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Tastings: January 2009
31 January 2009
88PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Platinum Series Gewürztraminer Organic 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSummerhill is getting a real handle on this variety offering up a dry floral spicy white with flecks of ginger and orange fruit. The Platinum level is all free run organic juice that is pungent but not oily or bitter. Impressive mango tangerine fruit flavours with fresh acidity to balance it all out. Think crab and black bean sauce.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Wild Goose Stony Slope Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCrisp dry fresh nose that is a bit less aromatic than previous editions. The entry is nervous with green apple skin and bitter notes with citrus and light floral notes in the finish. Leaner and a bit sour when compared to previous sweeter editions. Something in the middle would be best. Good if not great.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Wild Goose Gewurztraminer 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is pretty delicious stuff with its fresh demeanour and spicy litchi fruit flavours flecked with bits of rose petal. The finish is crisp with hint of lemon, tangerine and a touch of oil. A great food wine you can enjoy with many South Asian dishes.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quails' Gate Dry Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMuch like last year, the QG Dry is super fresh with floral, limey, grapefruit aromas and flavours and a touch of lees. The style is lip smacking fresh and dry and it screams for food. Plenty of citrus and mineral flecked flavours cleanse the palate prepare you for more food and wine. Try with assorted chicken or pork dishes.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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29 January 2009
84PTS
Arabella Shiraz 2007
Western Cape, South AfricaA very commercial shiraz with a heavy milk chocolate and vanilla undertone from front to back along with a dose of sugar too. A soft, inoffensive Yellow Tail look-a-like. Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Arabella Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Western Cape, South AfricaAlmost predictably rubbery on the nose (think inexpensive red) with bits of smoke and tar too, before the chocolate and juicy blackcurrant aromas and flavours kick in. Simple stuff that finishes dry.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Arabella Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Western Cape, South AfricaGooseberry, grapefruit, passion fruit, floral nose. Fresh, crisp, round, slightly sweet entry with light bell pepper, melon, grapefruit rind, passion fruit flavours. Easy sweet and sour style for food.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Lyngrove Collection Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaIntense roasted bell pepper, canned jalapeno, grassy, grapefruit rind aromas, very herbaceous style. Crisp, round, elegant, fresh palate with a hint of sweetness. Smoky, canned jalapeno, bell pepper, canned grapefruit rind, mineral flavours with a touch of green melon. Good textures and balance but a very herbaceous style. Solid value.Prices:| BC | $14.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Penascal Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Castilla-Leon, SpainFloral, mineral, grapefruit, almond, passion fruit aromas with a touch of cooked lemon. Fresh, crisp, dry, elegant palate with canned grapefruit, mineral, gooseberry, lees, nutty lemon flavours.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Peter Lehmann Clancy's Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008
South Australia, AustraliaLight fig, melon, grapefruit rind, lees, mineral, grassy aromas. Fresh, crisp, delicate style with grassy, grapefruit, mineral, green apple, lemon, passion fruit flavours. Simple, fresh, balanced style.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Excelsior Paddock Shiraz 2006
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaA bit ho hum with some smoky woody notes on the nose. The palate is a bit coarse with some acidity poking throughout and plenty of heat in the back end. The warm and acidic mid-palate tends to accentuate its dry leather Oz-like finish.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaSimilar to last year this smoky meaty red is warm and acidic on entry with fairly chunky tannins and a warm finish. Sweet and sour and dry, hardly a combination for success.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Schug Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Sonoma County, California, United StatesGreen apple, nettle, grapefruit, vanilla, butter aromas with a touch of asparagus and passion fruit. Crisp, round, elegant style with good texture. Grapefruit rind, vanilla, honey, melon, light lees, lemon, canned asparagus, nettle flavours. Good balance but finish is a bit rindy and sweet - could use a bit more extract.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Schug Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2007
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis multi-clone Carneros chardonnay gets the full treatment: both barrel fermented and sur-lie age it comes with a mouthful of texture and flavours. Look for nectarines honey and creamy citrus fruit flavours with just a touch of nutty lees in the back end. Rich and fresh it finishes long with bits of orange flecks and honey. Killer value here.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Nepenthe Tryst Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaGrapefruit, nettle, lemon thyme, passion fruit, guava, grassy, green fig aromas. Round, crisp, fresh palate with smoky, mineral, canned grapefruit, grassy, nettle, green melon, light lees and butter flavours. Good food style wine with some finesse although a touch austere.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Viña Chocalán Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileLots of grapefruit, gooseberry, lime, green passion fruit aromas. Crisp, round, slightly fat entry with grapefruit rind, passion fruit sorbet, gooseberry, smoky apple flavours. Good citrus intensity and balance if a bit one dimensional. Good value.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Lungarotti Torre di Giano 2007
Umbria, ItalySpicy, lemon, melon, floral, grassy, green apple aromas. Crisp, dry, round, elegant palate with grassy, smoky, mineral, lemon, green melon, almond, butter flavours. Good intensity but somewhat austere styling. Will be good with scallops or sole. Even better if it was in Stelvin.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $12.25 | 750ml |
| NF | $16.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Herder Josephine 2007
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMeaty, peppery, tobacco leaf, green olive, herbal, smoky, resin, sweaty saddle, savoury, light tomato leaf aromas. Dry, tight, fresh palate with gritty, cedar-y tannins. Big smoky oak, vanilla, resin, chocolate, espresso, sappy cassis, herbal, tobacco leaf, roasted tomato, cranberry, cedar, rooty flavours. Warm, tart, dry finish with green, stewed tea tannins and flavours. Needs time but will always be a bit too herby. The blend is 82 merlot, 11 cabernet sauvignon and 7 cabernet franc.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Clos du Soleil Red 2006
