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Tastings: October 2013
26 October 2013
92PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Brut R.D. Méthode Traditionelle 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFun to see an RD coming out of Blue Mountain, in this case a 2005 that was recently disgorged (RD). The blend is 60/35/5 pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot gris. There is no reserve is this wine and according to winemaker Matt Mavety it isn't required due to the uniformity of the blend from year to year. The wine spends six years on its lees developing an aromatic red fruit nose with toasted nuts and lees and a whiff of minerality. Dry, firm complex and impressive it sells out in moments. Best get on the list.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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25 October 2013
91PTS
Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. Méthode Traditionelle 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Blanc de Blancs is 100 percent chardonnay that is aged sur-lie for five years. Love the nose awash in nutty complex yeasty, lemon, red apple and brioche notes. Similar flavours mark the palate with even more pronounced dry, nutty notes in the finish. Definitely low fruit but it is not a severe style. Think oysters or sablefish, best with delicate flavours.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $35.00 | 750ml |
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24 October 2013
86PTS
Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2011
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileSappy cassis, herbal, olive, peppery, cedar, blackberry aromas. Round, smooth, easy palate with cedar, cassis, peppery, riparian, tobacco leaf and olive flavours. Simple, fresh style for grilled meat dishes.Prices:| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Gold Hill Chardonnay 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight floral, citrus, green apple and canned pear aromas. Fresh, juicy, elegant palate but quite sweet with green apple, canned citrus, honey and pear flavours. Fresh and easy-sipping simple style chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Geoff Hardy Handcrafted Limestone Coast Chardonnay 2012
Limestone Coast, South Australia, AustraliaLight lees, grapefruit, green apple, ripe pear, matchstick and butter aromas. Fresh, juicy, creamy palate with green apple, nettle, grassy, grapefruit, melon and lees flavours. Finish is a bit rind-y but with cool elegance. A Chablisesque-style at near the same price.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Harper's Trail Thadd Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 2012
Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaLight lees, garlic, spicy, baked green apple and lime aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant, lighter bodied palate with spicy lees, smoky, vanilla, garlic, green apple and citrus flavours. A bit leesy and light but a solid first effort for these young Kamloops grapes.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesOpen peppery, cassis, blackberry nose with flecks of tobacco, smoky, chocolate, saddle leather and dried herbs. The attack is dry, soft and elegant with vanilla, chocolate, cocoa mixed with meaty, cassis, prune, dried cranberry, roasted pepper and smoke flavours. A forward, easy-sipping style for current drinking.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2012
Region del Valle Central, ChileBig riparian, cassis, minty, spicy, chocolate, dried herb aromas. Round, fresh, juicy palate with leather, tobacco, herbal, menthol, savoury, sappy cassis flavours. Simple, easy-sipping style for a variety of barbecue foods.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $9.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.45 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.19 | 750ml |
| SK | $11.94 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Graham Beck The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Western Cape, South AfricaBlack pepper, earthy, smoky, saddle leather, cassis, tobacco ash and blackberry jam aromas. Round, fresh, slightly tannic palate with a hint of sweetness. Warm with blackberry, leather, resin, tobacco, peppery, meaty, earthy, black olive and smoke flavours. Very smoky, leathery, meaty, scorched earth finish.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
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18 October 2013
87PTS
Torre del Falasco Valpolicella Ripasso 2010
Pedemonte Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, ItalyFresh peppery, smoky nose with black olive, chocolate, balsamic and cherry aromas. Round, full, smooth, fresh and elegant palate with more chocolate, peppery, tobacco, black cherry, balsamic and licorice flavours. Fine overall balance for current drinking in a lighter style.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2007
