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Tastings: May 2010
31 May 2010
86PTS
Laughing Stock Vineyards Pinot Noir +10/24 2008
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight colour with a brick edge. Perfumed coffee, mocha, vanilla, candied cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, herbal aromas mark the nose of this project in pinot. Dry, light, elegant palate with spicy, coffee, mocha, resin, rhubarb, herbal flavours with some tea leaf notes. Finish is just a bit too lean with some lingering leafy tannins. The grapes were sourced from Cawston in the Similkameen Valley.Prices:| BC | $29.10 | 750ml |
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87PTS
King Estate Pinot Noir Signature Collection 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesHerbal, green tobacco leaf, barnyard, compost, cherry, spicy, savoury aromas. Dry, round, supple, elegant palate with fresh acidity. Sour cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, menthol, savoury, light mocha flavours. A bit green and on the herbal side but has good balance.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCherry jam, lees, resin, tobacco, carrot top, light herbal aromas. Dry, elegant, slightly lean palate with fresh acidity. Cool rhubarb, cherry, herbal, carrot top, tobacco leaf, orange and vanilla flavours. Has finesse and some fruit but finish is too lean and tart. Best with grilled fowl.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Noir 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSlightly reduced nose with light compost, rhubarb, cherry, cola, light vanilla, resin aromas. Dry, round, elegant style but light extract. Rhubarb, resin, cola, sour cherry, floral, carrot top flavours. Finish is a bit short and lean with a cooked note.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Striped Label Reserve pinot is a blend of five clones form 18 to 23 year old vines. Look for cherry jam, light strawberry, barnyard, compost, vanilla aromas in what is essentially a dry, round, supple, elegant pinot. On the palate strawberry, celery, tobacco, orange peel and dried herbs all mixed into an inviting sweet/savoury pinot style. Finish is dry and warm with a touch of liquorice. Roast chicken anyone.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Highland Estates Boondt Ridge Pinot Noir 2007
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, United StatesVery spicy, floral, incense, chocolate, cherry, coffee, prune, briary, light barnyard aromas. Round, rich, elegant, supple, dry palate with good acidity and intensity. Chocolate, vanilla, black cherry, wild strawberry jam, spicy, celery salt, cooked carrot, mineral, briar flavours. Great intensity and fruit with food finesse for current drinking. Fine effort.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $60.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Highland Estates Los Robles Pinot Noir 2007
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesVery savoury, celery salt, spicy, incense, plum, black cherry, green tea aromas. Rich, ripe, round, supple but very full palate, almost sweet. Tea leaf, spicy, celery salt, vanilla, raspberry, black cherry, light coffee, tobacco leaf and dried herb flavours. Finish is a bit chunky with some green tea tannins.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $60.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner's Reserve 2008
California, United StatesMenthol, celery salt, barnyard, tea, herbal, sour cherry aromas. Round, supple, full palate with good textures and acidity. Celery, cherry jam, strawberry, coffee, resin, tea, tobacco leaf flavours. The nose is a bit lacking in fruit and definition but the palate has good texture and balance for current drinking.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Julia Viognier 2009
Mendoza, ArgentinaA drier version of this grape than the market leader from Chilean producer Cono Sur but it isn't without its charm. More apricot and honey are in play here with a flatter, perhaps oilier mouth. A perfect mid-week white for chicken or creamy pastas dishes. Fine value.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Paul Mas Viognier 2008
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. Look for a fresh aromatic floral nose that mixes nectarines and dried fruits. On the palate, peach and honey mix effortlessly with a creamy lees character. Very serious value here.A small percentage is barrel fermented in new oak but the bulk is aged only in stainless steel tanks to retain maximum freshness and finesse.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
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24 May 2010
87PTS
Alaris Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc (Organic grapes) 2009