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, meaty, tobacco leaf, green olive, vanilla, caraway, vanilla, saddle leather, herbal aromas. Very soft, round, dry palate with light tannins. Cedar, sweet vanilla, milk chocolate, smoky, roasted coffee bean, bell pepper, tobacco leaf, resiny, herbal, green bean flavours. Has good finesse but very dry, oaky finish with some stewed green tea tannins.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Clos du Soleil White 2006
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSimple, clean nose with grapefruit rind, lemon oil, mineral, green apple aromas. Round, dry, full palate with grapefruit, butter, light vanilla, lemon oil, and citrus rind flavours with a bit of granny smith skin on the finish. Solid but warm and tart on the slightly skinny finish.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Howling Bluff Sin Cera 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChocolate, coffee, tobacco leaf, vanilla, dried herbal, candied cherry aromas. Dry, round, supple palate with big vanilla, sweet chocolate, coffee, cedar, tobacco, resin, rooty, Christmas pudding flavours. Warm and very oaky with some cherry jam notes. Not a lot of varietal or regional character for the price. Prices:| BC | $33.40 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Product of CanadaGrapefruit rind, mineral, ginger, floral, candied apple nose. Round, off dry, warm, slightly oily texture with cooked grapefruit, butter, melon, leesy flavours. Simple, fat style with a hot finish.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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25 January 2009
89PTS
Lungarotti Rubesco Vigna Monticchio 2003
Umbria, ItalyMeaty, peppery, smoky, spicy, black cherry, saddle leather, cedar, vanilla and resin aromas with a touch of cooked carrot and barnyard. Round, dry, supple, elegant palate with light tannins. Smoky, vanilla, meaty, peppery, saddle leather, tobacco, savoury and black cherry flavours with a touch of barnyard and rooty licorice on the finish. Good balance and quite soft, needs 2-4 years to integrate the oak but drink now with lamb shank or pork.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $49.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $42.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Lungarotti San Giorgio 2003
Umbria, ItalyPeppery, floral, meaty, cassis jam, black cherry, smoky, resin, barnyard, tobacco, spicy, clove, vanilla and cedar aromas. Round, rich, elegant, dry palate with smooth grained tannins and good acidity. Cassis, black cherry, peppery, smoky, gamey, resin, vanilla, cedar, tobacco, meaty, floral, minty, clove flavours with some coffee and herbs on the finish. Good balance and intensity, will improve over the next 2-5 years but ripe enough to drink now with rare beef or veal.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $68.00 | 750ml |
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23 January 2009
89PTS
Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay 2005
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United StatesLemon butter, pineapple, peach, vanilla, spicy lees aromas with a touch of baked pear and nuts. Round, dry, full bodied style with a slightly oily texture. Nutty, spicy lees, light garlic, lemon, baked apple, pineapple, creamy green apple flavours. Good intensity in a somewhat mature, older style that will appeal to many. Drink now with crab or sautéed prawns.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
El Burro Kickass Shiraz 2006
Bullas, Valencia and Murcia, SpainMeaty, gamey, peppery, rooty, licorice, blackberry jam, tobacco and smoky mineral aromas. Ripe, round, dry, full-bodied style but very warm with light tannins. Big black cherry jam, plum, licorice, peppery, rooty, meaty, chocolate flavours. A bit tart and hot on the finish but has lots of fruit and stuffing to take a the lamb or beef stew. Like its grenache mate, good value.Prices:| NS | $13.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Emiliana Adobe Chardonnay Reserva Orgánico 2008
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileBig grapefruit, green apple skin, floral, pear nose with some butter in the background. Crisp, fresh, round, elegant style with a touch of sweetness but balanced. Light butter, peach skin, green apple, baked pear, grapefruit, grassy, melon flavours. Simple but elegant and fresh with good texture. Solid value here for consumers as a sipper or with food. VOE Vinedos Orgánicos Emiliana is an independent company within the Concha y Toro group.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Charlotte's 2007
Sonoma County, California, United StatesGrapefruit rind, nettle, lemon, herbal, gooseberry nose with a floral note. Round, slightly oily and sweet palate. Canned grapefruit, green apple, grassy, lemon thyme, nettle and light bell pepper flavours. Finish has good acidity albeit in a slightly heavier sweeter style. Not a fresh as it could be.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $24.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2007
California, United StatesFloral, grapefruit, gooseberry, melon, grassy pear nose. Round, somewhat sweet, easy style with pink grapefruit, melon, kiwi, grassy flavours. Good acidity and delicacy but somewhat commercial. Solid, introductory style for consumers at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $15.85 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.50 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $16.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
South Australia, AustraliaBlack olive, tobacco, rooty, spicy, cassis, leather, prune and cedar bark aromas. Dry, slightly tannic but elegant palate if a bit light and tight. Resin, coffee, black olive, cherry, cassis flavours with an earthy, tobacco, herbal finish. Simple, easy style for food.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $19.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $19.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeach, floral, honey, lees, light garlic nose with a touch of citrus and buttery vanilla. Crisp, dry, elegant, somewhat taut style. Lees, spicy, grassy, lemon, green apple skin, garlic, waxy, mineral flavours. A bit austere with a touch of bitterness on the finish but a good food wine. Needs a year or so to soften. Good value for British Columbia and surely a pinot blanc leader.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Howling Bluff Pinot Noir 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, peppery, floral, cedar nose with bits of worsteshire, black cherry, cola aroma. Soft, round, dry, elegant palate with earthy, orange peel, cherry, rhubarb, smoky, resin, cedar and tobacco leaf flavours. Finish is a bit warm and tart but with some finesse. Headed down the right path.Prices:| BC | $26.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2005
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesCherry jam, rooty, smoky, barnyard, stewed rhubarb, meaty, sauvage nose. Dry, elegant, supple, light palate with just a hint of tannin and good acidity. Plum, smoky, rooty, licorice, resin, black cherry, tobacco leaf, meaty, spicy compost flavours. A tad leafy and green on the finish but offers good New World pinot character in a balanced effort at a fair price.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield's Collection Merlot 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, plum, cherry, black olive, rooty, cedar, smoky coffee nose with a bit of leather and tobacco leaf. Dry, tight, slightly tannic palate but elegant if a big tart. Black olive, licorice, smoky, tobacco, savoury, cedar, cherry, dill flavours with a resin and leather finish. A bit oaky and tart, this should improve over the next 1-3 years.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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22 January 2009
