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Tastings: October 2024
31 October 2024
89PTS
Rigour and Whimsy Maybe It's Just an Illusion 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis light, bright, traditional method pinot blanc saw OK Falls fruit whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented for one year before heading to bottle and secondary ferment with a Champagne yeast. After six months aging sur lie, this was disgorged, with zero dosage. Crisp and bone dry, this whispers the delicacy of pinot blanc, with subtle white peach, apricot blossoms, and crunchy Asian pear dotting the riffing, slight (11.5% palate). Very pure and airy, this is a lovely light starter sipper to waken the palate.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Gramona La Cuvee Corpinat 2018
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainGramona has always been a leader of traditional method sparkling wine in Spain, and was the founder of the collective Alliances per la Terra association in 2015 to unite like-minded biodynamic growers in the area. This blend of Xarel.lo, Macaque, and Parellada was aged on lees for 39 months, disgorged with 5 g/L dosage in May 2022. Toasted biscuit, crunchy yellow and green apple, fresh almond hum along the palate, brisk with snappy acidity, and finishing with a lingering buzz. Super smart, fresh, friendly, and drinking beauty now.Prices:| BC | $66.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Ailm Brut Reserve Traditional Method NV
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Ailm 2020 Reserve Brut is the first limited release, traditional method sparkling wine launched by Ailm Estate, a wine that bears the brand's very name written in the ancient Ogham (Irish) language on the front of the label. Ailm, the Ogham symbol for the pine tree, translates to strength, resilience, and growth. It is part of the Stewart family empire (Quails' Gate Winery) and reflects the long family history of producing high quality chardonnay and pinot noir. Look for a persistent, small, effervescent attack with vibrant citrus, delicate brioche, and a lingering toasty finish. This is a symphony of freshness and complexity. The base wine is fermented in stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation was completed to soften the acidity and add complexity. The final blend comprises 82% pinot noir and 18% chardonnay, which undergoes secondary fermentation and is aged on its lees for over 40 months to develop depth and toastiness. The dosage consists of chardonnay and 6.5 grams/litre of sugar, enhancing the wine's refined profile.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Terravista En Terre Sparkling Brut 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEn Terre is an exciting new project at Terravista Vineyards. The first release is a traditional method sparkling wine, crafted from a 69/31 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from Naramata's En Terre Vineyard and Kaleden’s Ercego Vineyard. It showcases a refined effervescence that offers early morning bakery aromas, accompanied by citrus and apple notes within its creamy, rounded bubbles. The bone-dry wine features bracing acidity, which pairs beautifully with smoked salmon blinis—making for a delightful start.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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30 October 2024
90PTS
Three Sisters Winery Tempranillo 2022
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a fresh, red-fruited expression of tempranillo that shows a cooler side of the variety. It's easy to intuitively think tempranillo is best suited to warm(er) climates. We are talking about Spain's most widely planted grape variety, after all. But it's early ripening, and seems to thrive in the more moderate climates of the Okanagan, like the Naramata Bench, in this case. It offers a pure, elegant nose of strawberry and red plum, lifted by anise and rose petals, with well-integrated oak. It's another standout from the 2022 vintage for Three Sisters, and certainly worth a try at this price. First tried blind at the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada and re-tasted Oct 2024.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mesta Tempranillo Organic 2024
Castilla-La Mancha, SpainFrom their organic estate vineyards in Uclés, Castilla, this high altitude tempranillo was fermented and rested in stainless to preserve the bright fruit. Warming blueberry, blackberry, and cassis flood the juicy palate, with fragrant spices, and just a whisper of sticky tannins to frame. The finish is warming, surprisingly so at only 13.5%. Crack into now, ideally with fall stew or foot veg curry.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Gómez Cruzado Crianza Rioja 2020
Rioja, SpainGómez Cruzado operates out of their 135-year-old cellar (founded 1886) in the Station District in Haro, the historic heart of Rioja. The bodega focuses on sustainably farmed old vine plots and indigenous varieties. This crianza blends 80% Tempranillo from vineyards in the foothills of the Cantabrias, and 20% Garnacha from the Upper Najerilla (Badarán), rooted in the region's alluvial, sandstone ferrous clays. It was native fermented in stainless before one year in primarily new American barriques. Fragrant scrubby herbs are woven throughout the wild raspberry, cherry on the medium palate, with fresh, bright acidity to lift, and long, finely sticky tannins to structure. The long finish hums with crushed stones and pink peppercorn. Such a lovely finessed and pure Rioja.Prices:| BC | $28.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Corcelettes Malbec Micro Lot Series 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis opens with expressive, beautifully defined blueberry and black raspberry, alongside violet perfume, dark chocolate, iodine, and desert shrub. The purity of fruit pulls you into the glass, but there's fantastic depth here, as well. The fruit is richly concentrated on the medium-full palate, with firm, grippy tannins that will allow this to age gracefully over the next 5-7 years. This is the real deal. 220 cases produced, bottled unfined and unfiltered.Prices:| BC | $33.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Three Sisters Winery Tempranillo 2022
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis bright and inviting tempranillo reveals an expressive nose of florals alongside sweet red berries, licorice, and a spicy finish, all within a soft structure of round tannins and fresh acidity. A hint of baking spices and toast add layers, but otherwise, this is a pure fruited and genuine tempranillo, ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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29 October 2024
89PTS
Château de Lamarque 2018
Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, FranceThis blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot comes off vines averaging 40 years, in the Haut-Medoc's gravelled soils. The vineyard has been planted since the 15th century, while the fortified château was built to defend the Médoc against Vikings invading from the Gironde estuary long before. Crushed cherries, dusky plum is laced with gravels and kissed with an alluring ferrous note, all wrapped with long, furry, well integrated tannins. Acidity remains bright, through the humming finish. This 2018, a generous year, is drinking now, especially with a short decant and a duck / sweet potato pie.Prices:| QC | $38.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $58.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Moraine Meritage 2021
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine responded well to decanting to help blow off some meaty notes and reveal a restrained Bordeaux-like style of merlot, cabernet franc, and malbec. The palate mixes black cherries and raspberries with a cola and desert sagebrush swirl. The oak is forward but finely integrated, adding toasted spices that work nicely with the fruit. Some substances here in texture and tannins will help this age through 2025. It is fresh and balanced, ensuring it will improve in the bottle. If you open it now, think of beef tacos or meat pizza.Prices:| BC | $42.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Ailm Connemara Ten Barrel Selection 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaConnemara has always been a powerful red blend and a precursor to Ailm Estate’s identity when crafting wines. If you know your Ogham or Early Medieval alphabet used mostly to write early Irish, you will have deciphered the word Neart that appears on the front of the Ailm Connemara, meaning “strength” in the Celtic language. It aptly describes the latest Connemara that I can vouch for via earlier, rich, full-bodied versions. The newest rendition is 61% merlot and 39% cabernet sauvignon, which spends 18 months in French oak barrels packed with blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, and an intriguing savoury Okanagan undercurrent that runs through its rich, dense tannins. It is an ode to the Stewart family's immigrant grandfather, Richard Stewart Sr., who said that Connemara, Ireland, was the most beautiful part of his home country.Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Corcelettes Talus 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe moderate 2022 vintage has translated to a beautifully proportioned Talus, with a combination of rich, dark fruit supported by excellent freshness. A Similkameen blend of 41% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc, 2% malbec, and 1% petit verdot, this shows plush blackberry, dark plum, and black currant, balanced by a ripe, sappy, herbal edge and toasted oak spice. It's densely concentrated, with weighty fruit and fine grained tannins that easily support aging for 10+ years. This vintage wine has taken a real leap. Highly recommended.Prices:| BC | $54.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Phantom Creek Estates Kobau Vineyard Cuvée 2020