Castilla-Leon, SpainNormally I wouldn't be that interested in a blend of chardonnay and sauvignon blanc add to that an Old World site and it would be almost unthinkable, yet in the case of Alaris made by Bodegas Arúspide in Valdepeñas, some 190 kilometres south of Madrid in Castilla La Mancha, it all works. Juicy light and bright with a floral undercurrent this is the ultimate summer sipper. Fresh sophisticated ethereal and food friendly. Best of all it is organic. Try with light tapas and summer style seafood salads and pastas.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Barahonda Monastrell 2005
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainSoft black round, juicy plummy/pruny fruit made from 100 per cent monastrell grown in the Yecla region. The finish is dry and similarly soft with bits of mineral and red berry fruit flavours. Simple affordable, easy-sipping red that is fully ready to drink now.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Noir 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe CedarCreek style is rich and juicy with aromas of black cherries and five spice. The fruit is taken off the home vineyard at the winery and across the lake at Greata Ranch. The tannins are slightly bigger this year but the wine is otherwise drinkable at this stage with a piece of duck, turkey or barbecued chicken. It is aged in a mix of new and one-year old French barriques.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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18 May 2010
90PTS
Vina 1924 De Angeles Malbec 2007
Vistalba District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaImpressive savoury, peppery, spicy, floral, chocolate, black cherry nose flecked with five spice, vanilla, cedar, tobacco aromas, very good intensity. Rich, ripe, round, full, supple palate with fine balance. Smoky, resin, black cherry, plum jam licorice, savoury, spicy, peppery, mocha, cedar, black olive flavours. Good finesse and intensity, can age but great now. Full flavoured.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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17 May 2010
87PTS
Stag's Hollow Syrah 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, savoury, sausage meat, vanilla, floral, licorice, tea leaf, tobacco aromas. Round, supple, dry palate with light tannins and very fresh acidity. Coffee, smoky, bacon, floral, sausage meat. licorice root, savoury, orange peel, blackberry jam flavours. Very warm, somewhat tart finish with some tobacco leaf notes. Best with grilled beef. Serve at a cooler temperature.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Nichol Vineyard Syrah 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCoffee, leather, meaty, peppery, tobacco, spicy, floral nose. Dry, slightly lean entry with light tannins. Earthy, black cherry, savoury, coffee, tobacco, dried herb flavours. Finish is quite tart and somewhat tannic. Needs food to soften the palate. Lacks a bit of heft and finesse that would get it to the next level.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Frescobaldi Montesodi Riserva Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina 2006
Tuscany, ItalyClassic earthy/meaty, cedar, vanilla, black cherry and earthy savoury aromas. Rich, round, dry, slightly grainy tannins with fresh acidity. Smoky, mushroom, peppery, vanilla, smoky, black cherry, cedar, earthy, meaty flavours. Good concentration but very young with some youthful tannins to shed. Needs 5-7 years or serve with grilled beef with rosemary. Classic style sangiovese for the purists.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $59.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $134.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $269.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Frescobaldi Mormoreto Castello di Nipozzano 2006
Tuscany, ItalyFrescobaldi's nod to Bordeaux blends cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc from the Castello di Nipozzano estate. Look for a peppery, cassis, tobacco, floral, garrigue nose with coffee, black cherry, green bean, graphite, black olive aromas. Rich, ripe, round, smooth palate with fine grained tannins but abundant level. Fresh palate with cassis, coffee, cedar, tobacco, black olive, blackberry, earthy, licorice, vanilla spice and carrot top flavours. Good structure and intensity will need 5-7 years aging.Prices:| BC | $51.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $59.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $2820.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $130.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $272.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Lamaione Merlot 2006
