shiraz for the wine from those same old vines ever since. The grapes are fermented in the traditional d'Arenberg way - minimal processing/up to two weeks fermenting on skins in traditional headed down open fermenters/foot treading/basket pressing through the 19th century 'Coq' and "Bromley & Tregoning' presses. After basket pressing, a small amount of fine, fortifying brandy spirit is added. The Vintage Port is bottled in the same year of vintage. d'Arenberg fortified wine is made from a single vintage, and does not spend any time in wood and receives only a cursory filtration before bottling.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
d'Arenberg Shiraz Viognier The Laughing Magpie 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaThe Laughing Magpie is a blend and style that has its roots in the Rhône Valley in 'Cote Rôtie', where viognier is grown alongside the shiraz in the vineyards and hence picked and vinified together to create a highly perfumed red wine. The '00 has an intense black cherry colour and an open peppery, meaty, sausage, chocolate, boysenberry nose streaked with blackberry jam, vanilla cream, leather and floral notes. The viognier tends to intensify and open up the aromas. Gorgeous rich, round wine with big opulent black cherry jam, orange rind, licorice, peppery, floral flavours. Very balanced and ripe with good acidity and some dry tannins to shed. Big and good value. Definitely worth trying and then laying away for a few years.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
d'Arenberg Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre The Ironstone Pressings 1999
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaThe Ironstone Pressings is d'Arenberg's premium "Rhône" blend. The name stems from the lumps of Ironstone (decomposed laterite granite) which litter the old vineyards at d'Arenberg. The blend has been bottled and labelled under the d'Arenberg red stripe label since the late 1950s -- it was first few releases that relied heavily on press wine but the wine has evolved into one boasting the very best grenache, shiraz and mourvèdre with minimal pressings. The mix is 70/25/5 grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre. The nose is wide open showing eucalyptus, barnyard, licorice, blackberry and cola scents with some vanilla and cherry in the background. It's a rich style with bigger, riper tannins and a long, full-bodied finish. Spicy, peppery, prune plum, gamey, floral raspberry jam flavours with a vanilla cola, Christmas pudding aftertaste. Mouth filing, warm finish. This will need a few years to fully round out but should be worth the wait.Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $47.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
d'Arenberg Shiraz Grenache d'Arry's Original 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australiad'Arry's Original - called d'Arry's Burgundy in the 60s, 70s and 80s (or in the days when medium-bodied red wines with a soft finish were always called Burgundy) has always been made from shiraz and grenache, the backbone varieties of McLaren Vale, grown on d'Arenberg's low-yielding, 19th century vineyards. The nose is highly aromatic with black cherry jam, earthy licorice root, pencil lead, floral, plum jam aromas and a touch of gamey mineral notes. It is rich and round with soft tannins yet there's a meaty, full-bodied elegance in the finish. Lots of plum jam, black cherry, licorice, orange spice, pepper flavours. Very impressive with a fruity, berry jam, mocha finish. Lovely and long. The wine is named in honour of d'Arenberg's principal, Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, universally known as d'Arry.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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94PTS
d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia The Dead Arm gets its name in a fairly inauspicious way - it is named after the disease (Eutypa Lata) which afflicts some of the oldest vines at d'Arenberg from which we get the majority of fruit destined for The Dead Arm. The disease, Eutypa Lata, or 'Dead Arm' is common around the world in old vineyard sites. The disease in effect slowly reduces one of the 'arms' of the vines to dead wood, which then means the other arm of the vine produces small volumes of the most incredibly concentrated and highly flavoured grapes. Look for peppery, pencil lead, saddle leather, notes with vanilla, blackberry jam and smoky, meaty coriander notes. It's warm, rich and round with some noticeable but ripe tannins. The fruity is spicy, pruny blackberry jam with vanilla, orange rind flavours and a meaty, cola coriander finish. It is long, concentrated and stylish but not overly sweet with balanced acidity. Impressive. Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
d'Arenberg Grenache The Custodian 1999
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaAt d'Arenberg the vagaries of fashion have had little effect on their love for grenache and now the oldest Grenache vines at d'Arenberg are approaching 120 years of age. Thick trunked, dry farmed and deep rooted they struggle to produce modest quantities of small, highly flavoured grapes. The family sees itself as the custodian of Grenache hence the vinified and separately bottled: The Custodian. Spicy, brooding meaty, gamey style red with licorice root, smoky prune, leather and dark fruit flavours with a touch of raspberry jam. Round, rich, elegant style with savoury, spicy, raspberry jam, Christmas pudding flavours and a smoky licorice leather finish. Fine intensity, complexity and length if a touch warm.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