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe PC Cuvée comes off Kobau Vineyard, located along the west side of the Okanagan Valley’s Golden Mile Bench. The vineyard faces mostly south, catching the gentle morning sun, and is in the shadows of the most profound afternoon heat. Look for an attractive mix of savoury black fruit with a dusting of desert sagebrush, spice, and the wealth of French oak. Rich, warm, and opulent, the palate is awash in brambleberries, dark plums, cedar, and vestiges of new oak, all with a touch of freshness by dodging the late-day sun. The cabernet plays the role of building a structure that supports the tannin and rich fruit. There is no rush to drink this wine through 2028. The 2020 blend is 30/28/27/15 cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and syrah, all aged 21 months in French oak, of which 50% are new.Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Château Haut-Mazieres 2020
FranceThis 23 hectare Chateau Haut Mazieres is located in Rauzan, where the soil is clay over limestone. The ususal blend is 65/20/15 merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc. Plums and vanilla tones waft from the glass, along with some spicy floral notes. Jammy cassis and dark plum rule the palate while structured, fine-grained tannins, all in harmony, fill out the finish. This is a very entertaining Bordeaux at a terrific price.Prices:| BC | $23.49 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Mer'r'iym Red Meritage 2020
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMer’r’iym (pronounced mur’-eem’) means marriage, and in this case, the marriage of four grape varieties: 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cab Franc and 10% Malbec, that are aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Mer’r’iym has always been a rich wine reflecting its south Okanagan origins, a style first spearheaded by former chief winemaker Randy Picton and now carried forward by Justin Hall. Despite the richness and warmth and, in this case, 15 % alcohol, the wine always has a sense of balance and purpose if you like that makes it a pleasure to share with meals. Look for blackberry cassis aromas streaked with vanilla and spice from the oak. The fruit is dark and pure on the palate, with just a hint of dark chocolate. It is a drink-or-hold proposition through 2028-2030.Prices:| BC | $69.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Black Hills Addendum 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Ross Wise has been fine tuning the Addendum since the beginning, reducing the oak influence while heading to a cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc blend. In 2022, he pivoted to a merlot dominant blend with 20% cabernet franc aged for a year in 35% new French oak. The attack is still rich and full flavoured with black fruit and some toasted oak dominating the palate, but the tannins are dense and chalky, making it easy to consume now. Drink or hold, this is an excellent mid-term red that will age through 2026-2027. Highly endorsed by the judges at the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Three Sisters Bench Red 2022
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBench Red is the type of wine that could help turn things around in the Okanagan. It is a well-made, approachable blend of merlot and cabernet franc, two grapes well suited to the region; that consumers would recognize selling at a price, most people can digest. It is a full-bodied but easy drink, pitching savoury dark cherry, blackberry, a streak of spice and a spicy undercurrent. You can serve a mid-week red with a broad appeal, such as a meaty pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, or a grill-fired steak. The judges at the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada thought the same.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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28 October 2024
87PTS
Pattíni Chianti 2021
Tuscany, ItalyThis entry Chianti is primarily sangiovese, splashed with 10% canaiolo. It was fermented warm in stainless over two weeks before moving to concrete tank to complete fermentation and a few months' aging. Light and tart on the palate, with sour cherry, rhubarb, and red florals, this is framed with soft, sticky tannins that lead to a bitter twist on the finish. Try with tomato sauced pastas to best effect.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
San Felice Chianti Classico 2021
Tuscany, ItalyFrom a once in a decade quality vintage, the ’21 San Felice annata is a juicy, round, ripe Chianti still finding its feet. It is primarily sangiovese with a splash of pugnitello and finished in the traditional style. It spends about a year in large Slavonian oak casks for conditioning and is bottled with that traditional forest floor and black cherry nose. The texture in 2021 is succulent and easily capable of carrying a rich licorice and cherry palate that finishes with classic Tuscan dryness. This works with turkey or a more traditional match like lasagne.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $25.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Castello di Radda Chianti Classico 2020
Tuscany, ItalyThe Castello di Radda Chianti Classico is an excellent example of modern Tuscan sangiovese. It's 95% sangiovese mixed with 5% canaiolo. The nose opens with attractive fresh ripe fruit, and the palate is similar, mixing raspberries and red cherries with pronounced acidity, classic underbrush, and lightish tannin. Perfect for pasta, Bolognese, beef stews, or a cheese and sausage pizza.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $35.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Red Barn Stand Apart Sangiovese 2022
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2022 sangiovese is organically farmed and aged in concrete, which has played a role in its slick demeanour. The nose is an inviting black cherry affair with a touch of desert sagebrush. The attack is warm and round with a linear spicy note and a rush of dense sweet tannins. Again, I see another face of Jagged Rock, perhaps one of the most remarkable vineyards in the Okanagan. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Italia Sangiovese 2022
Puglia, ItalyThis is a simple, well made, varietally correct sangiovese. It is a medium bodied, everyday red with fresh red fruit and berries. The attack is led by ripe plum and forest berries balanced by bright acidity and earthy tannins. Best with simple pasta dishes including Parmesan and olive oil or a tomato ragu. Well priced for what it is. Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading cooperative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. They aim to produce authentic, well priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. They source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom they have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo, and Sardinia.Prices:| BC | $16.49 | 750ml |
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25 October 2024
85PTS
Rewild of Murray Darling Australia Cabernet Sauvignon NV
Product of Australia, AustraliaThis lightweight, ready-to-drink cabernet sauvignon has herbaceous red fruit on the nose and palate. Simple, thin, and slightly acidic, it is ready to drink, but serve it with food like a meaty pizza or grilled cheeseburger. Rewild Wines, a sustainable and vegan Australian wine brand, comes to Canada as bulk wine and is bottled by Peller Wines. The fruit is from sustainably farmed Duxton Vineyards in Australia's Southern Murray Darling region. The Australian brand employs regenerative agricultural practices that enhance soil health, support biodiversity, and contribute to the overall well-being of the ecosystem. By partnering with Andrew Peller Limited to bottle the wines in Canada, Duxton Vineyards further reduces its carbon footprint. The front label carries a Murray Darling moniker, so I assume the juice is Australian. The back label says it is an Australian product imported and bottled by Rewild Wines, followed by several provincial addresses of Peller bottling lines. It's hard to digest that any certificates, including Sustainable Winegrowers of Australia, could apply to juice bottled off-shore. Still, there is a SWA stamp on the bottle. I'm sure everything is legal, but we have some pretty lax national wine legislation in a business where provenance is king. Where in the store you will find Rewild is anybody's guess, but wouldn't it be nice if there was an International Bulk Wine Bottled in Canada section and tag on the bottle that speaks to the origin of the wine and its final journey to the bottle? I doubt it would affect sales. If anything, it might improve the reception of these affordable wines by an audience tired of never-ending rising prices.Prices:| BC | $13.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Signori 2021