Tuscany, ItalyThis 100 per cent merlot Lamaione comes with a big, black cherry, dark plum nose spiked with coffee, mineral, spicy cedar and liquorice aromas. The palate is dense, the fruit ripe, round and sweet with good acidity and lots of smooth grained tannins. Peppery, spicy, black cherry jam, black plum, coffee, cedar, tobacco, Christmas cake, orange peel, earthy, licorice flavours. Big, warm, bold style that is Tuscan yet merlot. Needs 4-7 years to round out. All grown on a 5 hectare site at Tenuta di Castelgiocondo.Prices:| BC | $49.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $46.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $62.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Frescobaldi Giramonte 2006
Tuscany, ItalyAn 80/20 blend of merlot and sangiovese Giramonte is a small production, single-vineyard wine grown at Frescobaldi's Tenuta di Castiglioni estate. Love the ripe black cherry, coffee, chocolate, savoury nose flecked with cedar, meat, peppery, and barnyard, leather aromas. Rich, round, dry, supple grained tannins with balanced acidity with fine succulence. Smoky, peppery, earthy, black cherry, plum jam, espresso, cedar, tobacco, liquorice and orange peel flavours. A huge wine that is but a bambino and will need a decade or more to reach its potential. Great fruit and intensity. A wine that will outlive most buyers.Prices:| BC | $79.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $86.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $85.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $79.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
CedarCreek Syrah 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, plummy, tobacco leaf, peppery, spicy, savoury, dried herb and meat aromas. Round, dry, supple, somewhat tart entry with floral, plum, savoury, herbal, roasted meat, vanilla, coffee flavours. Has fruit and enticing florality but the balance is somewhat hard due to the acidity. Not quite as generous as the first edition.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Bodega Lurton Pinot Gris 2009
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaPear skin, mineral, earthy, floral, nectarine skin, smoky aromas. Fresh, round, juicy style with good acidity and a bit of sweetness. Citrus, slate, nectarine, pear, chalky flavours. Good solid styling with a clean, somewhat austere finish.Prices:| BC | $12.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pfaff Pinot Gris 2008
Alsace, FranceGinger, honey, earthy, citrus peel, floral, waxy aromas. Round, somewhat sweet entry with fresh acidity, elegant style. Butter, honey, ginger, candied pear, lemon peel flavours. Finish is somewhat austere to go with Asian food.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Hillside Pinot Gris Reserve 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh clean floral, ginger, baked pear nose with citrus, lees and light butter aromas. Round, slightly sweet entry with nectarine, ginger, butter, lees, spicy, pear flavours. Juicy if slightly austere finish but with fine intensity. An easy match with West Coast cuisine.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Hillside Syrah 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, savoury, peppery, meaty, vanilla, tobacco, saddle leather, floral aromas. Dry, slightly tart, somewhat lean palate with earthy, peppery, savoury, vanilla, peppery, plum, resin, tobacco leaf flavours. Finish is somewhat bitter with tobacco leaf, tea and herb flavours. Needs less acidity and more extract or a rich fatty meat course.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Tyrrell's Lost Block Shiraz 2007
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaReduced nose with peppery, tobacco leaf, herbal, blueberry, rubbery aromas. Round, fresh, somewhat lean entry with smoky, coffee, resin, rubbery, blueberry, tobacco leaf, green herbal flavours. Tart candied blueberry finish.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
St. Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2007
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBig coffee, vanilla, peppery, pencil lead, cedar nose flecked with mocha, liquorice, earthy, blackberry jam aromas. Rich, fat, somewhat sweet and tannic entry with fresh acidity. Cedar, blueberry, blackberry jam, smoky espresso, vanilla, peppery, licorice, hot resin flavours. Very coarse, oaky, tannic finish with tobacco and tea leaf tannins.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Layer Cake Shiraz 2008
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaLeafy, coffee, meaty, milk chocolate, green tobacco, savoury root aromas. Round, warm, sweet, tart, supple entry with green tobacco, blueberry, herbal, smoky, candied blueberry, milk chocolate flavours. Very warm, soupy, hollow finish. What's gone wrong in Oz?Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
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16 May 2010
89PTS
Herder Pinot Gris 2009
