Category Archives: Canadian Wines

AMAROSÉ FOREIGN AFFAIR 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Wednesday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: 13.30)
Grape: 73% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foreign Affair Winery
Alcohol: 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid rosé with full flavours yet still is crisp & dry

Description: Rose gold in colour with a low to medium intense nose. This wine strawberry, cherry, watermelon, pear, raspberry and rhubarb. Medium body with good acidity and a good long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Partial grape drying in the Appassimento method brings out the flavours in this rosé.

Drink now or in the next 3 of years

Tasted: 9 November 2017

Best Buy and Amazing Buy at the clearance price

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5/10), Total: 18/20

Recommended

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 388702

KACABA RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Wednesday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious Pinot, but for a price

Description: Garnet gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine cedar, cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, cherry tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, Champagne mushrooms and autumn forest leaves. Medium body with good acidity and a good long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: High end Ontario Pinot Noirs are rivalling the worlds best.

Drink now or in the next 7-10 of years

Tasted: 12 November 2017

Top Pick

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

Highly Recommended

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

BELLA TERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $39.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

One dimensional Cab that’s over priced

Positives: Black currants, blackberries, cigar box, cloves, turmeric and leather

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: December 18, 2018

REDSTONE LIMESTONE RIDGE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $38.95 (Clearance price: $27.30)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Red Stone Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality Chard but on the pricey side.

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, orange rind, cloves, ginger, caramel covered apple, oak spice, limestone, and some smoke on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 2015 was far better than the 2014 vintage

Drink now or in the next 4 of years

Tasted: 9 December 2017

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20 (Clearance price: 18/20)

Recommended

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

LCBO: 511436

PELLER ESTATES ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $31.95 (Clearance price: $22.40)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peller Estates
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A soft not overtly complex Chard with some unique taste & on the pricey side

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, kumquat, mandarin, golden apple, pear and oak spice. Full body with average acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years

Tasted: 11 December 2017

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5+/10) Total: 16.5/20 (Clearance price: 17+/20)

On the Fence

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 383075

STRATUS CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $48.95 (Clearance price: $33.80)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stratus
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Chard just over priced

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, green apple, pear, tangerine, pineapple, oak spice, ginger, dill and Easter Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years

Tasted: 29 December 2017

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20 (Clearance price: 18/20)

Recommended

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

LCBO: 383554

 

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES PAUL BOSC ESTATE VINEYARDS 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château des Charmes
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario Chards at this price point

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, lemon tart, peach, pineapple, green & yellow apples, crème brûlée, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice and a light smoke on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years

Tasted: 4 January 2018

Best Buy

Highly Recommended

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 511345

TRIUS BRUT ROSÉ MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $32.95
Grape: Red blend
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages, The Wine Shop & Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant dry rosé sparkling wine

Positives: Salmon in colour with a fine mousse. Wine features light yeast, wild strawberry, white currants, white cranberry and pink grapefruit.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 16, 2018

LCBO: 184309

HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A fairly priced Chard

Positives: Easy drinking, good citric flavours mixed in with some tropical notes, and the oak is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy at the clearance price

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 14, 2018

LCBO: 268342

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $27.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, balanced, high quality Chard for under $30 and at 13% alcohol

Positives: Wood is nicely integrated in this wine, which features lemon, apple, peach, pineapples, lemon meringue, oak spice and Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

LCBO 1552 (2017 Vintage not yet in LCBO as of this review)