Category Archives: Canadian Wines

HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Canada

17 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Speck Family
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Canadian Chards that rise to the $30 or more price range need to be world class, and the Speck Family Reserve does just that.

Positives: Full body, oak driven but balanced with acidity. Yellow in colour with notes of lemon meringue, green and golden apple, pear, crème brûlée, butter popcorn

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Normally, these full body, buttery Chards are usually high in alcohol (14% to 14.5&), but this one is does all the beautiful things and stays at 13.5%.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 25, 2018

LCBO: 616466

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G. MARQUIS THE SILVER LINE CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balanced, oak influenced, cool climate Ontario Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pear, cantaloupe, ginger and oak spice. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Similar Niagara Chards of this style sell for $19.95, Magnotta’s G. Marquis winery Chard price is $2 less.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken breast stuffed with cheddar cheese & broccoli.

Tasted: 24 Aug 2017

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 258681

KACABA TERRACED VINEYARD 2013, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

21 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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120_2013_terraced-vineyard-syrah_syrah_du_monde

Cost: $30.15
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Kacaba Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 12.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy, complex & delicious

Description: Medium to dark ruby to in colour with an intense nose. This wine features pine, sandalwood, kumquats, raspberry, blackberry, sour cherry, mulberry, white pepper, cloves, dried sage, forest floor & smoky dried peat moss on the nose. Medium+ body and tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting point: Kacaba’s Syrah elevates Canada’s red wine reputation.

Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Lamb Chops with Cherry Balsamic Reduction.

Tasted: 9 January 2017

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

KACABA PROPRIETORS BLOCK SYRAH 2013, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

21 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.35
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

For those that think Ontario can’t make good red wines, try this one

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, raspberry, cherry, tamarind, grilled red pepper, white pepper and red roses on the nose. Medium body with mild tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Such a beautiful nose.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Lamb Chops with Red Wine and Figs.

Tasted: 15 Aug 2017

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peller Estates Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple but elegant

Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, green & red apples, almonds, dill and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2-4 of years on its own or pair it with Spiced Sea Bass with Caramelized Fennel.

Tasted: 12 Aug 2017

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 383109

ORGANIZED CRIME CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $14.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Organized Crime
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice rich, creamy Chard Ontario Chard that’s not high in alcohol & under $15

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium oak, butter toast, lemon, mango, pineapple, peach, Fuji Apples, cream corn, vanilla and buttered popcorn on the nose. Medium+ body with light average acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with.

Tasted: 13 July 2017

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

Best Buy

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

LCBO: 408435

THE FOREIGN AFFAIR: THE CONSPIRACY 2015, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95 until 16 July 2017)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Foreign Affair Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice well balanced Ontario red for under $20

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, blackcurrants, cherry, plum, blackberry, turmeric, clove and eucalyptus on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Done in the Ripasso method of drying of the grapes giving the wine more richness & depth.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Roasted Châteaubriand with Red Wine-Mushroom Reduction and Pommes Puree.

Tasted: 11 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 149237

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS SMALL LOT MERLOT 2013, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy yet firm, one of the better Ontario Merlot’s for under $25

Description: Medium bronze in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, black cherry, blackcurrants, plum, blueberry, anise, cassis, tobacco leaves, green peppers, rosemary and violets on the nose. Medium+ body with medium tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 of years on its own or pair it with Mediterranean Lamb Burgers.

Tasted: 4 July 2017

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS ROSÉ 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: 86% Pinot Noir, 14% Riesling
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Pleasant dry versatile rosé

Description: Pink in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, Rainier Cherry and Bay Leaves on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Note: Good price point would be $14.95

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Torched Sashimi of Wahoo and Tuna marinated in Soy, Sesame and Ginger.

Tasted: 30 June 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8+/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

VIENI CLASSIC BRUT 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Cost: $22.95 (On sale: $19.95)
Grape: 60% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir, 16% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & dry with complexity

Description: Straw with bronze tinge in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features yeast, lemon, green apples, pear, Honeydew Melon, Brazilian nuts, ginger, rose petals on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Champagne grapes but made in Charmat method.

Thanks to Suzie who was a gracious host to me at the winery.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Pistachio-Crusted Scallops served with Linguine and olive oil garlic sauce.

Tasted: 2 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4