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThe Altesino Riserva is a rare sighting in Canada. The fruit is a selection off all four vineyards: Altesino, Macina, Pianezzine & Castelnuovo dell'Abate that total some 40 hectares and sit at roughly 250-400 metres above sea level. There are two exposures Southern and Northwestern. The Riserva vintage was 30 years ago in 1977. It's only made in the best years and even then in tiny quantities from 100 percent sangiovese grosso. By law Riserva must be aged for five years in the cellar. This wine has all the classic Altesino hallmarks: finesse, balance and plenty of supple red, floral fruits, cherries with a distinct compost and spice character underneath. Powerful yet silky smooth it entices you from front to back. Not near ready and won't be for a decade.Prices:| BC | $135.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2008
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyAltesino makes classic Brunello in the true sense of the word. The bouquets wafts out of the glass even now at young age. Fragrant, floral, with saddle leather, dried herbs, liquorice and orange peel without a trace of oak. The attack is fresh, supple and always elegant with enough power and fruit to carry on for decade in the bottle. Altesino spends a minimum four years at the winery ageing and at least two of those in oak and four months in bottle. It is 100 percent sangiovese grosso hand-harvested from the Altesino, Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Macina, and Pianezzine vineyards in the north part of Montalcino. Buy it and forget about for a decade you will glad you did. Try it with rich osso buco dishes, mushroom risotto or winter stews.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $58.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $51.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Altesino Rosso Toscana 2010
Tuscany, ItalyRosso di Altesino is an 80/20 split of sangiovese mixed with 20 percent merlot and cabernet sauvignon that like everything is hand-picked from estate vineyards. This is made to drink young or as soon as it is released some nine to twelve months after vintage which includes three months in bottle. The merlot and cabernet temper the natural acidity and elegance of the sangiovese making it a little rounder and softer in its youth. Love the spicy, savoury, plummy fruit and the Altesino balance and harmony. Drink now with spaghetti Bolognese, stuffed roasted game hen or artisanal sausages.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.75 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Altesino Rosso di Montalcino 2011
Tuscany, ItalyYou are going to love this Rosso di Montalcino, made from a mix of younger sangiovese grapes picked from all four vineyards, two facing south and two facing north at Altesino. A warm vintage has produced a slightly riper style with intense black cherry and even blackberries but with a modicum of Brunello traits leather, earth and mushrooms to add interest and complexity. It's all aged in large wooden vats to protect the fruit and to preserve the acidity and elegance which is the hallmark of Altesino's wine. Big game dishes, stews and meaty pasta dishes work best here.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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96PTS
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2008
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyAltesino was the first Montalcino estate to select and bottle single vineyard cru wines in this case the famed Montosoli in 1975. The latest 2008 in the market is outstanding. Sleek, silky smooth, powerful and yet as elegant as they come this is a special bottle of Brunello. Montosoli is aged a full four years at the winery two of which are in large Slavonian oak barrels before spending three to four months in French barriques and then another four months in bottle. Crazy good with spice, truffle, floral, pure red fruit undertones always with perfect acidity that keep it bright through the finish. This will age forever. An old piece of cheese is all you need. Seriously, this is a bargain.Prices:| BC | $149.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $120.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2006
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThe 2006 Montosoli is just coming into its own at seven years of age and is still many years off its peak. Montosoli is aged a full four years at the winery two of which are in large Slavonian oak barrels before spending three to four months in French barriques and then another four months in bottle. This is quite a broad shouldered red but never too big not to be considered elegant. The red fruit is dark as in Bing cherries with spicy grilled meat notes and that savoury Tuscan core of dried herbs and leather. Best with simple lamb dishes or an old piece of cheese. Altesino was the first Montalcino estate to select and bottle single vineyard cru wines in this case the famed Montosoli in 1975.Prices:| BC | $149.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Côtes du Rhône Villages 2011
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceGamey, black liquorice, savoury, black cherry, smoky, peppery, bacon aromas. Round, fresh, smooth, slightly tannic palate but juicy. Black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, tobacco, roast pepper, Oxo and floral flavours. Fresh, warm, juicy, forward style with some finesse. Good value as it heads to full biodynamic production.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Suhindol Merlot & Gamza 2012
