2004 Ribera del Duero Viña Mayor Reserva, $28.99 WS93

HIJOS DE ANTONIO BARCELÓ
Ribera del Duero Viña Mayor Reserva 2004

Score: 93
Release Price: $25
Country: Spain
Region: Spain
Issue: May 31, 2010
Top 100: 2010, Rank: 38
Designation: Smart Buys

This red shows focus and depth, with admirable purity to its black cherry, mineral, tobacco and tar notes. Offers an excellent balance of firm, well-integrated tannins and clean acidity. Not showy, but rock-solid. Drink now through 2016. 10,000 cases made. –TM

BCLS:
VINA MAYOR RESERVA - BARCELO 2004
BC 663, Lower Mainland 452

2006 Bordeaux Top Value picks

Saturday, October 3, 2009
While Supplies Last
Special Events at 39th & Cambie

Here are the Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator ratings of the 2006 Bordeaux bottles below $50.

Winery	Area		AVG	WA	WS
Château Malescasse	Haut-Médoc	$25	87	86	87
Château Marsau	Côtes de Francs	$25	88	88	87
Château Puy-Blanquet	Saint-Émilion	$25	82	-	82
Château Baret	Pessac-Léognan	$29	88	88	88
Château La Bernadotte	Haut-Médoc	$29	86	87	85
Château d’Escurac	Médoc	$29	87	87	-
Château Faizeau Vieilles Vignes	Montagne Saint-Émilion	$29	88	-	88
Château de Fonbel	Saint-Émilion	$29	88	89	86
Château La Prade	Côtes de Francs	$29	87	87	87
Château Rolland-Maillet	Saint-Émilion	$29	90	-	90
Château d’Agassac	Haut-Médoc	$35	85	-	85
Château Le Boscq	Saint-Éstephe	$35	87	-	87
Château Côte de Baleau	Saint-Émilion	$35	87	83	90
Château La Garde	Pessac-Léognan	$35	86	-	86
Château La Gurgue	Margaux	$35	89	-	89
Château Grand Corbin-Despagne	Saint-Émilion	$39	88	90	86
Château Labegorce	Margaux	$39	89	87	89-91
Château Moulin Haut-Laroque	Fronsac	$39	90	90	-
Château Moulinet	Pomerol	$39	45		89
Château Potensac	Médoc	$39	87	88	86
Château Puygueraud Cuvée George	Côtes de Francs	$39	87	83	90
Château la Serre	Saint-Émilion	$39	86	84	87
Château Soutard	Saint-Émilion	$39	83	84	80-84
Château Chasse-Spleen	Haut-Médoc	$45	89	-	89
Château Ferrière	Margaux	$45	87	-	87
Château de Fieuzal	Pessac-Léognan	$45	88	87	88
Château Fontenil	Fronsac	$45	89	88	90
Château La Grave	Pomerol	$45	84	80	88
Château Lafleur-Gazin	Pomerol	$45	86	86	86
Château Plince	Pomerol	$45	89	-	89
Château Poujeaux	Moulis	$45	89	89	89
Château La Vieille Cure	Fronsac	$45	90	90	-
Château Batailley	Pauillac	$49	89	91	87
Château Bourgneuf	Pomerol	$49	89	-	89
Château Cantemerle	Haut-Médoc	$49	89	90	88
Château Carbonnieux	Pessac-Léognan	$49	89	89	88
Château Gloria	Saint-Julien	$49	90	90	90
Château Grand Destieu	Saint-Émilion	$49	90	91-93	88
Château Haut-Bergey	Pessac-Léognan	$49	90	91	89
Haut-Carles	Fronsac	$49	90	91	88
Château Lynch-Moussas	Pauillac	$49	89	89	88
Château Pibran	Pauillac	$49	90	-	90
Château du Tertre	Margaux	$49	84	86	82
Château Carbonnieux Blanc	Pessac-Léognan	$49	90	91	88
Château Haut-Bergey Blanc	Pessac-Léognan	$49	91	90-92	91

2006 Monte Antico Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana WS90 $16.99

WS90 WA86 $16.99

Score: 90
Release Price: $12
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Issue: Oct 31, 2009
Designation: Best Values

Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors. Drink now. 80,000 cases made. –JS

2006 Monte Antico Sangiovese Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Tuscany, Italy
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 184
Aug 2009 Antonio Galloni 86 Drink: 2009 - 2011 $12 (12)
The 2006 Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon offers up red cherries, game, oak and spices in a floral, mid-weight style. The wine shows good balance although some hard edges remain. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/587113
Lower Mainland 203

2006 Mollydooker The Boxer (Shiraz) $34.99 WA94

2006 Mollydooker The Boxer (Shiraz)
Mollydooker
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from
South Australia, Australia
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 173
Oct 2007 Jay Miller 94 Drink - $19-$25 (20)
The 2006 Shiraz “The Boxer” is opaque purple. The compelling nose exhibits aromas of scorched earth, smoke, grilled bacon, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied, thick and rich, this layered Shiraz is velvety-textured and opulent. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. It is a sensational value. It can be enjoyed now but will evolve for several years.