d'Arenberg Shiraz The Footbolt 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia'Footbolt' was a chestnut colt foaled in 1898 and bought for 400 guineas, a sum quickly recouped after only 6 races by Joseph Rowe Osborn a colourful character with a multitude of talents and an enthusiastic patron of the turf. These and other wins enabled Joe to purchase the already established Milton Vineyards for his son, Frank, d'Arry's father, in 1912. Today Footbolt is still made from some of the vines purchased by Joe almost a century ago. Look for a big, peppery, earthy, licorice nose with fragrant raspberry and blackberry fruit aromas and touch of leather and prune. The style is soft, round and dry with savoury, black cherry, mineral, peppery flavours and pruny, leafy notes. There is good acidity in the finish. Warm, but ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
d'Arenberg Sauvignon Blanc The Broken FishPlate 2002
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaPredominantly made from fruit sourced from the cool climate Adelaide Hills, about 15% comes from the winery's Pump Shed Block. This wine takes its name from the so-called fishplates which sit in the bottom of the harvester and collect the falling grapes, which are invariably destroyed as the harvester moves through the steep, v-shaped gullies and sharp mid-row corners of the Pump Shed Block. Look for pungent mineral, bell pepper, passion fruit leaf, grapefruit rind aromas with big kiwi, citrus rind, and canned jalapeno flavours. Fairly rich on the mid-palate and soft and long with good acidity but definitely a cool, more herbaceous style.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
The Stump Jump Red 2001
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy, peppery, black raspberry jam aromas with a touch of shoe leather and floral notes. Dry, round, smooth tasty wine with peppery, mineral, gamey raspberry flavours and a touch of dried mushroom. Easy drinking and fun to sip - a bit edgier than the Yellow TailPrices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
The Stump Jump White 2002
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy, honey, mineral, green apple and pear nose. Soft round easy sipping style with mineral, grapefruit, green apple and honey flavours. This has just arrived in time for some late summer sipping. Good value.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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20 August 2003
86PTS
Quinta De Chocapalha Tinto 2000
Lisboa, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalRipe red plum jam, gamey, peppery, liquorice and resin aromas. Soft, round, elegant style with earthy, peppery, smoky liquorice flavours with some cedar on the finish. Dry and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Domingos Soares Franco & Christiano van Zeller - Domini Plus 2000
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalDark cherry colour. Big black pepper, spicy, blackberry, red plum nose with smoky, resiny notes and a touch of liquorice root. Rich, round palate with ripe tannins. Fine spicy, peppery, plum jam, blackberry flavours and a smoky, fruit jam aftertaste. Very fine intensity. It needs a few years to fully round out the tannins but it's drinkable now. Well done. The blend is 40/40/20 Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barocca - Touriga Nacional.Prices:| BC | $33.80 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Domingos Soares Franco & Christiano van Zeller - Domini 2001
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalBig peppery, spicy, black plum and liquorice aromas with some smoky bacon notes underneath. Ripe, round and elegant with plum jam, peppery, spicy, earthy, gamey flavours and a touch of blackberry. The acid is a bit high on the finish but it has good intensity and balance. Best with roasted meats.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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18 August 2003
88PTS
De Angelis Anghelos Marche Rosso 2000
Marche, ItalySpicy, black pepper, sausage, gamey nose with black berry and leather aromas. Ripe, round and elegant with somewhat dry tannins. Lots of cassis, coffee, toasty oak, pepper and liquorice flavours with a touch of cherry. A bit tight and lean on the finish with a touch of acidity; give it a year or so or eat with a rich pasta sauce or grilled meat.Prices:| BC | $35.99 | 750ml |
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17 August 2003
87PTS
Castaño Monastrell 2002
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainIntense black cherry jam, gamey, black pepper, almond nose with some mineral and prune notes. Ripe, round, soft, forward textures but dry. Very spicy, mineral, liquorice, earthy, black raspberry flavours. A bit warm with a touch of dry tannins on the finish but a solid, enjoyable red to drink young. Worth trying and good value.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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14 August 2003
84PTS
Farnese Sangiovese Daunia 2002
