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Tastings: December 2013
29 December 2013
92PTS
Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2004
Mosel, GermanyMature spicy, green apple skin, light petrol nose with slate, waxy, toasty, nectarine aromas with a bit of matchstick. Fresh, juicy, delicate, balanced sweetness with honey, baked apple, lime, nectarine, mango, petrol and slate flavours. Good finesse and showing nice bottle age characters but lots of acidity left to keep this another 10 years but mature now.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Haywire Gewurztraminer 2012
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight floral, citrus nose flecked with peach and a touch of litchi. Fresh, elegant, off-dry palate with some juicy red apple, honey, peach skin and sausage flavours. Light, ethereal, ready-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Township 7 Cabernet Sauvignon Blue Terrace Vineyard 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTomato paste and light bell pepper mix with smoky, vanilla, cranberry, tobacco leaf and dill aromas. Dry, lean, somewhat tart palate with leafy, cassis, herbal, smoky coffee, vanilla, roast bell pepper and black tea. Austere and very oaky with a hollow mid-palate. Tannins are light and soft but this needs more fruit than was possible in 2010.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella 2009
Pedemonte Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, ItalyEarthy, meaty, black pepper, tobacco, black olive, black cherry, coffee and herb aromas. Fresh, juicy, off-dry palate with some young tannins. Chocolate, tobacco, black cherry, prune, meaty, liquorice, light balsamic and tapenade flavours. Good concentration with some heat and still some tannins to shed over the next 2-5 years. Cellar this for even better results.Prices:| BC | $48.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $45.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Le 360 du Mas des Armes 2009
l'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceAromatic spicy, vanilla, liquorice, poultry spice nose with gamey, black cherry jam, coffee, chocolate, tobacco notes. Soft, round, suave, dry palate with black cherry, plum, meaty, chocolate, tobacco, garrigue, barnyard and liquorice/vanilla flavours. Well balanced with fine fruit on the finish for current drinking or keep 1-2 years.Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Castaño Hécula 2011
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainPeppery, spicy, savoury, cherry, rooty, earthy, meaty aromas. Round, fresh, easy palate with black cherry, tobacco, meaty, leather, peppery flavours. Simple, soft, juicy style made for food.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $17.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2010
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky tobacco, earthy, prune, black cherry, resin, cedar, savoury aromas. Full, round, fresh, suave palate with inky, black cherry jam, peppery, savoury, chocolate, liquorice and prune flavours. Warm but full with solid fruit and spice. Best with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaHeavily corked, try another.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Finca Los Primos Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaEarthy, cassis, prune, chocolate, tobacco leaf aromas. Soft, fresh, round, off dry palate with light tannins. Tobacco leaf, black olive, prune, leather, cassis and herb flavours. Simple, earthy style for beef dishes.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca Los Primos Syrah 2012
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBlack cherry jam, licorice, savoury, spicy, meaty, slightly reduced aromas. Fresh, slightly lean and light palate with meaty, peppery, black cherry, rooty, liquorice and tobacco flavours. Easy juicy style with light tannins for food. Solid value.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca Los Primos Chardonnay 2012
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaButtery, earthy, resin, lemon, baked pear aromas. Fresh, juicy, slightly sweet and oily with buttery, baked apple, honey, matchstick and citrus flavours. A bit bitter and buttery but solid for the money.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Fetzer Quartz Winemaker's Favourite White Blend 2012
California, United StatesFloral, spicy, peach, grapefruit, matchstick aromas. Fresh, somewhat sweet and juicy palate with peach, honey, floral, grapefruit rind, green apple and litchi flavours. Simple, easy-sipping style.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| MN | $15.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $17.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Fort Berens Cabernet Franc 2011
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaEarthy, light barnyard, cranberry, tobacco leaf, rooty, herbal aromas. Fresh, dry, lean, light palate with some gritty tannins. Cranberry, rooty, resin, smoky, herbal, tobacco leaf and carrot top flavours. Astringent, dry finish that might soften over time. Needs more sunshine and fruit.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Fort Berens Chardonnay 2012
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, green apple, pear skin, light lees and butter aromas. Fresh, delicate, dry palate with green apple skin, spicy, light citrus, pear and grass flavours. Clean and pure if a bit bitter and lean. Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pentâge Winery Chardonnay Reserve 2008
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNutty, apple skin, dill, grassy, citrus, spicy aromas. Round, oily, dry, somewhat lean palate with nutty, lees, spicy, butter, vanilla, grassy herb flavours. Finish is a bit bitter and lean with baked apple sauce note. Now mature and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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27 December 2013
88PTS
Parés Baltà Calcari 2012
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainCalcari is a rare, organic, single varietal Spanish White made from the xarelolo grape. The vines, 40-plus years in age, grow in loam soils with excellent water retention. The ferment is 21 days the wine is pressed off and aged on its lees for six months with daily battonage. The nose and palate fresh and stylish with pear and salty, seawater notes with fine density and length and minerality. A perfect wine for seafood. More interesting and much better than your average chardonnay. Prices:| QC | $17.15 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Gratavinum 2πR 2008
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainIn 2003 the Cuisine family launched Gratavinum a Priorat red whose name is formed by the contraction of the village name where the winery is: Gratallops and Vinum wine in Latin. Today Gratavinum is 17 organically grown hectares. The 2008 Gratavinum 2πR is a 40/30 blend of garnatxa negre and carinyena the rest is a mix of cabernet sauvignon and syrah. Presumably, the 2πR, reference or the length of the circumference, is used to emphasize the roundness of this Priorat red. Expect intense, savoury red fruits with freshness and stony mineral flecks throughout with fine weight and round slippery tannins. Its aged 12 months in new barrels and a second year in French and Hungarian oak. Hold through 2015 and drink forever.Prices:| BC | $46.85 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.74 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Parés Baltà Mas Petit 2011
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMas Petit is an 80/20 blend of cabernet sauvignon and garnatxa grown at Finca Parés Baltà, 230 m. (cabernet sauvignon) and Finca Cal Miret, 315 m. (garnatxa). The nose has hint of smoke and toast but with much better fruit these days and less oak. The attack is supple with spicy, olive, cassis, and garrigue notes. A fresher red fruit style. We suggest you pair a whole roasted chicken for best results. Drink now or over the next three to five years. Mas Petit is aged for seven months in second, third and fourth-year French oak barrels.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.84 | 750ml |
| MB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $20.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $22.55 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Parés Baltà Electio 2012
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe Parés Baltà Microcuvées may be tiny in production, but it's big in excitement. Electio is 100 percent xarel.lo grown at 325 metres above sea level in the Finca Cal Miret vineyard. The fermentation took place in new French oak and continued in the same barrels for four months on the less with regular battonage. The nose is white Burgundy-like with toasted nuts, the palate a mix of litchi, citrus and more nutty notes all with creamy textures and persistent length. Impressive already but this will continue to age well. Pares Baltà is a 3rd generation, family-owned winery working organically in the vineyard since 2004 and will soon be certified bio-dynamic. They keep bees and sheep in the vineyards. The wines are made by sister-in-law winemakers Maria Elena Jimenez & Marta Casas.Prices:| Spain | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Parés Baltà Blanc de Pacs 2005
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe Blanc de Pacs was picked riper in 2012 adding some weight to its floral, mineral citrus nose. Love the elegance here and its electric mid-palate. Very Mediterranean in style now with a fresh delicate finish. Fresh oysters and or crab cakes would be a great match. Pares Baltà is a 3rd generation, family owned winery working organically in the vineyard since 2004 and will soon be certified bio-dynamic. They keep bees and sheep in the vineyards. The wines are made by sister-in-law winemakers Maria Elena Jimenez & Marta Casas.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NF-LAB | $13.50 | 750ml |
| BC | $22.55 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandConsistent style here with lemon, grapefruit, jalapeno, lime rind, nettle nose setting the stage for a very crisp, clean, juicy tight lemon palate with granny smith and passion fruit flavours. The acidity here is manageable but it needs food. Mussels, clams, creamy pasta dishes will all work here.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.50 | 750ml |
| NS | $22.32 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Parés Baltà Cava Brut B Organic NV
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainI'm fond of saying the annual tasting of 'b" never disappoints although this year the tasting was in Pacs in the heart of the Penedès region that is home to Pares Baltà. The blend is a mix of organically certified (and more recently bio-dynamically grown) Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel.lo from several sites spanning 230 to 615 metres. The wine goes through a second fermentation in bottle and remains on its lees for a minimum of 18 months. The attack is fresh and dry and all with a creamy lees underbelly and nutty, pear/green apple flavours with a stony mineral finish. Good value and food friendly and the perfect wedding sparkler to boot.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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24 December 2013
89PTS
Domaine de Pallus Les Pensées de Pallus Cabernet Franc 2011
Chinon, Touraine, Loire, FranceLes Pensées de Pallus is the top label from the property made from the oldest vines now 30-plus years. Limestone, clay and sand provides the base for this classic Loire cabernet franc. The nose is spicy and fresh with leafy, red fruits with dash of minerality and raspberries. The textures are soft; the finish long. Solid and even better with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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23 December 2013
88PTS
Thirty Bench Riesling 2012
Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaLight petrol, lemon oil, floral, green apple skin and lees aromas. Fresh, juicy, delicate palate with light sweetness. Lime, green apple, floral, petrol, soapy, honey flavours. Juicy finish with good finesse and balance. Should improve over the next 1-2 years. Solid.Prices:| ON | $18.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cutio Garnacha 2011
Cariñena, Aragon, SpainPeppery, earthy, savoury, liquorice root, black cherry, gamey aromas. Fresh, juicy, dry, suave palate with a streak of austerity. Black raspberry, smoky herb, savoury, peppery, black liquorice, meaty, tobacco flavours. A bit rustic and warm but has good intensity for duck, turkey or pork.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Veuve du Vernay Brut NV
FranceMedium mousse with nutty, apple skin, light citrus, toasty garlic and nectarine aromas. Fresh, juicy, off-dry palate with honey, red apple, pear, lemon and nut flavours. Good fruit but somewhat austere, could use a counter balance of a touch of sweetness and/or food. A unique blend of chardonnay, chenin blanc, folle blanche and ugni blanc.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
The Doctor's Riesling 2011
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandLight petrol, waxy, green apple, spicy, lees and guava aromas. Crisp, fresh, juicy and creamy with light sweetness. Green apple, honey, petrol, lime, slate, guava flavours. Good delicacy and intensity with creamy acidity on the finish. A low alcohol Kabinett style riesling picked at an early stage of ripening (8.5%) much like a German Mosel.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Kungfu Girl Riesling 2012
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesFloral, green apple, matchstick, peach aromas. Juicy, round, fresh but soft palate with light sweetness. Pear, honey, baked green apple, guava and light lees flavours. Simple, easy style.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Staete Landt Riesling Auslese 2010
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandLight honey, apricot, green apple, floral, lees, earthy aromas. Fresh, round, slightly sweet but flat with lime rind, petrol, honey, waxy, earthy, nectarine flavours. Solid effort but ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Chateau D'Angles Classique White La Clape 2009
La Clape, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceSomewhat oxidized and buttery, much like a fino or Jura wine. Too old, possibly corked or both. Try another.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wittmann Riesling Trocken 2012
Rheinhessen, GermanySlate, pear, green apple skin, peach skin aromas. Fresh, juicy, off dry palate with green apple, light honey, lime, and mango flavours with a touch of citrus rind. Well-balanced, fresh style for food or sipping.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $33.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Thomas Goss Shiraz 2011
Franklin River - Mudgee - McLaren Vale, AustraliaSlightly reductive with blackberry jam, smoky, savoury, liquorice, tobacco, meaty aromas. Round, smooth, tart palate with some sweetness and alcohol. Black cherry, licorice root, smoky, resin, meaty, rubber, coffee and tobacco leaf flavours. Finish is pretty hot and tart, needs food.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Quails' Gate Fortified Vintage Foch 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFoch is a specialty at Quails' Gate and this fortified foch with its earthy, peppery, meaty, smoky nose with flecks of resin, mulberry, tobacco, caramel and tomato paste is just another example. Full, rich, round, juicy, sweet palate with peppery, savoury, smoky, meaty, coffee, black plum jam, orange peel, tobacco, rancio flavours. A bit warm and tart mid-palate but there is better fruit than last edition.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Riesling 2012
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight floral, honey, red apple, citrus aromas. Fresh, juicy, creamy palate with light sweetness. Grapefruit, lime, lees, green apple skin, grassy flavours with a bit of bitter lime and rind on the finish. Solid but needs another year or two in bottle.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Pentâge Cabernet Franc Appassimento Style 2011
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIntense dried cranberry, raspberry, cigar, meaty, peppery, savoury, coffee aromas. Sweet, full, round, juicy palate with light tannins. Tobacco, peppery, liquorice, cigar, coffee, black raspberry and dried cranberry flavours. More of a Recioto style with lots of acidity and some tannins to shed. Well made for the style.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 500ml |