British Columbia, CanadaThe Herder gris is 100 per cent tank fermented and sees no oak throughout the ageing process. Winemaker Lawrence Herder is rightfully seeking to reveal the crisp minerality and cool citrus fruits of the Similkameen to offset the peachy tones of the Okanagan Valley fruit. The finish is ripe with just the right amount of honey and creamy lees to balance the wine. Very modern stylish gris that is textbook BC. Bring on the calamari.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2009
British Columbia, CanadaSeven vineyards make up the CedarCreek blend which contains is 83 per cent stainless steel fermented juice. The other 17 per cent is briefly barrel fermented for 60 days to add some creamy textures and mouthfeel. Look for bright fruit notes of spiced peach and honey with some underlying mineral and citrus notes with a slightly warm finish. Try this with barbecued vegetable and pork kebabs.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Pinot Gris Bateman GTK Series 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBright fresh watery entry with clean, lively palate. The palate is a mix of citrus fruit, minerality and nectarine skin with a clean fresh finish. A touch light in concentration but otherwise tasty little gris that is certified organic. Try with lightly spiced seafood salads.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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13 May 2010
89PTS
Finca Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard 2008
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBig savoury, tobacco, vanilla, spicy, roasted mushroom nose with liquorice, smoky floral, plum and black cherry aromas. The palate is dry and supple with light tannins and rich Bing cherry, black plum, savoury, smoky mushroom, tobacco, and peppery, vanilla, clove flavours. Finish has good finesse and acidity to balance food. Located at 3500 feet, in the renowned Mendoza appellation of Agrelo Remolinos Vineyard takes its name from 'Remolinos' - whirlwinds that dance in the vineyards.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
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12 May 2010
88PTS
Nichol Vineyard Pinot Gris September Ranch 2009
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt may look like a rosé, but this "eye of the partridge" tinted Gris delivers with a fruity but restrained nose spiked with a dash of earth and honey. Light earthy well-balanced entry with red fruits and honey on the mid-palate and a clean it finishes dry. This will be best with food.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Twisted Tree Gamay Noir 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI'm always surprised how good local gamay can be, but as a varietal on the label it has little street cred that likely point to its French forefather Beaujolais. Expect a tasty sweet-ish, smoky, spicy, black cherry fruit followed by soft, supple tannins and some sweet vanilla notes. A baby pinot noir in search of a single fantasy name to improve its image. Grown on the yet to be approved "East Bench" appellation in Osoyoos.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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11 May 2010
89PTS
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Gris 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Sandra Oldfield has hit all the right notes in '09 producing a much fresher, much cleaner version of this grape that is really excelling under screwcap. Lemons, apples and honey with a subtle herbal edge, it is all you can ask for at $17. The fruit is 50/50 Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Love the winery food picks: Thai curries, quesadillas, and fish tacos.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Riesling 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Randy Picton continues to defy the odds making very solid riesling in the warm south Okanagan. The latest is nicely dried out playing up green apple, peachy, nectarine notes with just a touch of sweetness and minerality in the back end. The perfect summer sipper that will surprise you with the number of dishes it can enliven.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Osoyoos Larose 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt's all about minor tweaks at this point for Osoyoos Larose and almost all of that is about tannin and fruit balance. This is the best OL by any measure led by the softest, yet substantial amount, of tannins now bordering on elegant. Typically the nose is a mix of smoky coffee, black cherry and olive aromas and the '07 is no different. The entry is dry, but with density and richness that will need five years to fully developed. The finish is long with bits of dark chocolate and that south Okanagan savoury thread. Real finesse here that sets a new level on the bar for all the wannabe icons. Best of all price and quality are in equilibrium.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Road 13 Rockpile 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRockpile is a supple, tasty blend of red fruit grown in the South Okanagan. In all 13 vineyard blocks contributed eight varieties of grapes to the blend from both Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Look for a cedar-y dried herb aroma and a similar spicy, savoury, cedar-y black fruit palate flecked with dried herbs. Drinkable now but should improve over the next two years under screwcap.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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08 May 2010
