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Tastings: September 2023
29 September 2023
89PTS
Bella Wines Sparkling Chinato V 1.0 NV
British Columbia, CanadaThis special wee fizz is a unique sparkling and fortified wine in conjunction with Marrow Vermouth. Perhaps the world's first such wine? Certainly the first for Canada. Inspired by Jay's wife Wendy's love of Barolo's chinato (fortified), he set out to make his own imprint. He started a solera wine of cab franc in 2014, and when he came across Shawn Dalton's Marrow Vermouth, the match was made. Shawn came up with a mix of local herbs in honour of Piemonte's Chinato flavours, including local honey, organic botanical, and cinchona bark. This is blended with the base wine, and with just the right amount of sparkling pressure, turned into this super special new wine to the lineup. Bitter and herbal with heady medicinal notes, this hazy auburn hued wine draws walnuts, sarsaparilla, dried bergamot, apricot pit, mallow, and wormwood along the potent palate, with just a prickle of fizz to lift and freshen. Use as a digestivo, possibly with some sharp cheeses or dark chocolate.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 330ml |
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89PTS
Bruno Giacosa Metodo Tradizionale Extra Brut 2019
Piedmont, ItalyThis traditional method sparkler of Pinot Nero comes from the Village of Casteggio, in Oltrepò Pavese, Pavia. It was vinified in stainless, with no MLF, before heading to bottle and 30 months’ rest on lees, prior to disgorge in December 2022, with 3.5 g/L dosage. Light lemon blossom, green apple skate through the sleek, slender palate, scented with delicate anise and white cherry. Very elegant, as expected from this iconic Piemontese producer.Prices:| ON | $77.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
1701 Franciacorta Brut Nature NV
Lombardy, Italy1701 Franciacorta is a 10 hectare biodynamic certified estate, the first and only certified biodynamic producer in the Franciacorta region. This Brut Nature (in a fresh new label since I last saw it) blends the structural elegance of 85% Chardonnay, and the character of 15% Pinot Nero, aged for a minimum of 30 months on the lees. This bottle was disgorged in September 2022. Red and yellow apple, biscuit, light toast runs over a bed of river stones, held taut and snappy with a lemon pith brace. Bone dry and zippy, this is certainly not your typical blousy / creamy Franciacorta.Prices:| ON | $59.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut NV
Veneto, ItalyThe appeal of Prosecco is its fresh fruit, gentle bubbles, and off-dry undercurrent. It is a perfect style for early evening sipping with friends after work, something the Italians practice with ease. Mionetto pitches all of the above using bright red apple, pear, and apricot that offsets the residual sugar, creating just enough balance to keep you coming back to the glass. Fun, clean, and ready to drink. Serve well chilled.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $18.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $18.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $20.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $20.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $19.95 | 750ml |
| NF | $20.98 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Evolve Brut Nature 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSourced from Penticton and Kelowna, this blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot blanc shows crisp, golden-hued fruit alongside hazelnuts and earthy mushrooms. The toasty autolytic character is well above the norm thanks to five years aging on lees, giving the mousse a soft, creamy texture with excellent integration. A classy, serious effort, which is beautifully balanced in a Brut Nature style (1.5 g/L residual sugar).Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mayhem Sparkling White Can 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMore lightly effervescent than truly sparkling, this shows a fruit salad nose that evokes summer picnics, fitting the canned format nicely. It's crisp, refreshing, and dry, and ready for the beach.Prices:| BC | $7.36 | 250ml |
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86PTS
Mayhem Sparkling Rosé Can 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI love that we're seeing more Okanagan wines in can, and this is the perfect style of wine for it. It's fruit-driven and lightly effervescent, led by confected red berries and candied apple. Dry but with good fruit ripeness, there's just a touch of bitterness to the modest finish. Certainly a wine that's more about drinking than thinking, and it's easy to see its beach appeal.Prices:| BC | $7.36 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis traditional method sparkling wine, crafted from 73% chardonnay, 25% pinot noir, and 2% pinot meunier, reveals refreshing aromas of Bartlett pear, green apple, and white peach. Aged on the lees for 24 months, it offers delicate autolytic notes, reminiscent of crème fraîche, along with fine mousse. Its linear structure is upheld by a pronounced sharp acidity, leading to a dry finish with subtle smokiness and a touch of salinity. A crisp, clear-cut sparkler that shows a good balance of pure fresh fruit and leesy notes.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Red Rooster Brut Traditional Method NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaUnder winemaker Elaine Vickers, Red Rooster now has a duo of smart, impressive sparkling wines that shouldn't be overlooked. The Brut is a blend of 52% pinot noir and 48% chardonnay from Oliver and Penticton, made in the traditional method. It's labelled as non-vintage, but is based on the 2018 vintage, with 36 months on lees prior to being disgorged in December 2022. It shows expressive, youthful lemon and green apple, framed by toasty autolytic notes that speak to the extended time on lees. Dry and refreshing, the balance is spot on in a classic Brut style, with very good length.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Red Rooster Brut Traditional Method NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Elaine Vickers has added two impressive sparklers to the Red Rooster range led by this delicious 52/48 pinot noir/chardonnay Brut, blending Oliver and Penticton fruit. The label has no vintage, but it is primarily from 2018. The wine is made in the traditional method, spending its secondary fermentation a full 36 months in the bottle adding layers of complexity and depth. It was disgorged in December 2022. We have been tracking this wine for a few months, and it's growing in the bottle. Plenty of fresh pear/apple fruit with a proper citrus undercurrent. Add toast and a clean dry finish, and you have a winner. This is a style of sparkling wine B.C. needs to double down on and leave the frivolous stuff to the larger global producers.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Pere Ventura Tresor Cuvée Barrique Gran Reserva Brut 2017
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis 2017 Tresor Cuvée Barrique is a mix of xarel-lo and chardonnay, with a minimum of 36 months in bottle on its lees. The nose is mature, and the palate has several layers, starting with a citrus, nutty nose with just the right amount of oxidation. The palate has a rich layer supported by a large portion of the chardonnay that was aged in oak with more nutty, peachy, citrus, and perfect acidity. We paired it with an assortment of sushi, which was an ideal match.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| Global Price in $US | $20.00 | 750ml |
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27 September 2023
86PTS
Enate Syrah - Shiraz 2018
Somontano, Aragon, SpainEnate Syrah-Shiraz is grown in DO Somontano. The grapes are a mix of two vineyards planted to different clones from France and Australia, all fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 15 months in new French and American oak barrels. The nose is a meaty, earthy affair with black olive notes. The palate is similar, with a low fruit factor and an earthy vegetable note, burnt earth, and chocolate. Drink up with fall stews and grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $59.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tyrrell's Old Winery Shiraz 2020
South Australia, AustraliaThis wine remains a large volume, well made, entry level shiraz for the Australian market. The fruit comes from several southern Australian regions. Expect a smooth palate of soft, spicy, blueberry, blackberry, all with a bit of spice and oak. It's a solid mid week red that would be fun with beef tacos, hamburgers, or lamb chops. Good value. The Old Winery tier is named after Tyrrell's historic winery in the Hunter Valley, built in 1863.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Moon Curser Syrah 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMoon Curser has been a consistent producer of top flight syrah, as we saw in 2020. The 2021 is big and juicy with rich, brambly black fruit pushing up from the bottom, but the meaty, smoky tones are just too much. You need to drink this now because it is not going to make the bottle for much more than the rest of the year. We await the 2022.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Moon Curser Contraband Syrah Bartsch Vineyard 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother painful example of the wildfires in 2021 that were simply too much for some vineyards caught in the path of smoke. This has great intensity and obvious quality markers but the smoke sits like a fire blanket on the wine, before a dried up finish reminiscent of an early morning party ashtray character a scent well known to ex-smokers. We will be back next year.Prices:| BC | $42.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chronos Syrah 2020
British Columbia, CanadaChronos Syrah was fermented in three open top tanks with daily punch downs before being pressed off to a mix of French and American oak. The style is a softer, comfortable, gentler syrah with only 13.2 percent alcohol and less peppery, wild notes. It opens with savoury blueberry that spills onto the palate, where dried blueberries, super ripe cherries, and clove run through the wine to a resiny finish. This is a wine you can now drink with smoked gouda, pecorino, or grana padano, or partner with barbecue ribs. Solid.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Clos du Soleil Winemaker's Series Syrah 2021
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEvery time I taste a syrah grown beside or near the classic Bordeaux grape varieties in the New World, I wonder what Bordeaux might be like had they approved syrah as a grape variety inside their storied appellation. BC's Similkameen Valley has been a revelation for syrah drinkers. At Clos du Soleil, winemaker Michael Clark thinks the daily winds and poor, stony soils are a blessing for syrah, which loves the daytime heat and, even more, the cool nights. Savoury sagebrush, pencil, black fruits, and white pepper with chalky mineral notes flood your palate, and this wine is only waking up. It can be consumed now with barbecued ribs, or cellar it for five to seven years and move onto a lamb shoulder. Get it well you can. Supplies will dwindle into 2025 due to the freeze-out affecting the size of the 2023 crop across BC.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Road 13 Select Harvest Syrah 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis pleasant syrah comes off as drinkable despite its age. Look for bright, ripe cherry and a juicy, lively palate. The tannins and peppery notes are present but primarily soft through the back end. 2020 had an especially warm and welcomed finish to the growing season, allowing for full ripeness for the late ripening syrah. The grapes were sourced from eight estate vineyard blocks on the Black Sage and Golden Mile benches, and the wine is aged 16 months in French and American oak barrels (23% new). The final blend contains four percent malbec. Perfect for a pulled pork sandwich or mushroom stew.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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26 September 2023
93PTS
Vignoble du Reveur Singulier 2021
Alsace, FranceVignoble du Reveur is the project of Mathieu Deiss (who still makes wines for his father's This dry Alsatian orange is a carbonic maceration coferment of Riesling and Pinot Gris, with 10 days on skins prior to a native ferment in large oak barrels, without any additions. The wine aged for one year on fine lees prior to bottling with a very low level of sulfites. Pouring a hazy, deeper orange gold hue, this medium+ orange floods the textural palate with bergamot, pear skin, grapefruit, exotic spices, beeswax, gently framed with buzzy oolong tea tannins. Very complete, this is a stunner.Prices:| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fitapreta a Laranja Mecânica NV
Alentejo, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalThis is Antonio Maçanita's Clockwork Orange. Arinto, Roupeiro, Verdelho, Antão Vaz, Alincante Branco, Trincadeira-das-Pratas, Fernão Pires make up the Alentejo coferment blend, from various granite-soiled vineyards and vines 15-50 years old. After the first whole bunch pressing, 10-15% of the remaining juice macerated on the skins for a week, and then was pressed again and reunited with the whole, where it native fermented. It remained in stainless on lees until it was bottled, unfiltered, the following fall. Sharpened apricot, Asian pear, anise, and tangerine skeet across the lightly textural palate, livened with a buzzy granitic grip. There's a lovely flow to this angular wine, trailing off with a saline wash.Prices:| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Weingut Loimer Gluegglich NV
AustriaThis NV biodynamic orange wine blends Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Riesling, Chardonnay, Traminer, and Muskateller from sedimentary, limestone gravels, and vines up to 85 years old in the Gumpoldskirchen. This was partial whole cluster native fermented in barrels (some lots on skins) for 8-10 months on full lees. This dry wine was bottled in spring 2022 without fining or filtration, evident in the slight haze to the medium yellow hue. Apricot, peach fuzz, potpourri musk, and potent lime pith run the lightly grippy palate to a tart, light ashen finish. Fun pairing wine.Prices:| ON | $29.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Blanc 2021
Côtes du Roussillon, Roussillon, Sud de France, FranceI love the lean, watery texture that brings freshness with notes of citrus, pear, lemongrass, and quince. Almost gulpable, this is a delicious everyday white, and at its markdown price, it is a stellar bargain few, if any, of its competitors can beat. The Chapoutier team suggests an apricot tagine of stuffed squid or chicken. I'll drink to that. Stock up, super value here. The Blanc is a Roussillon blend of grenache blanc, roussanne, marsanne, and macabeu from vines spread across the limestone, clay, and gneiss in the Agly Valley, as well as granite soils at higher, later ripening sites (at 500 metres).Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
BK Wines Carte Blanche 2022
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaCarte Blanche gives BK the freedom to create whatever he'd like every vintage, playing around with process rather than sticking to terroir. In 2022, this is all the leftover single vineyard chardonnay lees blended with pinot gris and riesling and grüner, along with other fermentation lees. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Very textural, with green apple, pear skin, white peach, lemon pith running along a deeply creamy lees bed, shadowed by French oak and sharpened with a flinty whip, finishing with a saline wake. Lovely tension in this textural white, drinking like a very smartly complexed chardonnay. Enjoy now, or easily over next few years with Diam closure. Don't drink too chilled.Prices:| BC | $46.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mucho Mas 2022
