Category Archives: Best Buys

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

CHALONE, CHARDONNAY 2009, Monterey County, California

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Chalone Monterey County Chardonnay 2009, Monterey County Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Diageo Canada Inc
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh nose showing lemon, sweet apples, nectarines, pineapples, light toast & oak, vanilla & limestone. The taste is smooth & creamy and yet has good acidity. Medium to full body with a long length & good complexity. The taste shows light to medium toast & oak, lemon, pineapples, mangos, nectarines, Macintosh apples & limestone. It is also nice that the alcohol is not on the high side.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Use the larger Chard glass vs the smaller cooler version as the cooler version glass will bring out more citric flavours as well as a bitterness on the taste while loosing the smoothness you get with the larger glass.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years. Drink on it’s own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 14 Nov 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 80226

ATREA OLD SOUL RED 2006, Mendocino County, California

05 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $22.50
Grape Variety: 39% Zinfandel, 36% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah and 10% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sarasina Winery
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Violets, spruce, raisins, dates, bacon, red peppers, hickory, raspberry, milk chocolate & a forest in autumn with the leaves changing to their beautiful fall colours. As you can see I just love the nose. And now for the taste: like the nose but also blueberry pie. The wine is complex with medium tannins, good acidity, medium length & body. The high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: I detected a slight wateriness on the finish, which shortened the length.

Interesting Things:

  • If you ever had The Prisoner (highly recommended, but not sold in Ontario), this is the lighter version of it.
  • Best with a Zinfandel glass.
  • What caught my eye when I first saw this wine is the classy label & The Old Soul Red. It all reminds me of my wife so I had to get it. I wasn’t disappointed & I hope you won’t be either.

Drink now on its own or with a grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 4 Nov 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 214825

CROSSBARN CHARDONNAY 2008, Sonoma Mountain, California

05 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Crossbarn Chardonnay 2008, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma Mountain
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Hobbs Imports Inc.
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Well balanced Chard that is smooth & easy to drink. Paul Hobbs has done a wonderful job with his entry level Chard which exhibits classic Chardonnay notes of lemon, apples, nectarines, pineapple & limestone. In addition, you’ll find some creaminess from the butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn. This Chard is medium+ body & length, well balanced especially between the oak & the fruit.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs is one of the masters in producing excellent California Chardonnays & this one is half the price of his mid to higher end wines. The bottle has a cork screw so drink now or cellar for next 3 years.

Drink on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 3 Nov 11.

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 235945

GIAVI CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE, DOCG, Treviso, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ 2 Comments


Tenuta Giavi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore, Docg Bottle

Cost: $14.65
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta Giavi
Alcohol: 11.0 %
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Prosecco with pear, peach pit, lemon/lime & apple. This is a lighter style Prosecco with medium+ length & good acidity.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the after taste.

Interesting Things: Try this with Reese peanut butter cups, it’s delicious.

Tasted 30 Oct 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 209569

BARONE RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2007, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casa Vinicola Barone Ricasoli Spa
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Classic Chianti with sour cherry, cedar, dried herbs, blackberry, Conifer spice, red & black pepper. This wine has medium+ tannins with good acidity, medium body & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Pair this wine with traditional Italian tomato based dishes.

Tasted: 29 Oct 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 943613

CHÂTEAU CROIX DE THOMAS 2008, St. Georges, St. Emilion

29 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Château Croix De Thomas 2008, Ac St Georges St émilion Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: St. George, St. Émilion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nicely balanced wine. Red & black fruits intertwined with earth notes, medium+ tannins & good acidity. Some spice notes are detected in the middle during its long length. Easy drinking wine.

Negatives: Slightly watery finish.

Interesting Things: If you can’t afford the higher end Right bank Bordeaux, this is a very good entry level.

Drink now or cellar for 2-4 years. Pairs nicely with grilled lamb & squash.

Tasted 28 Oct 11

Best Buy.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 244053

COLANERI, STELLUCHA, RIESLING, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $15.95

Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light gold colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Very clean, smooth and a touch of creaminess. Notes of lemon/lime, peach, tangerine and a hint of grapefruit and minerality. This is a medium body wine with long length and good acidity. On the Riesling sweetness scale (not to be confused with the sugar content of wines) I would put this in the middle. Very pleasant to drink on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp on the BBQ. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This is Tara’s wine that won gold medal at the Ottawa Wine Challenge (should have won diamond, if they had that category)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months
  • Stellucha means little star in Italian. Tara’s mom gave her that nickname when she was little. Tara competes in Latin dance & the picture is of her pose in the dance. On the upper right corner is a silhouette of her mother looking down from heaven to her Stellucha. Tara’s mother had passed away 2 years ago.  

Best Buy 

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI, CAVALLONE, PINOT GRIGIO, VQA 2010, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: A beautiful copper colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: This is in the Alsatian style with honeysuckle, orange rind, grapefruit, pear and peach on the nose. The taste has a wonderful oiliness to it along with peach, pear, orange, pink grapefruit, limestone and apples.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine won gold at Intervin
  • This is Tara’s mom’s wine (Angiolina)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months Appassimento style
  • Cavallone means horse in Italian. Tara’s grandmother gave her mother that nickname when she was little, which meant in Italian that they were strong and free spirited. The little children on the horse is Tara holding onto her mother not to let to go, and her brother, Michael, pointing to the sky telling her that she is in heaven but saying that she is with them here. The rock on the lower right hand corner represents Tara’s father, who is the rock. 

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

COLANERI, UNITA, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Complex wine showing cherry, blackberries, black olives, dill, basil, mocha, tobacco leaves and raspberry.  This wine is full body with a long length.  

Negatives: Needs to age as it is still a little green on the taste.  

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in 50% Appassimento style
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.
  • The label means Unity. This is Michael’s label (Tara’s brother), which represents happy times at the dinner table with his family.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI CORPOSO VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $18.95

Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvigon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+  intensity on the nose. 

Positives: There is a lot going on in this wine. Cherry pie, blackberries, black olives, dill and basil predominate on the nose. Similar to the nose with the addition of some tobacco leaves and raspberry.  The wine has a Medium+ body with a long length. Easy to drink on its own or pair it pizza. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in a Ripasso style
  • The label is of Tara’s grandfather pressing the grapes in the traditional Italian method “torchio”
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4