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22 December 2013
85PTS
Voga Moscato 2010
Veneto, ItalyCandied nose of caramel and baked apple and honey. The flavours are similar and frankly just a touch tired but with enough effervescence to carry the day. The finish is soft and closer to sweet than off-dry with orange and honey flavours. Ready to drink. Best with spicy foods or serve solo as an appetizers.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandIntense grapefruit and lime aromas jump from the glass flecked with nectarine skin and notes of lemongrass. The palate is excruciatingly taut and acidic with strong mineral, stony notes mixed with dried sweet herbs and tropical fruit flavours. A small percentage is fermented at warmer temperatures in old French oak barriques and large format oak vats. A benevolent vintage yields a super fresh and tropical sauvignon blanc that needs a grilled piece of fish or cheese to tame its fairly overt acidity. Still a benchmark.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.00 | 750ml |
| QUE | $35.75 | 750ml |
| NB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Signorello Seta 2011
Napa Valley, California, United StatesAny wine with more sémillon than sauvignon blanc in the mix will never be an easy sell in America but I'm guessing Ray Signorello is okay with that. At 63/38 the sémillon sets the tone with its rich figgy underbelly before the sauvignon freshens the palate. Gooseberry, grapefruit and honey mix seamlessly with the oak and vanilla to produce a delicious Bordeaux-style white that finishes long with nutty, mineral notes. Simply prepared fish dishes in a cream sauce would be an excellent match.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| US | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Castello Romitorio Il Toro 2009
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyA red blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and petit verdot that spends 14 months in French oak. The nose is floral with woodsy, forest floor notes. The attack is lean and dry with prevalent acidity, red fruits spice and balsamic notes. Youthful and tight this will need some time to unwind. Try this with a favourite aged hard cheese.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine Serres Mazard Cuvée Henri Serres 2008
Corbières, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceMuch like the previous version the '08 opens with a smoky savoury black liquorice nose with meaty, black cherry aromas. The palate is full and rich with dry, savoury, minty black olive, meaty, garrigue, black cherry flavours. Good weight and balance but this will need some time in bottle, say two to four years, or serve it now with a hearty stews, beef, lamb or venison.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Brunel de la Gardine Côtes du Rhône 2011
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceCorked try another...Prices:| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Remy Pannier Sauvignon Blanc di Touraine 2012
Loire, FranceExpect a pure, fresh grapefruit nose with flecks of passion fruit and gooseberry aromas. The attack is all Touraine fresh, juicy, floral, grassy, passion fruit with lime rind undercurrents and a shortish finish. Very food-friendly style, midweek white for those of you who appreciate pure, dry, white wine. Chicken, seafood sushi all work here.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Serendipity White Lie 2011
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThere are no grapes in this wine at least according to the label. I won't waste any time guessing but the style is quietly aromatic, juicy lean fresh mineral but without a lot of flavour. A perfect wine for vegetarian dishes. Much cleaner than the sauvignon blanc.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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81PTS
Serendipity Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaStruck matchstick mars the nose. The entry is fresh and round and quite lively with mineral, grassy flavours and green fruits. Could have been very good but like the last time we encountered this wine the sulphur regime needs work here.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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21 December 2013
89PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAt 27 years of age the BM pinot blanc fruit is really hitting its stride. After two super cool years the 2012 shows a bit of warmth and richness. The winery mixes two French clones in almost 50/50 wood and stainless steel. Fresh, mineral, guava citrus peachy fruit with bits of green pear all attract. Seafood of any sort works here although we recommend fresh cracked crab.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Gray Monk Pinot Auxerrois 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaConsistent now from year to year beginning with its open, fresh, green apple skin, floral lemon nose with hints of honey. The attack is both fresh and juicy with some mid-palate sweetness. More green apple, mineral, baked pear and quince flavours. Try this with spicy sushi or a mild curry.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Gray Monk Pinot Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCool candied spicy, mineral, baked pear and ripe red apple notes. Round and sweet on entry with a medium sweet palate and lots candied red apple and peach fruit. A sweeter (15g/l) style that will be popular with consumers and work well with spicy Pan Asian dishes or chill well and serve on the patio.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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20 December 2013
87PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Baco Noir 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOpen, rich, brooding baco dark fruit nose with bits of chocolate, soy and cherries. The attack is equally aromatic and rich with black fruit, pipe tobacco, sweet oak, leather and black cherries. Wild and rustic but with some soft appealing edges. Best with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.96 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Champagne Krug Vintage 2000
Champagne, FranceThe Millennium Krug is more advanced than the 1998. Broader richer fuller with big aromatic notes of pear toasted almonds and oyster liqueur. More mineral in the mouth with brightness and acidity mixed with caramel, nougat and salt. Complex to say the least but there is an approachable side to this wine that may tune out to peak earlier than most editions. Cellar this through 2020 than let the drinking begin.Prices:| BC | $276.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $325.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Champagne Krug Vintage 1998
Champagne, FranceAnother year in bottle has done the '98 Krug well. It's the fourth and last declared vintage of the 90s to trail '90, '95 and '96 and is now followed by the millennium bottle just released. It's still linear and tight but with a broader stripe of fruit this year that runs through the glass. Its primary fruit flavours are beginning to fade leaving a mix of dried stone fruits mixed with flinty, grassy, nutty, mineral notes. The finish is particularly long and marked by a creamy freshness and level of acidity most other producers can only dream about. It needs another five years to settle in but will keep for decades. It is only the second Krug release to have a larger proportion of chardonnay than the 1981. We love the finesse and impeccably small, persistent, mousse. Fish, Asian dishes and or friends all work well with this bottle.Prices:| BC | $354.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $248.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $395.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $273.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $218.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Champagne Krug Rosé 27ème Édition Brut NV
Champagne, FranceRosé is back in favour but as you might expect none are built like Krug. The colour is pale, the requisite persistent fizz is tiny. The nose explosively fruity with bits of wild strawberries, puff pastry and white flowers. The palate is fresh and spicy with screamingly dry red fruit flavours woven into its enticing creamy textures as Krug would say" surpassing the notion of vintage. The blend fluctuates between 20-30% chardonnay, 15-20% pinot meunier and 50-55% pinot noir. Krug released its first rosé in 1983, 140 years after they opened for business. It has been a tradition ever since.Prices:| BC | $597.00 | 750ml |
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96PTS
Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 169èmé Brut NV
Champagne, France"Cuvée Number One" is how the Krug family refers to its Grande Cuvée Brut and for good reason. A mix of some 130 individual sites and wide use of reserve wines make their way into this complicated, sophisticated, crazy delicious blend. There can be as many as twenty harvests in any one bottle only adding to its mystery. The nose is rich offering dried fruits marzipan, lemon brioche with an under dose of earthy cedar. How a wine can be so elegant and so powerful is a mystery that makes Krug worth every penny. Six years in the cellar are only the beginning for a wine that can sleep decades in yours.Prices:| BC | $285.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $289.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $290.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $313.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $280.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $295.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Roche Audran Côtes du Rhône 2011
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceOld vines are behind what appears to be a terrific little red for the price. The grenache is 55 to 100 years old, the carignan 82 and the syrah is somewhere from 30 to 50 years old. Low yields, sub 40 hl/ha all go into a blend that spends 12 months in a combination 20 percent small oak barriques, 35 percent oak tronconic tanks, and perhaps the magic ingredient 45% concrete tanks. Surprisingly well knit, balanced and well delicious drinking red with cherries pepper and black fruits all in perfect amounts. Somebody cares here. Back up the truck.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
C.C. Jentsch Gewurztraminer 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight floral, peach, litchi, soapy, lees aromas. Round, elegant, soft palate with soapy floral, green apple skin, spicy, ginger and peach skin flavours. Dry, floral style. A good start.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Perseus Gewurztraminer 2012
Penticton Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, grassy, light sausage, green apple and floral nose. Flat, round, juicy palate with light citrus, green apple and ginger flavours. Very light style with low fruit intensity.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, raspberry, light coffee, tobacco, prune, vanilla, cola aromas. Round, fresh, smooth palate with coffee, vanilla, cooked plum, resin, spicy, light compost, celery and herb flavours. Finish is warm and a bit soupy with some oak dominating but has good acidity. Needs a year or to drop the oak influence.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
40 Knots Pinot Gris 2012
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaVery floral, earthy, baked apple, spicy, ginger, matchstick aromas with a strong leesy note. Fresh, round, juicy, elegant palate with a bit of sweetness. Baked green apple, spicy lees, and bready, grassy, citrus flavours. Delicate, juicy style to go with scallops. Well done love the sea character.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
TintoNegro Malbec 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaVery reduced nose with some earthy, rubbery notes followed by some black cherry, liquorice tobacco and coffee aromas with a bit of roast mushroom. Fresh, round, elegant palate with a bit of sweetness and some light tannins. Black cherry, rubbery, coffee, peppery, liquorice root, cola, savoury, tobacco leaf flavours. Decant for best results.Prices:| BC | $13.79 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Quails' Gate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA cool year and late ripening varieties do not like each other. Expect a cool herbaceous nose leafy cassis nose with tobacco, green olives and pepper. The finish is dry, lean, spicy and warm with a hard green edge. What's wrong with just sticking to pinot noir?Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quails' Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Reserve Foch opens with a whack of vanilla that tempers its meaty, espresso, charred, resiny nose. The wine is ripe and rounder than the regular version with big wild, smoked meat notes flecked with roasted peppers, saddle leather and compost notes. The finish is a mix of sweet Bourbon, sour fruit, spice, and charred oak and roasted tomato. Big powerful, wild and not for the feint hearted.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Quails' Gate Old Vines Foch 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDry cedar-y toasted espresso oak with tomato leaf, peppery, sappy, meaty black fruits. The attack is smooth but acidic with resiny smoked peppers with vanilla, tomato paste, tobacco and leather flavours. Rich and rustic and super tart it needs a smoky piece of meat to tame its wild character.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $27.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Quails' Gate Merlot 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMaybe the best merlot we have seen here in years. Despite lashings of sweet oak there is an underpinning of spicy, ripe fruit and well managed tannins. Dark plums, savoury undercurrents and fresh fruit all combine to make this a tasty treat with smooth fine grained tannins. Best with grilled meats or cellar three to five years.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $25.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $26.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Noir 2011
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRhubarb, spicy, tobacco, compost, celery and carrot top aromas. Dry, fresh, round, elegant but slightly lean palate with smoky coffee oak, resin, tobacco, stewed rhubarb, peppery, carrot flavours.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pentâge Winery Mourvèdre 2011
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMourvèdre won't be an easy sell but this first edition from Pentâge will garner some fans. The nose is a bit sweet if not candied with more typical smoky meaty undercurrents. The palate is soft with ripe candied, black fruit flavours with a savoury, acidic, meaty undercurrent. Pleasant style for the normally rugged mourvèdre no doubt something to do with young vines. Try it with grilled meats. Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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19 December 2013
88PTS
Spierhead Pinot Noir 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSmoky, chocolate, vanilla, cherry, worsteshire, compost, meaty, celery root aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant, round palate with juicy cherry, rhubarb, smoky coffee, vanilla, resin, compost and orange with a bit tea and herbs on the finish. Well-made if a bit oaky. It will need a bit more time to pull itself together but it is well on track.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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18 December 2013
93PTS
Champagne Henriot Cuvee des Echanteleurs Brut 1998
Champagne, FranceA blend of 50/50 pinot noir and chardonnay for which 90% are grand cru vineyards with 12 years before disgorgement. Very toasty, nutty, honey, baked apple, baked pear, strawberry, floral aromas. Round, fresh, elegant and creamy with fine mousse and good acidity. Long nutty, toasty, lemon custard, honey, orange peel, raspberry, baked green apple flavours. Very fine still with good acidity to age further.Prices:| QC | $216.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $225.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $211.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011
Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceGreen apple, floral, waxy, honey, quince, anise, flinty, nectarine, lees and vanilla aromas. Dry, fresh, round, juicy and succulent palate. Nectarine, vanilla, lemon, orange, baked green apple, honey, lees flavours with a light waxy, tropical, flinty finish. Good acidity structure and concentration, should be very fine in 3-8 years.Prices:| BC | $166.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $177.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $160.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2011
