21 Wednesday Nov 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $15.00 (Sale price: $13.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Pays d’Orc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Calmel & Joseph
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Above average Chard at the sale price
Positives: Lemon, pink grapefruit, tangerine, white peach, McIntosh apples, and honeydew melon.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: August 18, 2018
LCBO: 375071
21 Wednesday Nov 2018
Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy, Mâconnais, Lugny
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave De Lugny
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Besides being yummy, it’s also delicious. Lighter style, easy to drink, but full of flavour. Get a true Bourgogne Blanc de Blanc at half to three times less in price than those made in the Champagne region.
Positives: Fine mousse with taste of brioche, buttered toast, lemon, pink grapefruit, green apples, hazelnut, pear and white flowers on the nose.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick, Best Buy
Tasted: August 19, 2018
LCBO: 460865
16 Friday Nov 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $16.95
Grape: Carmenère
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cono Sur
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Juicy, low tannin wine that’s a great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, and it’s under the usual 14.5% alcohol that is normally associated with Carms
Positives: Black currants, blackberry, plums, blueberry, dark chocolate, cinnamon and cigar box.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: August 20, 2018
LCBO: 569657
09 Friday Nov 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés
Cost: $13.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rustenberg Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
This is interesting, in a good way with it being smooth, juicy & full of flavour
Positives: Beautiful rosé colour featuring cherry, strawberry, watermelon and cranberry.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: November 9, 2018
LCBO: 451773
08 Thursday Nov 2018
Cost: $14.05
Grape: Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, Corbières
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vignobles Bonfils
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
My new favourite inexpensive, well made, great quality red.
Positives: Smooth with fine tannis that is full body having lush flavour and balanced. Features dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, sage and vanilla.
Negatives: None
Challenge: Put this wine in a blind tasting with high end red blends, and see where it finishes in regards to peoples favourites. I would be surprised if it doesn’t finish at one of the top favourites. And this is only $14.05!
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Amazing Buy, Top Picks
Tasted: November 8, 2018
LCBO: 361691
01 Thursday Nov 2018
Cost: $40.00
Grape: Chardonnay with some Semillon
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Southbrook
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
On the expensive side, but it’s a quality Chard that comes from Southbrook, which is an organic & biodynamic winery. I highly support their effort to live in harmony with the land, and therefore willing to pay more for that.
Positives: Medium body featuring lemon, green apples, Anjou pear, white peach, and limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Southbrook is Canada’s first biodynamic winery in Canada, and I highly recommend visiting the winery.
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: November 1, 2018
26 Friday Oct 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés
Cost: $16.95
Grape: Mouvèdre, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côte du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Xavier Vignon
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Delicious, smooth, elegant and with complexity. One of the best rosé for under $20
Positives: Light copper in colour featuring watermelon, strawberries, sage and rhubarb.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: October 26, 2018
LCBO: 450908
17 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés
Cost: $14.95
Grape: Tempranillo & Garnacha
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Baron De Ley
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A bold rosé that pairs nicely with grilled pork, grilled stuffed peppers or sharp cheeses
Positives: Red snapper in colour featuring notes of strawberry, blood orange, Thyme and sage.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: August 25, 2018
LCBO: 117283
17 Monday Sep 2018
Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Speck Family
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Canadian Chards that rise to the $30 or more price range need to be world class, and the Speck Family Reserve does just that.
Positives: Full body, oak driven but balanced with acidity. Yellow in colour with notes of lemon meringue, green and golden apple, pear, crème brûlée, butter popcorn
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Normally, these full body, buttery Chards are usually high in alcohol (14% to 14.5&), but this one is does all the beautiful things and stays at 13.5%.
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: August 25, 2018
LCBO: 616466
17 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $15.95
Grape: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michele Puccini
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Great value Chianti Riserva that is smooth and juicy.
Positives: Sour cherry, raspberry, nutmeg, cinnamon, oregano and violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Serve at 16 – 18 C
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: Sept 17, 2018
LCBO: 573519
