Author Archives: Twilight Wines

SANTA CAROLINA, CHARDONNAY, RESERVA, 2010, Chile

02 Monday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Santa_carolina_reserva_chardonnay_screwcap_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Chile
Region: D.O. Valle de Casablanca
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Santa Carolina
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with med+ intensity. The nose is clean & crisp showing lemon, guava, limestone, green apple & pear. The taste is dry, slight creaminess, med+ acidity, med+ length. Notes are like the nose with guava being the end note. Med complex wine, easy drinking on it’s own or with BBQ shrimp.

Best buy

Tasted 1 May 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 304022

Marchesi De’ Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni 2008, Igt Toscana

01 Sunday May 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Marchesi_web

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscani
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Marchesi De Frescobaldi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium minus intensity, but what intensity it has it is quite wonderful. Cedar, black & blueberries, wild strawberry, cherry & anise dominate. The taste isn’t as nice as the nose. High acidity with med+ tannins makes this wine a little astringent. Med body, med length that shows cedar, leather, sour cherry & pomegranate. This wine should soften in the next 3-5 yrs. Decant & let it stand for an hour before drinking.

Tasted 30 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO# 145920

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia

30 Saturday Apr 2011

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

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48579_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: This is a typical Barossa wine, big & powerful. Visually it’s inky, opaque & purple to arterial red in colour. Med intensity on the nose that shows cedar, turmeric, anise, cassis, dark chocolate, plums, blackberry, pencil shavings, raspberry, cigar box. Complex nose. On the palate it’s dry, med+ acidity, med+ tannins, full body, long length, there’s heat from the 15.5% alcohol. Complexity on the taste. In addition to the notes on the nose, there’s dark cherry, leather, tar & spinach. This wine needs to be matched with something just as powerful, try porterhouse on the grill. This will be even better with 3-4 yrs cellaring, even though it’s a screw cap. If you drink now I suggest you decant first.

Tasted 29 April 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 48579

Stratus WILDASS WHITE, VQA, 2006, Niagara Peninsula

29 Friday Apr 2011

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

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2488_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stratus Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description:  Bright gold colour with med+ intensity. Beautiful nose showing lots of dill, Easter Lilly, honeysuckle, wet stone, ginger, orange marmalade & nectarines. The taste is dry with med acidity, med+ length, med alcohol & med minus weight. Dill dominates with Papaya, orange marmalade, nectarine, lemon, ginger, slate & light oak & butteriness. Nice to drink on it’s own or to have with snow crab & drawn butter.

Best Buy

Tasted 28 April 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#85100

EIKENDAL VINEYARDS RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2008, Wo Stellenbosch

27 Wednesday Apr 2011

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

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984773_web

Cost: $15.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Eikendal
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity. On the nose I got clove, guava, lemon tart, caramelized sugar, pineapple, peach, pear and light minerality. On the taste, dry, good acidity, balanced, very long length (I stopped timing after 2 minutes) & full body. I tasted guava, lemon meringue, peach, caramelized sugar (slightly burnt), pineapple, limestone, med toast and butter. Overall a medium+ complex wine and an amazing value.

This is a Best Buy wine.

Tasted: 26 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#984773

The WATCHER 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia

26 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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219196_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Fetish Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Traditional Barossa Shiraz, big big & big, without the structure. This wine is inky purple to ruby & dark in colour. Nose is med+ intensity, showing stewed plums, black currents, mocha, vanilla bean, raspberry jam, white pepper and nutmeg. On the palate this a full body wine showing medium minus acidity and tannins, and hence lacking in structure. The high alcohol on the after taste lends itself to some heat, but it also has a fairly long length to it. The notes on the palate are the same as on the nose. This wine is medium complex that pairs well with roasted peppers, but will challenge most foods due to the high alcohol and lack of structure, so enjoy it on a summer night by the fire.

Tasted: 24 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3.5

LCBO#219196

Peller Estates ICE CUVÉE CLASSIC, VQA Niagara Peninsula

24 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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53199_web

Cost: $31.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Peller Estates
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Made in the traditional “méthode” with vidal ice wine dosage (115ml) added.  Clear medium straw colour with Med+ intensity, small and abundant amount of mousse. On the nose I got apple, yeast, kiwi, orange, apricots and lemon marmalade.  The taste is clean, off-dry, medium body, med+ acidity, balanced with med+ length. On the taste there is a lot of orange, especially in the aftertaste, papaya, ripe green apples, lemon marmalade, kiwi and light minerality. I don’t feel this is a sweet sparkling, but the notes of the orange gives a sweet perception on the palate.  Went very well with cheese, tomato, mushroom and onion omelette. 

Tasted: 23 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4 

LCBO#53199

Nino Franco BRUT PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE, Doc, Veneto, Italy

24 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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349662_web

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Prosecco (Glera)
Category: Sparkling
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Prosecco, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Nino Franco
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Clear light straw colour with Med+ intensity, small and abundant amount of mousse. On the nose I got apple, Melba toast, candy fruit, pear and limestone.  The taste is clean, light to medium body, med+ acidity, balanced with med+ length. The taste is like the nose, but there is a little bitter almonds that takes the points down a notch. Still a good buy. Easy to drink on its own or pair with Bruschetta or smoked salmon. 

Tasted: 22 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#349662

HOB NOB PINOT NOIR 2008

21 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Clone_wine_13116_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: France       
Region: Vin De Pays D’oc  
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  George Duboeuf
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Description:Dark purple to ruby in colour. On the nose, Med+ intensity, showing prunes, dark cherry, vanilla, mocha, some mushrooms and a little cedar. On the palate, low tannins, med acidity, med to full body, balanced with a med length. Taste is the same as the nose. Not a complex wine, and a little to jammy for my taste in a Pinot. On a blind I would pick this as a California Merlot. This wine is a good introduction to people who don’t know Pinots, or those that don’t like a Burgundian style or as a matter of fact, Oregon and New Zealand’s Central Otago Pinots. Drink this wine now, on its own or with food. Paired well with Marigold Chicken & Exotic Mushroom Ballontine made by Chef Tobias from Red Canoe Bistro in Burlington.

Tasted: 19 April 2011

Score: 6.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LENZ MOSER PRESTIGE GRÜNER VELTLINER 2009

21 Thursday Apr 2011

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

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71233_web

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Grüner Veltliner
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Austria      
Region: Niederösterreich  
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Lenz Moser Gesselschaft M.B.H.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description:Med straw colour with a slight green tinge. The nose has med+ intensity, and shows green apple, key-lime, grapefruit, limestone, white pepper, thyme and cucumber. On the taste, dry, good acidity, med- body, med+ complex with medium length and well balanced. Taste is like what’s on the nose with the addition of honeydew melon.  Very nice drinking GV. Drink on its own (on a nice spring or summer day by the pool) or with food. Pairs well with Seared Sea Scallops made by Chef Tobias from Red Canoe Bistro in Burlington.

Best Buy

Tasted: 19 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#71233