Napa Valley, California, United StatesSignori, or the ‘gentleman,’ is a new label from Signorello. The 84/9/4/3 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and malbec boasts a style that reflects the 30-year-old plus vines, soon to be certified organic, growing on the eastern side of the property on a relatively cooler slope. You can expect more aromatics, even some umami notes, ripe plums, sweet cherries, a bit of desert scrub, and tea leaves, expertly woven into a complex but reserved cabernet that, in many ways, is reminiscent of a real gentleman. The grapes were destemmed, thoroughly hand sorted and fermented with native yeast and aged 18 months in 60% new French Oak.Prices:| BC | $245.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $232.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
S By Signorello 2021
Napa Valley, California, United StatesS by Ray Signorello is all about fruit from areas beyond the Signorello estate vineyard in southern Napa Valley. Working with acclaimed winemaker Priyanka French, they went to Howell Mountain, Rutherford, and St. Helena with a vision to produce a modern, crowd-pleasing, affordable cabernet with class. Year three is 91/6/3 mix of cabernet sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc. Black, purple and stuffed full of dense blackberry jam and red fruit aromas that spill onto the weighty palate with dense sweet tannins and a chocolate, cedar-scented finish. As big as it sounds and tastes, there is an inviting elegance that is more Bordelais than Napa.Prices:| BC | $125.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $133.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $110.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Edge Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe 2021 Edge is sourced exclusively from premium Alexander Valley vineyards. The blend is 87/9/2/1/1 cabernet sauvignon/petite sirah/merlot/petit verdot and cabernet franc. The entire mix spends 16 months in 40 percent new French oak barrels. The style is savoury Sonoma/Alexander Valley with a subtle Napa Valley polish. Signorello's palate and love of great red wines positively affect his team and his cabernets, which are always more than simply blockbusters. Edge is amazingly stylish for an entry-level premium cabernet. While it's rich in spice, black fruits, licorice, and figs, it has a savoury underside and supple tannins that make it pop for the money. More finesse and less oomph are rare at that level, but the Signorello style prevails even in the Alexander Valley. Drink or hold this classic restaurant steak wine. It is the best Edge we have tasted.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
| CDN | $43.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Trim Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
California, United StatesYou won't see Ray Signorello's name on the labels of Trim Chardonnay or Cabernet, but his Napa team is responsible for the wines. Trim is made without any additives. They don't add sugar, concentrate, colouring, or anything else that shouldn't be there, and now what's in the wine appears on the back label. Signorello says, "We believe in winemaking, not winefaking, and we are transparent about it." Although the source of the fruit is tagged 'California,' there can't be many California cabinets that are as fine as this wine. Right off the bat, there is some precision and freshness in this 87.5/12.5 mix of cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah from Lodi. It comes at a respectable 13.5 percent alcohol and is packed with bright red cherry, blueberries and brown baking spice. As a consumer, you get to experience some pretty serious cabernet winemaking knowledge in a highly affordable cab. Balanced and supple is a Signorello mantra, along with a flavour profile that hopes to mimic the minimalism of Europe while enjoying the fruit of California. We think he's done it at a great price.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon The Siding 2021
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaWynns Siding is an introductory cabernet well managed by winemaker Sue Hodder and her team. Having perfected the Black label to another level, The Siding has found a gap to fill for anyone looking to get acquainted with the style of Coonawarra cab. It opens with a brush of earth and dried herbs before a rush of soft, round, plummy, blackcurrant takes over. The oak is seamless, offsetting some sticky tannins and bright acidity, while the finish is streaked with cedar, graphite, and menthol reminiscent of some parts of Napa and Bordeaux. This is everything you could want for 25 dollars, and if you are a beef eater, it will work with any number of dishes, from tacos and burgers to steaks.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Corcelettes Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaExpect an utterly distinctive cabernet sauvignon from the Similkameen. It opens with thorny black currant and blackberry, providing a lovely, fresh, sappy character to this medium-full cab. Anthony picked up on a dusty minerality in the previous vintage, and that's here again – almost Coonawarra-like – alongside a swath of desert shrub and Similkameen salinity. It's firmly structured at this stage, but with the fruit concentration to support the level of extraction. Best from 2028 to 2034. Corcelettes has hit another level with the 2022 vintage. Five hundred sixty cases produced, bottled unfined and unfiltered.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
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24 October 2024
94PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Block 14 Gravel Force 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis comes from Blue Mountain's oldest pinot noir block, now 35 years old, planted on a combination of gravel, loamy sand, and clay. It's a warmer block, with westerly and southern exposures, and this is certainly the ripest of the three single block pinots from this vintage. It shows macerated dark cherry and plum with cola spices, candied rose, and desert shrubs. The palate is rich and glycerous, with fine, silky tannins and rounded acidity, in an almost hedonistic style that still shows exceptional purity of fruit. Immensely satisfying and highly recommended.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Block 23 River Flow 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRiver Flow is a cooler block on an east-facing slope, planted in 1994 to clones 113 and 114. It's more restrained and classic, with lifted roses alongside plump cherry and cranberry flecked with generous oak spice. The tannins are dense and firm, and alongside succulent acidity, this has the structure to improve over the next 3-5 years. A notch less depth than the other two single block wines.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Block 9 Wild Terrain 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis comes from varied topography, ranging from steep slopes with southwest exposure, to flat plains planted to 25 year old vines. It's easy to see where the name comes from: this has a wild character to the fruit, ranging from wild raspberry to thorny brambles, with savoury notes of flinty reduction, iodine, earth, and lavender. It's complex and compelling, with the wood firmly in the background. More tightly structured and reserved at this stage than the other single blocks, this will undoubtedly improve over the next 3-5 years. It is a distinctive, cerebral wine, almost unlike any Okanagan pinot, that deserves contemplation.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOlder vines, ranging from 25 to 35 years old, show depth that only comes with vine age. The fruit is sappier, denser, and more restrained than the Estate Cuvée, with dark cherry, pomegranate, earth, and walnut, lifted by dried rose petals and fragrant oak spice. The palate is intensely concentrated and laden with rich, sculpted, fine grained fruit that meld effortlessly into the wine. It's seamless and pure, and undoubtedly deserves more time in a bottle to reach its peak. It's amazing to see how this evolves in the glass, even over a short time.