Category Archives: Best Buys

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

TOP BENCH WHITE 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Top Bench White 2009, VQA Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & 10% gewürztraminer
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & 10% gewürztraminer with the Chard part aged sur lie in French & American for a year. Medium straw in colour with medium intensity. Gooseberry, light oak, lemon/lime, some fresh cut grass notes, apple, peach & melon. The taste is dry, medium acidity, medium minus body, medium length & balanced. The taste is more expressive than the nose elevating its notes to a higher level. Drink now on its own or with edamame.

Tasted 20 Aug 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 226803

EMILIANA WINEMAKER’S SELECTION SYRAH 2009, D.O. Casablanca Valley, Chile

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Casablanca Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vinedos Emiliana S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Not impressed. Nothing negative, but nothing positive. That was what I thought when I first opened it 18 Aug 2011. I put the cork in the bottle & decided to open it the next day. The nose was like wooden fire in a clear cold snowy night with cherry kirsh, cola, blackberry, raspberry tea & chocolate mocha. The taste was just as good. It went from a score of 7/10 to 9+/10. Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20.

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 212407

OPEN SOCIABLE SPARKLING, 2009 VQA,Ontario

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Open Sociable Sparkling 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Charmat method, this sparkling wine shows medium straw colour with medium nose intensity & fine mousse. The nose has a very nice Easter lily aroma along with green & red apple, peach, lemon & some minerality. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body, long length & balanced. Easy drinking that has green & red apples, lemon/lime, limestone & peach. Not a complex wine, just easy going. This sparkler was a pleasant surprise to me with no negatives. Drink on its own or pair it with Capresse salad.

Best Buy.

Tasted 15 Aug 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 224410

CHÂTEAU DE CRUZEAU BLANC, 2007, Pessac-Leognan

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Château De Cruzeau Blanc 2007, Ac Pessac Léognan Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Pessac-Leognan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: André Lurton
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: 1st off just want to let you know that this is so far my favourite Sauvignon Blanc. Gold in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose has beautiful aromas that has a prominent note of guava followed by gooseberry, hay, lantanas, chalk, green apple & passion fruit. The taste is dry, medium+ acid, medium body with long length & balanced. This wine has been on it lies for 10 months prior to bottling that is evident by the creaminess of this wine. Guava dominates the taste. Other notes are as the nose with addition to edamame, pear, pink grapefruit, dry apricot & golden apples. This an exceptional Sauvignon Blanc for its price considering the complexity. The wine isn’t bone dry like a lot if Sauvignons. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with Sea Bass with white wine sauce on a bed of couscous.

Tasted: 30 July 11

Best buy & top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 966010

PELLER ESTATES FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY 2008 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY VQA

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Andres Wines Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium intensity. The nose has a light oak, nice lemon pie smell, mango, peach, apple, melon & honeydew. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body & length that’s balanced. Taste is as the nose & best part there’s no bitterness on the finish. Peller has done a wonderful job with this Chard. Easy drinking that can be drank on its own or pair excellently with rotisserie chicken. This one I would definitely take to a social or party. Drink now.

Tasted 30 July 2011.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 582825

ANGELS GATE SUSSRESERVE, RIESLING 2009 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation:
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Medium minus straw colour with medium+ intensity. Lemon, grapefruit & pear predominate with limestone. The taste is slightly off dry due to the addition of unfermented grape juice that’s added before bottling (Sussreserve), medium+ acidity, medium length & body. The wine is balanced & shows lemon, grapefruit, pear, peach, limestone & ginger. The freshness with the ginger makes this a food friendly wine that will pair with any sweet sauce like BBQ. Drink now or cellar for up to 4 years.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 24 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 620104

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CHARDONNAY, 2008, Limari River, Chile

30 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Limari River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Concha Toro S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright golden in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose shows medium oak & toast, macadamia nut, pineapple, lemon, buttered popcorn & peach. The taste is dry, good acidity, medium+ body, medium+ length, alcohol is well integrated & the wine is balanced. The taste is similar to the nose with pink grapefruit & caramel The after taste has a slight bitterness from the toasted oak & may detract those who are sensitive or adverse to that note in Chards. Use the larger Chard glass for this warm climate Chard. Drink now & on it’s own or with the classic crab with drawn butter.

Best Buy.

Tasted 29 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 342857

THE BLACK CHOOK VMR, 2008, McLaren Vale, South Australia

28 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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The Black Chook Vmr 2008, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Viognier 84%, Marsanne 8%, Roussanne 8%
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Galvanized Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light yellow with medium+ intensity. The nose has a nice bouquet of wild flowers, peach, orange rind & smoked toasted Pine nuts. The taste is dry, good acidity, medium+ length, medium body & balanced. Definitely Viognier on the taste with peach, orange rind, smoked apple, nectarine, some vanilla & toasted Pine nuts. This wine has an addictive quality that you just want to go back & keep drinking. Lucky the alcohol is not above 14%. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with roasted sweet orange pepper & grilled French cut pork chops. Delicious.

Best Buy.

Tasted 27 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 186338

VILLA SANDI PROSECCO, NV, Veneto, Italy

23 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Villa Sandi Prosecco, Doc Treviso Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.95)
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO, General List
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Gioiosa S.P.A.
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw colour with a full mousse on it’s head. Medium+ intensity showing some yeast, lemon, peach, pear, apple & some minerality. Taste is dry with med acidity, med body, long length, especially for a Prosecco & balanced. The taste is as the nose. This is a lovely Prosecco with way more character than a lot of Proseccos out there especially in the same price range. Almost taste like a light Champagne. What I also like is that this Prosecco comes in 500 ml, which is great if you just want to have A couple glasses & not waste the rest.

Best Buy

Tasted 23 July 2011.

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

LCBO#: 249722

STLTO MERLOT-MALBEC, 2009, Abruzzo, Italy

23 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Stlto Merlot Malbec 2009 Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Feudi San Pio Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: This wine surprised me considering the label that had to be done by a female. Oh wait it was! Usually these labels are designed as a quick pick-up marketing to get the consumer to buy, but not really a quality style wine. This one is! It has dark ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose. The nose is pleasant with light oak, blackberry, cherry, raisins, blueberry & cola notes. The taste is also pleasant with similar notes as the nose. Medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, medium length & body. This wine is balanced & easy to drink on it’s own or try with chicken with rum & cola sauce or if you’re being more conventional it pairs well with BBQ lamb chops. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years.

Best Buy. Good complexity & quality for a wine under $15.

Tasted 21 July 2011. Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 18.5+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5