Results For Date Search ( 2010-02-02 to 2010-02-09 )
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90/100 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 Sonoma County, California, United States
Big cassis, dusty, coffee, cedar, vanilla, earthy, tobacco, blackberry jam, pruny, peppery, chocolate nose but very lifted and warm. Rich, smooth, round, unctuous palate with dry, grainy tannins and very warm. Intense cedar-y, peppery, smoky, coffee, resin, cassis jam, blackberry jam, tobacco, dried herb flavours. No lack of intensity here but the finish is very dry, hot, and somewhat bitter with acidity poking out. Needs two to four years. Best with meat and be sure to serve a bit cool to offset the lofty alcohol.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $49.99 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $64.99 (750 ml) specialty listing; ON $59.95 (750 ml) Vintages; US $40.00 (750 ml) retail
CSPC: 382325; UPC: 087512075283
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
90/100 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Unfiltered 2005 Napa Valley, California, United States
Intense cassis, cedar, tobacco, herbal, prune, leather, coffee, vanilla, floral, blackberry jam nose with a very spicy, white pepper and barnyard streak. Rich, ripe, round, full and warm palate but tight and somewhat tart with grainy, cedar-y tannins. Very rich cassis, coffee, cedar bark, tobacco, earthy, chocolate, black olive, resin, dried herb, barnyard, leather flavours. The finish is very warm and tart with tannins to shed. Like the fruit and complexity but not the balance and alcohol. This needs 3-5 years to shed the very dry, hard finish. A departure in style, almost Oz like.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG
Prices: CDN $165.00 (750 ml) estimated retail
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company
85/100 J. Bouchon Carmenere Syrah Reserva 2008 Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
Very spicy, sappy cassis, menthol, tobacco, meaty, roasted pepper, green olive nose. Round, full, supple palate with cassis, black cherry, cedar, menthol, tobacco leaf, green olive flavours. Finish is warm and a bit sweet and sour but balanced. The carmenère dominates at this point. Solid consumer wine.
86/100 Wyndham Estate Bin 515 Shiraz Viognier 2006 South Eastern Australia, Australia
Big black pepper, leather, licorice, rooty, spicy, garrigue, meaty, savoury, blackberry nose. Full, round, fresh, slightly warm and sweet with rosemary, resin, licorice, coffee, peppery, spicy, black plum, smoky leather flavours. The finish is very warm and slightly flat but there's lots of savoury aromatics and intensity to have with your grilled lamb or pork.
86/100 Man Vintners Shiraz 2007 Coastal Region, South Africa
Spicy, meaty, smoky, menthol, liquorice root, floral, black plum jam with a hint of tobacco and leather. Round, fresh, slightly warm and tart palate with blueberry, black berry jam, coffee, smoky, savoury, meaty, liquorice, vanilla cream flavours. Much more Oz in ripeness and styling and has solid fruit offering good value in the category.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $11.00 (750 ml) private wine shop; BC $12.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 139915; UPC: 06009669350444
Producer: MAN Vintners Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants
Liquorice, black cherry jam, tobacco, earthy, spicy, smoky, plum, sausage meat, floral nose. Round, dry, supple but grainy tannins with good juicy acidity but warm. Chocolate, peppery, black berry jam, black cherry, tobacco, liquorice, spicy, dried herbs and vanilla flavours. Good concentration and fruit if a bit warm and fresh on the finish. Well matched for pork or lamb and should improve for 2-3 years.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $35.00 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $39.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; ON $32.00 (750 ml) Vintages - August 30, 2008
CSPC: 199067; UPC: 08410113003416
Producer: Miguel Torres Spain Distributor: Pacific Wines & Spirits (1995) Ltd.
