ROSE

87 Château la Tour d'Aigues Poeme Rosé 2004 Syrah - Grenache
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $12.95 Specialty
Clean attractive flowery, cherry, mineral, citrus, almond aromas. Dry, round, elegant, fresh and crisp with mineral, cherry, citrus, baked quince, earth flavours. Well made, fresh and dry for matching with food. Terrific value and surely one of the best pinks in the market. Drink all summer.

88 Viu Manent Malbec 2003
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.99 Specialty
Fabulous spicy, savoury, black plum and black cherry nose with complex-ing tobacco and smoky game notes. Rich and super smooth with ripe black cherry, black plum, savoury, grilled mushroom and licorice mocha flavours. Super suave and balanced with great varietal fruit. Outstanding value and a major challenge to nearby Argentina’s claim on Malbec.

88 Woodbridge Portacinco 1997 Touriga - Trousseau - Sousão - Alvarelhão - Tinta Cão
Lodi, Central Valley, California, United States
AB $19.00 Fine Wine Boutiques
Portacinco is a blend of five traditional Portuguese grape varieties planted around the winery at Woodbridge and in the case of the 1997 some 75 percent is Touriga. Very warm with tobacco, black cherry kirsch, licorice, chocolate, prune and spicy aromas. Rich, hot, round, sweet and smooth with chocolate, dried fig, prune plum, spicy, marmalade flavours. Long and intense with a hot, fiery finish. Solid non-Portuguese, fortified wine.

87 Cuvée de Pena 2003 Carignan - Grenache - Syrah
Les Pyrénées Orientales, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.99 Specialty
You can excuse Cuvée de Pena for sounding more Spanish than French given its location so near Perpignan and the Spanish border. In fact the everyday hard working vins de pays rouge is French and well worth considering. The blend is suitably carignan, syrah, grenache and mourvèdre; the textures smooth; the flavours strong and rustic. A smoky earthy, peppery red that will suit most grilled meat recipes.

87 Dominio de la Peseta Roble 2003 Monastrell - Tempranillo - Merlot
Alicante, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $14.99 Specialty
Big peppery, black cherry, licorice, spicy, smoky black olive aromas with a meaty, floral note. Smooth, dry, round palate with light, rustic tannins. Lots of black cherry, plum, spicy, peppery, licorice flavours with a cola and game note. A touch dry and young with fine fruit intensity and length. Good value, worth trying.

87 Finca Los Primos Malbec 2003
San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $9.95 Specialty
Big prune, spicy, black cherry aromas with a strong cigar streak. Rich, round, supple, fat and intense with smoky, peppery, black cherry jam, mushroom and licorice root flavours. Well balanced if a bit warm, excellent value with great intensity. Can't go wrong here.

87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2003 Grenache - Syrah - Mourvèdre
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $14.90 Specialty
Cherry, black raspberry, spicy, gamey, rootsy aromas. Rich, ripe, smooth and supple with lots of black cherry, spicy, peppery, mineral and kirsch flavours. Light tannins on the finish with good fruit intensity. Good value, should improve over the next year. Try with grilled ham or cassoulet.

87 Masia Hill Tempranillo de Penedès 2003
Penedès, Cataluna, Spain
BC $12.99 Specialty
Smoky, cherry, tobacco, raspberry leaf, barnyard aromas. Soft, smooth, suave palate with cherry jam, gamey, smoky, licorice and strawberry flavours. Solid and well balanced, every day red from Spain that would pair well with a variety of foods.

87 McLarens on the Lake Shiraz 2002
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
BC $12.99 Specialty
Smoky, bacon, blackberry jam, mocha vanilla, minty cedar aromas. Dry, round, soft and a little bit lean but well balanced. Big mocha, spicy cedar, vanilla, peppery, black cherry, licorice smoky resin flavours. Great colour and a touch of acidity on the finish will make this a great barbeque wine. Great value.

87 Miral Monte Tinto de Toro 2003
Toro, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $13.99 Specialty
Sausage, peppery, gamey, mineral, black cherry aromas with some rubbery notes. Rich, round, dry and slightly tannic with big black cherry, raspberry, peppery, spicy, gamey, coriander flavours. Chunky, intense and full bodied but needs a bit of air before drinking.

87 Trivento Cabernet Malbec Reserve 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $11.25; BC $12.95 Specialty; MB $10.28; NF $14.68
Very spicy, peppery, cassis jam, cherry, smoky shoe leather aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with sweet black fruit, smoky vanilla, licorice, coffee, peppery flavours. Warm but well balanced and ready to drink. Terrific value.

87 Trivento Syrah Reserve 2004
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $11.50; BC $12.95 Specialty
Very spicy, blackberry jam, minty, peppery, coffee aromas with a hint of game and sausage, very fragrant. Soft, round, smooth and dry with minty, peppery, coffee, smoky, black cherry, licorice flavours and a touch of vanilla. Suave and ready to go. Great value.

