Category Archives: Canadian Wines

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES MALBEC 2012, Argentina

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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

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Magnota malbec

Cost: $8.70 (Sale price until 31 Dec 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: 70% Malbec, 20% red blend
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Argentina
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Light Malbec, not impressed

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features turn tamarinds, plums, mulberry and cloves. Medium body with light to medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s a musty finish to it

Drink now on its own or pair it with Smoky Barbecued Chicken.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

13th STREET CUVÉE ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 Street

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s not a full flavour sparkler but still pleasant

Description: Rustic red brick in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features cherry, pomegranate, dried strawberry, pink grapefruit and a light yeastiness to it. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The first bottle I had to return as it was oxidized and lactic

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted salmon with shallot grapefruit sauce.

Tasted: 16 Nov 2014

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

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

LCBO: 147504

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Inniskilin Pinot

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full flavoured rosé that’s yummy

Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, cherry and red pepper jam. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the Pinot Noir glass as it really accentuates all the flavours

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with pork chop stuffed with sundried tomatoes

Tasted: 17 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 336461

NK’MIP CELLARS MERLOT 2011, VQA BC, Canada

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines

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Nk'Mip

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nk’Mip Cellars
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Wow, I like to be surprised by a great Canadian Merlot that can go toe to toe with the best Napa Merlots

Description: Medium to dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, bramble fruit, cherry pie, plums, chocolate, coffee, peppers, cinnamon, cloves, pencil shavings and leather. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nk’Mip (pronounced in-ka-MEEP) is the first Aboriginally owned and operated winery in North America.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Wagyu steak

Tasted: 22 Oct 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 626416

NYARAI CELLARS VIOGNIER 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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nyarai_cellars_viognier_web

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nyarai Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A vibrant wine from one of my favourite varietals, and it’s Canadian! Just don’t over chill it

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, apricot, peach, clementine, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with above average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Nyarai Cellars is a virtual winery and uses minimalist approach to their wine making process. Nyarai (na-rye) is South African name meaning Humility.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with

Tasted: 19 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 378414

TRIUS RED 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Trius

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: 14% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages & The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hildebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep to dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

If you don’t mind the black tea, bell pepper dominance it’s a nice wine

The wine features oak, bell peppers, twigs, plum, tobacco leaves, black cherry, black tea, turmeric, anise and leather. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

This vintage is Cab dominated which explains the predominant green notes. I prefer the 2011 vintage as it’s more complex. See my earlier review on that vintage.

Drink now or over the next  5-8 years on its own or pair it with steak and spiced asparagus.

Tasted: 17 Oct 2014

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

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

LCBO: 303800

13th STREET PREMIER CUVÉE 2008, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 street cuvee

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance: $24.50)
Grape Variety: 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a quality Ontario sparkling wine

Description: Straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features mild toast, Easter Lily, lemon drops, ginger, pink grapefruit, green apples and limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this sparkling wine has been aged three years and made in the traditional method, not a lot of yeast and brioche notes, which should please those that want quality Champagne style but don’t like those notes.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with delicate cow’s milk cheeses

Tasted: 5 Oct 2014

Best Buy at the clearance price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 142679

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED SPARKLING ROSÉ 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

04 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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Chateau Des Charmes Rose

Cost: $28.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling wine Méthod
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simply delightful sparkling wine, which is not surprising from Château Des Charmes

Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This sparkling wine features brioche, yeast, strawberry, raspberry, nectarines, clementines and Cambozola. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: In experimenting with different Champagne/Sparkling wine glasses, the thinner, longer style ones gave this sparkler a sharper note that may not be inviting to some pallets.

Interesting Note: Bottle fermented and aged on sur lie (on the yeast) for two to three years

Drink now or in the next 3 years or pair with Smoked Salmon Bruschetta.

Tasted: 28 Sept 2014

Best Buy on sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 78055

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2O10, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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teaching-winery

Cost: $18.95 (Clearance: $15.20)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

You must like Oaky Chards to like this one, and I do

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. The wine features medium to medium+ toasted oak, lemon tarts, pineapple, green and yellow apples, dill, ginger, butterscotch, vanilla and Allspice. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: A bit tart on the finish

Interesting Note: Students from the Niagara College Winery made this wine. If you’re in St. Catharines, Ontario, please visit the college winery as these students produce some great wines.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Renegade Pork with Mango Ginger Rub.

Tasted: 9 Sept 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price 10/10) Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 40634

LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Clos Jordanne

Cost: $30.00 (Clearance: $20.85)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Le Clos Jordanne
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the smoothest Chards I’ve tried. This may even please those that are ABCers

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. The wine features oak that’s well integrated, light toast, lemon, pineapple, green apples, peach, limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Works with both Montrachet and Chablis style stemware

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Gouda cheese

Tasted: 10 Sept 2014

Best Buy at clearance price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 33936