BulgariaCherry, liquorice, peppery, tobacco leaf, green olive, tomato paste and herb aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy and slightly tannic palate. Similar flavours with a touch of cedar and cassis. Simple red made to be drunk with food. Try a four-cheese pizza.Prices:| BC | $12.96 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Lovico Suhindol Gamza 2008
BulgariaCedar, carrot top, rooty, black cherry, resin, smoky, black olive and sage aromas. Dry, round, full and smooth palate with coffee, peppery, savoury, herbal, tobacco, liquorice, black cherry and resin flavours. Good concentration and intensity if a bit rustic. All in all a very good value hamburger red.Prices:| BC | $12.96 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lovico Gamza 2011
BulgariaPeppery, earthy, black cherry, smoky, resin, coffee and olive aromas. Dry, fresh, round but slightly astringent palate with cherry, plum, cedar, earthy, rooty, savoury flavours. Simple and rustic but should improve when the tannins settle down. Try this with burgers.Prices:| BC | $12.96 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Vinal Gamza Selected Crop 2011
BulgariaCherry, earthy, liquorice, resin aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy but somewhat tannic and astringent palate. Cedar, chocolate, tobacco, herbal, resin flavours. This has some fruit but the finish is too astringent.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Saumur Blanc Cuvee Les Pouches 2012
Saumur, Loire, FranceLight grassy, lees, granny smith apple, pear skin and almond aromas. Fresh, delicate, juicy, off dry palate with granny smith apple, lemon, light lees, nettle and herb flavours. A bit light and tart on the finish but good finesse for oysters and clams.Prices:| BC | $18.45 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Series Merlot 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen fruity cherry, saddle leather nose with pepper, tobacco and meaty black olive aromas. Dry, round, elegant, slightly lean but fresh with black olive, tobacco leaf, peppery, liquorice root, cherry, cedar and clove flavours. Warm austere finish that needs few years to round out. This will improve in bottle through 2017 but you can drink it now with roasted meats.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Road 13 Jackpot Chenin Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHoney, mango, spicy lees, bready, lime and baked apple aromas. Full, round, soft palate but juicy with a hint of sweetness and warmth. Creamy lees, vanilla, baked pear, apple, nutty, buttery flavours. A very ripe style with a bit of warmth on the finish. Perhaps for grilled prawns or cream sauces.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Angus The Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaCassis, coffee grind, tobacco, peppery, spicy, licorice aromas with a touch of leather and blackberry. Fresh, round, slightly tannic palate with a hint of sweetness. Tobacco, peppery, resin, cassis, black cherry, black olive and herb flavours with a bit of mint. An easy sipping red for grilled or roast beef.Prices:| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $25.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $25.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $24.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $24.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, earthy, compost, tobacco leaf, cocoa, cedar, cassis, riparian aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant but somewhat tart palate with very light tannins. Cassis, earthy, peppery, black olive, tobacco, tomato paste, cedar, resin and herb flavours. A simple, light bodied style for grilled foods and pizza.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Galil Mountain Pinot Noir Barbera Merlot 2009
Upper Galilee, Galilee, IsraelEarthy, meaty, tobacco, black cherry, resin, earthy aromas. Fresh, round, smooth, slightly sweet entry with cherry, tobacco, rooty, earthy, resin flavours with a bit of leather. Simple everyday pizza red.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Mount Rozier Myrtle Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaVery smoky, meaty, saddle leather, resin, cigar and savoury herb aromas. Fresh, round, slightly tannic palate with a bit of sweetness. Smoked meat, leather, coffee, peppery, resin, tobacco and herb flavours. A bit like having coffee with Montreal smoked meat and a cigar. The match is...smoked meat.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Volcanic Hills Syrah 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVery earthy, liquorice root, spicy, tobacco, light roast meat and cherry aromas. Round, dry, somewhat flat and lean with earthy, peppery, savoury, coffee, meaty, resin and spicy, clove flavours. Warm, dry finish. Try this with grilled lamb chops.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Van Westen Vineyards Vivacious 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVivacious is mostly pinot blanc with a dash of pinot gris all home grown on the Home Lot Vineyard on the Naramata Bench. Look for a light lees nose with green apple, pear skin, matchstick, melon rind and grapefruit. Fresh, juicy, slightly sweet palate but light with grapefruit, lime, green apple, butter and quince flavours. Simple, fresh food friendly.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Altesino Vin Santo Orcia 2004