Castilla-Leon, SpainStraw coloured with a green hue, this is a highly appealing summer sipper packed with peach and apricot, with a pleasant mix of tropical and drier citrus fruit that finishes with a dusting of smoky minerality. Think anything from pasta and paella to seafood appetizers, fish tacos, or cream cheeses. A delicious blend and an innovative mix of verdejo, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay. Sorry, BC, it is too cheap and good to be listed here.Prices:| ON | $13.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rigour and Whimsy Bifröst 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This year's Bifröst, aka the rainbow bridge, blends 65% pinot blanc and 35% gewürztraminer, fermented on skins over 6 weeks in stainless prior to resting older French barrel for 4 months. Apricot and peach fuzz stencils this sleek, tart orange wine, with pithy tangerine, pear skin, elderflower blossoms, ash, and white tea riding the lean 11% palate through a lightly spiced, sharpened wake. Allow this one to open up some, and drop a bit of chill, before enjoying.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bartier Bros. Riesling Grüner Veltliner 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis curious blend of riesling (OK Falls) and Grüner (North Okanagan) were individually whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless over 1 month, before aging 2 months on lees. This aromatic, off-dry white carries peach blossom, pear, and bitter lime along a lightly spiced frame, finishing with more bitter citrus notes. Try with lightly spiced curries to best effect.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Runabout White 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's aromatic white blend blends all the estate white grapes: 45% Pinot Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Gewürztraminer, 10% Ehrenfelser, and 5% Riesling. Fragrant pear, gooseberry, peach blossom glide along a just off-dry palate, kissed with anise on the finish. Friendly and well made and ready to crack into now.Prices:| BC | $17.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Les Argiles d’Orto Vins Blanc 2022
Montsant, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainViura may be more commonly associated with Rioja, but this comes from Montsant, southwest of Barcelona in Catalonia, where it's known as Macabeu. It shows gold-hued yellow fruits and lemon rind, with floral aromatics enhanced from 24 hours on skins. It's crisp and textured, benefiting from 6 months on lees in stainless steel.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Les Argiles d’Orto Vins Blanc 2022
Montsant, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe Ortu Blanc is a 93/7 mix of macabeu (viura) and white grenache planted on small terraces over clay. The vines are a mix of ages ranging from 22 - 88 years, and are cultivated under organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture. There is a 24 hour maceration with skins and spontaneous fermentation with native yeast, and the finished wine spends six months on lees in stainless steel tanks. There are bright florals and a clean, clipped entry before a refreshing citrus palate. Perfect for various seafood dishes.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Red Rooster Pinot 3 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of three pinots (pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinot blanc), this white wine offers subtle smokiness and a leesy quality layered with notes of orange pith and grapefruit. A delicate minerality contributes a pleasing texture, while the wine's snappy acidity and lean style accentuate its refreshing character.Prices:| BC | $26.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Allegro 2020
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaSauvignette, petit milo, and amiel are the sources of Allegro, a white wine grown at Vancouver Island’s Unsworth, Wescott, Isle de Cobre, Sunnydale, and Wakky vineyards. On the nose, it is lightly reminiscent of Australian old vine sémillon as you pour it into the glass. Grassy, figgy, ripe grapefruit and face powder spills onto the palate, pitching ripe citrus, peach and fresh apples. You can serve it as a patio sipper with spicy bites or bring it to the table with roast chicken or halibut. Different, but in a good way.Prices:| BC | $25.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Red Rooster Pinot 3 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaP3 stands for pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinot blanc, is aged in a combination of concrete egg and stainless steel. The nose is elegant and restrained, offering lemon, crunchy yellow pear, and orchard blossoms, accented by subtle lees. There's a real precision to the palate, with the concrete aging evident in the texture, leading to a crisp, balanced finish. A fun wine, best enjoyed over the short term.Prices:| BC | $26.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Rocky Creek TLC 2021
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaAn aromatic blend of madelaine sylvaner, auxerrois, viognier, blattners, and alabarino, this shows developed fruit in the orange spectrum, with a short, bitter finish. Serve well chilled and drink now.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Runabout White 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of pinot blanc, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, ehrenfelser, and riesling, this shows acacia and orange blossoms along with yellow apple and honeydew. It's well made and certainly a step above your typical aromatic white blend, with a fair price to boot. Just off-dry, with 7 g/L residual sugar that's nicely balanced by crisp acidity thanks to the moderate 2022 vintage, this is picture perfect for your favourite Thai curry.Prices:| BC | $17.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Aveleda Fonte Vinho Verde 2022
Vinho Verde, Northern Portugal, PortugalThis simple but classic Vinho Verde is all you need on a hot summer day. From its pale, barely there yellow/green colour to its refreshing aromas, you are immediately pulled into one sip after another. Lemons, freshly picked green herbs with a touch of baked bread and spritz pull it all together. Ready to drink at a terrific price. The Guedes family has owned Quinta da Aveleda since the 15th Century, and the family has practiced viticulture for five generations, dating back to the 1870s.Prices:| BC | $14.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.39 | 750ml |
| QC | $11.00 | 750ml |
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25 September 2023
93PTS
Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette 2018
Morgon, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceJean took over his father's domaine in 1980, overseeing the 14ha estate, mostly planted on the prized Côte du Py slope outside the town of Villié-Morgon. One of the first to promote and practice organic / low intervention farming and winemaking in the region, Foillard works with older vines, no inputs and very low sulphur. This is from 80+ yo vines, on Corcellete's sandy granite soils, native fermented whole cluster over 3-4 weeks, and rested 9 months in older oak. Once you make it through the shattering hard red wax, you're rewarded with soft cascades of wild plum, wild raspberry, scrubby rosemary, gentle pink pepper, wrapped with fine, long tannins studded with stony salinity. Such a presence, with such a lightness of being, and atypical of the giant 2018 Bojo vintage. If you've still in your cellar, this is drinking beauty now.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fitzpatrick Lava Bomb Gamay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom a single Summerland vineyard, this gamay was fermented in 17% whole bunch and aged in neutral French oak until bottling unfined and unfiltered. Spiced dark plums, cherries flood a fleshy palate, lashed with cassis and cracked nutmeg. Tannins are supple and fine, leading this to a kirsch kissed end. Though very much in the dark fruit spectrum, this is a suave, medium+ gamay, ready for enjoying now with duck or mushroom braises.Prices:| BC | $26.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fitzpatrick Lava Bomb Gamay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a smart gamay that overcomes the challenges of the 2021 vintage. It shows sappy dark cherry alongside savoury peppery spices, with well judged use of whole clusters (17 percent) that keeps the fruit at the foreground while adding lovely complexity. There's a juiciness that belies the warmth of the growing season, with fine tannins that make this imminently quaffable. Best with a light chill and enjoyed over the next year. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.Prices:| BC | $26.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Vignerons de Bel Air Morgon Climat Grands Cras 2021
Morgon, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceFrom the co-op Vignerons de Bel Air (est. 1929) and their 350 members comes this Morgon from the Grands Cras climat. Black raspberry, black cherry, thorns and branch rule the tart, juicy frame, with finely gummy tannins taking to a brief finish. A very basic Morgon, one to slightly chill and sip now.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Les Clochers du Beaujolais Juliénas 2021
Juliénas, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceFrom the co-op Vignerons de Bel Air (est. 1929) and their 350 members comes this ripe, soft, and friendly Juliénas, with gobs of crushed cherry, raspberry gummies, strawberry jam and a tart rhubarb acidity, with negligible tannins. From vines averaging 45 year old in granite soils, this was semi-carbo, then aged for 5 months in stainless. Simple, easy, chill, and don't think much about. Not presenting worthy of a Cru designation.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine des Poutoux Brouilly 2021
Brouilly, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceFrom the co-op Vignerons de Bel Air (est. 1929) and their 350 members comes this Brouilly. Black raspberry, fleshy cherry and tart, crunchy plum flood a juicy palate, with tell-tale partial / full carbo providing primary red fruit, and softly sticky tannins. There's a mingling of pink peppercorn spice and crushed iris to season, giving this simple Brouilly a rise. Drink now, with a light chill.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Rust Wine Co. Lazy River Vineyard Gamay 2022
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom South Cawston's Lazy River Vineyard, this clone 509 gamay was planted in 1996 on a mix of sand, clay loams and granite. It was fermented whole berry (carbonic) and aged 4 months in older barrels. This has lightened considerably since the last time I tasted it a few years ago. Opening with a swing of youthful reduction, this moves into tart plum, ripe rhubarb, and green tobacco, and buzzy, crunchy cranberry acidity which livens a furry, softer palate. The finish is kissed with cola and light spices. Still figuring it out, this is a brighter future for #GoGamayGo.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Harper's Trail Thadd Springs Vineyard Gamay Noir 2021
Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaFrom Thadd Springs Vineyard in the Thompson Valley, this gamay is full of smoked plums, forest bark, branch, and rhubarb compote running along a silken palate, studded with star anise and toasted baking spices. Though the alcohol is moderate at 13%, the finish is a bit warming, welcoming autumnal stews and braises.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
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22 September 2023
94PTS
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2016
Florence, Tuscany, ItalyGran Selezione is not without its critics, but the 2016 Ricasoli is nothing but a Gran Selezione in the glass. This is Classico at its best, mixing 97 percent sangiovese with 3 percent abrusco, growing in a mix of sandstone, galestro, and albarese. The nose is alive with savoury black plums and red cherries with a subtle saline undercurrent. The structure of acid and tannin provides the perfect support for a dense, full flavoured aftertaste. This a wine you can enjoy now or a cellar for another decade. Beef or mushrooms are the match. Barone Francesco Ricasoli’s family has lived and cared for the castle at Brolio for 32 generations, but Barone Francesco has been instrumental in raising the quality of the vineyards and fruit over his reign. Don’t miss this one.Prices:| BC | $74.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
Siena, Tuscany, ItalyWe retasted this wine a couple of months after our last look, and it is just as good, if not better. The Riserva is made from a selection of estate grown grapes grown at 260 to 500 meters above sea level over sandstone, marl, marine deposits, and alberese soils, giving it both authenticity and complexity of place. Full and firm, 2019 opens with floral black cherry that spills onto the palate with streaks of espresso, dark plum, and a slick of tannin lined with a savoury dried herb crust. Thoughtful and dense, it is crushable at the moment, but it should be given the time it needs for all the layers and parts to come together in harmony. One worth giving lots of time in a bottle. Be patient.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2020
Tuscany, ItalyBrolio Chianti Classico 2020 is a 95/4 mix of sangiovese and colorino, grown in a warm year. Barone Francesco Ricasoli grows this wine over five of Brolio’s soil types: Macigno del Chianti (sandstone); Scaglia Toscana (Galestro); Monte Morello (Alberese); Marine Deposit (sandy deposits and clay at deeper levels); and Ancient Fluvial Terrace (silty deposits with clay). The complexity of the soil mix alone bodes well for a charming wine that is mouthfilling right out of the glass. Cherries with earthy, leather, and savoury menthol finishes medium long with perfect freshness. Castello di Brolio, founded in 1141, is one of the four oldest wine estates in the world.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $24.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
Siena, Tuscany, Italy2017 isn't a year many Tuscans want to remember unless you are fully committed to quality. At Castello di Ama, winemaker Marco Pallanti scrapped his single-vineyard bottlings from Bellavista and La Casuccia vineyards to make a great Gran Selezione from all the vineyards. He gave us a standout wet stone, mineral and floral violet front end that ignites a sweet and sour mix of red and black fruits with a perfect level of acidity, with very little wood but just the right amount of woods. Elegance in the face of disaster makes this more than a Chianti, but a Chianti label you can count on year in and year out. Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is named after the picturesque San Lorenzo valley viewed from the estate's eighteenth-century Villa Pianigiani and Villa Ricucci. Over the last quarter century, all vineyards have been replanted, and everything at the winery has been upgraded. The acclaimed single vineyard wines grow on 75 hectares of vineyard amid 35 hectares of olive trees planted on a mix of limestone and clay at an elevation of 1,650 feet.Prices:| BC | $59.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $56.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $54.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Umani Ronchi Medoro Sangiovese 2021
Marche, ItalyUmani Ronchi is a respected producer of Marche wines, and Medoro is made with sangiovese, the most prominent single variety planted in Marche. Look for an earthy nose that is spotted with some florals. On the palate, it is a medium-weight mix of cherries and earth with bright acidity and a clean finish. Pleasant and food-friendly, it is a lovely match for a Margherita pizza, or simple ragu, or a piece of hard cheese. The style is discreet, the palate balanced, and you can’t expect more at this price.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Tuscany, ItalyThe Tenuta Fanti estate has belonged to the Fanti family since the beginning of the eighteenth century. It extends across 300 hectares in Toscana, 52 hectares of which are specialized certified sustainable vineyards, 110 hectares are olive orchards, 80 hectares are used for seed plots, and 70 hectares are forests. Made from 20-30 year old vines, this Brunello fermented over 25 days in stainless before aging 28 months a mix of French oak barrels and 3,000L Slavonian oak vats. The wine then aged in bottle for one year prior to release. There was no Riserva released in 2017, so all that fruit has ended up in this bottle. The wood is still very evident in this structural wine with upright, firm, gritty, wood-hewn tannins framing dusky cherry, tobacco, pencil shavings across the muscular form. An easy stony acidity lifts this through the spiced finish. One that is best matched (and ideal!) with roast beef / root veg.Prices:| ON | $89.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Altesino Rosso di Montalcino 2020