Puligny Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceFloral, spicy, honey, ginger, guava, peach, vanilla, orange, flinty, waxy lees aromas. Fresh, dry, juicy, delicate but intense and creamy. Orange, honey, floral, green apple, spicy, creamy lees, honeysuckle and star fruit flavours. Very fine, long and young with strong upside aging potential. Delicious.Prices:| BC | $355.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $292.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $323.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault Genevrières 1er Cru 2011
Meursault, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceFloral, apricot, honey, lemon, lees, baked green apple, mint and pear aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy, creamy and rich palate that is slightly austere. Lemon custard, butter, vanilla, toasty lees, baked green apple, honey and citrus flavours. Very fine and long with good acidity, should be a fine wine to age mid-term.Prices:| BC | $90.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $89.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $91.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Bouchard Père & Fils Pouilly-Fuissé 2011
Pouilly-Fuissé, Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceLemon, lime, green apple, flint, light lees aromas with a touch of honey and green pea. Ripe, round, fresh, juicy palate with good acidity. Lees, green apple skin, lime, guava, pear, floral, flinty flavours. Good intensity and texture here for current drinking or to keep a few years.Prices:| NS | $35.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $33.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bouchard Père & Fils Macon Lugny Saint-Pierre 2011
Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceRipe apple, nectarine, spicy, floral, lees aromas. Fresh, round, forward and juicy palate with light muscat, guava, red apple, citrus, spicy, buttery flavours. Good fruit and balance for current drinking and over the next few years. Fine value for Macon.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune du Chateau Blanc Premier Cru 2011
Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceFresh green apple and vanilla nose with light lees and lemon flecked with slate, stones and honey. The attack is creamy, full, and juicy with buttery, spicy, baked apple, pear skin, honey, lemon flavours. A bit fatter than last vintage but good structure and balance for current drinking. A fun white Burgundy you can drink now.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Bouchard Père & Fils Vosne-Romanee Les Suchot Premier Cru 2011
Vosne-Romanée, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceCinnamon, tobacco leaf, waxy, raspberry, barnyard, smoky, jalapeno, vanilla, gamey aromas. Round, smooth, juicy and delicate palate with fine tannins and acidity balance. Intense raspberry, plum, vanilla, spicy, orange peel, coffee, herb and game flavours. Young with a great palate and fruit despite a more herbal nose. Needs 5-10 years.Prices:| BC | $145.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $126.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Bouchard Père & Fils Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011
Gevrey-Chambertin, Côtes de Nuits, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, FranceVanilla, smoky, sauvage, strawberry jam, tobacco, light barnyard, cherry, celery, earthy, coffee, licorice aromas. Light floral, cigar note also. Round, full, juicy, supple, precise and elegant palate with floral, orange, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, celery, animal, raspberry flavours. Very fine and long with super finesse. Will probably mature over 5-12 years.Prices:| BC | $225.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $199.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Alois Lageder Gewurztraminer 2012
Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyFloral, citrus, slate, spicy, apple and ginger aromas. Round, fresh, juicy, elegant, off dry palate with light lees, peach, citrus, honey, apple and sausage flavours. Good fruit and intensity with some length in a more restrained style. Understated elegance.Prices:| QC | $25.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Pentâge Winery Pinot Gris Estate Bottled 2012
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSlate, earthy, spicy, ginger, pear skin, green apple aromas with a buttery lees note. Round, fresh, soft, odd dry palate with juicy acidity. Green apple, grapefruit, grassy, spicy, earthy lees flavours. Finish is a bit tart and leesy but solid intensity.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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14 December 2013
94PTS
Quintessa 2010
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United StatesI've always been intrigued by Quintessa, it's once overlooked site, the Huneeus interest in biodynamic farming, the blend cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot and oddly carmenère. Yet in the scope of some recent big tastings of French and American reds this 2010 stands out as a beacon of elegance and civility. Despite a lashing of 85 percent new French oak somehow it disappears into the wine to create a seamless mix of fruit and oak. We lover the floral red fruit overtones, vibrant acidity and what I would term structural elegance. Nowhere near ready to drink but this will be a great bottle of California cabernet that is more Euro than American. One for the cellar and cheap by class-growth Bordeaux standards.Prices:| ON | $140.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Napa Valley, California, United StatesPeppery, minty, dark chocolate, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, vanilla, tobacco, black olive aromas with a bit of cedar and herb. Round, smooth, juicy palate with light, grainy tannins. Chocolate, vanilla, prune, blackberry jam, cassis, resin, liquorice, tobacco, poultry spice, cedar and coffee flavours. Long, oaky finish with a bit of tobacco leaf. A full, warm and oak-ier older style Napa.Prices:| BC | $76.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $74.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $85.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $75.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $89.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Napa Valley, California, United StatesInviting chocolate, coffee, blackberry jam nose with tobacco, pepper, liquorice, earth and cola aromas. Full, round, supple, juicy and suave palate with cedar, chocolate, prune, cocoa, peppery, blackberry jam, resin, licorice, vanilla and black olive flavours. Good finesse and length but very oaky on the finish. Needs a few years to integrate. Older style with big ripeness.Prices:| BC | $135.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $135.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $149.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $140.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $138.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Beringer Quantum Red Blend 2010
Napa Valley, California, United StatesChocolate, tobacco leaf, cherry jam, cola, cedar, cassis nose with savoury herb aromas, black olive and cocoa. Ripe, round, suave commercial palate with light fine tannins. Cedar bark, cocoa, tobacco leaf, black olive, savoury herb, cassis, meaty, smoky prune flavours. A bit young, could use a few years to round out the residual leafy tannins. Solid.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Continuum 2010
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBlack pepper, liquorice, leather, blackberry, spicy, savoury, tobacco, chocolate, cedar and black olive aromas. Ripe, round, suave, silky palate with light tannins. Coffee, peppery, blackberry jam, liquorice, leather, clove, vanilla, balsamic, chocolate and dried cranberry flavours. Very fine texture and length but with a lot of oak on the finish. Needs another two to four years to integrate. Now at 92 percent Pritchard Hill fruit it's time to shave a little new oak out of the regime and let the site shine.Prices:| BC | $200.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $190.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Signorello Padrone 2010
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe best of the best at Signorello look for a rich cedar, vanilla and tobacco nose with a savoury compost, leather, blackberry, cassis and olive aromas. Rich, full, round, elegant, dry palate with light, grainy tannins. Smoky, peppery, leather, tobacco, cassis, black olive, light coffee, cherry and meat flavours. Much more understated style with good finesse and length but could use two to five years to soften up a bit. Best with grilled meats.Prices:| AB | $150.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $170.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $113.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $153.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, United StatesOpen blackberry, cassis jam, peppery, black liquorice nose flecked with coffee, floral, leather, vanilla and smoky aromas. Full, ripe, round, juicy, elegant palate with light, grainy tannins. Cassis, blackberry, cedar, tobacco, floral, vanilla, light coffee, black olive and liquorice root flavours. Good finesse and fruit if just a bit tight and or short on the finish. Should improve further over the next five years but drinkable now with a grilled steak.Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $85.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $85.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Napa Valley, California, United StatesCassis, floral, blackberry, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and earth aromas. Rich, ripe, full, juicy, slightly tannic palate but good texture. Black licorice, coffee, vanilla, spicy, cedar, tobacco, cassis, blackberry and herb flavours. Good concentration and balance but quite young, needs two to five years to fully integrate. Modern Euro/Napa style. Prices:| BC | $98.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $62.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $56.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2011
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileCassis, spicy, minty, tobacco, peppery, saddle leather, earthy aromas. Fresh, elegant, juicy, slightly tannic palate with cassis, leather, earthy, smoky, bay leaf, olive and cedar bark flavours. Solid, easy going style albeit a bit rustic.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $10.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $14.25 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NF-LAB | $14.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2012
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, ChileFragrant grapefruit, canned jalapeno, passion fruit, nettle and melon aromas. Fresh, creamy, juicy, off dry palate with spicy, floral, light artichoke, passion fruit, pink grapefruit, grassy, nettle flavours. Very good fruit and balance for the money. Clean, fresh, super value in sauvignon blanc for shellfish, sushi and or chicken.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $10.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NF-LAB | $11.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006
Champagne, FranceA first look at the '06 not yet released in Canada. Wow. Persistent fine beading with an elegant creamy, toasty brioche, baked green apple, light honey and baked pear nose with just a hint of anise. Full, rich, creamy, fine mousse with good concentration and finesse. Baked green apple, pear, lemon, honey, brioche, cashew, floral, peach flavours. Very long, elegant and intense yet lively. Very fine quality and intensity but in that elegant Taittinger style. Drink now or over the next five to eight years.Prices:| AB | $245.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $459.25 | 1500ml |
| NS | $200.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $256.00 | 750ml |
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12 December 2013
88PTS
Giusti Prosecco Brut NV
Treviso, Verona, Veneto, ItalyFloral, honey, peach, almond, light nutty aromas. Fresh, creamy mousse palate on the drier side. Red apple, peach skin, pear, nutty, floral, grassy flavours. Well balanced, elegant style of prosecco on the drier side for drinking with food.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Terra Andina Sparkling Moscato NV
Vale do São Francisco, BrazilLots of fine mousse with a big floral, spicy, ginger, honey, nectarine, melon, minty nose. Fresh, juicy, prickly mousse with medium sweetness. Honey, minty, ginger, apple, peach and ripe pear flavours with a bit of citrus. Fun, easy style of moscato on the sweeter side, just in time for the World Cup.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pio Cesare Fides Barbera 2010
Piedmont, ItalySmoky oak, peppery, tar, chocolate, black cherry, licorice, tobacco leaf aromas. Dry, light, lean but elegant palate with light tannins. Sour cherry, resin, espresso, peppery, smoky, licorice and vanilla flavours with a smoked meat finish. Lacks fruit and density with huge oak on the finish. Needs years to de-oak.Prices:| Bc | $50.00 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Barbera da Vine 2009
Piedmont, ItalyChocolate, prune, sausage meat, incense, black cherry, balsamic aromas. Warm, tart, fresh palate with bitter herb, tar, resin, balsamic, meaty, saddle leather and smoked meat flavours. A tough edition here and at this age it appears to be going nowhere.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Greppicaia 2009
Bolgheri, Tuscany, ItalySmoky, tobacco leaf, peppery, savoury, meaty, cassis, black cherry, coffee, light balsamic and licorice aromas. Dry, elegant, tight palate with light tannins in a more austere style. Coffee, balsamic, prune, earthy, tobacco leaf, celery salt, resin, meaty, savoury herb flavours. Solid but lacks generosity and mid-palate. Not the best we have seen from this producer.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Bree Riesling 2011
Pfalz, GermanyLight apple skin, petrol, earthy slate nose with some sulphur notes. Soft, round, off dry palate with slate, bitter apple skin, earthy, pear and citrus flavours with a petrol finish. Basic stuff for the price.Prices:| BC | $16.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
Champagne, FranceFine continuous mousse with a toasty, spicy, baked apple, light pear, honey, cherry and cashew aromas. Fresh, crisp, juicy but slightly austere palate with light sweetness and prickly mousse. Baked green apple, toasty, nutty, grassy, lemon, grassy, slightly buttery flavours. Crisper, more austere finish that would be balanced with food or a few years more of bottle age. The big toasty N/V brut defines the house style thanks to some 25 to 40 per cent reserve wine in each edition and 50-55% pinot noir and 15-20% pinot meunier and 28-33 percent chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $82.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $80.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $73.58 | 750ml |
| QC | $65.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $65.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $68.97 | 750ml |
| PEI | $78.00 | 750ml |
| NL | $76.49 | 750ml |
| NB | $78.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $142.99 | 1500ml |
| BC | $39.99 | 375ml |
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90PTS
Champagne Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial NV
Champagne, FranceVery fine continuous mousse. Floral, honey, baked green apple, pear skin, guava and toast aromas. Fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet style but well balanced with creamy mousse. Very toasty, nutty, honey, baked pear, peach, apple skin and candied citrus flavours. Nice balance and finesse but definitely on the sweet side of the style. Designed for after dinner or perhaps a rich, spicy pre-dinner appetizer.Prices:| BC | $75.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $75.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $76.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $76.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Castillo de Monséran Garnacha 2012
