| Year | Wine | Variety | Location | Price | Num | Rating |
| 2000 | D'Arenberg Vintage Fortified | Fortified Shiraz | | 29.00 | 1/5 | 91-92 |
| (RP-92) Superb Vintage Declared Shiraz boasts chocolatey notes of creosote, espresso roast,, earth in its full-bodied, chewy, dense, powerful personality. Alcohol is well-integrated in this blockbuster fortified Shiraz, should age nicely for 15-20 years. (Gis-92) Dark black cherry colour. Huge spicy, black pepper, blackberry jam, pruny, resiny, smoky jasmine nose. Big sweet, rich fiery entry with some defined tannins. Warm, full bodied with intense black cherry jam, vanilla, smoky licorice root flavours. Great fruit, very impressive, very Australian , well made. Will require a good 5 years ageing to evolve but could be a hit now with the cigar group. The first declared vintage of this wine was in 1928, winery has been sourcing Shiraz for the wine from those same old vines ever since. Grapes are fermented in the traditional d’Arenberg way–minimal processing/up to 2 weeks fermenting on skins in traditional headed down open fermenters/foot treading/basket pressing through the 19th century ‘Coq’ & “Bromley & Tregoning’ presses. After basket pressing, a small amount of fine, fortifying brandy spirit is added. The Vintage Port is bottled in the same year of vintage. d’Arenberg fortified wine is made from a single vintage, does not spend any time in wood, receives only a cursory filtration before bottling. |
| J.W |
| 1991 | Dow"s Vintage Port | Port | | 80.00 | 1 | |
| NV | Dutschke The Tawny | Port | | 57.00 | 1/2 | 98 |
| (RP-98)Medium to light amber-colored non-vintage 22 Year Old Tawny boasts a gorgeous bouquet of melted toffee, caramel, espresso roast, honeyed fruits, a hint of balsamic vinegar. Dense, rich, sweet, unctuous, it is a hedonistic turn-on ... actually rather pornographic. A great bargain for what it represents, can be drunk over the following 5-10 years. |
| J.W |
| 2007 | Taylor Flatgate 20 Year old Tawny | Port | | gift | 1 | |
| Val & Keith |
| N/V | Val D'Oca | Prosecco | | 18.00 | 2 | |
| Co-op |
| 1977 | Warre's Vintage Port | Port | | 120.00 | 0/1 | 92 |
| Rich ,highly flavored, starting to open into a superb wine. Deep ruby, with a very perfumed cassis nose, full-bodied, with tons of sweet berry flavors, full, round tannins, a ripe fruit finish. A gentle giant of a wine. (JS) |
| Retirement Gift |
| 2006 | Burrowing Owl | Pinot Gris | | 20.00 | 5/6 | 89 |
| (Gis-89) Open honey, mineral, floral aromas with sweet lime rind notes. Rich, ripe, round in the mouth with a brightness, texture that sets B.C. pinot gris apart for its competitors. Fresh juicy mineral fruit with bits of red apple honey, ripe pear fill the palate. Finish is unusually off-dry but with citrus undertones. (WT) The most exciting Pinot Gris produced in years. A hint of residual sugar brings out luscious fruit flavours of ripe orchard apple,pear, citrus. Great weight, intensity with nice round mouthfeel |
| Purchase at winery |
| 2004 | Cave Jean Dauvissat Saint Pierre | Chablis | | 28.00 | 2 | |
| Richmond Hills |
| 2006 | Cedar Creek Estate Winery | Ehrenfelser | | 17.00 | 1/4 | 87 |
| (Gis-87) Has summer written all over it. Nose: mix of sweet honeysuckle, tangerine, minerals. Fresh, ripe its creamy textures offer up bits of pink grapefruit, floral, peachy mineral flavours. A perfect solo sipper for summer or pair with spicy, Asian or Indian dishes. |
| Purchased at winery |
| 2007 | Cedar Creek Estate Winery | Ehrenfelser | | 18.00 | 5/6 | 87 |
| (Gis-87) For years I suggested BC aromatic varieties be bottled, ready to go May 1 following the vintage. I would only add a screwcap to wish list for this otherwise delicious CedarCreek label that is just coming into the market. Love its floral, orange, mineral, spicy, nose flavours. So fresh, inviting, this just off dry white is an attractive bottle of wine. Think spicy foods, even sweet/sour BBQ spareribs. Less is more here. |
| Winery |
| 2001 | Chappellet Old Vine Cuvee Special Select | Chenin Blanc/ blend | | 25.00 | 2 | |
| The nose is vibrant, forward with aromas of orange zest, mango, tropical fruit blossoms. Hints of sweet oak, hazelnut add to the complexity. This vintage again carries the classic Chenin Blanc characteristics of citrus fruit, crisp acidity, a minerally edge making the flavors bright, complex, refreshing. The wine is very well focused with satisfying depth, balance, richness on the palate. A hint of creaminess from 10% malolactic fermentation, a lingering lively finish round out this crowd-pleasing wine. |
| RH |
| 1998 | Chateau Contet | Sauterne | | 54.00 | 1 | 85-89 |
| Plenty of honey, lemon, lime in this young wine. Medium-bodied, medium sweet, with a spicy finish. Rather short really. Slightly disappointing for this estate. Score range: 85-89 (JS) Barrel Tasting |
| Christmas gift from Ron |
| 2003 | Chateau Gres Saint Paul Muscat de Lunel | Muscat | | 24.00 | 1/5 | |
| WP&K |
| 2001 | Chateau Roumieu | Sauternes | | 18.00 | 1/5 | 89-91 |
| (WS-89) Golden-colored with a green hue. Full-bodied, very sweet with good intensity, lots of spicy, dried apricot character. Long. A bit traditional, funky but I like it. Best after 2007. 830 cases made. (JS) (Gis-91) Good nectarine, spicy, apricot, honey aromas with some vanilla cream, botrytis. Rich, round, elegant style with good acidity, balance. Honey, butter, creamsicle, nectarine, dried apricot flavours with a vanilla, mineral finish. Fine length, intensity with some finesse. A mid-term wine for drinking over the next 5-10 yrs. |
| J. W |
| 2003 | Chateau Roumieu | Sauternes | | 19.00 | 2/3 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) Marmalade, roasted apricot, smoky nose with vanilla, honey, baked apple aromas, a wisp of plasticene. Soft, warm on the palate with moderate sweetness. Waxy, marmalade, baked apple, baked peach, honey, mineral flavours with a buttery, plasticene, vanilla finish. Forward, ripe style for near term consumption over the next 5 years. |
| WP |
| 2005 | Chateau de Rayne Vigneau | Sauternes | | 60.50 | 2 | 92 |
| Bright aromas of lemon, spice and honey follow through to a full body, with loads of dried apricot, honey and nutmeg. Very sweet and very lively. An intense wine. The best from this estate in a long time. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. –JS |
| WP |
| NV | De Bortoli Black Noble | Semillon | | 31.00 | 1 | 97 |
| "This dark, extraordinary, exotic chocolate/ spicy/ apricotty/ raisiny/ Old-English-marmaladey drink is made from a blend of barrels with an average age of eight years. It is more than likely the only fortified noble rotten wine in the world. The very notion of concocting such a drink (a prototype for which was created by an earlier De Bortoli in the 1930s) would probably merit a jail sentence or a ticket to the asylum in France.' |
| Crowfoot |
| 2007 | Desert Hills Winery | Gewurztraminer | http://www.deserthills.ca | 20.00 | 3 | |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Errazuriz Late Harvest | SauvBlanc | | 15.00 | 1/3 | 87 |
| (Gis-87),Passion fruit, bell pepper, apricot, floral, buttery, grassy nose. Sweet style with good acidity but quite delicate. Plenty of apricot, orange, passion fruit, red apple, butter flavours. A bit simple but fresh with good fruit intensity, succulent. Good value. (winemaker)The resulting notes of honey, golden raisin add depth, richness to the fruity, citric Sauvignon Blanc characters. On the palate, the velvety sweetness of the wine coats the palate. Good acidity balances the rich texture, provides a clean, bright finish. The expressive fruit characteristics of this wine should develop into exquisite candied fruit flavors with a few years in the bottle. Tartar crystals may develop in the bottle as a result of the natural concentration of sugar, acids in this Late Harvest. |
| WP |
| 2006 | Golden Mile Cellars | Riesling | | 18.00 | 2 | 89 |
| (Gis-89) Golden Mile cleverly adds a bit of orange muscat to the riesling and the wine soars. Dry and, yes a bit slate-ty, this is an attractive riesling on many fronts. The acidity is youthful and at this point bracing for most but this is the road to travel down. Let me count the food you can serve with this if you can get the bottle to the table before it’s all gone. Bravo.(WT) 85% reisling, 15% orange muscat fermented separately. Classic floral, honey notes, fresh orchard apple notes from the reisling; tangerine, nectarine, tropical fruit from the muscat. |
| Purchased at winery |
| 2001 | Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs Premier Cuvee Brut | Sparkling Chardonnay | | 20.00 | 2/3 | (4/5) |
| (Vines) 100% chardonnay has biscuity notes, depth of capital C champagne with ripe citrus, apple flavors. Great bubbly with appetizers |
| WP |
| NV | Krug Grande Cuvee | Champagne | | 55.00 | 2 | 95-98 |
| (WS-95) A glorious expression of Champagne, combining depth over vintages, complexity of sites to create a profound, multifaceted cuvée. Rich biscuit, ginger, coconut, citrus aromas followed by gingerbread, baked apple, grilled nut flavors, supported by a firm yet harmonious structure. Endless finish. Superb. Drink now through 2008.(BS) (JH-98) Grande Cuvee is at its majestic best, as ultra-complex as ever with its mix of brioche, bread, nuts, dried fruits, then amazing freshness, acidity running through the long palate & finish. (ST-96) Bouquet is wonderfully creamy, leading to a magical combination of weight, balance on the palate. Long, lingering finish is both nutty, toasty, ending with a final flourish of freshness. |
| J.W |
| 2005 | La Frenz Winery | Viognier | | 19.00 | 1/3 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) Very spicy, peach, orange, floral, mineral, citrus rind aromas. Sweet, oily, warm entry, bright zesty acidity. Big honey, grapefruit rind flavours with mineral, sausage, floral undertones. A fine summer sipper but the level of ripeness calls for deep chilling, or serving it with hot, spicy, Thai food. Fun to sip. |
| Winery |
| 2006 | La Frenz Winery | Riesling | | 19.00 | 2 | |
| Purchase at winery |
| 2006 | La Frenz Winery | Semillon | | 18.00 | 2/4 | |
| Purchase at winery |
| 2006 | La Frenz Winery | Viognier | | 20.00 | 1/2 | |
| Purchase at winery |
| 2007 | La Frenz Winery | Viognier | | 20.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2002 | Majella | Sparkling Shiraz | | 40.00 | 1 | |
| J.W |
| 2006 | Mount Boucherie Estate Winery Estate Collection | Riesling | | 15.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2007 | Noble Ridge | Pinot Grigio | | 19.00 | 1 | |
| Winery |
| 2005 | Nugan Estate | Botrytis Semillon | | 21.00 | 2 | |
| S.S. |
| 2003 | Pfaffenheim et Gueberschwihr | Tokay Pinot Gris | | 19.00 | 1 | |
| Banville & Jones |
| 2002 | Quail's Gate Estate Winery Optima B.A. | Late Harvest Reisling | | 25.00 | 1/2 | 92 |
| 2003 Can Wine Awards:Named Dessert Wine of the Year |
| from Winery |
| 2006 | Quails Gate Estate Winery | Dry Riesling | | 17.00 | 1/2 | 87 |
| (Gis-87) This has a super fresh style packed with floral, green apple skin, grapefruit aromas. On the palate the entry is equally crisp with plenty of citrus, grapefruit flavours flecked with bits of lime oil, mineral. Finish is tart, clean. Made for food/ wine aficionados. |
| Purchased at winery |
| 2007 | Quails' Gate Estate Winery | Dry Riesling | | 17.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2006 | Quails' Gate Estate Winery Optima | Late Harvest Riesling | | 33.00 | 3 | |
| Winery |