Mollydooker (the Australian equivalent of “Southpaw”– both Sparky and Sarah Marquis are left-handed) is the label of the renowned winemaking team of Sparky and Sarah Marquis. This is their second vintage following the schism with The Grateful Palate and the end of their involvement in the hugely successful Marquis Philips project. Total case production is 72,000, down from the 120,000 cases produced under the Marquis Philips label. They have also set up their own importing company in the United States.

Mollydooker has been divided into four tiers beginning with “The Lefty Series”. These five wines are line-priced at $20. Next up the ladder is “The Party Series” priced at $50 a bottle, followed by two wines comprising “The Love Series” priced at $80. At the top of the pyramid is one wine, “The Velvet Glove” Shiraz priced at $175.

Importer: Mollydooker International, www.mollydookerwines.com.au

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/779272
Lower Mainland 1,542, BC 1,973

2005 Bodegas Gormaz Vina Gormaz Tempranillo $16.99 WA90

2005 Bodegas Gormaz Vina Gormaz Tempranillo
Bodegas Gormaz
A Tempranillo Dry Red Table wine from
Ribera Del Duero, Castilla Leon

The 2005 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo, produced from 50+-year-old ungrafted Tempranillo vines, is as good a value as exists from the D.O. of Ribera del Duero. This unoaked wine is dark ruby-colored with aromas of earth, spice, mineral, plum, and black currants. This is followed by a medium-bodied, ripe wine, with layered flavors, light tannin, and good balance. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. Buy this one by the case!

Importer: Classical Wines, Seattle, WA.; tel. (206) 297-6713
http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/738336
Lower Mainland, 348, BC, 595

2005 Desert Wind Vineyard Ruah Wahluke Slope $24.99 WS90

Ruah Desert Wind Vineyard Wahluke Slope

Smooth, open-textured and distinctive for its balance of red berry and spice flavors, with hints of dark chocolate and sage on the long, expressive, beautifully knit finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2015. 8,000 cases made. –HS

Score: 90
Release Price: $15
Country: Washington
Region: Washington
Issue: Mar 31, 2008

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/264390
Lower Mainland, 242, BC, 326

2005 Montes Alpha Syrah $27.40 WS92, WA89

This is ripe and concentrated yet polished and refined, with layers of dark cherry, blackberry and briar caressed by suave toast, vanilla and mineral notes. Long and fleshy through the finish, which shows solid grip. Contains 7 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 percent Viognier. Drink now through 2009. 20,000 cases made. –JM
Score: 92
Release Price: $25
Country: Chile
Region: Rapel
Issue: Aug 31, 2007
Top 100 Wine
Year: 2007 Rank: 30

2005 Montes Alpha Syrah
Montes
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from
Colchagua, Rapel Valley, Chile
Source Wine Advocate # 171
Jun 2007
Reviewer Jay Miller
Rating 89
Maturity Drink 2009 - 2017
Current (Release) Cost $25 (25)

The 2005 Alpha Syrah delivers a stylish bouquet of earth, leather, meat, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied Syrah with excellent depth and concentration. It should evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2017.

Over recent years, Montes has been one of the standard-bearers of quality wines from Chile under the leadership of Aurelio Montes. The lineup is top-notch from entry level to top-of-the-line.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/603548
Lower Mainland 469, BC 666

2006 Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Terra Barossa $19.99 WA90 WS88

2006 Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Terra Barossa
Thorn-Clarke
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 173
Oct 2007 Jay Miller 90 Drink - $12-$14 (14)
The best of the reds is the value priced 2006 Shiraz “Terra Barossa”. Opaque purple, it has an enticing spicy perfume of blueberry and blackberry that jump from the glass. Plush and ripe, it tastes like Shiraz selling for three times the price. It has outstanding depth and length and, best of all, it can be enjoyed now.
Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils, Winchester, VA; tel. (540) 722-9258 Also tasted: 2006 Riesling “Terra Barossa” (78), 2005 Barossa Cuvee “Terra Barossa” (84)

Thorn-Clarke
Shiraz Barossa Terra Barossa 2006
Bright and juicy. A lively mouthful of raspberry, with a hint of earth as the finish lingers. Drink now through 2010. 12,000 cases made. –HS
Score: 88
Release Price: $13
Country: Australia
Region: Australia
Issue: Aug 31, 2007

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/98327
Lower Mainland 375, BC 603