Cariñena, Aragon, SpainThe 2012 arrives under screwcap no small change for any Spanish winery. The nose is bright and trading on those fresh raspberry aromas with the normal earthy, spicy, liquorice root notes. The attack is juicy, the fruit raw showing a bit more acidity than past editions with the same peppery, black raspberry earthy fruit flavours. A solid pizza/pasta/chicken red now much easier to access under screwcap.Prices:| BC | $9.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $9.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $11.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $11.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $11.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Gray Monk Chardonnay Unwooded 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, green apple, honey, light citrus aromas with a bit of matchstick. Round, fresh, oily texture with a bit of sweetness. Grapefruit rind, granny smith apple skin, grassy, buttery flavours. Warm, tart and oily on the finish with a bitter citrus rind note.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2011
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesPeach, honey, butter, vanilla, light lees and light butterscotch aromas. Round, fresh, soft, elegant palate with some sweetness. Butterscotch, baked apple, honey, lees, peach pit flavours. Easy drinking, old-style American chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Dr. Pauly - Bergweiler Riesling 2012
Mosel, GermanyLight smoky, slate, green apple, nectarine, grass and lime aromas. Fresh, elegant, juicy, somewhat sweet palate but creamy. Ripe apple, honey, peach pit, smoky, grassy, light petrol flavours. Good intensity if a bit short but well balanced. Good value.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera 2012
Piedmont, ItalyMeaty, peppery, saddle leather, lees, soupy prune, liquorice and black cherry aromas. Dry, fresh, light, somewhat tart palate with black cherry, resin, meaty, earthy, peppery, rooty flavours. Simple stuff you can enjoy with a slice of meaty pizza.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Hester Creek Chardonnay 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpiced apple, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, butter, butterscotch aromas. Round, soft, dry palate with lots of vanilla, cedar, cooked apple, cinnamon, grassy, bitter nut and citrus rind flavours. Very oaky with bitter notes on the finish. Old style, weighty oaky chardonnay that has its fans, but not us.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
The Bishop of Riesling 2012
Mosel, GermanySlate-y earth, apple skin, citrus, light floral and lime aromas. Round, fresh, slightly sweet but soft palate with baked apple, pear, honey, light citrus flavours. Simple and easy clean style for food, Consistent and good value.Prices:| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $15.25 | 750ml |
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11 December 2013
87PTS
Norton Malbec Reserva 2010
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaCelery salt, compost, tobacco, mushroom, earthy, chocolate aromas. Round, soft, commercial style with cherry, cedar, resin, tobacco, smoky, herbal flavours. Simple barbecue red.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon The Siding 2011
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaThe first Siding appeared in 2009 vintage to complement the Wynns lineup joining the Coonawarra cabernet shiraz and straight shiraz. The Siding is meant to be a kinder, gentler introduction to Coonawarra cabernet with softer tannins. A wine for early drinking. Expect that classic cool, minty, black cherry fruit with less cassis, a touch of vanilla and coffee. Drink now with grilled steaks or braised meats.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Farnese Fantini Pinot Grigio 2012
Puglia, ItalyThere's little surprise this pinot grigio is decent for the price. The style is razor sharp, fresh and correct almost to a fault a la Farnese. The flavours mix lemon with a hint of cardboard, earth and sugar all with a refreshing finish. Spaghetti vongole is the ticket with this solid, budget-price white or pour it with your favourite vegetarian dish.Prices:| BC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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10 December 2013
94PTS
Zuccardi Finca Los Membrillos Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBlack pepper, black olive, savoury, cassis, floral, smoky, saddle leather, light barnyard, coffee bean and briar aromas. Rich, full, round, juicy and suave but hot with some grainy, youthful tannins. Big cassis jam, chocolate, spicy, leather, tobacco, black cherry, vanilla, black olive, smoky flavours. Despite being somewhat hot, this has excellent concentration and length but needs 3-5 years to round out. Sensational wine.Prices:| BC | $120.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Zuccardi Tito Zuccardi 2011
La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBlack cherry, spicy, floral, liquorice, savoury, meaty, cassis aromas. Ripe, rich, juicy fresh palate but with some heat. The attack is smoky and savoury with black cherry, pepper, tobacco, coffee, vanilla, cedar and liquorice flavours. Fine concentration and juicy with some elevated alcohol in the back end. Still youthful, delicious, hedonistic red. Cellar this through 2017 or serve now with a big steak.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Zuccardi Emma Zuccardi Bonarda 2012
Mendoza, ArgentinaSmoky, savoury, peppery, meaty, black plum, floral and celery salt aromas. Round, full, juicy, smooth palate with licorice, sage, black plum, iodine, savoury, cherry flavours. Good balance and intensity here for current drinking or over the next 2 years. Fine effort for bonarda. Forty percent of this wine is aged in concrete, the rest in new and used oaked. Love the super juicy fruit and soft tannins.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2011
Santa Rosa, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaIntense liquorice, cherry jam, vanilla, cedar, coconut, and chocolate aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy entry with some grippy tannins on the palate. More liquorice, spice, blood orange savoury, peppery, celery salt flavours with a touch of vanilla. A bit youthful and tart but with fine fruit and concentration. This will need another year or two in bottle or try with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Zuccardi Aluvional La Consulta 2010
La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis Aluvional is made from several handpicked sites by winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi in the La Consulta, San Carlos region grown at 990 metres above sea level some 130 km south of Mendoza city. The vines were planted in 1974 on poor alluvial soils of sandy-silt-clay mixed with rock. There is no shortage of alcohol here at 15+ but you don't really notice it because the fruit is so outstanding. A complex rich, powerful red awash in floral fruit with an extensive, rounded palate. Don't touch this for a decade.Prices:| BC | $83.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Zuccardi Aluvional El Peral 2009
Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe El Peral Aluvional is malbec grown at 1150m above sea level on alluvial soils of silt, sand and clay. The wine is aged in first, second and third use medium toasted French barrels. Like its kin the nose is awash in spicy minerality and intense red fruits. The palate is equally enticing with black fruits, licorice flecked with spice before a whack of sweet tannins kick in with black pepper, vanilla and savoury flavour. Elegant, stately and balanced with a concentrated finish that is so much more interesting than most malbec we see from Argentina.Prices:| BC | $83.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Zuccardi Zeta 2010
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe fruit mix is 87/13: malbec from la Consulta; cabernet sauvignon from Gualtallary. Spicy, peppery, black cherry, liquorice, smoky nose with light barnyard, saddle leather, celery salt, vanilla and olive notes. Rich, full, round, suave and fresh palate with smooth tannins. Ripe black cherry, plum, peppery, licorice, floral, mineral, stony flavours flecked with celery, cassis, vanilla, chocolate and thyme flavours. Well balanced even at 15 percent alcohol. It should improve over the next 3-5 years. Super wine.Prices:| NS | $47.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Champagne Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut NV
Champagne, FranceFine continuous mousse. Nice toasty, lemon curd, baked granny smith, pear, cashew and peach pit aromas. Crisp, juicy, drier brut with creamy, fine mousse. Lemon, granny smith, cashew, brioche, spicy, pear skin flavours. Good finesse and creamy, citrusy flavour finish. A bit more austere than in the past and more food friendly.Prices:| BC | $77.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $71.10 | 750ml |
| SK | $85.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $87.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $80.55 | 750ml |
| QC | $77.15 | 750ml |
| NS | $77.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $79.99 | 750ml |
| NL | $78.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Champagne Lanson Black Label Brut NV
Champagne, FranceLots of fine continuous mousse with a toasty lees, nutty, floral, baked pear, floral and green apple nose. Crisp, juicy, drier brut with pinprick mousse. Very toasty, nutty lees, green apple, lemon, honey flavours. Finish is somewhat austere and tight. Elegant style that will go well with food to match the finishing acidity.Prices:| BC | $78.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $66.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $63.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Santa Julia Malbec 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaTobacco, roast mushroom, earthy, black cherry, light barnyard and herb aromas. Fresh, juicy, round palate with black cherry, celery salt, tobacco, rooty, earthy, liquorice flavours. A bit reduced but solid fruit and structure on the palate. Good value here.Prices:| BC | $12.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Feudo Maccari Nero d'Avola 2011
Sicily, ItalySavoury, chocolate, black cherry, licorice root, spicy, meaty aromas. Round, smooth, fresh, elegant palate with meaty, leather, prune, black cherry, resin, liquorice and herb flavours. Full, juicy but rustic finish, best with some lamb stew or pork.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Francis Ford Coppola Presents Diamond Collection Black Label Claret 1910 Type Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
California, United StatesCedar, cocoa, tobacco leaf, peppery, tapenade and resin aromas. Fresh, smooth, easy palate with light tannins. Peppery, minty, savoury, tobacco, cedar bark, sappy cassis and olive flavours. Basic and leafy with a pruny note. Simple modern California red.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $32.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $31.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2009
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaBlack pepper, liquorice root, smoky, blackberry, light floral, rosemary and prune plum aromas. Full, ripe, round, suave palate with fresh acidity. Blackberry jam, blueberry, liquorice, smoky, herbal, savoury, coffee, vanilla and meat flavours. A bit warm and tart but good fruit and intensity for drinking now or over the next two years.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $37.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $36.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Hester Creek Block 3 Reserve Cabernet Franc 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig spicy, cranberry, tobacco, smoky, meaty, leather, savoury, rubbery aromas. Dry, fresh, round, smooth palate with tobacco, cedar, incense, cranberry, coffee, minty, sappy, poultry spice and vanilla flavours. Good texture but very oaky and minty. Needs a few years to integrate.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Longview Red Bucket Shiraz Cabernet 2010
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaPeppery, rooty, blackberry, rubbery, smoky, prune and tobacco aromas. Fresh, round, juicy, slightly sweet entry with cassis, coffee, peppery, savoury, blueberry, liquorice and herb flavours. Easy going juicy style.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.65 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Longview Devil's Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaBig leafy, tobacco, cassis, green olive, coffee, peppery, coffee aromas. Fresh, sweet, somewhat astringent palate with blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, herbal, olive, resin and coffee flavours. Very warm, tea tannin finish with sweet prunes.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
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09 December 2013
93PTS
Clos Galena 2008
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe top cuvee Clos Galena is a mix of organic fruit chosen from five out of 14 parcels. The wine is aged for one year in 90/10 French and American oak barrels. The blend is 0/20/20/20 garnacha, cabernet sauvignon, cariñena and syrah. The 2008 is a warmer richer year than 2009 and it's reflected in the warmth and generosity of this wine. It has all the muscular tannins and rich mineral notes but the fruit is riper deeper and denser and is more fun to drink even at this point some ten years from its peak. Best now with grilled lamb or your favourite steak. The blend is 40/20/20/20 garnacha, cariñena, syrah and cabernet sauvignon.Prices:| CDN | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Clos Galena 2009
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe top cuvee Clos Galena is a mix of organic fruit chosen from five out of 14 parcels. The wine is aged for one year in 90/10 French and American oak barrels. The blend is 0/20/20/20 garnacha, cabernet sauvignon, cariñena and syrah and its built to go the distance. Muscular, firm tannins support its, rich mineral laden, meaty black and red fruits with no shortage of alcohol. This wine needs time (five to ten years) in bottle to reach its peak.Prices:| CDN | $50.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Formiga de Vellut (Organic) 2011
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainDelicious stuff. So fresh and inviting with its spicy, floral, liquorice scents. The attack is dry and glossy with fine smoky, peppery, black cherry savoury, and stony liquorice flavours. Super intensity for an entry level red. Made form organically grown grapes this is a perfect mid-winter red for rich stews and risottos.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Galena 2009
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainDomini de la Cartoixa or the Priory's domain, was once owned by the Carthusian monks of Scala Dei Priory well known for growing vines in the Middle Ages. The entry level Galena is a selection of organically grown grapes from all 14 parcels. The wine spends a year in 80/20 French/American oak. The blend is 35/25/25/15 garnacha, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cariñena. The '09 comes from a cooler year and while it preserves its richness the tannins are slightly harder and the wine more powerful and closed in in. It's a bit wilder, or Priorat, at the moment. This will require a decade to come around in bottle.Prices:| QC | $32.25 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Galena 2008
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainDomini de la Cartoixa or the Priory's domain, was once owned by the Carthusian monks of Scala Dei Priory well known for growing vines in the Middle Ages. The entry level Galena is a selection of organically grown grapes from all 14 parcels. The wine spends a year in 80/20 French/American oak. The blend is 35/25/25/15 garnacha, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cariñena. The style is ripe and glossy with red fruits and a strong mineral stony undercurrent. Fresh, spicy, rich impressive red that needs time in the bottle or 45 minutes in the decanter. Serve with roasted meats or older hard cheese. Prices:| QC | $32.25 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Premier Cru Réserve NV
Champagne, FranceGood solid medium fine mousse with creamy, baked apple, pear, light brioche, honey, cashew and citrus aromas. Fresh, juicy, crisp palate with light sweetness. Toasty nut, spicy, citrus, baked green apple, honey and peach pit flavours. Good solid juicy style.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $52.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
40 Knots Rose 2012
