Category Archives: Canadian Wines

PELEE ISLAND WINERY VINEDRESSER CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA South Islands, Ontario, Canada

03 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: South Islands, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good value for a full flavoured Ontario Chard that isn’t overly ripe & balanced. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, quince, apple, pear, butterscotch, marzipan, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with scallops with steak spice on a bed of spaghettini.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 2, 2022

LCBO: 492462

KACABA CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95 (Sale Price until Feb 27, 2022: $13.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Hard to find a half decent Ontario red wine for under $16 & this one scores a hit. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, blackberry, sage, chocolate, turmeric, pencil shavings, cloves, vanilla & light smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 26, 2022

LCBO: 499384

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gewurztraminer
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A light style GW dominated by grapefruit. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, lychee, ginger & pear

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with jerk honey chicken wings

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 23, 2022

13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A dry, light, crisp & fruity style Viognier. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, apricot pit, white peach, pear, oak spice & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% fermented & aged for 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 50% fermented & aged in stainless steel.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with spicy Pad Thai.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 14, 2022

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY MERLOT-CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A pleasant easy drinking wine with some substance to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, plum, elderberry, blackcurrants, fennel, cocoa, spinach leaves, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with smoked gouda.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Jan 26, 2022

ARTERRA CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Friday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $21.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
One of the better made Ontario Chards that seems like a hybrid of Meursault & Puligny-Montrachet styles. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Rich yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, peach, pineapple, lemon grass, toasted almonds, drawn butter, ginger, oak spice, vanilla, limestone & crushed stones.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use Montrachet style wine glassware & don’t over chill it.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Crab Coconut Thai Soup with Lemon Grass & Rice Noodles

My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price
Tasted: Jan 20, 2022
LCBO: 577007

OAK BAY PINOT NOIR 2019, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

10 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, BC
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently good vintage to vintage & one would be hard to find a better Pinot under $20.  Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, red plum, beetroot, peat moss, Champagne mushrooms & smoked cherry tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vineyards planted in 1928, Oak Bay now is 100% sustainable & organically maintained.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 6-7 years on its own or pair it with Honey Roasted Duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 9, 2022 LCBO: 267146

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious Pinot Gris with elegance & complexity. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, pink grapefruit, pear, white peach, honeycomb, vanilla, thyme, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sourced from Home Farm Vineyard in Creek Shores, the grapes were fermented and aged in a selection of 228, 400 & 500 Litre French barrels for 12 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seafood gumbo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PETIT VERDOT 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

And now for something completely different for Ontario wines, a Petit Verdot & winemaker Gavin’s first foray at NC with this grape is a success. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberry, plum, dark cherry, sage, lavender, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, light smoke & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: As Petit Verdot is bold & tannic, it needs a large style Bordeaux glass & decant to soften the tanin.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Biryani.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 1, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MALBEC 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, On The Fence, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Winemaker Gavin Robertson foray into Malbec, which is a rarity for any winery in Ontario to make generally succeeds. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, light tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberries, mulberries, eucalyptus & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: A little too medicinal

Interesting Point: First couple of tastes, I wasn’t liking it, but the wine grew on me.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Lamb Shank.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Nov 10, 2021