Category Archives: Canadian Wines

G. Marquis The Silver Line Blanc De Blancs Sparkling, Icewine Dosage, NV, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

27 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $20.25)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple sweet sparkling wine due to the icewine dosage

Positives: Yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features orange, nectarine, peach and yellow plum

Negatives: Too sweet

Ageability: Drink now on its own or add orange juice and make it a Mimosa.

My Opinion: Not recommended

Tasted: October 27, 2019

LCBO: 644617

MISSION HILL OCULUS 2007, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

25 Friday Oct 2019

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

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Cost: $70.00
Grape: 50% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mission Hill Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

After 12 years in the bottle, this Oculus is still showing its complexity & flavours

Positives: Dark garnet in colour with an intense nose, this wine features plum, dates, blackberry, blueberry pie, Champagne mushrooms, tobacco, vanilla, turmeric, coffee, black pepper, black olives and leather.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Current vintage in store, 2013, now sells for $130

Ageability: Drink now on its own or pair it with prime rib Au Jus.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: October 25, 2019

LCBO: 9316

13th STREET WINERY GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR 2017, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, finesse & elegance, a true delight

Positives: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse. This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, Rainier cherries, light dough, almonds and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 13th Street has become the quintessential winery in Canada for making the highest quality of sparkling wines thanks to winery maker Jean Pierre Colas.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Thanksgiving turkey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 22, 2019

BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Friday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Winery
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A beautiful, well balanced rich & buttery Chard that’s worth the price

Positives: New gold in colour, this wine features lemon tart, golden apple, yellow plum, mango, peach, light dill, caramel and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 13, 2019

13th STREET WINERY GRAND CUVÉE BLANC DE NOIR 2013, Méthode Tradionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $59.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Finesse, complexity, richness and freshness. It’s simply delicious, maybe Canada’s best Blanc de Noir

Positives: Gold with pink tinge in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features light brioche & toast, lemon, apples, pear, white cranberry, white cherry and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Another winner by winemaker Jean Pierre.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 1, 2019 (Pre-release date to public)

PONDVIEW BELLA TERRA PINOT NOIR 2014, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

01 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $50.20
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Estate Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lot of tart on the taste, which mostly goes away when it opens up. Nice Pinot but the price is to too high for what you’re getting

Positives: Pale garnet in colour featuring cranberry, pomegranate, cherry and light tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: Too expensive

Interesting Point: Let it open out or else it will be too tart, and lightly chill it.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters.

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: September 1, 2019

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 2013, Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Aug 2019

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

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A high-quality Canadian Blanc de Blanc in a Champagne style with a Champagne price

Positives: Golden apple in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features brioche, toast, lemon, apple pie, pear, honey, hazelnut, limestone with an oxidative nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Picked by hand on the estate and matured in the bottle on the lees for 60 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 25, 2019

LCBO: 315200

KACABA ESCARPMENT CABERNET/SYRAH 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Tuesday Aug 2019

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

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of red fruit, spice with firm tannin gives this Ontario Cab/Syrah complexity

Positives: This wine features cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, blackberry, black & white pepper, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, cinnamon with a smoked oak nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled marinated leg of lamb

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 13, 2019

HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Thursday Aug 2019

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: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.3 % Alcohol/Vol.

Steady as she goes; one of the top Canadian Chards

Positives: This wine features lemon, green apples, yellow plums, pineapple, peach, pear, vanilla, oak spice, ginger and dill all with a long finish.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance Price & Top Pick

Tasted: August 2, 2019

LCBO: 616466

HENRY OF PELHAM ROSÉ 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Wednesday Aug 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $14.95 (Sale Price: 12.95 until Aug 18)
Grape: Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 11 % Alcohol/Vol.

A Provence style rosé that’s nice, easy drinking, crisp but juicy

Positives: This wine features strawberry, cherry, cranberry, Honeycrisp apple and rose pedals on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Amazing buy at the sale price

Tasted: August 7, 2019

LCBO: 613471