85/100 De Bortoli dB Petite Sirah 2007 South Eastern Australia, Australia
Peppery, boysenberry, black cherry, rooty, licorice, leafy, floral nose. Round, fresh palate with light, grainy tannins. Tobacco, boysenberry jam, black cherry, iodine, liquorice, coffee, earthy flavours. A bit sweet and sour on the finish but has good fruit and balance. Ready to drink.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $12.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $12.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $12.00 (750 ml)
CSPC: 336750; UPC: 679940000427
Producer: De Bortoli Wines Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing
85/100 Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2006 South Eastern Australia, Australia
Rooty, licorice, cola, meaty, peppery, tobacco, floral and blackberry jam aromas. Round, smooth, tart, slightly sweet palate with blackberry jam, plum, liquorice, coffee, vanilla, rooty, tobacco, floral flavours. Simple, easy, fruity tutti style with a crisp finish.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $16.49 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 010520; UPC: 9300752010366
Producer: De Bortoli Wines Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing
87/100 Little Yering Pinot Noir 2008 Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Strawberry, liquorice, smoky, black pepper, tobacco, celery root nose with a touch of barnyard. Soft, round, easy palate with juicy strawberry, spicy, licorice, orange, dried herb flavours. Solid, forward style with fruit for immediate appeal. A value proposition here.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $15.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; ON $18.95 (750 ml) Vintages
CSPC: 616110; UPC: 09316562001739
Producer: Yering Station Distributor: Select Wine Merchants
89/100 Yering Station Pinot Noir 2005 Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Celery salt, spicy, tobacco, herbal, cherry, cedar, rooty, strawberry aromas with a touch of barnyard. Round, dry, supple palate with fresh juicy acidity and a velvety texture. Warm with rhubarb, raspberry, tobacco leaf, dried herbs, licorice, celery salt, cedar and leather flavours. Good intensity with a slightly warm, tart finish but has good finesse and delicacy. Good value in mature, ready to roll pinot from down under.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $27.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 795898; UPC: 09316562001074
Producer: Yering Station Distributor: Select Wine Merchants
Spicy, plum, liquorice, cedar, tobacco, leather, cherry, meaty, resin, rooty, floral nose. Ripe, dry, round, slightly tannic palate with good finesse and fresh acidity. Plum, black cherry, resin, liquorice, meaty, tobacco, leather, earthy flavours. Good balance and intensity, just a bit short and dry on the finish. Will go well with grilled meats.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $20.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 113613; UPC: 8006030050819
Producer: Casa Vinicola Luigi Cecchi & Figli Distributor: Select Wine Merchants
87/100 Cecchi Chianti Natio 2007 Tuscany, Italy
Made from organic grapes, this offers up a spicy, peppery, floral, tobacco, smoky, meaty, dried plum, black cherry, liquorice and barnyard nose, good aromatics. Dry, elegant, slightly lean palate with light tannins but fresh and juicy. Black cherry, meaty, floral, liquorice, plum, peppery, leather flavours. A bit more austere style but has great fruit and some finesse for straight Chianti. Good value. Try with lamb or beef or a lasagne.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $16.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 106682; UPC: 08006030036660
Producer: Casa Vinicola Luigi Cecchi & Figli Distributor: Select Wine Merchants
85/100 Rosemount Chardonnay 2008 South Eastern Australia, Australia
Butter, baked peach, floral, citrus, apple, leesy aromas. Round, fresh, easy palate with some sweetness. Grapefruit, butter, melon rind, red apple, light lees flavours. Simple, easy, clean easy sipping style for current consumption.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $16.00 (750 ml) private wine shop; BC $16.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $15.00 (750 ml); NB $17.50 (750 ml); NF $16.00 (750 ml); NS $15.49 (750 ml); ON $14.00 (750 ml); QC $15.00 (750 ml); SK $17.00 (750 ml)
CSPC: 265132; UPC: 012894862312
Producer: Rosemount Estate Wines Ltd. Distributor: Southcorp Wines Canada
89/100 Cooralook Pinot Noir 2008 Victoria, Australia
An interesting blend of cool region fruit (Strathbogie [88] and Mornington Peninsula [12]) this offers a spicy, carrot top, cherry, strawberry, liquorice nose with bits of tobacco and rhubarb with a floral, meaty streak. The palate is dry and supple with juicy fruit flavours of strawberry jam and cherry and spicy, vanilla, tobacco, compost, liquorice and orange flecks. A bit warm on the finish but has good finesse and fruit with a pinch of tannins. Good now but will improve over the next 1-3 years. Very solid and fine value in pinot.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $21.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Renaissance Wine Merchants
CSPC: 004010; UPC: 009325301000216
Producer: Yabby Lake International Distributor: Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd.
