GRAN BARÓN RESERVA CAVA, NV, Método Tradicional, Spain

15 Monday May 2023

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Macabeu – Xarel·lo – Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Gran Barón
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic brut Cava being expressive, not complicated, just good. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kiwi, McIntosh apples, pear, white peach & orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly. Aged an average of 18 months on in bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Spanish Tortilla.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 14, 2023

LCBO: 16836

Collalbrigo Extra Dry Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, NV, DOCG Conegliano and Valdobbiadene

07 Sunday May 2023

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Tenuta di Collalbrigo Winery
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic DOCG Prosecco being dry, crisp, clean with nice fruit flavours. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, green apples, pear & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 7, 2023

LCBO: 30579

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA, NV, Penedès, Spain

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Penedès
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Freixenet Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Higher end of the Freixenet Cavas with Chardonnay being the dominant grape and styled like Champagne but at half the price. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sourdough bread, pineapple, peach, Reineta apple, roasted almonds, honey and acacia flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum 10 months ageing in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Iberian Ham.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 23, 2023

LCBO: 392548

MON FRÈRE PINOT NOIR 2020, United States of America, California

20 Thursday Apr 2023

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mon Frére Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice Cali Pinot without the standard high alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raspberry, plum, ripe tamarind, clove, cinnamon, vanilla & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “Grapes are harvested in early September. All of the fruit is hand-sorted and fully destemmed with no crushing. Cold soaks (4-5 days), warm fermentations (85-90 degree range), and minimal punch downs. Total skin contact ranges from 11-18 days, with wine put to barrel on the lees for malolactic fermentation. Racking is minimal, with only one base blend to allow the new wine to “marry” in the barrel before bottling. Native yeast is used on small lots using cultured burgundy isolates. Aged 10 months in 100% French oak (25% new oak).” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Gruyère cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 19, 2023

LCBO: 30819

VERGELEGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Saturday Apr 2023

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Cost: $20.99 KY (April 2023 sale: $13.99)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 2%
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vergelegen Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex Bordeaux style wine from South Africa at a great price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cassis, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee & Freesia on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “At Vergelegen the grapes are handpicked followed by storage in a refrigerated container at -10°C for 24 hours. The cool grapes (8-10°C) are then carefully sorted on combinations of vibrating tables and slow movingconveyors, where between 1,5-3 tons are sorted per hour. The grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed and the grapes/must cold soaked for 7 days followed by a feral fermentation lasting 96 hours. Eventually, cultured yeast is addedand the juice fermented dry. The young red wine is now macerated on the skins for a further 32 days before going to barrel. The wine was bottled on 17 December 2019.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with baby back ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 6, 2023

JORDAN CHARDONNAY 2017, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

03 Monday Apr 2023

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $38.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jordan Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical heavy style Cali Chard with high alcohol, but styled like Pouilly-Fuissé, elegant & full of charm. Score: 97/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lemon peel, green apples, white peach, quince, pear, pineapple, and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Fermentation: “Clusters destemmed and gently pressed at night to extract freshness and acidity while avoiding astringent phenolic character from the skins. Inoculated and fermented 13 days in 61% new French oak barrels and 39% in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation limited to only 27% to ensure that aromas were not masked by a buttery component. Aged 6 months in 100% French Oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with a Lemon Parmesan Cream.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Apil 1, 2023

PEDRONCELLI PINOT NOIR 2021, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, United States of America

01 Saturday Apr 2023

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Cost: $25.99 KY
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pedroncelli
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with sweet fruits & spice. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Red cherry, plum, strawberry, pomegranate, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla and Kirsch on the nose.

Negatives: The heat from alcohol of 14.2%

Interesting Point: Slightly chill

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with turtle stew.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 31, 2023

PEDRONCELLI MERLOT 2019, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

31 Friday Mar 2023

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Cost: $23.99 KY
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States of America
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pedroncelli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rich, juicy Merlot with some spiciness. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, crème de cassis, raspberry, plum, black tea, mocha, Star Anise, cloves, oak spice, tobacco, vanilla, leather & arugula.

Negatives: The heat from the high alcohol of 14.5%

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 30, 2023

RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2020, Franschhoek, South Africa

27 Monday Mar 2023

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Cost: $20.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balance of oak, fruit, acidity & spice. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, peach, pear, light caramel, honey, light oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

WINE MAKING: “This wine was fermented in 500l French oak barrels and Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older) The must was fermented at 14° – 17° C and lees was stirred up daily. The wine was matured for 10 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with seared shrimp in garlic butter sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 27, 2023

RICKETY RIDGE BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Méthode Cap Classique, Franschhoek, South Africa

26 Sunday Mar 2023

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Cost: $34.00 KY
Grape: 53% Pinot Noir, 47% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An expressive brut rosé with a distinctive taste. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kumquat, Marmite, brioche, raspberry, apricot & white peach

Negatives: None

WINE MAKING: “Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. The must was fermented between 14 – 17˚C and the lees was stirred up daily for three months and then twice every week for three months thereafter. The wine spent 18 months on the lees during and after second fermentation before it was disgorged.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Sunday brunch.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 26, 2023