Author Archives: Twilight Wines

CHARLES AND CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Charles

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles & Charles
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice simple Chard, priced right, even better at the sale price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, Granny apples, vanilla, oak spice and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken thighs seared and sauteed in an olive oil, butter white wine sauce with basil and shallot remoulade.

Tasted: 19 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale price: $9/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 394734

CLOS DU BOIS NORTH COAST CHARDONNAY 2013, North Coast, California, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by in White Wines

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Clos

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 16 Aug 2015: $14.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: North Coast, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos Du Bois Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is trying to figure out if it’s a cool climate or warm climate style Chard, but falls short on both

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, pear, green and yellow apples, pink grapefruit, peach pit and a touch of butterscotch. Medium body with high acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much acidity and sourness

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with snapper grapefruit ceviche.

Tasted: 15 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8+/10 (Sale price: $8.5/10) Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 400549

STONELEIGH PINOT NOIR 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

17 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Stoneleigh

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stoneleigh Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Explosive flavours with a nice mix of sweet & sour fruits

Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, cherry, cranberry, raspberry, oak spice, nutmeg and autumn leaves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13% alcohol

Interesting Point: Slightly chill and serve in a Balloon style glass

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with my wife’s roasted rack of lamb with sour cherry sauce.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 54353

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Sonoma County, California, United States

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Louis Martini
 
Cost: $18.95 (On sale: $15.95 until 16 Aug 2015)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
 

I challenge anyone to find at the LCBO a Sonoma Cab of this quality for under $16 sale price

Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ nose. An easy drinking wine featuring cedar, boysenberry, bramble fruit, mocha, roasted red peppers, peppercorns, tobacco, turmeric and leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidy and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I found the 2013 better quality than 2009 that I had reviewed.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Fillet Mignon with Peppercorn Butter Sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (9.5/10 sale price), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 292151

OGGI PRIMITIVO ROSATO 2014, IGT Puglia, Italy

14 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Oggi

Cost: $9.95
Grape: Primitivo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oggi
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine will quickly grow on you, and at under $10 can’t ask for more

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This dry rosé features strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, roses and oregano. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unusual to find a Primitivo rosé at LCBO. Chill well

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with pepperoni calzone.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 125773

TORO DE PIEDRA GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Toro

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Toro De Piedra
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold & beautiful, but you need to like oaked Chards

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium+ toast, Easter Lily, lemon tarts, pineapple, mango, peaches & cream corn, buttered popcorn, roasted marshmallows, oak spice, almonds, caramel, dill, ginger and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This may not be a critically acclaimed Chard, but I really like it because it’s an oaked Chard that’s different from the usual oaked Chards you get for under $25, and this is almost half that price. Don’t over chill and use the large Chard glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Cornish Game Hen with cornbread stuffing.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 417493

NUGAN ESTATE THIRD GENERATION CHARDONNAY 2013, South Eastern Australia

14 Friday Aug 2015

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3rd

Cost: $11.65 (On sale: $10.15 until 16 Aug 2015)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nugan Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If this was $25 Chard, I would be disappointed, but this is under $12

Description: Deep straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, dusty spiced oak, green & yellow apples, ginger, hazel & pine nuts and poached peach. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: On a blind I would think this maybe a Fiano

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with seared chicken with caramelized onions and apples.

Tasted: 8 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 400317

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.05
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, funky & earthy styled Pinot. One of the best Canadian Pinot’s for $20 & under

Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a barnyard nose in addition to aromas and flavours of pine, violets, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, forest earth and smoked charcoal. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I wasn’t impressed with this wine at the winery tasting, but figured that may be due to the small tasting glass and the wine being at room temperature. I figured right as in a proper glass and slightly chilled, this Pinot is beautiful.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Venison with rosemary.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

GÉRARD BERTRAND LANGUEDOC SYRAH/GRENACHE 2011, Ac Languedoc, France

08 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by in Red Wines

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Gerard

Cost: $17.00
Grape: Syrah & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gérard Bertrand
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Thin but juicy, & at a reasonable price

Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features plums, dark cherry, raspberry, white and black peppers and dry herbs. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None, however this wine does not live up to Wine Spectator’s score of 90.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Seared Lamb Chops served with Pomegranate-Pistachio Couscous.

Tasted: 6 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 413237

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY 2012, California, United States

02 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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l_calchard11

Cost: $9.15 (Sale $8.15 Until 3 Aug 2015)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s an inexpensive California Chard that has substance, not oaked & with a beautiful nose

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features jasmine on the nose, grapefruit, pear, green apple and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+