Tuscany, ItalyWhat a delight. If you would like to discover to the real Vin Santo this could be it. Amber gold colour. Big nutty, orange peel, rancio, honey, slightly-lifted nose. Fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet but well balanced palate with toffee, spicy, minty, honey, orange peel, ginger, nutty, rancio flavours. A complex meditation wine. Excellent effort. Should keep for ages.Prices:| BC | $48.00 | 375ml |
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91PTS
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFragrant open black cherry, floral, nose with meaty, tobacco, saddle leather and savoury notes. The attack is fresh, supple and elegant on the palate with peppery, orange peel, sweet plum jam flecked with liquorice, coffee, saddle leather and cedar notes. Drink now and over the next 2-4 years. Altesino spends a minimum of four years at the winery ageing and at least two of those in oak. It is 100 sangiovese grosso hand-harvested from the Altesino, Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Macina, and Pianezzine vineyards in the north part of Montalcino. Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $58.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $51.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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16 October 2013
86PTS
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Shiraz 2011
South Australia, AustraliaPeppery, blackberry, coffee aromas with flecks of smoke. Soft, round and easy-sipping with blueberry, blackberry, liquorice, coffee and tobacco flavours. A fun, fruity style to drink with fowl. Solid value here.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.00 | 750ml |
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14 October 2013
89PTS
La Croix de Beaucaillou 2010
St. Julien, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceThis second effort is made from specific vineyard portions and lesser barrels now, not just younger vines. It has a smoky, tobacco, cedar, black olive nose with bits of cassis, saddle leather and black pepper aromas. Round, full, somewhat dry and hollow but good finesse and acidity balance. Smoky coffee, peppery, vanilla, licorice, olive, tobacco, leather, cassis and earth flavours. Quite oaky now with edgy tannins on the finish, needs 3-5 years. Try this with roast beef for best effect.Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Amalaya Vino Tinto de Altura 2011
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaThe waiting for a miracle 'Amalaya' wine is grown at some of the highest vineyards in the world. Mostly malbec mixed with 15 percent cabernet sauvignon, syrah and tannat opens with an aromatic nose and a fresh, peppery, juicy palate. More mineral and white pepper than fat sweet fruit this has wide appeal for food lovers. It is also farmed bio-dynamically. Finesse and value.Prices:| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $21.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Reserva 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaBack up the truck and load up. Terrazas works hard at making sophisticated, elegant malbec and they have done it in 2011. Medium dark and awash in stony, aromatic black fruit it hits the palate silky and slides through the finish. Love the peppery, smoky, spicy, cherry jam fruit flecked with orange and liquorice flavours. Savoury sophisticated and you can drink it now. Steak anyone?Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.25 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Five Vineyards 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother solid effort mixing grass and grapefruit with bits of passion fruit and green apple. Lively clean, and juicy the palate is softer with sweeter fruit notes and just a dusting of dried herbs. Food friendly try this with a tomato/burrata cheese dish.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Founder's Reserve Cuvée du Mâitre Shiraz 2010
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, AustraliaRe-tasted six months down the road showing open smoky, blueberry, blackberry, resin, cedar, chocolate aromas. The attack is round and a bit soupy with light tannins and some acidity poking through. The palate is similar with more smoky, resin, earthy, peppery, meaty black fruit flavours. The finish is soft with some menthol undertones. Ready to drink. Try this with lamb chops.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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13 October 2013
92PTS
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2009
St. Estèphe, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FrancePlum, cassis, earthy, peppery, vanilla, licorice, jammy, tobacco aromas. Rich, full, round, suave, juicy but jammy palate with ripe tannins and big concentration. Warm with coffee, vanilla, chocolate, plum jam, blackberry, curry spice, cedar and tobacco flavours. Dense, ripe, warm style with huge structure but a bit raisiny and hot on the finish. Needs 10-15 years.Prices:| BC | $688.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny NV
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalAlways a style template the Taylor's 10 Year Old is sufficiently complex yet eminently drinkable. Garnet orange in colour look for nutty spicy, brown sugar, raisined nose flecked with pipe tobacco, nutmeg and orange peel. Look for bits of almonds dark chocolate toffee and spice with both sweetness and length that finishes long and silky. The final blend is a mix of individual 630 litre casks aged for an average of 10 years. Serve fireside with friends or a great book.Prices:| BC | $41.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $34.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $34.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $32.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Taylor Fladgate First Estate Reserve Port NV
