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Tastings: November 2007
26 November 2007
88PTS
Benziger Merlot 2004
Sonoma County, California, United StatesSpicy, cedar, vanilla, black cherry, menthol, tobacco, black olive, Band-Aid and chocolate aromas. Dry, round, elegant, fresh but slightly tight palate. Peppery, plum, spicy, coffee, vanilla, cedar, mint, black olive and tobacco flavours with a cardamom and coffee finish. Good solid style with some elegance.Prices:| BC | $32.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Benziger Sauvignon Blanc 2005
North Coast, North Coast Region, California, United StatesLight melon, grapefruit, mineral, passion fruit,, light lees aromas. Dry, round, elegant and crisp with a slightly oily texture. Mineral, grapefruit, butter, grassy, light bell pepper flavours with a crisp finish. Good tasty, solid food style.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Benziger Chardonnay Los Carneros 2006
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United StatesVanilla, spicy, pear, citrus, waxy, green apple skin, grassy, peach aromas. Round, dry, fresh with a slightly oily texture. Green apple, citrus, floral, butterscotch, mineral, green mango with a toasty lees, spicy finish. Good finish in a cooler, fresher style.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.95 | 750ml |
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23 November 2007
86PTS
Parducci Pinot Noir 2004
Mendocino County, California, United StatesCherry, candied orange, menthol, beet, spicy aromas. Smooth, round, supple palate with spicy, cherry, earthy, menthol, tobacco leaf flavours with a crisp, dry, warm finish. Solid food wine.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Accordini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Le Bessole 2003
Veneto, ItalyOpen gamey, spicy, peppery, tobacco nose with chocolate, prune and cherry kirsch aromas. On entry is a bit dry and tight, yet it remains full bodied with a slightly tannic palate, fresh acidity and fine concentration. Peppery, black cherry, tobacco, licorice, earthy, prune, orange peel, coffee flavours. Warm, youthful tannin finish, this needs 3-5 years to soften. Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Domaine du Clos du Bourg Sauvignon Touraine 2006
Touraine, Loire, FranceRipe kiwi, floral, chalky, slate, butter, light passion fruit aromas. Dry, round, elegant, full palate with gooseberry, butter, ripe fig, chalky, citrus flavours. Fresh, round, ripe grapefruit finish. Good intensity and solid value. Great Holiday entertaining wine.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Malconsorts 2005
Vosne-Romanée, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceCherry, raspberry, rootsy, floral, licorice, tobacco leaf, mineral aromas. Dry, elegant, slightly lean palate with some tight tannins and very fresh acidity. Vanilla, smoky, spicy, orange peel, rhubarb, raspberry, mineral, minty flavours. Good finesse but starting to close down and tighten on the finish with some acidity poking through. Needs 2-5 years to soften out again but will improve.Prices:| BC | $135.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Albert Bichot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2005
Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceButter, baked apple, spicy, nutty, vanilla, waxy, leesy, earthy, peach skin aromas with a touch of honey. Round, dry, elegant, fresh palate with good finish but a bit austere with good acidity. Citrus, vanilla, spicy lees, nutty, mineral, cedar, earthy, green apple, quince flavours. Very structured, tight palate now, will age well and needs 2-5 years. Good potential.Prices:| BC | $135.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Albert Bichot Moutonne Chablis Grand Cru 2004
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceButter, baked apple, citrus, mineral, honey, grassy, lemon oil aromas. Dry, round, rich, slightly oily palate with good finesse. Citrus, butter, waxy, honey, apple skin, chalky, sea shell, grassy flavours. Good acidity on the finish but this is a bit young and austere, needs a year or two in bottle.Prices:| BC | $115.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Vina Quintay Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileGrassy, grapefruit skin, sweaty, gooseberry aromas. Dry, crisp, elegant, slightly leaner style with grassy, jalapeno, grapefruit, gooseberry, mineral flavours. Very fresh, clean finish but a bit light and austere. Somewhat like a Marlborough-Loire cross.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Peller Estates Heritage Series Pinot Blanc 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, apple, mineral, light butter aromas. Soft, round, easy style with mineral, buttered apple, peach skin, citrus, earthy flavours. Fresh finish and clean, ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $12.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.49 | 750ml |
| SK | $12.29 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.29 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Saintsbury Brown Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir 2004
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United StatesSpicy, earthy, tobacco, compost nose with prune-y, cooked strawberry jam, menthol, barnyard aromas. Round, dry, supple, elegant palate with very light tannins. Cooked strawberry, prune, vanilla, smoky, tobacco leaf flavours with cooked carrot and meaty, gamey, 'pinot' notes. Fine finesse if a bit overripe.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir 2005
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United StatesRootsy, minty, compost, carrot top, celery spice nose with some raspberry behind. Dry, round, supple palate with cedar bark, tobacco leaf, raspberry, celery salt, menthol flavours. Simple, easy drinking cooler style pinot.Prices:| BC | $46.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Wild Goose Mystic River Pinot Blanc 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh spicy, pear, red apple, citrus, mineral aromas. Open round, moderately dry palate with peach pit, green apple, tangerine and spicy pear flavours. Good acidity and balance with hint of spicy gewürztraminer on the finish. Juicy and fun sipping.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Raimat Albarino Chardonnay 2005
Costers del Segre, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMedium gold colour. Floral, butter, peach, anise, mineral aromas. Round, fresh, elegant, dry palate with some viscosity. Butter, peach, orange, passion fruit, mineral, ginger flavours. Good solid white at a bargain price. Would be even better under Stelvin.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.99 | 750ml |
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19 November 2007
83PTS
Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc 2005
California, United StatesThe SB has a bit of sémillon in the blend. There's no year on the label because they say 'they care more about spinach than vintage' but the wine is fresh. Look for candied lemons and lime with crisp sweet fruity flavours and a touch of CO2. The finish is soft with sweet grapefruit flavours. The role model and target is Yellow Tail.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe '05 tasted alongside the '04 appears slightly coarser with red currant /cranberry fruit with a leafy underside. The entry is sweet and slightly acidic. The textures are smooth and flavours with raspberry, resin and chocolate flecks throughout. Youthful under screwcap and should improve with another six months in bottle.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Yellow Tail Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaDry fresh grassy notes on the nose with bits of minerality and gooseberry aromas. The palate is fresh with similar grassy, grapefruit, mineral lemon flavours with just a hint of sweetness. As we said last year the first Yellow Tail under screw cap looks as good as it tastes.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Hillside Cabernet Franc 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLeathery, gamey nose with smoky, cranberry notes and a dose of oxidation. Soft, round and like last year sweet on entry. More spicy sweet and sour cherry flavours with alcohol and acid poking through the finish. Poor quality red wine.Prices:| BC | $22.49 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Peller Estates Heritage Series Cabernet Franc 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen leafy, peppery, red fruit nose with flecks of cigarette ash. Round, warm entry with a spicy meaty resiny peppery black fruit flavours and a soft warm spicy finish. An affordable mid-week red you should serve with meat for best results.Prices:| BC | $13.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.49 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSlightly riper nose than in 03 with black fruit and the customary, earthy, leafy undercurrent. The entry is smooth and rich with a peppery vanilla resiny leafy palate with dabs of red fruit. Best with food to tame the herbal edge. An affordable franc that needs more texture and weight in the finish to soar.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Fairview Cellars Cabernet Franc 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe latest cab franc form madcap winemaker Bill Eggert is worth investigating. It begins ripe with spicy, orange peel aromas and plenty of ripe cassis and plum fruit and just a hint of savoury, dried leaves. Smooth round and easy sipping. What it lacks in complexity it more than makes up for in texture and finish. A fine effort and solid evidence that this varietal can be ripened in the south Okanagan.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Champagne Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut NV
Champagne, FranceLight raspberry salmon colour. Fine continuous mousse with nutty, toasty, citrus, cherry, creamy raspberry aromas. Round, elegant and balanced with a slight fatness. Fine cherry, strawberry, toasty, nutty, creamy mineral flavours with a baked apple, light bitter cherry finish. Very good rose made from 100 per cent pinot noir.Prices:| BC | $119.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $119.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $119.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $117.00 | 750ml |
