Wines scored out of 10 points.
BYO: End of Summer Wines
September 2018 – David
8.0 Andis Zinfandel 2014 $25
Spicy, blackberry nose; dark red fruits, a bit flabby, maybe
8.0 Gnarly Head Petite Syrah 2013 $18
Jammy nose with loads of raspberries and strawberries; smooth tannins
7.5 Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio 2017 $20
Refreshing with apple and lime flavors, riesling-like?
7.0 Vieni Zi Mari $17
A welcome sparkling red, but a little too sweet and flabby
7.0 San Claudio Vino Nobile Montepulciano 2013 $27
Hints of plum and tar on the bouquet, rather tannic
7.0 Morgon Grand Cras 2015 $22
Strawberry nose gives way to tart green pepper and fruity flavors
Indigenous Grapes of Italy
October 2018 – Nicole & Chris
8.0 Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino 2009, Umbria
Tobacco and coffee on the nose, leading into a tannic, full-bodied smokey plum, with earthy herbal notes.
7.5 Ivaldi Dario Nizza 2015, Monferrato
Violets and cherry on the nose, with plum, blueberry and meaty flavours.
7.5 Villa Raiano Taurasi 2012, Campania
Very tannic, but opens with time in the glass. Floral notes, with grapefruit dominating.
7.5 Planeta Noto Nero D’Avola 2012, Sicily
Floral aromas, a bit dilute tasting at first but spicy berry flavours emerge with air.
7.5 Messer Del Fauno Negroamaro 2017, Puglia
Light bodied, raisin, a bit sweet.
7.0 Alois Settimo 2014, Campania
Some barnyard aromas, grapey and tannic. Needs time.
Labels You Love
November 2018 – Louise & Neil
8.0 Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red 2015 $35
Vanilla and chocolate aromas, smooth with black cherry flavors
7.5 Alto Moncayo Veraton 2015 $37
Butterscotch and oaky nose, rich black currant notes, hot finish
7.5 Sopra Sasso Amarone 2014 $35
Minty notes on the bouquet, sweet and quite jammy
7.0 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone $30
Spicy and strawberry aromas, a touch musty, jammy
7.0 Two Hands Shiraz 2017 $25
Plum and grapefruit notes on the nose, rich and tannic
7.0 Decoy Zinfandel 2016 $35
Green pepper and mint flavors on the bouquet, smooth and rich – and the best label
“Christmas” Sparklers
November 2018 – Michele & Ted
7.5 Oyster Bay Brut $23
7.5 Graham Beck Brut Rose $20
7.0 Grant Burge Brut $25
7.0 Jackson-Triggs Entourage 2015 $25
7.0 Veuve Cliquot Brut $75
7.0 Freixenet Gran Selecion $15
6.5 Santa Margherita Prosecco $20
South African Reds
January 2019 – Ellen
8.o Bartinney Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $26
Black cherry flavors with olive notes, rich and smooth
8.0 Rupert & Rothschild Cabernet-Merlot 2015 $24
Nose of dark red fruit with mint, moderate tannins, smooth
7.0 Leeuwenkuil Grenache Noir 2016 $20
Peppery nose with rubber; sweet red cherry flavors
6.5 Jordan The Prospector Syrah 2016 $15
Peppery notes, fruity and spicy
6.5 Southern Right Pinotage 2016 $28
Berry and cedar notes on the nose; moderately tannic
6.5 Elgin Vintner’s Pinot Noir 2015 $25
Fruity nose, beetroot and cherry flavors
Eastern European Reds
February 2019 – Rob & Don
6.5 Quantum Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $14 (Bulgaria)
Herbal nose, smooth, slightly sweet
6.0 K Cellars Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 $13 (Bulgaria)
Rubber elements in the bouquet, caramel flavors
5.5 Chateau Vartely Indvido 2016 (Romania)
Cedar notes on the nose, hot finish
5.0 Pinacle Ch. Fakra 2012 $16 (Lebanon)
Effervescent with turpentine notes – delicious
4.5 Stobi Vranec 2015 (Macedonia)
Bitter tannins
2.0 Alazani Valley Tbilvino 2016 $16 (Georgia)
Delicious – if it was meant to be cherry coke
2015 Californian Cabs
March 2019 – Louise & Neil
8.5 Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $43
Vanilla and woody notes on the nose; cassis flavors, balanced and delicious
8.0 Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $60
Oak on the bouquet; luxurious mouthfeel with berries and violets
8.0 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $30
Blackcurrants and cedar on the nose; rich and long finish
8.0 Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $45
Blackcurrant flavors with green pepper bouquet; long finish
7.5 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $25
Red currants and plum flavors, tannic
7.5 Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $20
Leather notes on the nose; black fruit and plum flavors
BYO: Pinot Noir
April 2019 – Nicole & Chris
8.0 Flat Rock Gravity Pinot Noir 2015 (Ontario) $35
Earthy nose with mushroom flavors, rich and tannic but well balanced
7.0 Anne Amie Pinot Noir 2015 (Oregon) $40
Cherry coke on the nose, a little sour at first, but opens and fruit comes through
7.0 OPP Pinot Noir 2015 (Oregon) $30
Sour cherry flavors with beet and cranberry notes
7.0 Westmount Pinot Noir 2015 (Oregon) $25
Earthy bouquet, rich and fruity
6.5 Joseph Faiveley Pinot Noir 2015 (Burgundy) $27
Alcohol ++ on the nose, slightly bitter, some mint
6.5 Bachelder Pinot Noir 2015 (Ontario) $45
Cherries and bubblegum on the nose, short finish
Chablis and Sancerre
May 2019 – David
7.5 Henris Bourgeois Sancerre Les Baronnes 2018 $32
Notes of passionfruit and peaches on the nose, tropical flavors, well balanced
7.5 Jean-Max Roger Sancerre 2017 $32
Citrus and melon aromas, smooth with mineral notes, good balance
7.5 Dom Chevalier Chablis 2017 $27
Bouquet of pineapple with some leather, medium acidity and body
7.5 Jean Marc Brocard Chablis 2017 $29
Aromas of peaches with citrus, crisp and fruity, good acidity
7.0 La Chablisienne Chablis Les Venerables 2015 $27
Green apple and citrus aromas, chalky, medium body, high acidity
7.0 Matthias et Emile Robin Sancerre 2016 ~$30
Citrus notes on the nose, more lemon flavors, high acidity