01 Thursday Dec 2022
Posted in Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $12.60)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Western Australia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Folklore
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Horrible, like biting into over ripe orange. Score: Not worth to score.
Not recommended
Tasted: November 1, 2022
LCBO: 19905
30 Wednesday Nov 2022
Cost: $55.00 (Clearance Price: $38.55)
Grape: 55% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Citran
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
This is a wine with plenty of expression that is elegant, fine and racy. Still several more years left to enjoy this wine. Score: 96/100.
Tasting Note: Opaque ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, plush tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, mulberry, blackcurrant, sautéed Oyster mushrooms, tar, cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, baby spinach, graphite & leather.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “Thermoregulation on each tank. Traditional vinification (T 28°C). Malolactic fermentations partially made in new barrels. 38% of new barrels in French oak. Traditional ageing with racking every three months. Fining with white eggs. Bottling at the Château.” (Winery)
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with venison.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: November 29, 2022
LCBO: 24738
28 Monday Nov 2022
Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Quality, complexity, dry but creamy & at under $30, this would best those Blanc de Blancs at $100+. Score: 99/100. My highest score for a Blanc de Blancs.
Tasting Note: Light gold to straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, sour dough, lemon, Key lime pie, Jonagold apples, peach, pear, Ataulfo mango, honeydew melon, roasted almonds & shale.
Negatives:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with caviar.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: November 27, 2022
LCBO: 435453
17 Thursday Nov 2022
Cost: $23.95
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Limoux, Languedoc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison Antech
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
One of my favourite Limouxs. Fresh, clean & creamy. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, green apples, honeydew melon, white peach, limestone, & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Spanish omelette.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick & Best Buy
Tasted: November 10, 2022
LCBO: 25367
13 Sunday Nov 2022
Posted in Not Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $16.95
Grape: 60% Grenache 40% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cellier des Dauphins
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Has a fruit sweetness that I personally don’t like, but others may. Score: 79/100.
Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, raspberry, red currant, Maraschino cherry, chocolate, tobacco, white pepper & ripe tamarind.
Negatives:
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 -4 years on its own or pair it with Italian sausages.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: November 10, 2022
LCBO: 14081
09 Wednesday Nov 2022
Cost: $22.95
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
I am normally a traditionalist when it comes to white wine, meaning I’m not crazy when it comes to several blends of white grapes in a wine, but this one was pretty good. Score: 87/100.
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, passion fruit, Dragon fruit, kumquat, & lemon rind.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “The Tom Thomson art gallery (The Tom) is a national cultural attraction dedicated to the innovation and spirit of the iconic artist Tom Thomson (1877-1917) whose artwork has been described as being the “visual equivalent of our national anthem”. This wine was created by the Niagara College Teaching Winery in honour of the 50th anniversary of The Tom and 100th anniversary of Thomson’s untimely and mysterious death at Canoe Lake.” (Winery)
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 -4 years on its own or pair it with calamari.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: November 8, 2022
08 Tuesday Nov 2022
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $15.40)
Grape: 80% Pinot Blanc, 20 % Auxerrois
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cave de Ribeauville
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A nice dry sparkling wine with crispness & flavour. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sourdough bread, lemon zest, green apples, pear & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “Vineyard on hillsides entirely harvested by hand on the famous geological fault of Ribeauvillé, which offers an incredible diversity of terroirs.
Made in the purest respect of the traditional method with whole harvests and 12 months of aging on slats.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with salt and pepper calamari.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: November 6, 2022
LCBO: 183624
02 Wednesday Nov 2022
Posted in On The Fence, Rosés
Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: 13.30)
Grape: Sangiovese, Merlot
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Toscana
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Ricasoli
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A sour style rosé but with lots of citric flavours. Score: 86/100.
Tasting Note: Pale salmon in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, passion fruit, dragon fruit, green pear, lime & clay.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with salt n pepper chicken wings.
My Opinion: On-the-Fence
Tasted: November 1, 2022
LCBO: 556266
30 Sunday Oct 2022
Posted in On The Fence, White Wines
Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Born of Fire
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Overpriced for a simple, linear style Chard. Score: 87/100.
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with average acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light lemon, pear, golden apples, cantaloupe & baking powder.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chicken alfredo.
My Opinion: On-the-Fence
Tasted: October 29, 2022
LCBO: 26511
29 Saturday Oct 2022
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pierre Sparr
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Beautifully made Blanc de Noirs that is crisp, dry but having good fruitiness that doesn’t make it too tart. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Pomegranate in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherry, pomegranate, MacIntosh apples, strawberry, pink grapefruit & crisp mineral notes.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 8 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: October 28, 2022
LCBO: 39016
Twilight Wines 