88PTS
Stag's Hollow Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaButter, waxy, passion fruit, grapefruit, kiwi, floral, spicy lees aromas with a bit of nettle. Round, fresh, dry, slightly austere palate with butter, lemon, and mineral, canned grapefruit, passion fruit, and vanilla, waxy, lees flavours. Good solid effort in a somewhat more Euro style to accompany food. Starting to age a bit.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Howling Bluff SQ Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon Summa Quies 2009
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, bready, leesy, candied lime nose with metallic, waxy, passion fruit aromas. Very tart, somewhat acidic entry with grassy, passion fruit, herbal, artichoke, lime, winter mint flavours. Finish is very brisk and austere. Needs a year or so in bottle to settle down.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Reserva 2007
Mendoza, ArgentinaCoffee, vanilla oak, cedar, tobacco, smoky, meaty, savoury aromas with some black cherry and mineral notes. Dry, somewhat tight palate with light tannins and balanced acidity. Tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, mushroom, peppery, black cherry, rooty, licorice flavours. French in style but has good finesse and fruit. Drink now-2 years. Fine styling and food-friendly without being too heavy.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Herder Chardonnay Twin Benches 2007
British Columbia, CanadaButter, lanolin, light nutty lees, baked apple, pear aromas. Very round, fat, warm entry with a slight oiliness. Big hazelnut, lees, spicy, buttery, vanilla, waxy, honey, buttered popcorn flavours. Fully mature bigger oak style.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008
Central Otago, South Island, New ZealandAnother delicious aromatic pinot from Central Otago. The fruit grown at Bendigo is bright and soft mixing sweet Bing cherries and plums with a subtle dusting of spicy, savoury dried herbs. The finish is silky smooth but not overly warm. Sensibly, parts of the wine were aged in new and used French oak while other bits remain in stainless steel tanks prior to blending. Terrific value.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Ganton & Larson Prospect Winery Council's Punch Bowl Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, passion fruit, candied grapefruit rind, lemon peel aromas. Round, fresh, somewhat sweet entry with canned grapefruit, green apple, floral, fruit cocktail flavours. A bit on the sweet and sour side but simple and fresh with a rind-y finish.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Montalto Catarratto Organic 2008
Sicily, ItalyGrapefruit, nettle, gooseberry, slate, earthy aromas. Round, dry, fresh, delicate, juicy palate but a bit austere. Petrol, slate, gooseberry, grapefruit, mineral, lemon flavours. A tasty seafood white for summer.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Tangley Oaks Chardonnay Lot 3 2006
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesVery mature, somewhat oxidized style that is past its prime.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Loron & Fils Bourgogne Blanc Montvallon Chardonnay 2009
Burgundy, FranceClean green apple, citrus, floral, mineral aromas. Fresh, round, light and delicate palate with green apple, grassy, light waxy, floral, pear skin flavours. Food friendly, lighter tight style from France now under Stelvin.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
2nd Crossing Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGrassy, nettle, canned grapefruit, light floral nose. Fresh, round, slightly sweet entry but juicy with light lime, grapefruit, mineral, lemon grass, herbal flavours. Finish is crisp and somewhat austere but solid. Good effort.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLeesy, bready, grassy, herbal, nettle aromas mark a slightly dirty nose. Odd metallic, sweet and sour entry with grassy, herbal, lemon, leesy, resin flavours. Very tart with a hard, raw, acidic finish.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Chanson Mâcon-Villages Blanc 2007
Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceCorked, try anotherPrices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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07 May 2010
