Author Archives: Twilight Wines

LAPOSTOLLE CASA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012, Rapel Valley, Chile

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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L Casa Sauvignon Blanc

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Semillon, 2% Sauvignon Gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Rapel Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lapostolle
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with medium+ intense nose.

A nice change from the typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Positives: This easy drinking wine features pear, lemon, with some gooseberry & limestone. Medium body with good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 2 years. Pair it with red snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 11 June 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

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

LCBO: 321554

TASTING WITH CHARLES DE BOURNET MARNIER LAPOSTOLLE

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in Tasting Events

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On 11 June 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a tasting event at Trialto with Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, 7th generation of the venerable Grand Marnier family with some of my friends that also write wine reviews on WineAlign . We tasted 6 wines; Lapostolle Casa 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Chateau De Sancerre 2011, Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Chardonnay, Lapostolle Casa 2011 Carmenère, Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Merlot and Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a delightful evening of sipping great tasting wines and listening to Charles recollect his family history to us. My full review of the wines are listed on my web site Twilightwines.net

Some of the interesting facts are summarized below:

  • The first vintage in Chile was the Lapostolle Casa Sauvignon Blanc in 1994.
  • All their lines use organic grapes but the Cuvée Alexandre is also biodynamic.
  • The Casa line is meant to be drunk early and not aged, however they can age very nicely.
  • The Cuvée Alexandre line is intended to be aged for 10 years

Charles

Charles 2

Charles and me

Charles and Winealign

TARLANT ZERO BRUT NATURE NV, AC Marne River Valley, Champagne, France

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in Champagne, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Tarlant_Zero_Brut_Nature_Champagne_web

Cost: $44.95 (Clearance Price $31.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Category: Champagne Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Marne River Valley, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tarlant Père & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

Not often can I say that Champagne is so smooth that it should have a warning on it, being easy to consume 2 bottles in one sitting, but this one should.

Positives: This easy drinking but complex Champagne features citrus, pears, brioche, yeast, almonds, ginger, wet hay, Magnolia and limestone. Medium body with good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill this, as you will not get all the nuances from this beautiful Champagne. Harvested in 2006 with reserve wines, 4 years on the lees and no dosage which means it’s dry.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with cheese, tomato, shallot omelet.

Tasted: 7 July 2013

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 996264

RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Sonoma County, California

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Rodney Strong

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This easy drinking Cab features cinnamon & clove on the nose mingling onto the palate with cedar, blackberry, cassis, turmeric, blueberry, plum, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, cigar box and leather. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Rodney Strong wines are consistently good.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 6 July 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 226944

FARNESE OPI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO RISERVA 2008, DOCG Colline Teramane, Abruzzo, Italy

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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

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Farnese opi

Cost: $29.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Montepulciano
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Colline Teramane, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Farnese
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Very beautiful deep dark ruby to purple in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is a smooth wine featuring cedar, lots of pepper, dark cherry, licorice, chocolate, plums, cherry pipe tobacco, mocha, tamarind and arugula on the finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: On a blind taste I would have said this was an Australian Shiraz.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with Domino’s thin crust pizza with mushroom, tomato and pepperoni.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY ALLUVIUM 2005, Alexander Valley, California

30 Sunday Jun 2013

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

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Beringer

Cost: $36.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge in colour and a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you have the 2005 in a cellar, lucky you.

Positives: A complex wine featuring cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, Christmas cake, pumpkin pie, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, white pepper, peppercorn, arugula, chocolate, & olive tapenade.  Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: I don’t have any more bottles left.

Drink now on its own and pair it with tenderloin steak. This still can cellar easily for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

BYRON 2010 CHARDONNAY, Santa Maria Valley, California

28 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Byron Chard

Cost: $28.59 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Byron Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: Medium toasted oak featuring light butter, lemon meringue, tangerines, pineapples, and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years and pair it with angel hair pasta with pepper scallops.

Tasted: 28 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

TOP BENCH ROSÉ 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Top Bench

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Most likely Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Seasonal
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pomegranate in colour with a medium+ nose.

WARNING: Easy to consume more than 1 bottle in a sitting. One of the best Canadian rosés for 2012.

Positives: This easy drinking rosé features strawberry, cherry, red currants & pink grapefruit on the finish. Medium body with good acidity a surprisingly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I found that this wine excelled in a Riedel Tempranillo wine glass.

Drink now on its own and pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 25 June 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 324541

FIVE ROWS PINOT GRIS 2011, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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

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Five Rows

Cost: $ Can’t remember
Grape Variety: Pinto Gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Five Rows
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw with a pink tinge (looks like light bronze) in colour and a medium+ nose.

A very nice, crisp Pinot Gris made in the Alscasian style.

Positives: This wine features green apples, pear, almonds and peach. Medium body with high acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I recommend visiting this small winery at St. David’s as they have a great assortment of cheese and bread to go with their wines.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with seared scallops on wilted greens.

Tasted: 23 June 13

Score: 9+/10,

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

GABRIEL MEFFRE LAURUS GIGONDAS 2009, AC Gigondas, France

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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Laurus

Cost: $26.95 (Clearance: $18.90)
Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gigondas
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gabriel Meffre
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour and a medium+ nose.

Selecting the correct wine glass is critical to getting the positives out of this wine. I sampled the wine in several different types of glasses and found it either lacking or hot due to the alcohol. The Sommelier Riedel Syrah glass was the perfect match.

Positives: The wine features cedar, lots of pepper and peppercorns, blackberry, bramble fruit, light tar, espresso, lavender, mushrooms and chalk. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with Veal Marsala.

Tasted: 23 June 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance: 9/10)

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

LCBO: 16113