Wines scored out of 10 points.
Favorite Wines of the Summer
September 2014 – Michele & Ted
8.0 Elephant Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (New Zealand) $22
Lemons, peppers on the nose, a little sweet and peppery, delicious, but a Sauvignon Blanc?
8.0 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (New Zealand) $17
Now this is a Sauvignon Blanc: tropical fruits (pineapple) bouquet, grassy and fruity deliciousness
7.5 Chateau Canteloup Medoc 2010 (France) $20
Bouquet of green peppers, smooth, plush and plummy
7.5 Solanera Vina Viejas 2012 (Spain) $17
More green peppers here, tastes of raisins and dark berries
7.5 Cono Sur Viognier 2013 (Chile) $13
Roses, apricots and even petrol on the nose, musty, rieslingoid
Rieslings from 6 5 Countries
October 2014 – Louise & Neil
7.5 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Grand Cru Kessler 2009 (France) $27
Mildly sweet with tropical fruit notes, balanced; revenge for a label on the “3rd worst wine ever tasted by the PTC” list
7.0 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2010 (Australia) $47
Skunky bouquet with some petrol, slightly effervescent, light and lemony
7.0 Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run Riesling 2012 (Australia) $18
Not much bouquet, tastes a bit like orange tang, slightly off taste some thought
6.5 Jaszberry Etyek-Budai Riesling 2012 (Hungary) $9
Apparent burnt cumin on the nose, insipid, loses its allure over time
6.5 Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2013 (Germany) $22
Perfumy and flinty, very sweet and undry
6.5 Elevation Riesling 2011 (Canada) $20
Musty but bold, very sweet, not that much worse than any of the others
Over 90 Under 20
November 2014 – David
7.0 Giacomo Mori Chianti 2011 $19.75
Dark cherry and oaky, pronounced tannins, good finish
7.0 Morande Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Chile) $16.80
Red fruit, barnyard and olive notes on the nose, fine tannins
6.5 Caliterra Tributo Carmenere 2011 (Chile) $16.75
Bold dark fruit with notes of green pepper and rubber on the nose
6.5 Tres Picos Garnacha 2012 (Spain) $19.75
Bouquet of cloves and cherry Vicks, leather and vanilla with soft tannins
6.5 Alamos Malbec 2012 (Argentina) $16.75
Musty notes with prunes and menthol on the nose, flavors of ripe fruit, dry
6.5 Heartland Shiraz 2012 (Australia) $18.75
Menthol and spice bouquet, rich with a touch of chocolate flavor
Sparkling Wines
December 2014 – Don & Rob
Note: The abbreviated tasting notes below relates to the over-abundance of excellent appetizers and the intoxicating properties of these bubblies.
8.0 Villa Conchi Cava $16
8.0 Graham Beck Brut $20
apples
7.0 Champagne Gardet Chigny-les-Roses Brut $50
6.5 Kim Crawford Small Parcels Fizz 2009 $30
6.5 Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catherine 2007 $45
citrus
6.5 Treveri Blanc de blanc $16
Australia Revisited
January 2015 – Nicole & Chris
9.0 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2012 $41
Burnt sugar, anise and violets on the nose, light but rich, smooth mouthfeel, intense black fruit, smooth tannins
8.5 Devils Corner Pinot Noir 2013 $24
8.5 Zonte’s Footstep Shiraz 2012 $18
8.0 Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2010 $43
8.0 Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $20
Wines of Canada’s Left Coast
February 2015 – Ellen
7.5 Burrowing Owl Merlot 2009 $36
Caramel and peppery notes on the nose, fruity (cherries), green pepper
7.0 Quails Gate Old Vines Foch 2011 $40
A good foch; earth and musty
7.0 Quails Gate Chardonnay 2012 $35
Buttery and oaky, very slightly sweet
6.5 Gray Monk Chardonnay 2012 $23
Tropical fruits with pear and honey on the nose
6.5 Mission Hill Riesling 2012 $20
Petrol bouquet with apple juice, sweet, balanced
6.5 Mission Hill Shiraz Reserve 2011 $25
Black liquorice and cigar box bouquet, rich and peppery
Italian Whites
March 2015 – Michele & Ted
6.0 Pieropan Soave Classico 2013 $20
Savory, salty and oaky; bitter finish
6.0 Fiano di Arellino Oro del Passo $18
Pears on the nose, malty, beer-like flavors
6.0 Cormons Collio Friulano 2013 $19
Flavors of caramel mixed with black liquorice, oily finish
5.5 Borgo Maragliano La Caliera Moscato D’Asti 2013 $19
A sweet bubbly that produced rather divided opinions
5.0 Ben di Batasiolo Gavi 2013 $18
Steely bouquet, somewhat thin and flat
4.5 Ocone Fora Falanghina 2012 $19
Turpentine on the nose and a taste of dill – what more could one want?
Pinot Noir
April 2015 – Nicole & Chris
8.0 Carmel Road Pinot Noir 2012 (California) $27
Cherries and peppermint bouquet, warm, lush and full-bodied, long finish
8.0 Newton Johnson Pinot Noir 2012 (South Africa) $27
Strong barnyard on the nose with a little rubber – a classic Pinot
8.0 Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils Volnay Caillerets 2005 $87
A bouquet of violets, plush and rich, delicious
7.5 Rex Hill Pinot Noir 2009 (Oregon) $37
Smoke and spice on the nose, cherries, a touch sweet
7.0 Carrick Pinot Noir 2011 (New Zealand) $40
Barnyardy bouquet with beets and mushrooms, and a taste of grapefruit
7.0 Thirty Bench Small Lot Pinot Noir 2010 (Niagara) $35
A bouquet of butterscotch, caramel and floor polish, musty, a bit dilute
BYO: Go Big or Go Home
May 2015 – David
8.5 Ridge Three Valleys 2012 $36
Red fruit, green pepper bouquet; taste of cherries, full bodied, balanced, smooth tannins
7.5 Baron de Magana 2009 $20
Dark fruit on the nose, tastes of black fruit, soft tannins, long finish
7.0 Berenger Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $33
Ripe berries on the nose, peppery notes, supple
7.0 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2009 $80
A bit of a surprise, red fruits and leather bouquet, tanning a bit harsh, too young to drink!
7.0 Ravenswood Zinfandel Dickerson Vineyard 2009 $40
Green peppers and plums on the nose, cherries and leather notes
6.5 Tedeschi Amarone della Valopllicella 2010 $40
Flabby and very alcoholic, sweetish, big but clumsy