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom 15-16 year-old vines, the Estate pinot noir shows the exuberant fruitiness of young(er) vines, with a combination of sappy red cherry and wild strawberry, alongside rose petal, beetroot and toast. It may not have the depth of the higher-level bottlings, but this is incredibly satisfying in its own right. If you have the discipline, tuck some of these away, because there's still the structure and concentration for this to gracefully age over the next 5-7 years. But, admittedly, it's hard to deny the pure, vivid fruit and perfumed aromatics now. Highly recommended – and remarkable value at $35.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Blue Mountain Alluvium Reflection Chardonnay Single Vineyard Block 32 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlluvium Reflection comes from 33 year old vines planted on gravelly soils, with surrounding rocks radiating heat into the evening. To my palate, this falls stylistically between Blossom Slope and the Reserve Cuvée. There's a clear step up in fruit ripeness from Blossom Slope, with a lemon confit and macerated peaches, hazelnut, and a distinct stoniness. I love the tension between the fruit ripeness and minerality, with nervy acidity that gives energy to the long finish. This is Okanagan chardonnay at its best: complex, textured, seamlessly balanced, and beautifully made.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Blue Mountain Blossom Slope Chardonnay Single Vineyard Block 17 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom 32 year old vines planted to clones 76, 95, and 96, this comes from a warm, westerly block on loamy sand. It lives up to its name, opening with perfumed orchard blossoms that reveal crystalline lemon and white pear. The fruit is bright and intensely concentrated, effortlessly soaking up the 18 months in French barriques, with a delicate frame of pillowy leees and toasted clove and nutmeg. It's seamless, elegant, and restrained, but it has more depth to come from the time spent in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Cuvée Chardonnay 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2022 Reserve Cuvée is a stunning chardonnay, wild fermented and aged for 16 months in French barriques to give honeyed peach, lemon curd, and oatmeal, lifted by fragrant white blossoms. The oak spice, from a combination of new, second, and third fill wood, is harmoniously integrated and will further meld into the background with additional time in the bottle. The wine is richly concentrated and textured, with crisp acidity to balance the weighty, rounded fruit. This was aged for six months in bottle before release, but it's still youthful and tightly wound, and the best is still yet to come over the next 3-5 years. Excellent length.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
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23 October 2024
91PTS
Anselmi I Capitelli Passito 2020
Veneto, ItalyI Capitelli is a passito wine made from selected late harvest grapes that go through a drying process, either naturally by 'raisining' the grapes on the vine or laying them on straw mats to desiccate in a well-ventilated drying room. It can also be a combination of the two methods. The result is a sweet, smooth dessert wine rich in alcohol. Usually, some 30-40 percent of the grapes are botrytis-affected, adding complex aromas and flavours to its primary markers of tangerine, apricots, and citrus. Powerful, complex, dense, sweet and perfectly balanced, it was made for biscotti or to be dessert on its own. Good value.Prices:| CDN | $35.00 | 375ml |
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91PTS
Anselmi Capitel Croce 2021
Veneto, ItalyCapitel Croce is an Anselmi cru grown in the Monteforte area, on the top of the Zoppega hill in the Veneto. It is 100% garganega grown on a south-facing limestone-laced slope. It opens with light floral scents mixed with fresh-cut herbs. White cherries and apricots are lightly peppered on the palate and finished with a dusting of ground almonds and vanilla. Eight months in used Allier French oak barriques, with lees stirring, adds mid-palate weight and structure that invites serving this with richer menu items or savoury cheeses.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $27.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $26.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Anselmi San Vincenzo 2023
Veneto, ItalyRoberto Anselmi gave up on Soave years ago when the wines bearing the Soave label went commercial, diluting quality in favour of quantity. That said, fans of Soave have embraced the IGT Anselmi wines, made with a mix of local varieties, including the fungus-resistant PIWI grapes souvignier gris, aromera and riesling resistente, as well as sauvignon blanc, garganega, chardonnay, goldtraminer, pinot bianco and manzoni bianco grown high atop a hill in one of Soave’s top growing areas on volcanic and calcareous soil. The fermentation is in stainless steel, and the juice sits on its lees for a few months with regular stirring. Expect a citrus-nutty white wine with notes of red currants, yellow fruits, and just the right amount of acidity to keep it linear and fresh. It is a versatile food wine you can serve with a pesto vegetable pasta dish or your favourite sushi roll.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.25 | 750ml |
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22 October 2024
89PTS
Amalaya Malbec 2021
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaThis is currently on sale for $19.97 at BCLS, so there's never been a better time to back up the truck. It's light and juicy, with fresh brambles alongside game, chocolate, and violet. There's depth here without trying to be something it's not, expressing the high elevation freshness of Amalaya's vineyards at 1800m. Serve lightly chilled, with asado, of course. Slightly reductive under screwcap, this will reward a quick decant prior to serving.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $21.49 | 750ml |
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21 October 2024
90PTS
Jean Max Beaujolais Saint-Germain 2022
Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceFrom Saint-Germain's calcareous soils, this was carbonically macerated and native fermented over 3 weeks, before resting in barrels for 10 months. It was bottled without additional sulphur. Light and diaphanous in hue, this very fragrant, slight Bojo charms with wildflowers, perfumed plum, wild raspberry, and pithy pink grapefruit. Tannins are whisper weight, and acidity is easily lofted, taking this to a subtly peppery finish. Joyous and light.Prices:Read Full Note
92PTS
Jean Max Le Rouge à Lièvre 2022
Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceThis gamay came from a single vineyard in St. Germain Nuelles, and 50 year old vines rooted in calcareous soils. It was native fermented and carbonically macerated before aging in barrel 9 months, with minimal sulphur added before bottling. 3450 bottles and 40 magnums made. Perfumed peony, fragrant wildflowers, wild raspberry runs the length of this slight palate, with fine, lightly sticky tannins hugging the sides, and a buoyant, lofted acidity sailing this through a saline finish. So charming, much like the hare on the label.Prices:| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Jean Max L’Ext’hase 2022
Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceFrom 70 year old gamay in southern Bojo's Charnay, rooted its calcareous clay soils, this was carbonically macerated, with 7 months in oak, prior to a tightening moon phase rest in stainless, and bottling with low sulphur. A characterful charmer, much like the hare on the label, these are made in the cellar of Eric Texier in the Rhône, hence they are labelled as Vin de France. Pretty and perfumed raspberry, cherry, and wildflowers roll across the palate, dusted with pink peppercorn, and lofted with an easy, buoyant acidity. Tannins are finely sticky, framing this and welcoming charcuterie / grilled sausages.Prices:| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
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16 October 2024
87PTS
Famiglia Pasqua Romeo & Juliet Passione e Sentimento Rosso 2021
Veneto, ItalyThis Romeo & Juliet Rosso is an apassimento of Merlot, Corvina, and Croatina grapes, left to dry for 1 month into wooden trays before wine from the just-fermented grapes is added, kicking off a secondary ferment that lasts one month in stainless steel. The wine is then matured in cherry tonneaux (2nd use) for 3 months before the wines are blended. Plumped, plush, and jammy cherry is cut with a tart cranberry acidity, and framed with furry tannins that lead this to a soft, powdery finish. Would be best with some hearty tomato-based pastas to match that acidity.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $17.99 | 750ml |
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15 October 2024
90PTS