Tuscany, ItalyWhen you ask winemakers in Montalcino what they drink, expecting them to bathe in Brunello, overwhelmingly, their daily wine is Rosso di Montalcino. From the same brilliant soils and climate but typically younger or declassified Brunello grapes, the Rosso is primed for daily consumption and can still age. From the generous 2020 vintage, this Rosso is showing the effects of the sun, with worn leather, baked cherries, brown spices, and a telling 14.5% working the palate through a saline finish. I'd watch for a fresher vintage or enjoy this now with roast beef or lamb.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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21 September 2023
92PTS
Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo d'Alba 2021
Piedmont, ItalyFrom various vineyards in the villages of Monteu Roero, Santo Stefano Roero, and Vezza d’Alba, and vines from 20-30 years, this was macerated in stainless and then aged 14 months in French oak. Wild raspberries, cherries, dried herbs, ferrous and tobacco stream through the savoury, medium bodied palate, framed with long, finely grippy black tea tannins. Quite structural and serious, yet certainly drinkable now.Prices:| ON | $77.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Fusco Mencia 2021
Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, SpainThis mencía from Ribeira Sacra DO in Galicia opens with violet florals, fresh red berries, and crushed gravel, sprinkled with a touch of cracked pepper. Ageing in stainless steel helped the beautiful fruit to shine resulting in an elegant, light-bodied, pure fruited red with a modest 13% alcohol and delicate minerality. Highly recommend.Prices:| BC | $41.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA consistent star at Moon Curser, the 2021 Touriga Nacional is just a bit too smoked out for me. The fruit is rich and jammy with a savoury black fruit undercurrent, but the smoke dominates the palate and flattens the finish. You can drink this now, but it will only worsen over time. It's a shame, given all the other parts. We wait until next year.Prices:| BC | $45.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moon Curser Carménère 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe smoke is less noticeable here but noticeable nonetheless. Carménère is a rarity in the Okanagan, but there is plenty of hope for this variety that is only beginning to find its footing. This is rich, juicy, and packed full of smooth black and blue fruit and spicy sagebrush, but some ashtray and campfire notes in the aftertaste diminish the wine. Drink it now with a grilled piece of lamb, but don’t wait too long because it will get worse in the bottle going forward.Prices:| BC | $45.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moon Curser Petit Verdot 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe petit verdot is always a big wine if you can get it ripe, something that happens with regularity in the south Okanagan, but in 2021, all the licorice, lavender, and black fruit can't save this wine from a gamey, smoky, back end, like some of the other 2021s, sits on the wine. We wait for next year.Prices:| BC | $37.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Moon Curser Dolcetto 2022
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDolcetto is traditionally unoaked, and Moon Curser follows that path. The 2022 vintage opens with a light, youthful purple colour and an energetic nose of chocolate blueberries with some underlying citrus. The palate is similar, with more red cranberry, soft textures, and that citrus undercurrent, all at 13.5 percent alcohol. It is well made and best with a meaty pizza or a Bolognese pasta dish.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mt. Boucherie Blaufränkisch 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis fruity red offers dark cherry and black plum framed by fresh acidity in a medium body. It lacks blaufränkisch’s hallmark spiciness found in examples from its homeland, Austria, but it is a highly delightful choice for those seeking a relatively obscure varietal red that’s also approachable.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
DogRidge MVP Petit Verdot 2014
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaDogRidge's sustainably farmed vineyards are home to some of the oldest vines in McLaren Vale, with 60+ year-old shiraz, grenache and cabernet sauvignon growing on their McLaren Flat site. MVP is their Most Valuable Player and the pinnacle of the winery. This Petit Verdot hasn't been made since 2005. With 10% whole bunch, this was natively fermented with extended skin contact and spent six months in new French oak before being racked to older barrels. It remains in wood for around two years before bottling. Smoked stones, crushed violets, boysenberry compote, and licorice work through a muscular palate, with grippy tannins still quite present, though now thankfully somewhat absorbed into the fruit, a decade on. There's a swell of acidity to raise this chewy wine through a lingering spiced finish. One to enjoy now with roasted meats.Prices:| ON | $82.00 | 750ml |
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20 September 2023
88PTS
Code Wines Chardonnay 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis new Okanagan winery is the vision of Shay and Harlee Code, the farmers and owners of this organic 5 acre Okanagan Falls east bench estate. They began planting in 2017 with chardonnay and syrah. In the beginning, they made their wines at Naramata's Roche Winery, but have since launched their own operation. This single clone chardy (clipped from nearby Meyer's Family McLean Creek Road Vineyard, possibly Clone 95) was whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless, with partial MLF. It rested there until the following February when it was lightly fined, filtered, and bottled. Ripe lemon, yellow apple, and stone fruit flood a creamy, custard base, sharpened smartly with a lemony brace, and trailing off with stony spice. A friendly chardy for cracking into now.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fort Berens Chardonnay 2021
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaThe warm days and cool nights in Lillooet make for wines that ripen fully but retain a great balancing structure of acidity. The style here is leaner, balanced, and elegant. The oak touch is light. You will pick up peach, pear, and apple. Refreshing and well-balanced.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Kitsch 7 Barrel Chardonnay 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom Kitsch's family vineyard on the East Kelowna Slopes, this was a selection of just seven barrels for a total production of 151 cases. It shows a combination of lemon curd, golden apple, and cream, with a touch of oak spice from six months in barrel. It's a slightly softer style, especially in comparison to the more recent 2022 releases, but it should appeal broadly, with a touch of bitterness on the finish.Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Meyer Chardonnay 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe classic Meyer Chardonnay mixes handpicked fruit from Main Road, Anarchist Mountain, and McLean Creek Road vineyards. I love its bright entry, the fresh apple, citrus, and crunchy pear midpalate, with a creamy lees finish flecked with butter and oak. Finesse with length. This is a workhorse chardonnay for those who require a dependable white that tastes like chardonnay, tastes like chardonnay made in BC, and offers considerable value. Post ferment, the wine spent six months in a combination of stainless-steel vessels (80%) and neutral French oak barrels (20%).Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Big Leap Chardonnay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis chardonnay opens with white peach, sweet citrus layered with lees, and subtle toasty oak spices. On the palate, along with fresh acidity, it shows luscious stone fruit and a bit of riper tropical fruit wrapped in a creamy texture. The finish is straightforward with some sweetness, which balances out a hint of bitterness.Prices:| BC | $25.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Tinhorn Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis chardonnay from the Golden Mile Bench opens with ripe stone fruit and pineapple, layered with sweet vanillin and baking spices coming from the oak aging. The fruit feels even sweeter and richer on the palate, resembling the lush and rich style of classic California chardonnays. Sure to please a broad audience. Tasted blind at NWAC June 2023.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chain Reaction Chardonnay 2021
British Columbia, CanadaIn 2021, Chain Reaction released its first chardonnay from its Naramata Bench estate vineyard, planted in 2019. The nose and palate are a mix of leesy vanilla and sweet pears. Soft and round, the wine is coated in French oak from front to back, which I hope is a result of it being year one for their chardonnay, without older barrels to choose from. Still, it remains relatively bright and at 15 cases, I'm sure it is long gone. I await version two and the reduction in new oak.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Stag's Hollow Renaissance Chardonnay Partridge Vineyard 2021
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPartridge Vineyard resides in the Naramata Bench sub-GI and opens with a full leesy, mineral wet stone nose with a hit of toast and struck match. The creamy palate with layered complexity on the nose keeps you coming back for more, finding new notes with each sniff. It has a creamy texture on the palate, mixing citrus, green apple, and a touch of honey and vanilla. Many will love this warmer Napa style, but I want more acidity. This is the first chardonnay released in the last 11 years, and the first Renaissance level I have tasted since 2002. Try this with lobster or Dungeness crab and drawn butter. It would also be fine with a favourite curry.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Upper Bench Chardonnay Estate Grown 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is the best I have tasted from Upper Bench, led by a subtle shift from too much oak and tropical fruit to something just a little more serious. The Narmata estate fruit is partially oaked with 50% aged in French oak barrels for three months and the remainder in stainless tanks. Creamy and bright with a peachy honeyed palate, here with some pineapple and a warm cashew finish. More Napa than Naramata, but many will embrace this style.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI can’t say enough about what has been going on at Tinhorn Creek since Peller took over, or more importantly, the acquisition of winemaker Ross Wise, who is in charge of BC winemaking as well as his regular duties at Black Hills, and the arrival of winemaker Leandro Nosal, via Checkmate and The Red Barn. The 2021 Chardonnay is simply fun to drink. For aficionados, it has some lees and mineral notes to hold your interest, and for the casual consumer, there is honey, apricots, and lemons. Finally, for those who simply like chardonnay, this is a juicy, tasty package that won’t disappoint.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Little Engine Chardonnay 2019
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis Little Engine Chardonnay has a silver pewter label and is referred to as the platinum chardonnay by the winery, but not referred to as such on the label, so if you are confused, join the club. There is no confusion about the style, which is tropical Napa-ish chardonnay, with rich, oaky, honey, pineapple and vanilla. The wine is barrel aged for 17 months, with regular lees stirring to build rich, creamy, spicy textures. The final mix features 58 percent new French oak barriques and puncheons, complemented by 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Little Engine Chardonnay French Family Release 2022
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe French Family Release Chardonnay is Naramata Bench fruit sourced from three estate owned vineyards. I like the bright vibrant fruit, and the minerality that takes it to another level. Look for ripe peaches and pears, but with a fresh undercurrent and a clean finish. Ready to drink and fun to drink. The grapes were picked at different times, from late September through early to mid October to add an extra dimension to the blend. Try this with fresh seafood, including shellfish.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Little Engine Gold Chardonnay 2020
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI am a fan of long and cool fermentations with various yeasts. At Little Engine, the Gold Chardonnay is barrel fermented in French oak without obliterating the fruit. The wine is barrel-aged for 17 months on its lees to build a complete, creamy texture. The final blend comprises 53 percent new French oak, barriques, puncheons, and 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. This is rich chardonnay but with complexity and length, and the alcohol is nicely in check. Look for plenty of peachy with honey, lemon zest, and vanilla dusting. Attractive, long, and fun to drink, this is more of a new-wave Napa style that will have an eager following. Sourced exclusively from estate-grown clones 76, 95 and 548, the fruit was harvested at different times, in late September and early October, to cover a range of flavours in the vineyard.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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18 September 2023
90PTS
Tightrope Winery Pinot Gris 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFleet Road Vineyard is the estate home site and the lead source of this delicious gris, with some nearby additions of neighbouring areas. There is a bump of residual sugar in the mix, but plenty of balancing acidity is led by grapefruit, pear, and lemon zest. If you chill this down, it can easily carry pre-dinner, solo or with some spicy appetizers. Or consider a savoury roasted chicken as the supreme match for dinner.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Township 7 Pinot Gris Provenance Series 2022
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt is both stainless steel and French oak fermented, mixing Oliver and Naramata, with the former bringing richer orchard fruit to the glass. At the same time, the latter contributes the cooler, crisper, greener notes of the Naramata Bench. There is more ripeness (sweetness) this year that dominates and blurs the finish. Spicy sushi rolls are the match, or sip it well chilled solo.Prices:| BC | $24.97 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Gris Saison Vineyards 2022
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaUnsworth has worked with Saison Vineyard pinot gris since 2010, and the relationship has led to a Saison Vineyard single vineyard label. The Saison effect is an increase in intensity, and delicacy. It is primarily fermented in stainless steel with a minor amount of neutral French oak (10%). The style is coastal electric with a silky, leesy undercurrent to keep it running through the palate. Some think these wines are too skinny, but they would be wrong. A chiselled, clean finish lingers with a scent of the sea that few places can match. The soils are volcanic, layered with marine sediments and gravel carved and deposited by glaciers. Today, clay loams lay on top of this gravelly base, sitting between the 48th and 50th parallel, only a few kilometres from the ocean.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Gris 2022