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18 November 2007
85PTS
Sumac Ridge Merlot Cabernet Private Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGreen olive, green bean, spicy, tobacco leaf, leesy, herbal nose. Round, supple, dry palate but warm. Spicy, tobacco leaf, green olive, bell pepper, mineral, smoky oak flavours. Decent balance but a bit tart and green in the finish.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.50 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Benziger Tribute 2003
Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County, California, United StatesOpen spicy, smoky, green olive, saddle leather nose with peppery, tobacco, orange peel, vanilla, coffee and cassis notes. The entry is round and supple, the palate elegant yet somewhat tannic and hot with huge concentration. Very spicy, clove, vanilla, coriander, chocolate, blackberry, peppery, mineral, licorice and black cherry flavours with a smoky, leather finish. Much more complexity in the mouth than showing on the nose. A bit alcoholic but should improve over the next 3-7 years. A first class bio-dynamic red.Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $60.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $100.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $78.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Paul Dolan Deep Red 2004
Mendocino County, California, United StatesVery deep cherry purple colour and 100 per cent biodynamic. Open spicy, tobacco, saddle leather, peppery, rootsy, smoky, black olive, cassis, clove, vanilla, coffee, black cherry aromas with a hint of iodine. Rich, dry, elegant and concentrated. Great intensity with big clove, peppery, spicy, cassis jam, black cherry jam, floral, mineral, licorice and coffee flavours. Very long and well balanced but somewhat tannic and young. Needs 3-5 years but very good quality and value here.Prices:| ON | $43.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $52.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gallo Sierra Series Merlot 2006
California, United StatesCompost, cedar sawdust, rootsy, cooked cherry, mentholated aromas. Soft, round, supple, slightly rustic palate with peppery, cedary, cherry soup, tobacco leaf, menthol flavours. Simple, easy style with a hint of sweetness.Prices:| BC | $9.79 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $8.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $8.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $8.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $10.45 | 750ml |
| NB | $8.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $8.98 | 750ml |
| PEI | $10.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $9.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesTobacco leaf, herbal, green olive, light cherry nose with some earthy, lees characters. Fresh, round, slightly sweet and sour entry and light tannins. Dill, sour cherry, tobacco, orange peel, green olive, smoky flavours. Simple, green, cool style but lacks fruit for the locale.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Andretti Merlot 2004
North Coast Region, California, United StatesSpicy, coriander, black cherry, plum, menthol, tobacco aromas. Round, slightly tannic, slightly sweet entry with fresh acidity. Candied plum, menthol, cherry licorice, cedar, tobacco flavours. Unusual confected fruit commercial style and a bit chunky.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Noble Ridge Pinot Noir 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, earthy, compost, sausage, tobacco leaf, sour cherry aromas. Dry, somewhat lean entry with light cedar-y tannins. Very oaky, vanilla palate with spicy, smoky, cherry, compost flavours. Very hot, oaky finish. Simple and expensive.Prices:| BC | $24.94 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Beringer Merlot 2004
Napa Valley, California, United StatesEarthy, cedar, tobacco, resin, peppery, black cherry, licorice, menthol aromas. Round, ripe, supple entry with a touch of acidity poking through. Cherry, cedar, sawdust, peppery, tobacco leaf flavours streaked with menthol, spice and a touch of leather. Finish has some vanilla and green olive with smoky oak.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLeesy, tobacco leaf, rhubarb, sweaty saddle, herbal nose. Dry, slightly tannic, slightly lean entry with herbal, spicy, tobacco leaf, cherry, rhubarb, smoky flavours with a dry, tart, slightly tannic finish. Simple pinot.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Burrowing Owl Merlot 2005
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, tobacco leaf, menthol, dried herb, cherry cough drop, gamey Band-Aid aromas. Round, dry, supple but a bit lean and hot. Smoky oak, vanilla, peppery, black olive, leafy, cooked carrot, sweaty leather flavours with bell pepper and olive. A bit too much brett and some green characters too.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir 2005
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCelery salt, meaty, spicy, vanilla, tobacco leaf nose with a bit of cherry. Dry, tart, slightly lean entry but a tad flat. Tobacco leaf, herbal, rhubarb, soy sauce, meaty, lees flavours. Not up to the usual standards. perhaps it wil improve in the bottle. Expensive.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Garry Oaks Pinot Noir Estate 2005
Burgoyne Valley, Salt Spring Island, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, worsteshire, black cherry, rhubarb, meaty nose with some tobacco leaf and soy underneath. Soft, round, supple palate but slightly flat and tart. Rhubarb, tobacco leaf, sour cherry, rootsy, compost, gamey flavours. Simple, forward style. Expensive for what you get.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, tobacco leaf, carrot top, vanilla, meaty aromas. Soft, round, supple, warm, slightly soupy palate. Tobacco leaf, vanilla, soy, cooked rhubarb, carrot, orange peel, soupy flavours. Warm, slightly bitter orange rind, rhubarb, salty finish. Less alcohol and oak would help the fruit here.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sonoma Vineyards Merlot 2003
Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig smoky oak, vanilla, coffee nose with some saddle leather, animal, menthol and cherry notes. Round, slightly tannic, lightly tart and warm entry. Dill, tobacco leaf, peppery, smoky oak, resin, vanilla, olive flavours with some tight tannins and a bit of acidity showing. A bit green and rustic for Sonoma but it does reflect the vintage.Prices:| BC | $22.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Noir Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, earthy, gamey, compost, cherry jam, coriander aromas. Round, tart, slightly tannic entry. Gamey, black cherry, celery salt, rhubarb, smoky vanilla, Band-Aid flavours with some dirty lees notes. Finish mixes tobacco leaf with some green tannin. Disappointing.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Stone Cellars Merlot 2004
California, United StatesEarthy, leafy, reductive nose with spicy, resiny, cedar, barnyard nose. The entry is soft and slightly sweet with smoky, cola, peppery, leafy, herbal flavours and a touch of compost. Simple commercial style merlot.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.97 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.49 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.15 | 750ml |
| QC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pink by Yellowglen Rosé NV
AustraliaYellowglen has always been a great bubble maker in Oz and they have turned their expertise to this entry level blend of pinot noir and chardonnay. Cherry, strawberry, earthy, toast aromas and flavours. Just sweet enough to take the edge off the acidity. This is a fun, albeit barely pink bubble at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $11.72 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Yellow by Yellowglen NV
AustraliaLight foamy mousse. Green apple, peach skin, brioche, pear, yeasty aromas. Crisp, foamy, tart entry with some toasty, citrus, cherry, baked pear flavours. Simple and clean in a slightly sweet brut level. Try with appetizers or for breakfast with orange juice.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.97 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.97 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $13.99 | 750ml |
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17 November 2007
86PTS
Red Rooster Pinot Blanc 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCitrus, green apple, flora, butter and grapefruit rind aromas. Round, soft, warm palate with tangerine peel, green apple, butter and slate flavours. Clean, slightly fat style but solid.Prices:| BC | $15.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.99 | 750ml |
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16 November 2007
89PTS
Cockfighter's Ghost Riesling 2006
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaClean fresh bright fruit driven, dry Clare style riesling under screwcap. The palate mixes floral, lemon lime bouquets zesty li-mon fruit and touch of petrol. Well balanced and stylish white you can serve with a wide variety of foods. You can also age this baby for a decade no problem.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Pinot Blanc 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA dusting of touch of French oak sets off this pinot blanc lending a bit of weight and texture to the mid-palate. The opening is clean, fragrant and fresh. On the palate you pick up bits of peach, fruit salad, mineral, citrus and salt. Simple yet stylish. Cool-climate B.C.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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15 November 2007
86PTS
Bimbadgen Ridge Sparkling Semillon NV
Hunter, New South Wales, AustraliaFine continuous mousse. Honey, citrus, fig, lightly toasty nose with a bit of lemon oil. Tart, crisp, slightly austere entry with some sweetness. Grassy, honey, citrus, green apple skin flavours with a warm, slightly bitter herbal finish. Solid, if somewhat unusual use of sémillon.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Veuve du Vernay Brut Rosé NV
FranceLots of mousse if a bit foamy with pale orange salmon colour. Cherry, citrus, earthy, orange peel aromas with a floral note. Round, fresh, slightly sweet entry with candied rhubarb, earthy, leafy, bitter citrus rind flavours.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