2006 Heartland Stickleback Red $14.99 WA90

2006 Heartland Stickleback Red
Heartland
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
South Australia, Australia
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
eRobertParker.com # 173
Oct 2007 Jay Miller 90 Drink - $8-$10 (12)
The 2006 Stickleback Red is composed of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Shiraz and 27% Grenache. It was aged for 12 months in used French and American oak. This crimson-colored wine has an enticing perfume of spice box, black cherry, black currant, and blackberry. Ripe, sweet, and layered on the palate, this sensational value totally over-delivers. It will evolve for 1-2 years but there is really no reason to defer gratification.
Importer: Ben Hammerschlag, Epicurean Wines, Seattle, WA; (206) 923-1376

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/293290
Lower Mainland 537, BC 1485

2005 Georges Duboeuf Brouilly Chateau de Nervers $18.80 WA90-92

2005 Georges Duboeuf Brouilly Chateau de Nervers
Georges Duboeuf
A Gamay Dry Red Table wine from
Brouilly, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 165
Jun 2006 Pierre Rovani (90-92) Drink 2007 - 2014 $15 (13)
Waxy black cherries emerge from the nose of the 2005 Brouilly Chateau de Nervers. A medium to full-bodied effort with impressive depth and concentration of fruit, it slathers the palate with sweet black fruits that linger in its prolonged finish. Rich, powerful, and fleshy, it will be at its peak between 2007 and 2014.
Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel (914) 251-9463.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/93914
Lower Mainland 217, BC 339

2004 Domaine la Garrigue Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Romaine $19.95 WA90

Domaine la Garrigue
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Cotes du Rhone, Southern Rhone, Rhone, France
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 163
Feb 2006 Robert Parker 90 Drink 2006 - 2009 $15 (12)
A stunning value, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Romaine is a 7,000-case blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Its big, sweet bouquet of licorice, garrigue, kirsch liqueur, and black fruits is followed by a dense, opulent, medium to full-bodied, supple, luscious wine to enjoy over the next several years. This is a very special wine!

Readers need to be careful buying these wines as there are multiple cuvees and significant differences in the quality. The best cuvees are all made by the famed southern Rhone oenologist Philippe Cambie and represented in the United States by importer European Selections (Eric Solomon). These wines (*) are custom cuvees bottled unfined and unfiltered for Solomon. They are different from bottlings sold elsewhere in the world. Solomon believes in getting the wines in the bottle much earlier than the proprietor, and I tend to agree.
Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/77057
Lower Mainland 251, BC 363

2005 Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas $19.99 WA90

2005 Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas
Cousino Macul
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from
Chile
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 171
Jun 2007 Jay Miller 90 Drink - $15-$16 (15)
The deeply colored 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas offers toast, spice box, cedar, and black currant scents. This is followed by a spicy, ripe, firm wine with layers of flavor. With very good depth and a long finish, this superb value should evolve for several more years but is hard to resist now.
Kudos to Cousino-Macul for this significant upgrade to their portfolio. Importer: Billington Imports, www.billingtonwines.com

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/298075
Lower Mainland 523, BC 880

2005 The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier $19.95 WA91

2005 The Black Chook Shiraz / Viognier
The Black Chook
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release)Cost
Wine Advocate # 167
Oct 2006 Robert Parker 91 Drink 2006 - 2010 $18-$19 (18)
A bigger, richer version of the value-priced Woop Woop, this cuvee, which is made by the irrepressible Ben Riggs, is produced primarily from McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek fruit. The result is a fabulous value composed of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier that is aged in mostly used French oak for eight months. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by serious blackberry and currant notes intermixed with pepper and spice. This wine offers high levels of seduction, lushness, and richness at a ridiculously low price. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.
Importer: Ben Hammerschlag, Epicurean Wines, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 923-1376

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/171991
Lower Mainland 779, BC 1446

2006 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $21.99 WS92

Kim Crawford
Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2006

Concentrated and complex, with vivid passion fruit, grapefruit and tangy peach flavors. Vibrant minerality and tangy lime juice acidity keep thumping through the finish. Drink now. 65,000 cases imported. –DS
Score: 92
Release Price: $17
Country: New Zealand
Region: New Zealand
Special Designation: Smart Buys
Issue: Dec 15, 2006
Top 100 Wine
Year: 2006 Rank: 40

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/100594
Lower Mainland 266, BC 1,652

2003 Wolf Blass Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Gold Label $19.80 WS92

Wolf Blass

Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Gold Label 2003
A gentle style with flavors that sneak up on the finish and wash over it like an ocean swell, offering rich pear, cream and mineral notes that keep singing on the long, long finish. Beautifully done. Drink now through 2008. 3,000 cases imported. –HS
Score: 92
Release Price: $20
Country: Australia
Region: Australia
Issue: May 15, 2004

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/218578
Lower Mainland 152, BC 488