Narrative Absinthe NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI don't think winemaker Matt Dumayne rests much. The latest Narrative release has been a few years in the making, but the end result is a potent green fairy worthy of the Absinthe name. Built around a recipe from 1855, this glowing green elixir blends two species of wormwood with anise, fennel, hyssop, and lemon balm. To serve, pour 3 parts of ice cold water to 1 part absinthe over a sugar cube (preferably a beet sugar cube *google it). This creates the louching affect, turning the verdant green into a milky white, and releasing the layers of anise, subtle black liquorice, medicinal herbs, lemon peel, and meadow grass, with a kiss of wild mint on the end. A calming and contemplative sipper. Note - while this won't make you hallucinate, it is an overproof spirit, clocking in at 60% alcohol, so best enjoyed sparingly, with lucky friends. Sealed with an impressive swath of black wax, this is only available direct from the wine shop.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
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10 October 2024
93PTS
Signorello Hope's Cuvée Chardonnay 2021
Napa Valley, California, United StatesHope’s Cuvée is the pinnacle white at Signorello, and pays homage to Ray’s deceased mother, Hope Signorello. It is fair to say it has been leaned out a bit, but it remains a rich, textured Napa Valley style that will appeal to a wide audience and maybe a little less to those who prefer a fresher Next World style that we see more and more globally. In ’21, three detailed picks were made, beginning with the original vines planted in the 1980s, followed by newer plantings, and ending with a final lot picked of fully ripe fruit made from different chardonnay clones. At the winery, it is whole cluster pressed and fermented wild, with 50% of the juice going through malolactic fermentation. It aged sur lie in 50% new Burgundy barrels and puncheons for eight months with regular stirring. The result is a floral, ripe orange blossom nose streaked with white fruit nuances. On the palate, there is a rush of citrus and honey mixed with toasted hazelnuts, apricots, and vanilla. Drink or hold.Prices:| BC | $169.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $165.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $145.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Trim Chardonnay 2023
California, United StatesYou won't see Ray Signorello's name on the labels of Trim Chardonnay or Cabernet, but his Napa team is responsible for the wines. Trim is made without any additives. They don't add sugar, concentrate, colouring, or anything else that shouldn't be there, and now what's in the wine appears on the back label. Signorello says, "We believe in winemaking, not winefaking, and we are transparent about it." Ther 2023 Chardonnay opens with apple, honey, white flowers, tropical fruit, and citrus in a relatively tight package. The attack is inviting and frankly California but with an underlying acidity that offsets the creamy texture and the pear, vanilla, and apple butter notes. Zero sugar makes this particularly attentive at the table with food. Good value, at private wine shops only.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2021
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaFrom an estate more renowned for its reds comes this elegant Chardonnay. The acidity is gentle, but there's enough to refresh and lift yellow peach and ripe pear. A lovely cashew creaminess coats the palate, with has a dusting of oak spice. Easy to enjoy.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Louis Latour Chardonnay Bourgogne 2022
FranceOver the past decade, this label has evolved from a basic cardboard version of inexpensive white wine to something that represents a white wine from Bourgogne. Louis Latour has an extensive range of vineyards to work with, allowing the esteemed wine merchant to easily create a well-balanced and complex Bourgogne chardonnay that showcases the clay and limestone terroir of the region. Produced annually, it is aged for eight to ten months after a portion of the juice is fermented in stainless steel, and softening the acidity through malolactic fermentation. The textures are surprisingly rich and creamy, with fresh lemon and honey complemented by green apple and pear. This wine is an excellent introduction to Bourgogne at an exceptional price. A real bargain for simple, classic, and unmistakable Bourgogne.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $25.49 | 750ml |
| MB | $23.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.40 | 750ml |
| NB | $29.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $28.98 | 750ml |
| NFL | $16.95 | 750ml |
| YK | $29.95 | 750ml |
| NWT | $16.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Santa Rita Floresta Chardonnay 2020
Valle del Limari, ChileLimarí opens onto the very cold Pacific and is a go-to home for chardonnay in Chile. The soli is an equally inviting medium, mixing alluvial clay loams with stones and calcium carbonate. Floresta is wild fermented in stainless steel and aged eight months in 25% new French oak with regular bâtonnage. Lemons, green apples, and hazelnuts abound in its creamy textures and saline freshness. This is a Modern Next World chardonnay that is delicious. Drink or hold, there is no rush here. Dungeness crab would be a fine West Coast match.Prices:| ON | $26.95 | 750ml |
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08 October 2024
90PTS
Perlage Pinot Grigio 2023
Veneto, ItalyThankfully this is not your typical Italian pinot grigio. Sourced from 250m in the subregion of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and from limestone / volcanic laced soils, this organic grigio was native fermented on skins in stainless steel. Crisp, crunchy, and bright, this sings on the slight palate with green apple, Asian pear, and meadow grass, with kisses of elderflower, and a snappy, saline finish. Super smart and easily drinkable, especially at this value. *Note, in some markets this wine is labelled Perlage Terra Viva Delle Venezie.Prices:| ON | $16.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Hillside Heritage Series Pinot Gris 2023
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn early look at the 2023 Heritage Pinot Gris, which is always a luscious style with bright tropical fruit and plenty of freshness. It looks like a rosé, but it is a pinot gris, and a couple of hours of skin contact leads to its light copper colour. The palate is round and full of tropical fruit that takes it to the edge of dryness. The latest gris is a mix of Naramata fruit grown at Dickinson, Howe, and Paisley Vineyards aged sur lie in 265L Tokaij barrels for six months. Best with delicate seafood dishes or spicy Asian rolls.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Gris Saison Vineyards 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaWhen you taste wines like this, it's hard to argue against pinot gris in the Cowichan Valley. Expect a combination of bright green apple, lemon, and perfumed pear blossoms, layered with doughy lees and a saline backbone that carries through to the finish. Seamlessly balanced, with a lip-smacking tension that keeps pulling you back in, this is all about purity, minerality, and restraint.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Cowichan Valley Pinot Gris 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaA restrained, mineral-driven pinot gris that's Cowichan through and through. It's awash in oyster shell and chalk, backed by zesty lemon, Bartlett pear, and white blossoms. There's real verve here, with a precision to the palate that speaks both to purpose and poise. Recommended and excellent value.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Pinot Gris 2023
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt is year 37 at Blue Mountain's Okanagan Falls vineyard, where the family has tended two French pinot gris clones for nearly four decades. The fermentation begins with indigenous yeast in various vessels including foudres, stainless steel, older French barrels, and larger puncheons. The result is a beautiful rendition of gris drenched in ripe, red apple, and citrus, spiked with lime pith and creamy lees, all leading to a complex finish. It's perfectly ready to drink now but will age through 2026 with no issues.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.85 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Gneiss Pinot Gris 2023
British Columbia, CanadaGneiss is one of those wineries running under the radar at District Wine Village. There is nothing electric or fancy here, but the winemaking for this Naramata-based gris is solid, involving a collaboration between winemakers Bertus Albertyn (Burrowing Owl) and Scott Robinson (Little Engine). Robinson will work with Gneiss going forward to shape the wines. The ’23 is the inaugural release from Block 444 of Gneiss estate vineyard on Evans Road in Naramata Bench. The stainless steel white is a round version, with tropical fruit, an undercurrent of light citrus, and a hint of spice in the back end. Ready to drink, it would be a fun wine for tempura dishes.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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07 October 2024
94PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz 2018