MezzaCorona Pinot Grigio Trentino Reserva 2005
Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalySlate, honey, floral, nutty, citrus, baked pear, clover aromas with a touch of butter and lees. Rich, round, full bodied with good finesse and acidity. Spicy, earthy, pear, mineral, honey, mango and lees flavours. Good solid intensity for current drinking.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Feudo Arancio Grillo 2005
Sicily, ItalyButtery, slate, leesy, light garlic and pear aromas. Soft, round, slightly flat entry with lemon, pear, lees, slate and butter flavours with a touch of honey. Solid but could use a bit more freshness and cleanness.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Antech Cuvée Expression Crémant de Limoux Brut 2004
Limoux, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceCreamy, floral, nutty, green apple, brioche aromas. Crisp, round, elegant style with medium creamy mousse. Green apple, citrus, honey, nutty, cool pear flavours. Good crisp finish with a touch of sweetness and bitter citrus rind.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Voga Pinot Grigio 2006
Veneto, ItalyMarzipan, lemon oil, baked pear, earthy aromas. Round, fat, slightly sweet entry with mineral, almond, lemon rind, pear flavours. Finish is slightly sweet and sour with a bit of lemon and honey.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castello Banfi Principessa Gavia 2006
Gavi, Piedmont, ItalyBig slate, slightly chalky, floral, pear, almond and citrus aromas. Rich, crisp, round, full but fresh with lemon, pear, almond, slate, citrus, grassy red apple flavours. Very good intensity and crispness for seafood or a casual drink.Prices:| BC | $25.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lamberti Santepietre Pinot Grigio 2006
Veneto, ItalyNutty, mineral, lemon oil, baked pear aromas. Round, soft, slightly sweet entry with full ripeness. Honey, pear, mineral, slate, citrus flavours with a slightly fat finish. Solid if a bit flat overall.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $13.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.05 | 750ml |
| NS | $11.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2006
Valdadige, Pedemonte Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, ItalyCitrus, green apple, slightly leesy, lanolin, floral, honey aromas. Round, fresh, slightly fat entry with green apple, citrus, leesy, honey, pear skin flavours. Solid, crisp finish.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Montgras Ninquen Mountain Vineyard 2004
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileDeep black cherry colour. Spicy, coffee, cassis, minty, sappy, smoky vanilla, barnyard, leather, cigar, orange peel aromas. Full, rich, soft with fine grained tannins and good acidity balance. Chewy with minty, spicy, coffee, vanilla, cassis, black cherry jam, orange peel, licorice flavours and a cardamom and tobacco leaf finish. Lots of intensity here if a bit warm. Drink now with grilled lamb or steak or age for 2-4 years. Very attractive style.Prices:| BC | $36.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Montgras Antu Ninquen Syrah 2005
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileFloral, menthol, white pepper, savoury, gamey, sweaty saddle, roasted bell pepper, cherry nose with some vanilla and bay leaf. Rich, round, supple, full palate with light, smooth tannins. Spicy, black cherry, peppery, meaty, cassis, menthol, bay leaf, and smoky licorice root flavours. Fresh with good intensity and finesse. Fine effort and value.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $28.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $29.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaPeppery, meaty, spicy, blackberry, cigar, smoked leather, Band-Aid aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with savoury, licorice, peppery, meaty, blackberry, smoky vanilla flavours. Fresh, slightly tannic finish that will go with grilled ribs and beef. Solid value here.Prices:| BC | $11.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Las Barrancas Vineyards 2005
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaOpen spicy, peppery, blackberry, cassis, and tobacco with earthy, smoky minty vanilla aromas. Full, round, supple palate with light, grainy tannins. Vanilla, spicy, cedar, pencil lead, licorice, cassis, black berry flavours with a smoky, meaty, coffee finish. Good solid cabernet flavours and intensity if a bit oaky. Continued good quality.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Apalta Vineyard 2006
Apalta Valley, Santa Cruz, Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileVery spicy, menthol, tobacco leaf, peppery, earthy compost nose with a big rubbery streak throughout. Round, supple, slightly tannic entry with cedar, chocolate, vanilla, cherry, peppery, coriander, menthol, tobacco leaf, cigar flavours with the rubbery note persisting. Very warm and a bit soupy. Not up to their usual quality.Prices:| BC | $20.02 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.61 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Blanc de Noirs 1999
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNutty, mineral, baked green apple skin, old biscuit nose. Very light, dry, lean palate with ginger, green apple, bitter nut flavours. Mature style with light extract and past its prime.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, green apple skin, herbal, citrus peel, mineral nose. very foamy but tart, dry, crisp entry with some warmth and bitterness. Granny smith apple and citrus peel flavours with a slightly bitter, nutty finish. not much here.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Pinot Noir Brut NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBeautiful pale, salmon rose colour with lots of mousse. Earthy strawberry nose with a hint of rhubarb and paper. Dry, lean, leafy, stemmy flavours with soupy green rhubarb and earth on the bitter finish. Not much in common with good sparkling wine.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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14 November 2007
88PTS
Torres Gran Vina Sol Chardonnay 2005
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis highly modern Spanish chardonnay blends 85 per cent chardonnay with 15 per cent parellada and the result is a very sophisticated fresh white wine. The oak has been reined in over the years leaving the aromatic white to show off its peachy, buttery, nutty, floral fruit flavours. After crushing, pressing and cold settling, 70% of the juice is vinified in stainless steel tanks, the remainder in new French oak barrels. Only 40 per cent of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation placing this chardonnay in the modern, cool-climate, fresh style.Prices:| ON | $11.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $18.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Red Rooster Pinot Noir 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRootsy, rhubarb, Band-Aid, smoky leather, compost, resin and menthol aromas. Light, round, dry and supple with touch of tannins showing. Rhubarb, smoky, earthy, cherry menthol, cooked carrot, tobacco leaf flavours that are a tad soup on the finish. Forward, simple consumer style.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2004
Tuscany, ItalyHuge peppery, spicy, black cherry, black plum, vanilla, dried fig, coffee, orange peel, tobacco, incense, gamey, riparian aromas. Rich, round, full and concentrated with substantial ripe, grainy tannins and very good acidity. Intense ash, tobacco, licorice, root, peppery, orange peel, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, gamey flavours. Long, full, very young, needs 5-7 years but very young. Great fruit on the nose and great potential. As much as we like the 2001, this will probably be better year and the best produced to date. That said stay tuned for 2006 and 2007 that may also rival or exceed this based on barrel tastings. The '04 Montesodi was aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels after a 30 day total maceration.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $59.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $134.00 | 1500ml |
| QC | $269.00 | 3000ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Red Rooster Merlot 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCedar, black olive, tobacco, menthol, barnyard, coffee aromas with some plum and dried herbs. Soft, round, supple, off dry palate with cherry, menthol, cedar, tobacco, cranberry, black olive and resin flavours with some saddle leather notes. Very light tannins on a warm finish. Designed for current consumption.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2001
Tuscany, ItalyBig spicy, black cherry, black berry, vanilla, coffee, bay, tobacco, ash, meaty, licorice, waxy, black olive aromas with a touch of barnyard. Rich, round, concentrated palate with supple, grainy tannins. Full flavour intensity here with coffee, ash, mineral, orange peel, black cherry jam, plum spicy, peppery, tobacco and cardamom flavours. Great concentration of fruit in a long, persistent finish. Drinkable now but will improve for 5-10 years. Very fine, delicious sangiovese with ripeness and finesse.Prices:| BC | $54.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $49.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| US | $45.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 1999
Tuscany, ItalyPeppery, resin, black cherry, cedar box, tobacco, minty, cardamom, meaty, spicy, licorice root and coffee aromas. Dry, round, supple but somewhat tannic and chewy, a bit rustic and young. Warm with peppery, ash, mineral, black cherry jam, plum, menthol, licorice, orange peel flavours with a hint of Christmas cake. Very good acidity and fruit concentration but has balance. Needs 3-5 years to soften further.Prices:| IT | $45.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 1998
Tuscany, ItalyDark cherry colour, slight brick edge. Waxy, tobacco, peppery, gamey, smoky, licorice root, black cherry, black tea aromas with a touch of cardamom and Band-Aid. Rich, round, supple and full but a bit warm with some elegance. Very good black cherry, plum, coffee, tobacco, licorice, ash, tea leaf, peppery, vanilla and menthol flavours with a meaty finish. A bit tannic yet, has good finesse. Best now and over the next 4 years.Prices:| IT | $40.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 1985
