Author Archives: Twilight Wines

PERRIER-JOUËT BELLE EPOQUE BRUT 2004, Ac Épernay, Champagne, France

06 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by in Champagne

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Perrier-Jouet

Cost: $199.95
Grape Variety: 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 5% Meunier
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Épernay, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Perrier-Jouët
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic sophistication

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This complex Champagne features toasted brioche lemon, white peach, pears, walnuts, marzipan and sweet spices. Full body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with Raspberry Point oysters

Tasted: 4 Dec 2014 (My 6th Year Wedding Anniversary)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 135798

KRUG GRANDE CUVÉE BRUT NV, Ac Champagne, France

04 Thursday Dec 2014

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Krug Grande

Cost: $277.95
Grape Variety: 44% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 19% Meunier
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Krug
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Distinctive, elegant, sophisticated & amazing

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This complex Champagne features toasted brioche layered in Kerrygold butter followed by jellied fruits, marzipan, golden apples, hazelnuts, almonds, tangerines, barley sugar, gingerbread, honey & sweet spices. Full body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Every Krug after 2011 has a specific ID that you can check for the bottles detail at www.krug.com. This bottle’s ID is 411048

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with chicken Brûlée Pâté

Tasted: 4 Dec 2014 (My 6th Year Wedding Anniversary)

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO: 38562

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, United States

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Dry Creek Sauv

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5%Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dry Creek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice juicy, full flavoured wine

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, dried thyme, cassis, anise, espresso, bell peppers, arugula, pencil shavings, turmeric and leather. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with thyme glazed lamb shank served with turmeric saffron and pear tomato salsa.

Tasted: 14 Nov 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 642207

13th STREET CUVÉE ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 Street

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s not a full flavour sparkler but still pleasant

Description: Rustic red brick in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features cherry, pomegranate, dried strawberry, pink grapefruit and a light yeastiness to it. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The first bottle I had to return as it was oxidized and lactic

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted salmon with shallot grapefruit sauce.

Tasted: 16 Nov 2014

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

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

LCBO: 147504

MAGNOTTA CARMENÈRE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2012, Chile

23 Sunday Nov 2014

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

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Carmeniere

Cost: $8.95 (Sale price Nov 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: Carmenère
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Chile
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant and easy drinking wine

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, plum, licorice and Allspice. Medium to medium+ body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with beef stew

Tasted: 16 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

CONO SUR BICICLETA VIOGNIER 2014, Colchagua Valley, Chile

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, White Wines

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Con Sur

Cost: $9.95 ($8.95 Sale until Nov 30, 2014)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cono Sur Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Still the best white for under $10

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features honeysuckle, apricots, peach pit, orange, ginger and anise. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The 2014 is the best vintage I’ve tasted in Cono Sur’s Bicicleta Viognier. Taste double the price and gives you an indication what Condrieu taste like without spending $40+

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Lionfish Ceviche

Tasted: 17 Nov 2014

Amazing Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 64287

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Inniskilin Pinot

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full flavoured rosé that’s yummy

Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, cherry and red pepper jam. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the Pinot Noir glass as it really accentuates all the flavours

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with pork chop stuffed with sundried tomatoes

Tasted: 17 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 336461

TRAPICHE EXTRAVAGANZA 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Trapiche

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 55% Malbec, 35% Bonarda, 10% Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Trapiche
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like sweet styled red wines

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features Christmas cake, plums, milk chocolate, raspberry jam and vanilla. Medium body with low tannins, fair acidity, an average length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me

Drink now on its own or pair it with spicy beef tacos

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2+

LCBO: 360776

TREVERI BLANC DE BLANC EXTRA BRUT NV, Mèthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Treveri

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: White grapes
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treveri Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling wine that has a nice flavour to it

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, brioche, grapefruit, lemon, honeydew melon, passion fruit, guava and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

  • “The name “Treveri” comes from the historic name of the city Trier, Germany, one of the former seats of the Roman Empire.” trevericellars.com. The coin on the label is of Constantine’s era coin in which thousands were discovered in the city the 1980s after they were discovered when repairing an old bridge.
  • No dosage was added to the wine.
  • Treveri Cellars specializes in making only sparkling wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014 (Happy birthday to my cousin; Birute)

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 383844

CALIFORNIA SQUARE CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, United States

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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California Square

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Truett-Hurst
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Cool bottle, great region, love the wine, enough said

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, clementine, yellow apple, pineapple, pear, oak spice and clove. Medium+ body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: One would think that a Californian Chard with 14.5% alcohol would drink best in a new world style Chard glass, but you would be wrong, at least I was as it was nicely balanced in a cooler style (smaller style) Chard glass. The best glass was the Riedel Chard/Viognier glass. In the new world glass I would rate this wine at 88, but in the smaller glass the rating goes up to 90.

Ok I admit I bought this Chard because of the cool bottle that’s reminiscent of the California in the mid to late 1800s. In addition, it’s from the Russian River Valley, which is where some of my favourite Chards come from. Lucky for me the taste was equally appealing.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled quail with pepper jelly glaze.

Tasted: 21 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 356717