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalTaylor's First Estate is a 'vintage character" blend that mixes vats and cask selection in a drink-me-now port style. The famous, full-bodied house style is faintly detectable under this mineral fruity, indeed fruitcake scented red with black fruit flavours and fine acidity flecked throughout with molasses, liquorice and spice. Serve nightly as the weather cools down.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| NFL | $23.00 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2012
Western Cape, South AfricaLike the previous addition this wine opens with an overwhelmingly reductive, stinky garlic nose, so double decant this red no matter what if you have any desire to drink it. The palate like last year is off the charts sweet, with crushed raspberries. Seriously who buys this stuff? Must be tasted with a super, hot and spicy dish to show its best.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Graceland Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaThis is the best Graceland we have tasted and it's doubly impressive showing none of that scorched earth and burnt rubber that plagues the category. This is perfectly ripe with elegant styling and fresh black cherry a fruit and vanilla on its youthful palate. This is a classic wine for T-bone steaks.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Saxenburg Guinea Fowl Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2011
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaAnother year another Guinea Foul with its spicy, smoky crushed dried leaves on the nose with an herbal smoky cassis undertone. The attack is soft and ripe with elegant, resiny cherry fruit flecked with tobacco. Try this with grilled meat maybe with some chimichurri sauce to best effect.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $21.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Ghost Pines Red Blend 2011
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesFinally a wine with some fruit and flavours but without too much sweetness. Love that savoury Sonoma cassis and menthol with soft vanilla laced tannins in the back end. Fine density and texture if a bit short overall in the finish. A solid finish in what is a fair value red.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Terra Australis Cabernet Merlot 2012
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaCheap and cheerful this cabernet merlot blend stays within itself and delivers a soft, red berry, fruity red wine from start to finish. Not too much acidity and not too much sugar makes this a good value hamburger red.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Terra Australis Shiraz 2012
South Eastern Australia, AustraliaAnother Down Under shiraz from the ubiquitous South Eastern Australia appellation. In this case it's all about price and flavour. If you like both I guess you buy it. This wine was ready to drink at bottling spewing soft, spicy black fruit with tomato notes and a dry finish. It could be from anywhere and probably is. Best as Monday night barbecue red.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Noble Vines 667 Pinot Noir 2011
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesPinot clone 667 is the source of fruit here. This is middleweight red wine made for the masses with sweet, smoky, candied black cherry fruit flavours and a warm spicy finish. Try this with salmon pizza.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Castiglion del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino 2011
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThis wine continues to refine its style going for fresh and fragrant. Exploring sangiovese feminine side. rossos should be drinkable and this medium red delivers with spicy red fruit flavours of cherry berry and raspberries. A simple, well-made red that would be perfect with a spaghetti/mushroom dish.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2012
Coastal Region, South AfricaOne of the better SA syrah we see here in Canada that mixes spice, smoke and chocolate cherry fruit with meaty, peppery, coffee aromas. The palate is similar with rich peppery cherry/berry jam flavours with a fair bit of oak and a touch of scorched earth and tar among its dry finish. Barbecue flank steak is the match.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $17.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe nose is the setup, enticing with vanilla, blackberry cherry aromas. On the palate it is soft with sweet flavours baled cherry pie, cinnamon with a touch of acidity poking through its warm, alcoholic, chocolaty finish. Hamburgers are the ticket here.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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12 October 2013
87PTS
Serendipity Devil's Advocate 2010