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaThe first Michael was a one off from the 1955 vintage (back then, it was labelled the Michael Hermitage) made after proprietor David Wynn noticed the outstanding quality of two particular barrels of wine. He ordered them bottled separately and named the wine after his young son. It would be another 35 years before the label was revived in the 1990 vintage under Peter Douglas. It continues from top vineyards in top years under Senior Winemaker Sue Hodder and her team. In 2018, the vintage was about 20% smaller than usual, but the fruit harvested was described as superb, meeting the prerequisite for Michael releases. Post ferment, 14% of shiraz spent 16 months in new (28%) and seasoned (83%) French oak hogsheads and barriques. The colour is opaque purple, and the nose has an enticing swell of blueberries and classic bay leaf. The palate is surprisingly linear and tight for shiraz, but fear not, with time, it opens, and its silky tannins take over, supporting a rich mix of red cherries, cloves, and chopped olives. You can age this wine effortlessly into the mid-2030s.Prices:| BC | $190.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Mullineux Syrah 2021
Swartland, Coastal Region, South AfricaThe Mullineux classic Syrah is drawn from 6 vineyards across the 3 Swartland syrah soil types they work with: dry farm, bush vine decomposed granite of Paardeberg, Kasteelberg schist, and Malmesbury iron. Vines are between 25-35 years old. This is 90% whole bunch, native fermented, with up to 7 weeks of skin contact. It spends 11 months in French oak 500L barrels and 9 months in a tank. Wild blackberry, savoury black cherry, and perfumed violets are scented with peppery spice and structured with finely grippy, firm tannins. The 2021 still feels youthful, with energy and time ahead. Properly serious.Prices:| BC | $58.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Old Vines Shiraz 2019
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaIt wasn’t all that long ago that shiraz in Australia was known as Hermitage, as in the premium French AOC in the Northern Rhône and an essential part of Coonawarra’s history. Although most would associate cabernet sauvignon with Coonawarra’s age-worthy wines, Wynns was focused on shiraz as early as the 1890s. Wynns has many privileged sites in Coonawarra. This black label (in a Burgundy bottle) contains a rare fragment from Undoolya vineyard of the original 1890s fruit colony planting that went in the ground in 1894. You will love the pure shiraz aromas, mixing violets and blueberries with a whiff of tar. The palate is medium-bodied, pitching silky, fleshy textures with a mix of licorice and spiced plums. I have to say this is shockingly interesting for the price and will attract a broad audience who love the more fruity style of syrah. Black pepper and chocolate seal the deal. Lamb would be a fine match, or a favourite root vegetable casserole. The 2022 vintage was considered a cracker in Coonawarra without any heat spikes or torrential rains and a long maturation period that ran into April and May without any prominent, one-off climate change events. Back up the truck.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $23.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.45 | 750ml |
| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Corcelettes Syrah 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis has become one of the standout BC syrahs, and the 2022 vintage shows why. I love the combination of expressive, brambly fruit accented by savoury notes of olive, game, and fragrant lavender. It's complex, pure, and seamless, with a juiciness to the palate that reflects the moderate 2022 growing season alongside Similkameen's hallmark minerality. Youthful now, this will be even better in 2-3 years. Estate grown, co-fermented with 5% viognier, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.Prices:| BC | $36.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 2020
South Australia, AustraliaSourced from across McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, and Clare Valley, this multi-regional blend oozes pure Aussie shiraz character. Expect bold eucalyptus and mint, alongside ripe, plush blueberry and blackberry, with a smattering of dill from aging in American hogsheads (16% new). It's hedonistic and immensely satisfying now, with enough restraint and freshness, true to the Penfolds style, to keep everything in balance, with the potential to improve with cellaring over the next 5-7 years. Recommended.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $50.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $54.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $54.99 | 750ml |
| NFL | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Penfolds Shiraz Bin 128 2021
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaWhether cabernet sauvignon or shiraz, Coonawarra produces wines of place over grape. And that's the case here with Bin 128, which puts Coonawarra front and centre in the glass, with eucalyptus and mint alongside a dusty minerality. There's still a violet perfume alongside bright, sappy, brambly fruit and a touch of graphite, with a depth that reveals itself with time in the glass. I love the concentration and firmly structured style, with the best to come. Decant now or enjoy over the next 5-7 years. Recommended.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $50.00 | 750ml |
| US | $40.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Escorihuela 1884 Syrah Finca E.G. 2021
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaA juicy syrah with tart blackberry, dark cherry, anise, and a dusting of spice, it's fresh, approachable, and reasonably priced, perfect for a midweek pour alongside steak frites.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $19.00 | 750ml |
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04 October 2024
90PTS
Il Grigio da San Felice Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
Tuscany, ItalyFrom the well regarded 2019 vintage, Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva is always an assembly of the best grapes carefully selected by hand from the vine. The nose is rich and expressive, mixing forest floor, violets, and wild berries. The plate is a streamlined affair of dry red fruit and black licorice with some fine grained tannins to shed. There is no rush to drink this wine, but if you plan on something autumnal, like a roasted bird or a mushroom dish, it will work. The San Felice Estate is located at Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, surrounded by a calcareous marl breakdown of Alberese and Galestro limestones mixed with an abundant gravel-pebble mixture. 80% of the wine matures for 24 months in 60 or 90 hl in Slavonian oak casks and 20% in 225 litre French barriques, followed by a further six months or so in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2019
Tuscany, ItalyFrancesco Ripaccioli is the third generation, along with his brother and sister, taking care of these lands. Francesco took over the winemaking from his father, overseeing the 19 vineyards across 2 cru, including their estate vineyards on the famed Montosoli Hill. This, their flagship Brunello, is equal parts Montosoli (galestro) and Canalicchio (brown clay). From the stellar 2019 vintage, this Brunello charms with fragrant black cherry and black raspberry, structured with long, fine, firm tannins. This powerful, finessed red is seasoned with darker florals and scrubby herbal balsam, rosemary, and anise. Very elegant and well knit, finishing fresh and saline. Really striking, drinking beautifully now and with ample time in your cellar.Prices:| ON | $103.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Canalcchio di Sopra Rosso di Montalcino 2022
Tuscany, ItalyProduced mostly from their youngest vineyards, this Rosso represents their calling card for Canalicchio di Sopra wines: a young, fruity, and versatile expression of their estate Sangiovese. This comes mainly from vineyards located in the Canalicchio Cru, with ample clay, magnesium, iron and Manganese soils. It was macerated and fermented in stainless over three weeks, before resting one year in Slavonian Oak Barrels (50 hl and 25 hl), and French oak barrels (750L). Wild cherry, dark raspberry, balsam flood the floral palate, with graphite and gravels rolling underneath. Crunchy acidity stream this along the palate, while tight, finely sticky / grippy tannins house this through the saline finish. Ample Brunello fruit gets declassified into here, making their Rosso a hot ticket. Super smart.Prices:| ON | $47.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne 2019
