Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raisins, dried cranberries, thyme, dried sage, cloves, arugula, shale and fresh carnations on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: I like the label
Pairings: Drink this now or 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ ribs.
Tasting Note: Medium garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, raspberry, rhubarb, oyster mushrooms, cinnamon, clove, thyme, oak spice & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable
Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes for this wine are picked at optimal ripeness before being transported back to the winery for processing. Once at the winery the fruit is gently destemmed and then lightly crushed using state of the art processing equipment. Batch fermented according to block and clone in small open top fermenters, the must undergoes a cold soak lasting around 7 days before being warmed and inoculated either with selected yeasts or left to undergo a ‘wild’ ferment using indigenous yeasts found naturally on the grapes. Once fermentation is complete the wine undergoes a short period of post-fermentation maturation on skins before being pressed directly to a combination old and new French barriques. These barrels are kept cool in a temperature-controlled cellar over the winter months, before being warmed in spring, allowing the wine to undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation. Barrels are carefully monitored over this period and once the malolactic fermentation is determined to be 100% complete the final blend is carefully put together before being filtered and bottled.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.
Tasting Note: Silver pink in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry, McIntosh apple & oyster shell.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: ““Whole bunch pressing of both varietals ensured that only the quality juice went into fermentation. The two varietals were then fermented separately. The unique silver-pink hue is obtained from an enzymatic reaction during the transport of the Pinot Noir fruit to the cellar. This lends sufficient time for the gentle colour extraction of this Rosé NV. After fermentation, the portions are blended and then lightly fined and bottled for the second fermentation. A long lees time resulted in subtle yeasty characters, with a burst of berry and cherry flavour.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie Board.
Cost: $12.60 (On sale until Aug 16/26: $10.60 Grape: Chenin Blanc Category: White Wine Location Bought: LCBO General List Country: South Africa Region: W.O. West Cape Format: 750 ml Producer: Bruce Jack Wineries Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
My new favourite inexpensive Chenin Blanc that features tropic fruits with good minerality & acidity. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Pineapple, mango, papaya, kumquat, yellow dragon fruit and limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable Certified
Winemaker’s Note: “Carefully chosen vineyards are designated for this Chenin Blanc, each vineyard block is treated distinctively in the winery to emphasize their unique qualities. Minimal intervention is employed in the cellar, with fermentation occurring in tanks. The wine is then aged on fine lees for several months before being bottled in its youthful state, yielding a fresh, fruit-forward wine with a crisp, clean finish.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ Cheesy Corn.
Cost: $22.50 Grape: Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon Category: Rosé Wine Location Bought: The Small Wine Makers Collection Country: Spain Region: Costers Del Segre Format: 750 ml Producer: Bodegas Raimat Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Dry, versatile, pleasant drinking rosé. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, strawberries, pink grapefruit,
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Vegan & Organic
Winemaker’s Note: “Abadía represents the essence of Raimat and is the oldest wine brand in the Costers del Segre Designation of Origin.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with a variety of Tapas.
Smooth, easy to drink, nice citric & tropical notes while not being overtly oaked. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, low to medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Pitahaya, cantaloupe, Fuji apples, ginger & light oak spice.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Fermented in stainless steel and 50% was aged with French oak.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chicken breast.
Cost: $19.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: New Zealand Region: Hawke’s Bay Format: 750 ml Producer: HãHã Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Easy drinking, smooth, creamy with tropical fruits. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, lemon meringue, peach, pear, kumquat, golden apple, ginger, honeycomb & light oak spice.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Don’t over chill it.
Winemaker’s Note: “Following harvest the grapes were gently pressed on arrival to the winery. The juice was cold settled before being inoculated with selected yeast for fermentation. The wine was aged on full lees and French oak and went through 50% malolactic fermentation in spring prior to blending, filtering and bottling.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with creamy seafood pasta dishes.
Cost: $18.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Australia Region: McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills Format: 750 ml Producer: d’Arenberg Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Nice balanced Chard between fruits, spiciness & oak. Score: 89/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, ginger, pitahaya, honey & oak spice.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Small batches of grapes are gently crushed, chilled and then basket pressed. To add complexity and mouthfeel the wine is fermented and matured in French oak for seven months.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Salt n Pepper wings.
Cost: $20.95 (sale price until April 7, 2026: $16.95) Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: New Zealand Region: Format: 750 ml Producer: Kim Crawford Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Always reliable, good value Chard, light crisp & always reliable to give a nice balance. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light clear gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, yellow cranberry, pear, ginger & dill.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Great price with $4 off
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with General Taos Chicken.
Cost: $19.95 (sale price until April 26, 2026: $16.95) Grape: Sangiovese Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Italy Region: Romagna DOC Superiore Format: 750 ml Producer: Poderi dal Nespoli, Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A nice change to have a quality Sangiovese outside Tuscany. Wine shows nice spice & sour fruits. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with high acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, cranberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, arugula, cloves, black tea, leather & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Use Burgundy style glassware as it will soften the wine.
Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with lasagna.
Twilight Wines 