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaPale pink/raspberry colour. The nose is bright with ripe red apple and strawberry aromas. The attack is fresh and juicy with sweet strawberries and citrus flavours all with trace of dried herbs. A light, easy-sipping style that would be perfect with a chicken salad or even spicy sushi.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hester Creek Block 2 Reserve Merlot 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig black pepper, smoky, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, cedar, blackberry and coconut. Round, dry, fresh, elegant palate with big espresso, smoky, vanilla, resin, chocolate, liquorice, black cherry and herb flavours. Warm, espresso finish. Good balance but incredibly oaky style.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Edmeades Zinfandel 2009
Mendocino County, California, United StatesRoast meat, blackberry jam, tobacco, spicy, licorice root aromas. Fresh, round, full, warm palate but juicy with coffee, pepper, blackberry jam, smoky, herbal, cedar flavours. Solid effort for those winter stews.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Intersection Rosé 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVery pale salmon color. The nose is light with muted red fruit notes and a touch of dried herbs. Simple thin attack but fresh and mostly clean. Best with simple summer picnic foods, potato salad, chicken and or pork sandwiches.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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08 December 2013
93PTS
Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes 2011
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainNothing much changes here from year to year. Hundreds of small vineyards in seven different municipalities are the source of the fruit in this sensational red. Its steep old north facing sites escape the hottest sun of the day and explain the balance and guile of this red. Look for a positively ripe but balanced palate with exuberant, bright red fruit, cherries, wet stone minerality and spice all mixed with a savoury undercurrent and firm acidity. Roast lamb, potatoes and salad and you will think you are in heaven.Prices:| BC | $47.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $33.00 | 750ml |
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07 December 2013
90PTS
Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe 08 cabernet mixes 84 percent Howell Mountain with 16 percent valley fruit and the winery dropped a fair bit of fruit with sun damage. Both factors in the it being the darkest Napa cab ever released. As you might expect the wine is bigger, more muscular this year with a rich nose of dark fruits, black cherries and a savoury minty undertone. This is expressive rich cabernet fruit with cedar, tobacco, tea and cocoa highlights. It needs a decade to really round into form. It spends 23 months in 81 percent new French oak. The fruit is organically grown.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Neal Family Vineyards Fifteen Forty Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, United StatesFifteen Forty Vineyard faces East on Howell Mountain at 1365 feet. Streep slopes and low yields are the story of this organically farmed site. The nose is rich and intense with offering surprisingly youthful cedar, black fruits, toasted oak and vanilla aromas the attack is firm the tannins rich and dusty with more mountain style blackberry and cassis flavours. There is a sense of restraint and elegance to help offset the big, warm, intense long finish. Big but a delicious New World style. The '05 is 100 percent Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon fruit that spends 28 months in 100 percent new oak.Prices:| BC | $120.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Michel Torino Don David Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaPeppery, savoury, black olive, roast pepper, cassis, light compost and saddle leather aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy but somewhat astringent palate with cedar, tobacco, olive, resin, licorice, cassis, savoury, coffee, vanilla aromas. Warm, chewy and chunky finish for beef dishes.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Freixenet Cordon Negro Gran Selección Cava Brut NV
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainAlways solid the latest version is particularly impressive for the money. All Cava is made in the champagne method (the second fermentation takes place in this bottle) and that promotes a creamy nutty character that support its vivid acidity and citrus mineral flavours. Fresh, food-friendly and affordable. .Prices:| BC | $16.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.49 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.69 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $18.49 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.97 | 750ml |
| PEI | $17.50 | 750ml |
| NF | $17.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Garbo Negre 2010
Montsant, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis Monsant red is a 50/30/20 blend of syrah, tempranillo and merlot. The style is soft, round and juicy. The fruit is red with liquorice, floral and mineral highlights throughout. Easy sipping red for grilled meats.Prices:| US | $19.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Rosé 2010
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe new Heredad Rosé is a single vineyard stunner made with 100 percent pinot noir fruit grown at 500 metres above sea level. The colour is an inviting pale pink, the nose equally pleasant showing red fruits freshness, redcurrants and floral undertones. Aged 15 months and hand riddled it has all the class you want for its price. Try it with a wide range of foods including risotto, lobster ham and or salmon.Prices:| ON | $38.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mia Fruity and Sweet NV
SpainDesigned for new consumers Mia as the label says is fruity and sweet. The wine is fermented in tank to 5.5 percent alcohol, then seal and re-fermented until the wine reaches 7 percent alcohol. At this point the temperature is dropped to one below C to stop the ferment. The wine is filtered and left with 84 g/l sugar. The aroma is robust; typical moscato with peachy apricot notes. There is enough acidity to offset the sugar making this a sweet but refreshing sparkler. Serve this with spicy appetizers or solo on the patio. Prices:| CDN | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mia Fresh and Crisp Sparkling NV
SpainDesigned for new consumers Mia as the label says is fresh and crisp. The wine is tank fermented for six months using the Charmat method leaving a softer sparkler without that pin prick on the tongue style. The nose is a mix of citrus pears and apples in a fresh light easy-sipping style. The finish is just off-dry. A great summer patio sipper, or try it with some spicy sushi. Prices:| CDN | $15.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Zuccardi Aluvional Altamira 2011
Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaIt's hard to pick any of the Aluvional wines as the favourite or the best. They are all dynamic, electric and fun to assess at this point but we need time in the bottle and more vintages before any definitive assessments are made. The Altamira Aluvional is equally packed with licorice, savoury, violet, black cherry, vanilla, savoury, black pepper and chocolate aromas and flavours. The textures are smooth, juicy and stylish (concrete at work) but concentrated with suave tannins. These are early days for all these labels but what we see, taste and sense is the minerality and finesse that has long been missing from so many Argentine wines that make it to North America. Bravo Sebastian.Prices:| BC | $83.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Morlanda Vi de Guarda 2010
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe latest from Morlanda points to why syrah and cabernet sauvignon should come out of Priorat blends. Love the savoury, dried fruits and floral/violet tones. The attack is fresh and red fruit dominated with cherries and mulberries with bits of coffee, dark chocolate, cedar and dried herbs. Complex mouth filling fresh and long this is a compelling bottle of red wine. Will age gracefully for a decade and beyond. Try this with grilled lamb or beef.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Morlanda Blanc 2012
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe mix is 85/15 garnacha blanca/macabeo the style is rich Roussillon mixing freshness with power. The palate is floral with mineral, tropical pineapple notes. Love the freshness here and the overall quality for the price. Morlanda has been produced by Viticultors del Priorat since 1997. The property is located on a 72-hectare estate of which 22 hectares are planted. Along with some young vineyards there are blocks of vines from 25 to 40 to 80 years old sitting at 190-220 metres on slate over limestone.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Freixenet 'Casa Sala' Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2005
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainReally enjoyed sipping the Casa Sala Nature '05 from its pale yellow colour to its creamy pear fruit, baked apples and nutty salty finish. It is a touch on gout anglais English side the styling is deliberately old fashion from its hand-picked fruit to the use of a 100-year old press. The blend is 75/25 parellada/xarel.lo and its spends some fifty months on its lees before it is hand riddled, disgorged and topped by hand. Artisanal and delicious. Try it with a seafood risotto or grilled fish.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Freixenet Brut Vintage Reserva 2011
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainBrut Reserva is Freixenet's top sparkler and it is only released in the finest years. The style is dry the cuvee a 50/30/20 mix of macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada. Expect tiny bubbles or creamy mousse with bright fresh citrus, lime, green apple and pear flavours. Austere yet friendly with bits of brioche and minerality. The winery suggests aged cheddar or Spanish Manchego cheese would be a fine match. So would mushroom risotto. Classy bubble. Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Freixenet Cordon Rosado Cava Seleccion NV
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainAttractive salmon coloured fizz with a fresh floral, red berry and bay leaf nose. The flavours are similar, crisp with a strong mineral thread throughout. As always an impressive dry sparkler that is as versatile with food as any in its price field.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.50 | 750ml |
| NF | $16.50 | 750ml |
| NB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Trepat de Freixenet NV
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe trepat grape is indigenous to the Conca de Barbera and the soul of this wine. Look for red currants forest floor, wild strawberries with bits of lees and brioche. It's not really made for ageing, the red fruits invite immediate drinking with stylish bites of food. A touch of sweetens leads me toward spicy Asian fare even Thai curries. Delicious stuff.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Rosado NV
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainPinot noir and Trepat 85/15 make up this sparkling rosado. The nose is fruity, showing raspberries and flecks of orange. The colour is a light pink, the palate tight with racy minerality and a dash of the warrm Mediterranean. Fun sipping food style pink for appetizers. The pinot noir is grown on the Mas Bernich estate in the Alt Penedès region.Prices:| CDN | $18.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Graham Beck Brut NV
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaLots of continuous mousse. Light floral, almond, baked green apple and lemon aromas. Fresh, somewhat foamy palate with some sweetness. Nutty, apple skin, citrus, strawberry and toasty pear flavours. Solid fruit and styling here. Should be at home with a variety of pre-dinner appetizers.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2008
Robertson, Breede River Valley, South AfricaPale yellow with medium fine mousse. Nutty, baked apple, light toasty brioche, pear and citrus aromas. Fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet entry with fine mousse. Baked apple, honey, citrus, toasty almond, pear and custard flavours. Good juicy style if a bit short and sweet and sour on the finish. Try this with spicy appetizers.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chandon California Brut NV
California, United StatesSolid continuous mousse with nice toasty, light cherry, baked apple, pear and honey aromas. Fresh, crisp, fine mousse with light sweetness. Nutty, toasty, citrus, baked apple, pear and lemon flavours. Good finesse and balance here.Prices:| BC | $29.49 | 750ml |
| ON | $31.70 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gray Monk Riesling 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother impressive release of riesling from Gray Monk. It opens with peachy, lemon and green apple aromas. The palate is all freshness and minerality with more green fruits, lemongrass and mineral characters. Seafood, sushi, roast chicken...just about anything works here. This wine has the distinction of being the top scoring riesling, top Canadian wine and best wine in the $15-$25 category at the WineAlign 2013 World Wine Awards. Well done.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo Aged 10 Years 2002
Valdepeñas, Castilla-La Mancha, SpainTobacco, black olive, cherry, cedar, leather, prune and light poultry spice aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant, slightly lean palate with light tannins. Dill, olive, earthy, leather, prune, cherry, tobacco ash and licorice root flavours. Solid if rustic but needs food.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Dialogo Tinto 2011
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalCherry, sappy cassis, liquorice, sage, fig, tobacco and earth aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy, slightly lean palate with light tannins. Savoury, black cherry, resin, licorice, smoky, warm fig and liquorice flavours. Good intensity but tighter, slightly tannic style for grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Intersection MIlepost Red 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOlive, dill, black pepper, coffee and tobacco leaf aromas. Dry, thin, light and acidic palate with cedar bark, cocoa, tobacco leaf, resin, oak and green olive flavours. Too stark and acidic.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Intersection Unfiltered Merlot 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, savoury, barnyard, waxy, cherry, coffee, vanilla, smoky herb, dill and tobacco aromas. Dry, round, warm but elegant and lean palate with some grainy tannins. Huge vanilla, coffee oak with resin, cedar, olive, sour cherry and liquorice root flavours. Lean, somewhat acidic finish and very oaky. Needs more fruit, finesse and complexity. Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Las Barrancas Vineyards 2011
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBlack pepper, savoury, clove, cassis, coffee, vanilla, cedar, tobacco leaf aromas. Soft, round, smooth palate with black olive, smoky herb, leather, prune, coffee, cedar, tobacco flavours. Solid finish but has some black, tea tannins to shed.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Michel Torino Don David Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaBlack pepper, blackberry, light cassis, roast pepper, tobacco, roasted meat, black olive and light coffee aromas. Fresh, round, dry, slightly astringent with cassis, coffee bean, vanilla, licorice root, smoky herb, peppery, black olive and cassis flavours. A bit herbal but good overall structure with some tannins to lose. Must serve with grilled meats for best effect.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Mendoza, ArgentinaEarthy, tobacco, black olive, light cassis, smoky resin and prune aromas. Fresh, round, warm, slightly sweet palate with cedar bark, cocoa, tobacco leaf, resin, earthy, blackberry and olive flavours. Simple, easy, chunky style commercial style here with little Mendoza identity.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
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06 December 2013
88PTS
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2012
