Category Archives: Canadian Wines

PENINSULA RIDGE WINERY ARCANUM 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Sunday Jan 2014

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

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Arcanum

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Syrah, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Peninsula Ridge Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Autumn leaves burning on an open fire

Positives: This wine features cedar, cherry cola, raspberry, red currants, hickory, bacon, dark chocolate, espresso, grilled red peppers, arugula, prosciutto & purple lilacs on the nose. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pizza topped with prosciutto and arugula.

Interesting Point: Reminds me of a good Baco Noir

Tasted: 17 January 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR RESERVE 2009, VQA Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Dec 2013

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2009_Baco_Noir_Reserve_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently, Canada’s best Baco Noir is Henry of Pelham’s reserve

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, smoky embers, Gaeta olives, bacon, prunes, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, black currants, blueberry, chocolate, Portobello mushrooms & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using a Pinot glass and lightly chill it.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with a melody of olives in olive oil.

Tasted: 22 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 461699

PENINSULA RIDGE BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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Peninsula Ridge

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

My new favourite, everyday, easy drinking Chard that’s under $20

Positives: This isn’t a complex Chard, but what it offers is very pleasant. The wine features integrated oak, sweet corn, lemon candy, Macintosh apple, pear, peach & nutmeg. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The nose is better than the taste.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped seared scallops.

Tasted: 1 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 211490

TRIUS BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

11 Friday Oct 2013

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trius_chardonnay-bf_2

Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until 13 Oct 13: $17.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Hillebrand Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple oaked Chard that is of good quality.

Positives: The wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, red crab apple, white flower and pineapple. Medium+ body with good acidity and a surprising long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with turkey dinner.

Tasted: 9 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

TRIUS RED 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

11 Friday Oct 2013

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Trius Red

Cost: $22.95 (Sale price until 13 Oct 13: 20.95)
Grape Variety: 43% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages & The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hildebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good quality Ontario Bordeaux style for under $25

Positives: The wine features oak, twigs, blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, cherry, blueberry, turmeric, anise and leather. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour and I like the long neck bottle.

Drink now or over the next  5-8 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 8 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 303800

GOOD KHARMA CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada

06 Sunday Oct 2013

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Good Karma

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An easy drinking Chard that would be great to take to a party.

Positives: The wine features medium minus oak, some buttered toast, mandarin, orange rind, apple, lemon, peach, pineapple and cashews. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: A portion of sales of this wine goes to the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crab with drawn butter.

Tasted: 3 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 356873

COYOTE’S RUN RED PAW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Sunday Oct 2013

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coyote

Cost: $22.95 (Clearance Price: $19.25)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote Run
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A very earthy Pinot, may not be for everyone.

Positives: The wine features some cedar, lots of mushrooms, cranberry, pomegranate, sour cherry and wet earth. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch too tart Drink now on its own or pair it with veal Provence.

Tasted: 6 Oct 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 79228

STONEY RIDGE EXCELLENCE CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada

28 Saturday Sep 2013

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Stoney Ridge

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.25)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stoney Ridge Estates
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This wine teeters on the 90 point scale, but ends up at 89

Positives: The nose is better than the taste. This Chard features medium to medium+ toasted oak, buttered popcorn, pineapple, dill, lemon, baked apple crumble pie and caramel. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 13.8% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Although this has a lot of oak, I preferred drinking it from the cooler climate smaller Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with snow crab with drawn butter.

Tasted: 15 Sept 2013

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: 254243

MAGNOTTA BLANC DE BLANCS 2011 SPARKLING WINE, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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d_swbldeblanc

Cost: $17.15 ($16.95+deposit)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

What a nice surprise to have a quality sparkling wine in the traditional method at under $20

Positives: Full flavoured, well balanced and easy drinking sparkling wine features lemon, green & golden apple, pear, light yeast & brioche and limestone on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unusual to see a sparkling with about 14% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops on a bed of cooked spinach & mustard greens.

Tasted: 27 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LAILEY MERLOT 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Lailey

Cost: $25.00 (Clearance: $20.05)
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lailey Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A juicy Merlot of good quality

Positives: This wine features cedar, plums, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, star anise, cinnamon, forest greens, oregano, sage, and radicchio. Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Right now a little too green.

Although you can drink this wine now after decanting for an hour, it should mellow over the next 2-5 years. Preference would be to drink this with a rib-eye steak, medium-rare.

Tasted: 25 Aug 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 591396