Moro River Valley, Abruzzo, ItalyFarnese has been a runaway best seller for nearly a year putting to rest any fears that British Columbians have California palates. It has a peppery roasted earth nose with a touch of prune plum fruit in the background. Round textures with cooked strawberries and prune plum fruit mix with a gamy leather flavours and a pronounced bite of acid in the finish. Basic southern Italian sangiovese.Prices:| BC | $7.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Domaine la Bastide (Rouge) 2001
Vin de Pays d'Hauterive, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceCorbières in the Languedoc region of southern France is home to this Guilhem Durand wine produced under the Domaine de La Bastide label. It's an equal blend of traditional Languedoc varietals: grenache, syrah, carignan and merlot fermented in concrete. Look for a raspberry confiture gamy aromas with hints of jasmine, straw and cooked plum. Fairly dry and round on the palate with cherry plum orange fruit flavours and a touch of five-spice. Elegant, flavourful and fresh.Prices:| BC | $9.85 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lurton Mendoza Bonarda 2001
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaJacques & François Lurton started producing wine in Argentina in 1992 and now have extensive holdings in the Mendoza region. The bonarda has a deep colour and a smoky leathery licorice nose with sour cherries and prunes. The entry is round with fine mid-palate fruit flavours of sour cherries and plum streaked with licorice. Good extract and a medium to long savoury finish. Most grilled meat would be a fit here.Prices:| BC | $9.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Nuviana Tinto 2001
Huesca, Somontano, Aragon, SpainGrupo Codorníu, one of Spain's largest wine groups, and a company that made its fortune in sparkling is the name behind Bodegas Nuviana. This cabernet merlot syrah blend has a leafy cassis herbal peppery nose with flecks of coffee in the finish. The flavours are similarly cool with coffee/tobacco highlights and firm acidity. There's a touch of mint in the finish but essentially it's dry round and somewhat acidic. Needs food.Prices:| BC | $7.98 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Grão Vasco Tinto 2000
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalThe nose has a pleasant fragrant aroma with notes of leather and spice. On the palate it is soft and round with an earthy savoury aftertaste and more spicy leather in the finish. It is a somewhat older style Euro red that lacks the fruity character of more modern winemaking techniques but still has appeal for the price.Prices:| BC | $9.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $7.30 | 750ml |
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13 August 2003
86PTS
Frescobaldi Danzante Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2001
Veneto, ItalyFresh floral nose with streaks of slate, mineral and grapefruit. Fresh and soft, we like the round characters and the slightly nutty finish. This wine improves with each vintage and is certainly worth investigating.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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12 August 2003
82PTS
La Noble Merlot 2001
Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceAn open spicy, meaty, garlic nose suggests this wine should be opened and decanted prior to serving. It's soft round and sweet, almost commercial on the palate with a toasted gamy aftertaste. Best around the barbecue and the stronger the food the better.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Trivento Syrah Reserve 2001
Mendoza, ArgentinaOpaque colour. Classic savoury Argentine nose with licorice, blackberry jam, vanilla and chocolate. On the palate it has a sturdy smoky licorice root flavour with a soft savoury finish. The aftertaste offers hints of blueberries and plum. This is fine value barbecue red that would look good on the low end of any wine list.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Jessica's Garden Chardonnay 2002
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaClassic inexpensive Oz chardonnay offering peachy butter notes on the nose and a touch of pear fruit aromas and flavours. Soft and light with minimum extract of flavour and a honey butter peach finish with a touch of smoke. Simple, light, easy-sipping chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
The Fifteen Grenache 2001
Les Pyrénées Orientales, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceBig rich raspberry confiture earthy mushroom nose that is very grenache and very south of France. The grapes are grown in vineyards in the Roussillon / Mediterranean region near the France / Spain border. The Fifteen moniker refers to the 15 degrees of alcohol in this big warm red. It's rich round soft and plummy on the palate with a peppery, slightly dry finish. If big powerful reds are in your wheelhouse this one is for you. Drink all fall as the rain pours down and serve with duck or goose.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Casa de la Ermita Jumilla 2000