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaEarthy, rooty, black cherry, celery salt, spicy, savoury aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy, round palate with black cherry, plum, licorice, tar, spicy, tobacco, vanilla and dried herb flavours. Solid fruit and intensity here with some youthful acidity that keeps it fresh. The fruit was planted in 1974.Prices:| NS | $21.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Gray Monk Odyssey White Brut Méthode Classique 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium fine white mousse. Green apple, lime, light floral, honey, nutty aromas. Fresh, crisp, fairly dry and juicy palate with pinprick mousse. Baked green apple, lime, spicy, nutty, light quince flavours. Finish is somewhat sweet and sour with a rind-y note but offers good intensity and balance. Impressive wine that would be perfect with most before dinner appetizers. Fine effort.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Fonseca 20 Year Old Aged Tawny Port NV
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalPale brick colour. Tobacco ash, peppery, clove, rancio, earthy, leather, walnut, dried fig aromas. Warm, round, juicy but slightly austere and tannic palate. Fig, prune, coffee, toffee, peppery, clove, resin, leather, earthy, cement flavours. A very earthy style that should be good with nuts and cheese.Prices:| BC | $88.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $69.50 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rosé NV
Champagne, FrancePale raspberry/orange colour with fine, continuous mousse. Light strawberry, baked apple, toasty, nutty, citrus nose with honey aromas. Fresh, juicy, creamy palate with solid mousse. Slightly sweeter brut but good acidity with toasty, nutty, honey, strawberry, candied lemon, anise flavours. Good solid rose with crisp finish but good length. Attractive style for food either mains or appetizers.Prices:| BC | $64.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $68.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $54.25 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Louis Jadot Bourgogne Chardonnay Couvent des Jacobins 2011
Burgundy, FranceFloral, baked green apple, light citrus, matchstick and pear skin aromas. Fresh, round, soft, easy palate with baked apple, toasty, lees, citrus, honey and butter flavours. Tasty, forward style for current drinking. Finally a solid Bourgogne blanc.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.72 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $21.80 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Champagne Ayala Majeur Brut NV
Champagne, FranceExpect a fine, persistent mousse. A toasty brioche, light nutty, baked apple nose with honey, cherry and anise scents. Very fresh, tight mousse palate, slightly foamy in a drier brut style. Honey, toasty, nutty, floral, raspberry, granny smith flavours. Good concentration and persistence on the finish with very good acidity. A terrific bottle of champagne for the price. The blend is pinot noir (45%), chardonnay (35%) and pinot meunier (20%).Prices:| BC | $76.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $60.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Champagne Veuve Clicquot Rosé Brut NV
Champagne, FranceVery pale salmon colour but very fine mousse. Light honey, toasty, nutty, floral, raspberry, baked green apple and lemon aromas. Full, crisp, fine mousse in a drier brut style with good juicy acidity. Lime, baked green apple, nutty, toasty, pear, spicy, strawberry flavours. Finish is more austere than mane others but has very good intensity. This would be better with food to work to complement its dry, taut, austere style.Prices:| BC | $91.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $85.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $89.80 | 750ml |
| QC | $87.50 | 750ml |
| NS | $85.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $83.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $90.76 | 750ml |
| NL | $98.48 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2011
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceComplex floral, waxy, light garlic lees, spicy, green apple, lemon nose with light seashell and matchstick aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant, lighter palate but juicy and slightly austere with lime, green apple, spicy lees, light garlic, leafy, floral, light vanilla flavours. Deceptive as this enters gently but remains persistent some austerity in the finish. Needs 2-5 years to fully develop. Excellent quality.Prices:| BC | $68.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $65.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2011
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceLightly nutty, baked green apple skin, seashell, lemon and leafy aromas. Dry, fresh, round, elegant and light but juicy with lemon, light lees, green apple skin, seaweed and grassy herb flavours. Finish is quite herbal with a brisk acidity to help this flesh out over the next few years.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $40.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2011
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceOpen light nutty lees, honey, butter, seashell, lime, baked green apple, waxy, matchstick aromas. Dry, fresh, somewhat austere but intense palate with lime, nutty lees, green apple skin, floral, anise, vanilla and acacia flavours. Powerful finish yet elegant and juicy. Should improve over the next 2-5 years. Super value.Prices:| BC | $67.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $58.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Terravista Figaro Roussanne Viognier Marsanne 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaYear three of Figaro is a blend of roussanne, viognier and marsanne. Open fresh nose of yellow fruits, nectarines and citrus aromas. The attack is dry and elegant on the palate with green apple skin, pear, ginger and spice. The mid-palate is weighty and rich with bitter, peachy fruit. Try this with chicken dishes or richer seafood dishes.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Black Hills Chardonnay 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLight honey, matchstick, canned fruit, butter, vanilla, grassy, grapefruit aromas. Fresh, round, juicy, slightly sweet fruit entry with butter, honey, vanilla, popcorn, green apple and lemon flavours. Elegant but very buttery with some canned fruit notes and a short-ish finish.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Intersection Mile's Edge White 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, ginger, grassy, grapefruit rind, green apple and nettle aromas. Fresh, round, slightly sweet and sour entry with an oily texture. Grassy, asparagus, ginger, honey, passion fruit and herb flavours. Finish is somewhat bitter and rind-y.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Intersection Reserve Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCanned pink grapefruit, passion fruit, floral, nettle, vanilla, light lees aromas. Fresh, elegant, juicy palate but somewhat lean with nettle, grassy, grapefruit, passion fruit, ginger and lees flavours. Finish is quite sweet and sour with a bitter lime rind note.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Musella Amarone 2008
Verona, Veneto, ItalyMeaty, barnyard, gamey, tobacco, balsamic, Band-Aid brettanomyces aromas. Full, juicy, somewhat tannic and sweet palate. Pruny, coffee, balsamic, Band-Aid, sweaty leather, barnyard flavours. Rustic at best but with too much brettanomyces pushing through.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Musella Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2009
Verona, Veneto, ItalyRooty, tobacco leaf, prune, cherry, licorice, resin and tomato paste aromas. Fresh, round, juicy, elegant but somewhat chunky, dry tannins. Prune, licorice, coffee, balsamic, resin, tobacco, meaty, cooked carrot flavours. Rustic and volatile, needs drinking.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Les Halos de Jupiter Côtes Du Rhône 2010
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThe grapes come off a high altitude vineyard near Roaix at the northern edge of the Southern Rhône. The blend is an 85/10/5 mix of very old grenache, syrah and mourvèdre. The wine is aged for one year in concrete vats. Expect a spicy robust red with a warm nose and palate. The palate is floral with sweet blackberry fruit pepper and black liquorice. The finish is long warm and sweet in a tolerable way. Lamb chops would be a fine match.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.65 | 750ml |
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04 December 2013
88PTS
Gray Monk Odyssey Rose Brut Méthode Classique 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaClean fresh, aromatic cherry/raspberry, liquorice, tobacco, nutty, citrus aroma. Fresh, full, slightly foamy palate with light sweetness. More licorice, earthy, strawberry, cherry, nutty, toasty flavours. Fine textures and excellent flavours for the money. Well done.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Pink by Yellowglen NV
AustraliaPale salmon colour with medium fine mousse. Citrus, floral, candied cherry, strawberry, baked apple aromas. Fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet style with lots of mousse. Citrus peel, strawberry jam, liquorice, baked apple flavours. Simple, fun style with fruit. Fair value.Prices:| SK | $15.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $11.72 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Anko Torrontes 2012
Salta, North, ArgentinaSpicy, honey, apricot, lemon oil, light sausage meat, ginger aromas. Dry, full, round, somewhat austere but slightly oily palate. Lemon oil, apricot skin, ginger, spicy, grassy, sausage and earth flavours. A heavier style with some persistence. Try this pork and other white meats.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Finca Los Primos Torrontés 2012
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaHoney, ginger, baked pear, lemon oil and nectarine aromas. Fresh, round, juicy palate with a touch of sweetness. Floral, honey, spicy, ginger, lemon rind and apple skin flavours. Much better than last edition and very good value.Prices:| BC | $10.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Alma Rosa Winery Pinot Noir Clone 115 La Encantata Vineyard 2011
Santa Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesClassic Sta. Rita Hills pinot with a fairly dark colour and a rich, spicy, sweet scented black fruit nose. The attack is glossy and somewhat silky too, with soft tannins and some stony minerality mixed with enough acidity to keep it all in balance. A delicious hedonistic pinot you may want to serve with rich duck or bird dishes. This will easily age through 2018.Prices:| US | $48.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis Vineyard 2012
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesA wonderful discovery and a sure sign to me that away from the varietal brands that dominate Canadian wine shelves there is still a California wine industry with substance and depth and more important hope for the future. The Compagni Portis come from a field blend of almost 60-year-old, dry-farmed vines. Fresh aromatic bright and much more the blend is as odd as its old with mostly gewürztraminer and Trousseau gris along with riesling, berger, green Hungarian and as the owners say 'whatever else is out there.' I was struck by the freshness and stony citrus threads that lifted this wine out of the glass. A wonderful expression of white wine that has endless food possibilities.Prices:| US | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Catena Alta Malbec Historic Rows 2010
Mendoza, ArgentinaSpicy, savoury, black pepper, poultry spice, tobacco, black cherry, black licorice aromas. Ripe, round, dry, supple palate with light, grainy tannins. Celery salt, peppery, tobacco, smoky, coffee, black cherry, licorice root and poultry spice flavours with chocolate and vanilla finish. Not as big as other editions from Catena but more elegant trading on texture and style and less on power. Solid.Prices:| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $54.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $53.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $48.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Domaine Bousquet Malbec (Organic Grapes) 2012
Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaRubbery, savoury, spicy nose with tobacco, cherry, celery salt aromas. Fresh, easy, slightly sweet palate with celery, mushroom, pepper, tobacco, rooty, cherry, cocoa flavours. Basic malbec for hamburgers.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $9.00 | 375ml |
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85PTS
Alamos Malbec 2012
Mendoza, ArgentinaEarthy, olive, tobacco, cherry, herbal aromas. Round, soft, off dry palate with tobacco, resin, cedar, earthy, cherry, cocoa flavours. Simple, earthy, hamburger red without much malbec character.Prices:| AB | $11.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NFLB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Santa Rita Malbec Reserva 2009
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileCedar, chocolate, black cherry, resin, leather, tobacco aromas. Dry, thin, somewhat tart and lean palate with cedar bark, cocoa, peppery, savoury, tobacco leaf flavours. Not much fruit here. Serve with pizza.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $17.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Michel Torino Cuma Organic Torrontés 2012
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaFloral, spicy, ginger, sausage meat, apricot and citrus aromas. Fresh, crisp, dry, juicy palate but more austere. Lemon, apricot, grassy, anise, sausage and ginger flavours. Good intensity and balanced in a drier style for food. Well done. Turkey anyone.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $12.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Norton Privada 2010
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaCorked and oxidized, try another.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $26.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Catena Malbec Mountain Vines 2011
Mendoza, ArgentinaTobacco, resin, pepper, balsamic nose with hints of prune plum and saddle leather. Dry, fresh, round and elegant palate with light tannins. The palate is peppery with black cherry, liquorice, chocolate, tobacco, leather and savoury dried herb flavours. Good finesse and balance for the price and ready to serve with most grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $24.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $24.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Santa Ana Torrontes Reserva 2012
ArgentinaMuted aromas with some green apple skin, matchstick, ginger, petrol and lemon rind aromas. Dry, lean, thin palate with apple skin, quince, herbal, citrus oil flavours. Not much fruit here and not very varietal.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chateau de Sancerre 2011
Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, FranceNo shrinking violet this is an intense version of sauvignon with grassy grapefruit aromas up front with and hints of citrus rind. The attack is fresh with more lime rind, mineral, floral blood orange and citrus fruit flavours that persist through the finish. Grilled fish or the classic goat cheese salad would be a fine match.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.50 | 750ml |
| NS | $33.00 | 750ml |
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03 December 2013
97PTS
Champagne Dom Pérignon 2004
Champagne, FranceWinemaker Richard Geoffrey, never at a loss for the perfect words to describe his wine, has called the '04 Dom Pérignon 'tactile, dark and chiselled'. The nose is an exquisite mix of fragrant brioche, seashells and minerality that is as dense as it is intense. The blend is 53 percent pinot noir and 47 percent chardonnay in what was a fairly exuberant year for fruit. In the glass this wine is all serious a brooding sparkler whose lees and sparkle have yet to fully knit into what will surely be one of the great seamless Dom's of the decade if not the first half of the decade. This is great stuff and given the ridiculous price of top Bordeaux and Burgundy you may want to consider laying some away.Prices:| BC | $217.00 | 750ml |
| US | $119.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $230.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $235.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $219.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pio Cesare Arneis Langhe DOC 2012