87PTS
Monte Antico Toscano 2004
Santa Lucia, Pisa, Tuscany, ItalyMonte Antico is a proprietary label of Neil & Maria Empson a wine they have been involved with for now more than 30 years. The sangiovese under the baton of maestro Franco Bernabei carries minor percentages of merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Look for a smoky, meaty, gamey nose with flecks of pepper, saddle leather, some black olive and plum notes in the back. Round, dry, supple, slightly tight palate with good acidity. Cherry, black olive, smoky, meaty, peppery, resin, tobacco and carrot flavours with a rooty, gamey finish. Solid sangiovese with a bit of a rustic attitude to go with tomato and meat dishes.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $17.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Sainte - Croix Syrah - Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FrancePruny, peppery, cooked raspberry, cinnamon, tobacco, roasted meat aromas. Ripe, round, supple, fresh palate with light tannins. Raspberry jam, peppery, spicy, clove, cinnamon, meaty, licorice root and vanilla flavours. A bit warm but with some finesse. An affordable, good value food wine.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
La Mano Mencia Roble 2006
Bierzo, Castilla-Leon, SpainOxidized, retaste.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Matchbook Dunnigan Hills Syrah 2006
Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California, United StatesMeaty, peppery, tobacco leaf, menthol, cooked carrot, spicy, black cherry aromas with a dried herb note. Dry, tart, somewhat lean palate with light tannins. Very hot with smoky, meaty, peppery, earthy, tobacco, savoury, coffee grind flavours. Very commercial and very tart with acidity poking through on the finish. This wine has come down drastically in price but the quality would suggest it needed to. Simple American red wine made in a pseudo-Oz style.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Graham Beck Shiraz Viognier 2006
Coastal Region, South AfricaThe shiraz and viognier are co-fermented to heighten the spice and floral notes in the front end by winemaker Pieter Ferreira, in essence making it a bit more approachable. The nose is a mix of smoked meat and white pepper with a barnyard, cigar, savoury undercurrent. Super soft, round, ripe, slightly sweet and hot palate with more smoky, resin, peppery, sausage meat, saddle leather flavours with some very ripe fruit. Extremely warm and slightly tart finish flecked with liquorice violets and dried fruit flavours. Ageing takes place in a combination of 30% new French and American oak barrels for 13 months. Very new world style.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Joseph Drouhin Laforet Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2006
Burgundy, FranceSmoky, tobacco leaf, herbal, cedar nose with a floral, raspberry note. Dry, soft, elegant, slightly lean palate with rhubarb, herbal, tobacco leaf, sour cherry, cedar bark, mineral flavours. Finish is light and fresh but not much body. A bit green for pinot. Ordinary French pinot at a not so ordinary price.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Michel Torino Cuma Organic Malbec 2008
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaBig tobacco leaf, peppery, celery salt, black cherry, floral, dried herb, savoury aromas. Fresh, supple, round, ripe palate. Plum, cherry, poultry spice, tobacco leaf, cedar, riparian, mushroom, herbal flavours. Solid "food" wine, for the money, as in its needs a bit of protein to smooth out the edges.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $12.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir 2007
Central Otago, South Island, New ZealandCelery salt, carrot top, thyme, spicy, tobacco leaf, black cherry, mineral aromas with a touch of smoky oak and vanilla. Fresh, soft, round, elegant palate with spicy, thyme, carrot, mineral, rhubarb, black cherry, orange peel, celery root flavours and a smoky, garrigue finish. Good solid, uncomplicated pinot fruit from Otago and well balanced. Fun to drink and fair value for New World pinot.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Norton Privada 2005
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaA blend of 40/30/30 malbec/merlot/cabernet sauvignon. Big spicy, black plum, cherry jam, savoury, orange peel, vanilla, licorice, minty, peppery nose, very good fruit. Ripe, round, smooth and supple with light tannins. Peppery, smoky, licorice, black cherry jam, plum, vanilla, dried herbs, savoury, minty, orange peel, mocha and chocolate flavours with a bit of tobacco and anise. A warm finish but it is very suave with great fruit and acidity. Drink now but will improve over the next few years. Very good value.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $26.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Schug Pinot Noir Carneros 2006
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSpicy, licorice, rooty, cedar, black cherry, orange nose with bits of vanilla and floral/plum aromas. Dry, tight, slightly tannic but elegant palate with good acidity. Tobacco leaf, compost, cherry, spicy, plum, mineral, vanilla, cola, licorice root flavours with a bit of meaty, cedar bark, herbal finish. Still youthful but it should soften up nicely over the next year or two.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $36.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $21.00 | 375ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 375ml |
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86PTS
Finca Las Moras Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006
Valle del Tulum, San Juan, ArgentinaSpicy, cassis, peppery, black olive, black berry, chocolate, tobacco, earthy nose with a savoury, meaty streak. Round, dry, supple palate with light tannins and fresh acidity. Chalky, cassis, black cherry, peppery, spicy, licorice, black olive and tobacco flavours. A bit dry and tart on the finish but has good intensity. Needs a year in bottle or try with roast beef or stews.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Talamonti Moda Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Abruzzo, ItalyLicorice, spicy, resin, floral, cherry, meaty, peppery, saddle leather nose. Round, supple, full bodied style with good acidity. Bright cherry, plum, spicy, licorice, rooty, smoky, meaty, peppery flavours. Good solid fruit core if a bit rustic but has good intensity to go with food. Very solid effort and value.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Lungarotti Giubilante 2005
Umbria, ItalySpicy, black cherry, black plum, licorice, black olive nose with peppery, tobacco, wild game notes. The entry is round and supple with slightly grippy tannins at the back. Look for smoke and pepper with black cherry fruit, licorice, resin, vanilla and plums with a touch of sausage, saddle leather and dried herbs and dill on the finish. Good intensity and concentration with some ripe fruit. There are some light tannin to shed over the next year or so but try with a beef steak or lamb chops now. The blend is syram, merlot and sangiovese.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lungarotti Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano 2004
