Author Archives: Twilight Wines

RUTHERFORD RANCH CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in White Wines

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RR Chard

Cost: $20.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Ranch
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A solid Chard from Napa that’s at the $20 range

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, lemon rind, green apple, light buttered popcorn, grapefruit with a hint of pith, guava and shale. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 13.5% alcohol.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken Parmesan.

Tasted: 13 May 2014

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

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

LCBO: 136382

McMANIS CHARDONNAY 2012, River Junction, California, United States

20 Tuesday May 2014

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McManis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: River Junction, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: McManis Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A smooth Chard from California that’s not over !4% alcohol, just wish it was under $15

Positives: This wine features light oak, caramelized apple, lemon candy, pear, peach, and pineapple. Medium+ body with average acidity and length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Brie and honey.

Tasted: 15 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 265983

RODNEY STRONG PINOT NOIR 2011, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Rodney Strong
 
Cost: $24.95 (On sale $22.95 until May 25, 2014
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.A surprisingly mellow Pinot considering the 14.5% alcoholPositives: This wine features pine, cherry, beets, strawberry & Christmas cake. Medium body with mild tannins, fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a little heat from the 14.5%

Interesting Point: Rodney Strong wines are consistently good to excellent quality

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Ahi Tuna.

Tasted: 7 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 954834

HESS COLLECTION 19 BLOCK CUVÉE 2009, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California, United States

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Hess

Cost: $47.95
Grape Variety: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 9% Syrah, 7% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Collection Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a medium+ intense nose.

This is an investment wine, meaning it should blossom in 5-7 years

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrants, sage, pencil lead, turmeric, cassis, mocha, leather & spinach. Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14.2% alcohol

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour. This wine is worth the $10 extra over Hess’s Allomi (reviewed earlier)

Drink now or in the next 12 years on its own or pair it with Kansas City Strip steak.

Tasted: 6 May 2014

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

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

LCBO: 18879

CASTELLO BANFI BELNERO 2010, IGT Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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CB_Belnero_Label-270x350

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castello Banfi
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby with some garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A good wine but would have been a great wine if it wasn’t for the heat coming from the high alcohol

Positives: This wine features cedar, sour cherry, plums, rosemary, basil, espresso, tobacco leaves, spinach & leather. Medium body with dry to astringent tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Needs at least an hour to decant.

Drink now or in the next 15 years on its own or pair it with veal parmigiana.

Tasted: 5 May 2014

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

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

LCBO: 332635

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2013, DO Rioja, Spain

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Rose

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Still one of my favourite rosés

Positives: This wine features raspberry, watermelon, sweet cherry tomatoes, pink grapefruit, kumquat & roses on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although I really like this vintage, the 2012 was better. Please see my earlier review of the 2012 vintage.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 1 May 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175620

TAWSE SKETCHES ROSÉ 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Sketches

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Predominantly Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

There are some elements of this wine that I like and others that I don’t care for.

Positives: This wine features rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry and plum. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some sulphur dioxide

Drink now on its own or pair it with sweet potato Burritos.

Tasted: 3 May 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 172643

HESS ALLOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Napa Valley, California, United States

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Hess Allomi

Cost: $37.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Cabernet
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Collection Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice smooth wine, albeit a little on the sweet side with noticeable high alcohol

Positives: This wine features cedar, maraschino cherry, blackberry, raspberry, cinnamon, plums, milk chocolate and graphite. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with BBQ brisket.

Tasted: 2 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8+/10, Total: 16.5+/20

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

LCBO: 906420

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Beringer

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

For us in Canada, when I see a Napa Chard from a well known producer for under $20, I think “to good to be true”. This wine is good & true.

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon drops, pineapple, nutmeg, peach, baked apple and light Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pork chops with apple cider glaze.

Tasted: 30 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 84988

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLÈNE RULLY LES CLOUX PREMIER CRU 2011, AOC Rully Les Cloux, France

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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MAISON_ROCHE_DE_BELL_NE_RULLY_LES_CLOUS_1ER_CRU_web

Cost: $24.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Rully Les Cloux, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Roche De Bellene
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you want to impress at a dinner party, but not break the bank, this wine will do it

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, mandarin, pineapple, peach, apple, caramel, ginger, nutmeg and orange rind on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

Tasted: 29 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 339226