| 2005 | See Ya Later Ranch | Ehrenfelser Icewine | | 30.00 | 1 | |
| Winery |
| 2007 | See Ya Later Ranch | Riesling | | 17.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Silkscarf Late Harvest | Kerner | | 18.00 | 1 | |
| Purchase at winnery |
| 2004 | Silver Sage Winery The Flame | Dessert Wine | | 28.00 | 1/2 | |
| winery |
| 2005 | Adelina | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 2 | 89 |
| (WS-89) Smooth, ripe, spicy with oak, with plenty of red cherry, pomegranate flavors, lingering on the fine-grained finish. Drink now-2010. 95 cases made. |
| Richmond |
| 2002 | Angelini TreRose | Sangiovese | | 29.00 | 2/6 | 86 |
| (WS-86) A solid wine, blackberry, black pepper character. Med-bodied, with firm tannins. Medium finish. Best after 2005. 20,850 cases made. (JS) |
| JW |
| 2000 | Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer | Shiraz | | 38.00 | 2/3 | 90-93 |
| (WS-93) Deep, dense, richly complex, powerful red with cherry, blackberry, cedar, spice flavors, with an added layer of mineral, earth that extends into the long, remarkably open-textured finish. Best from 2006-2015. 745 cases imported. (HS) (W&S-92) Deep red cherry scents develop into an expressive fruit character as the wine takes on air. Tannins, fruit completely intertwined/ generous, lush will be ready for years to come. (Gis-90) Big spicy, black berry, plum, chocolate, saddle leather nose with smoky, peppery, blueberry streaks. Rich, round, soft with sweet vanilla oak, spicy, plum jam, clove, licorice flavours. Very supple, round wine with some finesse but a touch high in acidity on the finish. (WE-90) Assistant Winemaker Will Thompson calls it “a hug from the inside,” it’s easy to see what he means: There’s warming, concentrated cassis, mixed plums on the palate, with smoky barbecue aromas on the nose. But be forwarned that the fruit here is so rich that it is liable to suffocate folks who prefer pecks on the cheek to large-scale embraces. (Winemaker) Great, firm structure. Characters of fleshy red, black fruits, chocolate, coffee, rich spices, integrated oak. Very long, balanced finish of fruit, oak. |
| 1998 | Best's Wines Bin No 0 | Shiraz | | 30.00 | 1/7 | 90 |
| (Aus Wine Rev- 5/5) A really deep rich purple colour that gives the impression that you are about to start drinking berry juice of some sort. Nose is complex with spice, blackcurrant, blackberry a touch of mint, tiniest hint of licorice in the background. Palate is very rich, soft - a very full bodied style. Spice plum berry flavours with some fine tannins on the finish. Oak influence barely noticable - fruit has just got so much depth. Very very good wine, well worth the cost (+/- $45.00) Should cellar easily for 8 yrs + |
| RH |
| 2001 | Best's Wines Bin No 0 | Shiraz | | 31.00 | 2/3 | 94 |
| (JH-94) Not in the Olympian but nigh on unprocurable Best's Thomson Family Shiraz class, but an ever-reliable evocation of Great Western terroir. Savoury, gently earthy, edges to blackberry/cherry aromas blend into a supple palate; the fruit has a very long carry, the tannins fine, soft. (Winemaker) A fruit driven, powerful yet elegant Shiraz, abundant in dark forest fruits |
| RH |
| 1999 | Best's Wines F.H.T. | Shiraz | | 53.00 | 2 | 88 |
| (W&S-88) Some wines soak up air around them like black paint. This is so tannic and black, there's nothing else to taste.It's probably great stuff, but is going to need a decade or more to relent. |
| RH |
| 2002 | Black Hills Estate Winery Nota Bene | CSauv/CFranc/Merlot | | 34.00 | 1/12 | 88 |
| Starts slow, unfurls into pronounced cassis-liqueur, black cherry, cigar-boxed aromas followed by spicy plum. Full bodied with silky tannins, long finish (Gis-88) Year 4 of Nota Bene is the best yet from the tiny South Okanagan winery but it remains a work in progress. Nose is a mix of peppery, sausage, rubber, tea leaves, resiny, rootsy, bell pepper notes. Entry is rich, smooth, alcoholic, tannins are ripe. Flavours are similar in nature with smoky vanilla, licorice, resin with black cherry, stewed tomato, roasted peppers. Cleaner but still herbaceous. short on elegance. Will undoubtedly improve in the bottle over the next 2-3 years. |
| Winery |
| 2003 | Black Hills Estate Winery Nota Bene | CSauv/Merlot/CFranc | | 34.00 | 1/12 | 87 |
| (Barrel) Big deep cherry, blackberry bouquet, hints of mocha. Mouthfilling black cherry flavours are enganced by coffee, lead to a tang of Santa Rosa plum on the finish (Gis-87) (46/34/20/ CabSauv/merlot/CabFranc) much cleaner than past versions on the nose, palate but the flavour profile remains smoky, roasted bell pepper with earthy, tobacco, olive, coffee/resin notes. Dry round, smooth on entry with supple tannins followed by spicy, vanilla, resiny, peppery, black olive flavours laced with tobacco leaf, mineral, licorice flavours. Finish is warm. Needs another 2-4 years to fully develop, hopefully reveal more fruit tones. |
| 2004 | Black Hills Estate Winery Note Bene | CabSauv(46)Mer(36)CabFr(18) | | 37.00 | 6/12 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) Lightest colour seen in any southern B.C. red in some time. Typically peppery on the nose with smoky, roasted pepper, black olive, resiny, saddle leather, tobacco notes with some orange rind, cedar, black cherry jam. Soft, round, supple, elegant on entry. Smoky, black olive, dill, cassis, roasted tomato, cherry flavours with some coriander, vanilla, coffee in the aftertaste. Despite light colour, it's more refined than previous editions with cleaner, softer, smoother tannins. Best over the next five years. (Winemaker) Aromas of kirsch cherry, herbs, tobacco, light toast, frame a vibrant structure that yields flavours of santa rosa plums echoing through a smooth round finish." |
| From Winery |
| 2005 | Black Hills Estate Winery Note Bene | CabSauv(46)Mer(37)CabFr(20) | | 37.00 | 6 | 86 |
| (Gis-86) Smoky, cranberry, tobacco, leafy, black olive, resiny, slightly rubbery nose. Soft, round, supple, easy sipping style with tarry licorice, cherry, smoky, vanilla flavours spiked with leafy tobacco, olives with a slightly sweet finish. Easy, forward style for near term consumption. |
| from winery |
| 1999 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 38.00 | 1/4 | **** |
| JW |
| 2000 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 35.00 | 1/8 | 91 |
| (Gis-91) The color is surprisingly light given the power of this wine. Clean nose with plenty of strawberry jam, barnyard tones streaked with spicy smoke, celery. Much better concentration here; it runs throughout the wine. Very Beaune-like pinot noir with an attendant charm even at this young stage. Finish is long, smoky with spicy cherry, creamy vanilla notes. Reserved but stylish. Surely this among one of the best pinot noirs ever made in Canada. |
| Winery |
| 2001 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 34.00 | 1/12 | |
| from winery |
| 2002 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 37.00 | 1/6 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) Spicy, barnyard, cinnamon, smoky nose with streaks of celery top, mushroom/compost aromas, black cherry underneath. Dry, round, elegant palate but still a bit tight with earthy, spicy, smoky, mushroom, barnyard, stewed cherry, rhubarb flavours. Blue Mountain has consistently improved in bottle, suspect this edition will be no different. |
| JW |
| 2003 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 35.00 | 1/12 | 89-92 |
| (Gis-89) Cedar, compost, barnyard, cherry, celery salt, vanilla aromas with a slightly rubbery note. Very dry, round, warm entry but elegant with light, tight tannins. Peppery, earthy, cedar-y, smoky vanilla, cherry, stewed rhubarb, carrot top flavours. Good acidity but quite dry on the finish, showing some wood. Needs another 1-3 yrs in bottle. A good effort that is consistent with the winery’s style. (92) The star of this year’s releases. Full-bodied, with flavours of cherry, good colour, it has the velvet texture of a good Pinot Noir, with a concentration that will allow this wine to develop superbly over the next five years. |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Striped Label Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 38.00 | 5/9 | |
| winery |
| 2003 | Burrowing Owl Estate Winery | Syrah | | 30.00 | 1/3 | 91 |
| Big, deep spicy blackberry, cassis bouquet with meaty complexities, coffee, cracked pepper highlights. Pure velvet on the palate; rich spicy berry fruit complemented by coffee, chocolate flavors. Viscous, mouthwatering with great balance, elegance. (Gis-91) Very dark cherry colour. Big smoky, dried lychee, sausage meat aromas with peppery, licorice root, blackberry jam notes. Rich, round, fat, ripe with blackberry jam, smoky, peppery, vanilla, dried lychee, mineral, gamey flavours with a long, minty, smoky meat finish. Hot (alcoholic) but still a fine effort with a Northern focus. This young brute needs 2-4 years. |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Burrowing Owl Estate Winery | Merlot | | 27.00 | 1/3 | 86 |
| Cherry, plum aromatics are harmonized with deep beetroot undertones. Rich plum, bing cherry flavours are full and velvety on the palate, complemented by almond, black chocolate highlights. A big, elegant Merlot showing impressive varietal character. (Gis-86) Cooked cherry, pruny, peppery, tobacco leaf, coffee minty nose but somewhat volatile. Dry, round, very warm palate with light tannins. Coffee, black cherry, menthol, tobacco leaf, green olive flavours. Warm, oaky, somewhat green leafy finish. Not ripe enough for prime time. |
| winery |
| 2006 | Burrowing Owl Estate Winery | Cab Franc | | 33.00 | 3 | |
| Winery |
| 2001 | Ca'Marcanda Magari | | | 48.00 | 2 | |
| JW |
| 2001 | Canonbah Bridge Drought Reserve | Shiraz | | 40.00 | 1/4 | |
| A drought year such as this one produces smaller berries with intensified flavour, colour. Due to these exceptional conditions the McLaughlin family has released a drought reserve Shiraz. Wine has powerful chocolate characters on the palate with bold blackberry, blackcurrant characters lingering right through to a well rounded finish. To be enjoyed sitting around a log fire with any roasted meats or game. Vigneron Shane McLaughlin has only made 750 cases of this limited edition. |
| LO, only 750 cases made |
| 2002 | Canonbah Bridge Drought Reserve | Shiraz | | 40.00 | 1/2 | 84 |
| (WE-84) Good wine, one that stays the brown-earthy-tobacco-y camp rather than the sweet, forward one. Moderate plum fruit is its base; not too long on the finish |
| Willow Park |
| 2002 | Cape Barren Old Vine | Shiraz | | 31.00 | 1/4 | 90-92 |
| (WS-92) Broad, generous, with lively structure, gorgeous head of blueberry, plum with a hint of coffee as the finish lingers. Drink now through 2015 (WA-90) Elegantly styled… earthy, black fruit-scented nose with hits of scorched earth, pepper, vanilla in the background…good acidity, wonderful density, structured finish |
| RH |
| 2004 | Cape Barren Wild Goose | Shiraz | | 21.00 | 1/2 | 89 |
| (89-RP) |
| Richmond Hills |
| 2000 | Castell Del Remei Gotim Bru | Tempr/Merlot/CabSauv | | 18.00 | 2/5 | 90-92 |