Tuscany, ItalyThis was the first vintage, a great year, where barriques were used as well as traditional ovals. Good cherry colour with some brick. Smoky, tobacco, soy, peppery nose with meaty, black cherry, floral, game and cedar/licorice notes. Rich, round, very good concentration and flavour intensity with some light tannins. Lots of black cherry, plum, coffee, tobacco, peppery, tea, licorice, ash and mineral flavours with a hint of vanilla and orange peel. Warm, well balanced and mature but may improve or hold for several years. Great drinking now with complexity. Prices:| IT | $130.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 1974
Tuscany, ItalyA re-release in individual boxes direct from the estate, this was the first vintage of Montesodi produced. The intent is to illustrate how sangiovese and Chianti Rufina can express themselves with age. Cherry brick colour. Soy, tobacco, tea, gamey, licorice, cedar, ash and orange peel aromas with a hint of black cherry and leather. Dry, round, slightly hard palate but well balanced with some residual tannins. Good soy, smoky leather, cigar, licorice, black tea, black cherry, olive and dried coriander flavours. Good acidity and finish not dried out but near the end of the plateau. Has aged well.Prices:| IT | $100.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Ornellaia 2004
Bolgheri, Tuscany, ItalyPeppery, spicy, vanilla, cassis, tobacco leaf, coffee, black cherry, coriander, cardamom aromas with some black olive, Christmas cake and meaty notes. Rich, round, dry and supple with fine grained tannins. Good acidity if a bit warm at 14.5% alcohol. Spicy, peppery, licorice, coffee, vanilla, cardamom, cassis jam, black cherry, orange peel, olive and cranberry flavours. Good finesse, silky warm texture and concentration on the lengthy finish but there are some cool leafy aspects underneath. This needs 5-7 years to gain complexity and shed the herbal notes. The blend is 60/25/12/3/ cabenret sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc/petit verdot.Prices:| BC | $150.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $140.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $139.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $149.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $134.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $139.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Le Serre Nuove Dell' Ornellaia 2005
Bolgheri, Tuscany, ItalyOrnellaia 'bambino' comes with a spicy, peppery, tobacco, cardamom, meaty, menthol, black olive, dill and leather aromas with a black cherry background. Ripe, full, round and warm with some light, grainy tannins. Peppery, menthol, savoury, leather, cardamom, tobacco leaf and plum flavours. Good fruit if a tad on the herbal side, but with very fine balance. Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $54.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $117.00 | 1500ml |
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89PTS
Attems Collio Sauvignon 2006
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, ItalyBig melon, passion fruit, grapefruit, honey and fig aromas. Ripe, round, full and fresh with honey, grapefruit, passionfruit, orange, kiwi and mineral flavours with a smoky note. Very good fruit and ripeness with a creamy texture. Drink now while young but could improve.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Frescobaldi Campo ai Sassi Rosso di Montalcino 2006
Tuscany, ItalyVery spicy, floral, black cherry jam, resin, smoky, meaty aromas. Round, dry, supple and full bodied with very light tannins. Good plum, black cherry, orange, spicy, peppery, vanilla flavours. Very good concentration and fruit for current drinking or hold 1-2 years. Solid value here.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.35 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Frescobaldi Ripe al Convento Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2001
Tuscany, ItalyThis wine finishes fermentation in new French oak barriques for 9-12 months then goes into 50 hL botti. Smoky, peppery, animal, meaty, black cherry, chocolate, resin, licorice root, saddle leather aromas with a touch of wax and tobacco. Rich, ripe, round and dry with supple but grainy tannins. Warm with very good acidity structure. Big black cherry jam, blackberry, coffee, peppery, resin, licorice root, violet, tobacco and leather flavours with orange peel, vanilla, cardamom and garrigue notes on the finish. Very young, concentrated, chewy finish. This has length and mid-palate but needs 5-7 years to fully round out. Very good potential here.Prices:| AB | $121.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $105.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $109.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $109.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2003
Tuscany, ItalyCastelgiocondo is a big estate with 152ha. planted to the Brunello clone. Peppery, spicy, smoky, ash, meaty, floral tobacco nose with bits of black cherry, licorice root aromas and a touch of resin and animal. Dry, warm, round, tannic but not overly astringent. Black cherry jam, peppery, orange peel, smoky resin, bay leaf, spicy, vanilla, waxy flavours. Tight finish with good acidity if a bit hot. Good fruit throughout. It's young and a bit rustic but with good intensity to drink over the next 3-7 years.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $68.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $54.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Tenuta Luce Brunello di Montalcino 2003
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThe first release of this wine comes in etched glass bottles. Spicy, blackberry, black cherry jam, vanilla, meaty, licorice root, tobacco, mineral, resin and dried bay leaf aromas. Rich, full and round with good concentration but a bit alcoholic with fresh acidity and round tannins. Big, spicy, peppery, licorice root, resin, vanilla, coffee, gamey, orange peel, tobacco flavours with a black cherry, smoky leather finish. A bit too hot but this is very sangiovese and representative of the vintage. Needs 4-7 years to fully integrate.Prices:| BC | $93.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $98.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $100.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $99.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $240.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $500.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $98.26 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Lamaione Merlot 2004
Tuscany, ItalyDeep, intense black cherry colour. Smoky, spicy, plum jam, raspberry, mocha, floral, gamey, tobacco, bay and black olive aromas. Round, rich, supple and concentrated with grainy tannins. Warm vanilla, plum jam, black cherry, spicy, eucalyptus, floral, resin, tobacco, peppery, spicy flavours. Good acidity balance, ripe style with very good fruit but a bit warm. Needs 3-5 years. Originally planted in 1977, the vineyard is slowly being replanted to a much higher density with better rootstock and clonal material.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $46.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $62.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tenuta Luce della Vite 2004
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalySpicy, floral, tobacco, cherry, meaty, waxy, black olive, saddle leather aromas with a touch of garrigue. Round, dry, supple tannins with good elegance but young. Peppery, mocha, tobacco, coffee, meaty, vanilla, spicy, coriander flavours with cherry and licorice root on the finish. Good concentration and potential but needs 3-5 years to soften.Prices:| BC | $93.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $98.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $100.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $99.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $240.00 | 1500ml |
| ON | $482.00 | 3000ml |
| MB | $98.26 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tenuta Luce La Vite Lucente 2005
Tuscany, ItalyTobacco, coffee, olive, peppery, gamey, spicy, cherry, vanilla aromas with a touch of thyme and carrot top. Dry, round, slightly hard, youthful tannins. Tobacco, leather, cherry, coffee, peppery, vanilla flavours with some orange pepper and garrigue on the finish. A touch rustic and young, needs 2-3 years to soften.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $38.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $39.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $37.50 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Frescobaldi Mormoreto Castello di Nipozzano 2004
Tuscany, ItalyA blend of 60 cabernet sauvignon, 25 merlot, 15 cabernet franc. Big smoky, cassis jam, blackberry, waxy, coffee, cedar, vanilla, black olive and spices. Rich, round, concentrated palate with fine, supple but full tannin structure. Very good acidity with cassis jam, spicy, peppery, coffee, orange, floral, tobacco, black berry and coriander flavours. Very good structure and potential but young, needs 5-7 years.Prices:| BC | $51.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $59.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $2820.00 | 18000ml |
| QC | $130.00 | 1500ml |
| QC | $272.00 | 3000ml |
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90PTS
Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2003
Tuscany, ItalySpicy, peppery, gamey, licorice, black cherry tobacco, orange peel, light vanilla aromas. Ripe, round, full, supple and elegant. Ripe black cherry, orange peel, spicy, peppery, coffee, licorice and cardamom flavours. Great fruit and ripeness with finesse. A fine value especially from this great vintage. Drink now or hold for 3-5 years. Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $14.00 | 375ml |
| AB | $125.00 | 3000ml |
| NB | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Pomino Rosso 2004
Tuscany, ItalySpicy, earthy, licorice, rhubarb, black cherry, tobacco, gamey, resin aromas. Soft, round, supple, forward style with very light tannins. Peppery, earthy, resin, rhubarb, tea, tobacco, licorice and mineral flavours. Good finesse in a somewhat earthier style. The blend is 60/30/10 ssangiovese/pinot noir, merlot.Prices:| QC | $27.40 | 750ml |
| AB | $31.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Paul Dolan Zinfandel Mendocino/Amador County (Organic Grapes) 2005