Umbria, ItalyVery peppery, cedar, black olive, smoky, gamey, black cherry aromas with a touch of leather and rose. Dry, round, full, slightly tight palate but balanced. Smoky, tobacco, licorice, meaty, peppery, cherry, plum, spicy black olive flavours. A much fresher, more modern and elegant version than last vintage and solid for grilled meat accompaniment. Well done.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $16.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesMeaty, peppery, pruny, cedar, tobacco, barnyard, cassis, earthy aromas. Round, dry palate with moderate body and light tannins. Cedar, earthy, smoky, meaty, pruny, tobacco, resin, earthy flavours with a bit of saddle leather and smoky oak resin on the finish. Standard stuff that could be a bit cleaner and richer for the price.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $21.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chanson Le Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2005
Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceSpicy, floral, tobacco leaf, cherry, meaty, rooty, cedar bark aromas. Dry, tight, elegant but somewhat austere on the palate. Cedar bark, floral, rooty, tobacco leaf, rhubarb, sour cherry, orange peel flavours. Bright and elegant.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Sumac Ridge Merlot Cabernet Private Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOlive, dill, spicy, coffee, tobacco leaf, saddle leather and leafy, cedar aromas. Soft, round, easy palate with similar flavours and a bit of butter and stewed tomato. Somewhat green and light but easy. Simple stuff at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Sumac Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sage Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTobacco leaf, barnyard, leather, cassis, spicy, coffee, mocha, earthy, olive, dill nose with a bit of smoky bell pepper. Dry, round, slightly lean but elegant palate. Earthy, herbal, smoky coffee, bell pepper, tobacco leaf, vanilla flavours with stewed green tea and resin on the finish.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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18 January 2009
89PTS
Famille Perrin Vacqueyras Les Christins 2006
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThere is nothing shy about this powerful red grenache that contains about 25 per cent syrah fruit. The nose is floral with spicy red fruits and liquorice notes. The palate a similar mix of earthy, woodsy gamey, coriander fruit spiked with black raspberry swirls. Still youthful and will need another year or two in the cellar or serve with roasted or grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.15 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $19.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
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15 January 2009
88PTS
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris 2007
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSpicy, pear, citrus, light nectarine and slate aromas with a touch of melon and lees. Fresh, round, elegant, slightly oily palate with a touch of sweetness but good acidity. Lime, melon, spicy, pear, honey flavours. Good New World style with fruit and balance. Solid value and a fine effort.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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12 January 2009
88PTS
Alamos Seleccion Malbec 2007
La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBig peppery, floral, black cherry, tobacco leaf nose with a meaty, roasted mushroom, chocolate undercurrent. Ripe, round, rich, supple palate with good balance. Peppery, savoury, smoky, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco leaf, plum, cedar, barnyard flavours. A bit warm but ready to drink with attractive fruit.Prices:| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Arniston Bay Shiraz Merlot 2007
Western Cape, South AfricaBig smoky, peppery, sweaty saddle leather, meaty, tobacco, barnyard nose. Soft, round and ready to drink but warm and tart. Peppery, tobacco leaf, barnyard, meaty, black berry jam, smoky, resin and Band-Aid flavours. Best with food. Simple and affordable.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
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11 January 2009
86PTS
Croix du Mayne Cahors 2005
Cahors, Sud-Ouest, FranceEarthy, somewhat reduced nose with black cherry, resiny tobacco leaf and floral notes. The entry is dry, round and acidic with dry but light tannins. Look for black cherry, earthy, spicy, mineral, licorice root flavours with a tart finish. This one needs a cassoulet but it is more modern in style than in the past.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cape Jaffa Unwooded Chardonnay 2008
Mount Benson, Limestone Coast, South Australia, AustraliaCape Jaffa has completed a four year conversion to bio-dynamic farming. It seems to have had a positive effect on this fresh, unwooded chardonnay with the creamy textures. The nose is bright and aromatic, the palate a mix of green melons pineapple and honey fruit with green apple core. Impressive balance and length for a non-wooded wine.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Gemtree Vineyards Bloodstone Shiraz Viognier 2007
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaBig spicy, floral, orange peel, coffee, chocolate, blackberry jam nose with a soft, round, supple palate, light tannins and fresh acidity. Lots of blackberry, plum, milk chocolate, licorice, orange rind, peppery, tobacco leaf flavours. Fresh acidity but good balance and dry with some light tannin to go with pork or turkey. Solid value.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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09 January 2009
88PTS
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2007
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMineral, baked apple skin scents flecked with vanilla, garlic lees, butter and citrus aromas. Fresh, round, off-dry palate with some viscosity. Vanilla, buttery, spicy lees, garlic, baked peach, baked apple, waxy, grapefruit flavours with a butterscotch and orange finish. A touch of austerity but otherwise solid and well made. Try with halibut.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $34.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Ricossa Barbaresco 2004
Piedmont, ItalyRich spicy, liquorice root, black cherry, mineral, saddle leather nose with tobacco and cedar notes. Ripe, round, dry palate with supple but grainy tannins and juicy acidity. Black cherry, plum, licorice, resin, peppery, savoury, spicy, leather, tobacco flavours. A touch rustic but otherwise solid fruit and extract. Will improve over the next few years but drinkable with beef or lamb now. Fantastic value for Barbaresco.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Le Clos Jordanne Les Grand Clos Chardonnay 2006
Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaImpressive hazelnut, mineral, spicy, leesy nose with vanilla, butter, floral, lemon aromas and bits of baked green apple. Fresh, round, rich, elegant, crisp palate with a touch of oiliness but good finesse and much better extract than the rest of the lineup. Green apple, nutty, lees, waxy, salty, lemon, mineral, pear, butterscotch flavours. Good intensity and length with some delicacy if a bit overly leesy. Will improve over the next year or so. Well done, and clearly a star.Prices:| ON | $65.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2006
Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaCreamy, nutty, lemon, spicy lees, honey, grassy aromas with a green apple skin and floral note. Fresh, round, dry, crisp and elegant palate. Very nutty, lemon, mineral, green apple, spicy, anise flavours with an oily, lemon butter, hazelnut finish. Austere but refined and designed for seafood like sole or turbot. Will improve over the next year or so.Prices:| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaCorked, try another.Prices:| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $41.75 | 750ml |