| (RP-92) Only one word for this wine-awesome! This unrefined/unfiltered, blend exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color as well as sumptuous aromas of cedar, black currants, licorice, scorched earth, graphite. Full-bodied, sweet, rich, with fabulous purity, texture. This compelling wine will age well for a decade, although who can resist the full-bodied, intense pleasures it currently offers. Readers seeking a restrained, politically correct, wimpy wine should look elsewhere. Amazing stuff! (Gis-90) Gotim Bru 2000 is made by Castell del Remei some 120 kms north west of Barcelona in the Costers Del Segre appellation. Wine is perhaps best described as “New World,” Spanish blend of 55% tempranillo, 25% CabSauv, 20% merlot. It has great colour, presence in the glass with very enticing rich aromas of black fruits, cedar, anise, vanilla. American oak ageing has furthered softened its edge allowing one to savour the blackberries, black currants, plummy fruit flavours throughout. A perfect foil to lamb, paella or Manchego cheese. |
| J.W |
| 2003 | Cave de Tain Esprit de Granit | Syrah | | 29.00 | 2/3 | 91 |
| (WS-91) Ovrely mixed berry fruit, floral notes, hints of mocha, tar in the background. Long finish is filled with dark fruit, spice. Drink now-2009. 1000 cases made. JM |
| WP |
| 1999 | Caves des Papes Clos de L'oratoire des Pape | Gren/Syrah/Mourv/Cinsault | | 32.00 | 2/3 | 92 |
| (WS-92) Ripe fruit leads to rich flavors. Long, complex, with roasted game, plum, wet earth, smoked wood, grilled meat character. Long aftertaste. Needs cellaring |
| SS |
| 2005 | Cedar Creek Estate Winery Block Four Platinum Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 55.00 | 3/4 | |
| Winery |
| 2002 | Cedar Creek Estate Winery Platinum Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 35.00 | 1/3 | 90 |
| (Gis-90) Smoky, resin, vanilla, black cherry, exotic orange peel, compost aromas with a bit of strawberry rhubarb pie. Dry, round, elegant style with a touch of tannin but very balanced. Cherry, rhubarb, smoky, resiny vanilla, compost flavours with a touch of barnyard, licorice on the finish. Classy pinot; improvement from prior vintages. Needs a year or two to fully integrate |
| Winery |
| 2005 | Cedar Creek Estate Winery Platinum Reserve | Pinot Noir | | 40.00 | 5/6 | |
| Winery |
| 2005 | Chateau Fleur Cardinale | Bordeaux | | 60.50 | 6 | 93 |
| (WS-93) Beautiful aromas of black licorice, berry, vanilla follow through to a full body, with soft, velvety tannins, long, caressing finish. Polished, very pretty. Incredibly well done for this estate. Best after 2016. 5,700 cases made. |
| WP |
| 2005 | Chateau Angludet | Bordeaux | | 40.00 | 2 | 90 |
| (WS-90) Mushroom, spice, berry, meat aromas follow through to a full body, with slightly earthy undertone, soft tannins. But this is rich, interesting. Best after 2011. 8,330 cases made. |
| WP |
| 2000 | Chateau Carignan Prima | Bordeaux | | 42.00 | 2/6 | 90 |
| (WS-90) Cool red, with mineral, berry, blueberry character. Med-bodied, with firm tannins, a racy finish. A bit hard now, but shows outstanding potential. Best after 2005. 5,000 cases made. (JS) (Gis-90) Look for a ripe, plum, cherry jam, anise nose : lots of coffee vanilla, leather, barnyard notes. Supple structure with richness, ripe tannins. Big coffee, vanilla, smoky oak anise, cherry jam, tobacco flavours. A bit warm but quite elegant, long. Very modern, ripe Bordelais style with some balance for early consumption but it should easily improve in bottle for another 5 years. Blend is 75/25 merlot/CabSauv |
| J.W |
| 2005 | Chateau Caronne Ste Gemme | Bordeaux | | 27.00 | 6 | 91 |
| (WS-91) Offers raisin, dried fruit, with very ripe fruit aromas, coffee, oak undertones. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, long finish. This is pumped up, but I like the flamboyant character. Best after 2011. 20,000 cases made. –JS |
| WP |
| 1990 | Chateau Giscours | Bordeaux | | 25.00 | 1/3 | 91 |
| (WS-91) Dark ruby color. Aromas of blackberry, minerals, licorice. Full-bodied, firm tannins, lovely currant character. Med-finish. Outstanding Giscours. Needs some time.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2005. 33,000 cases made. (JS) |
| purchased at Chateau Giscours |
| 2002 | Chateau Haut-Batailley | Bordeaux | | 52.00 | 2 | 89-91 |
| (WS-91) Barrel tasting: Solid core of fruit in this wine, medium-full body, good tannins, medium finish. Score range: 89-91 (JS) (WE-89) This chateau, owned by one of the old Bordeaux families, the Bories, has only recently begun to gain the stature its vineyard, in the south of Pauillac, demands. This ’03 is still very tight, packed with dark, tannic fruits, dominated by a dense layer of wood. The price is still reasonable, which makes this a great wine for drinking after 10 years. |
| WP |
| 2004 | Chateau Kirwan Grand Cru Classe | Bordeaux | | 65.00 | 6 | 88-93 |
| (RP-90) (WE-93) Freshness is the hallmark of this wine. The fruit is dominant, ripe, balanced with blackberry acidity. There is a possible hint of overextraction, but that is only a small failing in such a delicious wine (WS-88) Aromas of cedar, berry, sandalwood. Full-bodied, with silky tannins, a long finish. Mouth-puckering. Slightly overextracted, but should come around. Best after 2010. 6,000 cases made. –JS |
| Richmond |
| 2000 | Chateau Latour Martillac | Bordeaux | | 65.00 | 2/4 | 92 |
| (WS-92) Blackberry, cigar tobacco, hints of toasted oak. Full bodied,with loads of velvety tannins, long finish. [#31 in top 100 - 2003] (Clive Coates) Fresh, fruity, attractive on the nose. Quite accessible. Med-weight. Good tannins. Plump fruit. Balanced, quite rich. Good definition. Long on the finish. Very good. From 2007. |
| J.W |
| 1996 | Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 2/6 | 90-92 |
| (WS-90)Ripe, bright, with distinctive black pepper, plum, berry flavors that pick up more than a hint of licorice on the lively finish. Fine-grained tannins don't get in the way. (HS) (Gis-92) Tight, fairly closed on the nose with more earth, licorice, pepper than fruit at this point, has hints of plum jam. Big rich fruit flavours of ripe plum jam, pepper, earth, jasmine sit on the mid-palate, fill your mouth but the finish is tannic, dry, very young. Will need several years to come around. |
| RH.. Dec 03.. Dave O said to hold a couple more years |
| 2000 | Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed | Shiraz | | 30.00 | 4/8 | 91 |
| (WS-91)Plump, generous, beautifully proportioned Shiraz that packs plenty of blueberry, plum, anise, vanilla flavors onto a plush frame. Flavors last on the harmonious finish. (HS) (Gis-91) Big smoky, bacon, spicy licorice root nose with incredible black plum, black cherry jam fruit. Gorgeous smooth, unctuous textures with lifted acidity. Intense smoky, vanilla, bacon, boysenberry jam, peppery, spicy flavours. Suave. balanced. should pair well with grilled foods (Decanter 4/5) Intense spice, oak, very McLaren feel, instant appeal. Big, ripe palate, lots of extraction, some tannins, bags of character. Drink 5-10 years. |
| RH |
| 2004 | Chateau Reynon | Bordeaux | | 29.00 | 3 | |
| Richmond |
| 1998 | Chateau de la Gardine | Gren/Syrah/Mourvedre | | 34.00 | 1/4 | 94 |
| (WS-94) Wonderful, masterful wine. Firm, opulent, displays a nice dig into the Rhône terroir as it brings out wet earth, mineral, interesting, chewy tannin structure. A high-voltage drinking experience, with lots of fruit, spice, mocha. (PM) |
| SS |
| 2000 | Chateau de la Gardine | Gren/Syrah/Mourvedre | | 32.00 | 2/4 | 92 |
| (WS-92) Beautiful. Black color, thick texture, delicious ripe fruit, silky, sweet tannins. Balanced, full-bodied Châteauneuf delivers harmony, pleasure from start to finish, although it emphasizes fruit over terroir. (PM) |
| SS (ripe delicious, and soft tannins) |
| 2001 | Chateau de la Gardine | Gren/Syrah/Mourvedre | | 35.00 | 1 | 87 |
| (WE-87) Made with a not-so-subtle whack of wood, this Châteauneuf features aromas of toasted marshmallows to go along with ripe cherry flavors. Crisp, med-bodied, with flavors of vanilla, toffee or caramel, the recurring cherries. Doesn’t seem like a long ager, but worth holding a few years to see if additional complexities develop |
| 2004 | Chateau duTertre Grand Cru Classe | Bordeaux | | 55.00 | 5/6 | 88-90 |
| (RP-90) (WE-88) A soft, lively wine, with fresh acidity, easy tannins. It’s made especially attractive by the spicy wood flavors, but it’s not a wine for long-term aging. |
| Richmond |
| 2002 | Cheval des Andes | CabSauv/Malbec | | 75.00 | 2/3 | 92-93 |
| (WS-92) Great Boreaux-like wine: delicate, exotic, powerful, fresh, elegant, authentic.A finely sculpted wine, with ripe, focused core of red currant, plum, blackberry fruit balanced by vanilla bean, coffee, smoke notes. Long, plush, fine-grained tannins carrying the finish. Tastes more like Bordeaux than Argentina though. CabSauv, Malbec, Petit Verdot. Drink now-2008. 3,400 cases made. –JM (WE-93) A serious wine for serious wine drinkers. It’s 60% Cab, rest Malbec. Deep, deep, deeper is how to best describe the chewy, fruit-saturated palate, but even better, this wine has guts, balance, aging capacity. Best to hold this joint-venture red from Chateau Cheval-Blanc, Terrazas de Los Andes for at least 3 yrs |
| Wine cottage |
| 2005 | Clos des Jacobins | Bordeaux | | 60.50 | 4 | 94 |
| (WS-94) Dark in color, almost black. Aromas of raisin, spices, blackberry follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins, long, powerful finish. Has loads of fruit, toasty oak. This is exciting. A new 1947? Best after 2016. 2,415 cases made. –JS |
| WP |
| 1998 | Concha y Toro Don Melchor Private Reserve | CabSauv | | 20.00 | 1/5 | 89-90 |
| (WS-89)Displays intense cherry, blackberry fruit flavors layered with subtle oak complexities. Pair with grilled or roasted meats, stews or hearty pastas. Quite minty on the nose, with dark chocolate, cassis flavors, slightly firm finish. Remarkably good flesh, mouthfeel for a '98. One of the top efforts of the vintage. Tasted twice, with consistent notes..(JM) (W&S-89) Black up front, aromas hinting at the extract, along with the mintiness that often leads off this wine. Gentle flavours meld black cherry liqueur with coffee, orange in a smoooth balance. Should evolve well over several years. (Gis-90) Intense smoked spice, cassis berries, sap – the Don nose. Lovely smoky leather cassis fruit, very supple, soft on the palate. Some dryness in the long waxy vanilla finish but otherwise this is surprisingly good for a tough cool vintage. Menthol, cassis. (WineAdv) Has demure cassis, blackberry aromas. Quite firm, tannic, yet has an admirable core of cassis liqueur, plum, blackberry fruit, making it certainly one of the great successes of 1998 from South America. According to Tirado, "The success of this wine came from the fact that we harvested subparcel by subparcel, selecting the picking date exclusively by taste." Projected maturity: 2004-2014. |
| DD |
| 2000 | Concha y Toro Don Melchor Private Reserve | CabSauv | | 40.00 | 3 | 90-94 |
| (WS-94)Terrific personality, with prune, cocoa, loam, mineral, dark currant, blackberry, tar, sanguine flavors that don't quit. Well-structured, fine balance, harmony already, a very long finish. Best from 2005-2010. (JM) [#26 WS 2004] (WA-90) 90waThe barrel sample of the 2000 Don Melchor I tasted was medium to dark ruby/purple-colored. It reveals candied red fruit aromas and a majestically concentrated character. This jammy, cherry and raspberry-flavored wine has outstanding potential. It is spicy, broad-shouldered, and powerful. Projected maturity: 2008-2018. Congratulations to Concha y Toro, winemaker Enrique Tirado for this fascinating, enlightening lineup of delicious wines. |
| L O |
| 2000 | D'Arenberg The Dead Arm | Shiraz | | 70.00 | 1 | 93-94 |
