Results For Date Search ( 2010-03-03 to 2010-03-10 )

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84/100 Porca de Murcia 2007 Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, Portugal
Despite its sexy Douro appellation this is simple unpretentious, everyday red wine. The nose is a mix of earthy, liquorice, chocolate, pepper and black cherry aromas. The entry is dry, and slightly tart with more earthy, tobacco, ash, and floral, meaty cherry flavours. Simple, basic, mid-week barbeque wine.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $13.00 (750 ml) specialty listing CSPC: 114322;   UPC: 005601109211127 Producer: Real Companhia Velha Distributor: Landmark Selections

86/100 Johnny Q Shiraz Viognier 2008 South Eastern Australia, Australia
Liquorice, floral, meaty, rooty, blackberry, tobacco, mocha aromas with a light jammy note. Round, full, soft, supple palate with a hint of sweetness. Big raspberry jam, tobacco leaf, bitter chocolate, licorice, rooty flavours. Finish is a bit warm and soupy but many will find this style attractive.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $15.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 340075;   UPC: 9337739000270 Producer: Quarisa Distributor: Whitefish Group

87/100 Pacific Breeze Winery Syrah 2006 Product of Canada
Made in British Columbia with California grapes. Open spicy, peppery, smoky nose with meaty, black cherry nuances mixed with dried rosemary and saddle leather notes. The entry is dry and elegant with a slightly lean profile of tobacco, dried herbs, menthol, meaty, liquorice, cherry flavours with a cedar red fruit finish.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $30.00 (750 ml) direct delivery - Renaissance CSPC: 600619 Producer: Pacific Breeze Winery Distributor: Pacific Breeze Winery

84/100 Yellow Tail Sauvignon Blanc N/V
Floral, melon rind, grassy, grapefruit, butter, cooked gooseberry aromas. Fresh, round, slightly sweet entry with grassy, nettle, gooseberry, sweet melon, mineral, jalapeno flavours. Simple, easy, somewhat warm with a rind-y finish. A bit too sweet and sour with a skinny edge.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $13.00 (750 ml) specialty listing CSPC: 122259;   UPC: 0031259032351 Producer: Casella Estate Wines Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants; The Kirkwood Group

86/100 Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2007 Victoria, Australia
Pruny, cherry, barnyard, leather, peppery, chocolate. Round, soft, somewhat tart with light extract. Coffee, cherry chocolate, pruny, mint, cherry, dried herb, saddle leather, barnyard flavours. Fruity but soupy, warm, oaky and tart.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: AB $23.40 (750 ml) private wine store UPC: 093453434028 Producer: Tyrrell's Wines Pty., Ltd. Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

86/100 Burrowing Owl Meritage 2007 Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Leafy, barnyard, tobacco nose with clove, black olive, meaty, peppery, vanilla, coffee aromas. The entry is dry and elegant if a bit skinny entry with fresh acidity to balance. On the palate herbal, smoky, coffee, mocha flavours mix with dried leather, resiny, roasted tomato, savoury flavours. Easy going somewhat herbal style but with soft tannins. Just off the mark.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: AB $50.00 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $45.00 (750 ml) winery direct CSPC: 020073;   UPC: 00688229007071 Producer: Burrowing Owl Vineyards Distributor: Appellation Wine Marketing

91/100 John Duval Entity Shiraz 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Spicy, black pepper, licorice, vanilla, meaty, tobacco, garrigue, celery salt, prune plum, blackberry aromas. Rich, ripe, round, supple, warm velvety palate with balanced acidity. Smoky, bacon, meaty, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, garrigue, peppery, tobacco flavours with a pruny, blackberry jam finish.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: AB $50.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $65.00 (750 ml) Everything Wine CSPC: 380071;   UPC: 009334921000018 Producer: John Duval Wines Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