Mendocino County, California, United StatesPaul Dolan is fast becoming a California icon for organic wine. This rich spicy red is a blend of Mendocino fruit characterized by Dolan as the fruit basket of the wine mixed with old organically grown Amador fruit rich in spice and pepper. The marriage is a big brawny, spicy zinfandel with licorice blueberries and mocha in the finish. It is not for the faint of heart. Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Casa Ferreirinha Barca-Velha 1999
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalFragrant spicy, tobacco, cedar, black cherry nose with saddle leather, gamey, cassis notes. Soft, dry, round palate with light tannins but good finesse. Baked cherry, prune, peppery, tobacco, licorice root, smoky, sweaty, mineral flavours. A bit chunky with some light tannins to shed but solid. Perfect with steak.Prices:| BC | $128.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2000
Tuscany, ItalyThe Montesodi vineyard at Nipozzano lends its name to the property's best sangiovese and only in great years. Smoky, ash resin, peppery, bay leaf, black berry, black cherry, vanilla, barnyard, leather, waxy, cedar nose. Round, dry, full and a bit warm and tannic. Licorice, plum, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, orange peel, menthol, peppery, gamey flavours. Good fruit, a bit alcoholic, has mid-term aging ability. Fairly forward with good fruit intensity, this can be drunk now but should improve over the next 2-4 years.Prices:| BC | $54.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $49.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| US | $37.00 | 750ml |
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13 November 2007
86PTS
Torresella Pinot Grigio 2006
Veneto, ItalyMineral, nutty lees, apple skin, floral, earthy aromas. Dry, round, moderately full palate with good acidity. Earthy, pear, citrus, mineral, lees flavours. Very solid but would benefit from Stelvin closure.Prices:| BC | $15.85 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chianti 2005
Tuscany, ItalyPeppery, spicy, floral, meaty, black cherry, rootsy garrigue nose. Soft, round, supple and dry with very light tannins. Fresh with meaty, sausage, peppery, mineral, spicy, fragrant red currant, cherry licorice flavours. Solid food wine with some finesse.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.85 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni 2005
Tuscany, ItalyTenuta di Castiglioni is the oldest Frescobaldi Estate, with roots that date back to 1032. The altitude of the 115-hectare vineyard is 200 meters. Look for peppery, dried thyme, cassis, cherry, vanilla, cedar, licorice root, wild game and forest aromas. Ripe, round, full bodied style with light, grainy tannins and good acidity but a bit chunky. Cassis, black cherry, meaty, peppery, spicy, mineral, licorice, coffee and mint flavours with a bit of black olive. Very solid, full bodied style with some tannins to shed. Needs a year or two to soften out.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $26.70 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Bollini Merlot 2004
Volano, Trento, Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyPeppery, earthy, tobacco leaf, licorice root, light cherry aromas. Tart, dry, leaner style palate with light tannins. Cedar, peppery, tobacco leaf, mineral, resin, rootsy cherry flavours. Some length but simple and a bit on the lean side.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bollini Pinot Grigio Trentino 2005
Volano, Trento, Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyRipe pear, floral, apple, honey, citrus aromas. Round, elegant, fresh palate with some nice cream textures. Honey, baked apple, citrus, lees, spicy, mineral, juicy pear flavours. Very good fruit concentration and acidity on the finish. Fine varietal example.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Villa Teresa Merlot (Organic) 2006
Veneto, ItalySpicy, rhubarb, floral, candied cherry, tobacco leaf aromas. Soft, round, supple and light with candied cherry, floral, rhubarb, weedy flavours. Light, simple style.Prices:| BC | $14.95 | 750ml |
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12 November 2007
88PTS
Capçanes Mas Donis Barrica 2003
Montsant, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainLook for a funky smoked meat character with bits of black fruit, prunes and leather. The entry dry and slightly tart with peppery, gamey, black cherry, pruny mineral flavours. The finish is warm, dry and rustic. A fine earthy, full -bodied red wine for a mid-week cassoulet, stew or hamburger.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Pomino Bianco 2006
Tuscany, ItalyMineral, pear, honey, citrus, floral aromas. Delicate, round, dry palate with citrus, pear, apple skin, spicy mineral flavours. Good creamy acidity on the finish, this is not big but it has elegance. A blend of pinot blanc and chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
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91PTS
John Duval Plexus 2005
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe third vintage for this blended wine in which the shiraz provides the backbone in this forward, elegantly-styled red. Some of the fruit comes from own rooted, 80-100 year old vines. Look for spicy, floral, peppery, black cherry, licorice, aromas. On the palate it is ripe, round, smooth and velvety with a touch of acidity freshness and fresh black cherry, floral, spicy, rootsy, strawberry jam, licorice and mint flavours. Very fine grained tannins, with fine finesse and a juicy finish. Attractive now, but should improve with another two to five years in bottle. The blend is 50/34/16 shiraz/grenache/mourvèdre.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
John Duval Entity Shiraz 2005
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSome 45 per cent aged in new French oak barrels, Entity boasts a peppery, bacon, smoky, meaty, floral, boysenberry, black berry nose. Ripe, round, supple and smooth with good finesse. Spicy, black cherry, licorice, gamey, vanilla, smoky, garrigue, and blackberry flavours. Good finish and length but a bit young and slightly tart on the finish. Needs two to four years more bottle time. Sourced from Stockwell, Light Pass, Krondorf and Marananga regions in Barossa Valley.Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sandhill Chardonnay Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVanilla, nutty, buttered popcorn, canned peach and citrus rind aromas. Soft, round, oily texture with some residual sweetness. Buttery, vanilla, lees, apple and peach flavours with some bitter citrus rind on the warm finish. Easy going, friendly commercial style.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.99 | 750ml |
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11 November 2007
91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2003
Tuscany, ItalyLicorice, smoky, gamey, peppery, spicy nose with floral, black cherry jam, cooked plum highlights. Round, dry, rich palate with youthful, grainy tannins. Big black cherry, plum fruit with licorice, gamey, smoky, resin, dried herb flavours. Warm finish with some tannins to shed but has a good core of fruit and acidity. Needs 3-5 years to soften.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $59.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $55.00 | 750ml |
| US | $35.00 | 750ml |
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07 November 2007
88PTS
Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Napa Valley, California, United StatesPeppery, smoky, leather, spicy, coffee, blackberry, earthy tobacco leaf aromas. Round, smooth, slightly tannic palate with a touch of sweetness. Spicy, vanilla, Christmas cake, coffee, blackberry, cassis, tobacco leaf flavours with some black olive and green bean on the finish. Good solid consumer style that is balanced. Good value for Napa. The fruit is 70 per cent Rutherford the rest si Oakville and St. Helena.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
California, United StatesTobacco, earthy, peppery, spicy, blueberry and cassis nose with a smoky note. Soft, round, supple style with a hint of sweetness. Blueberry, peppery, tobacco, earthy flavours. Ready to drink easy consumer style.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Rock Rabbit Syrah 2003
Central Coast, California, United StatesBlack cherry, peppery, licorice root, smoky, blueberry, tobacco aromas with a floral note. Round, ripe, full and supple with good plum, black cherry, rootsy, licorice, spicy, orange peel flavours. There is some sweetness on the finish but with good balance and style. Good value for most any food combination.Prices:| BC | $19.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Rock Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Central Coast, California, United StatesFloral, candied grapefruit, light melon, passion fruit nose. Round, fresh, slightly sweet style with pink grapefruit, melon, butter and passion fruit flavours. Solid, consumer friendly style.Prices:| BC | $16.95 | 750ml |
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06 November 2007
90PTS
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2006
Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, FrancePascal Jolivet wines may only be 20 years old but they do not lack in character or respect for the Loire. In a short time Jolivet has captured the essence of Sancerre and bottled it, taming the more aggressive aspects of sauvignon. Fifty per cent of the wine comes from "Les Caillottes", a very chalky site; 30 per cent is "Les Terres Blanches", grown on the highest hills over clay and chalk and 20 per cent is "Silex", a stonier site rich in flint and clay. Fermentation is slow and cold using indigenous yeasts. The all natural process yields impressive, intense sauvignon, tightly wound, yet with fine balance. Dry and elegant; think sushi, shellfish pork or asparagus.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon 2006
Loire, FranceAttitude comes from low yielding (for a Vin de Pays) of 60 hl/ha in Touraine. As always the minerality jumps at you with bits of seaweed and chalk. Jolivet looks for balance of acidity and integration which you get in the slightly less acidic, 2006 harvest. The style is fresh with delicate notes of smoky mineral, grapefruit, green apple skin citrus and white peach. It's medium bodied with more citrus-apple notes in the finish. Think oysters, Dungeness crab, halibut or veal.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pasqua Sagramoso Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2004
