Author Archives: Twilight Wines

7 DEADLY ZINS 2010, Lodi, California

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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7 Deadly Zins

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Lodi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Vineyards
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Either you’re going to love this or hate this. For me the first glass was great, but then the alcohol and sweetness got to me.

Positives: The dominant note is Hubba Bubba grape chewing gum, followed by Maltesers, raisins and plums. Full body, mild tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: The heat from the 15% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 15 April 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 59311

HESS SELECT CHARDONNAY 2010, Monterey County, California

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Hess Chard

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Monterey
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light bright gold in colour and medium+ intense nose.

A nice easy drinking California Chard that’s not overly oaked has some minerality and is under 14% alcohol.

Positives: Medium oak, lightly toasted, buttery with cream corn, golden apples, dill, mangos, pineapples and a touch of limestone. Medium body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie Cornish Hens.

Tasted: 15 April 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 270074

LE PARISIEN PINOT NOIR 2010, IGP Pays D’Oc, France

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

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Le Parisien

Cost: $12.15
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

I usually find low-end French wines in Ontario of low quality and not even deserving of their low price. However, this one is an exception, and I thank my brother’s finance Liz for bringing it to dinner.

Positives: A simple Pinot featuring cedar, strawberry, cherry, black tealeaf, light underbrush and oyster mushrooms. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity and average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal tenderloin.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

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

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

LCBO#: 265991

CAMBRIA JULIA’S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, Santa Maria Valley, Central Coast, California

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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Cambria

Cost: $31.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A typical California Pinot, in a good way, featuring pine, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, pomegranate and an underlying note of smoke reminiscent of autumn leaves on an open fire. Medium to medium minus body, light tannins, medium+ acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Remember to slightly chill a Pinot.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn glazed pork pâte.

Tasted: 13 April 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 489889

MEDUSA OLD VINES ZINFANDEL PIG PEN DEAVER RANCH 2005, Amador County, California

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Medusa

Cost: $39.99 CI (on sale for $27.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Amador County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Medus8 Wines
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Light cedar, raisins, Allspice, black licorice, bramble fruit, dates & Christmas cake. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Medusa winery specializes in Zins.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Bourbon BBQ baby back ribs.

Tasted: 7 April 13

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

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

CANEPA GENOVINO CARIGNAN 2008, D.O. Cauquenes, Maule Valley, Chile

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Canepa

Cost: $29.99 CI (on sale for $18.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Chile
Region: Cauquenes, Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canepa Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A delicious wine featuring cedar, ripe tannins, mulberry, plums, steamed artichokes, sour cherry & pomegranate. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom risotto.

Tasted: 7 Aprl 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (10/10 on sale) Total: 18+/20

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

CATHEDRAL CELLAR BRUT SPARKLING WINE 2009, Méthode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa

07 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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Cathedral Sparkling

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose & a fine mousse.

Positives: Grapefruit, lime, dried parsley and grapefruit pith on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A bitter finish.

Interesting Point: When paired with Bergeron Classique Gouda the bitterness is diminished.

Drink now with food to mask the bitterness.

Tasted: 7 Aprl 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 296426

CHÁTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE, DOMAINE DE LA CÔTE DE L’ANGE 2010, AOC Côte de Rhône, France

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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C de P

Cost: $37.90
Grape Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: France
Region: Côte de Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sari La Côte de L’Ange
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

An elegant Cháteauneuf-de-Pape

Positives: The dominance of Grenache shows up strongly here. This features light oak, mushroom, thyme, sage, black cherry, black currants, raspberry, plums, incense, forest underbrush and leather. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 15.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use a Syrah glass if you have one.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with an aged rib eye steak.

Tasted: 1 Aprl 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 74856

SMOKING LOON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2011, California

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Smoking Loon

Cost: $14.90 (On sale for $13.90 until April 1st 2013)
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Smoking Loon Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect second bottle to have on hand.

Positives: A light style Zin featuring cedar, raisins, figs, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, prunes, black cherry, Dr. Pepper and chocolate. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity, average length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with honey BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 31 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 272393

MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Mission Hill Sauv Bl

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose

Positives: Classic and not overpowering notes of Sauvignon Blanc, featuring guava, lantana, gooseberry, hay, cucumber and dill. Light body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 145086