87PTS
Quails' Gate Rosé 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe QQ pink is 100 per cent gamay all grown on the Boucherie Bench. It is important to know the wine is technically dry because the fruit appears so sweet and round. The palate is a mix of sweaty, grapefruit and strawberries with a twist of rhubarb that finishes crisp and dry. Serve well-chilled all over the barbecue. Good value here.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
JeanJean Syrah Rose 2008
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceExpect a bright pink pleasing colour. A fresh red fruit scented nose with medium spice and plenty of mid-palate dryness to keep you coming back for another sip. Very food friendly and big enough if I can use that word to work with chicken and meaty fish dishes. Super value.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Road 13 Honest John's Rosé 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Michael Bartier is on the right track with his pink. Look for a fruity nose of strawberries and cranberries with a medium dry mid-palate and a candied/citrus flavoured finish. Think cold chicken and potato salad or perhaps spicy, sushi-style appetizers. Serve well chilled.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
JoieFarm Rosé 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA very lively exuberant rosé that looks and plays the part. The blend is a 42/33/15/10/mix of pinot noir, gamay, pinot meunier and pinot gris. The style is mostly southern French. The palate dry and crisp with a zesty, vibrant, strawberry character and a spicy, soft-ish finish. Just about everything you want in a summer sipping pink. Sip this solo or with a variety of summer style dishes especially al fresco.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
St. Hubertus Frizzante Rosé 2009
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe current edition nails the colour (cranberry/pink) and it's cleaner on the nose if on the sweet side. The frizzante or slight prickle on the palate helps to carry the ripe strawberry, candied caramel and spiced fruit. Best served picnic style cold.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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82PTS
Delicato Family Vineyards White Zinfandel 2008
California, United StatesSweet, candied brambly, scented red that tastes just like it smells. Sorry but this tastes more like a fruit drink than wine. Too sweet, too candied, too soft and too syrupy. It's impossible to suggest you can drink this with food. Chill it down and serve on the hottest days of summer as a pre-dinner cooler.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.95 | 750ml |
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06 May 2010
89PTS
Colomé Malbec Estate 2007
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaSpicy, peppery, barnyard, meaty, black cherry, tobacco, coffee, savoury, cassis, iron aromas. Ripe, round, rich, dry and warm on the palate with fresh acidity. Black cherry, black olive, tobacco, plum, mineral, licorice, dark chocolate, vanilla, roasted meat flavours. Very warm finish but good concentration with some light tannin to shed. Serve a bit cool with grilled meat as this is about 15.5% alcohol. The blend is 85 malbec, 8 tannat, 5 cabernet sauvignon and 2 syrah.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Aveleda Casal Garcia Vinho Verde NV
Vinho Verde, Northern Portugal, PortugalFloral, lemon, slate, mineral and green apple aromas. Fresh, round, crisp and slightly sweet entry with a light spritz on the palate. Nectarine, lime, slate and quince flavours. Simple, fresh, easy sipper for summer and seafood.Prices:| BC | $14.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| YK | $14.25 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $12.29 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gekkeikan Zipang Sparkling Sake NV
JapanLight floral, yeasty, apple, canned pear aromas. Fresh, somewhat foamy sparkling palate with fresh acidity but quite sweet entry. Similar flavours, this is a soda like style with a perfumed Popsicle note. Try it with spicy food.Prices:| BC | $9.25 | 750ml |
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02 May 2010
85PTS
Mt. Boucherie Family Reserve Zinfandel 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSomewhat brick ruby colour. Very rooty, smoky, resin, balsamic, oaky aromas with a raisiny note. Dry, round, elegant palate but light with big vanilla, smoky, kirsch, spicy, cedar, espresso flavours. The future would be far more promising with a lot less oak.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Stag's Hollow Viognier 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig honey, spicy, floral, orange, vanilla, waxy, lees aromas. Ripe, round, full, slightly soft palate but elegant with light sausage, honey, grapefruit rind, soapy floral, apricot, vanilla and lees flavours. Finish is very tart and warm but shows good fruit. A little less oak and this wine will sing.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Grooner Gruner Veltliner 2008