89/100 John Duval Plexus 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Pruny, peppery, liquorice, cherry jam, smoky, blackberry, chocolate aromas but quite lifted. Rich, round, dry, fresh palate with light, tight tannins. Warm with coffee, chocolate, vanilla, blackberry jam, cedar, peppery, liquorice, meaty, rooty flavours. Lots of intensity with a warm, pruny, strawberry jam finish. Drink now-4 years.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $49.99 (750 ml) speculative - Mark Anthony Brands CSPC: 523597;   UPC: 009334921000001 Producer: John Duval Wines Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants

89/100 Soul Growers Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Big peppery, liquorice, savoury, tobacco, cedar, black cherry jam, meaty aromas. Rich, ripe, round, supple palate with fresh acidity. Big raspberry jam, mocha, chocolate, peppery, meaty, licorice, black olive, savoury flavours. A bit hot on the finish but has good fruit and textures.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $40.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Saverio Schiralli Agencies Producer: Soul Growers Distributor: Saverio Schiralli Agencies Ltd.

86/100 Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Bright gooseberry, nettle and light jalapeno nose with flecks of passion fruit. Round, fresh and elegant on entry with a slightly sweet palate of green apple and passion fruit flavours with interesting flecks of grass, asparagus, nettle and a lime rind finish. Solid fruit core but the finish is a bit sweet and sour. Try this with Thai food.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG Prices: BC $15.00 (750 ml) specialty listing CSPC: 843615;   UPC: 009421004799041 Producer: Konrad & Conrad Distributor: Stile Enterprises Ltd.

84/100 Domaine La Croix Belle Caringole 2008 Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Languedoc, South of France, France
Liquorice, tobacco leaf and dried herbs (garrigue mark the nose of this southern French red. The entry is fresh, the palate supple with black olive, herbal, tobacco leaf, and mineral, cherry, meaty, mineral flavours. Finish is warm and easy if a bit leafy. Simple workhorse red suited to cassoulets and stews.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $15.00 (750 ml) specialty listing CSPC: 048595;   UPC: 003413870000099 Producer: Jacques y Francois Boyer Distributor: Enoteca Bacco

82/100 Bear Flag Red Wine Blend #1 N/V
Open floral, meaty, peppery nose with sweet smelling smoky, black cherry, orange, chocolate cherry aromas. Soft, round, warm, sweet palate with more chocolate, cherry, mocha, pepper and dried herb flavours. Soft round sweet red wine with few redeeming qualities.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $13.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 121186;   UPC: 085000016848 Producer: Bear Flag Distributor: E. & J. Gallo Winery Canada, Ltd.

85/100 Canti Estate Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2006 Piedmont, Italy
Big celery salt, spicy, smoky nose with bits of cherry and saddle leather. On the palate it is fresh and supple with smoky, meaty, leather, tobacco and dried herb flavours. Dry and balanced it will work with variety of light meat dishes. Simple.
Tasted: 2010-03-09 by AG-ST Prices: BC $15.00 (750 ml) specialty listing CSPC: 887695;   UPC: 008005415000005 Producer: Canti Estate Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants

88/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2006 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Spicy, peppery, saddle leather, black berry, cassis, tobacco, green olive, vanilla, savoury nose with a touch of dried herbs. Round, dry, supple palate with light tannins. Coffee, peppery, blackberry, mocha, vanilla, black olive, tobacco leaf, cassis, sage, savoury flavours. Finish is somewhat warm and oaky but has solid balance for drinking now and over the next few years. Very solid effort.
Tasted: 2010-03-08 by AG-ST Prices: AB $27.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $25.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $21.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 597039;   UPC: 620654597031 Producer: Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. Distributor: Vincor Canada - A Constellation Company

91/100 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2007 Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
This wine was a knockout at the Canadian Wine Awards and that is always saying something given the numerous quality cab francs entered from Ontario. The BOV franc has a bit of that Cheval Blanc mineral thing under its ripe, rich, spicy, earthy, black fruit. Just a whiff of local sage pulls the entire wine together. It will keep a decade handily. In fact, in 2017 you might want to serve it with Cheval to see how they both hold up. Impressive as always.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: AB $35.00 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $33.00 (750 ml) winery direct CSPC: 556621;   UPC: 00688229005077 Producer: Burrowing Owl Vineyards Distributor: Appellation Wine Marketing

