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Tastings: February 2011
26 February 2011
89PTS
Beso de Vino Selección Syrah/Garnacha 2009
Cariñena, Aragon, SpainSpicy, floral, peppery, meaty, tobacco, barnyard, leather, black plum, cherry, rooty aromas. Ripe, round, supple, full and warm with juicy acidity. Plum jam, orange, meaty, peppery, chocolate, black cherry, liquorice, savoury flavours. Big, bold, warm and fruity with fresh acidity. Lots of stuff here for that lamb stew and pork chop. Drink now. Excellent value if you like it big.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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25 February 2011
83PTS
Cal Y Canto Tempranillo Merlot Syrah 2000
Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla, SpainBlack olive tapenade, cherry, cedar, meaty, plum, dill, peppery aromas. Round, fresh, somewhat sweet and tannic entry. Plum, cedar, tobacco, meaty, candied cherry, herbal flavours. A concocted style with a light sweet and sour finish reflective of the price and category.Prices:| BC | $9.00 | 750ml |
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23 February 2011
88PTS
Luigi Bosca Gala 2 2008
Mendoza, ArgentinaSpicy, black olive, cedar, leather, meaty, barnyard, cassis, cherry, orange, chocolate, cherry and caraway aromas. Round, supple, fresh, juicy palate. Coffee, roast meat, leather, resin, cedar, cassis, prune, vanilla, herbal flavours with a black olive and tobacco leaf finish. Solid balance and ready to drink but the fruit is a bit too cooked for a higher performance.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Luigi Bosca Malbec 2008
Mendoza, ArgentinaSpicy, peppery, earthy, rooty, cedar, black cherry, tobacco, barnyard, prune and leaf aromas. Soft, round, full, warm palate and very supple. Coffee, back cherry, savoury, barnyard, leather, tobacco, rooty flavours. Finish is somewhat stewed and forward but solid enough. Not sure why this gets a reserva designation.Prices:| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca La Linda Syrah 2009
Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky, meaty, peppery, blackberry, tobacco, barnyard, leather, spicy prune aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with peppery, meaty, prune, blackberry, briar, coffee, liquorice root flavours. A bit stewed and very warm but has solid fruit and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $12.50 | 750ml |
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20 February 2011
87PTS
Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2009
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileTypically herbal but ripe with bay leaf notes, spice and plenty of cassis notes. The palate is super smooth and pleasantly ripe and round. It is very easy to drink and frankly sip for a cabernet. A real success for the price and would be perfect with grilled burgers, flank steak or roast beef. Bravo effort here.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.45 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.19 | 750ml |
| SK | $11.94 | 750ml |
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17 February 2011
92PTS
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Taylor Vineyard 2009
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSimilar in style to the other two single vineyards - Alturas and Clarke and Telephone, the Taylor comes with a touch more finesse and complexity. Spicy, barnyard, celery root, compost and liquorice dominate the nose with flecks of vanilla, strawberry jam, raspberry and cocoa aromas. Ripe, rich, full, warm and juicy on the palate with good finesse and tannins. Strawberry, spicy, orange, and vanilla, licorice, floral, cherry jam, cocoa, chocolate, tobacco and tea flavours. A bit warm and oaky in the style but with delicacy and fruit composition. Good value in this price range.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $52.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Caymus Zinfandel 2007
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBig peppery, spicy, blackberry jam, licorice, barnyard, tobacco, black plum, earthy, briar aromas. Rich, full, hot, juicy, round tannin palate. Coffee, prune, brambleberry jam, black licorice, tobacco, smoky, earthy, peppery flavours. A big, ripe, hot and fruity style that finishes long and supple. For those cold fall and winter months and a lamb shank.Prices:| BC | $46.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas 2009
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesOpen strawberry jam, spicy, compost, floral, liquorice, celery, smoky herb, chocolate aromas. Ripe, round, supple and fresh with a suave texture. Vanilla, plum, cherry, compost, spicy, cocoa, smoky, tobacco, dried herb flavours. Good finesse, texture and fruit but with quite sweet, warm finish form the oak. Appealing, easy-drinking California pinot.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark and Telephone Vineyard 2009