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyCitrus, nutty, grassy, nettle, spicy herb and pear aromas. Fresh, round, dry and elegant palate with a light oily texture. Gooseberry, grassy, floral, anise, almond and apple skin flavours. Understated and youthful style but very good balance and a killer for salmon and halibut. Drink now - 2 years. Worth trying and an excellent alternative to village Chablis or sauvignon blanc.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.80 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2012
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, SpainGrapefruit, gooseberry, apple, waxy, pear and lemon grass aromas. Ripe, round, fresh, juicy but slightly soft palate. Grapefruit, asparagus, passion fruit, melon rind and green herb flavours. A bit fatter than last vintage but continued good quality in an excellent wine for seafood.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
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02 December 2013
88PTS
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCool peppery, coffee, ash, vanilla nose with prune plum, cedar, cranberry, floral aromas. Fresh, full, round, somewhat astringent attack on the palate with light tannins. Black cherry, coffee, smoky vanilla, cedar, ash, cranberry, savoury, tobacco leaf flavours. Warm, somewhat lean finish but good overall concentration but short finish. Needs 3-5 years to round out. A good effort in a tough year. Serve with grilled meat.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $45.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $44.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
40 Knots Whitecaps 2012
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaGrapefruit rind, bruised green apple, spicy, floral, ginger, plasticene aromas. Fresh, juicy, elegant, creamy palate with plastic beach ball, floral, spicy, ginger, earthy, bruised apple flavours. Well balanced and weighty in what is an unusual mix of grapes. A patio style sipper.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
40 Knots Pinot Noir 2010
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaLight ruby brown colour. Cooked rhubarb, worsteshire, spicy, strawberry nose with bits of leather, celery and salty aromas. Dry light, fresh but lean palate with tobacco leaf, peppery, herbal, celery, coffee, rhubarb flavours. Simple, leaner style that needs food. On track but needs more texture, depth and fruit.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fort Berens Pinot Noir 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFresh strawberry, cherry, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, licorice aromas. Fresh, juicy, lean but slightly sweet entry with cedar, cherry, coffee, vanilla, herbal, leafy, celery flavours. A bit astringent and tart on the finish but with enough fruit intensity to keep it on track.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTobacco ash, cranberry, cherry, barnyard, pruny, resin, compost, black pepper and coffee aromas. Fresh, dry, elegant but lean palate with some light tannins to shed. Smoky, resin, coffee, peppery, prune, warm tomato paste, rooty, cassis flavours. Finish is quite oaky with some stewed fruit and coffee notes. Needs a few years to soften further. A good example of how fine the line is when you are trying to ripen cabernet sauvignon in British Columbia.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $41.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio Reserve 2012
San Juan, ArgentinaOxidized, try another.Prices:| MB | $14.25 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.50 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $13.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $15.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Castaño Macabeo Chardonnay 2011
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainGooseberry, grapefruit, green apple, fig, floral, nutty, lime rind aromas. Fresh, juicy, light, elegant palate with a hint of sweetness. Red apple, passion fruit, grassy, grapefruit, honey, floral flavours with a bit of lime and marzipan on the finish. Clean, fruity, elegant style for seafood. Consistently fine value every vintage.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $13.65 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPeppery, ash, orange peel, cranberry, olive, dill and savoury aromas with some vanilla and chocolate. Dry, lean, tight palate with fresh acidity and astringent tannins. Cranberry, herbal, tobacco leaf, celery, ash, coffee, vanilla and resin flavours. Needs 2-3 years to soften.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCool savoury, tobacco ash, herbal, leafy, peppery nose with sappy cassis and coffee aromas. Fresh, easy, slightly lean palate with light tannins mixed with cedar, black olive, coffee, resin and tomato paste flavours. Reasonable balance with some tea tannins on the finish but all in all a good effort in a tough year. Try this with grilled meat to smooth out the edges.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Black Sage Vineyard Merlot 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGamey, barnyard, black olive, coffee, herbal, chocolate and resin aromas. Round, dry, somewhat lean and tannic palate with coffee, cherry, vanilla, herbal, tobacco, dill and green olive flavours. Oaky and tart in the finish with tannins to lose. Try this with burger for best results.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Columbia Crest Merlot Grand Estates 2010
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesCherry, cedar, chocolate, black olive, tobacco leaf aromas. Round, soft, slightly sweet palate with light tannins and more coffee, cedar, cranberry, cherry, savoury tobacco leaf flavours. The finish is warm and rustic. A solid red to serve with a meaty pizza or hamburger.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.25 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesCoffee, chocolate, vanilla, cocoa aromas with some roasted pepper, black olive, resin, tobacco leaf aromas. Round, sweet, somewhat astringent palate with huge milk chocolate, cocoa puffs, resiny licorice, candied blackberry, smoky herb flavours. Another red wine designed to appeal to those who like their reds soft, sweet and sugary. A spicy curry could work here.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| US | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stag's Hollow Tempranillo 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine showed better at The Nationals but today its massive new oak blanket just socked in the fruit. The nose is a smoky, espresso, vanilla affair with plenty of smoky oak, gingerbread and poultry spice aromas. The attack is on the lean side with low, or at least well hidden fruit, more smoke, coffee bean, vanilla, resin, liquorice and sour cherry flavours. Time will tell if it's too much oak but what's clear is the blush is off the early fruit. Give it three years in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Noir 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLeafy, raspberry, herbal, celery, smoky, light barnyard and leather aromas. Dry, elegant, round but light and slightly lean palate with smoky, herbal, tobacco, dill, savoury, cedar, barnyard, meaty flavours. Some finesse but not much fruit.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinotage 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCelery salt, tobacco leaf, herbal, olive, cranberry and barnyard aromas. Dry, fresh, somewhat lean and light palate with some astringent tannins. Leafy, peppery, rooty, celery, bell pepper, coffee and vanilla flavours. Just a bit too much green and lean for us.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stoneboat Vineyards Chorus 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFloral, ginger, honey, peach, grassy, lychee, lime rind and green apple aromas. Round, fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet entry but balanced with honey, lychee, green apple, floral, grassy, grapefruit flavours. Fun summer sipper but on the sweet side here.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Gris 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNice floral, pear, grapefruit, bubble gum, gooseberry aromas. Fresh, juicy, somewhat sweet palate with grapefruit, lime, green apple, grassy, sweaty flavours. Solid fruit but with some bitter lime rind notes. Try with light shellfish.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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01 December 2013
87PTS
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009
Region del Valle Central, ChileSappy cassis, minty, earthy, bay, tobacco, resin and black olive aromas. Soft, round, suave but chunky palate with cassis, sappy, blackberry, black olive, liquorice and cedar flavours with a warm, chocolate finish.Prices:| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, ChilePeppery, blackberry, savoury, menthol, sappy cassis and leather aromas. Round, full, suave palate with chocolate, leather, prune, blackberry, minty, tobacco and cassis flavours. Solid, mature style with a bit of chocolate on the finish.Prices:| BC | $18.95 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Torres Milmanda Chardonnay 2010
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMilmanda is being transitioned to a cooler fresher style that is more food-friendly and more modern. The nose remains spicy, with apricot, honey and light vanilla tones. There is much less malolactic now with a decrease of 40 percent. Elegant, fresh, skinny with spicy creamy lees and green apple, honey, orange flavours. Brighter with more minerality and length. Impressive changes. The Milmanda estate is in the Conca de Barbera region of Catalonia.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Quinta De Chocapalha Mar da Palha 2009
Lisboa, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalBlack cherry, cedar, vanilla, celery salt, licorice and orange peel aromas with an ash and floral note. Rich, full, round, juicy, forward style with a hint of sweetness. Black cherry jam, black raspberry, liquorice, peppery, smoky, orange flavours. Good juicy, fruity style for current drinking.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Niepoort Dialogo Douro Branco 2011
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalFloral, earthy, peach skin, green apple, quince and lees aromas. Dry, fresh, round and juicy palate but soft with light butter, pear, green apple, gooseberry, lees and dried tarragon flavours. Good solid fruit and balance for seafood dishes.Prices:| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto Reserva Old Vines 2009
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalCoffee, vanilla, tobacco, celery salt, black cherry, savoury, licorice, light barnyard aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy, slightly warm and tannic palate. Chocolate, coffee, liquorice, blackberry, peppery, black cherry and cocoa flavours. Good intensity and fruit but very oaky. Needs 3-4 years to integrate.Prices:| BC | $43.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $37.25 | 750ml |
| AB | $49.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Louis Clerc Condrieu White 2011
Floral, orange, honey, ginger, spicy, baked pear and vanilla aromas. Fresh, round, dry, juicy and elegant palate with light concentration. Red apple, spicy, pear, orange, earthy, ginger, lychee flavours. Good finesse and juiciness with some aftertaste length. Drink now or over the next two years.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Guigal Hermitage Blanc 2007
Hermitage, Northern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceLight gold colour. Honey, nutty, floral, ginger, apricot, vanilla, earthy, buttery aromas. Rich, fat, round, soft palate with a very oily texture. Buttery, cooked peach, pear, nutty, salty, honey, apricot skin and floral flavours. Good concentration and finesse with fruit and bottle age characters. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $59.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Famiglia Zingarelli Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico 2011
Tuscany, ItalyFloral, earthy, black cherry, savoury, sausage aromas. Fresh, dry, juicy, lighter style palate with light tannins. Black cherry, cedar, liquorice, tobacco leaf, peppery, savoury flavours. Chunky tannins on the finish need a year or two in bottle or rare beef.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2001
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainRe-tasted in 2013, see original note from 2006, this Gran Muralles is beginning to fade. The nose is a bit leathery now and the fruit is beginning to fade. Still rich if less powerful it is has warmth and bottle age to offer along with savoury spices, and meaty leather notes with just a hint of fruit. Ready to drink at this point and would be perfect with beef and mushroom dishes.Prices:| BC | $84.99 | 750ml |
| US | $105.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
La Ginestra Chianti 2010
Greve, Florence, Tuscany, ItalyCherry, earthy, liquorice, resin, cedar, light barnyard, light sausage meat aromas. Dry, fresh, round, easy palate with light tannins. Rooty, earthy, tobacco, meaty, light coffee, leather and cherry flavours. Somewhat lean on the finish but would fine with pizza or a pulled pork sandwich.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $21.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Viticcio Chianti Classico 2010
Greve, Florence, Tuscany, ItalyPeppery, clove, black berry, sausage meat, tobacco, liquorice and resin aromas. Round, fresh, dry, slightly tannic palate with cherry, peppery, tobacco, resin, liquorice, leather and cedar flavours. A bit chunky but good solid structure for grilled meats.Prices:| ON | $24.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Chanson Le Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011
Burgundy, FranceSmoky, herbal, cedar bark, rhubarb, leafy, meaty aromas. Round, fresh, dry, supple palate with herbal, tobacco leaf, olive, rooty, cedar bark flavours.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Mas La Plana (Gran Coronas Grand Reserva Black Label) 1989
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainIn '89 the Mas La Plana cabernet harvest began September 19. The ferment lasted 20 days. The wine was aged for six months in French and American oak followed by another 12 months in second and third year oak. There's affair bit of brettanomyces on the nose blurring the wine. The entry is soft with cool leafy fruit spice olives and earth. The wine is balanced but the fruit is low with coffee and tobacco being the current major flavours now. Ready to drink. Best with big game or meat dishes.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $41.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $39.99 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $44.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $80.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $42.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $43.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 1996
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainShowing some brettanomyces and acidity the '96 was picked from September 15 on; it was given more maceration (28 days) and more oak (18 months in French casks) than its predecessors resulting in a richer wine with denser more fine tannins. Look for a big dense red mixing cassis and black fruit flavours with bits of chocolate, coffee and spice. The first of a much better breed that would repay cellaring.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $41.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $39.99 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $44.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $80.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $42.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $43.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 2004
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainIn '04 the picking began late on October 18 otherwise the harvest followed familiar patterns, 28 days maceration and 18 months in French oak. This wine is drinking well with good freshness. The nose is fragrant, the palate smooth and rich with smoked cranberries, garrigue and savoury peppery black fruit. Try this now with a steak or roasted meat. It will likely peak in the bottle over the next three to five years.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $45.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $80.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $47.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $43.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $38.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2004