89/100 Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa Valley, California, United States
The ‘06 comes off several Napa Valley sites and spends time in new and one year old American oak. Look for plenty of sweet vanilla overlaying gobs of ripe, black fruit and a thread of coffee and dark chocolate. The finish is warm and long with more vanilla and oak showing at this point. Lamb or a T-bone steak is probably the best thing you can do for pairing at this point. Or cellar this for three or four years.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: BC $30.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; NS $26.00 (750 ml); ON $22.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 389510;   UPC: 00870731000033 Producer: Napa Cellars Distributor: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd

87/100 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California, United States
815 bears the ubiquitous California designation but appears to rise above the meaningless moniker. The fruit is sourced from all over the state. The wine is soft and round on entry with a high-toned blueberry/black fruit spike with spice, cassis and touch of dried herbs. The finish is medium long showing a touch of raw wood. Should be a good value red for grilled meats.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: BC $27.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Philippe Dandurand Ltd UPC: 00188985000137 Producer: Joel Gott Distributor: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd

91/100 Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard 2006 Napa Valley, California, United States
I always enjoy the exuberant high energy fruit that comes off Stagecoach vineyard and its expressive wild black fruit and super ripe plum flavours. The entry is glossy and showy with rich supple tannins and it is similarly smooth and glossy on the palate. It has all the classic sweet black fruit flavours you expect from Napa Valley and it is well balanced without any real heat or alcohol in the finish. Impressive bottle that should easily age through 2014.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: BC $50.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Philippe Dandurand Wines; US $40.00 (750 ml) estimated retail UPC: 00870731000125 Producer: Napa Cellars Distributor: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd

86/100 Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Oaks 2007 California, United States
This is simple, straight up cabernet with the emphasis on simple. Look for cedar, some sour black cherry fruit a touch of spice and a soft finish. Think hamburgers or spaghetti Bolognese. A light version of the venerable grape.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG Prices: AB $16.00 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $15.00 (750 ml) general listing; MB $15.00 (750 ml); ON $15.00 (750 ml); QC $16.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 336974;   UPC: 082896700134 Producer: Fetzer Vineyards Distributor: Charton-Hobbs

88/100 Van Westen Vineyards Viognier 2008 Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Certainly the best we have tasted from Van Westen. Each year the vines get older, the wine better and the Van Westens seem to get a bit surer about where they are headed. The palate is rich but crisp with flecks of ginger honey and lemon oil mixed with a leesy/ nectarine finish. Well made and fun to drink.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: BC $25.00 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops UPC: 626990066293 Producer: Van Westen Vineyards Distributor: Winery Direct

87/100 Cono Sur Viognier 2009 Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
If consistency is something you value the Cono Sur Viognier must be high on your list. A replica of the '08 it is fresh and clean with nectarine, honey, grapefruit, ginger, orange aromas and flavours. Light refreshing New World style with myriad food possibilities. Crazy value.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: AB $12.00 (750 ml) private wine stores; BC $11.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $12.00 (750 ml); NS $12.00 (750 ml); ON $11.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 566836;   UPC: 7804320405407 Producer: Vina Cono Sur Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants; Select Wine Merchants

87/100 Clay Station Viognier 2008 Lodi, Central Valley, California, United States
Attractive open nose of melons and orange blossoms. More orange on the palate that I soft and a little bit flat or lacking in acidity. The finish is similar with sweet honeysuckle and melon fruit. Treat this as a delicious pre-dinner sipper you can serve on the patio all summer (thanks to that screwcap) with appetizers. Pricey given the exchange rate.
Tasted: 2010-03-07 by AG-ST Prices: AB $19.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $19.00 (750 ml) specialty listing; MB $18.00 (750 ml); NB $22.00 (750 ml); NF $21.00 (750 ml); ON $18.99 (750 ml); SK $20.00 (750 ml) CSPC: 106401;   UPC: 5011932008632 Producer: Delicato Family Vineyards Distributor: Stile Enterprises Ltd.