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesFrom own-rooted, Martini clone vines, this is similar to last year's offering. Spice, liquorice and floral, peppery notes lead the aromas with bits of tobacco, raspberry, cherry, celery salt, vanilla and dill notes. The palate is juicy, round, full and supple with a bit of warmth. Vanilla, cocoa, liquorice, tobacco, black cherry, strawberry jam, orange, savoury, herb flavours mark the palate. Good fruit and styling with fine acidity and sweeter, warm finish. Drink now-2 years.Prices:| BC | $44.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir 2009
Monterey - Santa Barbara - Sonoma, California, United StatesUnder a new Stelvin Lux screwcap and looking good. This tri-county blend shows spicy, tobacco, celery salt, plum, prune, barnyard, and thyme, chocolate and strawberry aromas. Soft, fresh, round, supple, juicy palate. Tobacco, barnyard, compost, peppery, vanilla, chocolate cherry, strawberry and cocoa flavours. Good fruit and balance in a consumer-friendly style ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $31.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $32.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mer Soleil Chardonnay 2008
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesBig pineapple, lees, honey, vanilla, spicy nose with orange, butter and baked apple aromas. Ripe, round, soft, full and warm palate with a touch of oiliness and more butter, honey, nutty lees, spicy, honey, baked pineapple, mango and citrus flavours. A big, ripe, warm style to go with fish and a fruit salsa.Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $47.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay 2009
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesA ripe, unoaked style with butter, pear, honey, floral, peach and baked apple aromas. Ripe, round, fresh and juicy with a somewhat sweet entry. Honey, pear, butter, peach pit, green apple and pineapple flavours. Good solid style but on the warmer, sweet side.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Conundrum 2009
California, United StatesGood floral, spicy, nectarine, honey, light matchstick, green apple, pear and butter aromas. Round, fresh, moderately sweet palate with good acidity and juicy. Warm with similar fruit flavours on the palate with an extra honey kick. Good fruit and finesse but a bit cloying. It is seemingly slipping back into a sweeter mode. Good for spicy food only.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $25.00 | 750ml |
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15 February 2011
83PTS
Trapiche Astica Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2010
Mendoza, ArgentinaAromatic, mineral grapefruit rind aromas with bits of butter and fig. The attack is dry and with tart citrus gooseberry fruit with a splash of tinned asparagus. The finish is lemony short and dry. Simple stuff.Prices:| BC | $9.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $10.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $10.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $10.00 | 750ml |
| NF-LAB | $10.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $11.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $18.00 | 1500ml |
| NB | $29.00 | 3000ml |
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81PTS
Polosur Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
ArgentinaPerfume, barnyard, meaty, lees, rubbery, tobacco leaf aromas. Soft, round, flat, slightly sweet and sour with a dirty, mercaptan, herbaceous, meaty, barnyard, resin flavours. No fruit or body.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hester Creek Pinot Blanc 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA new multimillion dollar production facility ensures the fruit captured in the vineyard is now making it to the bottle. We love the fresh aromas of apple fruit kissed in butter. The plate has a creamy lees character with more red apple and nectarine skin fruit all with bright acidity. Perfect with sole.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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14 February 2011
87PTS
Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rosé 2009
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe Y Series Sangiovese Rosé spends about a dozen hours on its skin take on its salmon colour. The nose is fresh and floral with hints of strawberries and lavender. The palate is mouth-wateringly fresh with watermelon and strawberry fruit mixed with a twist of lemon to keep it all fresh through the finish. Simple fun quaffable rosé. Think picnic dishes, cold chicken and charcuterie to offset the fruit.Prices:| ON | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yalumba Chardonnay Y Series Unwooded 2008
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaYalumba has really dialled in this unwood style chardonnay from its bright tropical aromas to its fresh mid-palate demeanour. Love the bits melon, peach and grassy grapefruit and the tight, fresh acidity throughout. The finish is clean and dry and well suited to any number of seafood dishes.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| US | $11.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Earthworks Shiraz 2007