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaUnsworth's Pinot Gris spans three Cowichan Valley fruit sources, starting with the home Unsworth Vineyard, and adding Zanatta and Saison Vineyard. All are grown over ancient marine silt mixed with loamy soils. Unsworth does little with the whole cluster fruit, fermented primarily in stainless, with 10 percent in neutral barriques. The finished wine gets a four month sleep on lees before it goes to bottle. Bright, tart, and crammed full of crunchy green fruits with a saline finish, this wine is designed for oysters and mussels. This is a coastal wine with a marine undercurrent, reminiscent of the best from Alpine Italy.Prices:| BC | $26.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Howling Bluff Pinot Gris 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI haven’t seen this wine in eight years, but I like what I see here. It Is not necessarily varietal pinot gris, but the freshness and electricity is worth investigating. Expect a grassy, citrus affair with a small amount of lees character in the mix. Dry and ready for shellfish, my match is steamed mussels with tomatoes, onions and garlic. Ready to drink, especially for those who prefer a drier style. Love the price.Prices:| BC | $20.87 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chronos Pinot Gris 2021
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe nose has a light lees character mixed with fresh Granny Smith apple and a touch of wet stone minerality. The palate is similar, with more citrus, ripe melon, and pear, finishing medium long. This is a well made, clean, refreshing pinot gris with enough gravitas to pair with richer dishes like halibut or chicken. The fruit is Summerland based, grown at Dragon Mountain Vineyard.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mayhem Pinot Gris 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBone dry and fresh makes for an attractive style for those who want less sugar and more energy in their pinot gris. Look for honeysuckle, green apples, citrus, and a dusting of savoury desert scrub. The finish is stony with some mineral dust at the end. The fruit was whole bunch pressed, followed by a long, cool 10 week fermentation in stainless. Before finishing fermentation, 16% of the wine was transferred to seasoned barriques to build body and complexity. The wine rested five months on fine lees before being blended and bottled. It was hand picked on October 5 from the Ryegrass Vineyard in Oliver. Mayhem suggests fire oven pizza with sundried tomatoes, roasted garlic, arugula; or prawn tacos with homemade mango salsa and fresh cilantro. I am ready. Super value, real wine.Prices:| BC | $18.36 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Rocky Creek Pinot Gris 2022
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine gets its pale salmon hue from 16 hours on skins, which also lends the tannic, slightly bitter backbone. It's light and tart, with pear skin and red apple, alongside a subtle effervescence. Best enjoyed well chilled.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chain Reaction Tailwind Pinot Gris 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChain Reaction is a newish Naramata Bench winery owned by Joel and Linda Chamaschuk, named after their love of cycling. They planted their first vineyard in 2019 on the Bench in 2019. Consulting winemaker Dwight Sick oversees the wines made at nearby Moraine Winery and this gris comes off two sites: Kaleden's OPG Vineyard, and Chain Reaction's McMillan Vineyard in Penticton. It is made with simple, straightforward winemaking. It was whole bunch pressed, fermented and aged stainless steel, and left on lees in tank for four months. This is a fresh, fragrant mix of florals, pears, limes, and mandarin with a sweet underbelly. More of a sipper than a food wine unless the menu is spicy. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Pinot Gris 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2022 is year 36 at Blue Mountain and is a good one for pinot gris. The Okanagan Falls vineyard is planted with two French clones; over the years, the pair appear to have become seamless. The fermentation begins with indigenous yeast in a mix of vessels: foudre, stainless, older French barrels, and puncheons. Citrus-drenched lime pith, creamy lees and a tight complex finish invite you to buy this in numbers. You could age this a couple of years, but why bother it is delicious now.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.85 | 750ml |
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17 September 2023
89PTS
Hillside Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA lovely elegant, stylish merlot that melts in your mouth. Classic soft tannins, with cassis, black cherry, and a touch of bitter dark chocolate for balance. This blend features four principal blocks of Merlot from the estate Hidden Valley Vineyard, a bowl-shaped valley behind the winery on Naramata Road: Gjoa's Vineyard, just across the street; Dickinson Vineyard, about halfway to Naramata and below the road; and Occhi Dolci Vineyard to the South, perched above the lake below Munson Mountain. Subtle, sophisticated, and the perfect mid-week red.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Enate Merlot - Merlot 2018
Somontano, Aragon, SpainEnate Merlot - Merlot is produced in Somontano and was the first of several international varieties released by chief winemaker Jesús Artajona. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in new French oak barrels for 15 months, followed by several months of bottle rest before release. 2018 opens with a lifted nose of blackcurrants. and the somewhat volatile notes spill onto the palate with more black fruit, chocolate, and resin. Big and rustic, this needs BBQ ribs in a sweet sauce to smooth it out. A little less of everything would be in order next year.Prices:| BC | $59.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
French Door Merlot 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMerlot is grown on the North and South blocks at the French Door estate vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. The blocks are picked separately most years, but in 2021, the merlot was picked and destemmed before heading to a three ton wooden vat for fermenting. The free run juice was drained to light toast French barrels and aged for 16 months. The 140 cases are a selection of the best eight barrels. Somehow, this wine escaped the wildfire smoke, and the low yields brought great intensity. Long, ripe, and spicy, there is plenty of rich, plummy Christmas cake and dense sweet tannins, suggesting this will age well. Impressive at an impressive price.Prices:| BC | $78.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Chronos Merlot 2020
British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Lynzee Schatz ferments with a touch of carbonic maceration to help accentuate the dark red fruit. With only 20 percent new French oak, the plummy florals jump from the glass before a spicy finish. You can drink this now with grilled pork or beef, but you may want to wait for two to three more years. Well done, and definitely a wine that explains what merlot can be in BC.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Merlot 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe MHFE Reserve series is a favourite of mine because they don’t cut corners, delivering terrific value for money. The 2021 merlot is an excellent example and blueprint for BC merlot. The attack is rich and full bodied, mixing black cherries, toasted oak, and spicy cola. Fresh and bright, it is just a baby, but already showing it has plenty of style. Expect an elegant, well structured red for cool weather. This spends 15 months in French oak, lending it a style you cannot achieve by mixing French with American oak, a common occurrence among those trying to save money on wood.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $32.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $31.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $33.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $32.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $29.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Bartier Bros. Merlot Cerqueira Vineyard 2021
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Michael Bartier is all about place and purity of fruit. Doing less is a way of life at Bartier. Look for blueberry here, with a juicy, mineral undercurrent. Tannins are always moderate and silky as they fade into a long, savoury, salty, bright Okanagan finish. The wine spends 14 weeks in neutral French oak barrels where the oxygen works its magic. The fruit is farmed from their home Cerqueira Vineyard, on the Black Sage Terrace. Drink or hold.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Hillside Merlot Dickinson Vineyard 2018
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDickinson Vineyard is part of a trio of Hillside single vineyard merlots available to buy most years. Dickinson sits above the main road as you drive north toward the village of Naramata. It is the warmest and most luxurious style of the three, and in 2018, it is currently pitching a lot of dark chocolate along with some elevated acidity. It is not as sophisticated as 2016, and the oak is a bit rustic, keeping it from being top level. It is coming together at five years and likely will need drinking over the next two to three years. Try this with a favourite big cheese.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wild Goose Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother good 2020 pitching the best of merlot, with soft silky tannins, ripe black cherry, and plums. It has medium weight and finishes with bright acidity, resin, and leather. Solid, simple, and ready to drink with grilled beef and/or root vegetables.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Lunessence Merlot 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLunessence has a handle on merlot. The style is as vibrant as you want in a red wine. Like last year, 40 percent is foot trodden, and post ferment it is aged in French oak for 12 months (12 percent new). Fragrant, fruity, black cherry and black plum flood the palate. The tannins are silky, and the finish is a long, clean affair that holds your interest. Refined and capable of some aging to add even more complexity. Have it now with T-bone steak, or cellar.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Back Door Winery Bootlegger Merlot 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe nose mixes earth and mushrooms, while the palate offers a short glimpse of blueberry and blackberry before a drier, woody, earthiness takes over the back end. This wine needs less time in wood and a cleaner, fresher delivery. Ready to drink with grilled beef.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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15 September 2023
90PTS
Rompecepas Tinto Fino 2020
Vinos de Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, SpainThis tempranillo from Madrid offers ripe, almost jammy, red berries with hints of licorice and spices, blanketed in a smooth, silky texture. It shows a good integration of oak contributing textural and flavour complexity. There’s a touch of lingering alcohol warmth with a rustic edge at the finish. It’s a ripe and dense interpretation of tempranillo, focusing more on the fruit.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Plot Tempranillo 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCorked, try another.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rompecepas Tinto Fino 2020
Vinos de Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, SpainA blockbuster tempranillo with ripe, lush blackberries and wild blueberries, showing some iron, cedar, and graphite. Lovely complexity. A medium-full-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins, and excellent length. 14.5% abvPrices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Rompecepas Tinto Fino 2020
Vinos de Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, SpainThis tempranillo is grown on calcareous clay mixed with a fair amount of red clay on the surface, made just outside Madrid in Colmenar de Oreja and Chinchón. Time on skins totals 30 days, with aging in 500 litre used French oak barrels. The style is rustic, but this wine has a history of living a long time in bottle. The nose is full blown with blackcurrant streaked with anise. The palate is rich in blueberries and black fruit, and the texture is smoother than you might expect, with some warmth in a spicy finish. The tannins are present but mostly well-managed. It is not Rioja but more like the Moon Curser bottle out of the South Okanagan. Serve with lamb sausages to best effect.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Moon Curser Tempranillo 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe South Okanagan version of tempranillo is gaining fans, which is good. Comparing it to Spain’s Rioja version is not a good idea. 2021 is a good follow-up on 2020, albeit a little less generous in all aspects, but still well made and fun to drink. The fruit comes off a couple of sandy, silica, and granite sites on the East Bench facing the southwest slope. Look for an opaque dark indigo colour. The attack is juicy, with plenty of savoury blackberries, black cherry, and a fine stream of acid that keeps it focused and fresh. It is not as elegant as the new tempranillos of Spain, but this is a solid effort worth trying or laying away for three to five years.Prices:| BC | $37.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2018
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, SpainThis is classic, old school Rioja that really overdelivers for the price. It offers dried strawberry and red cherry that's wrapped in American oak, with a healthy, but balanced amount of wood. It's beautifully resolved at this stage, with tertiary notes of cedar and balsamic, alongside fine tannins that are still buoyed by juicy acidity. Recommended and excellent value.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
| CDN | $28.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Finca Villacreces Pruno 2019
Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, SpainA 90/10 blend of tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon, this has a lovely balance between heady, ripe fruit, led by macerated Damson plums and blueberries that fall just shy of jammy, along with compelling savoury notes of licorice, cedar, dried herbs, and a distinct stony minerality. There's a certain rusticity here, and that's felt on the tannins as well, while at the same time being a charmingly authentic expression of Ribera del Duero. Enjoy now if you want to retain the fruit, or cellar for 3-4 years to help the tannins soften. Either way, it offers solid value.Prices:| BC | $30.99 | 750ml |
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13 September 2023
93PTS
Savage Wines Follow The Line 2021
Darling, Coastal Region, South AfricaWhen Duncan Savage was first looking for this remote, wind-swept, Darling vineyard more than a decade ago, he got lost. When he rang the farmer for directions, he was told “volg net die f*kken foon lyn!” If you’re not fluent in Afrikaans, this translates to “just follow the f***ing phone line!” Hence the name for this darling, Darling Cinsault. He's been working with the 2 hectare dry farmed bush vines since 2011, and these 40ish year old vines are rooted in sloping decomposed granite. This was native fermented with 30% whole bunch, with stalks added back, and then basked pressed to old foudre where it rests 10 months. Sapid plum, fragrant wild strawberries, rosewater, and raspberries flood this juicy cinsault, fresh with Darling's inherent marine-fuelled acidity and lined with a raspberry leather base along a slender frame. Tannins are long, fine, and sticky; the finish lingers with finely ground white pepper and salinity. A joy to drink.Prices:| ON | $52.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Swerwer Red Blend 2021
Swartland, Coastal Region, South AfricaJasper's Swartland Red Blend is primarily cofermented cinsault and grenache from granite soils, with 10% tinta barroca from a dryer, clay soiled vineyard. The mix is alluring, with this lighter hued red drawing crushed plums, wild blackberry, cherry, anise, and thorns across a juicy palate threaded with fynbos and framed with fine, black tea tannins through the lingering saline finish. Smashable now, and ahead, with a slight chill. Super charming at 13%.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Moon Curser Dead of Night 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlways a big wine, Dead of Night has some smoky notes in 2021 that sit on the wine's best features, especially in the finish, and at this point, will likely only get stronger. The blend is a rich mix of 52/48 East Osoyoos Bench tannat / syrah. The entry is fully ripe and a touch sweet with well-managed tannin and a refined texture for such a big wine, but the finish is a tarry smoke-kissed affair that takes away from the final story. The oak regime mixes 225-litre French and Hungarian oak barriques (29 percent new) combined with remaining neutral oak barrels. On to next year.Prices:| BC | $45.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Symphony 2020
