Wines scored out of 10 points.
Top Wines of the Year
8.0 Joseph et Christian Binner Riesling 2001 ($17)
8.0 Chateau Ste Michelle Dr. Loosen Riesling 2004 ($45)
8.0 Ripassa Valpolicella 2003 ($24)
8.0 Armador Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 ($14)
8.0 Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2002 ($25)
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($20)
Six Varietal Reds
September 7, 2005 – David
7.5 Napa Ridge Zinfandel 2002 (California) (~$15)
Sweetish, fruity and chocolate, porty, soft tannins, delicious
7.0 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2001(California) ($19)
Herbal bouquet, musty, a little spicy
7.0 Stonehedge Merlot 2001 (California) ($15-20)
Lots of tannins and red fruit
7.0 Bogle Petite Syrah 2002 (California) ($20)
Dark, rich and fruity, a pleasant surprise
7.0 Wyndham Estate Shiraz Bin 555 2002 (Australia) (~$15)
Very fruity and loads of mint, always reliable
6.5 Wolf Blas Cabernet Sauvignon Yellow Label 2003 (Australia) (~$15)
Insipid bouquet, acidic, not very fruity, disappointing
Riesling
October 12, 2005 – Louise and Neil
8.0 Joseph et Christian Binner Riesling 2001 (Alsace) ($17)
Tropical fruit bouquet, tangy, slightly effervescent, good acid, nicely balanced
8.0 Chateau Ste Michelle Dr. Loosen Riesling 2004 (Washington) ($45)
Slightly sweet, effervescent, balanced, good acid
7.0 Cave Spring Reserve Riesling 2004 (Ontario) ($17)
Apples on the nose, slightly sweet, pleasant sipper
7.0 Lingenfelder Riesling 2002 (Germany) ($18)
Sweetish, fruity
5.5 The Bend in the River Riesling 2004 (Germany) ($10)
Floral bouquet, sweet and flat, off after-taste, hideous looking bottle
0.5 Lailey Vineyard Dry Riesling 2002 (Ontario) ($30)
Smells of cannabis and skunk, tastes flat and lifeless, bad after-taste, undrinkable, likely the worst wine ever tasted by the Purple Tannin Club
Pinot Noir
November 2, 2005 – Ellen and Don
7.5 Higher Plain Pinot Noir 2003 (Australia) ($22)
Red fruit and a hint of blackcurrant, rich and balanced
6.5 Stoney Ridge Pinot Noir 2004 (Ontario) ($13)
Slightly burnt nose, lots of acid
6.5 Wyndham Estate Bin 333 Pinot Noir 2003(Australia) ($22)
Smells of red fruit and old books, soft, rich with good balance
6.0 Alpha Domus Pinot Noir 2002 (New Zealand) ($22)
Lots of automotive, barnyard and burnt rubber on the nose
6.0 Domaine Harmund-Geoffroy Gevrey Chambertin 2003 (France) ($?)
Barnyard and rotting leaves bouquet, smooth, rich, slightly sour aftertaste
4.5 Hugel Pinot Noir 2001 (France) ($21)
Good, fruit bouquet but thin and insipid taste
BYO Reds
December 14, 2005 – Michele and Ted
8.0 Ripassa Valpolicella 2003 (Italy) ($24) – Michele and Ted
Fruity and slightly sweet bouquet, good balance and finish
7.5 Allesverloren Tinta Barocca 2003 (South Africa) ($17) – Suzanne and John
Fruity
7.5 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignn 2002 (California) ($20) – Ellen
Tannic but smooth, chocolatey
6.5 Bonny Doon Carignane Ancient Vines 2004 (Califiornia) ($20) – David
Tannice, somewhat sour taste
6.5 Hedges Cabernet-Merlot-Syrah 2003 (Washington) ($18) – Louise and Neil
Fruity, mildly tannic
6.0 Secco-Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena 2002 (Italy) ($17) – Michele and Ted
Earthy and smokey bouquet, disppointing bitter taste
South American Reds
January 18, 2006 – Louise and Neil
8.0 Armador Cabernet Sauvignon 2002(Chile) ($14)
Fruity, slightly musty, rich, soft and balanced
8.0 Tamari Malbec 2004 (Argentina) ($12)
Burnt carmel bouquet
7.0 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander Merlot 2003 (Chile) ($32)
Smooth, balanced, soft tannins
7.0 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003 (Chile) ($15)
Rich, cranberries
6.5 Trivento Syrah 2004 (Argentina) ($13)
Musty and smokey, good with salmon or tuna
6.0 Catena Malbec 2003 (Argentina) ($20)
Acidic and chewey
Loire Whites
February 8, 2006 – Jane and Justin
7.5 Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray 2002
Lychees on the nose, very sweet with caramel, unctuous
7.0 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Les Baronnes 2004
Mild bouquet, medium bodied, burnt caramel flavor, mildly grassy
7.0 Domaine Masson-Blondelet Pouilly-Fume 2003
A little sour, burnt sugar again
6.0 Chateau de la Roche Touraine 2003
Herbal notes, thin and flat
5.5 Le Fleuron Chereau Carre Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2003
Soda water bouquet, light, crisp and balanced
4.5 Chateau de Montgueret Anjou 2004
Herbaceous bouquet, sour, unpleasant after taste
Syrah and Shiraz
March 8, 2006 – Ellen and Don
8.0 Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2002 (South Africa) $25
Chocoalte mocha and blackberries, slightly tannic
7.5 Syrah de Sicilia La Castella 2004 (Italy) $13
Tumeric and fruity
7.0 La Syrah de Villerambert 2003 (France) $14
Plums and blackberries with a touch of port
7.0 Fleur du Cap Shiraz 2003 (South Africa) $13
Pepper, pepper, pepper
7.0 Georges du Boeuf Vin de Payes D’Oc 2004 (France) $11
Fruity and floral
6.0 Brokeback Mountain Shiraz 1999 (Australia) Price unkown
Black liquorice and musty
Canadian Reds
April 5, 2006 – Michele and Ted
7.5 Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003 (BC) $21
Barnyard and asparagus bouquet, moderate tannins, smooth and rich
7.0 Sumac Ridge Merlot 2002 (BC) $18
Weak bouquet but soft, plush and chocolaty taste
6.5 Angels Gate Merlot 2002 (Ontario) $26
Light bouquet, a little acidic, toast
6.0 Weir Estate Pinot Noir 2004 (Ontario) $22
Tobacco on the nose, tannic
5.0 Hillebrand Trius Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc 2003 (Ontario) $23
Peppers and vegetal, acidic
4.5 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve 2004 (Ontario) $25
Smokey, cherry bouquet, green pepper taste
BYO Whites
May 10, 2006 – David
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (New Zealand) $20 – Suzanne and John
Pineapples and guavas on the nose, sweetish
6.5 Brokenwood Semillon 2004 (Auztralia) $19 – Ellen and Don
Hint of lemon-lime bouquet, slightly effervescent
6.0 Grant Burge Semillon 2004 (Australia) $14 – Michele and Ted
Lots of chemicals and petrol in the bouquet
6.0 Fournier Pere et Fils Sancerre 2002 (France) $25 – David
Tropical fruits – papaya and melon
6.0 Cono Sur Chardonnay 2003 (Chile) $17 – Louise
Pineapple nose, oily mouth feel, bitter aftertaste
5.5 Les Piliers Viognier 2004 (France) $18 – Nicole and Chris
Bouquet of baby aspirin, slight peachy taste