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTime in the bottle has helped Devil's Advocate lose some of its raw edge. Look for an aromatic red nose of spice cedar and black cherries with a hint of leather. The attack is similar with peppery red and black fruits and a fair bit of oak that still needs time to dissipate. Try this will meat or mushroom based pasta dishes.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Pentâge Winery Syrah 2010
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is an easy to like syrah with medium weight and spicy fruit. The fruit is a bit candied and grapey but not over the top and its meaty, peppery, savoury finish nicely subdues the sugar. A solid mid-weight syrah for current drinking. Try this with grille flank steak or hamburgers.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2009
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNot quite up to the very fine 2008 it still has better richness than most of its competitors. Look for a fresher version with savoury, black and red fruit aromas. The attack is round and mouth-filling if a touch skinny with more liquorice, dried herbs red fruits and pepper with impressive sweet tannins in the finish. You can drink this now or hold it for three to five years. Serve with roasted or grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Finca Decero Petit Verdot Remolinos Vineyard 2010
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaOne of the top South American petit verdot look for liquorice, floral, barnyard, peppery, tar, blackberry, inky, tobacco, tea and spicy savoury aromas. Round, fresh, suave, juicy palate with light, grainy tannins and more coffee, vanilla, liquorice, black cherry, resin, orange peel and sage flavours. Warm but good intensity and length. Should improve over the next 2-4 years. Best with venison.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Finca Decero Cabernet Sauvignon Remolinos Vineyard 2010
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaPeppery, savoury, vanilla, cassis, black olive, tobacco, smoky, tea, and liquorice/barnyard aromas. Dry, fresh, slightly gritty tannins on the palate. Full and warm with coffee, peppery, cassis, licorice, tar, tobacco, savoury, tapenade, vanilla and five spice flavours. Youthful with a touch of stemmy tannins, but it should improve with 1-3 years aging in bottle. Prime rib anyone?Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau Carignan Prima 2010
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FrancePrune plum, coffee, compost, black cherry, tobacco, peppery, earthy aromas. Dry, full, round, fresh and somewhat tannic palate. Smoky coffee, peppery, earthy, blackberry, tobacco, spicy, leather and savoury flavours. A bit chunky but offers good intensity and value for 3-5 years aging.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Chateau Angelus 2010
Saint Émilion, Libourne, Bordeaux, FranceSmoky, vanilla, coconut, vanilla, plum jam, lifted, tobacco, black cherry jam, spicy, menthol, earthy, barnyard, cedar and olive aromas. Full, rich, round, suave, warm, grainy tannic palate. Big coffee, vanilla, pain grille, coconut, orange peel, black cherry, blackberry, cedar, tobacco flavours. Very blowsy, warm, jammy and oaky now, this has good finesse and intensity but needs 7-10 years to integrate. Perhaps even on the over ripe side? The blend is 55/45 merlot/cabernet franc.Prices:| BC | $688.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Chateau Clos Fourtet 2010
Saint Émilion, Libourne, Bordeaux, FrancePeppery, tobacco, earthy, spicy, curry, black cherry, plum, waxy, leather aromas, very fine nose. Ripe, round, suave, juicy and somewhat tannic but concentrated and balanced. Coffee, plum, peppery, tobacco, chocolate, curry, vanilla, orange peel, pudding flavours. Very ripe and warm but good finesse and tannins with concentration to last the 5-10 years this needs. Very fine effort. The 2010 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 87% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 3% cabernet franc.Prices:| BC | $288.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2010
St. Estèphe, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceBlackberry, cassis, peppery, vanilla, black olive, floral, herbal, smoky, licorice, tobacco, five spice aromas. Rich, full, round, ripe and warm, jammy palate but with good acidity and ripe tannins. Smoky coffee, vanilla, chocolate, earthy, peppery, plum jam, blackberry, tobacco and prune flavours. Long, very ripe and warm but tannic structure. This has great potential but like 2009, it is on steroids for ripeness and will need 7 to 12 years minimum bottle age before it reveals its true stuff. That said it has much better lift than the 2009.Prices:| ON | $480.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $688.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $490.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $520.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $550.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2010
Pauillac, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceSmoky coffee, tobacco, blackberry jam, cassis, earthy, vanilla, curry, barnyard, leather and cedar aromas, very open and ripe. Dry, round, full, suave but tannic palate with very good finesse and intensity. Vanilla, smoky oak, leather, cedar, peppery, five spice, licorice, coffee, chocolate, blackberry, cassis jam flavours. Fresh acidity on the slightly warm and oaky finish lends this balance but it is definitely more forward in style with more elegance than some of the past great vintages. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 94% of the blend with 6% Merlot. A great bottle at a crazy price.Prices:| BC | $1800.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Selbach Riesling (Fish Label) 2012