| (RP-94) (WE-90) (WS-93) Firm in texture, remarkably focused on flavor, offering solid blackberry, cherry flavors at the center, touches of licorice, mint around the edges, echoing on the slightly chewy but long finish. (HS) (JH-94) Masses of dark plum, prune, licorice fruit on the bouquet, then a palate flooded with the same fruit characters plus a generous dash of bitter chocolate; lots of tannin, extract; needs a decade. (Gisi-94) The Dead Arm gets its name in a fairly inauspicious way – named after the disease (Eutypa Lata) which afflicts some of the oldest vines at d’Arenberg from which we get the majority of fruit destined for The Dead Arm. The disease, Eutypa Lata, or ‘Dead Arm’ is common around the world in old vineyard sites. The disease slowly reduces one of the ‘arms’ of the vines to dead wood, which then means the other arm of the vine produces small volumes of the most incredibly concentrated, highly flavoured grapes. Look for peppery, pencil lead, saddle leather, notes with vanilla, blackberry jam, smoky, meaty coriander notes. Warm, rich, round with some noticeable but ripe tannins. The fruit is spicy, pruny blackberry jam with vanilla, orange rind flavours, a meaty, cola coriander finish. It is long, concentrated, stylish, not overly sweet with balanced acidity. Impressive. |
| J.W |
| 2001 | D'Arenberg The Dead Arm | Shiraz | | 33.00 | 4/6 | 96-98 |
| (RP-96)1998 The Dead Arm Shiraz (from a vineyard planted prior to 1890) is outrageously rich, spectacular stuff, the likes of which only Australia seems capable of making. Whiners may complain that it is too big, too rich, too flavorful, too damn good, but this is loaded with blackberry liqueur, smoke, charcoal, pepper, cassis, & licorice. Unctuously-textured, full-bodied, but neither heavy nor overbearing, the wine's sweet tannin, low acidity are hidden in the cascade of fruit, glycerin that melt on the palate. This riveting, compelling effort can be drunk now, but promises to age well for 2 decades or more. (Winemakers Tasting Note) Nose shows intense, complex cedary, fig, blackberry, blueberry like smells occasionally pepper/spice smells . Vanilla mocha oak smells, blackberry, cassis characters are also evident on the palate. Accent is on powerful full-bodied berry fruit flavour, with a little sweet English toffee- like oak evident on the juicy, rolling finish. After time in bottle the d'Arenberg's Dead Arm gains a biscuity, cinnamon, caramel, eucalyptus based bouquet on top of rich blackberry pie smells. Tobacco, mushrooms, malt,, earth aromas play a part on the long, elegant fleshy, chocolate mint flavours. Cellar for the next 3- 25 years (WA-98) |
| J.W |
| 2002 | D'Arenberg The Dead Arm | Shiraz | | 69.00 | 2/3 | 91-92 |
| (RP-92) The 2002 The Dead Arm Shiraz was a challenge to effectively analyze. After the magnificent 2001, it comes across as lighter-styled, more elegant, but also closed, restrained. Several hours of aeration were beneficial, this cuvee seems to be playing it close to the vest. However, there is power underneath the tannic structure. Deep ruby/purple color is followed by a backward, full-throttle Shiraz lacking the exuberance, unctuosity, stunning concentration of the 2001 & 1998. It has noble breeding, but appears to be totally shut down at present. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020.(WA-92) Nose shows Intense, complex cedary, fig, blackberry, blueberry, pepper aromas. Attacking spicy dark cherry, plum, blackberry fruit dominate the taste with a complex, slightly acetone, liquorice, prune richness, silkiness leading to a slight cedar, mineral, svelte array of tannins. Length comes right back to gritty, vibrant fruit tannins giving the wine great ageability. After time in bottle, the d’Arenberg Dead Arm gains a biscuity, cinnamon, caramel, eucalyptus based bouquet on top of rich blackberry pie smells. Tobacco, mushroom, malt, earth aromas play a part on the long, fleshy, chocolate mint, spice flavors. Restrained tannin, acidity coupled with rich alcohol produce a seamless, peppery, velvety, rolling length. (TA-4 1/2 /5) Nose: coffee bean, smoky oak, black olive, rich plum, earth Taste: dry, full-bodied, complex, chocolate, oak flavours, medium + acid, high tannins; lingering finish. (Karen Rossi) (WE-91) Impresses the hell out of you on the first look—it offers controlled, pretty plum, berry fruit on the palate, with black pepper, cassis, graham cracker aromas. Overexamine it, though, you start to find things that you wish were different (for me, it wants more intensity midpalate), but that doesn't mean that this isn't delicious. Why not just sit back and enjoy the mocha-laden finish, leave analysis to another day? |
| J.W |
| 2001 | D'Arenberg The Galvo Garage | CSauv/Merlot/CFranc | | 35.00 | 0/1 | 87-90 |
| (WE-87) There’s a lot of oak here—the nose, particularly, shows wood-derived herb, white peppery notes. Red fruit on the palate fades into smooth, oaky tannins on the finish(WS-87) Firm in texture, red pepper, red berry flavors competing for attention with herbal notes, finishing a bit sharp, chewy. There's plenty of stuff here, but it hasn't come together. (HS).... (Ric Einstein) As the wine progresses through the palate it shows intensely sweet up front cherry fruit with blackcurrant going into savoury chocolate, finishing to liquorice with a good mouth feel provided smooth but slightly dusty drying tannins. Fresh acid helps to cut through the initial overt sweetness. This is an ample weight serious party wine with the added benefit of having real aging potential. Wine should matures around 2007. (J.Ellis-90) Cedar, tobacco, leather, some plum notes evident as the glass warms. Excellent tannins, elegant acids, integrated palate: this wine leaves a lasting impression. Good length, exquisite finish, leaving the lovely savoury woody notes rolling around the palate. A Bordeaux impersonator if ever there was one. (RP-90) This French-styled red reveals an opaque purple color as well as a sweet nose of black currants intermixed with licorice, toasty oak. Deep, rich yet structured, well-delineated. |
| LO |
| 2001 | D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie | Shiraz/Viognier | | 43.00 | 2 | 91-94 |
| (RP-94) (blend of 95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier) exhibits knock-out aromas of violets, blackberry liqueur, honeysuckle, toasty new French oak. Extraordinary richness, full body, opulence, intensity, seamless as well as majestic finish this killer red will be at its finest between 2005-2018. (WS-92) Strives for elegance over power, but shows plenty of lovely plum, spice character, the pretty flavors hanging on a polished, open-textured frame, finishing with plenty of style, impressive length. Drink now-2010. (JH-93) Fruit-driven bouquet has a range of rich plum, black cherry, sweet spice aromas, the rich, mouthfilling palate exuding dark fruit flavours, finishing with slightly milky/furry tannins which should settle down nicely with time (W&S-91) Depth of color, saturated flavours of red grape, with the life of vibrant aeromatics. It's no less dense for the voignier, perhaps a bit more elegant. Should age beautifully |
| J.W |
| 2002 | D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie | Shiraz/Viognier | | 40.00 | 1/3 | 88-93 |
| (WS-91) Lithe, lively red with a lovely subtle streak of apricot, spice running through the blackberry, blueberry, peppery spice flavors, beautifully balanced right through the harmonious finish. Drink now-2007.(HS) (W&S-93) Viognier adds fragrance, perfume of flowers, nectarines, ginger, herbs, serving to enhance the very ripe spectrum of the Shiraz, namely blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry. These same characters are also evident on the palate, prevail with a smooth glycerol impact, following through to the mid palate with fruity tannin.. Structure has an accent on fine structure, a gritty long fruit tannin (RP-93) Gorgeous nose of lychee nuts, acacia flowers, blackberries, creme de cassis. Supple-textured, opulent, with pepper, licorice, blackberry liqueur-like flavors (WE-88)The wine’s scant 7% Viognier is really noticeable, particularly on the nose, where feminine, floral aromas pretty up black-as-night oak, plum; this reviewer found violets among the wine’s similarly dark flavors. The feel is chewy, substantial at midpalate, though a little too woody on the finish. |
| J.W |
| 2003 | D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie | Shiraz/Viognier | | 43.00 | 1/2 | 88-91 |
| (WS -91) Dense, dark in color, lots of intense flavor but still in proportion, offering blackberry, black cherry, a distinctive twang of floral peach from the Viognier, finishing with licorice, pepper that lasts against vibrant acidity, fine tannins. Drink now-2010. (HS) (WE-88) Meaty, peppery aromas give way to ones of cherry pie filling after airing. Rhone-styled, perhaps, on the palate, with a cracked-pepper quality accenting the black fruit; there's a lifted quality—the Viognier's floral notes—to the black cherry fruit, that feels overdone. This is a tasty wine, to be sure, but one whose 6% Viognier is about 3% too much |
| K |
| 2004 | D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie | Shiraz/Viognier | | 31.00 | 3 | |
| B J |
| 2005 | Desert Hills Winery | Syrah | | 35.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Domaine Alain Burguet Tradition | Pinot Noir | | 50.00 | 2 | |
| JW |
| 2001 | Domaine Carneros The Famous Gate | Pinot Noir | | 41.00 | 1/3 | 91 |
| (WE-91) This pretty wine is light in body, almost ethereal, but so rich, intricately detailed. Like a medieval tapestry, it has interwoven notes of cherry, mocha, oriental spices, smoky oak, foresty, pine-nut sharpness. Probably not an ager, but beautiful now for its refinement , complexity |
| JW |
| 2003 | Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair Clos Marion | Pinot Noir | | 43.00 | 1 | |
| RH |
| 2003 | Domaine Henri Gouges | Pinot Noir | | 55.00 | 3 | |
| J.Webb |
| 2003 | Domaine de la Janasse Les Garrigues | Grenache | | 40.00 | 1/2 | 89 |
| (WS-89) Perfumy, with high-toned cherry, raspberry fruit stitched with floral, vanilla notes. Nice minerally finish. A bit tight now, could use a dash of cellaring. Best from 2006-2008. (JM) |
| J.Webb |
| 2005 | Dona Paula | Malbec | | 20.00 | 1 | 89 |
| (Gis-89) Spicy, meaty, plum pudding, coffee, licorice, savoury aromas. Ripe, rich, soft, round with full flavour intensity but not heavy. Peppery, licorice, black cherry, plum, savoury, vanilla flavours. A bit acidic at the end but has good fruit, suppleness. |
| Gift B&B |
| 2000 | Elyse Winery | Syrah | | 34.00 | 2 | |
| JW |
| 2004 | Elyse Winery | Petite Sirah | | 42.00 | 2 | |
| J. Webb |
| 2005 | Elyse Winery | Zinfandel | | 40.00 | 2 | |
| Richmond |
| 2005 | Epsilon Wines | Shiraz | | 26.00 | 4/6 | 94 |
| (RP-94) Terrific value, 2005 shiraz is fashioned from 32 year old vines planted in the Greenock sector. Aged 12 months in old French oak hogsheads (300 liters) exhibits an opaque purple color, abundant aromas of raspberries, blueberries, graphite, spice box, full bodied, rich, fleshy style. A hedonistic tour de force in winemaking, it can be enjoyed over the next 4-5 years. |
| J.Webb |
| 2002 | Foggo Old Bush Vine | Grenache | | 32.00 | 1/3 | 87-91 |
| (91-JH) Gold Medal Winner. Foggo Wines Old Bush Vine Grenache comes from gnarled, contorted old vines from the winery block; the home block both dry grown old bush vines (WS-87) Smooth, aromatic, with a white pepper, café au lait cast to the red berry flavors, finishing with a touch of licorice. Drink now- 2008 |