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaPrices:| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Les deux Anges Sablet Côtes de Rhône Villages 2008
Sablet, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceSpicy, earthy, peppery, gamey, black cherry, liquorice, garrigue, floral aromas. Round, dry, elegant, very slightly tannic palate. Black cherry, liquorice, chocolate, gamey, peppery, orange, mineral flavours. Good finesse with a hint of carbonic fruit in a lighter, more forward style. Ready now.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine de Cabasse Gigondas 2006
Gigondas, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FrancePeppery, gamey, meaty, licorice, blackberry, smoky, plum, barnyard, tobacco, rooty, Oxo aromas with a touch of Band-Aid. Round, full, rich, elegant and supple palate but warm. Blackberry jam, licorice, smoky, garrigue, meaty, tobacco, barnyard, earthy flavours. Warm, dry finish with fine fruit and just a bit of astringency. Drink now-2 years.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine de Cabasse Segurét Cuvée Casa Bassa 2005
Séguret, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceVery peppery, earthy, smoky, liquorice, resin, blackberry, garrigue nose. Dry, rich, warm, fresh palate with light tannins. Black liquorice, black plum, earthy, black tea, resin, smoky, gamey, peppery, tobacco flavours. Good concentration and intensity but on the dryer side. Ready now.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gehringer Brothers Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Signature Series 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBright raspberry ruby colour. Strawberry jam, cedar, tobacco, earthy, minty, dried cranberry aromas with a bit of watermelon. Round, full, moderately sweet style with softer acidity. Strawberry jam, cedar, watermelon, tobacco leaf, herbal, spicy, cranberry flavours. A simple, forward style with some finesse and fruit.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 375ml |
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91PTS
Eternum Viti 2008
Toro, Castilla-Leon, SpainEternum Viti is made from 30- to 40-year-old Tinta de Toro vines 50 percent of which is aged in new French oak barrels. Expect an inky black, red wine with a dollop of vanilla on the nose and bits of earth and black fruits. The palate is smooth and warm with more blackberry/blueberry fruit flavours. This wine needs five years to really come around but lamb chops would easily tame its fine grained tannins if you want to drink it now.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Accordini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Le Bessole 2005
Veneto, ItalyOpen delicious, fresh, clean style with appealing peppery, floral nose. A very appealing modern style of Amarone with a chocolate, meaty, plum, black cherry, liquorice root and Christmas cake aromas. The palate is round, supple and forward with light grainy tannins and vanilla, black cherry, plum, orange peel and kirsch flavours. Will improve with 3-5 years in bottle. Fine quality. Perfect with roasted meats and dry hard cheeses.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006
Veneto, ItalyTommasi blends corvina, corvinone, rondinella and molinara from several hillside sites to shape its Amarone. The grapes are air dried after picking the grapes on small open racks and air dried until mid to late January typically loosing for 40 to 50 percent of their weight. Look for a slightly heavier version of the '05 with creamy baked cherries and spice on the nose and palate with rich, pruny, tobacco, mocha flavours. Youthful and a bit rambunctious but nothing a stew or big game meats wouldn't smooth out. Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $53.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $53.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $52.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $98.00 | 1500ml |
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90PTS
Doña Paula Malbec Selección de Bodega 2007
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaOpen savoury, spicy, vanilla, coffee, barnyard, black cherry jam, peppery, smoky, roasted mushroom, meaty, black olive and tobacco aromas. Dry, round, elegant, slightly leaner style with some tannins. Tobacco, peppery, liquorice root, resin, olive, black cherry, mushroom, herb and vanilla flavours. Good elegance and fruit but has a tight, dry finish. Needs 2-5 years to round out.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
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11 February 2011
89PTS
Vina Punto Alto Pinot Noir 2008