Veneto, ItalyPeppery, floral, spicy, tobacco, licorice, cherry, smoky saddle aromas with a touch of Band-Aid. Dry, round, elegant palate with cherry, coffee, tobacco, licorice, mineral, spicy flavours with a touch of almond and chocolate. Fresh and tight but with good balance. Try with roasted meats or tomato dishes.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Pasqua e Fazio MezzoGiorno Nero d'Avola Shiraz 2005
Sicily, ItalySausage meat, peppery, spicy, barnyard, tobacco, licorice, cooked plum. Soft, round, supple but dry palate, very light tannins. Cherry, peppery, spicy, minty, tobacco, meaty, smoky licorice flavours. Simple, forward style with fresh acidity. Needs food to tame the edges.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
MandraRossa Nero d'Avola 2004
Sicily, ItalyFloral, spicy, chocolate, cherry jam, perfumy nose with a roasted meat note. Dry, light, slightly acidic entry with cherry, peppery, spicy, plum, licorice flavours. Light, fresh style that is a tad rustic. Try with spaghetti.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Paul Mas Viognier 2006
l'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceJean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha. Only 15 per cent of the wine is barrel fermented in new oak the remaining 85 per cent is aged only in stainless steel tanks. Look for a bright, floral nose that mixes nectarines and dried fruits and with honey/lees aromas. Much like the previous edition it has a wealth of peachy apricot, ginger fruit with a mineral, honey, butter finish. A versatile food wine, not to mention a fabulous bargain. Buy it by the case. Farming is performed to maximize the respect and preservation of the environment and nature as much as possible. They call it "agriculture raisonnée".Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chateau Paul Mas Clos des Mûres 2005
Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceChâteau Paul Mas, part of the Domaines Paul Mas estates, is set on the Mediterranean coast, near the villages of Montagnac and Sète. Clos des Mûres is an 11 hectare site; the wine blends 83/12/5 syrah/grenache/mourvèdre and the vines are between 24 and 45-years old. It's aged for 9 months in French and American oak barrels which are 1/3 new, 1/3 one year old and 1/3 two year old. Look for a slightly meaty rustic syrah nose with flecks of cherries, black fruit and floral undertones. Similar flavours with black fruit and toasted vanilla finish.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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05 November 2007
87PTS
Arrogant Frog Ribet Red 2005
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThe not so arrogant frog is going organic mixing 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon with 45 per cent merlot grown between the Mediterranean Sea and the Hérault Valley. Ribet Red is just that and it has a snappy red screw cap and label to boot. Look for a fragrant, balanced, sensible red wine with more than just fruit. Only a quarter of the wine sees oak to help fill out the mid-palate. After that it's simply delicious drop of inexpensive cabernet merlot and that's not easy to accomplish. A barbecue red with frog's legs. Ribet ribet.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 2003
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMas La Plana is on a roll. The 29-hectare site in central Penedès region is really coming into its own. The nose is bright and fragrant flecked with coffee, black olive and smoky cranberries and saddle leather. Similar flavours of garrigue, cassis cranberries and with a savoury peppery finish. Very youthful red wine with finesse to spare. Any sort of game or meat dish will do here.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $45.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $80.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $47.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $43.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $38.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Arrogant Frog Ribet White 2006
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThe last time I wrote about this wine, I suggested Paul Mas had the pulse of the wine public and he's not from Australia. Turns out the wine was only available in private wine shops and not easy to find. Well now it's in government stores, the price is cheaper and you should know the former Domaine Virginie winemaker is making wine far more serious than his Arrogant Frog moniker. This is a crisp, light, mineral, citrus, grassy white with freshness in the mouth that cries out for oysters or shellfish. Really, it represents killer value in a non aggressive easy-sipping made for food sauvignon.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
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04 November 2007
92PTS
de Venoge Brut Millésimé 1996
Champagne, FranceFine mousse. Toasty, biscuit, creamy, baked apple, honey, floral, quince aromas. Dry, crisp, round and full with very good acidity balance. Citrus, baked green apple, toasty, mineral, green peach, nutty, quince flavours. Very good length, crisp and fresh with the ability to age further in magnum.Prices:| BC | $250.00 | 1500ml |
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90PTS
Torres Celeste 2004
Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, SpainCeleste, from Ribera del Duero, is a slightly bigger red than we normally see from Torres in either Priorat or Penedès. Love the smoky meaty, black cherry nose with just a hint of chocolate aromas. Matured in French oak it has a rich dense fruity mid-palate with gripp-y tannins. The flavours are dry and earthy with coffee, garrigue and black fruit undercurrents. Celeste is a double-award winning 2007 International Value Wine Awards wine grabbing best tempranillo and best Spanish wine titles. Production is edging to a substantial 20,000 cases. Drink or hold.Prices:| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, AustraliaLots of mousse in this dark cherry coloured sparkling shiraz. Spicy, pruny, black cherry, tobacco leaf, black olive, vanilla, coffee aromas. Rich, fat, round, foamy mousse with black cherry, coffee, vanilla, peppery, tobacco flavours. Warm, somewhat sweet finish that may go with duck, turkey or pork for fun.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Premier Cru Réserve Particulière NV
Champagne, FranceFine bead of mousse. Nutty, light cherry, toasty, baked pear aromas with a touch of earth and citrus. Fresh, elegant, lively palate with pear, baked apple, nutty, earthy, toasty, creamy flavours. Very attractive style but a bit softer and a tad sweeter than previous versions.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $52.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2001
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalA fine dark cherry colour introduces this well known LBV from Qunita do Noval. Look for a peppery, smoky licorice root, chocolate nose with meaty, black tea, dark plum, and tobacco aromas. Rich, round, ripe, slightly tannic palate in a drier style. Lots of dark plum, licorice root, peppery, spicy, minty, black tea, herbal, dark chocolate flavours. Drinkable now but will improve over the next 2-5 years. Good solid, affordable port for any occasion.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.40 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Segura Viudas Aria Estate Brut NV
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainGood continuous mousse. Floral, nutty, citrus, earthy, peach pit, toasty lees aromas. Fresh, crisp, round, elegant palate with just a hint of sweetness. Nice citrus, peach, honey, toasty, nutty, mineral, floral flavours. Very attractive style to drink with food and enjoy anytime.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Osoyoos Larose 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, black cherry, saddle leather, coffee, vanilla, green bean, black olive nose with a touch of sausage meat and licorice. Dry, tight palate with young, grainy tannins but good finesse. Peppery, spicy, coffee, vanilla, licorice, cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, black olive flavours. Young, well balance but somewhat austere, this will need 3-5 years to soften but should improve.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield's Collection Merlot 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, peppery, cherry jam, coffee, black olive, sandalwood aromas. Dry, soft, round, supple palate with grainy, smooth tannins. Black olive, coffee, vanilla, peppery, licorice, black cherry, tobacco leaf, cardamom flavours. A bit warm but has good balance. Needs 2-3 years to integrate but this is certainly the best release yet of this wine.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Monmousseau Cuvee J.M. Blanc de Blancs Brut 2003
Touraine, Loire, FranceFloral, green apple, creamy, peach skin aromas. Round, slightly foamy mousse with medium body and acidity. Apple, nutty, honey, peach skin, citrus flavours. A slightly sweet style but fresh and easy to consume.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Torres Vina Esmeralda 2006
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainPerhaps the best Esmeralda since it was first released in 1961. The Upper Penedès white is a delicious 85/15 mix of moscatel/gewürztraminer. Now under screwcap it has an even brighter level of minerality with intense floral, lemon oil and spicy, nectarine skin aromas. A bright, zesty, white with lychee, green apple, lemon lime notes. Delicate styling yet perfectly able to stand up to powerful spicy dishes. Try with calamari or mussels or light curry dishes.Prices:| BC | $14.49 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Seven Stones Speaking Rock Meritage 2003
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSappy cassis, menthol, dill brine, saddle leather, tobacco, chocolate aromas. Soft, rich, dry, round palate but very warm with some light tannins. Smoky oak, coffee, black olive, cassis, rootsy, leather, coffee flavours with some black cherry mint on the finish. A bit chunky, oaky and alcoholic but with some ripeness and concentration. The blend is 55/35/10 merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Exclusive Reserva 2002