92/100 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2007 Waipara Valley, South Island, New Zealand
Always a delicious version of the grape it comes with a bright, black cherry colour. The nose is open with spicy, smoky, rooty, cherry notes mixed with bits of compost, orange and strawberry jam. Beautifully polished silky tannins make this oh so sippable. A supple fruity delicious style pinot noir that sets a level denoting the best that come out of New Zealand. Attractive New World pinot that is every bit as exciting as top Burgundy.
Tasted: 2010-03-06 by AG-ST Prices: BC $63.00 (750 ml) specialty listing UPC: 9419006100910 Producer: Donaldson Family Ltd. Distributor: Empson Canada Inc.

90/100 Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2008 Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
The ’08 Spy Valley is a killer little pinot that is too delicious and too affordable to be listed in BC Liquor stores but it will be poured at the Playhouse festival. Mostly Abel clone mixed with some 777 and 25 percent new wood does little to interfere with its bright mineral fruit, fresh acidity and finesse. Looks like pinot, smells like pinot and tastes like pinot. All natural winemaking and it shows. Incredible value.
Tasted: 2010-03-06 by AG-ST Prices: AB $24.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $30.00 (750 ml) Everything Wine; MB $24.00 (750 ml); NB $25.00 (750 ml); NS $30.00 (750 ml) Producer: Johnson Estate Limited Distributor: Liberty Merchant Company

86/100 Pacific Breeze Killer Cab 2007 Product of Canada
Enticing, open, sweet vanilla nose with bits of black fruit. Rich soft super sweet black fruit with another dollop of vanilla black cherries and spice. There is an underlying bite of acidity with some foursquare tannin in the back end. An alcoholic, angular version of California cab that needs a big piece of meat to tame the jagged edges.
Tasted: 2010-03-05 by AG-ST Prices: BC $23.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Renaissance Wines CSPC: 114769;   UPC: 00626853101758 Producer: Pacific Breeze Winery Distributor: Pacific Breeze Winery

86/100 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Another year another cabernet with peppery, leafy resiny notes on the nose. The entry is tight with dry, soupy, leafy, fruit and some acidity poking through the rear. Ordinary for the price and nowhere at the level of the fabulous cabernet franc.
Tasted: 2010-03-05 by AG-ST Prices: AB $41.00 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $38.00 (750 ml) winery direct CSPC: 508200;   UPC: 00688229006074 Producer: Burrowing Owl Vineyards Distributor: Appellation Wine Marketing

91/100 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2008 Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand
The 2008 is all about bright, floral strawberry/raspberry fruit aromas with a dusting of minerality and earth. The entry is delicate but silky and round with big bright red fruit flavours and smooth supple tannins that slip effortlessly along the palate. The finish is long and lingering. A very fine pinot. Made from a mix of clones but led by the Abel or Ata Rangi clone. Some blocks are about to turn 30 years old. This is the real thing at two–thirds the price of its Burgundy counterparts.
Tasted: 2010-03-05 by AG-ST Prices: AB $65.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $68.00 (750 ml) Everything Wine; ON $70.00 (750 ml) Lifford Wine Agency UPC: 9421013421025 Producer: Ata Rangi Limited Distributor: Landmark Selections; Lifford Wine Agency

90/100 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007 Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand
The ’07 Ata Rangi is a bigger more muscular wine with less fine edges and amore power on the nose and palate than the 2008. The palate is packed with plummy rich spicy pinot fruit with a strong savoury edge and a touch of mushroom and farmyard they refer to as the ‘Martinborough’ gamey, savoury signature. The yields were low although in this case I’m not sure it was benefit.
Tasted: 2010-03-05 by AG-ST Prices: AB $80.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; NZ $60.00 (750 ml) Winery UPC: 9421013421025 Producer: Ata Rangi Limited Distributor: Landmark Selections; Lifford Wine Agency

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