Author Archives: Twilight Wines

WILLIAM HILL NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2013, Napa Valley, California, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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chardonnay[1]_0

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently one of my favourite Napa Chards for under $30

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, mango, pineapple, green and yellow apples, peach, dill, ginger, oak spice, caramel and limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with sweet and spicy ginger chicken wings.

Tasted: 6 March 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 988840

INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2013, DOC Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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

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lab_Vin_Soave

Cost: $18.59 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Garganega
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Soave Classico, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inama
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance of crispness and creaminess as a result of the malolactic fermentation

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features peach, pear, apricot, elder flower, chalk and sweet almond on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with citrus and mango marinated conch.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Best Buy

Tasted: 16 March 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

JOSEPH PHELPS INSIGNIA 2005, Napa Valley, California, United States

14 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by in Red Wines

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Insignia

IMG_6866

Cost: $180.59 (Cayman Islands funds bought in Nov 2013)
Grape Variety: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably the best red wine I’ve ever tasted

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, black cherry, plums, butter toffee, sea grape, caramel, medjool dates, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, espresso & Cherry Bonbon pipe tobacco throughout. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak from Mario’s; The Tasting Room and my wife’s grilled peppers, green beans and mushrooms

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Top Pick

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Score: 10/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO: 710400

ARMAND DE BRIGNAC (ACE OF SPADES) BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

12 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Armand

Cost: $260 Cayman Islands ($299.95 LCBO which is currently out of stock)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattiers
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing but the best! Smooth as silk

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and very fine mousse. This complex Champagne features brioche, lemon pith, honeysuckle, toffee, sweet potatoes, butter cream, peach, kiwi, ginger, orange, limestone and smokey notes reminiscent of Oolong tea. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Made from 2003, 2005 & 2006 vintages

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Caviar

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

REDSTONE CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Redstone

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like grapefruit, you’ll love this wine

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

Negatives: Too much sourness

Interesting Note: This wine was aged in 12 months in French oak, yet on taste very little or no oak detected. I may have had a dud.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 4 March 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 398966

MAGNOTTA MOSCATO SUPERIORE CHARMAT METHOD NV, VQA, Ontario, Canada

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Moscato

Cost: $8.15
Grape Variety: Moscato
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I would put this Canadian Moscato against the best Italian ones any day

Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse, which I found pleasantly surprising. This sparkling wine features a beautiful white flower and peach nose followed by sweet peach, orange, pink grapefruit and juicy Spy apple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Not overly sweet, very pleasant

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with orange juice or peach juice to make some excellent Mimosas or Bellinis

Tasted: 1 March 2015

Amazing and Best Buy

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

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

BACHELDER OREGON CHARDONNAY 2011, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in White Wines

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Bachelder

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bachelder
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Clear & focused Chard, oh yes it’s also yummy

Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features a beautiful nose followed up by crisp citric fruits, sweet tropical fruit, spices with oak playing a supporting role. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glass to bring out the tropical fruit

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with pecan crusted pan seared Trout.

Tasted: 26 Feb 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 273334

MORGENSTER LOURENS RIVER VALLEY 2005, Lourens River Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Red Wines

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morgenster

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Lourens River Valley, Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Morgenster Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique, interesting; you will either love it or hate it. Full flavoured but highly medicinal in character

Description: Dark cloudy ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features oak, iodine, menthol, blackberry, plums, bell peppers, tar, dark chocolate, cloves, cinnamon, liquorice, fresh herbs, wild flowers, vanilla and leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The iodine reminds me of my grandmother. In the negative she used to put iodine on my cuts, ouch! On the positive, reminds me of my grandmother.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with whiskey glazed pork chops.

Tasted: 25 Feb 2015

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

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

LCBO: 709303

WENTE MORNING FOG ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2013, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

25 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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2013_Morning_Fog_DOBS_150dpi

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, not overly oaky Chard with tropical fruit to make it yummy, and it’s under $20

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features neutral toasted oak, lemon meringue, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, Macintosh apple, pineapple, vanilla, a touch of coconut and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “Fermentation: 50% of this wine was barrel fermented in neutral French, American and Eastern European oak. The other 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the natural fruit flavors inherent in this Chardonnay. Aging: The barrel fermented portion was aged sur lie for 7 months. Bâtonnage, the art of stirring the barrels, was performed monthly. This adds a creamy note to the wine and greatly enhances the texture. From the remaining 50% of the stainless steel portion, half was aged on lees for 7 months while the other half was racked clean to preserve the fresh fruit characters.” http://www.Wentevineyards.com

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Coconut Crusted Scallops drizzled with Pineapple Rum Sauce.

Tasted: 22 Feb 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175430

FREIXENET CARTA NEVADA BRUT CAVA TRADIONAL METHOD, NV, Sant Sadurni D’Anoia, Spain

16 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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Freixenet

Cost: $12.45 (Sale price until 1 March 2015: $11.45)
Grape Variety: Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Sant Sadurni D’Anoia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves Freixenet
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Perfect sparkling wine for Mimosas

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This simple sparkling wine features lime, honeydew melon and green apples. Medium to light body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: For the extra $1.50, Freixenet’s black label, Cordon Negro, reviewed on this site, is far more superior.

Drink now on its own or mix it with orange juice and have it with your eggs for breakfast.

Tasted: 15 Feb 2015 (Happy 93 yrs to my Aunt Nina)

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Sale price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 216887