87 Valdivieso Merlot 2003
Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $11.25; BC $13.99 Specialty
This is the seventh vintage of Valdivieso merlot we have reviewed and it remains consistently well made. Look for a ripe nose of cassis, leafy cherry fruit and spice and pepper. Its super soft as merlot should be with juicy fruity spicy black cherry fruit. Minty, tobacco and orange rind mark the finish. Hard to beat for the price.

87 Vina Albali Reserva 1999
Valdepeñas, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $13.67 Specialty
Cherry, spicy, cigar ash, leather, vanilla, licorice aromas with a floral, violet note. Soft, round, dry and elegant with earthy, bright cherry, spicy, black raspberry tobacco flavours. Fresh finish, good fruit and ready to go. Good value.

87 Zonin Nero d'Avola 2002
Sicily, Italy
BC $14.99
Peppery, chocolate, curry leaf, cardamom, meaty, gamey, black cherry aromas. Rich, round, supple style with light tannins and a touch chunky. Lots of spicy, peppery, black cherry jam, chocolate and licorice root flavours with a touch of almond. Young and well-balanced;
perfect for that roast lamb.

86 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère 2003
Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $11.95; BC $12.95 General; MB $11.30; ON $12.95
Dark cherry colour. Leafy, minty, peppery, tobacco, chocolate, resin aromas with a touch of cassis. Dry, slightly tannic and chunky entry. Green olive, mineral, minty, smoky, resiny, coffee vanilla flavours with some cedar-y, plum notes. Quite rich, could use a year to tone down.

86 Cruz de Piedra Garnacha 2002
Calatayud, Aragon, Spain
BC $13.99 Specialty
Cruz de Piedra is made by Bodegas Virgen de la Sierra in Calatayud south-east of Rioja and just west of Cariñena. Cruz de Piedra translates as ‘Stone Cross’ to symbolize the company aim cross the bridge between old vineyards and modern winemaking. It’s made with old bush vine garnacha which explains its rich meaty, raspberry licorice, peppery, black cherry aromas and dry, round, textures. It’s on the warm side but most will be attracted to its black raspberry, smoky licorice flavours. Normally dry on the finish with some rustic tannins it would be great with duck al’orange. Good value.

86 Finca Flichman Syrah 2004
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $9.99 Specialty
Typical spicy, meaty, gamey, peppery notes with smoky blackberry aromas. Soft, round, dry, smooth palate with meaty sausage, minty, spicy, peppery, black cherry flavours with a mocha juicy finish. Warm and full but well balanced. Great value. Be sure to open 30 minutes early whenever possible and get some air on it.

86 Jérôme Seguin Côtes du Rhône 2003 Grenache - Syrah - Cinsault
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France
BC $13.99 Specialty
Very peppery, garrigue, sausage, meaty, smoky black cherry nose. Ripe, round, soft and supple with nice black cherry jam, mineral, smoky licorice, spicy game flavours. Solid and well made if a touch dry.

86 Mommessin Cote de Brouilly La Montagne Bleu 2003
Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
BC $0.00 Speculative Listing - Charton Hobbs
Black raspberry licorice, spicy, mineral, smoky, floral aromas. Soft, round, dry and supple with mineral, black raspberry, licorice, peppery strawberry flavours. Elegant with a warm, slightly fresh finish.

86 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir 2002
California, United States
AB $14.75; BC $14.95 Specialty
Big minty, stewed rhubarb, smoky vanilla cedar, black cherry, spicy barnyard nose. Rich, soft, round, supple style with smoky vanilla, cedar, black cherry jam, minty, orange rind flavours. A bit too oaky but has good balance and some decent pinot fruit. Good value.

86 Equis Vinas Viejas 2003 Bobal - Mazuelo – Garnacha - Cencibel
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $13.95 Speculative Christopher Stewart
Typical Spanish spicy, mineral, licorice nose with gamey, black cherry aromas and a touch of tobacco. Dry, round, slightly tannic entry with black cherry, smoky, peppery, spicy, leather flavours. Good intensity and structure but a bit dry. Should be fine at the dinner table.

86 Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2002 Shiraz - Cabernet Sauvignon
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.99 General
Tobacco leaf, spicy, shoe leather, smoky, resiny blackberry aromas. Soft, round, supple, slightly sweet entry with blackberry, smoky, resiny, licorice, jammy flavours with lots of cedar and pepper on the aftertaste. Warm with a bit of acidity showing.

86 Le Petit Jaboulet N/V
France
BC $12.95 Specialty
Big spicy, black raspberry jam, mineral, floral nose. Soft, juicy, round style with black raspberry, licorice, peppery smoke flavours. Warm finish, good barbeque red with fruit and affordable.

86 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Oak Aged 2003
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $12.45 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $14.95 Specialty; MB $11.45; NB $15.74; NF $14.00
Smoky, peppery, minty, vanilla, cassis nose with some grilled meat notes. Soft entry with smooth, light dry tannins. Spicy, black olive, vanilla, coffee, peppery cedar flavours. Ready to go, try with grilled flank steak.