| Okotoks |
| 2000 | Fontanafredda Serralunga d'Alba | Nebbiolo | | 29.00 | 3 | 88-92 |
| (RP-92) (WS-88) Attractive aromas of lilacs, roses and berries follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, silky tannins and a pretty finish. For early drinking. Clean. Best after 2006. 10,000 cases made. |
| WP |
| 2001 | Fox Creek Wines JSM | Shiraz/CFranc/CSauv | | 29.00 | 1/6 | 87-90 |
| (WS-89) Firm, chewy, dark berry, cherry, mineral flavors, echoing enticingly on the refined finish. (JH-90) Solid, dark fruits, touches of dark chocolate, vanilla oak on the bouquet lead into a well-balanced, med-bodied palate with sweet, chocolatey fruit, ripe tannins. Trophy, gold medal winner at the McLaren Vale Wine Show (WE-87) This wine is 70% Shiraz, with CabFranc, Sauv filling out the rest of the blend. The JSM isn’t quite as good this vintage as it has been in the past, owing largely to its stewy fruit flavors. But it does have its high points. The wine’s smooth tannins, sturdy frame are admirable, as are its clay, sand, mocha accents |
| J.W |
| 1999 | Gerard Bertrand Cigalus | CabSauv/Merlot | | 57.00 | 2 | 92 |
| (WS-92) Massive, meaty , robust,, sink-your-teeth-into-it flavors of dark plum, cherry, cassis. Loads of spice, chocolate, bacon notes on the long, complex finish. Impressive. |
| WP |
| 2002 | Glaetzer Amon-Ra | Shiraz | | 62.00 | 2/7 | 96-100 |
| (RP-98) Fermented in both French, American wood, left on its lees during malolactic as well as for 3 months after. Aged in 100% new American oak, bottled without filtration. The inky blue/purple/black color is accompanied by aromas of creosote, scorched earth, black as well as blueberries, creme de cassis, subtle vanilla. Extraordinary aromatics are followed by a wine of size, power, great richness, delineation, amazing depth as well as intensity. Finish lasts more than a minute. This is one of the most compelling offerings I tasted in the overall impressive performance of the 2001, 2002 South Australian vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. This is a wow-wow wine! |
| J.W |
| 2003 | Glaetzer Amon-Ra | Shiraz | | 62.00 | 2/3 | 93-100 |
| Vibrant black/purple colour, with aromas of pepper, plum, lifted, animated fruit. A firm structure of ripe, supple tannins provide support to lashings of blackcurrant, nutmeg.Tannin structure, sheer fruit weight of the wine will enable long-term cellaring. (RP:96-100) Killer stuff, with notes of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, graphite, blackberries, cassis, smoke, it possesses extraordinary concentration, tremendous purity, a seamless personality, a magnificent finish that lasts over 60 seconds. Since this cuvée is never filtered, this tasting note should be accurate, if somewhat conservative for the bottled wine" 2005-2016+ (WS-93) Firm, but remarkably generous, pure, with richly articulated cherry, raspberry jam, licorice flavors that linger impressively on the meaty finish. Needs time to sort itself out. Best after 2008. 400 cases |
| JW |
| 2004 | Glaetzer Amon-Ra | Shiraz | | 65.00 | 3 | 92-97 |
| (RP-93) (Gis-97) Amon-Ra, the King of all Gods is Ben Glaetzer's moniker for his best shiraz. After a difficult '03 vintage, where a single day's rain wiped out most of the crop, the '04 Amon-Ra is all it can be; more. Glaetzer is all about the purity of the fruit, with overnight temperatures in the 18 to 25 degree range, he appears to have a handle on the acidity question as well. The 105 to 115 year-old vines are situated in the Northern Ebenezer region of Barossa. The oak is a 40/60 mix of American/French, it's all new. Spicy nutmeg black fruit scented flavours melt across the palate. Dense rich, powerful this is a considerable jump in quality, quantity over the '03. Love the savoury undertones, the supple fine-grained tannins. Very hedonistic without going over the top. There are only 12,000 bottles for the world. Definitely, a bargain among top end Barossa shiraz. (WS-92) Ripe, smoky, a blast of cherry, dried blueberry, roasted meat, licorice flavors that power through the dense, ultraripe finish. A brawny wine that needs time to settle down. Best after 2010. 1,000 cases |
| JW |
| 2005 | Glaetzer Amon-Ra | Shiraz | | 62.00 | 3/4 | 92-98 |
| (WE-95) From a single vineyard in the Ebenezer region, this is simply stupendous stuff. It is a bit Port-like in its rich layers of blackberry fruit, but it also displays great freshness, drive, giving it a juicy, fresh fruit character that’s accented even more by dustings of pepper, dried spices. A beautiful marriage of drinkability and ageability; drink now–2020(WS-92) Smooth, round, spicy, star anise, soy sauce overtones to the rich cherry, toast flavors, lingering on the generous finish. Has depth, impressive detail. 2008-2015 (RP-98) (Gis-95) Fine use of French wood here with only 20 % American oak in the mix. Super dark almost opaque with a peppery, spicy, licorice root, vanilla, black cherry nose with coriander, saddle leather, meaty blueberry notes. Rich on the palate with supple, fine-grained tannins, delicious smoky, vanilla, mocha, licorice, blackberry jam, blueberry fruit flavours. Warm, tart fruity savoury finish. Needs 3-5 years to reach its peak. |
| RH |
| 2006 | Glaetzer Amon-Ra | Shiraz | | 61.50 | 6 | 91-95 |
| (WE-95) Shows a slightly lifted, peppery character on the nose, but also plenty of toasty oak, bold fruit. Loads of blackberries, blueberries, chocolate cascade over the palate, accented with enough spice, warmth to leave a fleeting impression of fruitcake. Lush, long on the finish. Drink now–2020 or beyond (WS-91) Firm texture, deepp, distinctive flavor, offering coffee tinged cherry, spice flavors that linger against slightly gritty tannins. Needs time to soften, open 2010-2018 |
| JW |
| 2006 | Glaetzer Anaperenna | Shiraz/CabSauv | | 52.00 | 2 | 91 |
| Previous vintages under the name Godolphin (WS-91) Brash, youthful, juicy currant, cedar flavors of CabSauv whistling through the blackberry, exotic spice of the shiraz with lively, firm tannins 2009-2012 |
| J.Webb |
| 1999 | Glaetzer Bishop | Shiraz | | 38.00 | 3 | 90 |
| Winemaker - aromas oflicorice, mocha intermingle with cassis, leather. Opulent fruit flavours on the palate are balanced by the firm velvety tannins. (RP-90) exhibits copious aromas of melted licorice, intertwined with crème de cassis, leather, creosote. Dense, full-bodied, supple-textured, already delicious, it can be drunk now or over the next 7 – 8 years.” |
| JW |
| 2004 | Glaetzer Godolphin | Shiraz/CabSauv | | 49.00 | 3 | 91-98 |
| (RP-98) Nearly perfect wine, made from 84% Shiraz (105-115 yr-old vines) 16% CabSauv (60-90yr-old vines), was cropped at a minuscule .5 -1 ton of fruit per acre, spent 15 months in French oak prior to bottling. Gorgeously sweet, pure nose of crushed rocks, blueberries, cassis, minerals soars from the glass. Floral-like black, blue fruits, inky/purple color, nearly endless depth, persistence on the palate: stuff of legends. Extraordinary equilibrium, precision, purity, it represents the apogee of Ben Glaetzer's winemaking talents. (Gis-93)Godolphin is a 70/30 shiraz/cabernet blend made from vines that span 60-115 years that are all dry-farmed in Barossa’s Ebenezer district. I don’t remember tasting better version of this blend. Rich round supple, sleek as it enters the palate, packed with spicy powerful blackcurrant fruit whose size, intensity reflects the low yields that winemaker Ben Glaetzer. There’s a leafy mocha undercurrent in the finish of what Glaetzer claims is his junior wine although it’s anything but. Fine value here. (JH-95) You may actually be able to buy this, unlike its on-strict-allocation big brother Amon Ra. Winemaker Ben Glaetzer has blended shiraz, cab sauv, bottled it unfiltered after 18 months in quality oak. It is quite delicious, with supple, luxuriant blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry intermingling with fine soft tannins. |
| JW |
| 2005 | Glaetzer Godolphin | Shiraz/CabSauv | | 52.50 | 2 | 89-94 |
| (WS-89) Dense, distinctive for its anise, herb scented cassis, dried tomato flavors that linger on the round finish. (RP-93) (Gis-91} Godolphin is a mostly shiraz with a dose of CabSauv made from old, dry-farmed vines in Barossa’s Ebenezer district. It’s plenty round, rich in the mouth with meaty, black olive, black cherry, cassis aromas with big peppery, smoky, vanilla, black cherry, cola, jammy fruit flavours. Youthful dry tannins but they should dissipate. Needs 2-3 years to soften, gain complexity. (WE-94),A blend of 80% Shiraz and 20% Cabernet, this rich, almost Port-like wine also shows a slight herbal note—enough to give it some lift, complexity. It’s inky black in color, imbued with layers of dark fruit so deep they threaten to suck you in before being lightened ever so slightly by hints of vanilla, spice. Long, lush on the finish. Drink now–2015 |
| RH |
| 2002 | Glaetzer Wallace | Shiraz/CSauv/Grenache | | 25.00 | 1/15 | 89 |
| Wine is balanced, complex, Grenache contributing flavour, spice, Mourvèdre adding colour, structure. Superb at release, wine will reward careful cool cellaring. (WS-89) Dark, with aromatics that weave Cab peppermint, Grenache raspberry through the core of cherry, licorice from Shiraz. Finishes tart, with remarkable grace. Drink now-2010. (HS) |
| J.W |
| 2003 | Glaetzer Wallace | Shiraz/CSauv/Grenache | | 26.00 | 1/3 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) The Glaetzer Wallace is a lively 70/30 shiraz/grenache blend. The Barossa grenache clone tends to be lighter-coloured, bodied, according to winemaker Ben Glaetzer. so works better when bolstered by a fatter shiraz. The '03 vintage was a challenge but the peppery, fruity earthy characters of the wine still shine through. Best of all you can drink it now while you wait for the ’04 Barossa red to come around. Winemaker - ripe, peppery old vine shiraz dominates, adds weight, texture, a fleshy richness to the palate. Grenache contributes sweet cherry, toffee, earthy characters. (Decanter) Inky. Good bright fruit spice. Juicy, good. (WS-88) Smooth, polished style has lovely spice, stewed plum, fresh blueberry flavors, lingering on the fine-grained finish. Shiraz/Grenache. Drink now-2009. |
| JW |
| 2006 | Glaetzer Wallace | Shiraz/Grenache | | 25.00 | 5/6 | 88-89 |
| (Gis-89) A 80/20 blend of shiraz/grenache from Barossa. An excellent year has yielded a rich black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco scented red with spicy, menthol, vanilla aromas. Ripe, round, rich, moderately elegant. Raspberry jam, orange peel, black cherry, menthol, coffee, vanilla flavours with a smoky, licorice finish. Great fruit with just a dusting of grippy tannins at the backend. (WS-88) Crisp, lively, with black olive, blackberry flavors mingling on the lean structure. Flavors persist nicely. 8000 cases made. Drink til 2013 |
| RH |
| 2005 | Golden Mile Cellars Black Art | Pinot Noir | | 35.00 | 4/6 | |
| won the Lieutenant Governor’s award for excellence in BC Wines |
| Purchase at winnery |
| 2005 | Golden Mile Cellars Black Art | Syrah | | 34.00 | 2 | |
| Purchase at winnery |
| 2006 | Golden Mile Cellars Black Art | Syrah | | 35.00 | 2 | |
| Winery |
| 2006 | Golden Mile Cellars Black Art | Pinot Noir | | 36.00 | 5/6 | 86 |
| (Gis-86) Cherry, tobacco leaf, rhubarb, spicy, carrot aromas. Very warm, round, supple palate with spicy carrot, stewed rhubarb, tobacco leaf, barnyard, orange flavours. Simple, forward style that finishes a touch bitter. |
