Wines scored out of 10 points.
Top Wines of the Year
8.0 Graham Beck Shiraz 2002 ($18)
8.0 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes 2001 ($14)
8.0 Lanson Black Label Brut ($40)
8.0 Mission Hill Merlot 2001 ($20)
8.0 Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2000 ($48)
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($20)
BYO Reds
September 8, 2004 – David
8.0 Graham Beck Shiraz 2002 (South Africa) ($18) [Suzanne and John]
Grassy bouquet; very rich, fruity, smooth with soft tannins
7.0 Wolf Blas Black Label Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 1994(Australia) ($65) [David]
Fruity and spicy bouquet, rich, soft, jammy and black cherry taste, slightly sweet, tastes like an Australian
6.5 Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2002(Ontario) ($20) [Michele and Ted]
Light bouquet, balanced, fruity, soft tannins, good finish, hint of orange flower water, a nice surprise
6.5 Chateau Clos De La Tour 2001 (France) ($14) [Ellen and Don]
Green pepper nose, medium body, slightly acidic
6.5 Brigaldara Valpolicella Classico 2001(Italy) ($14) [David]
Strawberry jam bouquet, strong, port-like taste, long finish
6.0 Charles Back Goats Do Roam 2002(South Africa) ($12) [Jane and Justin]
Fruity bouquet, smooth and supple, good for a barbecue
Additional wine tasted, not rated but well liked: Meerlust Merlot 1996 (South Africa)
Cabernet Sauvignon from 5 Continents
October 13, 2004 – Justin and Jane
7.5 Wakefield Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Australia) ($18)
7.0 Graham Beck Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (South Africa) ($19)
6.0 Vina Tarapaca Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Chile) ($?)
5.0 Baron Philipe De Rothschild Mouton Cadet 2000 (France) ($13)
3.5 Hillebrand Trius 2001 (Canada) ($30)
Rhone Valley Reds
November 10, 2004 – Louise and Neil
8.0 Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes 2001 ($14)
Berry bouquet, slightly acidic but smooth and balanced
7.5 Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2001 ($38)
Slightly sweet bouquet with spice and earthy notes, rich, slightly tannic
7.0 Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone 2001 ($14)
Soft with lots of red fruit, minimal tannins
7.0 Cornas Cave de Tain l’Hermitage 2000 ($36)
Rich bouquet, slightly sweet, complex with finesse
7.0 Mon Coeur Cotes du Rhone 2000 ($23)
Initial sulphur nose, rich with good body, improved with aeration
7.0 Carte Noire Cellier des Dauphins Cotes du Rhone 2003 ($10)
Sweet nose, fruity, pleasant
Sparkling Wine
December 8, 2004 – Ellen and Don
8.0 Lanson Black Label Brut ($40)
7.0 Seaview Brut 2001 ($11)
7.0 Bernard-Massard Cuvee de L’ecusson ($18)
7.0 Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir ($13)
7.0 Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Brut ($19)
Ontario vs. BC Reds
January 12, 2005 – Suzanne and John
8.0 Mission Hill Merlot 2001 (BC) ($20)
Tobacco on the nose, smooth, good finish
6.5 Magnotta Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Ontario) ($19)
Spicy menthol bouquet, initially vegetal taste but became softer
5.5 Sumac Ridge Merlot 2000 (BC) ($19)
Ripe red fruit nose, vanilla taste, acidic, poor finish
5.5 Colio Estates Cabernet Franc Reserve 2000 (Ontario) ($20)
Green pepper!
5.5 Mission Hill Shiraz 2001 (BC) ($18)
Sour, few redeeming features, especially for the price
5.0 Henry of Pelham Gamay 2003 (Ontario) ($14)
Petrol nose, sour taste
Vouvray and Chardonnay
February 10, 2005 – Michele and Ted
7.5 La Chablisienne Chablis 2001 ($24)
Musty and mineral on the nose, dry, apple notes on taste, long finish
7.0 Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2002 ($19)
Lychee aroma, oaky and a little sweet, unpleasant after-taste
6.5 Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray 2002 ($29)
Tropical bouquet with lychees – sweet
6.5 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Chardonnay 2001 ($20)
Slightly grassy bouquet, somewhat acidic, light
6.0 Henry de Fontenay Vouvray 2003 ($14)
Green pepper!
5.0 Chateau de Montfort Vouvray 2002 ($15)
Grassy and flinty, slightly sweet and effervescent
Pinot Noir
March 24, 2005 – Ellen and Don
7.5 Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2004 (Chile) ($10)
Barnyard bouquet, rich red fruit taste with long finish
7.0 Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Private Selection 2002 (California) ($15)
Plummy bouquet
6.5 Wolf Blas Pinot Noir 2003 (Australia) ($17)
6.5 Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir 2002 (BC) ($19)
5.0 Firesteed Pinot Noir 2002 (Oregon) ($19)
Musty smell, rough with sour aftertaste
4.0 Gray Monk Pinot Noir 2004 (BC) ($16)
Smells and tastes light and sour
Italian Reds
March 24, 2005 – David
8.0 Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2000 ($48)
Peppery bouquet; slightly sweet, balanced and port-like
7.5 Falasco Valpolicella 2002 ($17)
Fruity and toasted sugar bouquet; smooth, velvety and delicious
7.5 Ruffino Santedame Chianti Classico 2000 ($23)
Spice, leather and green peppers
7.0 Gianni Gagliardo Barolo 1998($57)
Balanced, mature and delicious
7.0 Fattorio Dei Barbi Brunello Di Montalcino 1999 ($47)
Lemons and strawberries, tannic
6.0 Cantina Parroco Barbera D’Alba 2003 ($16)
Strawberries on the nose, caramel and cherries, slightly acidic
BYO Whites
May 11, 2005 – Michele and Ted
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (New Zealand) ($20) [Suzanne and John]
Bouquet of sweet grapefruit, lightly grassy
7.0 Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2003 (Chile) ($17) [Michele and Ted]
Grassy nose, acidic, a surprising sauvignon bland masquerader
6.0 Fairview Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (South Africa) ($17) [Ellen and Don]
Buttery, tropical fruit nose, dry, a chardonnay masquerader
5.5 Wynns Coonawarra Chardonnay 2003 (Australia) ($17) [Michele and Ted]
Balanced, mature and delicious
4.5 Fifth Leg Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay 2003 (Australia) ($19) [David]
Faint lemon bouquet, dull and lifeless