89/100 Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Hunter Chardonnay 2007 Hunter, New South Wales, Australia
Green apple, lime, butter, nutty lees, melon, vanilla, spicy, pear, nectarine aromas. Round, crisp, fresh, slightly oily texture and slightly austere yet a touch of sweetness. Lots of citrus, green apple, pear, melon, nutty lees and butter flavours with a vanilla, waxy, peach skin finish. Good finesse and elegance, will age 2-5 years.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $0.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
UPC: 0934522001473
Producer: Tyrrell's Wines Pty., Ltd. Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
87/100 Bonterra Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 North Coast Region, California, United States
Look for a big four-square style of cabernet with some grip-py tannins on entry and on the palate. Expect intense, spicy, black fruit flavours with bits of cedar, cranberry and cassis. Somewhat chunky and rustic this certified, organic red will work best with a steak of braised beef ribs.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG
Prices: AB $20.00 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $22.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $20.00 (750 ml); ON $20.00 (750 ml) Vintages Essentials Collection; QC $20.00 (750 ml)
CSPC: 342428; UPC: 82896780402
Producer: Bonterra Vineyards Distributor: Charton-Hobbs
86/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Chardonnay Reserve 2008 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Spicy, floral, green apple, citrus, peach skin, honey, ginger and mineral aromas. Round, ripe, fresh, elegant palate with some sweetness and a touch of oiliness. Lemon, orange, honey, ginger, rose, spicy, baked peach, quince flavours. Good finesse and elegance, just finishes too sweet despite nice acidity balance. Similar to last vintage.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $16.60 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $14.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 558411; UPC: 620654558414
Producer: Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company
87/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Blanc Reserve 2008 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Grapefruit, grassy, passion fruit, slate, melon, floral, lemon oil aromas, very fresh. Crisp, juicy, fresh and round palate with green apple, grapefruit rind, passion fruit, butter and melon flavours. More sauvignon blanc in character but a solid seafood white.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $17.00 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $14.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 76125; UPC: 00620654011070
Producer: Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company
87/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Blanc Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2007 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Pear, floral, dry slate, quince, lemon oil aromas. Soft, round, dry, and warm with a slightly oily texture but fresh acidity. Green apple skin, slate, chalky, pear, floral, lemon grass flavours. Good intensity but a bit warm and austere on the finish.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $19.00 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $18.00 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 558429; UPC: 620654558421
Producer: Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company
87/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Marsanne Roussanne 2008 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Spicy, floral, green apple, citrus, peach skin, honey, ginger and mineral aromas. Round, ripe, fresh, elegant palate with some sweetness and a touch of oiliness. Lemon, orange, honey, ginger, rose, spicy, baked peach, quince flavours. Good finesse and elegance, just finishes too sweet despite nice acidity balance. Similar to last vintage.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $25.00 (750 ml) winery only
UPC: 00620654018376
Producer: Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company
91/100 Rodney Strong Chardonnay Reserve 2007 Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States
Floral, honey, citrus, nutty, toasty, melon, vanilla, creamy, baked green apple and pear aromas. Fresh, round, elegant, juicy palate with good acidity and finesse. Creamy, nutty, nectarine, toasty, honey, butter, citrus, vanilla and green apple flavours with a salty note. A touch warm on the finish but has fine balance and finesse with good, bright, cool fruit characters and juicy acidity. Solid value.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $50.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Mark Anthony Brands; US $37.00 (750 ml) estimated retail
CSPC: 805242; UPC: 0087512076624
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
87/100 Melini Chianti 2007 Tuscany, Italy
Peppery, spicy, black cherry, tobacco, rooty, meaty nose with a floral note. Round, dry, supple, full, fresh palate with plum, black cherry, licorice, tobacco, peppery, meaty, coffee flavours. Good fruit intensity, fine value in basic Chianti for meat or pasta.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG
Prices: AB $12.25 (750 ml) private wine shop; BC $14.00 (750 ml) general listing; ON $13.00 (750 ml) LCBO; QC $14.00 (750 ml)
CSPC: 182030; UPC: 8000160623073
Producer: Melini Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants
87/100 Tormaresca Chardonnay 2007 Apulia, Italy
Peach, butter, floral, citrus, lime, nutty, gooseberry nose. Crisp, round, slightly oily palate but a bit austere and juicy. Green apple, peach pit, light butter, lime, grapefruit, smoky pear flavours. A cooler, fresher style for seafood and more elegant than the last vintages. Good value.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $12.99 (750 ml) private wine shop; BC $16.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; SK $14.19 (750 ml)
CSPC: 612028; UPC: 8026530000015
Producer: Tormaresca Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
Open smoky, black cherry, meaty, liquorice nose with resin, pepper, floral, pruny, leather nose. Dry, round, slightly tannic and lean but elegant with fresh acidity and fruity cherry, coffee, liquorice cedar-y, tobacco flavours. The finish is a bit rustic and tight, needs 2-3 years to round out or serve with grilled meat now. A solid and balanced of what is a modern style sangiovese.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by ST
Prices: BC $30.00 (750 ml) speculative - Vendemmia Group
CSPC: 212118
Producer: Castello di Bossi Distributor: Vendemmia Group Inc.
88/100 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Gooseberry, grapefruit, light asparagus, kiwi, green apple, passion fruit aromas but somewhat less intense. Round, crisp, elegant, dry, slightly austere style. Canned asparagus, gooseberry, nettle, grapefruit, grassy, green apple and butter flavours. Very solid but seems to lack a bit of concentration and viscosity this vintage.
Tasted: 2010-02-06 by ST
Prices: AB $29.00 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $31.50 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $35.00 (750 ml); NB $35.00 (750 ml); ON $28.00 (750 ml); QUE $35.75 (750 ml)
CSPC: 304469; UPC: 9418408030214
Producer: Cloudy Bay Vineyards Limited Distributor: Charton-Hobbs