Tuscany, ItalyMontalcino’s Casato Prime Donne comprises 40 organic hectares, with 16 planted to Sangiovese. There is also a modern, artistic, fresco-filled winery and ageing facility for the Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino wines. The entire staff is female, including the head winemaker, and Donatella has become a beacon for women in the wine industry, not only in Italy but globally. Donatella noticed that wine critics for the Italian wine guides were all men. She decided then to unite a small group of talented women wine professionals, asking them to blind taste future Brunello from different barrels and to select the best lots. Donatella considers this result, the Brunello Prime Donne, the flagship for her wineries. Sangiovese from the clay-limestone Ardita Vineyard surrounding the winery at 250m was handpicked and fermented on skins for 15 days in stainless and unlined concrete. It was then moved to 5-7hl French tonneaux before finishing in traditional 15-40hl oak barrels from Slavonia for 2.5 years. Prior to being bottled unfiltered, the wine rested in unlined concrete vats. Prime Donne is a powerful Brunello destined for a long ageing. Fragrant wild cherry and raspberry flow through this graceful, structural wine, layered with medicinal cassis, leather, balsam, and crushed stones. Tannins are long and finely firm, well integrated into the lifted, stony fruit, and guide this to a lingering scrubby herb finish. Quite special, and from the lauded 2019 vintage, this is drinking beautifully now and with time ahead in your cellar.Prices:| ON | $129.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino 2019
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFrom the organic Casato Prime Donne property, this Brunello comes from vineyards on the cooler northern side, around 225 m altitude, on soils rich in clay and silt. The native fermentation takes place in small stainless and bare concrete, after which it rests in older tonneaux and big barrels for at least 2 years, followed by a period of at least 6 months in bottles. From the stellar 2019 vintage, this structural wine rolls across the palate with waves of crushed florals, sultry cherry, deep plum, leather, and dark cocoa, wrapped with ample chewy tannins, and finishing with a trailing dried florals and tobacco. Very harmonious, and will reward with some time in cellar.Prices:| BC | $91.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $91.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Rosso di Montalcino 2021
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThis organic Sangiovese comes from three vineyards at Casato Prime Donne, situated on the cool northern area of Montalcino at about 225m, rooted in clays and sands. This was native fermented in stainless before aging 6 months in large tonneaux. Branchy and medicinal black and red cherry, tobacco, and baking spices is lifted with tight, herbal acidity on the juicy palate. Ample sticky tannins take this to a warming, wood spiced finish. Partner with autumnal lamb / beef dishes.Prices:| BC | $49.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $44.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $39.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Leone Rosso Orcia 2020
Orcia, Tuscany, ItalyDOC Orcia is produced in 13 municipalities between Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This is 60/40 sangiovese/merlot from the historic estate, built by Donatella Cinelli Colombini's ancestors in 1592 (reflected by the red lion on the label). This younger vine red spends 6 months in medium / large oak. Juicy and succulent ripe red fruit is scented with balsam, and hugged by sticky tannins, finishing with a warm flush and kiss of bitter dark chocolate. A warming red well suited to autumnal braises or ragu.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $31.25 | 750ml |
| ON | $29.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Podere 414 Morellino di Scansano 2021
Tuscany, ItalyOwned by Simone Castelli, Podere 414 is a certified organic estate with 13 hectares of vines in western Tuscany, straddling a river near Scansano. From the region's very stony soils, this morellino (sangiovese) is splashed with colorino, ciliegiolo, alicante, and syrah. Each variety is vinified separately before the blend goes into two-year-old barriques for one year, followed by additional bottle age before release. Sultry wild cherry and dark florals are imbued with balsam and scrubby herbs, wrapped by finely sticky tannins that draw this through the stony, lingering finish. Bright acidity makes this imminently drinkable, though it is certainly worth cellaring for the next couple of years.Prices:| ON | $36.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tenuta Luce La Vite Lucente 2020
Tuscany, ItalyThe second wine to Luce, Lucente, easily stands on its own. A seamless blend of merlot and sangiovese, this shows dark cherry, plum, and lavender alongside generous, vanilla-tinged oak. It strikes the right balance between ripe fruit, juicy freshness, and savoury charm, with fine, chalky tannins that make this approachable right out of the gates. Lots to like here, especially at this price.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $40.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $34.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $34.10 | 750ml |
| NB | $39.99 | 1500ml |
| NS | $34.95 | 750ml |
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02 October 2024
88PTS
Bartier Bros. Sauvignon Blanc Desert Wolf Vineyard 2023
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis leads with desert shrubs, placing you on the Black Sage Terrace, alongside tangerine, white grapefruit, and lees. It's not overly complex, with a more restrained character to the palate, chalky and textured, with more than ample dry extract to balance the crisp acidity. Well made and honest.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Three Sisters Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaQuite reductive at first pour, give this some time for it to blow off. Underneath there's pink grapefruit and gooseberry, in a more lean, restrained style with fresh herbs. There's notable residual sweetness, finishing off-dry and more than balancing the tart acidity. I like the aspiration and underlying fruit, but it doesn't all seamlessly come together this vintage.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Township 7 Reserve Provenance Series Sauvignon Blanc Blue Terrace Vineyard 2023
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGenerously fruity, with passionfruit and guava alongside a splash of orange, this is crisp and refreshing, with a touch of herbal bitterness to the moderate finish. Enjoy over the short term alongside butternut squash salad.Prices:| BC | $24.97 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Chateau de Sancerre 2023
Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, FranceChateau Sancerre is a solid producer of Sancerre using a blend of fruit grown over a diverse mix of terroirs: clay-limestone, limestone, flint, and sandy clay. The combination leads to a fresh, bright, structured sauvignon, led by vibrant stony, mineral notes tempered by riper grapefruit and kiwi. It is the perfect white wine for the bounty of seafood widely available here on the West Coast, from shellfish to lighter seafood dishes, or fresh goat cheese.Prices:| BC | $40.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Nk'Mip Cellars Mer'r'iym White Meritage 2022
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMer'r'iym White Meritage has been one of the best Canadian white blends for a while, and 2022 is no exception. The current blend is 87/13 sauvignon blanc / sémillon, as bright and fresh as ever. The attack has a beautiful floral and herbal quality, bright acidity, passionfruit, lemongrass, and honey notes. The finish is extended and creamy with pear and pineapple highlights. The sémillon is barrel fermented and spends four months in new French oak, adding some weight and tempering the acidity that gives so much life to the wine. You can drink this now or age through 2028 with no problem.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bartier Bros. Sauvignon Blanc Desert Wolf Vineyard 2023
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFruit sourced from Desert Wolf Vineyard in Oliver, this sauvignon blanc leads with a pleasant nose of lemon juice and just-ripe white peach, layered with subtle white florals and snap peas. Light and fresh on the palate, it offers a clean and pure expression of the variety.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Township 7 Reserve Provenance Series Sauvignon Blanc Blue Terrace Vineyard 2023
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis sauvignon blanc displays a distinctly wild side of the grape. The nose bursts with aromas of grapefruit, green olive, and sage, along with a touch of "cat pee," creating a very herbal and somewhat funky profile. On the palate, it remains light and crisp, with a straightforward finish.Prices:| BC | $24.97 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Three Sisters Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis sauvignon blanc opens with salted lemon and grapefruit, layered with grassy herbal notes. The palate is straightforward and soft, offering a round texture with noticeable sweetness at the finish, appealing to those who enjoy a touch of sweetness in their whites. Pair it with Asian dishes that have some heat.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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01 October 2024
