Category Archives: Canadian Wines

SUMAC RIDGE TRIBUTE SPARKLING WINE PRIVATE RESERVE, MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE (Blanc de Blanc) NV, VQA Okanagan, British Columbia

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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Sumac Ridge Tribute, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc. – B.C.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw to gold in colour with fine mousse & a medium intense nose.

Positives: This sparkling can compete with Champagne at the $40-50 price range. This sparkling features green apples, lemon/lime, some yeast, pear & peach. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at 30% off at an LCBO store, which would make it a best but.

Drink now on its own or have it with Sunday brunch.

Tasted: 2 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 169508

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES MONTAGUE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

28 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague 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: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Sweet & tart, just like I like my Pinots: (and you thought I was going to say something else?) This Pinot features smoked cedar, cranberry, strawberry, rhubarb, cherry pie, sweet basil, cinnamon & a light earthy taste. Medium minus in body with low tannins, high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch too high in acidity, but still yummy.

Interesting Point: I lucked out getting this wine on sale at an LCBO store for $17.55 , and remember to lightly chill it.

Drink now on its own, however due to the higher acidity this wine will show better paired food such as duck.

Tasted: 28 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO #: 997354

CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

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

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https://i0.wp.com/www.clossonchase.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2009CCV-Chard-VQAPEC.jpg

Cost:  $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country:  Canada
Region:  Prince Edward County
Format: 750 ml
Producer:   Closson Chase Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Rich & creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, butter, yellow plums, lemon, nutmeg, creme brulee, & limestone. Full body with good acidity and long length.

Negatives: A touch bitter from the toasted oak.

Interesting Things: I believe the 2008 & 2009 are sold out at the winery. 

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

Tasted: 10 July 12

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

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

13TH STREET PINK PALETTE ROSÉ 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula , Ontario

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés, Winery Review Series

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13th Street Pink Palette Rosé 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thirteenth Street Wine Corp.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: A beautiful rich pomegranate colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Probably the best rosé I have tasted from Canada. Features strawberry, pomegranate, watermelon, cranberry, Bing & sour cherry. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I used the Viognier glass which brought out the best in this wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with pork chops with a sweet & spicy rub.

Tasted: 7 Jun 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 275834

PELEE ISLAND GAMAY NOIR ZWEIGELT 2009, VQA Ontario

31 Thursday May 2012

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Pelee Island Gamay Noir Zweigelt 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Gamay Noir, Zweigelt
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Smokey nose featuring blackberries, mulberries, raspberry, cherry, lime & peppers. The taste shows similar notes. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Have this wine slightly chilled.

Drink now on its own or pair it with hummus.

Tasted: 29 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 216028

MAGNOTTA IL CACCIATORE GRAND RISERVA 2008,

26 Saturday May 2012

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

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Cost: $26
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère

Category: White Wine
Appellation: Magnotta
Country: Unknown
Region: 

Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium minus garnet with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, plum, blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, blackcurrant, mesquite and tamarind on the finish. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: A nice looking bottle with artist Follente’s work on the label. A collector’s addition.

Tasted: 26 May 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4


CHATEAU DES CHARMES BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE NV, VQA, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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CHATEAU DES CHARMES BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE VQA

Cost: $22.95 (on sale: $20.95)
Grape Variety: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wines
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Chateau Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with fine mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lighter champagne style featuring lemon, baked apple, limestone, pear, biscuit with light toast.

Good acidity with medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I had it for Mother’s Day & my mom loved it. My wife and I had it for brunch on 21 May 12, and she really liked it too.

Drink now on its own or with fresh oysters.

Tasted: 13 May 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 145409

LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE CHARDONNAY, 2008 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula

12 Saturday May 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2008 Bottle

Cost: $40.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Rich gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positive: A complex wine featuring medium toasted oak, butter corn, lime, musky wood spice, butterscotch, walnut, apricots, quince & limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity, alcohol is well integrated & long length.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: I recommend the larger Chard glass as it cuts the bitterness that a smaller glass will accentuate. I lucked out & bought this wine at LCBO for $28.05.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or paired with surf & turf.

Tasted: 11 May 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (on sale: 9+/10), Score: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 56929

INNISKILLIN OAKED CHARDONNAY CORE SERIES VQA, 2010 Niagara Peninsula

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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Inniskillin Oak Aged Chardonnay Core Series 2010, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $14.95 (On sale at some LCBO $10.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose shows more citric & mineral notes than the taste. Aromas of apple, lemon, grapefruit, limestone &green banana. The taste is surprisingly better showing similar notes as the nose but having some creaminess associated to a mild buttery taste, mild toasted oak, plantain & a kiss of maple, just to add that Canadian touch. Medium+ body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little heat from the alcohol.

Interesting Note: Use the larger Chard glasses as that will bring out more of the creaminess of the wine.

Drink now or over the next to years on its own or match it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 Mar 12

Best Buy (amazing buy at the sale price).

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 (10/10 on sale price), Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 317768

LAILEY VINEYARD CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Lailey Vineyard Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara River Bottle

Cost: $19.95 (sale $14.05)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lailey Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: An old world style chard showing chrysanthemums, lemon, green apples, mandarine, light oak, limestone & sweat peach on the nose.

Negatives: Not complex while showing a lot of citric flavours. The nose is the best part of this wine.

Interesting Thing: Made with Canadian oak.

Drink now on its own or pair chicken breast in a lemon/basil sauce.

Tasted: 24 Feb 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 225474