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaSymphony is an acquired taste, soft and round but packed full of herbaceous foxy notes, or what Unsworth terms 'coastal forest notes'. The palate is a mix of wild berries and full-on dill in the back end. It is a symphony of cabernet libre, labelle, corivese, and petit milo, making it about as local as you can get. It is made with care but needs the perfect match like grilled Italian sausages or spicy beef tacos to make it to the table.Prices:| BC | $30.90 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Road 13 Select Harvest GSM 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine has been cleaning up at important competitions, including Decanter World Wine Awards, and against the best from across Canada at the National Wine Awards of Canada. Clearly the term Select means something to winemaker Barclay Robinson, who has crafted a spectacular bottle of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre from the Golden Mile and Black Sage benches in the south Okanagan. Look for a juicy mix of black and red fruit with a prolonged floral, peppery finish. From a great vintage, this wine is just getting started.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine Oinea Arkouda 2021
Amyndaio, Makedonia, GreeceDomaine Oinea is a remote gem in the small mountainous town of Amyndeon, in Macedonia, protected by a mountain range full of conifers, lime trees and chestnuts. Meaning Bear in Greek, Arkouda comes from Macedonia's limestone soils at 650m. This organic / biodynamically tended blend of 65% xinomavro and 35% limniona was fermented in stainless (xino) and older barrels prior to blending. This lighter red is imbued with scrubby wild herbs, sapid cherry, wild plum, with lofted mountainous acidity, and wrapped with fine, supple tannins to a saline / stony end. Enjoy with a light chill.Prices:Read Full Note
89PTS
Arboleda Brisa 2018
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThe 2018 vintage was neither hot nor cold, allowing the fruit to ripen at its pace and to the taste of the winemaking team. The syrah has a red undercurrent led by a raspberry and blackcurrant leaf, with a touch of wildness. The palate offers even more red fruit with brightish acidity, pitching savoury black fruit, rosemary, and assorted dried herbs. The finish is soft and somewhat dry with a touch of pepper and balsamic. An intellectual red expression that is neither French nor Australian. The final mix is 36% syrah, 24% grenache, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cabernet franc, and 8% mourvedre, all aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (38% new), and 15% in foudres.Prices:| BC | $50.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Garzón Balasto 2018
Garzon, Maldonado, San José, UruguayIf you want to know what all the commotion is about with concrete fermenters, you need only taste the texture in this wine fermented in 80-hectolitre cement tanks. It spent 20 months in 25 and 50-hectolitre untoasted French oak barrels, where oxygen breathing through them was the primary tool. The blend is a bit bizarro at 40% tannat, 34% cabernet franc, 18% petit verdot, 5% merlot and 3% marselan. At this point, it needs time to open up in the glass because right out of the bottle, it is a bit stuffed up, but fear not, within a few minutes, the nose cleans up, and the subtle blue, black, and red fruit returns in spades. It is a delicious wine with silky soft tannins, all at a pleasant alcohol level of 13.5%. This one is ready to drink but should age effortlessly into 2030.Prices:| CDN | $90.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
TerraVentoux 5 Terroirs Vielles Vignes 2019
Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceA blend of grenache and syrah from vines grown across five unique soil types (5 Terroirs) and all over 30 years of age makes for a soft, approachable Rhône blend with a combination of juicy raspberry and plums, violets, and earthy, peppery spices. It's a great introduction to the Rhône, with complexity that is above the norm for this price point.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Back Door Winery Secret Stash Red Blend NV
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSecret Stash is a soft, fruit forward red blend with a line of spice that runs through the finish. Ready to drink, it has a sense of freshness and lightness that would suggest you could serve it with fish or chicken. The blend is an 80/10/10 mix of pinot noir, cabernet franc, and merlot grown in Summerland.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Modest Wines The Odd Couple Vol. II 2028
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Odd Couple Volume II, a project of the Mt Boucherie cellarhands, is led by assistant winemaker Kelly Spencer. It is suitably odd, given the blend is a 50/50 mix of cabernet sauvignon and pinot gris. In a weird way, it’s a fun, juicy cabernet with the lift and freshness it sometimes lacks when bottled solo. Weird, you bet. Odd, uh huh, but that only plays into the Modest Wines lineup. Ready to drink but keep the fare light. It would pair well with grilled vegetables or a light pasta dish.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Modest Wines Black and Blue 2021
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBlack and Blue is grown at the Lazy River Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, described by the folks at Mt. Boucherie / Modest Wines as the “land of the free and home of the Blau" Nothing like a blatant pun to energize a wine critic. It is blaufränkisch, with blueberries dusted in Similkameen quarry dust. It spends 13 months in Hungarian oak and is no less the wine for it. Perfect for a pork roast or turkey. Good value.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Bojador Special Edition Vinho Tinto 2020
Alentejo, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalA 50/30/20 blend of moreto (also known as baga in Bairrada), trincadeira, and alicante bouschet, this charming, rustic blend has a fantastic interplay of fruit and savoury complexity, offering sappy wild dark berries alongside candied lavender, pepper, graphite, and licorice. The tannins are rugged at this stage, but still with a lovely juiciness to balance the 14.5% abv. Very much a food wine, which will pair well with hearty stews as we head into the fall season. Good length.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Montecariano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013
Verona, Veneto, ItalyFrom San Pietro in Cariano, in the foothills of the Classico region, this Amarone blends 65% corvina and corvinone with 20% rondinella, and 15% molinara, croatina, and pelara. The grapes are left to dry for 3 months in controlled rooms, and then destemmed and crushed in late Dec / early January, fermented in stainless with nearly 2 months of oxygen into the must. Post ferment, this rests for 3 years in barrels, followed by an additional year in bottle. Ripe, round, and rich, with baked biscuit, dried black cherry, blackberry compote, old worked leather, old tobacco, and dried dark florals. There is a modicum of freshness here to take this over the finish line, but the end result is still quite bitter dark chocolate, and some wilted notes. Drink now, ideally with richer sauced meat / tomato braises, or go for dark chocolate and roasted walnuts. At 16%, go lightly.Prices:| BC | $77.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Montecariano Camini Monga Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016
Verona, Veneto, ItalyMontecariano is located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico DOC. Their vines are planted in what was once an old sea bed, leaving much clay and limestone laced soils. This classic Amarone blends Corvina and Corvinone (65%) with Rondinella (25%) and Molinara and Croatina making up the final 10%. The grapes are dried in ventilated rooms for 3 months, then destemmed and pressed for fermentation in stainless. After 1 month or so, this heads to barrels and casks for 42 months' aging. At 15.5% this is nearing fortified wine levels, so pace yourself. Ripely sweet baked cassis, blackberry jam, and porty plum compote rule the plush palate, laced with sultry brown baking spices, and spirited by the aforementioned alcohol. Tannins are near negligible at this point, suggesting a frame around the sides of this expansive wine. One best suited to extra dark chocolate, or super rich braised meat / root veg dishes.Prices:| BC | $79.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Montecariano Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2016
Verona, Veneto, ItalyThis blend of predominantly corvina and corvinone is fleshed out with smaller parts rondinella, molinara, Croatina, oseleta, from the region's clay and lime rich soils. This is Ripasso, where the wine is fermented a second time on the still-fermenting skins for Recioto. After 3 weeks, this heads to French and Slavonian oak for 2 years. Ripe and polished with black and red fruits, kirsch, walnuts, tart twiney acidity, and plush tannins, this full bodied red finishes with bittersweet chocolate and a warming flush. Browning in the glass, this is one for bigger red meat braises / pastas.Prices:| BC | $59.99 | 750ml |
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12 September 2023
89PTS
Rust Wine Co. Solus 2020
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of 39% merlot, 33% zinfandel, 27% cabernet sauvignon, and 1% gewurztraminer, this aspiring red, contained in quite a hefty bottle, shows a ripe fruit character with noticeable sweet oak undertones. Big, bold, and full-bodied in style, yet there’s a vibrancy of red berries layered with baking spices and herbal notes of dill, providing added complexity to the overall profile.Prices:| BC | $88.88 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Sudden Inversion Meritage 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon (65/20/15), this wine shows a lovely nose of tangy cranberries, ripe raspberry, red plum blended with nutmeg and toasted spices. The influence of 14 months of aging in French oak is evident in the wood tannins felt toward the back of the palate, but there’s a touch of sweetness at the finish skillfully balancing the overall mouthfeel.Prices:| BC | $29.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Clos du Soleil Célestiale 2021
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCélestiale is the little sibling to Clos du Soleil's icon Signature red. Theoretically, you can enjoy this one now (signal screwcap) while waiting for Signature to mature. The fruit (55% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot) comes from 4 vineyards in Keremeos and Cawston. Each lot was destemmed, cold soaked, and fermented in concrete, then pressed into French barrels (12% new) for 15 months. This year feels particularly glossy and smooth, with ripe cherry, cassis jam, kirsch, and sweet tobacco rolling through a round and plumped palate. Tannins are furry and hug this to the warming, spiced finish. Super friendly (perhaps a bit too much to be taken super seriously), this is primed for drinking now, ideally with richer red meat dishes.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Rust Wine Co. Solus 2020
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHefty, heavy bottle. Nearly equal parts merlot, zinfandel, and cabernet sauvignon, with a dollop of gewürztraminer for good measure, this shows macerated dark berries alongside dried herbs, graphite, and a litany of oak spices and dill after aging in 61% new French and American oak for 18 months. It's a big wine that feels like it's starting to come together, though the grippy tannins suggest this still needs another 4-5 years in the cellar to be at its best. A statement, to be sure.Prices:| BC | $88.88 | 750ml |
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92PTS
French Door Héritage French Blend 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Héritage is the flagship red blend at French Door. In 2020, the final blend was 41% merlot, 28% cabernet franc, 13% cabernet sauvignon, 7% syrah, 6% malbec, and 5% petit verdot. The nose is bright, sharing pleasant red fruit and floral notes with savoury desert cedar. The tannins are dense but sweet, supporting rich blueberry and red currants with a dusty, mineral graphite finish. Youthful, complex, and well made, this will age well through 2030. The grapes are hand harvested, sorted, destemmed and gently crushed into stainless steel tanks. They were cold soaked for three to four days to extract colour and flavours without alcohol before a long fermentation period between 45-52 days. The aging is in a 40/60 mix of new and neutral French barriques for 16 months. The winery is east and south of downtown Oliver on the Black Sage Bench.Prices:| BC | $48.00 | 750ml |
| CDN | $58.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Howling Bluff Sin Cera 2020
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWe haven't seen this wine in a decade, but it appears to be at another level in 2020. Merlot and petit verdot make for a slick, silky blend tempered by their mid-valley positioning on the Narmata Bench. The chocolate and sweet notes are gone, replaced with a more sophisticated mix of savoury ripe red and black fruit streaked with licorice and dried herbs. The finish is long and lingering with quite a bit of that desert scrub. This wine needs three to five years to expand fully, but it would be OK with some lamb or wild boar now. It is also a bit of a bargain and fine quality. Summa Quies Sin Cera, a saying from the Latin meaning 'without wax,' refers to how Romans made pots. Sometimes, they sealed the base with wax, claiming they were watertight, but the wax melted or wore away in time, making the pot useless for liquids. Pots not finished with wax were inscribed 'sine cera' to prove that they were sound. At some point, the word 'sincere' evolved from this origin.Prices:| BC | $30.43 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Mayhem Cabernet Merlot 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother 2021 that has lost its way in a layer of wildfire smoke. The wine has all the attributes you want: the density of flavour, blueberries, and blackcurrants and a toasted oak ending with spice and plenty of warmth. The problem is the smoke on the wine, suppressing its spirit and flavours. You can drink it now, but hurry because the smoke is going to overwhelm the wine by 2024. A rainy day braised beef dish is the answer here.Prices:| BC | $22.44 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Clos du Soleil Célestiale 2021
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCélestiale has always been a lighter, early drinking style of red wine, with one foot in Bordeaux tradition and one foot in the reality of the wild, windy Similkameen. The style is juicy and fruity, but in 2021, some lingering smoke dampens the fruit, taking some life away from the wine. It is still pretty solid, and the texture, thanks to the concrete fermenters, is deliciously smooth and balanced but just a little off this year. I advise drinking it now while the wine can pitch some youthful fruit from below. Grilled beef, lamb, or barbecue pork with a sweet sauce would be the answer now. 2021 is a Similkameen mix of 55/19/12/7/7 merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, and petit verdot coming off various sites in Cawston and Keremeos.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Sudden Inversion Meritage 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis merlot-dominant blend is sourced from Maverick Vineyard in Osoyoos, with 20 percent cabernet franc and 15 percent cabernet sauvignon. It shows crunchy wild berries with cedary spice, dried sage, and toasted oak. It's an appealingly lighter, fresher style of meritage that will be perfect with classic French bistro fare.Prices:| BC | $29.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Road 13 Honest John's Bold Red Wine 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHonestly, there isn’t much to say about this red blend, a mix of just about any red grapes you can think of. The nose is smoky, the palate a medium, savoury, minty affair with sweetish red fruit, bright acidity, and the tannins too dry for a drink now, everyday red. Best with burgers or beef tacos.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Fort Berens Meritage Reserve 2020
