Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: 62% Shiraz, 28% Grenache, 10& Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terravintner
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Inky blood ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Description: Very Zin like character in both flavour & power. Notes of plums, raisins, mocha, dark chocolate, blueberry, black cherry, blackberry, sweet peppers, Christmas cake, figs, cinnamon & nutmeg. This wine is full body with low tannins, medium acidity & long length.

Negatives: 16% alcohol! That’s getting to close Port.

Interesting Things: Good wine to give those who don’t like tannins or austere red wines & like it a little sweeter. Nice on a cold winter day.

Drink now as a meal of its own or pair it with T-bone steak. This can age for another 3 years.

Tasted: 3 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 6551

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Don Sebastiani & Sons
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose shows sweet oak, cloves, strawberry, pepperoni, cinnamon, mocha, & cherry pipe tobacco. The taste is smooth having medium tannins & acidity, medium+ length, medium+ body and the alcohol is under 14% alcohol. The taste is like the nose with addition to plums & chocolate.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Firstly, I have to thank my wife, Kerri, for introducing this to me a couple years ago in the Cayman Islands. Well it’s finally arrived here in Ontario & at a bargain price for Napa. Now this isn’t comparable to the mid to higher end Napa, but should please the palate of the masses as well as those with acute taste, like my wife. Secondly, SKN stands for Screw Kappa Napa because it’s a screw top, finally, if you like Zinfandel without the high alcohol, you should like this as it has many of the same properties to it.

Drink on its own or pair it with beef stew.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Nov 11

Score:9/10, Value: 10/10. Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 218834

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Amity Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light to medium garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big Pinot, but it’s also not from California. Very smooth & very easy to drink a bottle or two in one sitting. Low tannins, medium alcohol & medium acidity makes this wine really easy to drink on its own or pair it with duck. The notes show floral notes of violets, roses, cloves & pine. The earth notes are well integrated with cherry & raspberry. Light to medium body & medium+ length. Simply delicious.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Tasted: 19 Nov 11. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 124594

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Beronia S.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Sandalwood, strawberry, bacon, basil & cherry notes on the nose & taste. The wine is dry, medium to low tannins, medium acidity, medium body & medium length.

Negatives: Slight wateriness detected on the taste.

Interesting Things: This is one of the best inexpensive & consistent year to year Tempranillo’s. Usually the LCBO will put this on sale for a $1 off.

Drink now on its own or with lamb chops.

Best Buy

Tasted: 17 Nov 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 243055