Author Archives: Twilight Wines

INNISKILLIN MONTAGUE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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inniskillin

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.00)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Foul Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid Chard that won’t disappoint Chard lovers of oak influence

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, cream corn, pineapple, mango, ginger, light oak spice, butterscotch, crème brûlée and dill. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14% alcohol and a touch sour on the finish

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Cornish Hen

Tasted: 22 Dec 2014

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

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

LCBO: 586347

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Napa Valley, California, United States

26 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Louis Martin

Cost: $29.95 (Sale price until 4 Jan 2015: $24.95)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.

A distinctive cherry pipe tobacco makes this a double D, delightful & delicious

Description: Deep bright ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, cherry pipe tobacco, black cherry, blackberry, oak spice, plums, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, dark chocolate and espresso. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.4% alcohol

Interesting Note: The winery sells this for $34US

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with rosemary roast beef with cranberry glaze.

Tasted: 19 Dec 2014

Best Buy at the sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 232371

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION MERLOT 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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

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Magnota merlot

Cost: $20.15 (3 day special sale price until 29 Nov 2014: $15.15)
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice juicy quality Merlot from Niagara Peninsula & for $20

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, plums, mulberry, black cherry, Allspice, nutmeg, cassis, mesquite and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES MALBEC 2012, Argentina

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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SONO MONTENIDOLI 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

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

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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

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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

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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+