Author Archives: Twilight Wines

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES MALBEC 2012, Argentina

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Magnota malbec

Cost: $8.70 (Sale price until 31 Dec 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: 70% Malbec, 20% red blend
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Argentina
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Light Malbec, not impressed

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features turn tamarinds, plums, mulberry and cloves. Medium body with light to medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s a musty finish to it

Drink now on its own or pair it with Smoky Barbecued Chicken.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

REININGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, United States

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


reininger

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $17.60)
Grape Variety: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Walla Walla Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Reininder Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality cab with some kick to it

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, dark and sour cherries, plums, red currents, thyme, cassis, turmeric, graphite, Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, peppers and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Same wine sells for $45 at the winery

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Pan-Roasted Veal Chops with Cabernet Sauce.

Tasted: 27 Nov 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale price 9.5/10), Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 387027

GHOST PINES WINEMAKER’S BLEND CHARDONNAY 2013, Monterey, Sonoma & Napa Counties, California, United States

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Ghost Pines Chard

Cost: $19.95 ($17.95 Sale until Nov 30, 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: 38% Monterey County, 33% Sonoma County, 29% Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

“Danger Will Robinson” this is so good that it’s easy to drink 2 bottles, maybe even 3 if you’re still standing

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This complex wine features light to medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, lemon meringue, Gala apples, pineapple, mango, kiwi, oak spice, dill, ginger and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: There hasn’t been a vintage that I haven’t liked, but I believe the 2013 is the best that I’ve tried.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor

Tasted: 26 Nov 2014 (Happy 65th anniversary to my mom and dad)

Top Pick and Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (Sale price 10/10), Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 308122

SONO MONTENIDOLI di MARIA ELISABETTA FAGIUOLI

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


I met Elisabetta on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands during the 1st week of December 2014. She was vibrant, energetic and spirited, just like her wines. Her winery, Solo Montenidoli means “I am the light, the uncontaminated air, the perfumes. I am the winemaker of my land.” So true as her wines, which have been reviewed on my site, express the true representation of the grape as well as the terroir.

A second but just as equal in her passion is her non-profit foundation; Sergio Il Patriarca, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need.

Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org 

IMG_8195

IMG_6902

IMG_6903

SONO MONTENIDOLI 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli

≈ Leave a comment


Sono Montedoli

Cost: $16.00 Euros
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The true essence of Sangiovese and its terroir

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, bramble fruit, cloves, thyme, oregano, basil, spinach, espresso, cocoa, and leather. Medium+ body with high tannins and acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for a minimum of an hour

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with pappardelle in tomato sauce

Tasted: 10 Dec 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

IL TEMPLARE MONTENIDOLI 2009, IGT Toscana, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Montenidol

Cost: $9.70 Euros
Grape Variety: 70% Vernaccia, 20% Trebbiano Gentile, 10% Malvasia Bianca
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Versatile, diverse, interesting, complex and yes yummy

Description: Deep old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This slightly oxidative wine features Lily on the nose followed by lemon tarts, honey, ginger, orange and guava. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried every white wine glass and the results were the same, delicious.

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

JOEL GOTT CHARDONNAY 2012, Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley: California, United States

08 Monday Dec 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Joel Gott

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best California Chards made in the Chablis style for under $20

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, kiwi, cloves, East Indian mango, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 100% stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy

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

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

ANTECH HÉRITAGE CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX BRUT MILLÉSIMÉ 2011, Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

07 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Antech

Cost: $25.95 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac, 10% Pinot
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antech Limoux
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling that is very well balanced

Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This sparkling wine features lemon, pink grapefruit, ginger and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: If you like Ginger Ale, you should like this

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with maple smoked bacon.

Tasted: 7 Dec 2014

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

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

HESS COLLECTION 19 BLOCK MOUNTAIN CUVÉE 2010, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Hess

Cost: $37.95 Cayman Islands, $49.95 LCBO
Grape Variety: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 11% Syrah, 6% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga, Cayman Islands or LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Hess Collection
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Silky smooth and yummy, but that’s the technical term

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, stewed plums, blueberry, raspberry, espresso, tobacco leaves, cherry tobacco, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and pencil shavings with suede on the finish. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 15 years on its own or pair it with grilled sirloin served with roasted baby potatoes drizzled with aged balsamic.

Tasted: 6 Dec 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

PAHLMEYER JAYSON PINOT NOIR 2005, Sonoma County, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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

≈ 1 Comment


jayson Pinot

Cost: $78.55 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth elegance

Description: Cloudy medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features ripe sea grapes on the nose with strawberry tarts, bramble fruit, rhubarb, bergamot, smoked bacon, roasted fennel, black cherry, toffee and Brazilian coffee on the finish. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity, the alcohol is well integrated and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting this wine to my sister-in-law to give to me as my birthday present.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom and speck brick oven pizza.

Tasted: 5 Dec 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5