Category Archives: Highly Recommended

MONTECILLO RIOJA RESERVA 2013, DOC Rioja, Spain

10 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale price until Jan 31, 2021: $14.95)
Grape: 90% Tempranillo, 7% Mazuelo, 4% Garnacha
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Montecillo
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A really good wine consistently vintages to vintage, add to it that it’s an aged wine for under $18, but then add when it’s on sale, which is a couple times a year at the LCBO, & you just need to buy a case, it’s that good for the price. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, strawberry, blackcurrants, plum, dates, licorice, dark chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, leather & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 – 15 years & pair it with Flank Steak with Rib Lamb Chop.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: January 9, 2021

LCBO: 621003

MASI CAMPOFIORIN 2017, IGT Verona, Italy

04 Monday Jan 2021

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Cost: $22.00
Grape: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Verona
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Masi
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, smooth & velvety with lots of fruits & spice. Simply delicious. Score: 93/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plums, figs, dried cranberries, pomegranate, cloves, Allspice, cinnamon, sage, oregano & spinach leaves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Masi is Vegan friendly as they do not use any animal by-products or allergy causing products in the wine production.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 15-20 years & pair it with well-aged cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: January 4, 2021

LCBO: 155051

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO 2018, DOC Rioja, Spain

31 Thursday Dec 2020

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Camp Viejo
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full of black fruit & spice. An excellent buy for under $15. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, tamarind paste, rye bread, Harissa, arugula & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Spanish-Style Beef Brisket.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 30, 2020

LCBO: 342006

ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CHARDONNAY 2017, Margaret River, Australia

30 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Jan 3, 2021: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Oatley
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best under $20 Chard that I’ve tasted in a long time. It’s a nice clean, balanced Chard that should please both those that like their Chards either unoaked or oaked. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, kiwi, peach, pear, kumquat, apple, oak spice & limestone. 

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with Crab Legs Boiled in Garlic Butter and Herbs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: December 29, 2020

LCBO: 350900

ROBERTSON WINERY CHENIN BLANC 2020, South Africa

22 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $9.45
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Roberston, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robertson Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Mon Dieu: An amazing, brilliant, beautiful & gorgeous white wine & all for under $10?! I must be dreaming, but I’m not.  Score: 94/100. This is my highest rating wine so far for anything under $20.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, Fuji apples, Granny Smith apples, peach, pear, pink grapefruit, beeswax, lanolin & Jasmin on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My thanks Carolyn Evans Hammond the contributing columnist for the Toronto Star in her review of this wine on December 17, 2020, that drew me to try it and review for you.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with conch ceviche, especially from the George Town Yacht Club on Grand Cayman & add their famous Fritters to this pairing.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Pick, Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: December 18, 2020

LCBO: 495507

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

13 Sunday Dec 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95 (Sale:15% off for the month of December)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region:  St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

I think this is the nicest Chard with oak influence at only 12% alcohol that I’ve tasted. As the name suggest, nice balance between the fruit, oak & acidity.  Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, peach, pear, clementine, honeydew melon, meringue, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years & pair it with Roasted Chicken With Apples and Leeks.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 12, 2020

KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2019, Helderberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa

11 Friday Dec 2020

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region:  Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ken Forrester Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a great wine from vintage to vintage, & at under $20 it’s an amazing value. The wine will only get better with aging.  Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, peach, pear, clementine, honeydew melon, tart apple pie with cinnamon, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 7-10 years & pair it with .

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: December 10, 2020

LCBO: 231282

GHOST PINES WINEMAKER’S BLEND CHARDONNAY 2019, 53% Sonoma, 27% Napa, 20% Mendocino Counties, California, United States of America

10 Thursday Dec 2020

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Cost: $21.95 (Sale price: $19.95 until Jan 3, 2021)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: 53% Sonoma, 27% Napa, 20% Mendocino Counties
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ghost Pines
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a really good Cali Chard, so not surprisingly it sells out when the LCBO puts in on sale a few times each year. This wine has a nice balance, smooth & just pleasant to drink. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & yellow apples, peach, pineapple, pear, honeydew melon, butter, vanilla, light oak spice, ginger & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: The 2018 vintage was somewhat better than this recent 2019 vintage.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years & pair it with Butter Chicken with Garlic-Ginger Masala.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 9, 2020

LCBO: 308122

TOM CORE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, California, United States of America

05 Saturday Dec 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95 until Jan 3, 2021)
Grape: Grenache & Viognier
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tom Gore Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Cali Cab whose grapes are sourced from Central & North Coast. This surprisingly complex wine has nice dark fruit, without the sweetness & high alcohol associated with too many of the Cali Cabs, along with a nice balance from the oak. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrants, mocha, dark chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, tobacco leaves, turmeric, leather, pencil shavings & dried sage.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 13.5% alcohol.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years & pair it with Garlic and Herb crusted Roasted Rack of Lamb. 

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: December 5, 2020

LCBO: 451336

13th STREET WINERY CUVÉE BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95 (Sale Price until Jan 3, 2021: $24.95)
Grape: 54% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This just might be the best Ontario sparkling rosé that I have tried to date; simply delightful. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Deep salmon in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features brioche, strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, Spy apple, clementine, roasted almonds & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is JP’s 2020 batch, although it’s non-vintage, he has elevated it from his previous batches.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next several years & pair it with Madawaska cheese & roasted almonds.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at sale price

Tasted: December 3, 2020

LCBO: 147504