| MB | $44.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaMineral, nutty, leesy, garlic, butter, spicy, lemon, waxy nose with a bit of apple skin and artichoke. Fresh, dry, tart entry with some good viscosity but again like the last edition, it is a bit austere. Lemon, granny smith, garlic, lees, nutty, waxy, mineral, vanilla flavours. Very leesy, taut style - needs some time. Must be served with food at this point.Prices:| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sandhill Chardonnay Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight vanilla, lees, cream, baked apple, citrus aromas with a touch of pineapple. Round, soft, slightly sweet style with oatmeal, vanilla, butterscotch, citrus, baked apple flavours with an oily texture. A bit too sweet and oily on the finish, with cooked pineapple, but it can be an attractive style for a lot of consumers.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Peller Estates Heritage Series Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFlinty, buttery, matchstick, lees, green apple skin, citrus rind aroma. Fresh, round, slightly sweet entry with mineral, butter, lees, apple skin, bitter citrus rind flavours. Simple, forward style that is best with food.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.50 | 750ml |
| SK | $12.29 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Calona Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay Artist Series Reserve 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaButter, melon, grapefruit, floral, cooked green apple aromas. Oily, fresh, round, slightly sweet entry but also a bit tart. Melon rind, bitter grapefruit, buttery, green apple skin flavours. Warm, tart finish. Simple.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
JoieFarm Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig canned lychee, grapefruit, floral, butter, pineapple, vanilla lees aromas. Ripe, fat, round, slightly oily but chalky palate with light to medium concentration. Bitter grapefruit, mineral, leesy, buttery, honey, lychee, floral, muscat, lemon peel flavours. Crisp, dry, oily finish but somewhat hard and leesy with a tart edge.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Blue Mountain Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight garlic, lees, spicy, green apple aromas but very muted with a smoky note. The entry is dry, tart, and austere on the palate with mineral, slate, green apple skin, smoky, herbal, grassy, garlic flavours. Somewhat bitter, tart finish and lacking in concentration. It should improve in bottle but style is tight and severe.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2005
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaLight yellow. Nutty, leesy, garlic, baked peach, dried herb aromas. Dry, round, full-bodies but austere style. Very nutty, lees, lemon oil, mineral, citrus, garlic, vanilla flavours with a bit of cooked grapefruit and bitterness in the finish. Fine intensity but too much alcohol for the overall structure and weight of this wine. A promising start.Prices:| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Thirty Bench Small Lot Chardonnay 2006
Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaOpen leesy, garlic, spicy, floral nose with green apple skin, lemon peel and nutty notes. Fresh, crisp, round, delicate style with green apple, garlic, nectarine skin, lemon, grassy, mineral, butterscotch, leesy, bready flavours. Good finesse and balance, just a bit light on extract with an austere, tight edge. Definitely needs some fish or poultry excel.Prices:| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLeesy, spicy, light vanilla, cooked peach, orange, buttery aromas with a floral note. Dry, elegant, slightly oily palate with hazelnut, oily, leesy, garlic, baked apple skin flavours with a touch of vanilla and orange rind. Tight, dry finish with a touch of bitterness but good finesse. Still on the young side but it will continue to improve in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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08 January 2009
86PTS
Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc 2007
South Australia, AustraliaThe latest sauvignon blanc from Oxford is similar to the 07: crisp dry and grassy with mouth-watering acidity. It's made for food and those who appreciate the crisp,clean, tart, limon, grassy style. Think potato salads, cold chicken and seafood.Prices:| BC | $11.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $10.30 | 750ml |
| MB | $11.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $12.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Reserva 2006
Mendoza, ArgentinaPeppery, smoky, roasted mushroom, tobacco, waxy, barnyard, rooty, black cherry, saddle leather aromas. Rich, round, supple palate with light tannins and bright acidity. Black cherry, plum, peppery, savoury, tobacco, leather, chocolate, earthy, mineral flavours. Good solid malbec with some finesse for near term consumption.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Lambrusco di Modena Amabile NV
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, ItalyFizzy sweet red wine with liquorice, cherry cola aromas and flavours. I suppose there is someone for every wine but I'm not sure who that would be for this specialty. Soft, round and sweet but it doesn't have much more going for it.Prices:| AB | $11.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers Rouge 2006
Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceRich spicy, smoky, black cherry jam nose with tobacco, resin, liquorice and meaty garrigue notes. They style is supple and forward with good body and finesse. Dark plum, smoky, garrigue, peppery, tobacco, floral, rooty, oxo meat flavours. Well balanced for current consumption but will improve with 1-3 years bottle age. Good acidity and alcohol balance. Very good value.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay 2006
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesButtery, nutty, honey lees, floral, creamy vanilla, and baked green apple and pear skin aromas with a touch of butterscotch. Rich, round, slightly fat and oily texture but good finesse with moderate acidity and alcohol. Spicy, creamy, nutty lees, green apple skin, buttery, honey and vanilla flavours. Good complexity but a bit short and light. Very solid styling and good value.Prices:| BC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Osoyoos Larose 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe most recent release and the finest yet reveal a definite combination of Bordeaux styling and Okanagan ripe fruit. Typically spicy with tobacco, coffee, smoky leather and black olive nose streaked with black cherry, poultry spice, vanilla and liquorice aromas with a touch of coriander. Dry, and as moderately rich as Paschal Madevon will allow, this version is ripe and warm on the palate with grainy, supple tannins. Coffee, cedar, vanilla, spicy, pepper, cassis, black cherry and savoury, black olive saturate the mid-palate. There is fine aromatics and balance with an unexpected suppleness (yeah). The finish has a savoury dark chocolate undertone. This will surely benefit from 4-8 years bottle age but expect it to tighten up for the next few years before re-emerging in 2012-2014.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Erath Pinot Noir 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesBeet root, earthy, compost, tobacco, cherry, smoky, celery salt and resin aromas. Dry, round, supple palate with light extract. Rhubarb, compost, tobacco, cherry, resin, rooty, herbal flavours. Easy going forward style for current consumption.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandGrapefruit, gooseberry, smoky jalapeno, grassy, green apple nose. Fresh, crisp, elegant style with grassy, nettle, grapefruit, lemon, smoky pepper flavours. Good solid style just on the herbaceous side.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mount Riley Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandGrapefruit rind, smoky, green apple, gooseberry aromas with a touch of melon and kiwi. Fresh, round, crisp, elegant palate with grassy, lemon, grapefruit rind, mineral and gooseberry flavours. A racy style with a bit of green melon rind on the finish. Well done.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