| Winery |
| 2005 | Golden Mile Cellars Black Art 5th Element | Merl/CabSauv/PetitVerd/CabFranc/Syrah | | 36.00 | 2/3 | 87 |
| (Gis-87) Mix of 27 lots is a 65/28/4/2/1/ blend of merl/cabsauv/petit verdot/syrah/cabfranc. Lots are separately fermented, complete malolactic fermentation in a mix of new-3 yr old French oak barrels. Much cleaner than its cousin, Road 13, offering up ripe, black fruit flavours with leafy notes with pepper, cedar, vanilla. A bit heavy on the oak, given the fruit intensity, but it could come around after a bit more time in the bottle. Pricey. |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Golden Mile Cellars Estate Winery | Cabernet Franc | | 25.00 | 1/3 | 86 |
| (Gis-86) Big tobacco ash, rootsy, leafy, cranberry, minty nose with flecks of black olive, resiny oak. Dry, round, supple palate with cranberry, smoky, coffee, tobacco, minty, black olive flavours, a resiny, warm, oak vanilla finish. A bit light weight with a slightly skinny finish. |
| winery 1 given by owner |
| 2002 | Grant Burge Filsell | Shiraz | | 32.00 | 1/3 | 90-91 |
| (WS-91) Rich and ripe, balanced with lively acidity. A generous mouthful of red berry, cherry and licorice flavors, shaded with subtle spices and a polished mouthfeel that lets the flavors sail nicely. Best from 2007 through 2012. 1,100 cases imported. (HS) (Gis-90) Big spicy, minty, black cherry nose mixed with vanilla, cardamom, rootsy plum nose. Rich, ripe, round, dry with elevated acidity, some grainy tannin. Good black cherry, vanilla, floral, peppery, spicy cedar, pudding flavours. Good fruit flavours but finish just a bit too acidic, dry. (Rev 20/20)The 2002 FIlsell may well be the best ever wine made under this label, reflects the concentration, weight from 80+ vines from a special vineyard and an outstanding growing season. Impenetrable black-purple-red colour. Wonderful, piquant, aromatic nose with florals, spices pf nuanced shiraz, subtle American oak. Fully ripened fruit this is lush, plush, juicy. Elegant, yet with great power, concentration. Supple, but substantial tannis, very, very fine-grained, beautifully long finish with violet, pepper, licquorice flavours 10 – 15 years cellaring possible. 20.0/20 points (perfection!) (WE-91) So well done, from beginning to end. Nose offers a good balance of beef, cherry, plum, black pepper notes. On the palate, it’s mouthwatering, medium sized, moderately oaked—that is, there’s no caramel or toast in sight. Focused; flavors of black cherry, blackberry, eucalyptus, black pepper are mouthwatering, tannins smooth |
| LO Edm |
| 1998 | Grant Burge Meshach | Shiraz | | 100.00 | 1 | 96 |
| (JH-96) Clean berry fruit, well integrated, balanced oak on the bouquet lead into a med-bodied palate, with a near-perfect balance between fruit, oak, tannins. Manages to combine elegance, flavour (Torb) A complex nose showing sweet plums, black cherry, liquorice savoury plums, spice coconut, vanilla. Excellent balance is provided by the dusty tannins, well judged acid, deep, distinct, concentrated fruit. Palate follows the nose and flows from sweet to savoury flavours. There is an underlying sweetness that stays on the palate throughout. A rich full-bodied wine with a layered structure, harmonious complexity; will be long lived. (tasting May 2002) Considering the quality of the 1998 Meshach- unquestionably one of Australia’s finest shiraz, along with Penfolds Grange, Wynns Michael Shiraz, Jim Barry Armagh, Henschke Hill of Grace |
| 40th anniversary gift from Matt and Nicole |
| 1999 | Grant Burge Shadrach | CabSauv | | 50.00 | 1 | 90-91 |
| (WS-90) Smooth, round, generous, this supple style layers its black cherry, currant, vaguely minty flavors in a well-modulated chorus. Finish has finesse. Drink now-2010. 30 cases imported (WE-91) Nose has fern, mint, black cherry, earth aromas. Juicy black plum is on center stage, with the taut, red Coonawarra fruit in the background. Just the right size—bold, but not overpowering (Winery) Nose: mint, green leaf, black surrent, capsicum. Black cujrrent characters shine through on the palate (Wine review) Traditionally this wine has been a blend of Coonawarra, Barossa fruit. For the 1999 release, fruit from the Adelaide Hills is included. It's a big, stylish cab nose of mint, blackcurrant. The blackcurrant characters really shine through on the palate backed by well balanced savour oak. Drink with rack of lamb |
| LO |
| 1999 | Grant Burge The Holy Trinity | Gren/Shiraz/Mourv | | 37.00 | 2/5 | 88-91 |
| (WS-91) Vivid, crisp, juicy, a mouthful of jazzy blackberry, plum, anise, leather aromas, flavors that unfold gracefully; persist into a long finish. (HS) (WE-88) A slight herbal or minty note on the palate keeps this GSM from falling into an abyss of blackness, albeit a pleasant blackness, black berries, earth, toast. Medium-bodied with chalky tannins, finishes with juicy mixed plum fruit. (JH-89) Clean, bright bouquet with hints of spice, jam to the sweet fruit, then a palate with good depth structure, showing generous, sweet fruit throughout (Gis-89) Open spicy, gamey, peppery nose with smoky, black cherry jam aromas, some mineral, vanilla streaks. Warm, rich, round, fairly elegant styling on the palate with spicy, peppery, mineral, licorice plum jam flavours, pruny/tobacco notes on the finish (WineNews 3/4) Mourvèdre, Grenache, Shiraz make a heavenly blend of berry, smoky lavender flavors [#8 WS 2004] |
| LO |
| 1999 | Greg Norman Estates Reserve | Shiraz | | 65.00 | 2/3 | 90-96 |
| (WS-96) Dark, deep, powerful, an explosive wine, positively vibrating with ultraripe raspberry, blackberry, licorice, sweet peppers, spices, balanced with juicy acidity, finishing with remarkable harmony, tremendous length. A real knockout. Best after 2006. 800 cases made. (HS) [#8 Top 100 WS 2004] (Gis-91) Attractive spicy vanilla, cherry cola, cedar, pepper notes mixed with blackberry jam, crème brûlée. Big, rich, warm on entry with some grainy tannins. Huge peppery, vanilla, smoky, black cherry, licorice, roasted prune flavours preview a long, very warm, crisp finish – almost over the top but will appeal to big red wine lovers (WE-90) This Shiraz has medium body, chalky-chewy tannins. A dried spice, or clove, note that shows on the nose comes around again to accent the palate’s bright, juicy plum fruit; brown sugar, caramel components are almost too hedonistic, rich, but toe the line nicely. Wine comes to a med-long close, chewy tannins hang on after the flavor gives up. |
| L O |
| 1996 | Hardys Wines Thomas Hardy | CabSauv | | 47.00 | 1 | 96 |
| (WS-96) Intense aromas of berries, mint, blueberry, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, plums along with some developed earthy, smoky characters. Full bodied, powerful palate displaying blueberries, mint, cherry, liquorice, cinnamon characters, with some developed leathery, cigar box notes. (JH-96) Still dense & strong in colour, bouquet is primarily powered by sweet blackcurrant fruit, the palate packed with dense blackcurrant/blackberry fruit, the tannins still to fully soften but in balance. |
| 1999 | Haselgrove H | Shiraz | | 34.00 | 2/3 | 92 |
| (JH-92) Big, chunky, ripe style with a voluptuous mix of chocolate dark berry/cherry fruit, continuing the style established by earlier vintages |
| WP |
| 2005 | Hugh Hamilton Jekyll & Hyde | Shiraz/Viognier | | 35.00 | 6/9 | 91-94 |
| (RP-94) (WE-91) The Viognier component adds a wonderfully creamy, fat texture to this wine, but doesn’t impose on the Shiraz aromatics of blueberries, blackberries. It’s lush, fruit-filled, finishing with a touch of licorice. Drink now–2015. |
| Co-op Richmond |
| 2004 | Jackson-Triggs Sun Rock Vineyard | Meritage | | 34.00 | 1/3 | 87 |
| (Gis-87) Smoky, coffee, vanilla, black berry, cassis, peppery, floral, spicy tobacco nose. Very warm entry but rich with some chewy, dry tannin. Plum, black cherry, earthy, peppery, chocolate, vanilla, pudding flavours with a minty, olive note. A bit alcoholic, young but has some good fruit. Needs 2-3 years to round out. |
| Purchased at winery |
| 2005 | Jackson-Triggs Sun Rock Vineyard | Meritage | | 35.00 | 2/3 | |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Kaesler Wines | CabSauv | | 30.00 | 2 | 91-93 |
| (93-RP) Includes 8% P verdot. Bordeaux style, high tannin, loads of strucyure, hints of melted licorice, creme de cassis, graphite, spice box. |
| WP |
| 2001 | Kaesler Wines Stonehorse | Shiraz | | 32.00 | 2 | 90-91 |
| (JH-91) Solid, smooth blackberry fruit aromas are followed by a dense ripe palate with plum, prune, blackberry flavours; wine has good tannins, is not over-extracted. (WS-90) Dense, chewy, concentrating raspberry, red cherry flavors with vanilla, licorice notes, echoing on the fine-grained finish. Drink now-2008(HS) (Gis-90) Closed nose with spicy cardamom hints but not much else at the moment. Nicely balanced (despite the high alcohol) with ripe blackberry jam, white pepper, licorice. Good fruit, a big warm leathery finish. Drier style will appeal to those who prefer wines with less obvious fruit. |
| JW |
| 2004 | Kaesler Wines Stonehorse | Gren/Shiraz/Mourv | | 20.00 | 1/2 | 89-91 |
| (WS-91) Smooth, polished, lovely core of black cherry, currant fruit, dripping with dark chocolate, smoky spice notes as the finish goes on. Impressive for its balance, length. Drink now- 2014. 4,000 cases made. HS (Gis-89) Big cola, peppery, licorice root, black raspberry, gamey, coriander, orange peel aromas. Ripe, round, soft, supple with milk chocolate pudding, peppery, black raspberry jam, mineral, licorice, plum flavours. Warm, hedonistic style for current drinking. Try with turkey or pork roast. The Stonehorse series is constructed to highlight the fruit characteristics of the blend with less influence from new oak. |
| WP |
| 2006 | Kaesler Wines Stonehorse | GSM | | 23.00 | 2 | |
| co-op |
| 1999 | Kilikanoon Wines Oracle Shiraz | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 2 | 90 |
| K |
| 2003 | Koltz | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 3 | |
| Nose: Complex, multi-layered with spicy, earthy forest, blueberry characters, balanced with very good French oak. Nose develops wonderfully with air, keeps developing even after a day. Palate:Lovely, velvet texture, rich, long, complex balanced with firm, gorgeous mouth-filling tannins, a wonderful structure that finishes with spicy notes. We love this wine because it evolves in the glass as you drink it. |
| J.Webb |
| 2005 | La Crema | Pinot Noir | | 34.00 | 1/2 | |
| co-op |
| 2001 | La Massa | Sang/Merlot/CabSauv | | 41.00 | 1/3 | 90-93 |
| (WS-90) Smoky black fruit, with mineral, black licorice notes. Full-bodied, with soft, well-integrated tannins, a long, slightly jammy fruit finish. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab. Formerly Chianti Classico. Drink now. (JS) (WE-93) Rich, ripe smelling, with lovely plum, blackberry flavors. The feel is righteous, big, while the finish brings a blend of toast, pepper, soft tannins. Almost jammy but it holds the line. Drink now -2010 |
| J.W |
| 2000 | La Parrina Riserva | Sang/CabSauv/Merlot | | 25.00 | 1/6 | |
| JW |
| 2005 | La Spinetta Il Nero Di casanova | Sangiovese | | 28.00 | 2 | |
| WP |
| 1999 | Langmeil Winery | Shiraz | | 25.00 | 2/3 | |
| WP |
| 2003 | Laurent Miquel Saga Pegot | Syrah | | 31.00 | 2 | |
| B J |
| 2000 | Le Vieux Donjon | Gren/Syrah/Mourv/Cinsault | | 43.00 | 1/2 | 91-97 |