Niederösterreich, Weinland Österreich, AustriaSmoky, slate, spicy, lees, lime aromas. Round, fresh, crisp but slightly oily texture with a touch of sweetness. Lime, lees, slate, honey, grassy, green apple flavours. Good solid seafood wine with a bit of citrus rind bitterness. Attractive styling. Good value.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Mont Tauch Fitou 2006
Fitou, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceEarthy, meaty, black cherry kirsch, rooty, leather aromas. Dry, tight, elegant palate with fresh acidity. Smoky, licorice, meaty, cedar, peppery, black cherry flavours. Somewhat austere, hot style for grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Excelsior Paddock Viognier 2009
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaAnother fine effort. Love the freshness and the bright nectarine, lemon, orange, ginger, spicy mineral aromas. Crisp, round, elegant, slightly sweet but juicy palate. Orange peel, ginger, apple skin, honey, slate and light sausage flavours. Good intensity and juiciness for the money. Great value.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Borges Meia Encosta Dão Vinho Branco 2008
Dão, Northern Portugal, PortugalFloral, spicy, honey, slate, nectarine, butter, quince and candied lemon aromas. Fresh, crisp, round, juicy palate and dry with good texture. Similar flavours with a touch of ginger and nectarine. Great value seafood white on the more austere side. Even better if it was in Stelvin closure.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Trivento Tribu Viognier 2009
Mendoza, ArgentinaOrange, ginger, leesy, floral, spicy sausage aromas. Fresh, crisp, juicy, dry palate with orange creamsicle, ginger, melon rind, lees and nectarine flavours. Crisp, fresh, fruity without being heavy, offers great value for summer or seafood.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Rigal The Original Malbec 2008
Cahors, Sud-Ouest, FranceVery dark colour. Big leafy, cedar, peppery, meaty, lees, minty, cherry aromas. Round, dry, supple palate with cedar bark, peppery, earthy, resin, rooty, cherry and olive flavours. Good texture but somewhat on the leafy green side with some acidity on the finish.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Seghesio Zinfandel 2008
Sonoma County, California, United StatesBig black berry jam, black cherry, floral, peppery, spicy, licorice, cedar, smoky, tobacco and mineral aromas. Rich, ripe, round, warm palate with smooth grained tannins. Blueberry jam, black berry jam, smoky, vanilla, coffee, peppery, licorice root, kirsch, cedar, dried herb flavours. Tons of fruit and concentration here but very warm, a winter drink. Not for the faint of heart.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stift Goettweig Gruner Veltliner Trocken Messwein 2008
Niederösterreich, Weinland Österreich, AustriaVery floral, perfumed, citrus, grassy, nettle, lees aromas. Ripe, round, rich, fresh, juicy palate. Grapefruit, grassy, spicy, peppery, honey, floral flavours with a touch of oily, lemon grass on the finish. Attractive weight and finesse for most seafood without the influence of oak. Solid value here.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Georges Vigouroux Pigmentum Malbec 2005
Cahors, Sud-Ouest, FranceCedar bark, smoky, meaty, prune, spicy, incense, coffee aromas with a lifted, leafy note. Somewhat, dry, rustic tannin entry with smoky, resin, rooty, meaty, peppery, cedar bark, tobacco leaf flavours. A bit too much of an old style Cahors.Prices:| BC | $15.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Reserve Pampas del sur Malbec 2008
Mendoza, ArgentinaSpicy, savoury, vanilla, coconut, tobacco leaf, black cherry jam, rooty, resin aromas. Fresh, slightly tannic but rich and slightly rustic entry with cedar, tobacco leaf, vanilla, and chocolate, peppery rooty, black cherry flavours. Finish is somewhat sweet and sour with a vanilla extract and marmalade note. Solid but a bit weird.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.25 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $14.68 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Salomon Undhof Wieden & Berg Tradition Gruner Veltliner Loess 2008
Kamptal, Niederösterreich, Weinland Österreich, AustriaFresh spicy, floral, light honey, grassy, lime, waxy, nettle aromas. Ripe, round, full, fresh and juicy palate with good finesse and concentration. Waxy, spicy, lees, nectarine, slate, earthy, green apple skin, and honey flavours. Fresh, creamy, citrus, spicy slate finish. Fine effort to drink with any seafood.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Ricossa Barbaresco 2005