See Ya Later Ranch Semillon Barrel Fermented 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada.Grassy, herbal, grapefruit nose with buttery, leesy, honey, lemon peel notes and a touch of vanilla and diacetyl. Dry, round and elegant on the palate with buttery, grassy, herbal, grapefruit flavours. The finish is a mix of mineral and vanilla notes. Try this one with squid.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Sumac Ridge Meritage Red Black Sage Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, savoury, tobacco leaf, pudding, resin, crushed herbs, saddle leather, coffee, black cherry arom s with a touch of cassis, green olive and tomato leaf. Dry, round, supple palate with light tannins. Peppery, dried herbs, cedar bark, coffee, dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, olive, resin, stewed tea flavours with some black cherry and bell pepper notes. Balanced, forward style but still a bit green. Solid effort considering its 45 per cent cabernet sauvignon content.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sumac Ridge Meritage Blanc Black Sage Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaButter, fig, grassy, grapefruit, honey, vanilla, melon and lees aromas. Dry, round, elegant palate if a touch soft and oily. Pink grapefruit, honey, vanilla, lees, buttery, spicy, butterscotch flavours with a touch of granny smith and roasted nuts on the finish. Good finesse and balance, just lacks a bit of verve and extra concentration.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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07 January 2009
88PTS
Pewsey Vale Individual Vineyard Selection Riesling 2007
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBright floral, peach skin, lime, mineral, slate, honey aromas with a touch of guava. Fresh, dry, crisp palate with slate, Vaseline, grassy, lime rind, lemon, mineral, butter and peach skin flavours. A touch heavier and more austere than the Prima edition but should be attractive with food, perhaps halibut with a fruit salsa or scallops.Prices:| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Dr. L Riesling 2007
Mosel, GermanyPale yellow colour. Mature nose of petrol, slate, green apple skin, and floral, citrus aromas. Fresh, fat, round palate with light sweetness and moderate creamy acidity. Orange, baked green apple, lime, mineral, petrol, slate flavours. A bit ripe and blousy but shows better acidity and length on the finish. An excellent buy in Ontario.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pewsey Vale Individual Vineyard Selection Prima Riesling 2007
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBottled under Vino-Loc and picked early to maintain acidity and a refreshing lower alcohol of 9.5%. Floral, lime, light slate, mineral, green apple, peach pit aromas. Crisp, round, fresh, delicate palate with creamy acidity. Green apple, peach pit, lime, floral, mineral, juicy flavours. Very fresh, balanced style with just a bit of sweetness to balance the acidity. Fine effort, like a good Kabinett. Try with lox, gravlax or fresh sole.Prices:| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Pewsey Vale Museum Release The Contours Riesling Individual Vineyard Selection 2002
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBig creamy, smoky, petrol, lime, honey, nutty, lemon oil aromas with a floral streak. Crisp, dry, slightly austere palate with good creamy acidity and finesse. Lime, lemon oil, smoky, petrol, mineral, dried herbs, buttery, Granny Smith flavours. A more austere style with good finesse and great aging ability. Best with food like sole, squid or sablefish. Nice refinement, definitely improves with bottle age.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pewsey Vale Individual Vineyard Selection Pinot Gris 2007
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaVery floral, perfume, lees, mineral, pear skin, melon aromas with a touch of matchstick. Ripe, round, elegant, warm, dry palate with creamy acidity and a touch of oiliness. Lime, butter, mineral, grapefruit, pear, grassy flavours with excellent intensity. Viscous texture that finishes a bit tart. Best with food.Prices:| US | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yalumba Riesling Y Series 2007
South Australia, AustraliaLemon oil, slate, lime, grapefruit, grassy, honey aromas with herbal, petrol notes. Crisp, round, dry palate but elegant and light. Buttery, petrol, slate, baked apple skin, lime, lemon peel flavours. Slightly fat finish but solid for food or sipping.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Mesh Eden Valley Riesling 2007
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaStrong lime, floral, peach, red apple, mineral, guava aromas. Dry, crisp, fresh, round, slightly austere palate but very refined and elegant and dry. Creamy, mineral, slate, lime, lemon, peach pit, granny smith skin, smoky flavours. Delicate, crisp, creamy finish. Fine effort, will improve in bottle over the next 5 years.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $38.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $38.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lingenfelder Riesling Bird Series 2007
Pfalz, GermanySlate, orange, peach, ripe apple, lime, floral aromas. Crisp, round, moderately dry and elegant palate. Orange, lime, smoky, buttery, grapefruit, granny smith apple flavours. Good juicy acidity on the finish in a somewhat dryer style for food.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Zuccardi Textual Caladoc 2007
Mendoza, ArgentinaCaladoc is a French cross of grenache and malbec with a smoky, peppery, plum, black cherry, tobacco, menthol nose. The entry is round, dry, supple, slightly tannic palate with juicy acidity. Bright cherry, black plum, peppery, spicy, savoury, tobacco leaf, compost, menthol, herbal flavours. A tad dry and tart on the finish but good juicy fruit flavours to balance.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Thirty Bench Red 2006
Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaSmoky, peppery, tobacco leaf, black olive, vanilla, roasted tomato, light cassis, barnyard and cherry aromas. Dry, somewhat tart, slightly chewy entry. Smoky, leather, peppery, resin, earthy, meaty, Band-Aid, cassis, tomato leaf and roasted bell pepper flavours. Decent finesse but somewhat green, stewed and tart on the finish.Prices:| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Merlot 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTobacco leaf, cranberry, earthy, smoky, resin, black olive, dried herb aromas. Dry, round, supple, elegant, slightly tart entry with cherry, smoky coffee, oaky vanilla, resin, herbal, tobacco and olive flavours with a cedar streak. Good textures but somewhat green and oaky.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, cranberry, peppery, compost, meaty, saddle leather aromas. Dry, slightly austere palate with slight tannins but some elegance. Cranberry, cherry, tobacco leaf, smoky dried herbs, olive, compost, orange peel flavours with a smoky, vanilla, resin, and tart finish.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pétales d'Osoyoos 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA year plus on now, this wine has substantially improved. Smoky, peppery, coffee, black olive, prune, tobacco leaf, cedar aromas lead to a dry, round, smooth and supple palate. Tobacco, coffee, black cherry jam, licorice, herbal, prune and smoke flavours. Shows good finesse and ready to drink but will hold or improve for 2-3 years. Very encouraging for what is essentially a second label.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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05 January 2009