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe 2009 Gran Muralles is a new blend of 35 percent garnacha and 35 percent cariñena mixed with monastrell garró and querol. The latter is the latest ancient variety revived by the Torres team and it may become one of the best yet. A percentage of whole berry fermentation has freshened the front end and help to produce density and sweetness of tannins without any bitterness. Big stony mineral and elegant this wine is crazy good and it's just a baby. This is one for the cellar and the next decade. Bravo.Prices:| BC | $84.99 | 750ml |
| US | $105.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2006
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe '06 Grans Muralles from the D.O. Conca de Barberà is a 47/35/14/3/1 mix of garnacha/cariñena/monastrell/garró/samsó. The style is rich and somewhat Californian or hedonistic. The nose is fragrant with black fruit and spices leading the way. The palate is richly textured with dense smoky black fruits, mineral stones and more spice. This is a terrific, single-vineyard bottle of red wine.Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $100.00 | 750ml |
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95PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2009
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainA preview of the 2009 Grans Muralles revealed a new secret weapon at Torres the querol grape. Colour acidity and freshness are now a big part of the Gran Muralles blend and its making a big difference. In 2009 querol as much as 25 percent joins garnacha, cariñena, monastrell and garró to craft perhaps the best ever Grans Muralles. The colour is black, the nose fragrant with stony mineral black fruit nuances, but the key to this wine is its mid-palate elegance and balance. Delicious and packed with style it has the grace and balance to age for a decade and beyond. Drink it now with a grilled steak or wait and watch this develop into something amazing by 2020. Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $100.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Torres Fransola 2012
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis wine is mostly sauvignon blanc that is partially fermented and aged in new American oak with a dash of parellada. The Fransola Vineyard is located in the Upper Penedès region some 550 metres above sea level on red calcareous soils. Look for ripe exotic floral fruit aromas with hints of vanilla mint and green figs. The palate is full with fine acidity, bright passion fruit flavours that persist. Classic pairing is shellfish or chicken dishes.Prices:| QC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
L'Arbre de Vignes Côtes du Rhône 2012
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceBig earthy, black plum, spicy, meaty nose with savoury, floral, cinnamon aromas. Fresh, juicy, dry, slightly tannic palate with black plum, black raspberry, tobacco, meaty, savoury flavours. A lighter style but juicy with solid fruit intensity and structure. Solid value. Try this with chicken or turkey.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Le Domaine Montirius Vacqueyras Garrigues 2010
Vacqueyras, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceSpicy, peppery, earthy, black raspberry, licorice, smoky, garrigue, meaty, tobacco leaf aromas. Dry, full, fresh, juicy, elegant and warm palate with some light, grainy tannins. Black cherry, black raspberry, garrigue, meaty, peppery, orange peel, liquorice and leather flavours. Good purity and concentration and well balanced for drinking now - 5 years. From a certified bio-dynamic producer. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Ruffino Chianti 2012
Tuscany, ItalyTobacco leaf, olive, cedar, resin, meaty, sour cherry aromas. Soft, round, thin, off dry palate with herbal, olive, peppery, resin, sour cherry and cedar flavours. A very basic barbecue red.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Haywire The Bub Méthode Traditionelle 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLots of large, foamy mousse with lemon, granny smith, light garlic lees, buttery, and pear skin aromas. Fresh, crisp, somewhat sweet palate with foamy mousse. Toasty, buttery, baked apple and lemon rind flavours. Crisp, tart, toasty finish.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine Maby La Fermade Rouge Lirac 2011
Lirac, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceSmoky, blackberry, black raspberry, meaty, peppery, tobacco, licorice, gamey aromas. Ripe, round, full, warm and suave palate. Black raspberry, chocolate, peppery, savoury, tobacco, kirsch, orange peel flavours. Forward style with a warm finish but good fruit and intensity to go with duck and lamb. Good value here.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Piccini Brunello Di Montalcino 2008
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyPeppery, ash, licorice, black cherry, tobacco, slightly smoky herb aromas, good aromatics. Dry, fresh, round, elegant palate with light tannins. Smoky, savoury, meaty, tobacco ash, licorice root, black cherry, coffee and vanilla flavours. A bit young but with fine fruit and structure and finesse. Drink now or keep for two to five years. Extremely fine value for Brunello in Canada.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 4 Pinot Noir 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, celery salt, tobacco, strawberry, cedar, worsteshire and rhubarb aromas. Dry, fresh, somewhat lean and astringent palate but rich with elevated acidity. Rhubarb, celery salt, peppery, resin, raspberry leaf, coffee and resin flavours. Juicy, tart finish but very austere and tannic, needs 2-4 years to soften. Showing the vintage.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
McManis Family Vineyards Viognier 2012
California, United StatesHoney, creamsicle, ginger, floral, quince and butter aromas. Round, soft, somewhat sweet palate with candied ginger, orange peel, honey, mango, buttery flavours with some canned fruit notes. Simple, easy-sipping style you can serve with spicy food.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.20 | 750ml |
| NS | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Cellar Hand Free Run White 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy, pear, floral, ginger, grassy, matchstick and honey aromas. Fresh, round, somewhat sweet palate with apple core, honey, buttery, grapefruit, baked pear and lees flavours. Juicy, sweet and sour finish with a bit of butter.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stag's Hollow Viognier 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBig orange peel, ginger, honey, floral nose with butter, apple skin and lemon oil aromas. Fresh, juicy, elegant, slightly sweet entry with more ginger, lees, honey, spicy, grapefruit, lemon oil and vanilla flavours. Solid fruit and intensity in a richer warm style. Try this with your favourite curry.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Tinhorn Creek 2Bench Oldfield Series Red 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCedar sawdust, barnyard, tobacco, coffee, prune, resin and black olive aromas. Round, dry, somewhat lean palate with light gritty tannins. Big coffee vanilla, toasty oak, peppery, cool cassis, cedar, tobacco leaf and celery flavours. There's a fair bit of oak here in a vintage that may not be able to support it. Try this again in two to five years.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Backyard Vineyards Nosey Neighbour White 2012
British Columbia, CanadaGrapefruit rind, grassy, spicy, bruised green apple, matchstick burn aromas. Fresh, light, somewhat sweet entry but skinny with green apple skin, grassy, herbaceous, soapy floral flavours with a bitter finish.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Backyard Vineyards Syrah 2011
British Columbia, CanadaVery peppery, pruny, raisin-y, olive, slightly meaty aromas. Fresh, round, light palate with cocoa, prune, earthy, balsamic, gingerbread flavours. Forward, commercial style for immediate consumption.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Backyard Vineyards Riesling 2012
British Columbia, CanadaBaked apple sauce, soapy floral, citrus, plasticene aromas. Flat, round, easy palate with light lees, bready, apple sauce and peach pit flavours. Awkward fragrant soapy, sweet and lean finish.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Backyard Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2012
British Columbia, CanadaSimilar to last year look for a spicy, litchi, sausage meat nose with apple skin, honey, soapy floral aromas. Round, soft, fresh, lean palate with more sausage meat, apple skin, soapy floral, honey, ginger flavours. A bit too fragrant and soapy in the back end otherwise a solid expression of gewurztraminer.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Poggio Salvi di Montalcino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalySavoury, tobacco, saddle leather, light barnyard, cherry, liquorice, prune, meaty, earthy aromas. Dry, fresh, elegant, tight palate with light, lean tannins. Cherry jam, earthy, ash, smoky herb, meaty, licorice, coffee grind and saddle leather flavours. Seems a bit chunky and astringent at the moment so try with beef sauces or grilled steak to smooth out the edges. Or cellar for two to five years.Prices:| BC | $94.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Poggio Salvi di Montalcino Brunello di Montalcino 2006
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalySpicy, blackberry, barnyard, leather, curry, ash, meaty, liquorice aromas. Dry, fresh, juicy, suave and elegant palate. Black cherry, pepper, leather, ash, orange peel, earthy, savoury flavours. Very well balanced with good finesse for current drinking. Not big but very attractive styling for food. Solid value for Brunello. The regular Brunello is 100 percent sangiovese grosso grown on southwest-facing slopes sitting at 320 to 480 meters above sea level. The wine spends 30 months in Slavonian oak and 6 months more in bottle before release.Prices:| BC | $56.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2008
Verona, Veneto, ItalyLots of tobacco leaf, black cherry, resin and poultry spice, raisin, celery salt and coffee aromas. Fresh, juicy, warm, somewhat tannic palate with rasin-y, prune plum, coffee, peppery, black liquorice, menthol, tobacco leaf, resin, chocolate and vanilla flavours. Very warm, meaty, pruny finish. Needs years but at 16.5 percent alcohol it is hot.Prices:| BC | $51.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $47.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $47.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $40.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $47.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $60.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $59.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio 2006
Verona, Veneto, ItalyBig chocolate, coffee, prune plum, raisin, roast meat, liquorice root, saddle leather, tobacco leaf and herb aromas. Rich, full, round, concentrated but fresh palate with some fine tannins and good acidity, Baked raisin pie, coffee pudding, cedar, tobacco, liquorice root, stewed game, peppery, orange peel flavours with some leafy, tea notes. Big warm and chewy finish but good fruit and intensity. Very youthful, needs 3-5 years at least.Prices:| BC | $88.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $88.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $79.25 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2008
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainIn '08 the mix is cariñena, garnacha, garró, monastrell and samsó aged for 28 days on the skin. At 15 per cent alcohol the structure is rich but not overpowering and after 18 months in French Troncais oak it has a refined demeanour. The colour is super dark the nose a fragrant mix of black fruits and cherries. The palate is equally rich and youthful with fine grained tannins, soft, silky, stony fruit spiked with resin and dried herbs. A warm Mediterranean style red that would be perfect with a piece of grilled lamb.Prices:| BC | $100.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $100.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Habitat Garnacha Syrah Vino Ecologico 2012
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainBig meaty, black cherry jam, spicy, savoury, licorice, chocolate, floral, resin aromas. Ripe, round, suave, dry palate with light tannins. Leather, chocolate, light barnyard, meaty, sage, black pepper, black raspberry jam, liquorice root and prune flavours. A bit warm and rustic but good intensity and fruit for that winter lamb leg dish. Decant this red for 15 to 20 minutes for best effect.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $13.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2012
Region del Valle Central, ChilePeppery, meaty, blackberry, cedar, tobacco, black olive aromas. Round, fresh, juicy, lighter but warm palate with cedar, cassis, sappy, tobacco, black olive, bay flavours. A bit herbaceous and thin this will need a grilled meat dish to fill in the holes.Prices:| AB | $18.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Organic Carmenere Reserva 2012
Region del Valle Central, ChileBig cedar bark, tobacco leaf, iodine, crushed herbs, chocolate aromas. Fresh, round, suave palate with peppery, chocolate, cassis, menthol, cedar bark and root flavours. Super fat, leafy but juicy style.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Reserva 2013
Region del Valle Central, ChileApple skin, herbaceous, light cherry, tobacco leaf aromas. Fresh, juicy, sweeter palate but light with olive, green bean, tobacco, sour cherry flavours. Finish is quite sweet and sour and briny. Disappointing.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Yalumba Shiraz Viognier Y Series 2011
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaSomewhat reduced nose with sausage meat, black pepper, savoury, smoky rubber aromas. Round, soft, light, easy palate with peppery, tobacco, resin, sausage, resin and rubber flavours. Needs air, texture is fine but could use more fruit.Prices:| AB | $17.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.50 | 750ml |
| NS | $18.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Oxford Landing Estates Pinot Grigio 2012
South Australia, AustraliaPear, spicy, honey, floral, green apple aromas with a touch of matchstick. Fresh, light, somewhat skinny palate with grapefruit, canned pear, grassy, floral flavours. Simple, juicy style.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Barone Ricasoli Terra di Brolio 2011
Tuscany, ItalyOpen sappy, cassis, black cherry, tobacco, minty aromas. Round, soft, dry palate with earthy, tobacco, resin, peppery, black olive, cassis, savoury, leather and chocolate flavours. Easy sipping style for pizza and hamburgers.Prices:| US | $10.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaButter, honey, baked peach, floral, lees aromas. Round, soft, fresh, elegant palate with a touch of oiliness. Grapefruit, honey, peach skin, baked green apple, buttery lees flavours. Finish is a bit bitter and hard.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $38.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 2009
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainTasted twice in six months. Fresh floral, cassis, black berry, vanilla nose with liquorice, five spice and balsamic aromas. The attack is full, round and dry with freshness and some youthful, fine-grained tannins. Much more refinement here than in the previous decade with bright cassis, cedar, tobacco, black berry, black olive and dried herb flavours. Lover the aromatics, finesse and power but this is still cabernet and will need at least three to seven years to mature in bottle.Prices:| ON | $47.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $52.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $52.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $57.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Torres Milmanda Chardonnay 2008
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainFloral, butter, apricot, earthy, honey, light vanilla, spicy lees and cream aromas. Round, full, elegant and dry with a fresh and creamy acidity. Green apple, honey, orange, lime, peach pit, butter, vanilla and spicy lees flavours with an earthy note. Good finesse and balance in a slightly cooler style with good fruit expression. Finish is just a bit fat. Starting to fade showing some older California chardonnay characteristics. Would love to see this under screwcap going forward.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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January 2014