Mosel, GermanyYou can set your watch by this Vancouver designed label and Johannes Selbach calling card riesling. Fresh, juicy and crunchy is how he likes his fruit and wine and you get it all in this remarkable bargain. Green apples, lime, mineral grassy, nectarine skin flavours mark the palate. Sip solo or try this with a favourite curry dish.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Black Hills Syrah 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine is beginning to settle in at Black Hills offering a peppery, smoked meat nose with sweet cherries punching through form underneath. The palate is similar with a slick glossy underbelly and smooth sweet tannins. More elegant than monster you can enjoy the sweet, smoky meaty fruit flavours that runs from the front to the back of each glass. A cool style of syrah that works well with food. A leg of lamb would be a super match.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Series Syrah 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight, fresh, red fruits nose with a lashing of pepper. A cool version of the south Okanagan syrah offering more cran-cherry, brambleberry and pepper on the nose. Similarly juicy palate with some oak peeking through more pepper and savoury smoked meats. A lighter year that is almost ready to drink. Pair this with grilled chicken or your favourite barbecue.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moon Curser Syrah 2011
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMuch cooler style in 2011 with some obvious upfront acidity. Pepper, floral, chocolate flavours predominate with bits of liquorice, earth, black cherry, ginger and savoury flavours. A bit skinny and awkward at the moment showing more acidity than is necessary. Best with grilled lamb at this point or wait a year or two.Prices:| BC | $21.69 | 750ml |
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89PTS
J Vineyards Cuvée 20 Brut NV NV
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesCuvée 20 is hand-harvested its whole clusters are very gently pressed. Vineyard blocks are kept separate to with some 30% oak-cask aged mixed into the final blend. Perfectly complex for its pedigree and price it spends three years on its lees and even gets further bottle age after it is disgorged. Look for fresh lean classy style bubble with pear and apple fruit notes flecked with bits of brioche. Delicious. Pair this with your favourite sushi roll.Prices:| US | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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11 October 2013
89PTS
Ferrari Brut Metodo Classico NV
Trento, Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyOnly handpicked chardonnay from various communes across the Province of Trento is used for this label that is aged on its lees for a minimum 24 months. Ferrari has been making this wine since 1902. Look for a fresh nose with bits of apple, straw, toast and floral elements. The attack is similar with spicy nutty honey, citrus, green apple flavours. Fine complexity and balance that calls for food.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $30.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $31.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $30.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe FV grigio is un-oaked and set in the Italian style. Fresh and round with stone fruit flavours, flecked with spice and honey and enough minerality to keep it lean and fresh. This is built to drink from release and here in British Columbia that means shellfish, or creamy pasta dishes or Margherita pizza.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.15 | 750ml |
| NB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc 2010
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA cool, late vintage where the grapes hung five weeks passed the 10 year average, before warm weather in the last half of September and the first half of October saved the harvest. Harvesting about 30 percent of the normal crop was required to get the quality in this wine. There's 12.5 percent malbec in the mix to add some flesh and colour and it works. Look for a soft round smooth red with savoury black fruits, resin and bits of dark chocolate. An excellent effort in a tough year. Try this roast beef. Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Villa Vignamaggio Obsession 2008
Tuscany, ItalyAn infrequent Tuscan blend of merlot and cabernet with a bit of syrah. The labels, six different in each box, represent mythological subjects, the Unicorn, the Dragon, the Griffon, the Minotaur, the Mermaid and the Medusa. Look for medium red colour and a similar attack with light fruity, earthy notes flecked with resin and meat. The finish is dry and calling for food. Just touch off kilter.Prices:| BC | $44.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pasion de Bobal 2010
