Wines scored out of 10 points
Top Wines of the Year
9.0 Les Baronnes Sancerre 2000 $23
8.0 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 $30
8.0 Les Closiers Chateau Neuf-du-Pap 1998 $32
BYO Reds
September 5, 2001 – Louise and Neil
8.0 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (California) 1995 ($30)
Rich bouquet of cherry and plums, smooth, moderately tannic, yummy
7.5 Greg Norman Cabernet-Merlot (Australia) 1999 ($23)
Cherry, rubber and chocolate bouquet, smooth, biting and sharkey
7.0 Katnook Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 1996 ($26)
Herbal, menthol, smokey bouquet, balanced, slightly acidic
6.5 Hardys Bankside Shiraz (Australia) 1998 ($16)
Musty, earthy bouquet, smooth, sightly acidic with some tannins
4.0 Folanari Valpolicella Classico Superior (Italy) 1997 ($?)
No bouquet, acidic, bland and insipid (yet not altogether unpleasant)
Rhone Valley Reds
October 2, 2001 – Rita and Igor
8.0 Les Closiers Chateau Neuf-du-Pap 1998 ($32)
Flowery bouquet, balanced, substantial tannic wine with a good finish
7.0 Caves des Papes Cotes du Rhone 1999 ($23)
Smooth, fruity, must and earthy, wine with raspberry highlights
6.0 M. Chapoutier Deschants Saint-Joseph 1998 ($25)
Raspberry bouquet, peppery and somewhat acidic
6.0 Les Adres Domaine du Trapadis Cotes du Rhone Villages 1998 ($26)
Cat’s pee bouquet, lemony, acidic wine with good balance and full finish
5.5 Paul Jaboulet Aine Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone 1999 ($25)
Grassy bouquet, no finish, not memorable
5.0 M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage 1998 ($14)
Grassy, musty bouquet with vanilla and wet grass notes; acidic
Syrah
November 7, 2001 – Jane and Justin
7.5 Cline Syrah (California) 1998 ($19)
Wet leaf bouquet, brimming with fruit, balanced, nice finish, not great with sheep cheese
7.5 J. Lohr Estates Paso Robles Syrah (California) 1998 ($19)
Pine needle bouquet, gorgeous balanced fruit with good tannins
7.0 Valle de Vistalba Syrah (Argentina) 1999 ($9)
Oak and fruit filled bouquet, peppery, moderate tannins, smooth, good finish
6.5 Marnay-Sorelles Crozes-Hermitage (France) 1995 ($15)
Grassy bouquet, dry and austere, moderate tannins, pepper, good with a steak
6.0 M. Chapoutier Cigala Syrah-Grenache (France) 1998 ($10)
Bouquet of vanilla and pine needles, slightly acidic, dry, balanced, a food wine
Sherry
December 5, 2001 – Suzanne and John
7.0 KWV Paarl Pale Dry Sherry (South Africa) ($8)
Fruity, apricot and pear flavors
6.5 Gonzalez Byass Elegante Cream Sherry (Spain) ($9)
Wonderful bouquet, fruity, medium body, smooth, port-like
6.5 Alvears Amontillado Montilla (Spain) ($9)
Caramel and nutty flavors, porty, good with almonds
6.0 Williams and Humbert Dry Sack Medium Dry Sherry (Spain) ($11)
Smooth with walnut flavor, slightly bitter overtone
4.5 Domecq La Ina (Spain) ($15)
Very dry, astringent, slightly oily
3.0 Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Muy Seco (Spain) ($15)
Very dry, apple and solvent flavors
French Whites
January 9, 2002 – Louise and Neil
9.0 Les Baronnes Sancerre 2000 ($23)
7.0 Bouchard Pere & Fils Petit Chablis 2000 ($17)
6.5 Ch. Bonnet Entre-Deux-Mers 1999 ($17)
6.5 Trimbach Pnot Blanc 1999 ($12)
6.5 Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer 1999 ($14)
6.5 Le Piat D’Or ($8)
Cabernet and Merlot
February 6, 2002 – John
7.0 Fetzer Merlot Barrel Select 1999 (California) ($20)
Barnyard and blue cheese bouquet, smooth, moderate tannins
7.0 Jekel Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 (California) ($20)
Herbal and spicy bouquet, balanced, good mouth feel
7.0 Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (Argentina) ($14)
Minty bouquet, smooth, soft, moderate tannins
6.5 Santa Carolina Merlot 2000 (Chile) ($9)
Mint and cherry bouquet with plums and spice, peppery, slightly acidic
4.5 Christian Moueix Merlot 1998 (France) ($13)
Flowery bouquet with berries, thin, insipid
4.5 Peninsula Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (Ontario) ($16)
Tuna bouquet with overtones of burnt sugar and pepper, peppery, bitter finish, horrid
Italian Reds
March 6, 2002 – Michele and Ted
6.5 Brolio Chianti Classico 1999 ($18)
Smooth, moderate tannins, balanced, good finish
6.0 Masi Campoforin 1998 ($16)
Earthy bouquet, fruity, slightly acidic, thin
6.0 Ca’ntele Salice Salentino Riserva ($13)
Burnt caramel bouquet, thin
6.0 D’istinto Sangiovese Merlot 1999 ($10)
Grassy bouquet, thin, acidic, a good deal
5.0 Rocche Aurelio Settimo Barolo 1997 ($40)
Leathery, spicy, pee bouquet, burnt toasty, thin and tannic
4.0 Taurasi Montesole 1996 ($19)
Sweet cherry and sun-dried tomato bouquet, weak, tastes of cinnamon, cough syrup and quince
BYO Whites
April 3, 2002 – Rita and Igor
7.0 Bon Courage Colombard 2001 (South Africa) ($11)
Strong fruity peach bouquet, sweet with slightly sour aftertaste
6.5 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2001 (New Zealand) ($16)
Zesty and perfumed bouquet, lemony taste
5.5 Heggies Eden Valley Riesling 1999 (Australia) ($?)
Herbal, grassy bouquet, acidic and tart
5.5 Sacha Lichine and Associes Chablis 1999 (France) ($22)
Light bouquet of roses and perfume, tart taste
4.0 Chateau de Charmes Gewurztraminer 1999 (Ontario) ($?)
Lemon-lime bouquet, slightly fizzy, acid and petrol taste
2.0 Diva Riesling 1998 (Germany) ($17)
Musty, home made bouquet, cloyingly sweet, flowery, unbalanced
Sparkling Wines
May 1, 2002 – David
7.0 Alianca Danubio Brut (Portugal) ($7)
Minimal bouquet, tiny bubbles, apple and slight wheaty taste
6.5 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut (France) ($51)
Burnt sugar bouquet, citrusy and refreshing taste
6.5 Henkell Cuvee Brut 1998 (Germany) ($13)
Yeasty, musty bouquet, cat’s pee, grassy and rubbery taste, slightly sweet
6.0 Hungaria Grande Cuvee Brut (Hungary) ($8)
Sweetish bouquet, light, dry taste, slightly coarse
5.0 Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut (California) ($30)
Fruity, pineapple bouquet, burnt toast and novocaine taste
4.0 Hillebrand Trius Brut (Ontario) ($20)
Floral, pineapple, generally unpleasant bouquet, few bubbles, mouldy acetone taste