| (WS-97) Explosive, racy Châteauneuf, bursting with roasted game, wild berry, grilled bread, black chocolate, espresso character. Ripe, sweet-tasting, with the opulent fruit to balance the firm tannin structure that rises like an impenetrable wall on the spectacular finish. Best 2005-2020. (PM) (Gis-91)Smoky, peppery, spicy gamy licorice aromas with a strong black cherry background. Rich, ripe, intense fruit with big black cherry, plum, licorice, game, roasted pepper flavours. Very elegant, round with ripe tannins in the finish. Drinkable now but will improve for 5-8 yrs. Very balanced, suave, |
| J W |
| 2005 | Le Vieux Pin Belle | Pinot Noir | | 45.00 | 3 | |
| Winery |
| 2005 | Le Vieux Pin Epoque | Merlot | | 45.00 | 2/3 | |
| Winery |
| 2006 | Le Vieux Pin Perigee | Pinot Noir | http://www/levieuxpin.ca | 45.00 | 6 | |
| Winery |
| 2004 | Liberty School | Cabernet | | 25.00 | 1/2 | |
| Co-op Richmond |
| 2000 | Lo Givot | Blend | | 65.00 | 2/3 | 90 |
| (RP-90) |
| J.W |
| 2000 | Majella The Malleea | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 59.00 | 1 | 89-96 |
| (WS-89) A&G Trophy - exciting wine, dark, dangerous, but not for all tastes, with peppery, spicy, vinegary, tomatoey flavors around a supple core of blueberry jam character. Smoky notes pervade the whole thing. Flavorsome, but still pretty raucous. Best after 2005(HS) (JH-96) Most recently comfortably topped the Bordeaux blend class in the recent Tri Nations Wine Challenge. Young red wine is seldom as exuberantly joyful as this, fragrant cassis, cedar swirls from the glass, the exceptionally supple palate with a flawless, seamless marriage of fruit, oak, tannin |
| RH |
| 2004 | Majella The Musician | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 20.00 | 2/3 | 83-92 |
| (WS-83) Lean, cedary style has a strong earthy, vegetal component. Finishes with a balance of dark berry fruit. Best after 2007. 3,000 cases made. –HS (JH-92) Excellent deep colour; flooded with luscious blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry fruit; fine, ripe tannins; oak incidental; outstanding value; 70% CabSauv/30% Shiraz. Screwcap. |
| Richmond Hills |
| 2006 | Mark West Winery | Pinot Noir | | 19.00 | 2 | 88 |
| (Gis-88) Spicy, earthy, resiny, garlic rubbery lees, rooty, floral, black cherry nose. Round, dry, slightly tannic, edgy entry with some sweetness. Very warm with cooked cherry, vanilla, smoky, rooty, tobacco leaf, resiny, cedar bark flavours, a touch of orange. Not up to past vintages. |
| Co-op Richmond |
| 1998 | Masi Costasera | Amarone | | 27.00 | 3/9 | 86 |
| (WS-86) Very ripe, very raisiny, with a smoky, almost burnt undertone. Full-bodied, with charred wood, pruny flavors. Silky tannins. A bit raw right now, but should improve nicely. (JS) |
| Costco $28 (4) Liquor Depot $25 (4) 13/06/05 very rich and raisiny |
| 2001 | Masi Costasera | Amarone | | 30.00 | 1 | 88 |
| (WS-88) Bright crushed berry on the nose, with hints of lemon grass and minerals. Full-bodied and very Juicy Fruit-like, firming up with a vanilla note on the finish. Best after 2005. 29,000 cases made. |
| 1999 | Maurice ECARD et Fils | Pinot Noir | | 49.00 | 2 | |
| 2003 | Mitolo Wines G.A.M. | Shiraz | | 49.00 | 2 | 91 |
| (Gis-91) Smoky, peppery, spicy, hot, vanilla, blackberry jam, minty, licorice aromas with floral, bacon notes. Rich, round, soft and a bit alcoholic with very spicy, blackberry jam, vanilla, violet, licorice, minty, smoky flavours. Very smooth, sexy style with some acidity, warmth with a chocolate, coconut finish. (Other) The spectacular, dense ruby/purple-colored 2003 Shiraz G. A. M. (named after the Mitolo family’s three children) exhibits aromas of lead pencil shavings, blackberries, blueberries, cassis, licorice, new oak, scorched earth. This complex 2003 comes across as a hypothetical blend of a great La Mission-Haut-Brion from Bordeaux & a Rhone Valley Hermitage such as Chapoutier’s Pavillon. Everything is seamlessly integrated into this tour de force in winemaking. Should age for 10-15+ years. |
| RH |
| 2004 | Mitolo Wines Jester | Shiraz | | 26.00 | 2/7 | 88-90 |
| (RP-90) (WS-88) Silky, with ripe blackberry, cherry, prune flavors that linger on the fine-grained finish. A solid wine that should get more supple with age. Drink now-2009. 10,000 cases made. (HS) |
| Richmond Hills |
| 2005 | Mitolo Wines Jester | CabSauv | | 26.00 | 3 | 90 |
| (WS-90) Lithe, open-textured, pretty currant, blackberry flavors, finishing with a spicy note, lingering well. Has a generosity, purity of flavor that sets it apart. Drink now. 200 cases made.–HS $57.00 US |
| Richmond Hills |
| 2002 | Mitolo Wines Reiver | Shiraz | | 52.00 | 3 | 94-96 |
| Winemaker: Dense opaque purple. The nose shows hints of black fuits, cigar box, the palate also showing these characters but with ripe spicy tones, well rounded smooth tannin. The richness of the wine is extraordinary as is the purity of berry fruit overtones. 2002 Reiver will age for at least a decade. (RP-94-96) age for 15+ years . (JH -95) Drink til 2022. (Wine int'l-92) Drink 2007-2020 |
| Cri |
| 2004 | Mitolo Wines Savitar | Shiraz | | 59.00 | 2/3 | 98 |
| (RP-98) Dark blood plum characters on the nose intermingled with cloves and blackcurrant. A restrained and tightly structured palate that will benefit from a few years in the cellar. |
| Ricmond Hills |
| 2003 | Mitolo Wines Serpico | CabSauv | | 65.00 | 3 | 91-92 |
| (RP-92) (AusWine- 5 star) Huge, black, purple wine with astounding viscosity. Grapes were hand harvested onto drying racks; left for 7 wks, in the tradition of amarone. Nose of roasted expresso, blackberry, cassis. Explosive on the palate with silky smooth, rich ripe tannins, a massive finish. Not a wine for those who shy from confrontation. Avoid consuming for as long as able, best now-2018. (Gis-91) An unusual wine made with grapes picked at full ripeness then dried on racks for 5-6 wks to gain an extra level of power, complexity, similar to Amarone. Fermented, then cooled to spend an extra 10 days on the skins before aging in French oak. Open spicy, leafy, licorice, cassis, chocolate, saddle leather, coffee aromas with some warmth. Rich, round, suave, slightly tannic with a tight core of acidity. Lots of cassis, mint, tobacco, saddle leather, vanilla, spicy licorice flavours with a rootsy, chocolate finish. Fine finesse, elegance but definitely on the warm side at 14.9%. Will need 2-4 years to fully smooth out. |
| J.W |
| 1999 | Montirius Gigondas | Grenache/Mourv | | 24.00 | 1/6 | 94 |
| (WS-94) Lovely, mineral-tasting, with black fruit galore. Full-bodied, fleshy, ripe, balanced, with sweet tannins turning chewy on the long, smooth finish. (PM) |
| Southland |
| 2003 | Mt Boucherie Estate Winery Summit Reserve | Merlot | | 20.00 | 1/3 | |
| Thick, juicy! This Merlot is packed full of ripe berry fruit flavors highlighted by aromas of coco, mint. The wine was cellared for 18 months in Oak Barrels. The rich mouth feel, structure make it not only enjoyable now, but will allow it to develop for the next 2-5 years |
| winery |
| 2004 | Mt Boucherie Estate Winery Summit Reserve | Syrah | | 25.00 | 1 | |
| Purchase at winery |
| 2002 | Murray Street Vineyards | CabSauv/CabFranc | | 23.00 | 3/4 | |
| Britannia Authograph A. Seppelt Winemaker |
| 2003 | Murray Street Vineyards | Shiraz | | 25.00 | 2 | 87-89 |
| (WS-87) Smooth, ripe, with a solid core of black cherry, licorice, spice flavors that linger nicely against fine tannins. Drink now-2011. 528 cases (JH-89) Medium-bodied; a savoury mix of blackberry, plum, earth, spice; minimal oak; fine tannins. Screwcap. |
| Britannia Authograph A. Seppelt Winemaker |
| 2004 | Murray Street Vineyards | Grenache | | 26.00 | 1/3 | 87-89 |
| (WS-87) Supple, spicy, with nice cherry, blackberry flavors at the core, finishing with a smoky note. Drink now-2010. 378 cases (JH-89) Powerful varietal expression; spice, game, black fruits, ripe tannins; a juicy, warm finish. Screwcap. |
| Britannia Authograph A Seppelt Wine maker |
| 2003 | Murray Street Vineyards Sophia | Shiraz | | 60.00 | 1 | 91 |
| (WS-91) Big tannins around a lithe, supple core of blackberry, boysenberry and currant fruit, pointing effectively through the chewy finish. This one has a sense of grandeur, but it has to spend some time in the cellar first. Shiraz. Best from 2010-2020. 400 cases made. HS |
| Britania |
| 2003 | Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin | Bordeaux blend | | 40.00 | 1/2 | 86-90 |
| 3rd release from Osoyoos Larose, a joint venture winery by Vincor International Inc; Canada & Groupe Taillan, owner of Château Gruaud-Larose of Bordeaux. Only Bordeaux varieties are grown in the vineyard, located near Osoyoos. Winemaker is Bordeaux-trained Pascal Madevon. (Gis-87) Tasted twice within the week. Nose is quiet mix of smoky/vanilla, saddle leather, tobacco leaf with spicy coriander notes and just a hint of violet, cherry, dried plum aromas. Entry is rich, intense but very dry with chewy, austere tannins. Peppery, smoky, resiny, licorice root flavours with light streaks of black cherry, vanilla, cedar bark. Finish is warm dry, austere with elevated acidity. Will need years to soften. Re-taste in 2010 (WS-86) A tasty red, full of blackberry, black currant, tobacco aromas, flavors. Dense yet med-bodied, firm tannins, bright acidity. Moderate length on the finish. Merlot, CabSauv, Malbec, Petit Verdot, CabFranc. Drink now- 2010. 9,850 cases made. BS |
| Barrie |
| 2004 | Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin | Bordeaux blend | | 45.00 | 11 | 88-92 |
| A generous, dark-hued wine, inviting red fruit aromas, flavours of plums, black cherries, chocolate well integrated with oak flavours (wine has 18 months in barrels, 60% of which were new, 40% 1-year old). Tannins: long, supple but firm enough for reasonable longevity. Palate, texture shows excellent concentration. Finish: long, elegant. (Gis-88) Smoky, coriander, tobacco, dill, chocolate, cedar, saddle leather, floral aromas. Dry, round, slightly tight entry with chewy tannins. Floral, cherry, tobacco, rootsy, licorice, vanilla, prune, cranberry, cedar flavours. Improving complexity, balance but the textures, tannins are still quite austere. Needs 2-4 years. (WT-4/5) 3rd release-Bordeaux trained winemaker Pascal Madevon has craftes an ageworthy red (Merlot dominated) which includes % of all 5 red varieties. Aromas of vanilla, smoke, blueberry, spice, tobacco. Flavor is awash withpeppery spice,, current, cedar notes. 4 or more years in the bottle needed |
| Wine Shop |
| 2000 | Paras Vineyard | Nebbiolo | | 60.00 | 2 | 90 |
| (WS-90) Complex, with smooth, supple, even delicate smoke, plum, tar, raspberry-scented fruit that's deep, concentrated, with a long, intricate aftertaste that gushes with flavor. Drink now-2009. 235 cases made. (JL) |
| J.W |
| 1999 | Paul Jaboulet Aine Les Jalets | Syrah | | 30.00 | 1/3 | 88-90 |
| (WS-90) Very ripe style. Smells, tastes like licorice, borders on being raisiny but, oh boy, is this a thick, rich. creamy Rhône red. Full-bodied, inky black, very tannic, delivering lots of fruit, oak, this is a big Syrah. Give it time to settle down. (PM) (WE-88) Some reviewers said that dark fruit and toast dominate this bouquet; others described the aromas as either strawberry or mustard grains. All agree that blackberry fruit, mineral aromas, though subtle, dominate the palate. Dry, minerally finish with a dash of orange peel |
| LO |
| 1998 | Penfolds Wines Bin 128 | Shiraz | | 27.00 | 1 | 90-92 |
