Category Archives: Canadian Wines

COYOTE’S RUN PINOT NOIR 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Coyote

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A smooth & vibrant entry Pinot from a winery that specializes in Pinots

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, violets, cherry, raspberry, portabella mushrooms, basil, thyme, forest greens and smouldering autumn leaves. Medium body and tannin with a mouthful of acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lightly chill and serve in a balloon glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Crispy Duck with spicy plum sauce.

Tasted: 28 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance: 9.5/10) Total: 18.5+/20

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

LCBO: 53090

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Inniskillin_Estate_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A top Ontario Chard at this price that is well balanced & has some complexity

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, Spy apple, oak spice, almonds, ginger, dill and vanilla. Medium+ body with some tannin, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I enjoyed their 2010 vintage, but this one is a grade higher. Use the larger Chardonnay glasses

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with poached Salmon with Cucumber Dill Raita.

Tasted: 22 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317768

TRIUS CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Trius

Cost: $13.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean refreshing with mild oak which adds a bit of substance.

Description: Medium light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a light oak, lemon, pear, green apples, melon & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with Crab cakes with horseradish cream.

Tasted: 25 Aug 2015

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

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

LCBO: 497248

PELEE ISLAND BACO NOIR RESERVE 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Pelee

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.45)
Grape: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, lighter style Baco Reserve, but has all the essence of a quality baco for a good price

Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, clementine and tobacco smoke. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My benchmark for a great if not the best Baco Noir Reserve is Henry Pelham’s. In comparing this one to that, at $10 cheaper, Pelee Island has done a nice job.

Lightly chill and serve in a Pinot glass (Balloon style)

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with slow roasted brisket glazed with pomegranate molasses.

Tasted: 21 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 414508

MIKE WEIR CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Weir

Cost: $14.95 (Clearance price: $12.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mike Weir
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy, straightforward, middle of the road Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon candy, granny apple, pear, honeydew melon and apple pips on the finish. Medium body with, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: Bitter note at the back of the throat

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass as the smaller cooler climate Chard glass eventuates the bitter note

Drink now on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 14 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 00000026

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.05
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, funky & earthy styled Pinot. One of the best Canadian Pinot’s for $20 & under

Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a barnyard nose in addition to aromas and flavours of pine, violets, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, forest earth and smoked charcoal. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I wasn’t impressed with this wine at the winery tasting, but figured that may be due to the small tasting glass and the wine being at room temperature. I figured right as in a proper glass and slightly chilled, this Pinot is beautiful.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Venison with rosemary.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RAVINE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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

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Cabernet-Franc-300x448

Cost: $35.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality Ontario Cab Franc for a moderate price

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, dark and sour cherry, plum, ripe red currants, raspberry, blueberry, Allspice, rosemary, tobacco leaves, white peppers, roasted red peppers and forest greens. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established winery making sparkling wine since 1877. Nice bottle to impress dinner guest.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Mushroom and Rosemary Risotto.

Tasted: 31 July 2015

Top Pick

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

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

CREEKSIDE ESTATE LAURA’S BLEND 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Saturday Jul 2015

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wine_76781_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec & 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Creekside Estates
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Ontario wine for under $20

Description: Dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. A fairly complex wine featuring cedar, black & red currants, black raspberry, cloves, cinnamon, dried herbs, mint, cassis, smoked Montreal meat, black pepper, leather and tomato leaves. Medium body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: This shows the world that Ontario red wines can be of good quality at a reasonable price.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Lamb Chops in Moroccan BBQ Sauce.

Tasted: 18 July 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 117960

No. 99 WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Friday Jul 2015

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Wayne Gretzky

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wayne Gretzky
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

The right glassware is key to enjoying this wine

Description: Medium to light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. Not a complex wine but what it does have is full flavour that features hints of lemon, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple and kiwi. Full body with average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine in warm climate style Chard glass, and all though it had flavour it was flat, lacking acidity. In the cooler style glass the acid was better making this wine very pleasant, and why it’s a Best Buy.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with grilled calamari with tomato citrus salad.

Tasted: 16 July 2015

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: 63826

PENINSULA RIDGE MCNALLY VINEYARDS PROPRIETOR’S RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2012, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday May 2015

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Peninsula Ridge

Cost: $20.25
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Tries to deliver premium Pinot taste at a good price, but falls short

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features spruce, violets, cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, cranberry, musk and white pepper. Medium light body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little light on the taste

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Herb Lamb Cutlets with caramelized shallots and oven roasted diced sweet potatoes and red peppers.

Tasted: 27 May 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 257543