Piedmont, ItalyLeather, coffee, Oxo, smoky, Band-Aid, resin, licorice, floral tobacco nose. Ripe, round, dry, slightly tannic palate but well balanced. Peppery, smoky, meaty, black cherry, balsamic, tobacco, cedar, coffee flavours with a waxy, saddle leather note. A bit fresh and rustic but lots of intensity for the money in Barbaresco.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Twisted Old Vine Zinfandel 2008
California, United StatesBlackberry jam, cedar bark, tobacco, licorice, meaty nose. Round, light, fresh and slightly sweet with little extract. Light berry, weedy, cedar bark, mocha, coffee flavours with a warm, acidic finish. A super commercial version of zinfandel.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chateau Paul Mas Estate Single Vineyard Collection Malbec 2008
Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceVery peppery, resin, tobacco leaf, cedar, rooty, smoky, black cherry, black olive, savour nose. Round, dry, supple palate with good textures. Mushroom, peppery, smoky, tobacco leaf, black cherry, rooty, resin, cedar flavours. A solid, modern Euro version of malbec with a bit more dryness and less of the generous sweet tannins of Mendoza.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Layer Cake Malbec 2008
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaOpen warm peppery, black cherry kirsch nose with orange marmalade, tobacco leaf and roasted mushroom aromas. The entry is round and velvety but somewhat sweet and sour with some light tannins. The palate is awash in warm, savoury, peppery, black cherry fruit flavours with bits of mocha, marmalade, cedar bark and tobacco. Big rich warm over top red with a hot, tart finish.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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01 May 2010
87PTS
Melini Chianti Pian del Masso 2008
Tuscany, ItalyWhat a pleasant surprise this bottle is. The entry is round the fruit is sweet and ripe with bits of vanilla and milk chocolate mixed into the black cherry, floral fruit. The finish is long and warm with more plums, black cherry and soft liquorice fruit. Fine intensity and terrific value in basic Chianti. A much needed addition to neighbourhood restaurant lists where Italian wines are served.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.25 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Ciao Sangiovese Organic (Grapes) Tetra Pak NV
Puglia, ItalyThis one-litre carton of organically grown sangiovese is Apulia-based and bear little resemblance to Tuscan sangiovese. Expect a softer almost sweeter palate with liquorice, milk chocolate and sweet fruit undertones and some grippy tannin in the finish. Ready to drink this is a budget priced hamburger red at best.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 1000ml |
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86PTS
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti 2008
Tuscany, ItalyYouthful colour and nose with some gamey, peppery, earthy notes. The entry is tight and lean with bright, dry floral fruit aromas and flavours with typical Tuscan dryness and some bitter almond notes in the back end. The message is drink me with food and see how good I can be. Fair value by today's prices for Chianti.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $14.60 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $20.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2007
Region del Valle Central, ChileIt is hard to believe Concha Y Toro is messing with its so successful Casillero series by making a "Privada Reserva" and then making it an 85/15 cab/shiraz blend in the face of the North American backlash to Oz wines. The blend is a mix of savoury fruit from the Pirque and Peumo vineyards in Maipo. The wine comprises 85% cabernet sauvignon from Pirque in the Maipo Valley and 15% syrah from the hillsides of Peumo in the Rapel Valley. Look for bay leaf, rosemary and dark fruit to dominate the palate with a big spicy, warm finish showing some grippy tannin yet to shed. Solid.Prices:| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Cristina Antinori Sangiovese 2007
Tuscany, ItalyThere is a dash of merlot in this 90 per cent sangiovese that was labelled in 1946 as Chianti Classico. Today the red blend is an IGT designate spurning the classic Chianti rules. There is a certain elegance in the glass once you get past the stinky, leathery, earthy, barnyard notes that dominate the nose. Good mid-palate acidity leans out the finish and makes it's a friendly food wine.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.25 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $16.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $14.70 | 750ml |
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June 2010