Category Archives: Best Buys

Recommended wines considering the price, usually under $25, where it’s from, the winery and the varietal.

KEINT-HE VOYAGEUR PINOT NOIR 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Keint-He

Cost: $18.00
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Keint-He Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, simple, but very nice. One of the best Canadian Pinot’s for under $20

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, nutmeg and light earthy notes. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Slightly chill

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Garlic Roasted Pork Loin with Raspberry Chipotle Glaze.

Tasted: 3 April 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 373407

THE CRUSHER WILSON VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2013, Clarksburg, California, United States

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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the crusher

Cost: $16.99 (Cayman Islands funds) $16.95 LCBO
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands or LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Clarksburg, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Crusher Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Great alternative to Chard with a balance of citric & tropical fruit with creaminess on the finish

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features peach, apricot, mango, green apples, lime and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

2012 Vintage reviewed in Dec 2013 and just as good but now it’s $5 less expensive

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with chicken roulades stuffed with mango chutney and Brie

Tasted: 22 March 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 361964

TINAZZI VALDOBBIANDENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE BRUT NV, DOCG Valdobbiandene, Veneto, Italy

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Tinazzi

Cost: $24.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Prosecco (Glera)
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but full flavoured Prosecco

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features lots of peach and pear followed by cantaloupe and green heirloom tomatoes. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with poached eggs on a bed of kale and tomatoes

Tasted: 22 March 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LUGANA 2014, DOC Veneto, Italy

21 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Immagini 041

Cost: $18.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Trebbiano di Luganda (Turbiana)
Category: White Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Lake Garda, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Campagnola
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, refreshing & versatile wine

Description: Yellow straw in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features lychee, gooseberry, pink grapefruit, Bartlett pear, Logan berry and limestone on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Interesting grape, interesting bottle, both of which I really like. Unique grape with notes that are a blend between Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with German potato salad

Tasted: 19 March 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

ALMADI BARDOLINO CHIARETTO ROSÉ 2013, DOCG Lake Garda, Bardolino Charetto, Veneto, Italy

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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rose

Cost: $16.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara
Category: Rosé Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Lake Garda, Bardolino Charetto, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Rosé tasted. Balanced, substance, versatile & just plain yummy

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium to medium+ intense. This complex wine features the fragrant bouquet of cherry blossoms, with strawberry, tangerine, Spy apple, white cranberry and pineapple on the palette. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this in several different wine glasses; all were slightly different and yet all very good.

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with chicken spicy Thai chicken soup

Tasted: 17 March 2015

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

ACROBAT PINOT NOIR 2012, Oregon, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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

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Acrobat

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region: Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: King Estates
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

This Pinot achieves an all too rare goal in this day and age, delivering a high quality, Oregon Pinot Noir at an affordable price

Description: Medium to light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This juicy wine features pine, cranberry, wild strawberry, rhubarb, autumn forest smells, cinnamon & cloves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with slow smoked ham served with mango and braised sweet onion.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 11 March 2015

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2013, DOC Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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lab_Vin_Soave

Cost: $18.59 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Garganega
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Soave Classico, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inama
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance of crispness and creaminess as a result of the malolactic fermentation

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features peach, pear, apricot, elder flower, chalk and sweet almond on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with citrus and mango marinated conch.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Best Buy

Tasted: 16 March 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

MAGNOTTA MOSCATO SUPERIORE CHARMAT METHOD NV, VQA, Ontario, Canada

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Moscato

Cost: $8.15
Grape Variety: Moscato
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I would put this Canadian Moscato against the best Italian ones any day

Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse, which I found pleasantly surprising. This sparkling wine features a beautiful white flower and peach nose followed by sweet peach, orange, pink grapefruit and juicy Spy apple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Not overly sweet, very pleasant

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with orange juice or peach juice to make some excellent Mimosas or Bellinis

Tasted: 1 March 2015

Amazing and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

WENTE MORNING FOG ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2013, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

25 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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2013_Morning_Fog_DOBS_150dpi

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, not overly oaky Chard with tropical fruit to make it yummy, and it’s under $20

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features neutral toasted oak, lemon meringue, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, Macintosh apple, pineapple, vanilla, a touch of coconut and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “Fermentation: 50% of this wine was barrel fermented in neutral French, American and Eastern European oak. The other 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the natural fruit flavors inherent in this Chardonnay. Aging: The barrel fermented portion was aged sur lie for 7 months. Bâtonnage, the art of stirring the barrels, was performed monthly. This adds a creamy note to the wine and greatly enhances the texture. From the remaining 50% of the stainless steel portion, half was aged on lees for 7 months while the other half was racked clean to preserve the fresh fruit characters.” http://www.Wentevineyards.com

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Coconut Crusted Scallops drizzled with Pineapple Rum Sauce.

Tasted: 22 Feb 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175430

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Okanaga Valley, British Columbia, Canada

15 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Quails Gate

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance: $15.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my favourite Canadian Chards, and probably the best for under $22

Description: Light gold to straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, ginger, pineapple, hazelnuts, crème brûlée, flint and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill, as you’ll loose the essence of this wine.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare on a bed of Avocado Brunoise, drizzled in Sweet & Sour Sauce, WhiteTruffle Oil and Red Caviar

Tasted: 14 Feb 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 377770