British Columbia, CanadaThe Fort Berens estate Dry Creek Vineyard is home to this 60/40 blend of merlot and cabernet franc that clocks in at a modest 13.4% alcohol by volume. Post ferment this is aged for 15 months in French oak barriques (40% new, 60% second fill). Like last year, the style is relaxed, northern, and savoury, with spicy red plum and raspberries, albeit with some smoky notes. The acid is more prominent this year, adding length to some of the herbal notes. It needs two to three years to better integrate and present its final picture.Prices:| BC | $41.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Canter Rogue Reserve 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRogue Reserve is a red blend to check out. The colour is dark red, the texture dense with refined sweet tannins under enticing red currants, tobacco and licorice. Impressive for 2021, and smoke-free to boot, with power, grace, and the ability to age. Serve now if you must with grilled steak, or cellar through 2026. The grapes were crushed into open top fermenters and aged in French oak barrels for 14 months. Worth investing in at $29.99Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Pétales d'Osoyoos 2020
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPétales is what the Bordelais would call a second label, but in 2020, this wine is singing Cru. Deep, dark, rich and muscle-laden, it is a full on spicy, savoury blend mixing merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, and petit verdot. Young and tannic, this needs time, but it will be in great shape if you can wait three to five years. For the moment, it is cheese wine.Prices:| BC | $37.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $29.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $36.52 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Osoyoos Larose 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOsoyoos Larose is being directed by Groupe Taillan in Bordeaux, and winemaker Michael Kullmann, both aiming to bring the wine back to its early days and Bordeaux roots. The 2029 mix is mainly made up of merlot at 58%, followed by 26% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, and 7% petit verdot. The 2019 wine is youthful and noticeably dry initially, but its smooth texture draws you in, revealing savoury and dried desert scrub notes mixed with dark plums, blackcurrants, and a hint of vanilla. The oak is perfectly balanced, and the finish is dry with espresso and a touch of spice. This wine has a long history of aging well, but with a low fruit factor, I recommend drinking it before 2027. Overall, it is a solid and reasonably priced wine.Prices:| BC | $57.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $59.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $46.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $56.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $465.99 | 6000ml |
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90PTS
Clos du Soleil Signature 2020
British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Signature, the aptly named flagship red of the winery, blends fruit from Keremeos and Cawston. The 2020 result was 34% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc, 21% malbec, 9% petit verdot. Each vineyard block was harvested separately, destemmed, and native fermented in concrete. After a gentle pressing, the wines aged 18 months in French oak, with the best barrels selected for the final blend. Toasted spice and ample wood pervade ripe black fruit, cracked pepper, cloves, and cedar, all wrapped with softly sticky tannins. As one might expect, at this young age, this tastes relatively young still, so ready to drink if you're keen. However, I'd try laying it down for a year or a few.Prices:| BC | $55.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wild Goose Cabernet Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis Cabernet Merlot was a pleasant surprise. The colour is dark, and the nose is warm and open with savoury desert aromas mixed with tobacco, licorice, and florals. The palate is a mirror image with red and black plums and a slurry of dusty tannins that fade into a black currant finish. The balance allows you to drink or hold this wine, and barbecued pork would be a fine match. This is an excellent example of the quality of the vintage at all price levels. This is a bargain.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Wild Goose Red Horizon Meritage 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine is a unique blend of traditional Bordeaux grapes with a bold infusion of colour from the deep-hued German Dunkelfelder grape. The aroma and flavour profile is rich with Bing cherry, blackberry, and fig that glide smoothly across the palate with a silky texture from start to finish. A mix of licorice and brown spices reminiscent of Christmas cake, and firm yet velvety tannins linger after each sip. The blend primarily comprises 58% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Dunkelfelder, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. The grapes are carefully handpicked from vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos. The wine is blended after being fermented and aged separately for 16 months in 25% French and 75% American oak barrels. This is a reliable choice for a midweek red, but in 2020, it has the gravitas for the weekend table.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Clos du Soleil Signature 2020
British Columbia, CanadaSignature is a blend of fruit from Keremeos and Cawston in the Similkameen Valley. The 2020 mix comes with a little less merlot (34%) and a bit more cabernet sauvignon (33%) and petit verdot (9%), a jump of cabernet franc to 21%, with 21% malbec. Each block of fruit is harvested separately and fermented with native yeast in concrete before spending 18 months in French oak before a best barrel Signature selection is made. The wine has been a consistent performer over the years, and in such a fine vintage it has delivered again. The nose is classic Similkameen floral cool, with desert scrub and savoury sagebrush counterbalancing a rich undercurrent of black fruit, cracked pepper, and youthful, structural tannins. The balance and concrete present as ready to drink, but there is no rush, as this wine will go the distance.Prices:| BC | $55.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Ross Wise has been gradually improving Nota Bene, transforming it from a successful marketing product into a wine that truly deserves its hype and price tag. Despite the challenges of a heat dome and wildfires near Black Hills, the 2021 vintage of Nota Bene is a great example of this. The grapes are all hand harvested, gently destemmed, and fermented using natural yeasts. After fermentation, the wine is aged 18 months in French oak barrels with a light toast. Wise is harvesting the grapes earlier and using less new oak, resulting in a wine with less power but much more finesse. The 2021 blend is made up of 42% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 17% cabernet franc, and 1% petit verdot. While it is already highly drinkable, it will continue to improve for a decade or more. The wine has fresh red and black fruits and a silky texture with dense and sweet tannins. Despite a challenging year, Nota Bene is a great effort, and this is a winery with high expectations.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Noble Ridge Reserve Meritage 2020
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Home Vineyard in Okanagan Falls is the source of the 2020 Reserve Meritage, a rich mix of 74% merlot, 24% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% malbec. This ripe, spicy, desert red pitches blackcurrant, tobacco, and dried wild herbs with some sticky tannins and a warm finish. This can handle lamb, pork, or beef at this point, and should age effortlessly into 2027. It spent 14 months in 70% French and 30% American barrels (27% new).Prices:| BC | $42.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
High Note Red Blend 2020
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis year's blend is 55/25/15/5 malbec, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and bonarda. This has an attractive nose of jammy, brambly fruit with black peppercorns and a healthy dose of sweet oak spice. Our bottle showed a surprising effervescence on the palate, which accentuated the bitterness of the tannins and cut short the finish. We will try to taste another bottle.Prices:| AB | $23.99 | 750ml |
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11 September 2023
87PTS
French Door Malbec 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOn the edge of opaque, they don’t come much darker in the glass. This is a big wine packed full, but no matter the raspberry and plums, the bright acidity, and length, and an outstanding texture, there are already too many wildfire smoky notes sitting on top of this wine. You can drink it now, but those will only build over time, so you need to get this wine this year and serve it with a grilled piece of beef. I have great faith in this winery and this wine, but I will wait until next year.Prices:| BC | $58.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Moon Curser Malbec 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA good example of why you can’t condemn a region for wildfire smoke out of hand. Only a few kilometres south of the Black Sage Bench, the wildfire had less of an effect on the Osoyoos East Bench vineyards of Moon Curser. The harvest occurred in the last week of October, and the fermentation was in stainless steel. The aging was in 225L French barriques (24% new). The nose is alive in blueberries, mint, violets and savoury desert scrub with light smoke. The palate is juicy with more red and blue fruits with subtle spicing, all in balance. This delicious bottle of malbec will have a wide audience, especially if you serve it with barbecue pork ribs. Ready to drink and I suggest you don't wait.Prices:| BC | $37.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
La Coste de Los Andes Malbec 2020
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaLa Coste de Los Andes is an Argentine project from France's Chateau La Coste. Their wines are to merge the sunny spirit of La Provence with the luminous heights of the Andes Mountains. This is their top wine, with the best rows of malbec from Los Chacayes, Tunuyán. Half was fermented in concrete egg with the remainder in French barrels. This macerated and fermented over 1 month before 18 months in French oak. Deep and brooding, with stewed plum, blackberry, dark earth, cloaked with ample furry tannins to a warming, bitter cocoa finish. Drying out prematurely, this is best drunk now.Prices:| ARG | $10.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
La Coste de Los Andes Andillian Malbec Los Chacayes 2021
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaLa Coste de Los Andes is an Argentine project from France's Chateau La Coste. Their wines are to merge the sunny spirit of La Provence with the luminous heights of the Andes Mountains. This organic cabernet franc comes from Los Chacayes, in Uco Valley. at 1250-1450m. Crushed violets, damson plum, crushed stones floods this concentrated, yet lofted mountainous malbec, lofted with altitude and calcium carbonate, stony soils. Lovely concentration and freshness in this wine, ready for drinking now or in future.Prices:Read Full Note
88PTS
La Coste de Los Andes Andillian Malbec 2022
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaLa Coste de Los Andes is an Argentine project from France's Chateau La Coste. Their wines are to merge the sunny spirit of La Provence with the luminous heights of the Andes Mountains. This organic malbec comes from alluvial vineyards in Alto Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, and was pre-ferment carbonically macerated for 5 days before 2 weeks of ferment, with foot stomping. Dark violet, blueberry, blackberry is cut with a tart acidity, and lined with finely sticky tannins to a snappy finish. A bright, tight, tart malbec, ready for drinking now.Prices:Read Full Note
90PTS
Catena Malbec La Consulta 2020
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe Bodegas Catena Zapata Appellation Range is an excellent way to think more about place than grape variety, which is a problem for countries stuck on one message, like malbec in Argentina, or sauvignon blanc in New Zealand. The wines are named after historic vineyards, small in size, such as La Consulta in the Uco Valley. The vineyard sits 1095 metres above sea level over clay sand and alluvial outflows, a seemingly perfect medium for malbec. The textures are silky smooth and savoury, with spicy balsamic red fruit, a delicate mineral undercurrent, and a sense of elegance, although it is a touch soft in the back end. It spends a year in a mix of French and American oak. This is ready to drink and would be okay with any grilled meat dish or roasted root vegetables. A mushroom pizza would be fun too.Prices:| US | $22.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Catena Malbec Lunlunta Vineyards 2020
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis is a stunning wine from the moment you nose it. Deep and dark, it has a brooding style full of ripe malbec, pitching dark fruits with chocolate, traces of vanilla, and mocha. The texture is ultra creamy and plush, with a modicum of spice punching through the back end. As big as it seems, the alcohol is well under 14 percent, allowing for a long, slow denouement on the palate. The density and intensity of flavours reflect the ancient 90+ year old vines. T-bone steaks or osso buco, take your pick it can handle either with poise.Prices:| US | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
River Stone Malbec 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRipe and smoothed, this sweeter southern Okanagan malbec shows blackberry jam, ripe cherries, baked plum, and tobacco along a glossy palate, framed with pasty tannins through a blunted finish. This feels very made, which detracts from the fruit and place. Drink now, with richer beef dishes.Prices:| BC | $43.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
José Zuccardi Malbec 2017
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe José Zuccardi label, once known as Zeta, is a salute to the family history in wine “as seen through José Alberto’s innovative eyes,” says son Sebastián Zuccardi, who heads up the impressive Zuccardi Valle de Uco project. It’s a throwback to the older Euro style of winemaking. The fermentation on native yeasts is in concrete after a cluster selection, while the ageing involves two years in French oak foudres (2500 litres) and barrels (500 litres). The blend is 95/5 malbec /cabernet sauvignon that comes off two honoured sites: IG Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco (1100 masl – 3600ft); and IG Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza (1230 masl – 4265 ft). This colour is opaque black-purple, signalling a giant wine. Yet on the palate, it reveals a much more electric demeanour with plenty of underlying acidity and rich florals that lift the wine, allowing the intense black cherry, black plums, and blackcurrants to run the length of the palate, finishing over dense, highly refined tannins and a lingering stony mineral finish. This wine has it all and will effortlessly age a decade and beyond.Prices:| CDN | $59.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Graffigna Glorious Selection Malbec 2019
San Juan, ArgentinaThis malbec (30 year old vines) from the Uco Valley enters the winery with pedigree at a sensible 13.5 percent alcohol. The fruit is hand harvested and fermented for 18 days in small concrete fermentors. Only free run wine is aged in a 70/30 mix of old barrels and concrete. Look for a bright, fruity red with mostly supple mid-palate textures and some lightly sticky notes in the finish. A solid barbecue red that is fully ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