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainGood continuous bead. Cherry, peach, nutty, floral, honey aromas. Fresh, crisp, round, dryer style with dried almonds, earthy, creamy, toasty, peach pit, mineral flavours. A touch foamy but has good intensity. Very solid Cava.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Chateau Peychaud 2005
Cotes de Bourg, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FrancePeppery, earthy, smoky, black olive, cedar aromas. Soft, round, dry palate with light, cedar-y tannins. Spicy, rootsy, earthy, peppery, mineral, black olive, coffee flavours. Needs a year to soften out on the finish but will be fine for beef. Simple cheap Bordeaux.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, mocha, meaty, bell pepper, sausage, rubbery aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with light tannins. Green bean, olive, peppery, spicy, sweet vanilla, coffee, sausage, bell pepper flavours. It;s balanced but needs to be cleaner on the nose and in the taste.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyards Cabernet Rosé 2006
Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaEarthy, spicy, peppery, cherry, lees aromas. Soft, fresh, round and simple with spicy, earthy, cherry, mineral flavours. Easy style without the usual sweetness. Drink while young.Prices:| ON | $14.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Valdo Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Marca Oro Extra Dry NV
Treviso, Verona, Veneto, ItalySimilar to last year's edition with floral, pear, mineral, apple aromas with somewhat foamy mousse. Round, fresh, and clean on the palate with more pear/apple, anise and nutty flavours. The finish is slightly sweet but fruity. Definitely suited to apéritif service and capable of matching a variety of foods.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Segura Viudas Lavit Rosado Brut Cava NV
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainConsistent year after year with an attractive coppery salmon colour. Fresh cherry, red apple, toasty, mineral fruit notes with nutty streak. On the palate it's fruity with creamy cherry, earthy, mineral, citrus, toasty flavours. Serve at most any occasion with or without food.Prices:| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.12 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Peter Lehmann The Futures Shiraz 2003
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaPeppery, smoky, pencil lead, chocolate, cherry cola, pruny, vanilla aromas. Dry, warm entry with somechalky dry tannins and elevated acidity. Spicy, blueberry, sour cherry, vanilla, coffee, cedar bark resin flavours with a dry, acidic finish. Very hot, lacks balance.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $27.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Peter Lehmann Clancy's Legendary Red 2004
South Australia, AustraliaCherry menthol, peppery, olive, cassis, herbal savoury nose. Soft, round, supple, simple style with cherry, black olive, savoury, menthol, and tobacco flavours with a slightly sweet and sour olive finish. Fully mature, somewhat herbal style.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $22.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Graham Beck Brut NV
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaGraham Beck Brut, a South African Cap Classique, is made at the winery's Robertson facility. Look for a fine continuous bead a bright clean floral, citrus nose streaked with pear and a bit of garlic lees. Round, fresh mousse, crisp but slightly sweeter style. Good citrus, green apple, honey, garlic, toasted nut flavours. Well balanced, sweeter brut style but has some complexity.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Codorníu Pinot Noir Brut NV
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainVery good continuous mousse with a very pale ruby colour. Toasty mineral, raspberry, red currant, earthy aromas with a floral edge. Round, fairly dry entry with very toasty, earthy, mineral, citrus, raspberry flavours. Soft, creamy and round with a slightly sweet finish with good intensity. A good wine for turkey this Christmas (or anytime).Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $20.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Codorníu Cuvée Clásico Brut Organic Cava NV
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainFresh citrus, nutty, spicy, leesy, apple skin aromas. Round, soft, light mousse with some sweetness. The blend is a mix of Chardonnay, Xarel-lo and Macabeo. Fruity green apple, ginger, citrus, honey and toasted almonds mark the flavours. Crisp, easy style on the finish.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $17.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $19.03 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.75 | 750ml |
| QC | $16.95 | 750ml |
| PEI | $18.59 | 750ml |
| NL | $1972.00 | 750ml |
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03 November 2007
87PTS
Marichel Vineyard Syrah 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMocha, licorice, black berry jam, port-y nose with intense vanilla, leather, resin, cooked rhubarb notes spiked with some garrigue and slightly volatile notes. Almost identical flavours in the mouth. Smooth, round tannin entry with somewhat high acidity on the finish. Solid but with stewed fruit notes and a slightly green undercurrent. A decent start. The price is formidable.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine de l'Auster Cuvée Mosaïque 2004
Faugères, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceSpicy, floral, meaty, peppery, earthy, red licorice aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with red cherry, black raspberry, spicy, meaty, peppery flavours. Full, warm alcoholic finish with good acidity but solid core of fruit. Good fall wine for lamb at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Col de' Salici Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Spumante Extra Dry 2005
Veneto, ItalyNutty, floral, almond skin, red apple, mineral nose. Light mousse, full bodied, slightly sweet entry with moderate acidity. Peach, nutty, toasty cherry, honey flavours. Solid, slightly heavier, sweeter style.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Graham's Vintage Port 1994
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalDark black cherry colour with a touch of brick on the edge. Spicy, floral, black licorice, peppery, plum jam, tobacco, resin and black tea aromas. Rich, ripe, round and sweet but with very good acidity and still some tannins. A bit spirity with peppery, very spicy, chocolate, licorice, plum jam, blackberry, menthol and resin flavours. Fleshy, warm, round slightly sweeter style, this is a big boy that needs 5-10 years further aging.Prices:| BC | $140.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Township 7 Seven Stars Extended Tirage #5 2004
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOxidized, try another bottle.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Township 7 Gewurztraminer 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, cooked orange, floral, lemon, ginger aromas. Round, soft, somewhat warm palate with ginger, slightly oily, lemon, spicy flavours. Tart finish with some warmth. Lacks varietal intensity.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Ganton & Larson Prospect Winery Larch Tree Hill Riesling 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLemon oil, canned fruit salad, cooked citrus aromas. Round, slightly sweet entry, slightly fat. Cooked red apple, grapefruit rind, lees, mineral flavours. Simple, easy sipper that finishes a bit warm.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Schloss Johannisberger Rotlack Riesling Kabinett 2006
Rheingau, GermanyCorked, try another bottlePrices:| BC | $38.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 2005
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy, peppery, rootsy, resin, black cherry, roasted bell pepper aromas. Round, dry, slightly tart entry with light tannins. Peppery, rootsy, black cherry, resin, cola, blueberry flavours. Simple, straight up shiraz for current consumption.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $24.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.15 | 750ml |
| PEI | $24.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gray Monk Riesling 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight yellow colour. Citrus, butter, lemon oil, red apple nose. Round, fresh, slightly sweet with lemon oil, butter, citrus rind flavours with a slightly oily texture. Trying to be Alsace but lacks the intensity and acidity.Prices:| BC | $13.49 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Peter Lehmann Eight Songs Shiraz 2002
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaPeppery, spicy, pencil shaving, blackberry, licorice, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, light Band-Aid aromas. Round, ripe, supple palate with light grainy tannins but elevated acidity. Menthol, coffee, black olive, vanilla, tobacco, gamey, black cherry flavours. Finish is tart and warm but has some good fruit. Needs a bit more extract and less acidity. Needs a few more years to soften.Prices:| BC | $49.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $44.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Peter Lehmann Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSavoury, herbal, black olive, cassis, tobacco leaf, resiny aromas. Round, full, very warm palate with some young tannin. Slightly sweet with cedar bark, cola, blueberry, olive, dill and minty tobacco, vanilla flavours. Straight forward cabernet that the Lehmann food and wine matcher recommends osso buco or mature cheeses.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Peter Lehmann Mentor 2002
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBlack olive, resin, menthol, green bean, cassis, coffee, tobacco leaf (very cabernet) aromas. On entry it is dry and somewhat tannic with a lean, slightly acidic edge. The mid-palate is full bodied with peppery, resin, earthy, coffee, vanilla, cassis, tobacco flavours. The finish is warm, with some elevated acidity and edgy tannins. Definitely needs another two to three years to fully integrate.The blend is 69/13/10/8, cabernet sauvignon/merlot/shiraz/malbec.Prices:| BC | $44.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $44.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $41.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Shiraz 2005