2005 Falesco Merlot Pesano $26.71 WA90

2005 Falesco Merlot Pesano
Falesco
A Merlot Dry Red Table wine from
Umbria, Italy
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 165
Jun 2006 Robert Parker 90 Drink 2006 - 2009 $12-$16 (16)
An extremely intense, amazing bargain, the 2005 Merlot Pesano (100% Merlot aged 5-6 months in barrel) exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, and fleshy, concentrated, black cherry, cassis, smoke, herb, and mocha aromas and flavors. This medium-bodied, concentrated, unbelievably low-priced red is too good to be true. It should be drunk within 2-3 years of release. Kudos to Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella for continuing to deliver remarkable wines at these prices. A Leonardo LoCascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620; fax (201) 445-9868.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/494351
Lower Mainland 74, BC 127

2006 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza $26.90 WA92 WS91

2006 Achaval Ferrer Malbec
Achaval Ferrer
A Malbec Dry Red Table wine from
Mendoza, Argentina
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 174
Dec 2007 Jay Miller 92 Drink 2011 - 2020 $17-$25 (28)
Compared to the 2005, the 2006 Malbec has a more expressive nose and is more structured. It would profit from 4-6 years of additional cellaring and will drink well through 2020.

Founded only in 1998, Achaval-Ferrer is already established as one of Argentina’s benchmark wineries. They specialize in single vineyard Malbecs from prime Mendoza sites. Finca Altamira is located in La Consulta in the Uco Valley, 60 miles to the south of Mendoza at 3400 feet elevation and contains 10 acres of densely planted old-vine Malbec. Finca Bella Vista is located in the Pedriel district of Lujan de Cuyo, 15 miles to the south of the city of Mendoza at 3100 feet of elevation, with 18 acres of Malbec planted in 1910 as well as a bit of Merlot and Syrah. Finca Mirador is located in Medrano, 34 miles to the southeast of the city of Mendoza at 2400 feet above sea level, with 12 acres of densely planted Malbec vines averaging 40+ years of age. The winery uses predominantly French oak and bottles without fining or filtration. The winemaker is Roberto Cipresso.

Achával-Ferrer
Malbec Mendoza 2006
Ripe and forward, with blackberry and boysenberry fruit augmented by notes of violet, mineral and sweet toast. The long, rounded finish shows a minerally tang. Drink now through 2008. 8,075 cases made. –JM Score: 91
Release Price: $26
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Issue: Oct 15, 2007

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/463687
Lower Mainland 322 BC 449

2005 Rolf Binder Wines Shiraz Hales $22.99 WA91 WS89

Rolf Binder Wines
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Wine Advocate # 167
Oct 2006 Robert Parker 91 Drink 2006 - 2013 $15 (15)
The 2005 Shiraz Hales (includes 6% Mourvedre and 4% Grenache) reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as uplifted aromatics of toasty oak, blackberries, blueberries, and acacia flowers. This dense, medium to full-bodied, beautifully put together Aussie red should drink well for 5-7 years. Importer: Joshua Tree Imports, Azusa, CA; tel. (626) 358-6600

Rolf Binder
Shiraz Barossa Valley Hales 2005
Bright and lively. A juicy mouthful of red berry and red cherry flavors that linger nicely on the refreshingly balanced finish. Drink now through 2009. 1,000 cases imported. –HS
Score: 89
Release Price: $20
Country: Australia
Region: Australia
Issue: Oct 15, 2006

http://bcliquorstores.com/en/products/869875
Lower Mainland 1,096, BC 1,508

2005 D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz / Viognier $29.73 WA93

2005 D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz / Viognier
D'Arenberg
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 167
Oct 2006 Robert Parker 93 Drink 2006 - 2014 $20-$34 (25)
Year in and year out, one of the most exotic, flamboyant, and sexiest cuvees in the d’Arenberg portfolio is The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier. The 2005 exhibits a spring flower garden-like character interwoven with blackberries, creme de cassis, melted licorice, and sweet, toasty new oak. Opulent and voluptuous, with silky tannin, and a plump, fleshy, rich, full-bodied personality, this offering is meant to be consumed over the next 5-8 years. Importer: Gavin Speight, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/118570
Lower Mainland 398, BC 601

2000 Alain Jaume Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Grand Veneur $44.59 WS94

Alain Jaume

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Grand Veneur 2000

Impressive from start to finish. Rich and ripe, but also tannic, here is a blockbuster that draws its strength from the i terroir, n with lots of mineral and wet earth. Full-bodied, unusual for its chalky, flinty character, this serious and complex wine needs time--but what thickness on the midpalate! Great fruit--plum, citrus, crushed berries--that goes on and on in the long, long finish. Best from 2005 through 2020. 3,330 cases made. –PM

Score: 94

Release Price: $29

Country: France

Region: Southern Rhône

Issue: Web Only (2003)

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/655399

Lower Mainland 163, BC 220