Wines scored out of 10 points.
BYO: Red, Whites or Pinks
October 2016 – David
8.0 Creekside Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $30
Dry and tannic, rich black cherry flavors, mineral notes
8.0 Kovacevic Chardonnay 2015 $15
Perfumey, tropical fruit notes, slightly sweet and effervescent
8.0 William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $25
Plush, softy with blackberry flavors, well balanced
8.0 Stags Leap Petite Syrah 2012 $40
Vanilla and oak bouquet, rather tannic, cherry flavors
7.5 HandCraft Petite Syrah 2013 $18
Barnyard notes, cherries, raisins
7.0 Masi Brolo Campoforin 2012 $27
Tannic and quite acidic, dark fruit flavors
West Coast Pinot
November 2016 – Nicole & Chris
8.0 Gainey Vineyard Santa Barbara County, California, 2012 $40
Menthol and berry fruit on the nose; burnt sugar flavors, rich and smooth
8.0 Quail’s Gate Okanagan Valley, 2014 $27
Sweetish strawberry bouquet, beetroot and cherry flavors
8.0 Aberrant Cellars Carpe Noctem, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon, 2011 $75
Floral and herbal (sage) notes on the nose, smooth with mineral highlights
8.0 Domaine Drouhin, Dundee Hills, Oregon, 2013 $53
Barnyardy nose, smooth and spicy
7.5 Frei Brothers, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, 2012 $28
Rich nose with blackberry flavors, classic Pinot beetroot notes
7.5 Solena Hyland Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2012 $36
Port-like, pruny nose, tastes porty too
Holiday Sparklers
December 2016 – Louise & Neil
8.0 Baron-Fuente, France $72
8.0 Cathedral Cellar Brut 2010, South Africa $18
8.0 Champagne de Castelnau Reserve Brut, France $50
8.0 Bollinger Special Cuvee, France $79
7.5 Segura Viudas Brut Reserva, Spain $30
7.5 Laboure Gontard Brut, France $30
Italian Whites
January 2017 – Rob & Don
7.0 Azienda Agricola S. Christina Chardonnay 2015 $22
Light bouquet, peaches and apples on the palate, good balance
7.0 Branu Vermentino di Gallura 2014 $22
Sweet, honey nose, lemon, slightly bitter aftertaste
7.0 Cervaro dell Sala 2014 $58
Rich bouquet, perfumed, slightly skunky at first, rich with tropical flavors
6.5 Lugana San Benedetto 2015 $18
Floral bouquet, medium body with melon flavors, good acid
6.0 Terre Bianche Torbato 2014 $17
Floral, honey notes on the nose, reasonable acid
5.5 Greco Di Tufo 2014 $20
Lemons on the nose, crisp, undistinguished
Bordeaux on a Budget
February 2017 – Michele & Ted
7.5 Chateau Andron Blanquet 2010 $40
Rich, fruity nose, tastes of cherries and plums, tannic, well balanced
7.5 Chateau Teyssier 2012 $25
Green pepper, licorice nose, rich, tannic, truffle notes (especially after eating truffle chips)
7.0 Chateau Les Charmes-Godard 2012 $23
Light bouquet of cherries, smooth tannins
7.0 Chateau Larose-Trintaudon 2012 $25
Burnt sugar on the nose, plummy, loads of tannins
7.0 Chateau de Pitray 2012 $22
Sweetish bouquet, candy notes, smooth, rich plum flavors
7.0 Chateau Devise d’Ardilley 2012 $30
Mint and plum bouquet, well balanced, some chocolate flavors
Canadian Swill part Deux
March 2017 – Ellen
7.0 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Riesling 2013 $25
Apple on the nose with a touch of petrol, off dry, nice mouthfeel
7.0 Sperling Vineyards Chardonnay 2014 $30
A classic buttery, vanillary chardonnay
7.0 2027 Cellars Chardonnay 2013 $30
Buttery and rich with some perfume, vanilla flavors
7.0 Charles Baker Stratus Riesling 2013 $35
Lots of fruit with lemon and apple, off dry
6.5 Tawse Twenty Mile Bench Chardonnay 2012 $38
Oak bouquet, a little skunky
6.0 Creekside Sauvignon Blanc 2013 $27
Bouquet filled with peach and grapefruit, tastes of guava, crisp and refreshing
BYO: Over 90 Under 20
October 2016 – Nicole & Chris
8.5 Bodega Volcanes Tectonia Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $20
Rich bouquet with cedar and cherry notes; tannic with cherry flavors
8.0 Envero Carmenere 2013 $20
Green peppers and menthol on the nose, tannic
7.5 Zonte’s Footsteps Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $20
Cherry bouquet, tannic but well balanced
7.5 Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $20
Closed nose with hints of paprika, smooth and tannic, caramel flavors
7.5 Lenz Moser Blaufrankish 2012 $18
Herbal bouquet with cumin notes, smooth
6.5 Hazana Vinas Viejas Rioja 2014 $20
Spice on the nose, generally a bit insipid