91PTS
Corcelettes Cabernet Franc 2022
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA rich and ripe expression of cabernet franc, showing dark plum and blueberry, along with a touch of sweet red bean. These concentrated fruit notes are layered with franc’s signature violet and herbal savouriness, accented by the distinct minerality of the Similkameen. Plush, juicy fruits on the palate are balanced by ample, chewy tannins, with cedar and toasty oak seamlessly woven into the structure. Bittersweet dark chocolate nuances highlight the lingering finish.Prices:| BC | $38.40 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Corcelettes Cabernet Franc 2022
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a riper expression of cabernet franc that doesn't sacrifice purity of fruit. It shows vivid black raspberry, dark plum, and macerated cherries with stemmy herbs, violets, and gravelly undertones. The tannins are firm and chalky but not over-extracted, balanced by the elevated fruit weight on the palate, with mouthwatering acidity to keep pulling you back to the glass. Genuine to variety and place.Prices:| BC | $38.40 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Garzón Petit Clos Cabernet Franc Block 560 2020
Garzon, Maldonado, San José, UruguayConsulting winemaker Alberto Antonini has always had high hopes for cabernet franc at Garzón, and with a Petit Clos label now in release, it confirms his optimism. Both Alberto Antonini and German Buzzone reveal how committed they are to not leaving any of their fingerprints on the Garzón wines, and the Petit Clos franc is a classic example. It's fermented in large 80 hectare tulip concrete vessels and spent up to a year in large untoasted French oak barrels, allowing the fruit and the terroir to marry with the wood without any apparent wood flavours in the wine. This subtle cabernet franc smells like the Loire but tastes like the New World. In essence, it's the best of both worlds. Look for scented blackberry and ripe currant, with perfectly balanced red and black fruits on the mid-palate streaked with minerality, a touch of salinity, and near-silky tannins at three years of age. It is easily one of the best cabernet francs I have tasted in a while, and it is a mere 12.5% to boot. Nothing but class. You can drink this now, but it will age effortlessly through 2030.Prices:| US | $64.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Terravista En Terre Cabernet Franc 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEn Terre is a new project from Terravista Vineyards, allowing the owners to expand beyond their original portfolio. This cab franc comes off the Rock Oven Block of OK Falls' Storm Haven Vineyard. The destemmed fruit was cold soaked before fermenting in 450 and 700L French oak barrels over two weeks. After a week's maceration, this was pressed off and racked into barrels for 18 months. Dark earth, grilled cherries, and perfumed cassis work through the muscular palate, with gritty tannins housing this through an espresso finish. A bit on the rustic side, this would best suit fire grilled veg / kabobs. A solid first effort.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tantalus Cabernet Franc Furthur Afield Series 2022
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSevere weather is the now new normal. An unforgiving series of challenging weather events led to Tantalus' new Further Afield Series, and a new line of wines from sourced grapes was added to the portfolio. This cab franc comes off the organic Sekhorn Family Vineyard in Osoyoos, 2 hours drive south from the Tantalus HQ in East Kelowna. Partial native ferment, this was fermented by batch, with up to 40% whole cluster, before all was pressed into older French barrels for 11 months. The silky smooth palate streams brambles, wild blackberry, and perfumed iris framed with soft, supple tannins and imbued with cracked black pepper. A gentle, finessed, well-knit franc, subtly harnessing the power of the southern Okanagan and turning it into a polished, drink-now red.Prices:| BC | $31.30 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Phantom Creek Estates Cabernet Franc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe South Okanagan Phantom Creek Cab Franc comes off estate blocks on both sides of the valley. The fresher style comes from Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile bench, while the warm, generous style is grown on the Black Sage Bench closer to the home base. It was a super hot year, causing many issues in the vineyard and, eventually, in the wineries. Balance was the most difficult thing to achieve, and you see it in this red. Tarry brambly fruit with dry sagebrush, strong earthy notes, and a touch of reduction suggest you open this early and decant for 45 minutes. At 15.5% alcohol, it is a bruiser that will need a grilled steak to tame its edges.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Fort Berens Cabernet Franc Reserve 2021
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Reserve Red goes to Cabernet Franc, and with fruit off their Lillooet estate Dry Creek Vineyard. The destemmed fruit was soaked 3 days, followed by 8 days of maceration and regular pump-overs and punch-downs, before ageing for 15 months in French barrels (55% new). Dark and chewy with dense cassis, dark earth, subtle cedar toast, and dried florals, this is wrapped with toothsome, fine grained tannins, hugging this fuller red to a peppery finish. The density here calls for grilled beef or lamb.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Terravista En Terre Cabernet Franc 2022
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEn Terre, meaning 'earthen' or 'of the earth,' is a project that has been five years in the making at Terravista. It is also the name of the home vineyard on the Naramata Bench. This project allows the new owners to expand their portfolios beyond their mostly white wine roots. The vines here are grown in Okanagan Falls on the Rock Oven Block of Storm Haven Vineyard. After weeks of skin contact, the fermented juice is racked off into barrels for 18 months. This is a cooler style, reminiscent of the Loire, pitching damp earth, smoked cherries, and red fruit that spills onto the dry and somewhat burly palate, with some sticky tannins to disperse. A solid first effort you can drink now with grilled vegetables or a mushroom pasta dish.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Hester Creek Block 3 Reserve Cabernet Franc 2016
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWe first tasted the 2016 Cab Franc back in 2018 when Block 3 turned fifty, a rare feat in our young wine industry. This was fermented on its skins after a gentle press and aged in a combo of French (75%) and American (25%) oak barrels for 18 months before release. Perfumed cassis, wild blackberry, thorns, and violets coat the entire palate, cushioned by structured tannins and centred on a juicy, cool black plum core. Cedar lingers on the sticky finish. Six years down the road, it is still reasonably rambunctious with peppery, woody clove notes and bright acidity poking through. Think of lamb chops or a classic Osso buco recipe.Prices:| BC | $28.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Three Sisters Winery Cabernet Franc 2022
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLook for a medium-dark cherry colour with smoky, savoury black fruit. Red plums and black currants dominate on the palate, which has a reasonably soft character. Notes of spice and pepper mingle with herbal hints in the oaky finish. This wine is best enjoyed now with grilled beef ribs or pork shoulder.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Fort Berens Cabernet Franc Reserve 2021
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaDamp earth and cedar mark the nose. The entry is fresh and spicy with peppery wild red and blue fruits, cloves, and graphite. It is a bit raw and unyielding and will need more time in the bottle to harmonize and settle. Beef or pork ribs would be a fine match at the moment. This Lillooet cabernet franc is grown on the home estate, Dry Creek Vineyard. At 13 years of age, the site is coming into its own. 2021 was aged for 15 months in French oak, 55% new and 45% second fill barrels.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Monte Creek Living Land Series Cabernet Franc 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2022 was a good year in BC with generous crop sizes, too. This cab franc is a 90/10 mix of Osoyoos cabernet franc and merlot that pitches a vibrant, slightly acidic palate of cherries, brown spices, and savoury sagebrush notes (the garrigue of the south Okanagan). Plums, tobacco and tart black cherries fill an edgy palate with firm acidity and plenty of spice. The wine was barrel aged in French oak for 15 months but only just opened up. Best served with a T-Bone steak or a mushroom pie.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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November 2024