Wines scored out of 10 points.
Top Wines of the Year
8.5 Trapiche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $15
8.0 Markham Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 $35
8.0 Chateau Le Carillon 2005 $40
8.0 Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2002 $25
8.0 Henry of Pelham Reserve Riesling 2007 $15
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $20
8.0 KWV Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2004 South Africa ($17)
BYO Reds
September 10, 2008 – David
8.0 KWV Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2004 South Africa (Suzanne and John) ($17)
7.5 Piping Shrike Shiraz 2005 Australia (David) ($20)
7.0 Napier Red Medallion 2001 South Africa (Don, Rob, Ellen) ($22)
7.0 Sileni Pinot Noir 2007 New Zealand (Louise and Neil) ($18)
7.0 Muga Reserva Rioja 2004 Spain (Michele and Ted) ($23)
6.5 Senorio de Penalba Tinto Crianza 2003 Spain (Don, Rob, Ellen) ($18)
Argentinian Reds
October 8, 2008 – Michele & Ted
8.5 Trapiche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $15
Velvety, rich and smooth with soft tannins
7.0 Navarro Correas Caberbet-Merlot-Malbec 2005 $15
Oaky bouquet, slightly musty but pleasant enough
6.5 Navarro Correas Cabernet-Sauvignon 2005 $15
Moderately fruity, soft tannins
6.5 Catena Malbec 2006 $19
Minty and wintergreen notes on the bouquet
6.0 Catena Malbec 2006 $19
Rough tannins, slightly sour
6.0 Catena Malbec 2006 $19
Herbal notes on the bouquet
UR Marcus James Malbec 2007 $15
Rather thin and lacking in complexity
Cabernet Sauvignon: Old vs New World
November 19, 2008 – Louise & Neil
8.0 Markham Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 $35
Rich, soft and balanced, loads of berries and a bit of oak
8.0 Chateau Le Carillon 2005 $40
Green pepper on the nose, earthy and moderately tannic
7.0 Chateau Previllac 2005 $30
Peppery and tannic
7.0 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $16
Green peppers, blackcurrants and cinammon
7.0 Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $??
Petrol on the nose, acidic with mild citrus notes
6.5 Chateau Ducla 2005 $15
Tannic
Wines that Sparkle
December 3, 2008 – Don & Rob
7.5 MFreixnet Brut $14
Musty and slightky sweet
7.5 Georges Gardet Champagne $40
Toffee and burnt sugar on the nose
7.5 Schlumberger Brut 2006 $16
Slightly sour aftertaste
7.0 WProsecco di Valdobbiadene 2007 $??
Apples
7.0 Bellenda Prosecco 2007 $20
Slightly sour aftertaste
6.5 Bailly Lapierre Brut 2005 $20
New Zealand Reds
January 14, 2009 – Michele & Ted
Wine details not available.
Washington & Oregon Reds
February 4, 2009 – Louise & Neil
7.5 Dobbes Pinot Noir 2006 $36
7.5 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $15
7.5 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve 2003 $50
7.0 Amity Pinot Noir 2006 $30
7.0 CMS Cabernet Sauvignon-Merot-Syrah 2006 $18
5.0 LA Cetto Petite Syrah 2006 (Mexico) $11
Shiraz and Syrah
March 4, 2009 – David
8.0 Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2002 (South Africa) $25
Green pepper and oaky nose, rich and full bodied
7.5 Montes Alpha Syrah 2006 (Chile) $23
Green pepper and menthol nose, peppery, high alcohol
7.5 Maxwell Shiraz 2004 (Australia) $22
Jammy, rather acidic
7.5 Culraithin Syrah 2002 (South Africa) $31
Jammy nose but a little bland tasting, some sulphur notes
6.5 Epsilon Shiraz 2005 (Australia) $27
Loads of cherry and candy, jammy and sweetish
Wines for Spicey Food
March 31, 2009 – Suzanne and John
8.0 Henry of Pelham Reserve Rieslig 2007 $15
7.5 Dopff and Irion Gewurtztraminer 2007 $16
7.5 Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2007 $10
7.0 Les Venerables Chablis 2007 $25
7.0 Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2003 $26
6.5 Inniskillin Gamay Noir 2007 $12
Sauvignon Blanc – Old vs New World
May 20, 2009 – Ellen
8.0 Kim Crawford 2008 $20
Typical pineapple, grassy bouquet, rich and delicious
7.0 Oyster Bay 2008 $19
Pineapples and gooseberries on the nose; slightly effervescent
7.0 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre 2007 $25
Weak bouquet, slightly sour; not as good as usual
7.0 Fumees Blanches 2007 $11
Flabby and sweetish
6.5 Mission Hill 2006 Reserve $20
Guavas! Richer, Chardonnay-like bouquet
5.5 Silverado 1997 Miller Ranch $28
Weak nose, nothing special here