86 Phoque Rouge 2003
Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $9.99 Specialty
Fresh spicy, peppery, black raspberry, licorice aromas. Soft, supple, easy-drinking style with earthy, spicy, licorice and black cherry flavours. A warm fresh, solid, spaghetti red.

86 Viu Manent Merlot 2003
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.99 Speculative Listing - WinebrenWines
Minty, smoky, saddle leather, tobacco, peppery aromas. Ripe, round, supple and soft with spicy, minty, smoky, tobacco, cherry flavours. Warm with a slightly tangy cherry finish. Solid flavours and value.

85 Château la Tour d'Aigues Côtes du Luberon 2001 Syrah - Grenache
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $0.00 Speculative - Reichel-Waldorf
Big gamey, meaty, sweaty horse saddle nose with roasted pepper and black cherry aromas. Soft, round, slightly dry but elegant with black cherry, peppery, licorice root, spicy, burnt earth and resin flavours. Well balanced but the nose needs a bit cleaner edge.

85 David Kinor Syrah 2002
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.99 Specialty
A new kosher wine to the market. Spicy, smoky, prune, cooked berry and barnyard aromas. Soft, round, smooth texture and dry with prune, smoky, cherry, resin, licorice flavours. Very round and ready to go but the fruit is a bit on the cooked side.

85 Delicato California Merlot 2003
California, United States
AB $11.95; BC $12.99 Specialty; BC $42.50 (3000 ml) Estimated Retail; MB $11.99; ON $12.45; QC $14.55; SK $13.75
Tobacco, earthy, gamey, black cherry nose with smoky leather notes. Soft, round, smooth entry with cedar-y/minty, licorice, black cherry fruit and chocolate flavours. Good all-round for use around the barbecue. Comes in 3-litre Bota bag-the-box and 750 mL bottle.

85 Du Peloux Merlot Carignan 2003 Merlot - Carignan
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $12.98 Speculative - Red Dog Marketing
Cherry, floral, gamey, licorice, tobacco aromas. Soft, round, slightly dry with light tannins. Spicy, cherry, mineral, orange peel and tobacco flavours. Dry, fruity, easy going style with a touch of acidity on the finish.

85 Finca Los Primos Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $10.95 Specialty
Smoky, spicy, peppery, clove, meaty cassis aromas. Soft, round, supple style with spicy, peppery, vanilla, savoury game, blackberry flavours. Simple, attractive style with a warm finish.

85 Firesteed Pinot Noir 2001
Oregon, United States
BC $14.95 Specialty
Smoky prune, black cherry, candied orange rind, rhubarb nose. Soft, round, supple entry with smoky, strawberry jam, prune flavours with some oak vanilla and stewed rhubarb. Easy-drinking, uncomplicated introductory style pinot noir from Oregon.

85 Golden Kaan Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Western Cape, South Africa
AB $12.95; BC $12.95 Speculative - Corby Distilleries Limited; NF $11.99; SK $12.95
Cedar-y, smoky, resiny, peppery with some chocolate, typical SA. Soft, round, simple palate with chocolate, leather, smoky prune, cassis flavours with some acidity on the finish. For the bbq.

85 Jacob's Creek Merlot 2003
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.99 Specialty
Peppery, spicy, tobacco, chocolate nose with some cherry notes. Soft, round, off-dry palate with minty, spicy, cherry, chocolate flavours. Warm with crisp
acidity on the finish. Sound everyday red.

85 La Chamiza Cabernet Merlot 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Mendoza, Argentina
AB $7.50; BC $7.95 General
Earthy, peppery, rootsy, cassis, smoky nose. Soft, round, supple entry with a touch of sweetness. Ripe cherry, cassis, minty, peppery, spicy licorice flavours. Good intensity and balance for an inexpensive wine. Very good value.

85 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rouge 2003 Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvèdre - Cinsault
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
AB $12.00; BC $12.99 Specialty; ON $9.95; QC $13.50
White pepper, resiny, peppery, meaty, black cherry jam nose with some strong barnyard notes. Dry, somewhat elegant entry with tight tannins. Black cherry, peppery, resiny, licorice, mineral, meaty flavours. Very dry, lean Euro finish. Needs food to tame the dryness and get you to the ripe fruit.

85 Lindemans Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2002
South Australia, Australia
AB $16.00; BC $14.99 Specialty; ON $14.95 Vintages
Leafy, mint, sappy cassis nose with resiny, black cherry jam and a streak of cedar. Dry and slightly tannic but with suave styling and cassis jam, sappy, minty, peppery mint flavours. Drying out on the finish, drink up.

85 Spinelli Quartana Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2003
Abruzzo, Italy
BC $7.95
Gamey, earthy, cherry, tobacco, prune and sweaty saddle aromas. Smooth round texture but dry and lighter bodied with cherry, licorice, peppery, stewed prune, meaty resin flavours with some light rustic tannins and a bit of acidity on the finish. Simple summer barbeque wine.