Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.35 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: United States of America Region: California Format: 750 mL Producer: Our Cellars Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Nice to see a California Chard under $18 that is not: A) above 14% alcohol, B) sweet, C) overtly oaky. This balanced Chard offers a lot for the buck. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, yellow plum, vanilla & oak spice.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: From the winery: “My Best Friend… Bar Dog Companion, partner, bone-vivant. Always by my side. In my kitchen or at my dog-friendly bar until it is time to go. Like Bar Dog, we love this wine unconditionally. So will you.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Devilled stuffed crab.
Cost: $14.95 Grape: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: St. Martin, Bordeaux Format: 750 mL Producer: Château Maison Noble Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
For a young red Bordeaux wine, it’s drinking well now, but will improve with some aging. It’s a great bargain at this price point, as others with this quality would cost more than double. Score: 95/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, tamarind, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, blackcurrants, pencil shavings, anise, leather, anise, pipe tobacco, Allspice & violets.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 yrs. on its own or pair it with ribeye steak.
Cost: $24.95 Grape: 83% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Bordeaux Format: 750 mL Producer: Clarence Dillion Wines Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Impressive: If you want a $50 Bordeaux wine, but pay half the price, then this wine is it. Score: 95/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, blackcurrants, anise, licorice, leather, anise, pipe tobacco, Allspice & sandalwood.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Love the bottle: elegant & classic.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Beef bourguignon.
Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.00) Grape: 70% Nero di Troia – 30% Other local varieties Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Castel del Monte, Apulia Format: 750 mL Producer: Rivera Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A mix of berries, spice & leather. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, redcurrants, leather, anise, tobacco leaves & Allspice.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Aged in French oak for at least 14 months and for a further year in bottle.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 7- 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with marinated venison steak.
Cost: $19.95 Grape: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% blend of: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, Viognier Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: South Africa Region: Swartland Format: 750 mL Producer: Leeuwenkuil Family Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
An interesting wine with good complexity & full of array of taste. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon pith, pineapple, peach, green apples, mandarin, white pepper, limestone, white blossoms on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Cayman style conch ceviche.
Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00) Grape: Carignano 100% Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Carignano del Sulcis, Sardega Format: 750 mL Producer: Sardus Pater Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
And now for something completely different, but in a good way. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features tart cherry, plum, blackberry, mulberry, arugula, white pepper, peppercorn, licorice & oregano.
Negatives: There’s some heat coming from the 14% alcohol
Interesting Point: Is Solus is a fountain of Roman origin present in the historic center of the town of Sant’Antioco. The label shows a mosaic present in the city archaeological museum, which depicts two wild beasts drinking from the vase from which the tree of life rises.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with brisket.
Cost: $25.95 Grape: Red blend Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Central Coast, California Format: 750 mL Producer: 22 Pirates Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Ok I confess, I bought this wine because I loved the name, the picture on the front label & the rear label summarizing the wine, even though it’s at 14.5% alcohol, & those that read my reviews know I’m not a person that likes high alcohol wines. After tasting this wine, I still don’t like the high alcohol, but I really like this wine. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Dark purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackcurrant, dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, thyme, oregano, eucalyptus, white & black peppers, cigar box & lilac on the nose.
Negatives: Heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: 1) Every bottle introduces you to a different member of the crew with a customized cork listing his name and role aboard the ship. Unfortunately, mine was Rusty Latches aka The Swab. 2) There may be up to 22 Rhône Valley varietals, but that’s a secret, as Pirates don’t tell. 3) “The label is an original artwork created by a French painter named Francois-Auguste Biard in 1855. Biard’s work tells the tale of treachery, as the thieving crew lures a passing ship to come closer with the promise of companionship and music. Completely unaware those are not women or fanciful passengers, but a crew lying in wait.” www.22pirates.com
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Quail with Rosemary Thyme and Garlic.
Looking Out Into the Vineyard with the Niagara Escarpment in the Background
The newest edition to Niagara College Teaching winery is their Food Truck 101 with Chef Tarun cooking up some amazing food Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. The food truck is located at the back of the Teaching Winery’s boutique, where you can enjoy some of the best foods this side of Toronto on their large patio, along with some amazing wines which I have reviewed, and not only was I incredibly impressed with the wineries 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc Brut, but it won Double Gold and Sparkling Wine of the Year at this years Canadian Wine Championships. Congrats to wine maker Gavin Robertson. My pairing suggestion would be with any of the fries on the menu, as there’s nothing like pairing fries with Champagne/Sparkling wines.
Rachel Serving the Double Gold & Sparkling Wine of the Year, 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc with My Fries
Enjoying My Tacos with the 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc
Retired Niagara College President Daniel J. Patterson Enjoying the Patio
Chef Tarun was born in India where he studied hotel management in IHM Mumbai and came to Canada in the Fall of 2018 where he studied culinary management at Niagara College. His goal is to open his own fine dining, fusion cuisine restaurant somewhere in Ontario where he can be close to local farms in order to provide patrons farm to table experiences and sustainable food options.
Chef Tarun
Chef Tarun makes everything fresh from scratch every morning
Lets talk about some of the delicious food that I tasted recently:
The Tacos are messy, but oh so good. Out of the four that he cooks, I would give the nod to the pulled pork as that is probably the best pulled pork I’ve ever had, so moist, tender & flavourful. His Baja fish tacos come a close second. The fish is marinated and so very moist and flavourful. Chef Tarun makes his tacos very spicy probably a few notches hotter than most people would be expecting from a food truck at a winery, so if you like it hot, leave it be, but if you want it toned down, please let your server know how you like it.
Left: Chicken Tikka, Centre: Pulled Pork, Right: Baja Fish (Soy-glazed Tofu not Pictured)
Now, let’s talk about fries. One word describes them: amazing. Thinly sliced, with crunchy exterior, yet perfectly tender inside and spices to match your palate. My favourite is his Cajun. He can up the heat if you like it, as I did as the top of my head was sweating, but I couldn’t stop eating them, so delicious. Masala spiced is my 2nd favourite followed by a tie with the salt n’ pepper and smoked paprika.
Pulled Pork Poutine
Salt’n Peper Fried
Cajun Fries
Smoked Paprika Paired With Balanced 2014 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine
Chef Tarun’s nachos platter, which is a fusion cuisine dish influenced by his Indian culture and Tex Mex fusion, is deceiving large, and generally to be shared unless you’re really hungry.
Outside his regular menu, Chef Tarun will be featuring new options each week, I had the privilege to sample his Ice wine panna cotta with berry coulis, salted chocolate, strawberries, dehydrated mint and dill flowers. It was very flavourful, elegant and delicious. A true Niagara winery pleasure.
Photo by: Emily Beatty
Photo by: Emily Beatty
In conclusion Chef Tarun runs a great kitchen because he cares. There’s soul in his food and you feel that when you eat it; you just feel fulfilled.
Enjoying the Evening on the Patio with the Boutique Winery’s Manager; Chetan Chandratre and Chef Tarun
Cost: $16.95
Grape: Grenache blend
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gard, Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Sinnae
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A fresh, delicious, elegant rosé. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pink grapefruit, watermelon, peach, wet stone & roses on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Soupe au Pistou (Pistou Soup).
Very rustic in nature, which one would expect from a Gran Reserva 14 yrs in age, but still very youthful. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dried cherry & cranberry, Allspice, Star Anise, leather, cedar, oak resin, vanilla and cigar box on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Love the bottle
Pairings: Drink this now or in 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with Pisto Manchego.
Twilight Wines 