AltoSur Red Malbec 2021
Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaAltosur means 'high in the south', referring to this estate malbec's situation at 1200m, at the foothills of the Andes, in Gualtallary. Fragrant plums, ripe blackberry, scrubby thorns flood a cushy and softer palate, juicy with mountainous acidity, and framed with furry tannins. Grat bones in this friendly malbec, elevating it from most of its peers at this price point.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Mad Bird Dark Malbec 2020
Mendoza, ArgentinaA confected, oak-driven malbec, with a combination of mocha and espresso that is masking the sweet blackberry fruit at this stage. Very commercial in style, with modest concentration and length.Prices:| BC | $19.49 | 750ml |
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88PTS
El Esteco Blend de Extremos Malbec 2020
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaThis malbec comes from two vineyards in Cafayate: Finca la Maravilla, at 1700m; and Chañar Punch, at 2000m. It was fermented in stainless steel and concrete, and 75 percent was aged one year in the same vessels, which keeps this malbec fresh and on its toes. The colour is opaque, with blueberries, intense cassis, crushed wild herbs, and a spicy, resiny finish. Best with beef, from steak to empanadas.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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08 September 2023
86PTS
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
California, United StatesInteresting to taste this alongside the Nederburg Winemasters cab that sells for about $15 less. The grapes come from across California and reflect the style. Ripe, at times confected, with raspberry and black fruit that dries out as it moves across the palate, finishing short. An introductory red that needs a price cut.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Beaulieu Vineyards Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1973
Napa Valley, California, United StatesTasted several times over the year, this one in August July 2023 at the winery. The colour is classic rusty orange, as in old and fading but still hanging in there. The nose has a mix of maderized notes with toffee, dried plums and resin, giving way to Rutherford Dust and earth in the finish. It is still alive but is best with more straightforward beef dishes, slow cooked, or a piece of mature Brie. It gets a score of 89 for hanging in there. Still, it is more about history at this point and respect for the forethought of winemaker André Tchelistcheff, who coincidentally retired from Beaulieu in 1973, 45 years after he arrived at the winery.Prices:| US | $265.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Beaulieu Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2019
Napa Valley, California, United StatesBV Reserve is a new addition to the lineup that some call a mini Georges de Latour. The fruit comes from many of the ranches that made up the history of the Rutherford property for more than 100 years and is mostly all West Bench fruit. Be prepared to be stunned by the quality of a cabernet sauvignon, now selected to be only one-third of its former volume. Unlike the many dead fruit wines that have plagued Napa, this new BV Reserve hums with vibrancy and life on the palate. The mix is 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, and 5% malbec, delivering a whack of flavour but again with more subtlety than you might expect. Cherries, mulberries, plum jam, an underlying minerality, and a bed of floral notes add length and complexity that doesn't quit. The tannins are dense but ripe and structurally keep the wine somewhat taut through the finish. This is Rutherford in all its glory.Prices:| BC | $110.00 | 750ml |
| US | $85.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Reserve Red Wine 2019
Napa Valley, California, United StatesTapestry is the perfect name to describe this blend of grapes long associated with Bordeaux but grown for more than a century in Napa Valley. In 2019 the mix is 63% cabernet sauvignon, 15% malbec, 13% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. The style is lush with sweet, ripe brambleberry and boysenberry tempered by a freshness of acidity, florals, and an undercut of briary notes that reveal some of the changes going on at BV designed to up the value and the quality across the board. It is morphing into a mix of old European styling and Napa new. Tapestry has been around since 1990 and is often sourced from the same blocks on the Rutherford Bench, Calistoga, Oakville, and St Helena AVAs. There are two styles of cabernet franc: one from the Sonoma Valley brings a fresh style touch with herbal notes; while the other comes with ripe, expressive red fruit. The final mix spends 19 months in 60% new French oak barrels. Fine value.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Napa Valley, California, United StatesIf you haven’t been tasting BV of late, you are in for a treat. Much has changed under chief winemaker Trevor Durling, only the fifth winemaker in the winery’s 119 year history. One of the best examples is the 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Expect a fragrant black fruit nose with briary undertones and earthy tea leaf. It is fresher than you might expect, and the upfront fruit is juicy and inviting, pitching black raspberry, black cherry, a dash of cola, and Napa jam that sinks into a subtle, dark chocolate, minty finish. The structure is well balanced, mixing oak and vanilla with toast and savoury dried herbs. The mix is complex and pleasing now but will undoubtedly be even better five to seven years later. Well integrated baking spice, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and ginger from the toasted oak barrels seamlessly compliment the lively berries, leading to a long, savoury finish with focused acidity. This crowd pleasing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly drinkable now, upon release, and can age for many years. Most of the wine comes from Napa Valley AVAs Rutherford, Calistoga, and St. Helena. The wine spends 18 months aging in French, American, and European oak (30% new barrels), and the final blend is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Cabernet Franc.Prices:| BC | $50.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $40.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe renaissance at Freemark Abbey continues under the Jackson Family Wines banner, and in 2018, even the fruit cooperated. Winemakers Kristy Melton and Ted Edwards are behind his classic rendition of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Fragrant, mouthfilling, and awash in perfectly ripe fruit doused with cigar, cedar, and baking spices that linger forever on the palate. The tannins are dense but supple, providing just the proper structure for a wine you can drink now if you must. That said, it’s going nowhere for the next 20 years. What is more a reserve style red, 2018 mixes 87% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 6% petit verdot, 2% malbec, and 1% cabernet franc. The fruit comes from all over the Napa Valley, including the east and west valley floor and mountain sites. Primary vineyards include Keyes on Howell Mountain, Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak, and JFW Oakville Vineyard, with a smattering of cabs from Oakville, Calistoga and Rutherford. It all aged 27 months in French oak barrels, of which 40% were new.Prices:| BC | $88.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $62.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $73.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $70.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $79.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
DogRidge MVP Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaDogRidge's sustainably farmed vineyards are home to some of the oldest vines in McLaren Vale, with 80+ year old Shiraz, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon growing on their McLaren Flat site. MVP is our Most Valuable Player, and the pinnacle of the winery. With 10% whole bunch, this was native fermented with extended skin contact and spent 6 months in new French oak before being racked to older barrels. It remains in wood for around 2 years prior to bottling. Graphite, iron, tobacco, worn cherry, ripe sweet strawberries flood a muscular palate, buoyant with acidity and seasoned with fine spice. Tannins are sinewy, but well absorbed by the dense fruit, taking this to a warming cinnamon and mint finish. Ideal with rare beef and / or roasted root veg, this is drinking very smartly now, nearly a decade along.Prices:| ON | $82.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Craven Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaFrom west-facing 1999 planted vines on Polkadraai's Karibib Vineyard's decomposed granites, this was early picked and 70% whole cluster, fermented native and on skins for a short time before moving into neutral French barrel. This opens into black cherry, wild raspberry, thorns, dusty graphite, seasoned with wild mint and scrubby wild herbs, all around a pure black cherry core. Tannins are characteristically granitic grippy and finely structural, and acidity is easily capable of carrying this to a lingering slate finish. Finesse and structure = a rare combo.Prices:| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon The Winemaster's Reserve 2020
Western Cape, South AfricaThere are no significant changes here from what is an inexpensive, commercial workhorse red, priced to move. The good news is the wine opens with a clean, dark fruit nose. The attack is fresh, the tannins slippery and soft under a dry menthol, licorice, black cherry palate. The finish has a touch of pepper and resin but nothing beef tacos can’t deal with.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.10 | 750ml |
| NS | $13.85 | 750ml |
| NF | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.50 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Anakena Nuna Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileThis ripe, sweeter Rapel Valley CS mixes ripe cherry, red currant jam with herbal boldo spices along a plumped core. Tannins are powdery, and finish with a bitter, pasty note. Simple.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Clare Valley / Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaThe Jaraman CS sources fruit from both Clare and Coonawarra, resulting in a plump, plush, full red imbued with ample mint, sweet cassis, blackberry jam, kirsch, and cracked spices. Tannins are velvet smoothed by this point, caressing this soft red to a sweetly spiced finish. Drink now, with sauced ribs.Prices:| BC | $32.49 | 750ml |
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06 September 2023
89PTS
Terra de Asorei Nai E Señora Albariño 2022
Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas, Galicia, SpainNai E Señora is a tribute to Galician women, as imaged by the floral silhouette gracing the front label. Nai translates to mother, in Galician. From Val do Salinés' clay and pink granite, this albariño spent 30 days macerating in stainless before ferment and a brief stint on lees. Juicy peach, pear, apricot blossoms run along a silken palate, lit with a fine granitic hum that lingers on the finish. Smart drinking now.Prices:| ON | $24.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Querceto Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2020
Tuscany, ItalyVernaccia di San Gimignano was the first Italian wine to be awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1966, and was then elevated to DOCG in 1993. This Greve in Chianti estate was taken over by the current family at the beginning of the 20th century. Today the winery owns around 200 hectares of land, of which 60 are vineyards, 6 are olive groves, and the rest are chestnut groves and oak woods. This is 85% vernaccia, along with other local white grapes sourced from the hillsides of San Gimignano, and aged in stainless. Pouring a deeper yellow hue, this waxen white draws quince, pear, melon, and almond along the palate, with lime pith lingering on the finish. Body and freshness, this Tuscan white well suits charcuterie / cheese platters. Great value.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Swerwer Chenin Blanc 2021
Swartland, Coastal Region, South AfricaJasper makes this wine from four dry-farmed granitic Paardeberg vineyards, and vines averaging 40 years, with around 5% skin contact, native fermented in older French barrels, where it remains 10 months on lees. There's a lovely fine buzzy texture imbuing this medium bodied white, lacing the gentle lees bed with citrus pith, bosc pear, and fynbos oils through a saline finish. Subtle, harmonious, and drinking smartly now.Prices:Read Full Note
92PTS
La Spinetta Timorasso 2021
Piedmont, ItalyTimorasso is an ancient indigenous grape variety of Piemonte, worthy and regarded enough to have its own DOC (!). This Spinetta edition comes from the hillside villages of Montemarzino, Montegioco and Monleale, between 350-400m, in calcareous marls and clay. It was fermented in stainless, and rested on lees there for 8 months prior to bottling. Super interesting and complexed with many fine layers of white honey, quince, crystalline lemon, pear skin, fresh almond, rolling across a subtly waxen, gently expansive palate laced with flake salts and river stones. Lovely freshness here from front to finish. Its bottling with a Diam10 suggests La Spinetta sees a lengthy future for this wine. And the name Derthona on the label? Derthona is the ancient Roman name for the nearby town of Tortona. In 2000, the Consorzio of Timorasso producers trademarked Derthona as their Timorasso, paying homage to the historic territory of origin for this grape variety. In 2000, there were a meagre 3 hectares of vines, and now there are 150 hectares of Timorasso. The goal is to establish Derthona as an official subzone of the DOC, producing only Timorasso.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Jean-Claude Ramonet Bouzeron 2018
Bouzeron, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, FrancePierre Ramonet arrived in Burgundy in the late 1920s with nothing but a knapsack, and started to earn money by buying and vinifying grapes. The land value was very low, so hardworking Pierre was able to accumulate vineyard plots surrounding the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, with his first purchase within the great Ruchottes vineyard in 1934. Pierre eventually handed over the reins to his son André, who passed in 2011, and subsequently to his grandchildren, Noël and Jean-Claude, who had tended the family vineyards since 1984. The Domaine produces 24 appellation wines from 40 acres. This aligoté hails from Bouzeron, where it thrives in the Côtes Chalonnaise's granitic soils. Fresh green herbs, lemon verbena and balm rule the medium palate, plumped slightly with 2018's bounty, but still balanced across a waxen, white honeycomb palate. Drinking now.Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Unwinder Ehrenfelser 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Ehrenfelser comes off estate and Southern Okanagan vineyards, fermented and aged briefly in stainless, leaving a generous lift of RS. Ripe, perfumed apricot, peach blossoms, honeysuckle are tempered with some lime pith and peel, the latter closing off the brief finish.Prices:| BC | $20.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Mischief Pinot Blanc 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis Greata Ranch estate pinot blanc was fermented long and cool in stainless before aging 5 months in a mix of 40/60 stainless / oak, with regular bâtonnage. This year's entry is quite yeasty and lees-led, with subtle pear blossoms and apple blossoms colouring to a shorter finish. A quiet wine that feels a bit made / pinched.Prices:| BC | $20.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Interloper Gewürztraminer 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis Greata Ranch estate gew had 30% undergo 12 hours skin contact for extra hue and texture, with the remainder whole bunched pressed immediately. All was fermented cold and slow over 8 weeks in stainless, where it remained for a short time until bottling. Perfumed peach, ripe apricot, and candied pear rule the off-dry palate, with sweet ginger spicing sticking the finish. Fairly classic interpretation of style, with Okanagan freshness imbued within.Prices:| BC | $20.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Casal de Ventozela Louriero 2022