Jumilla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainThis new wave spicy/cardamom red with the savoury licorice and black cherry scents hails from Jumilla an area located in the Levante region in eastern Spain, northeast of the city of Alicante. Here the history has been blockbuster, high-alcohol (up to 18 percent) red wines but it's encouraging to see a new more elegant wine style. The main grape is the monastrell or mourvèdre but this wine has small amounts of merlot, tempranillo, syrah and cabernet sauvignon in it too. Look for an elegant fresh entry with fine flavour intensity and styling. The flavours are all black licorice and spice with just a touch of prunes and earth, very rich and inviting. Love the balance.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca Los Primos Malbec 2001
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky leather Christmas pudding nose with spicy peppery undertones. Smooth and supple with more black plum fruit and smoky peppery finish. There's bit of elevated acidity in the finish but its soft textures and round fruit flavours will win many over.Prices:| BC | $9.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Chardonnay 2000
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaLook for an intense honey, mango, vanilla butter nose that jumps out of the glass - almost Santa Maria Valley-like. Oily and round with medium extract. Again more honey spice pineapple and lees in the finish. A warm New World chardonnay with a canned pineapple finish.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2002
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen ripe, apple/lees nose with streaks of peach and some cool floral characters that remind us of Sonoma. Promising entry with mineral, apple and honey flavours on the palate and lime rind in the finish. Fine elegant styling and weight but it should improve further throughout the year. Well done.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Dominio Espinal Selección 1999
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainDry peppery, earthy, spicy notes with shoe leather and black cherry in the background. Similar flavours with soft and round textures and that Euro-dry finish. Fair value.Prices:| BC | $12.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Don Ramon 1999
Campo de Borja, Aragon, SpainPale colour. Old style leather game and cherry notes on the nose with some pruny leather characters. Soft earthy, dried cherry fruit flavours. Simple straight-ahead Spanish red selling for a reasonable price.Prices:| BC | $11.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Luigi Bosca Boheme Nature NV
Mendoza, ArgentinaBoheme is made with grapes that have been harvested at the family property in Luján de Cuyo since 1901. A part of the wine is fermented and then matured in French oak casks. It is then aged for 2 years in contact with its yeasts. Finally the expedition liqueur using family reserve wines is added. Look for a fine mousse, a fresh yeasty nose with citrus and almond flavours. Impressive for the price.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Viña Paraíso Tempranillo 2001
Mendoza, ArgentinaDeep dark colour. Lovely open smoky, licorice, peppery, black cherry nose. Big sweet fruit entry and full on the palate; rich round smooth with a smoky licorice sweet plum fruit finish. Tempranillo continues to show promise in Mendoza. Good value and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Platinum Reserve has an open spicy, lanolin, bread dough, honey, lees nose with streaks of vanilla cream. On the palate the wine seems a bit light and soft with very spicy, lees, vanilla, honey, warm pear flavours. Fairly delicate and round but seems to lack CedarCreek's usual high standards for a "platinum" selection.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Telmo Rodriguez Viña Ciento Cinco 105 2000
Cigales, Castilla-Leon, SpainSpanish superstar winemaker Telmo Rodriguez is the man behind the spicy licorice cherry and black fruit flavours of Vina 105 streaked with a touch of orange rind. Smooth soft and fruity it has medium extract and a fresh finish. This is new style Spanish red that hits the mark. Well done.Prices:| BC | $15.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mas Aupellière 2000
Costières de Nîmes, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceAupellière is an enticing blend of 80 per cent syrah and 20 per cent grenache all hand-picked fruit from vines that average 42 years of age. Look for a nose of black cherry/raspberry jam with almonds and a hint of prunes and leather. Plenty of cherry, gamy/earthy flavours make this a winner in the mouth. It is both well balanced and elegant with good acidity and a jammy (confiture) finish. Well made and tasty. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $14.90 | 750ml |
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10 August 2003
83PTS
Gallo Sierra Series Sauvignon Blanc 2002
California, United StatesLight-bodied simple, soft everyday sauvignon with lemon lime rind flavours and some residual sweetness to appeal to a wide spectrum of drinkers. Affordable introductory California sauvignon that is best served well chilled.Prices:| BC | $8.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.49 | 750ml |
| SK | $9.29 | 750ml |
| MB | $8.59 | 750ml |
| ON | $8.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $10.45 | 750ml |
| NB | $8.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $8.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $10.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $9.95 | 750ml |
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September 2003