Author Archives: Twilight Wines

GLORIA FERRER SONOMA BRUT SPARKLING WINE, Sonoma County, California

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County, California, Méthode Champenoise Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blush in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Simply delicious & easy drinking. Raspberry, lemon tart, pear, light yeast, flan, molasses & ginger. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Made in the traditional method. Drink now on its or or pair it with quail eggs & caviar. This wine was ranked #78 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2009.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 192898

STAG’S LEAP WINE CELLARS ARCADIA VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2007, Napa Valley, California

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Arcadia Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $54.95 (sale price $34.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Fob
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with medium intensity nose.

Positives: Lemon zest, green apple, celery, kiwi & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: There is nothing wrong with this chard, but I just expected more at this price.

Drink now in its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 225359

GRAND SUD MERLOT, 2010 Vin de Pays d’Oc, France

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Grand Sud Merlot 1000ml 2010, Vin De Pays D'oc Bottle

Cost: $9.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: France
Region: Languedoc Roussillon (Midi)
Format: 1000 mL
Producer: Les Grands Chais De France Sa
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark blood ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: What a beautiful nose with notes of cigar box, tobacco, cloves, plums, cherry, pine cones, red candy & a touch of vanilla. The taste isn’t as sweet as the nose, which is a good thing. The taste shows blackberry, mulberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, nutmeg, anise, dark cherry, cocoa bean & cloves. Medium to full body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: I love the elliptical shape of the bottle & the bevelled coat of arms. Lastly, my mom loves it. Oh & last to the lastly, it’s under $10!

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

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 171314

GRAHAM BECK CHARDONNAY – VIOGNIER 2009, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Graham Beck Chardonnay Viognier 2009 Bottle

Cost: $9.80
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750ml
Producer: Graham Beck Wines
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking wine featuring lemon meringue, peach, white flower, honeydew melon, pear & limestone. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity with medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Thing: Unfortunately this is product is discontinued, but you can still pick up some bottles now.

Drink now on its own or it with chicken dishes.

Tasted: 18 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 140608 (Discontinued)

INNISKILLIN BRAE BLANC RESERVE VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Inniskillin Brae Blanc 2009 Bottle

Cost: $11.70
Grape Variety: 42 % Gewurztraminer, 40% Chardonnay and 18% Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson-Triggs Winery
Alcohol: 13,5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Light and crisp despite the wood aging and 13% alcohol. Notes of green apple, lemon, lychee, wet stone, white peach and floral notes. Medium to medium minus body, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The wines used in the blend were fermented separately and blended after ageing. The Gewurztraminer and Riesling were cool fermented in stainless steel. Following fermentation, nearly 30% of this wine was aged for 3 months in new French Oak barrels. The Chardonnay used in this wine was barrel fermented in new and used French and American oak. The chardonnay underwent partial malolactic fermentation and was aged for 6 months in the same barrels.” (Inniskillin Winery). Product is de-listed from LCBO but you can still find this wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with plain potato chips.

Tasted: 18 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 109975 (Product being discontinued)

FOXGLOVE CHARDONNAY 2009, Central Coast, California

19 Sunday Feb 2012

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Foxglove Chardonnay 2009, Central Coast Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Park Wine Co.Inc. Dba Varner
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw colour with medium intensity nose.

Positives: This is an easy drinking unoaked Chard featuring peach, honeydew melon, honeysuckle, lemon, apple, chalk minerality & a light creamy finish. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

Tasted: 15 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 262022

KUMEU RIVER MATÉ’S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008, Kumeu, New Zealand

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Kumeu River Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, Auckland, North Island Bottle

Cost: $44.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Kumeu
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kumeu River Wines Limited
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ nose.

Positives: Firstly, I like to point out that this is a big complex chard with 13.5% alcohol. This is not a typo, yes 13.5%, not 14.5% or 15.5%. Still can’t believe it & thank you Brajkovich family. On with the notes. Classic chard notes tilting more toward citric flavours with minerality & don’t expect it to be really buttery. Pity. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity with long length.

Negatives: Too much alcohol. Oh wait wrong wine lol.

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill it as you’ll loose all the complexity that this wine has to offer.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for up to 5 years. Pair it with my wife’s saffron seared scallops. Really you should try it.

Tasted: 12 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 204032

ANT MOORE PINOT NOIR 2009, Central Ortago

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

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Ant Moore Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, South Island Bottle

Cost: $20.85 (sale: $18.85)
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Ortago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antmoore Wineworks Limited
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus to light garnet in colour with medium intensity.

Positives: Earth notes dominate with fall leaves, mushrooms, & suede followed by sour cherry, rhubarb & cranberry. A lighter style Pinot with good acidity, soft tannins & a long length.

Negatives: There is some bitterness on the mid palate, but dissipates thanks to the long finish. I’m not crazy about the label, looks like Nouveau Beaujolais.

Interesting Point: It’s unusual to find a Central Ortago Pinot this inexpensive, but I found it muted compared to other Ortago Pinots. Reminds me more of Côte de Beaune. Food friendly wine that I would pair with turkey. Drink now or over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 11 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 220657

WAKEFIELD CHARDONNAY 2009, Clare Valley, Australia

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Wakefield Chardonnay 2009, Clare Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Clare Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wakefield Wines Pty Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “A ripe, luscious, peach-, nectarine- and citrus-scented wine with well-integrated creamy oak tones. This clean, balanced, and fruity wine is an excellent match for roast pork, mushroom risotto and, as the producer suggests, Chinese spice-encrusted duck.” LCBO

Gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: An inoffensive chard that should please the masses. Notes of lemon, nectarine, peach, apple, some wet stone & a light creamy oak finish.

Negatives: None.

A food friendly chard that is also easy to drink on its own. Priced fairly.

Tasted: 10 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 711556

VILLA MT. EDEN GRAND RESERVE BIEN NACIDO CHARDONNAY 2007, Santa Maria Valley, California

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Villa Mt. Eden Grand Reserve Bien Nacido Chardonnay 2007, Santa Maria Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Santa Maria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Fob
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: A powerful nose showing creme brûlée, buttered popcorn, peaches & cream corn and medium toasted oak. The taste is more refined showing lemon, apple crumble pie, creme brûlée, mango, pineapple, butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn with a medium tossed oak. Full body, good acidity, long finish & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The powerful nose is a little too much that it detracts from the enjoyment of drinking the wine. Pity.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glass.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 393892