2002 Numanthia
This is like the Spanish version of a Napa cult cab; and it works. Deep, impenetrably dark, the colour of a California Central Coast Syrah. Complex nose of blackberry and raspberry joined by brown spice notes and a notable whiff of vanilla. The mouth feel is soft and plush and at age 13 it is fully mature, tannins are integrated and there is just enough acidity to keep all that fruit from going over the top. The blackfruit flavours are very intense, more reminiscent of a younger wine. Full body with a long finish. This is surely a wine that will polarize opinions: we loved the outrageous body , mouthfeel and larger than life presence. Rajat Parr would HATE this wine for those same reasons. Vive la difference!
Excellent
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Although we’re not vegan ourselves, we live in a bona fide vegan-friendly city and are used to having to cater to different food preferences when entertaining guests. Recently, a very dear friend brought to our attention that his wife was worried about having to give up wine when she found out many are not technically vegan. Surprised?
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2001 Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard
This is really quite extraordinary. One of the greatest wines we have tasted. Deep purple/ruby. Not exactly the colour you would expect of a 14 year old wine! The nose was just incredible: as I was decanting it the intensity was noticeable. Black cherries, just a whiff of menthol, some vanilla form the very expressive and powerful bouquet. With time, the menthol component increases. The palate brings out black cherries and black currants delivered in a medium full body. Hints of cedar and earth add to the complexity. The balance here is as precise as can be which results in a mouthfeel that is wonderfully smooth. Tannins and acidity elongate the finish and balance perfectly the intensity of the fruit. It is quite astonishing to feel the sensations of power and smoothness simultaneously. The finish must be at least a minute long. This wine has everything. Still on the rise I would think and may even be better in another 5 years. Simply stunning.
Extraordinary
(Available in BC through their distributor Vintage Corks www.vintagecorks.com; 2005, 2007 and 2009 also available)
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We arrived at Avennia’s “facility” in Woodinville’s warehouse district, about 30 minutes drive north of Seattle. We use the word “facility” because it is not a tasting room, but a barrel room, winery, office and a little reception area where we tasted their wines. Avennia is not open to the public, but that does not stop them from selling out all of their wines via their mailing list along with wine specialty and high end grocery stores in the Northwest. (You can register on their mailing list here.) As the tasting notes that follow will show, this has become one of the rising stars on the Washington wine scene, producing wines of great finesse and intense flavours.
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Founded on the former site of a blacksmith shop, Forgeron Cellars Winery in Walla Walla takes its name from the French word for blacksmith while at the same time paying homage to winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla’s French heritage.
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2002 Numanthia 
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