Vinho Verde, Northern Portugal, PortugalCasal de Ventozela is a family owned winery producing Vinho Verde over the past 40 years from their 50 hectares. This single variety loureiro is bright with Atlantic freshness, lifting the grape's inherent fragrant floral, ripe peach notes across a long, sleek, lime-laced palate. A smart, fresh version of VV's most prolific grape.Prices:| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Casal de Ventozela Arinto 2022
Vinho Verde, Northern Portugal, PortugalCasal de Ventozela is a family owned winery producing Vinho Verde over the past 40 years from their 50 hectares. This single variety arinto shows off the grape's herbal citrus characters, with wild lemon, yellow fruits, pear blossom, and meadow grasses across a bright, slight palate, finishing with gentle spice. Try with vegetarian dishes.Prices:| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Observatory Gruner Veltliner 2022
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine has been around for a bit but doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It is made under license at Howling Bluff by winemaker Blair Gillingham. The nose is a perfect imitation of the real thing sans a robust white pepper note, but the fruit is brilliant and herbal, with fresh green apples and dried herbs pulling you into the glass. The palate is lively and ripe with sweet, almost candied fruit that never crosses the line, thanks to some bitter guava notes in the back end. It is impressive and another sign of plenty of diversity in the Okanagan. You have to look for it.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Road 13 Select Harvest Chenin Blanc 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2022 was a growing season to remember. It started late, the summer was cool, and the fall was long and warm. The result was perfectly ripe fruit with bright acid, and best of all, generous yields across the region. Winemaker Barclay Robinson has tightened up this wine in a big way, revealing lip-smacking citrus, lemon lime, and pear dusted in wet stones, with a subtle hint of honey and flowers. It was fermented slowly in concrete and stainless steel before it spent five months on lees. Seafood or vegetable pasta. Good value here.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fort Berens Grüner Veltliner Extended Lees Contact Red Rock Vineyard 2022
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaThe first release from a 1 acre block within the estate Red Rock Vineyard appears perfectly adapted to producing a fresh, crisp version of this famous Austrian variety. It was fermented in a 70/30 mix of stainless steel and neutral oak. Gooseberry, kiwi, melon, and passionfruit all deliver a lean, slender white pepper affair that joins a tiny amount of grüners that are turning heads in BC. Keep your eye on this one.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sunnybrae Ortega 2022
Shuswap, British Columbia, CanadaOrtega was created in 1948 by a German breeder who crossed müller-thurgau and siegerrebe. It was named after the Spanish poet and philosopher José Ortega y Gasset. It ripens early, so it was chosen to be grown in BC on Vancouver Island and cooler sites on the Mainland. It tends to generate a lot of sugar, so it is mainly grown to be sold as an off-dry or dessert wine, although dry versions can be striking wines on their own. This is a good news Shuswap story, offering bright, aromatic, litchi, white flowers, pitching soft apple and pear in a clean, off-dry style, with a dash of spice in the finish. It is ready to drink and would be a fine match for spicy Pan Asian foods. Well done and big value.Prices:| BC | $17.50 | 750ml |
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05 September 2023
90PTS
Lunessence Cabernet Franc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA rare, red, single variety release from Lunessence, this full-blown southern Okanagan cabernet franc opens with more terroir than fruit. Dried plums mixed with licorice, wet stone, and minerals pull you into the wine. Savoury, smoky, ripe black cherry and blueberry carry the mid-palate, with a daub of dark chocolate in the finish. Stylish and reserved, this is a weighty bottle of young franc. You can drink this now or rest it in the cellar. The choice is yours. The winemaking is unchanged from last year: 40% of the wine was foot-trodden, fermented, and aged in French oak for 12 months (12 percent new). Barbecue ribs or lamb chops would be good choices at the moment.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Liber Farm and Winery Let Me Be Franc 2020
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaUnlike many of its peers, Let Me Be Franc is a savoury, dry, earthy version of this grape variety. The 2020 is well made, pitching dried red plums, earthy cedar, and desert scrub. Despite the tannins and an intriguing peppery/blueberry finish, there is a softness. This would benefit from some extra time in the bottle or decanter. Pour with mushrooms, barbecue pork, or beef tacos if you drink it now. The fruit comes off a gently sloping, older vine, organic, south Okanagan mountain slope adjacent to the US Border.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's C&S Cab Franc comes off their Foundation, Coyote Bowl, and Bella vineyards, and a cross section of sand and gravel soils. This was aged 1 year in French oak (25% new). Dark and smokey, with dense cassis, blackberry compote, sweet black cherry, raisins, and black pepper, this is shellacked with a heady dose of toasted oak tannins, finishing with a powdery chocolate bitterness. Quite a lot of a lot at 14.5%, and requiring a hearty braised meat / root veg dish to match.Prices:| BC | $32.50 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rigour and Whimsy Licorice Daddy 2022
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This cab franc, creatively and aptly named by their candy-loving 3 year old, Stratis, comes off the Sekhon Family vineyard in Osoyoos. This was destemmed and fermented whole berry over 3 weeks maceration, and was then pressed and racked into older puncheons and barriques, where it remained for 4 months until bottling, without fining or filtration. The hazy duskiness reflects the hands-off approach, while the infiltration of sapid branchy notes reflects a tip to the Loire. Wild crushed plum, downy violets, scrubby rosemary course through the black tea framed palate, with long, silky tannins guiding this to a stony, saline finish. Lovely, pure expression of the grape, in a distinctly southern Okanagan bent. Enjoy with a slight chill.Prices:| BC | $33.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCabernet franc is one of the signatures at Tinhorn Creek, and this is a strong effort in a challenging vintage. It shows balanced ripeness even at 14.5% abv, with black raspberry and dark cherry that's accented by leafy herbs, toasted cedar, and smoked spices. The fruit comes across slightly muted, but there's still good varietal character here. Drink in the short term.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Cuvée Domaine 2021
Saumur, Loire, FranceThough you may not be familiar with the name, you may recognize the work of lauded wine artist Michel Tolmer that appears on most of Thierry’s labels. This label, showing the shadow of the pioneering biodynamic Germain, smartly captures the essence of his accomplishments. His domaine, Roches Neuves, has vineyards planted in Saumur (Blanc) and Saumur-Champigny (Rouge). This cab franc comes from vines 4 to 70 years old, rooted in sand, clay, and tuffeau limestone of Chaintres de Varrains and Saumur. Destemmed fruit was fermented in stainless for just over a week, with gentle infusing pumpovers, before aging in steel and older wood for 2-4 months. Herbal thorns, scrubby rosemary, crushed florals, wild plum, black raspberry course through a slight palate, with easy bright stony acidity to buoy, and supple tannins to hug through a floral kissed finish. So lovely and pure and effortless (and this is his entry tier red!). Enjoy now, with a slight chill. How I wish BC would emulate this style.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
La Coste de Los Andes Andillian Cabernet Franc 2022
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaLa Coste de Los Andes is an Argentine project from France's Chateau La Coste. Their wines are to merge the sunny spirit of La Provence with the luminous heights of the Andes Mountains. This organic cabernet franc comes from alluvial vineyards in Alto Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo. This underwent a pre-ferment carbonic maceration for 5 days before 2 weeks of ferment with foot stomping. Fragrant cherries, ripe black raspberry is seasoned with mountain herbs and sapid stems running along the medium palate. Tannins are fine, graphite and sticky, finishing in a stony rinse. Lovely typicity.Prices:Read Full Note
91PTS
Catena San Carlos Cabernet Franc 2020
San Carlos, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe San Carlos Cabernet Franc is sourced from vineyards in San Carlos, a sub-appellation of the Uco Valley. The vines sit in sandy loam soils at 1090 metres above sea level, yielding highly concentrated, ripe flavours of the red demeanour for Argentina's most underrated grape variety. Catena is big on texture, and this wine has it in spades, flexing dense, soft tannins under a wealth of savoury black pepper, black plum, and blueberry. It's delicious now but will age effortlessly through 2027. Sold in private wine shops only.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $20.75 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Fort Berens Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020
British Columbia, CanadaThis Lillooet cabernet franc is grown on the home estate Dry Creek Vineyard. At 12 years of age, the site is just beginning to become its own. 2020 was aged for 15 months in all French oak (yeah!), which was 50 percent new and 50 percent second fill barrels. Look for a savoury herbaceous red with some band aid notes. The tannins are present but manageable before a palate of savoury, smoky meat and black fruit takes over, with a hint of vanilla and oak in the finish. The grapes are row selected and picked late in the season for optimal ripeness, and post ferment, extended skin maceration was employed to add body and structure to the wine. A little drier than I would like but let’s see what happens down the road.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Bartier Bros. Cabernet Franc 2021
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe aromas and flavours jump from the glass, spewing blackberry, red plums, and smoky, wild, peppery notes. The tannins are rich but soft and have a mineral flinty underside, keeping the finish juicy, fresh, and persistent. Spaghetti Bolognese is a fun match, but others would include duck, lamb shoulder, or baked vegetarian dishes. The grapes grown at Cerqueira Vineyard, Black Sage Terrace, Oliver, were destemmed and crushed into five and ten ton open top fermenters. After a 24-day fermentation, it spent 14 months in neutral French oak. The final blend was 92/8 cabernet franc/merlot.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
River Stone Cabernet Franc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe colour is light red with some orange hues. The nose is a savoury, spicy mix of violets and red fruits that spill onto the palate, mixing with blueberries and red currants. The finish is medium long with fading lightish, dusty, earthy tannins. The grapes for this single vineyard franc come off the River Rock Vineyard, the home estate in Oliver, and its alluvial deposits of rock, sand, and gravel dropped during the last glacial recession. It is all handpicked and destemmed, fermented with 80 percent of the fruit uncrushed. Post stainless steel fermentation, it is aged in French oak barrels, one third new, for approximately 14 months. A touch more finesse and a little less ripeness is a good thing here.Prices:| BC | $38.90 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Three Sisters Winery Gamay 2021
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaToo much campfire and barbecue smoke for us; wait for 2022. Or enjoy the 2020.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2020 is a mix of hand and machine harvested fruit from the estate Diamondback Vineyard and other growers in Oliver and Osoyoos, fermented in stainless steel on native yeasts. Post ferment it spends one year in a mix of French, Hungarian, and American oak. The nose has intense red fruit notes, including black cherry and ripe rhubarb pie. The palate is more of the same with perfect acidity that they rightfully pitch as Chianti-like. The tannins are excellent. This wine should age effortlessly for five to seven years. Given all the current Okanagan challenges, this is one to stock up on. Real wine.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2020 was a favourable year for red wines. The Reserve is hand harvested from the Golden Mile and fermented in stainless steel tanks. It is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling. Look for perfectly ripe fruit with highly aromatic violet and savoury red aromas. The palate is similarly impressive, with plenty of black plums, red currants, and blueberries that linger throughout a long but refined finish. Just the right amount of ripeness takes this out of the cool, branchy Loire style and into Bordeaux's more accommodating cabernet franc. The final blend is 91/9 cabernet franc/cabernet sauvignon. Another impressive transformation by winemakers Ross Wise and Leandro Nosal.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe nose is a savoury, lightly smoky affair that previews a mid-weight red fruited wine with ripe black cherries and blackberry compote wrapped in a blanket of toasted oak and dark chocolate. There's not a lot of finesse here, but nothing a piece of grilled protein can't tame. Lamb chops or a meaty pizza would be the match—the final blend spent one year in 25% new French oak. The fruit comes from three South Okanagan vineyards, Foundation, Coyote Bowl, and Bella, over a mix of sandy gravel soils.Prices:| BC | $32.50 | 750ml |
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04 September 2023
90PTS
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom estate vineyard in Oliver and Osoyoos, this later picked cab sauv was destemmed and crushed before a warmer ferment in stainless, followed by 18 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels. Post blending, this was bottled unfiltered. Ripe blackberry, perfumed black plums, black cherry rule the firm, structured palate, seasoned generously with nutmeg and smoked paprika, and housed with furry tannins. Generous (14.5%) and friendly, this is ready to drink now, ideally with lamb.Prices:| BC | $43.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $44.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Chronos Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMatured in 20 percent new French and American oak for 16 months, the Chronos style is never overbearing, but rather fresh and linear. This cabernet sauvignon is a mix of fully ripe red and black fruit. Classic black cherry meets Okanagan sagebrush streaked with balsamic plums with plenty of acid to keep it all fresh. It works with a variety of foods from steak or leg of lamb to mushroom pasta or something as simple as a piece of aged Reggiano.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe highly regarded 2020 vintage is evident in this big south Okanagan red wine. Classic blackcurrant, wild dried herbs mark the nose along with red and black fruit reminiscent of black plums, black currants, and savoury olives. The palate is equally rich with a black cherry pie character streaked with cedar and licorice through the finish. Certainly, one of the better BOV cabernet I have tasted of late. We served this with grilled steaks fired medium-rare to offset the rich, dense, youthful tannins. The 2020 grapes were hand harvested from BOV vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos.Prices:| BC | $43.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $44.95 | 750ml |
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October 2023