89PTS
Rolf Binder Hubris Shiraz Mataro 2006
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaVery peppery, smoky, meaty, blackberry, chocolate, espresso aroma with a floral, cedar, plum note. Rich, dry, round, slightly tannic, grainy palate. Cedar, five spice, mocha, tobacco, blackberry jam, smoky, meaty, cardamom, vanilla flavours. Dry, slightly tart and tannic finish. Young with good intensity but a bit hot and acidic on the edge - perhaps a few years will balance out.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $56.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rolf Binder Halcyon Cabernet Merlot 2006
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaTobacco, earthy, cassis, rooty, peppery, floral, spicy nose with a touch of cardamom. Dry, round, elegant, supple palate with peppery, cassis, black cherry, tobacco, coffee, chocolate flavours. Dry, fresh finish with a touch of tobacco leaf. Well balanced, attractive style for current consumption.Prices:| US | $17.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rolf Binder Hanisch Shiraz 2006
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBig vanilla, cedar, peppery, poultry spice, blueberry, blackberry, milk chocolate, coffee, floral aromas with a licorice, meaty, gamey note. Dry, full, rich, round palate with light, grainy tannins but a touch of acidity. Cooked plum, blackberry, coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate, tobacco, cedar, meaty, licorice root and mineral flavours. Fine fruit intensity and balance but the finish is a bit tart and hot. Needs a few years to round out.Prices:| BC | $120.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Rolf Binder Helios Semillon 2007
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaGrapefruit, nutty, gooseberry, grassy, spicy, floral, buttery nose with a touch of lime and quince. Ripe, round, fresh, elegant palate with juicy acidity. Nutty, leesy, buttery, grapefruit rind, hay, dried fig, gooseberry, and mineral flavours. Ready to go and a good solid drink for seafood or chicken. Great value with the added attraction of being different from the norm in chardonnay or sauvignon.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mt. Boucherie Estate Collection Semillon 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOrange, spicy, grapefruit, lees, mineral, grassy aromas. Dry, round, elegant, juicy palate with grapefruit, jalapeno, grassy, orange, creamy lees, nutty, gooseberry flavours. Good intensity and acidity with some maturity but some life ahead. Well made and balanced. Good value. Well done. I would love to see this under screwcap and just after it's bottled - the new Australian style.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Heartland Shiraz 2006
Langhorne Creek - Limestone Coast, South Australia, AustraliaStarts somewhat reduced but then opens with coffee bean, vanilla, peppery, licorice, floral, blueberry, black cherry and resin aromas. Dry, fresh, round palate with a touch of warmth. Peppery, spicy, blueberry, menthol, rooty, chalky, coffee, tobacco and saddle leather flavours. Solid effort. Splash decant for best results and serve with a leg of lamb.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Catamongst the Pigeons Nine Lives Shiraz 2006
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSpicy, white pepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla, coffee, blackberry, blueberry, floral aromas with a touch of grilled meat. Rich, round, supple, somewhat fat but tart palate but velvety. Lots of vanilla, peppery, black cherry jam, coffee, chocolate, tobacco flavours. Good fruit intensity but very warm on the finish and a bit tart. Solid effort and fruity for those who like the style.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Henry's Drive Vignerons Pillar Box Reserve Shiraz 2006
Padthaway, South Australia, AustraliaSomewhat reduced nose with licorice, peppery, tobacco, rooty, menthol, black cherry, floral, coffee aromas. Rich, round, supple and smooth palate. Milk chocolate, peppery, licorice, vanilla, prunes, blackberry jam and tobacco flavours. Very hedonistic, overripe style and great fruit but quite alcoholic at 16 percent. Not for the timid.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $18.54 | 750ml |
| NF | $17.21 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Peter Lehmann The Futures Shiraz 2005
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaA fine improvement over the '04. Spicy, peppery, cedar, pencil lead, licorice, coffee, vanilla, blackberry jam, chocolate aromas with floral notes. Rich, ripe, round, dry palate with light tannins but supple and warm. Vanilla, peppery, cedar, milk chocolate, coffee, blackberry, prune, licorice and tobacco flavours with a touch of mint and clove. Good fruit intensity and length with a warm finish and just a touch of acidity poking through.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $33.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $30.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $37.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2006
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaLicorice, light rubber, black cherry, spicy, peppery, floral, menthol, blueberry nose. Soft, round, supple, easy style with gamey, tobacco, peppery, spicy, mineral, resin, coffee and blueberry flavours. Fine balance despite a bit of heat on the finish. Good value and styling here without excessive acidity.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
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04 January 2009
93PTS
Highland Estate Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesHawkeye Mountain is K-J's signature Alexander Mountain property. Planted from 900 to 2200 feet above sea level the vineyard is often busy ripening fruit above the fog line. Big brawny and spicy it mixes tobacco and black cherry fruit with bits of liquorice, black olives and cassis. This mountain fruit and the clone 4 and 7 cabernets fruit is small and packed full of fruit and tannins. Love the long rich savoury aftertaste. Made for the next decade but you can tackle this with a steak later this year.Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $60.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Highland Estate Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesTrace Ridge comes off the beige and blonde volcanic soils of Kellogg Vineyard some 400 - 1000 feet above sea level in Knights Valley. Trace is a mix of spicy florals and with bits of coffee and blackberry fruit streaked with young wood and vanilla. The tannins are chalky and substantial but rounder the style more voluptuous than Hawkeye. The fruit is blend of mountainside blocks aged in 99 per cent French oak which a little over one third is new. The Trace name alludes to vineyard's position overlooking the original "Trace," or settler's path that linked Sonoma County to Lake County.Prices:| US | $78.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $90.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Highland Estate Taylor Peak Merlot 2006
