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Twilight Wines

Category Archives: Canadian Wines

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

12 Saturday May 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines 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

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INNISKILLIN OAKED CHARDONNAY CORE SERIES VQA, 2010 Niagara Peninsula

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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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

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LAILEY VINEYARD CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

04 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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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

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NORMAN HARDIE UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2008 VQA Ontario

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Norman Hardie Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008, VQA Prince Edward County Bottle

Cost: $35.00 (sale $24.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hardie Wines
Alcohol: 11.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ nose.

Rich, smooth & complex wine whose taste come in waves. Medium toasty oak with buttery popcorn, lemon zest, tangarine, pineapple, limestone, nectarine, apricot, ginger, dill & butterscotch. Medium+ body, good acidity, extremely long length & unusual low alcohol for a chard of such richness.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Use the smaller chard glasses to capture the complexity of this wine & be careful not to over chill it.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or with white tail tuna sashimi.

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+ (sale price 10/10 & a Best Buy), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 184432

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INNISKILLIN BRAE BLANC RESERVE VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Inniskillin Brae Blanc 2009 Bottle

Cost: $11.70
Grape Variety: 42 % Gewurztraminer, 40% Chardonnay and 18% Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson-Triggs Winery
Alcohol: 13,5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Light and crisp despite the wood aging and 13% alcohol. Notes of green apple, lemon, lychee, wet stone, white peach and floral notes. Medium to medium minus body, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The wines used in the blend were fermented separately and blended after ageing. The Gewurztraminer and Riesling were cool fermented in stainless steel. Following fermentation, nearly 30% of this wine was aged for 3 months in new French Oak barrels. The Chardonnay used in this wine was barrel fermented in new and used French and American oak. The chardonnay underwent partial malolactic fermentation and was aged for 6 months in the same barrels.” (Inniskillin Winery). Product is de-listed from LCBO but you can still find this wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with plain potato chips.

Tasted: 18 Feb 12

Score: 8.5+, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 109975 (Product being discontinued)

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TRIUS WHITE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale)
Grape Variety: White blend
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Estates
Alcohol: 13.1 %
Description: Medium straw colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose showing spring flower blossoms, lychee, peach, apricot, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, lemon, golden apple & light oak. The taste is smooth & very easy to drink. Be careful because before you know it you’ll be in your second & third bottle. Actually that might be a good thing lol. The taste comes in waves showing lychee, peach, green & golden apples, honeydew melon, apricot, cantaloupe, light oak, lemon, limestone, mandarine & orange rind on the finish. Medium minus body, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: A complex wine for under $20.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 9 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 54957

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COYOTE’S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: What a nice, easy drinking Chard under $20 & it’s from Ontario. The nose is closed, but the palate brims with spiced oak, lemon, crisp apple, honeydew melon, pear, limestone, tangerine, medium minus toasted oak & a light creaminess on the finish. Nice Old World style Chard. Medium body with good acidity, a long length & moderate alcohol. Nowadays 12.5% alcohol for a Chard is low.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: You can use both the smaller glass Chard or the larger one, but I give the nod to the smaller Chard glassware.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Drinks well on its own or pair it with pasta in an Alfredo sauce.

Tasted: 5 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 49775

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SIBLING RIVALRY WHITE VQA, 2010 Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

04 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Henry Of Pelham Sibling Rivalry White 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Riesling, Chardonnay & Gewürztraminer
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry Of Pelham Family Est. Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lychee, peach, pear & apricot on the nose. The taste is similar as the nose with additions of pink grapefruit, lemon & limestone. Medium body, high acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Too much tartness on the taste.

Interesting Thing: Don’t over chill this wine as it will dull the aromatic notes.

Drink now & pair it with spinach salad with raspberry dressing. Good palate cleanser.

Tasted: 3 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCB0#: 126144

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FLAT ROCK CELLARS RESERVE CHARDONNAY, 2007 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $35.20
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a nice wine showing lemon/lime, ginger, apple, medium toasted oak, buttery biscuit, roasted marshmallow, mango, pineapple & limestone. Medium to full body, good acidity, long length, balanced & complex. Not your typical Ontario Chard having tropical notes with medium alcohol & I love that.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1. Use the larger Chard glass that would go with California or Australian Chards. I tried it in a cool climate Chard glass & the bitterness really came out. 2. Screw cap. 3. I like the minimalist label.

Drink now or cellar it for another 2-3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 21 Dec 11.

Top Pick, Price Not Withstanding

Best Buy on sale price of $24.70.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (sale price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 198812

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MALIVOIRE RED VQA, 2008 Niagara Peninsula

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by Twilight Wines in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Malivoire Red 2008, VQA  Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A delightful nose showing floral notes of purple lilac along with cranberry, beets, rhubarb & a dusting of earth notes. If I just rated the nose it would be a 10/10. The taste is delightful but doesn’t compare with the nose. Medium light body, low tannins, good acidity & a long length. Cranberry, rhubarb, sour cherry, herbal notes & earth flavours.

Negatives: A touch too tart which drops it out of the 9/10 scoring.

Interesting Point: Gamay dominates here & the wood age is almost unnoticeable.

Drink now by pairing it with stuff turkey.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCB0:# 141523

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Edward Rasiulis: Certified Sommelier

What is Twilight Wines?

Twilight is sometimes defined as when something is approaching its end, especially in a gentle or peaceful way. It is universally known as that optimum moment between day and night, light and darkness. Twilight is that point when we have learned the lessons we are apt to learn and have spun our last breath, and told our last tale: our twilight years. It is that moment when everything and everyone is at its finest, when the earth and all its occupants pause for just a fraction of time in anticipation of what comes next. That is the moment at which all wine should be drank and with a little insight and a lot of luck, fate will allow us the moment in which this will occur. The luck my friend’s is totally of your own creation. Here in my domain, Twilight wines. I will endeavour to impart that insight.

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