| Outstanding Vintage! (WS-90) Rich flavors of dark berry, cherry are balanced against a wiry backbone of fine tannins, acidity in this outstanding Shiraz, gaining momentum on the finish. Impressive for its intensity, elegance.(HS) (WE-90) Comes on full, lush from the opening, with blackberry, chocolate, menthol, smoke aromas. In the mouth it delivers dark, dry flavors of plum, cassis, toasty oak, has good acidity that keeps it from getting mushy. Solid finish offers more of the same, a nice spiciness, some substantial tannins. Drink now; should be even better in 2 years (Gis-92) Nose is a lovely mix of roasted pepper, ripe blackberry fruit, with some meaty, coffee, vanilla aromas. Flavours are very similar with some extra minty, cherry, licorice flavours in the finish. A huge, powerful, supple red wine from an extraordinary Coonawarra vintage. Perfectly ripe shiraz from a cool-climate is a very special treat. A wine to watch. (WineRev-90) Full, spicy berry fruit nose with hints of white pepper, menthol. Palate is rich, dense, round, warm, pleasantly sweet with blackberry, plum flavors. Tannins are soft, oak flavor restrained. Medium-to-long berry finish. Warm, delicious, impressive. (Winemaker) Green tobacco, a whiff of spice, lift of Chinese pork, freshly shelled walnut, pistachio. Flavours of Damson plum, beetroot, blackberry. |
| 1996 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 30.00 | 2/6 | 88-91 |
| Outstanding Vintage! (WS-91)Fat, flavorful, A richly textured red wine that unfolds its ripe black cherry, blackberry, anise flavors like a thick quilt. Soft, warm, generous, with a sweet, supple finish (HS) (Gis-91) Huge colour in this 50/50 blend they refer to as the poor man’s Grange. Ripe plum, vanilla, spice, pepper, violet, blackberry jam, mint aroma flavours. Excellent intensity but in a very supple, ripe tannin style. Year in, year one of the best value wines made at Penfolds. (tasted at Penfolds 2000 drink until 2020) Spicy oak, licorice, packed tannins with lingering flavors of chocolate, fruit. ( WineRev ) I was totally bowled over by this wine. Looking at the colour it is even more black, more dense, if that is possible. Tasting it I am lost for words. All I wrote is "This is just so stunning. Smooth, dollops of blackberry fruit but leaving a very elegant finish". I don't do scores, have not scored any of the other wines but this I wrote 99/100 it is just so outstanding. My wine of the week, the month, maybe the year. (WE-88) |
| 1998 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 32.00 | 3/27 | 88-93 |
| (Penfolds-Outstanding Vintage!) Huge etheral wine with intense blackberry/licorice,spice,malt aromas. Palate is richly concentrated with deep set blackberry/mocha fruit, ripe velvety/chocolate tannins. Drink til 2030. (WS-88) Firm in texture, generous with its cherry, currant fruit, shaded nicely with touches of fresh herb, smoke & bitter chocolate. Tannins are balanced through the finish(HS) (W&S-93) Deep dark, savory oak scents pour out of this wine; jammed with fruit in the glass. Ripe, bold, lasting; needs time to mellow. (Gis-92) Penfolds is trying to raise the cab portion of this wine into the 60-65 % range but the ’98 still contains 42 % shiraz. Look for a dark, brooding nearly opaque colour, aromas of mint, damson plums, blackberry jam, black olives with just a wisp of mocha. An appealing sweet vanilla oak scent pulls your nose into the glass where you discover the Grange character sans the price or the searing intensity although you could argue the 1998 is as close as it gets. Very rich, intense, the palate adds even more of a coffee, smoky, pepper experience with cassis, blackberry jam, mint, you name it, it’s all here. A blockbuster bottle (Winemaker) Nose: fresh blueberry, mulberry, licorice, soy. Palate: generous fruits, dark chocolate, fresh leather, coffee grounds, anise flavours. |
| WP, K, Ba, |
| 2000 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 35.00 | 2/6 | 89-91 |
| (WS-90)Starts off dark, dense, quickly finds a sense of elegance that lets pepper, licorice scented blackberry, cherry flavors come sailing through, echoing beautifully on the firm, fine-grained finish. (HS) [#82 in top 100 - 2003] (Gis-91) Bin 389 is often referred to as "baby Grange" in North America because parts of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous year's Grange. Since 1960, Penfolds has been making Bin 389 by combining the structure of CabSauv with the richness of shiraz. Fruit is mix of McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Coonawarra with small contributions from Robe, Barossa Valley, Kalimna all of which spends 14 months in 22 % new oak with the remainder a mix of 1 & 2 year old Amer oak. Blackberry, chocolate are key flavours with smoky licorice undertones. The 2000 "389" is clearly benefiting from the decision NOT to make a 2000 "707" thus leaving some superior lots of cab to enrich an already rich red. Soft, round, ready to go but should hold well through 2010. (Tasted at Penfolds 2002-drink-2015) (Garr) Inky dark purple, almost black, with garnet glints showing when you hold it to a bright light. Black fruit, delicately fragrant pepper, a whiff of fresh dill (a signal of Amer oak barrels) show in the aroma. Flavor offers a blend of juicy black fruits, sweet oak, a hint of anise, soft tannins, tangy acidity. Seems a bit more austere than some past vintages at first. But with time in the glass it opens up in layers, suggesting that age will serve this one well, as it has in past vintages. (WE-89) Sturdy, well-crafted wine, solid choice when a big-boned red is in order. Acids are lively, tannins are chewy. Nose has lots of vanilla, plus some mint, plum, raspberry |
| Centre St |
| 2001 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 35.00 | 2/3 | 88-91 |
| (WS-88) Ripe, fuzzy with a thin blanket of tannins around a supple core of blackberry, smoke, spice flavour, persisting nicely on the finish. (Gis-91) Open minty, menthol (more than we remember) saddle leather nose , vanilla, peppery, tarry, cassis nose with some green bean, olive streaks. Rich, ripe, round, concentrated palate with very peppery, spicy, coffee vanilla flavours with a minty, cassis, black berry, mocha finish. Elegant, dry tannins are evident on the warm finish but as usual well balanced with fine potential to age over the next 5-8 years. Very young but certainly a top 389. (Winemaker) Nose: White chocolate, vanilla pod, loganberry. Palate: Layers of blackcurrant, blueberry and reduction stocks are set against firm tannins. Peak drinking now-2025. |
| WP |
| 2004 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | CabSauv/Shiraz | | 32.00 | 2/3 | 90 |
| (WS-90) Velvety in texture, refined tannins surrounding a plush core of currant, huckleberry, peppery spice flavors that linger effortlessly on the finish. Best from 2008-2016. HS |
| Co-op Richmond |
| 2005 | Penfolds Wines Bin 389 | Cab Shiraz | | 32.00 | 3 | 88 |
| Ripe in flavor, upright in style, with savory tobacco and black olive nuances edging into the dark berry and smoke flavors, narrowing a bit on the finish with firm tannins. Best from 2010 through 2015. 20,000 cases imported. –HS |
| Co-op |
| 1997 | Penfolds Wines Bin 407 | CabSauv | | 30.00 | 1 | 87-89 |
| (WS-87)An acquired taste, this distinctive wine emphasizes earthy, minty flavors over the modest fruit character. Has intensity, range & depth, making it a good candidate for the cellar. Best after 2002. (HS) (Gis-89) At Penfolds the 407 has mandate – it must be an Australian cabernet. It’s a blend of different South Australia fruit although the biggest bits are from the McLaren Vale & Bordertown districts. The ‘97 sports coffee, minty aromas with smoke, spice in the background. The flavour is mostly black currant jam with vanilla from the mix of 50/50 French & American oak (the most French oak yet, according to red group winemaker Peter Taylor there will be more French oak in subsequent vintages. |
| 1998 | Penfolds Wines Bin 407 | CabSauv | | 30.00 | 1 | 85-93 |
| Outstanding vintage! (WS-85) Ripe, generous, big mouthful of currant, plum, herb flavors, finishing with a grip of tannin that wants cellaring. (HS) (W&S-90) Super ripe currant, balckberry, mulberry fruit presence. Dark scent of cassis rises into a mouthful of flavor. Needs several years to mellow, should age well for more than a decade. (WE-90) Attractive blackberry aromas with bright tobacco, herb accents open this well-balanced wine. Palate shows strong cassis, earth, herb flavors, even mouthfeel. Finishes with dark cherry notes, full, fine tannins. This will age nicely, can use a little time. Quite flavorful, elegant (WEs-93) A blast of cab flavor, a trumpet blare of black cherry, cassis. Oak rounds out the tone, gives the impression of a red wine from a eucalyptus grove. Built as a long term ager (Gis-90) Expect a varietally expressive red packed full of mint, cassis, black olive, black currant, coffee aromas, flavours. Slightly leathery, tannic finish will enable it to age for some years. At 14 % alcohol, this is a mouth-filling cab, one of the biggest 407s to date. (tasted at Penfolds 2000) Generous fruits with dark chocolate, fresh leather, coffee grounds, anise flavours Drink til 2020 (Winemaker) Nose: leafy with eucalyptus, damson plum, suble soy, mocha notes. Sweet, flwshy black/red currant, dark berry fruit with praline, anise flavours. Peak drinking 2004-2016 |
| 2004 | Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz | Shiraz | | 31.00 | 3/4 | |
| (Winery) In recognition of McLaren Vale’s tradition of supplying other varieties + regions with our finest red grape, this Pertaringa Shiraz is named Undercover. The 2004 Undercover is made from old vine Shiraz fruit hand selected from Pertaringa’s 5 decade old vineyard, made by winemaker Mr Ben Riggs. Pertaringa hopes that this very bottle of Undercover can reveal the essence of McLaren Vale Shiraz. A brilliant purple wine with a most seductive nose displaying intense aromas of dark cherries, blackberries with a floral apricot lift. 2004 Undercover Shiraz has a rich palate with lingering juicy fruit balanced by fine grained oak tannin with a persistent long finish. |
| B J |
| 2002 | Peter Howland Langley Vineyard | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 1/2 | 89-93 |
| (RP-89) (JH-93) (W&S-91) Winemaker:A deep colour, intense coffee, cherry aromas, with bright plums, berry fruits on the palate rounded by some intense mocha oak integration. Decant when young, though the commanding structure will help it age for 7-10 years. |
| 2002 | Peter Howland Parsons Vineyard | Shiraz | | 35.00 | 1 | 89-94 |
| (RP-89) (JH-94) (W&S-90) Winemaker Vibrant in colour, intense spice, herbal aromas, an opulent juicy palate integrate with very gentle oak to provide an intriguing wine with an incredibly long finish. Decant when young, or cellar for a further 6 to 8 years |
| 1997 | Peter Lehmann Wines Mentor | CabS/Malbec/Shiraz/Merl | | 40.00 | 1 | 91 |
| (WS-91) Ripe, supple, seductive, a plush-textured wine, with lovely blueberry, plum, currant flavors wrapped in a sheath of silky tannins. Picks up gentle spice, cedar notes on the long finish. (HS) (Torb) Nose shows some complexity with lashings of black chocolate, black, blue fruit, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla. Wine contains a fierce level of powdery drying tannins, balance acid, strong fruit however to my palate this full-bodied solid wine was slightly unbalanced by the tannins. |
| LO |
| 2004 | Poplar Grove Winery The Legacy | Merlot Cab Franc Cab Sauv Ma |
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