Bennett Valley, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesTaylor Peak is 100 per cent Bennett Valley grown fruit that spends 17 months in French oak of which 37 per cent is new. Look for cool blueberry black fruit and blueberries with bits of tobacco, spice, compost chocolate and liquorice. Impressive styling that focuses on mountain fruit giving it power but with Bordeaux Right Bank-like finesse. You can easily drink or hold this merlot for a decade. Well done and fine value.Prices:| ON | $49.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $63.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $49.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Highland Estates Alisos Hills Syrah 2007
Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesAustralian Peter Fraser who makes K-J's high end Australian labels in McLaren Vale is helping out with the Alisos Hills Syrah grown at 700 to 1000 feet above sea level in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County. The 07 is extremely dark in colour with smoky, floral, red fruit aromas. On the palate the textures are rich and sexy with more black fruit meaty flavours and powerful tannins barrelled in 78 per cent French oak. Ripe dense fruit is the theme throughout. First rate American syrah. Ullom says he's getting great results from growing two extra canes that fool the vine in to thinking grape bunch production is sufficient. The result is smaller berries and when the canes are cut it's too late to do anything but ripen the fruit.Prices:| BC | $47.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $43.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $43.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Highland Estates Camelot Highlands Chardonnay 2007
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesCamelot Highlands is all Block M, a 100-per cent clone four chardonnay plantation on the Santa Maria Bench. The nose is a sensational mix of oatmeal, subtle oak and vanilla with bits of spicy butter and mineral orange flecks. The palate is a creamy mix of pineapple, papaya, citrusy lime notes along with a spicy, creamy caramel/crème brûlée finish. Perhaps the best finesse yet with only 55 per cent new French oak in the barrel ferment. A team effort from the nursery to the vineyard to the barrel making and it is all coming together in the wine. A first class chardonnay that over delivers for the price.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $37.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| US | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 2006
Napa - Sonoma, California, United StatesThe Grand Reserve is now mostly a Sonoma blend and it remains a big glossy sexy version of this classic California. Look for a ripe, toasted black fruits and blueberry with soft round mid-palate textures more like the '04 and a mocha cedar finish. After all is said and done the GR cab is made form only 1.5 percent of all the KJ cab lots. The '06 contains 95 per cent plus cabernet aged in 90 per cent French oak of which about one third is new. Classic, generous New World style red. Good value at this price point.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $52.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Kendall-Jackson Merlot Grand Reserve 2006
Sonoma - Napa, California, United StatesWith 88 per cent French oak and 33 per cent of that new the GR Merlot is evolving into a pretty serious red wine. It' still true to the GR style, glossy and USA USA, but with some subtleties creeping in the mid-palate and back end. Look for a ripe fruit nose flecked with cedar and dried herbs. The flavours are a spicy mix of plums coffee, tobacco with a dusting of minerality and floral notes. A rich glossy style with some tannin yet to shed. The fruit mix is 75/25 Sonoma / Napa.Prices:| QC | $37.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $43.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $37.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Grand Reserve 2007
Monterey - Santa Barbara, California, United StatesAlways hedonistic and unabashedly Californian GR chardonnay is delicious chardonnay that starts in the vineyard. The fruit split is mostly settled in at 50/50 between Monterey (rich and thick from Hacienda and more florals from Clark) and Santa Barbara full blown tropical) and but still only represents a miniscule 3 per cent of total chardonnay that comes off all Jackson estates. Rich open, nutty leesy nose with ripe pear, mango, floral overtones. The styling is sexy, full blown, with fairly fat, oily, tropical fruit with firm underlying acidity and florality. Big rich California chardonnay flecked with bits of mineral and red apple skin. Very appealing in a New World way.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $32.00 | 750ml |
| US | $24.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve 2006
California, United StatesSimilar to the previous version this 52/32/16 blend of Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino fruit the style is dry and reserved with flecks of spice resin and olives. Again tighter and drier than the merlot with lean peppery, blackcurrant fruit. Solid. Drink over the next two years.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| US | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Kendall-Jackson Merlot Vintner's Reserve 2006
California, United StatesNow firmly a tri-county blend of mountain, hillside and bench fruit from Sonoma (61), Napa (23) and Mendocino (16) counties. Wow! How delicious is this edition. Expect dark fruit colours and flavours streaked with plums, cedar, cherry and spice with a smooth chassis. Structurally correct and full with a smoky, black fruit finish and rounded fine-grained tannins. This should settle the "Sideways" merlot issues for good. Well done.Prices:| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
| US | $18.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2007
California, United StatesAmazingly, this 2.3 million case brand is one hundred percent estate grown fruit sends a powerful message to KJ's competitors who largest production varietal is often made with purchased fruit. The 07 is 92 per cent barrel fermented and the integration of the oak and the creamy textures are the best yet. It's cool fruit with a tropical bent using in order Monterey (tropical) Santa Barbara (oiliness) and Mendocino ( green apple) fruit. Ullom likes the vintage and feels the minerality is coming to the forefront thanks to going 100 per cent estate effectively eliminating any dodgy lots. Lots of tropical fruit and green apple with honey, cream and minerality flecked with orange. Love the creamy textures from the vanillin in the French and American oak. Elegant modern California chardonnay sourced from 100 per cent coastal fruit from Santa Barbara, (46) Monterey (39) and Mendocino (9) counties.Prices:| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| US | $15.00 | 750ml |
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03 January 2009
88PTS
Yalumba Chardonnay Wild Ferment Eden Valley 2007
Eden Valley, South Australia, AustraliaToasted, spicy lees, butter, floral, waxy, citrus, pear skin aromas. Round, full, elegant, somewhat oily palate with fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness. Lemon, butter, honey, vanilla, spicy lees, nutty, grapefruit rind, baked pear and pineapple flavours. Good intensity if a bit tart and warm on the finish. Solid value and cooler style.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
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February 2009