Utiel-Requena, Valencia and Murcia, SpainBobal is the third most-planted variety in Spain but it is hardly a household name. In Utiel-Requena a region where it reigns supreme it seems to over deliver for the price. Grown on a hot site at almost 1000 metres it has the gloss and fruit you would expect, a dash of oak and a slim finish with enough acidity to get your nose back into the glass. Produced from the oldest Bobal vines on the Fuenteseca estate the fruit is organic. It was perfect with a beef pasta dish. Good value. Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec Etiqueta Blanca 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaThis red will have a lot of curbside appeal with its rich, soft styling and peppery, red fruit nose and flavours. It spends just under a year French oak giving its plummy fruit a spicy smoky finish and light tannin. Good value here you can pour liberally around the barbecue.Prices:| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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09 October 2013
84PTS
Toso Brut NV
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSomewhat foamy mousse with light lees, lemon, apple skin, butter and matchstick aromas. Fresh, round, slightly sweet palate with some foamy mousse. Baked apple, pear skin, spicy, creamy, nutty flavours. Finish is leesy and easy.Prices:| BC | $15.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2012
Morgon, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceSimilar to last year Lapierre brings a fresh juicy style to his Morgan from its black cherry, liquorice nose through its dry, fresh, elegant mid-palate. The flavours mix tobacco, pepper, liquorice, and black cherry fruit with just a hint of smoke. From sushi to turkey this is a winner.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $32.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaThere is a friendly side to this rich peppery savoury red that as big as it is has a freshness that keeps you coming back for glass. Don't get me wrong this is no shrinking violet but it dense, savoury, sweet blueberry/black fruit is fun to sip. Excellent value here and you can age this red for half a decade. A grilled T-bone steak would be a great match.Prices:| NF | $21.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $25.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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05 October 2013
93PTS
Chateau Certain de May 2010
Pomerol, Libourne, Bordeaux, FranceCertan de May vineyard is planted to merlot 70%, cabernet franc 25% and cabernet sauvignon 5% that average about 45 years of age. Expect a generous tobacco, cedar, earthy, black plum nose with black cherry, rooty, olive and vanilla aromas. Full, round, dense but elegant with good concentration and suave tannins it is both ripe and juicy and packed full of five-spice, tobacco, vanilla, coffee, olive, green tea, plum, cedar, black cherry, meaty flavours. Super balance that makes this suave with depth and finesse, a fine effort and consistent in style. Certan de May ages well and this will need a decade top come around to its full glory. It offers good value for the vintage.Prices:| BC | $175.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chateau Cos Labory 2010
St. Estèphe, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceAt $75 Cos Labory looks like a bargain for Bordeaux even if it isn't much better than the best Okanagan red blends. The nose here is a sappy peppery, blackberry, black cherry affair with vanilla, violet aromas. Round, dry full and showing good ripeness it is awash in fine grained tannin. More peppery, coffee, tobacco, blackberry, prune, black raspberry fruit marks the palate with bits of liquorice, vanilla and grilled meat flavours. A bit simple and coarse for Bordeaux but with fine fruit and concentration to balance its youthful astringent structure. Age this five to ten years for best result.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chateau d'Aiguilhe 2010
Cotes de Castillon, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FrancePepper, resin, smoke and coffee with red fruits, mint and tobacco aromas. The entry is youthful and tight with slightly astringent tannins followed by fresh cassis, raspberry, coffee, vanilla, tobacco, cedar flavours. One of the top estates of the Cotes de Castillon owned by Stephan von Neipperg. The blend is 80/20 merlot/cabernet franc. For medium term cellaring it should be fully ready to go by 2017.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Chateau La Vieille Cure 2010
Fronsac, Libourne, Bordeaux, FranceOpen spicy, olive, herbal, coffee, cassis nose. The attack is dry and full with cassis slightly tannic palate. Vanilla, coffee, cassis, black olive, tobacco, herbal, peppery flavours. Good balance and length if a bit hollow in the middle. Solid value for the vintage but needs 2-3 more years of bottle ageing.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere Blanc 2010
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, FranceClassic grapefruit, lees, grassy, lanolin, matchstick, nettle and fig aromas with a creamy, vanilla underbelly. Round, full, fresh, juicy and creamy palate but with some restraint and tightness. Vanilla, lees, lemon custard, grapefruit, nettle, grassy, gooseberry, waxy flavours. Finish is warm with an oily, creamy vanilla finish. Good finesse but an increase in lees, oak and sémillon from prior vintages. Best in 2-4 years. An impressive white blend.Prices:| BC | $125.00 | 750ml |
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November 2013