Category Archives: Canadian Wines

CHATEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY BARREL FERMENTED 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

25 Friday Jan 2013

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Château Des Charmes Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2010, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price of $11.20)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Des Charmes
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ nose.

Positives: What a nice balanced Chard that is only $13.95, or even better at the clearance price of $11.20, which you really can’t beat. This wine features a mild oak spice, lemon, melon, clementine, MacIntosh apple & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I can just see myself on a nice summer day drinking this Chard at my favourite golf course patio after just posting a 62, then realizing that I did that only on the front nine. Oh well, I’ll have another bottle please. Drink from the smaller Chardonnay glass. FYI it’s -25 C with windchill right now!

Drink now on its own, as above, or pair it with chicken parmigiana.

Tasted: 24 Jan 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value:10/10, Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 81653

COYOTE’S RUN RED PAW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A lighter old world style Pinot featuring a nice balance between fruit and earthiness. Light pine and violets, cranberry, champagne mushrooms, strawberry, cinnamon, some cherry pipe tobacco and thyme. Light body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with pâté.

Tasted: 1 Jan 13. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

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

LCBO#: 79228

CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario. Méthode Traditionelle

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

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

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Cave Spring Blanc De Blancs Brut, VQA Niagara Escarpment Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring Cellars Ltd
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling that I could just drink everyday. Features lemon, green apple, brioche, some yeast, baked apples, Anjou pear, mandarin & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at clearance price at LCBO in Brampton for $20.80, which would make this a Best Buy & a Top Pick.

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto pizza.

Tasted: 18 Nov 12 (congrats to the Argos in making it to the Grey Cup, which I’ll be seeing them there ) If they win I’ll drink another of this sparkling to celebrate)

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 213983

ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY SPARKLING 2010, Méthode Traditonnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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Angels Gate Archangel Chardonnay Brut 2010, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Nigagara Penisula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 12.0 %
Description: Pale straw in colour with fine mousse and medium intensity on the nose

Positives: A simple sparkler featuring lemon lime, quince and light toastiness.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The LCBO will have this sparkler on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Sunday Brunch.

Tasted: 14 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO# 227009

BURNING KILN CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This Chard is easy drinking, smooth, lightly toasted oak featuring notes of lemon, Macintosh apple, buttered toast, tangerine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not in the LCBO.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Normandy Style.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10. Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

BURNING KILN CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category:  Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The first thing that I noticed was that there wasn’t the usual twiggy/leafy notes associated with Cabernet Franc from Ontario, and the second was that it was easy drinking. This Cab Franc had nice smokey notes, sizzling bacon, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, plum, cedar and boysenberry. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not sold in LCBO, yet.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Stifado.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SMOKE & GAMBLE RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Smoke & Gamble Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 49.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc & 13.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dover Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: The nose is divine and the taste is not far behind showing sizzling bacon, cedar, blackberry, cassis, leather, cloves, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and black currants. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points:

  • This was the best red that I tasted at the Taste Ontario that was held on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I had a great time talking with the wine maker; Robert Gill and their distributor; Douglas Russell.

I love the copper label. 

  • The winery is located near Port Dover, Fort Erie

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 9+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:332825

QUAILS’ GATE MERLOT 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Quails' Gate Merlot 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 15.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with garnet ting and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A good complex wine from BC featuring cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry, spinach, star anise, black tea, leather and radicchio. Medium body with high tannins and acidity with a medium+ length.

Negatives: Too astringent at this time. Needs time to age. A little hot from the 15.4% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Taste very Cab like. Decant for an hour if you’re going to drink now.

Needs protein food to be paired up with like T-bone steak.

Tasted: 21 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 169961

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC

20 Thursday Sep 2012

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Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an improvement over the 2008 vintage that I reviewed awhile ago. This is a nice balanced Chard that features medium toasted oak, butter popcorn, lemon meringue, clementines, spiced apple cider, guava, pineapple & peach. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting point: Use the larger Chard glasses. I have put my review of the 2008 vintage below so you can compare.

Drink now or over the next 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 18 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 377770

PREVIOUS 2008 VINTAGE REVIEW

Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Beautiful Chard nose with lemon meringue, apples, medium oak & toast. This Chard has a long taste with a medium body.

Negatives: Although it has a nice long finish, part of it is bitter.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

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

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Henry Of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry Of Pelham Family Est. Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If my best buy category was for under $30, this sparkling would definitely be one. Side note: Some LCBOs have this in clearance for $24.95, which does make it a best buy. This sparkling is easy to drink & features brioche, yeast, baked apples, lemon custard & stone fruit. Medium to medium minus in body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red Lumpfish caviar.

Tasted: 7 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 217521