Author Archives: Twilight Wines

MUD HOUSE PINOT NOIR 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Mud House Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand Bottle

Cost: $18.50
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mudhouse Wine Company Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple fruit forward Pinot featuring pine, Bing cherries, sour cherries, cranberry, pomegranate and finishing with a bit of earthiness. Medium to medium minus in body & tannins with good acidity & a fairly decent length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness at the back of the throat. There’s quite a bit of heat coming from the listed 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Chill this more than you would normally chill a Pinot to bring out the fruit & lessen the affect of alcohol. Try around 10-12 C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roast duck.

Tasted: 31 Oct 12 Happy Hallowe’en

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 190462

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $19.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn’t disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 479527

D’ARENBERG THE GALVO GARAGE 2007, McLaren Vale & Adelaide Hills, Australia

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


D'arenberg The Galvo Garage 2007, Mclaren Vale/Adelaide Hills, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.90
Grape Variety: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 21% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale & Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavours happening in this wine. Cedar, Ribena, cherry cola, prunes, raisins, menthol, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, red & black pepper, all-spice, cassis, star anise, cinnamon & cloves. Full body, medium+ tannins and acidity with a long length.

Negatives: There is some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: LCBO has this wine on clearance now, from 29.95 to 24.90. The 07 is not as good as the 06, but with the new price its definitely worth the buy.

Drink now on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted 28 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 907584

LA SAUVAGEONNE PICA BROCA 2008, AC Coteaux du Languedoc, France

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


La Sauvageonne Pica Broca 2008, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc Bottle

Cost: $12.90
Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Coteaux du Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Sauvageonne
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, blackberry, Ribena,  pomegranate, black & white pepper. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch on the watery side. This may be past its prime.

Interesting Point: This product is on clearance at the LCBO. Original price was $18.95. This wine is worth buying at its new price.

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

Tasted: 28 Oct 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 223669

LAROCHE CHABLIS SAINT MARTIN 2011, AC Chablis, France

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: S & D Adams, Prop.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Any easy drinking Chablis that’s not overly steely and a nice balance of fruit and minerality. The wine features lemon, dill, green apples, white peach, quince apple, limestone and chalk. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)

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

Tasted: 27 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 289124

REYES D’ARAGON BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2009, Spain

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Reyes D'aragon Brut Reserva Cava 2009, Spain Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: 70% Macabeo, 30% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Langa Hnos
Alcohol: 11.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Yellow colour with fine mousse and a highly intense nose.

Positives: You get a lot for your money in this easy drinking Cava. This sparkler features brioche, baked apples, clementines, macadamia nuts, melon, & lemon. Medium body with a nice creamy feel, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight oxidative nose with slight wateriness on the taste.

Drink on its own as an aperitif or pair it with a variety of olives and Spanish prosciutto.

Tasted: 26 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 194803

ARCENO PRIMAVOCE 2006, IGT Toscana, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $25.99 (From Bestwine4less.com)
Grape Variety: 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese, 5% Cab Franc, 2% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: American Airlines Business Class
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arceno
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose

Positives: The nose on this wine is second to none, and the taste doesn’t lag too far behind. This complex nose features cedar, vanilla, cassis, raspberries, strawberries, cloves, dark chocolate, mocha, blackberries, plums, cherry, licorice, cherry pipe tobacco, all-spice, red and black peppers. The taste has some of the nose’s properties in addition to leather, pencil shavings & blackcurrents. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well intergrated.

Negatives: Not sold at LCBO

Interesting Point: If you fly American Airlines Business Class, ask if they serve it on your flight, and if they do, take the bottle!

Drink now on its own or pair it with beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 22 Oct 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

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

ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY SPARKLING 2010, Méthode Traditonnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Angels Gate Archangel Chardonnay Brut 2010, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Nigagara Penisula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 12.0 %
Description: Pale straw in colour with fine mousse and medium intensity on the nose

Positives: A simple sparkler featuring lemon lime, quince and light toastiness.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The LCBO will have this sparkler on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Sunday Brunch.

Tasted: 14 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO# 227009

DOMAINE LOUIS MICHEL & FILS VAUDÉSIR CHABLIS GRAND CRU 2008, Vaudésir, France

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $59.00 (Clearance price $41.35)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vaudesir
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domain Louis Michele
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a low intensity nose.

Positives: A strikingly complex Chablis which features lime zest, grapefruit (both white & pink), wakame salad, dill, horseradish, quince and ends in a cool citrus bite interwoven with alkaline and iodine nuances. Medium minus body with high acidity and a long length. This Chablis came to play.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 6 years. Paired extremely well with Raspberry Point oysters. and with dill pickles.

Tasted: 13 Oct 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 172569

BODEGAS CAMPILLO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA BLANCO 2010, DOC Rioja, Spain

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Bodegas Campillo Fermentado En Barrica Blanco 2010, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $16.95 (clearance $11.70)
Grape Variety: Viura & Malvasia
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale straw in colour with high intense nose.

Positives: This smokey and oxygenated wine features medium toasted oak with lemon candy, orange rind, pine needles, tarragon and truffles, . Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: If you don’t like oxygenated style wines, this wine is not for you.

Interesting Point: Use the Viognier style glass if you have it as it brings out the most in this wine. Don’t over chill it for it will dull the wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red snapper ceviché.

Tasted: 12 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 657478