Wines scored out of 10 points.
Top Wines of the Year
9.0 Hacienda Monasterico 1996 ($69)
8.0 Boschendal Lanoy 2000 ($15)
8.0 Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2000 ($19)
8.0 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2000 ($24)
Australian vs. South African Reds
September 10, 2003 – David
7.5 Fairview Shiraz Paarl Cyril Back (South Africa) 2000 ($22)
Toasty and smokey bouquet, blackcurrant and cocoa flavors, nicely balanced acid and tannin
7.0 Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch (South Africa) 1995 ($27)
Smooth, blackcurrant flavors, nice finish
6.0 Clarendon Hills Brookman Shiraz (Australia) 1997 ($88)
Unusual and powerful, asparagus and blackcurrant flavors, balanced, long finish
5.0 Delheim Shiraz (South Africa) 2001 ($18)
Noticeable bottle-pong, moderate tannins, spicey and peppery
5.0 Wyndham Estate Shiraz Bin 555 (Australia) 1999 ($15)
Sweet redcurrant bouquet, smooth, soft tannins
4.0 Wolf Blas Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 2000 ($16)
Very vegetal bouquet and taste, more acid than necessary
Chilean Reds
October 8, 2003 – Louise and Neil
7.0 Errazuriz Carmenere 2002 ($16)
Spicy bouquet with black berries and menthol, off-dry, low tannins
7.0 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 ($14)
Black berries, smooth, unremarkable
7.0 Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2002 ($11)
Fruity with chocolate notes, smooth, slightly harsh finish
6.0 Escudo Rojo Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere 2001 ($25)
Fruity, red berries, cedar bouquet
5.5 Casas del Bosque Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001 ($17)
Strong bouquet of mint and shoe leather, medicinal taste
4.0 Casa Lapostolle Merlot 1999 ($25)
Musty odour, sour milk, probably corked
Alsatian Whites
November 12, 2003 – Suzanne and John
7.0 Leon Beyer Tokay-Pinot Gris 2000 ($15)
Honey and caramel flavors
6.5 Pierre Sparr Riesling 2002 ($12)
Faintly fruity bouquet, light and fresh taste
6.0 Herrenweg Gewurztraminer 2001 ($21)
Slightly sweet with honey flavors
6.0 Herrenweg de Turckheim, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling 2000 ($40)
Petrol bouquet with honey overtones, tastes like ice wine
6.0 Dopff and Irion Sylvaner 2002 ($10)
Fruity and floral bouquet and taste
5.0 Hugel Pinot Blanc 2001 ($17)
Light fruit, slightly acidic
BYO Reds
December 10, 2003 – Michele and Ted
8.0 Boschendal Lanoy 2000 (Ellen and Don) ($15)
Leather and smokey bouquet; rich, opulent and mellow taste; long finish
6.5 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2001 (David) ($12)
Bouquet of tobacco; full bodied, peppery, and minty taste; slight acid
6.5 Greg Normal Estates Cabernet Merlot 1999 ($24)
Cherries; tannic and a little rough around the edges
6.0 Paul Jaboulet Aine Cotes du Rhone Villages 1999 (Suzanne and John) ($12)
Spice and tobacco; long finish
6.0 Cline Syrah 2000 (Michele and Ted) ($18)
Cherries; bold and musty; smooth
5.5 Farnese Sangiovese Daunia 2002 (Michele and Ted) ($7)
Reddish fruit; thin, light and a little acidic
Pinot Noir
January 14, 2004 – Jane and Justin
8.0 Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2000($19)
Good balance of acid and tannins; caramel flavors
6.5 Cave Spring Pinot Noir 2002 ($13)
Sweet cherry bouquet, burnt sugar and musty notes, balanced
5.5 Joseph Drouhin Volne 1999 ($40)
Barnyard aromas, smooth and balanced
5.0 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne 2001 ($20)
Cherry bouquet, slightly acidic, thin and light
5.0 Cave Spring Pinot Noir 2000 ($13)
Gasoline bouquet, lemons and barnyard
2.5 Chateau de Chamirey Mercurey 2000 ($26)
Musty and thin – corked
BYO Whites
February 11, 2004 – Louise and Neil
7.0 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre 2001($25) (Ellen and Don)
Grassy bouquet, light, lemon taste
6.5 Carmen Chardonnay 2001 ($15) (Suzanne and John)
Herbal bouquet, lemon taste
6.5 Domaine des Guyons Saumur 2001 ($15) (David)
Citrus and honey bouquet, light, honey taste
6.0 Brokenwood Chardonnay 2001 ($18) (Michele and Ted)
Sweet honey and pineapple bouquet, buttery taste
5.5 Sepp Moser Riesling 2001($22) (Louise and Neil)
Sweet bouquet, slightly effervescent and tropical taste
4.5 Salmon River Pinot Gris Chardonnay 2001($12) (Louise and Neil)
Light and lacking with an unpleasant aftertaste
Globe and Mail Reds
March 24, 2004 – Michele and Ted
8.0 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2000 ($24)
Mild to medium bodied, red fruit bouquet, earthy
7.5 Grant Burge Barossa Merlot 2001($16)
Sweet bouquet, smooth, rich, black cherries
7.0 Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz 2001 ($18)
Spicy, rich bouquet, full bodied, cherries, tannic
6.5 Farnese Sangiovese Daunia 2002 ($7)
Musty, barnyard bouquet
5.5 Amity Pinot Noir 2001($17)
Sweet light bouquet, tastes of cough mixture
4.5 Chateau Franc-Cardinal 2000 ($18)
Grassy and musty bouquet, light
Spanish Reds
April 14, 2004 – Ellen and Don
9.0 Hacienda Monasterico 1996($69)
Rich and tannic, gushing with flavor
8.5 Marques de Riscal Reserva 1999($21)
Smooth and balanced, loads of red fruit, good finish
7.5 Castillo de Almansa 2000($10)
Jammy and smooth, hard to beat at the price
7.0 Clos de l’obac Priorat ($75)
Bouquet of eucalyptus and pine forests, tobacco and menthol aroma
6.5 Conde de Valdemar Reserva 1998 ($20)
Spicy, herbal and fruity bouquet, smooth
6.5 Pago Jean Leon Caberbet Sauvignon 1997 ($26)
Sour, acidic and tannic
Sauvignon Blanc – France vs. New Zealand
May 12, 2004 – David
7.5 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc 2002 ($24)
Fruity, pineapple, lychee bouquet, slightly sweet with a tart finish
7.5 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Les Baronnes (Loire) 2002 ($24)
Herbaceous, flinty bouquet, delicious as always
7.0 Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2003 ($15)
Pear and pineapple bouquet, grassy and lemon taste
6.5 Goldwater New Dog Sauvignon Blanc 2003 ($21)
Peachy bouquet, grassy taste
5.5 Ch Roquetaillade La Grange (Graves) 2002 ($14)
Strong green apple taste
5.0 Pascal Jolivet Le Grand Cuvee Sancerre (Loire) 2000 ($49)
Musty, tastes of grilled wet chicken and burnt hair