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChilePlum, orange, black raspberry, smoky, bacon, floral, red liquorice, tobacco leaf aromas with a bit of olive and compost. Dry, round, smooth and juicy palate with a bit of warmth. Big strawberry jam, black cherry, spicy, smoky, vanilla, tobacco, celery, earthy, minty, floral flavours. Despite a bit of warmth, this offers great fruit intensity and flavours with balance. Drink now-3 years, Fine effort.Prices:| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Truchard Cabernet Sauvignon Carneros 2006
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United StatesPeppery, blackberry jam, barnyard, cedar, licorice root, leather, coffee, spicy, dried herb, tobacco leaf aromas. Full, round, warm, dry and juicy palate with some light, grainy tannin. Smoky, earthy, cassis jam, blackberry, vanilla bean, chocolate, coffee and herb flavours. Finish is a bit warm with olive and cedar notes. Solid fruit and style for current consumption but may improve.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
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09 February 2011
89PTS
Jansz Premium Rosé NV
Tasmania, South Australia, AustraliaThe Premium NV Rosé attracts with its salmon colour and fresh bright floral spicy nose. The palate is similarly styled with fresh red fruit and watermelon notes and an underlying brush of citrus and red berry fruit. Like the brut blanc it has an enticing creamy palate that adds a touch of class the palate from front to back. It is made from a selection of vintages and a blend of mostly pinot noir with chardonnay. All Jansz sparklers all go through secondary fermentation in bottles a la champagne and are aged on yeast lees from two to five years depending on the lots.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Escorihuela 1884 Reservado Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Mendoza, ArgentinaEarthy, spicy, barnyard, tobacco, cedar, chipotle pepper, prune, coffee aromas. Dry, slightly tight, fresh palate but a bit astringent. Cassis, smoky, prune, blackberry, olive, tobacco leaf and savoury herb flavours. Solid but a bit short and lean on the finish.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008
Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky, cassis, tobacco, peppery, plum, coffee, black olive aromas. Soft, round, fresh, juicy palate with light tannins. Good cassis, blackberry, licorice, savoury, barnyard, peppery, tobacco, light vanilla and cedar flavours. Good fruit and balance for current drinking and solid value.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $10.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThere's a bit of Bordeaux worship here that tends to reduce the obvious fruit factor and ups the structure and acidity and that's a good thing given the result. Signorello cabernet is also built for the long run. The nose is tight with dark plum fruit, cassis and youthful lashings of vanilla and coffee. The entry is firm and somewhat linear with black fruit flavours, coffee beans and a bit of pencil lead. Best to cellar this one through 2014 then serve it with roasted or grilled meats. A solid Napa cabernet in the Euro style.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
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08 February 2011
88PTS
Pacific Breeze Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyards 2009
Product of CanadaThis wine slims down a bit each year but this may be the best yet. The entry is still round and soft with some of those appealing butterscotch, vanilla and creamy honey aromas. The entry is fresh with baked apple flavours with a modicum of citrus and mineral that prolongs the palate. Well-made, easy-to-drink California juice bottled in Canada.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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06 February 2011
88PTS
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut NV
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is pure stripped down British Columbia sparkling wine born for oysters. Made a la Champenoise in technique and style the flavour is citrus from back to front with a splash of green apple skin and minerality. Lip smacking dry it needs food to really shine at a party. Smoked salmon would be a great choice.Prices:| BC | $31.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $36.85 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Brut 2008
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandYou might think this bubble would be made with sauvignon blanc, but the Oyster Bay folks have wisely chosen New Zealand's secret weapon: chardonnay. The style is fresh and bright, the fruit reminiscent of nectarine, apricots and lime and the flavours an attractive mix of all with a healthy dose of underlying acidity. The mix of chardonnay clones gives it a pinch of complexity along with some lees contact to further strengthen the depth and length of this sparkler. Drink now with assorted seafood appetizers.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $29.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Blasted Church OMG 2008
