Author Archives: Twilight Wines

VILAFONTÉ SERIES M 2004, Paarl, South Africa

08 Wednesday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $48.85 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 25% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Paarl
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vilafonté
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A rich complex wine featuring cedar, plums, bramble fruit, blueberry pie, cloves, anise, fennel, brett, dried sage, ripe papaya, espresso, cocoa, vanilla bean, tobacco leaves, bacon, black cherry & Christmas cake on the finish. Full body, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: Decant for an hour and the 2004 is showing better than the 2006. (See my earlier review on the 2006)

Drink now on its own or pair it with rosemary & garlic seasoned rack of lamb.

Tasted: 7 Aug 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

TSARINE PREMIER CRU 2002,

05 Sunday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $71.50 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: 78% Pinot Noir & 22% Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: À Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chanoine
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light yellow with a green ting in colour with a fine mousse & a medium minus intense nose.

Positives: A very smooth Champagne in which grapefruit dominates along with butter notes, rose petals, cloves, light brioche, limestone, baked apples, cinnamon stick & pepper. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Tortuga had this champagne at 50% off, which is a steal. I love the bottle and the history of this Champagne house:

History:

The French language echoes through the palace corridors in Saint Petersburg, Parisian fashion is all the rage, interesting discussions take place on the major works of the age of enlightenment. At this period, Russian high society took a liking to French culture, and especially to its finest illsutration: champagne.

Introduced to the court of the Empress Anna Ivanovna, it quickly became the guest of honour at all banquets, especially at the table of Catherine the Great and the highest nobility in the Empire.

It is to pay tribute to this period in Russian history that Maison Chanoine, founded in 1730, created Tsarine Champagne.

Its exclusively designed, long, curved bottle bears certain similarities to the architecture of the great Russian monuments. Its emblematic colours, its rounded label and its evocative name are all redolent of the period of the great Russian dynasties.

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese, mushroom, tomato, shallots & red pepper omelette.

Tasted: 5 Aug 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5+

RODNEY STRONG CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY 2010, Sonoma County, California

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Chalk Hill, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium straw to light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour and good balance between tropical and citric fruit featuring medium+ toasted oak, lots of butter, lemon, butterscotch, mango, pineapple, cinnamon apple, marzipan and limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Things: Always nice to see a California Chard under 14% alcohol and not lose the creaminess. A day later the taste was equally good with less sourness on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork tenderloin with a peach & mango glaze.

Tasted: 3 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

LCBO #: 275552

RUSTRIDGE RACEHORSE RED 2005, Napa Valley, California

04 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.88 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon 34% Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Chiles Valley, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: RustRidge
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Plum, dark cherry, tobacco leaf, leather, pencil shavings and blackberries. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: This might be past its prime as the green notes dominate over the fruit.

Drink now and pair it with a heavy protein meal like steak.

Tasted: 2 Aug 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

CHATEAU FONTENIL 2000, Fronsac, France

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Château Fontenil 2006, Ac Fronsac Bottle

Cost: $51.70 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Right Bank Blend
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Fronsac, Bordeaux RightBank
Format: 750 ml
Producer: M. et D. Rolland
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of blueberry followed by liquorice, blackberry, dark cherry, cloves, nutmeg, leather, bramble fruit, pipe tobacco and tobacco leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: LCBO has the 2006 vintage (567404) in stock now.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 1 Aug 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

CHATEAU D’AQUERIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2011, Tavel, France

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2011

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Grenache & Cinsaut
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Tavel
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Jean Olivier
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Deep pomegranate in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour going on here featuring strawberry, sour cherry, lavender on the nose, candy apple and pomegranate. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Things: One of my favourite rosés.

Drink now and although it’s fine to drink on its own, I would pair it with food such as pork chops with a spicy edge.

Tasted: 1 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

LCBO #: 319368

GLORIA FERRER BRUT ROSÉ 2007, Carneros, California

29 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost:  $32.39 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category:  Sparkling Wine
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 ml
Producer:  Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Light copper colour with full mousse and medium intense nose.

Positives: Full flavoured sparkling featuring strawberry, cranberry, lemon, clementine, brioche and some minerality.

Negatives: None 

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese, tomato omelette with clementines on the side.

 Interesting Things: Made in méthode Champenoise.

Tasted: 29 July 12

Top Pick 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

 

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE ZINFANDEL 2008, Mendocino County, California

28 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel 2008, Mendocino Bottle

Cost:  $21.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category:  Red Wine
Appellation:  LCBO Vintages
Country:  United States
Region: Mendocino County
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jackson Estates
Alcohol: 14.5%

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This easy drinking Zin features light oak, raspberry, dried figs, dates, raisins, plums, chocolate and a hint of leather. Medium+ body, medium tannins, good acidity and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol.

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

Interesting Things: This is a great wine to bring to gatherings or to have as your second bottle for the night. This won’t disappoint.

Tasted: 26 July 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

LCBO #: 967679

TAITTINGER CHAMPAGNE BRUT PRESTIGE ROSÉ NV, Reims, France

28 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Cost:  $68.99 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category:  Champagne
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  France
Region: Reims
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Taittinger
Alcohol: 12%

Description: A beautiful rose gold colour with fine mousse and medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Strawberries, lime, papaya, mandarin and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and medium+length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair with it cured meat.

Tasted: 26 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2007, Russian River Valley, California

28 Saturday Jul 2012

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

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Cost: $51.99 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wines
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  California
Region:  Russian River Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Paul Hobbs
Alcohol: 14.7%

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I love this wine which features medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, white flowers, peach, pear, lemon and limestone. Full body with good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated considering it’s 14.7%.

Negatives: The high alcohol

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs consistently produces good quality Chards at different price points. Please note this is 2007 vintage and not available at LCBO. However, the 2008 is available at LCBO Vintages.

Drink now on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 25 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5