South Australia, AustraliaVery floral, spicy, black berry, blueberry nose with a peppery, tobacco streak. Tart, round, off dry, slightly tannic entry with cedar bark, black cherry jam, menthol, peppery blueberry flavours. Lots of fruit in this style.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Riesling 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, citrus rind, lime, burnt match, spicy ginger nose. Fat, round, somewhat sweet entry with an oily texture. Canned fruit salad, grapefruit rind, buttery flavours with a slightly bitter citrus rind finish. Fat, alcoholic-style riesling to drink young.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay Brut Méthode Classique 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNutty, old cream, toasted, cherry, baked apple nose. Soft, round, light mousse palate that is on the sweet side. Cherry, sweet baked apple flavours with some citrus, butter and honey. A bit candied and heavy that finishes a bit warm and sweet.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
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02 November 2007
88PTS
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir 2006
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileBright clean, spiced fruit nose. Mouth filling with ripe smoky, spicy sour black cherry / strawberry fruit flavours with bits of celery salt, earth and mushroom. Lovely length and weight with a tart earthy try me with food finish. Stylish but serious. Well done. Try with duck dishes or sushi if you are adventurous.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gray Monk Siegerrebe 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSiegerrebe is a cross between gewürztraminer and madeleine Angevine so it's normal to encounter a floral, spicy nose but in this case it has elegance, citrus fruit flavours and a touch of summer sausage meat. A very intriguing wine and a clear step up in quality from previous vintages. Perfect for serving choucroute garnie or chill and sip solo as an apéritif.Prices:| BC | $16.49 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Gray Monk Kerner Late Harvest 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn intoxicating mix of mineral, candied lemons, green apple skin and a whiff of petrol. The entry is sweet but elegant with mineral, floral, citrus flavours. Reasonable acidity on the finish with just a touch of oiliness. Chi9ll it and serve with spicy Asian dishes, fresh fruit or solo on the patio.Prices:| BC | $16.49 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Gray Monk Ehrenfelser 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGray Monk grows ehrenfelser at its estate vineyard in Okanagan Centre about 20 minutes north of Kelowna. Although it was bred to ripen early they like to pick it later than normal to intensify its aromatic flavours. Look for, you guessed it, an aromatic nose with citrus, nectarine skin and orange notes on the nose and palate. It finishes slightly soft and slightly sweet. A perfect partner to spicy dishes.Prices:| BC | $15.49 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Marrenon Premices Organic Côtes du Luberon 2006
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, Sud de France, FranceSpicy, gamey, barnyard, meaty, licorice root, black cherry aromas mark this 65/35 grenache syrah blend with some black cherry jam. Round, warm, slightly tannic, rustic palate with some grip and acidity. Good black cherry, plum, peppery, meaty, smoky tobacco leaf flavours. A bit warm and chunky on the finish but with some intensity. Good value.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Yellow Tail Cabernet - Merlot 2005
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaOpen spicy, menthol/mineral nose with chocolate tobacco, earthy, gamey vanilla notes flecked with garrigue and blueberry. Floral raspberry/cassis cough syrup fruit flavours with an oaky warm peppery finish. Soft round, ripe and easy to sip all add up to the Yellowtail style. Consistent style and value.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
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01 November 2007
92PTS
Graham's Vintage Port 2003
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalVery spicy, minty, black cherry, plum, peppery, tea aromas. Fat, rich, sweet, tannic entry and very warm. Big juicy blackberry jam, spirity, chocolate, peppery, mineral, licorice flavours. A very rich, warm, sweet style that will need years to come around to soften the tannins and equilibrate.Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $95.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $83.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $97.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Warre's Vintage Port 2003
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalIntense inky, black cherry colour. Very spicy, gamey, licorice, spirity, black berry, rootsy, floral, mineral, peppery nose.; Rich, tannic, ripe, fiery and big yet has finesse with structure and acidity. Peppery, spicy, licorice, blackberry jam, black cherry, sweet fig and chocolate flavours with a bright fruit streak. Long, intense, sweet but balanced finish. A very fine effort, will require 12-15 years and hold much longer. One to acquire.Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $82.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $70.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $85.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $86.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2003
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceEarthy, spicy, peppery, licorice root, light game and Band-Aid aromas. Dry, round and elegant if a bit skinny. Peppery, spicy, resin, black cherry, licorice flavours mark the lean finish. A solid, Euro-style blend that deliver little in the way of value.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks 2005
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, United StatesNobody is resting at J. Lohr, the Paso Robles producer with the number one selling cabernet sauvignon over $20 in this market. Current inventory in government stores is a staggering 3500 plus bottles in 144 stores. That my friends is a sell-out. The 2005 continues down the toned-down oak road blending peppery, black fruit with bits of vanilla on the nose. The mid-palate is silky smooth and no doubt why it has such wide appeal. It's called a cabernet, but Okanagan producer might take note that 23 per cent of the blend mixes petite sirah (6), petit verdot (6), merlot (5), and 6 per cent syrah, malbec, cabernet franc and others. As usual, ripe fruit dominates the palate with cool tobacco, mocha/chocolate notes in the finish. Consumer friendly.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.65 | 750ml |
| MB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $21.05 | 750ml |
| QC | $11.30 | 750ml |
| NS | $25.29 | 750ml |
| NF | $25.30 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cape Jaffa Shiraz 2003
Mount Benson, Limestone Coast, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy, licorice, peppery, poultry spice, vanilla, tobacco nose with some black berry and game notes. Round, dry, supple, fresh palate with good finesse. Peppery, spicy, garrigue, vanilla, black cherry, poultry spice flavours. Bright, good fruit but a bit acidic on the finish. Solid style for food. Jaffa is a bio-dynamic producer and a so-called carbon neutral winery.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Malbec 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe latest edition is little less extracted and more balanced than last year with black cherry, mocha, and licorice meaty notes on the nose. The palate is rich and dry again with the savoury, meaty roasted mushroom notes and plenty of youthful fine grained tannins. As mentioned it seems a bit better balanced and little less powerful in a good way. Another fine effort.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Black Widow Gewurztraminer Naramata Bench Vineyard 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAttractive correct nose, with floral spicy, earthy notes. On the palate it is rich, dry and spicy with resiny notes and plenty of heat inthe finish. You can drink or hold this wine but be sure to serve it with food. Pork would be the perfect element to set this wine off. Only 100 cases made.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Twisted Tree Riesling 2005
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmall production riesling (100 cases) grown on the bench in Naramata. Slightly dirty nose with hints of petrol and green apple skin. The palate is fresh and lively with limey, petrol notes and a crisp lip-smacking finish. Tracking in the right direction. Made for food.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hillside Muscat Ottonel Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFinally some consistency from Hillside. This is the third year in a row this wine has hit the mark. You will love the fresh, floral almost viognier-like nose with hints of ginger and spiced honey. Similar flavours permeate the palate with streaks of green apple skin flecked with minerals and orange. Think Indian food.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Boschkloof Syrah 2004
Coastal Region, South AfricaThe latest edition of this syrah is not unlike the previous. The nose mixes saddle leather with intense meaty spicy peppery notes. The entry is soft warm and dry with more meaty barnyard peppery leather notes with bits of black fruit and a touch of Brett with some acidity poking through the finish. More old-style and one off in nature than most New World syrah. Best with barbecued meats.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Quinta Vale D. Maria Vintage Port 2003
Rio Torto, Cima Corga, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalFinal blend sample. Very spicy, floral, tea, black cherry, licorice, smoky, garrigue aromas but quite fiery. Big, round, fat, concentrated with intense black cherry jam, orange, plum, peppery, licorice, spicy mint flavours. Very good acidity, warm, huge fruit, good tannins. Big potential.Prices:| BC | $66.00 | 750ml |
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December 2007