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe first sparkling wine released by Blasted Church is the '08 OMG. The cuvée is a 50/25/25 mix of all estate grown chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot blanc. Picked early for its aromas and freshness the method is all Champenois. The nose is impressively clean and bright with green apple aromas hints of toasted hazelnuts. The entry is fresh, the mousse is creamy and the acidity supercharged. It finishes crisp if just a wisp dry. Try this with oysters or other shellfish and. A great beginning for this label. Limited amounts made (77 cases) sold winery direct but look for in in better local restaurants. Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Blue Mountain Brut Rosé 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Blue Mountain Rosé Brut is a kinder gentler bubble than the blanc brut, actually rounder and softer would be the description. The mousse is tight and round but the palate is richer with bits of strawberry and red fruit notes mixed with citrus and lees. There just enough bottle age here to lend another layer of complexity. Not as dry as the other brut whites but tasty and firm. Serve with food. The mix is 65 pinot noir and 35 per cent chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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05 February 2011
86PTS
Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2008
Calatayud, Aragon, SpainMeaty, sausage, peppery, spicy, sage, black cherry aromas. Soft, round, fresh, warm palate with peppery, savoury, meaty, black cherry, licorice, earthy flavours. Simple and warm, seems to lack some mid-palate concentration and intensity that this has had in the past.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cusumano Syrah 2007
Sicily, ItalyNo changes here except for the nifty new glass Vino-lok stopper that assures the wine will never be corked. Expect a rich peppery, liquorice minty black fruit nose spiked with meaty coffee notes. Soft and fleshy fruit coats the palate, with more minty menthol peppery blueberry fruit. Approaching its zenith now and woudl be perfect with a grilled steak or lamb roast.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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04 February 2011
87PTS
Finca La Estacada 2008
Castilla-La Mancha, SpainWe like the juicy soft "tempranillo" style. There is plenty of fruit to deal with its year in American oak which adds to the spicy black fruit flavours with earthy, mineral notes and bits of cocoa. The finish is fresh and clean with just a hint of dry tannins. Perfect with meaty pasta dishes.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Chamarré Pinot Noir Grande Reserve 2007
FrancePrune, cooked cherry, tobacco, spicy, compost aromas. Soft, round, easy style with rhubarb, sour cherry, earthy, cedar, tobacco, rooty flavours with some metallic acidity on the finish.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cassini Cellars Syrah Collector's Series 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMeaty, spicy, savoury, peppery, black berry, liquorice, resin, slightly smoky sage and coffee aromas. Round, dry, slightly tart palate with light, tight tannins. Coffee, peppery, meaty, smoky, vanilla, cedar, rooty, meaty, blackberry, resin, poultry spice flavours. Finish is quite oaky and tight now, needs a few years yet to emerge from its current closed in phase.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Cassini Cellars Nobilus Merlot Collector's Series 2008
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, tobacco, earthy, cedar bark, olive, smoky, resin, compost aromas. Soft, round, slightly tannic and sweet entry with chocolate, cherry, smoky, resin, tobacco, espresso, cedar, vanilla flavours. Short, tart, oaky, chocolate cherry finish. Pricey for what you get. Drink now-2 years.Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaMenthol, black olive, herbal, coffee, rooty, earthy, resin aromas. Dry, somewhat tart, astringent entry with coffee, black olive, resin, savoury, resin, leaf compost, minty, soupy cherry flavours with a sweet chocolate finish.Prices:| QC | $18.70 | 750ml |
| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $18.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yellow Tail Chardonnay Reserve 2009
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaButter, ripe peach, honey, melon, floral, perfumed aromas. Fresh, juicy, delicate palate that is just off dry. Honey, buttery, orange, melon, ripe peach flavours. Lots of fruit and fresh acidity in an improvement in style.Prices:| QC | $18.70 | 750ml |
| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $18.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Yellow Tail Shiraz Reserve 2009
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaBeef, peppery, gamey, black licorice, blackberry, smoked meat, spicy aromas. Fresh, round, somewhat tart and tannic entry with black cherry, blueberry, licorice, coffee, peppery, meaty, gamey, leather, rooty, oaky flavours. A bit tart on the finish but has good fruit intensity.Prices:| QC | $18.70 | 750ml |
| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $18.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Castaño Garnacha Tintorera 2009
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainVery fresh nose with blood orange, black raspberry, spicy, floral, tobacco, licorice, light garrigue aromas. Ripe, round, fresh, dry palate with light tannins. Spicy, peppery, orange, black raspberry, spicy, red licorice flavours. Good solid fruit and intensity.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Castaño Tannat 2009
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainSomewhat reduced nose with a rubber meaty, gamey, earthy, black cherry, floral, licorice root, leather and resin aromas. Ripe, round, full, supple palate with light tannins. Chocolate, peppery, meaty, black cherry, barnyard, leather, earthy flavours. The rustic finish is somewhat dry and astringent.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Famila Castano Casa C Cisca Monastrell 2006
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainBig smoky bacon, barnyard, leather, meaty, gamey, liquorice, savoury, floral, blackberry jam, black cherry, garrigue aromas. Ripe, round, dry, supple, fresh palate with light, fine tannins and juicy acidity. Peppery, blackberry, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, cedar, leather, earthy, meaty, liquorice root and cedar flavours. Youthful and fruit with some tannins to shed but good finesse and very expressive. Needs 2-4 years. Cisca is made from 100 percent, ancient, dry-farmed bush vine mourvèdre.Prices:| ON | $64.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castaño Hécula 2008
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainPeppery, spicy, chocolate, meaty, black cherry, plum, light barnyard, savoury, earthy aromas. Full, round, warm, fresh palate with light grainy tannins. Cedar, black cherry, coffee, chocolate, barnyard, leather, floral, savoury, spicy, liquorice flavours with a fresh, peppery finish. Good solid red for the money.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $17.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Castaño C Monastrell Ecológico 2009
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainThe organic version of Castaño has drier nose with spice, cedar, tobacco and chocolate with an earthier underside of plums, barnyard and game. Ripe, round, supple, fresh palate with very light tannins. Chocolate, cherry jam, plum, leather, smoky, earthy, savoury, meaty flavours. A bit tart but has good finesse in this first edition.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Castaño C Monastrell 2009
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainBig chocolate, prune/plum nose with clean, black cherry, liquorice, pepper and menthol aromas. The palate is supple and fresh with peppery, leather, black cherry, prune, floral, licorice, savoury, earthy flavours. Good fruit and balance with a fresh finish. Great value for the barbecue and home. This is a better edition from winemaker Daniel Castaño. Great value.Prices:| BC | $11.40 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.00 | 750ml |
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03 February 2011
89PTS
Castaño Colección Cepas Viejas 2004
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainSmoky, meaty, leather, tobacco, black olive, resin, blackberry, black cherry, liquorice root, barnyard aromas. Dry, rich, full, slightly chunky palate with fresh acidity. Blackberry, cassis, prune, meaty, leather, coffee, peppery, barnyard, earthy, smoky, compost flavours. Nearing maturity but with a few chunky tannins. Lots of intensity. Castaño Colección is a blend of 80/20 monastrell and cabernet sauvignon fruit made from 40-year old vines.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castaño Colección Cepas Viejas 2005
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainMeaty, barnyard, gamey, peppery, liquorice root, earthy, smoky, resin, tobacco, cassis aromas. Full, round, slightly tannic palate with big roasted game, meaty, liquorice, chocolate, peppery, black cherry jam, black berry, coffee flavours. A bit chewy and rustic but has good intensity. Keep for a few more years. Castaño Colección is a blend of 80/20 monastrell and cabernet sauvignon fruit made from 40-year old vines.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Castaño Colección Cepas Viejas 2006
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainVery peppery, smoky, meaty, black cherry jam, savoury, cassis, black olive, coffee, tobacco aromas. Ripe, rich, smooth, fresh palate with smooth grained tannins. Cassis, black cherry, coffee, meaty, vanilla, liquorice root, savoury, tobacco, olive, gamey flavours. Good structure and intensity but needs time to tame the tannins. Good value. The new 2007 is $25. Castaño Colección is a blend of 80/20 monastrell and cabernet sauvignon fruit made from 40-year old vines.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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March 2011