Category Archives: Highly Recommended

CERRO AŃON RESERVA 2014, Doca Rioja, Spain

04 Friday Oct 2019

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

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Olarra
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious, Rioja at its best

Positives: Deep ruby to garnet in colour with medium tannin this wine features cherry, raspberry, plum, ripe tamarind, Kirsch, sandalwood, leather, champagne mushroom, sage, arugula, cinnamon and cloves.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: Spent 20 months in American and French oak

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with macadamia nut encrusted rack of lamb.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: October 4, 2019

LCBO: 114306

13th STREET WINERY GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR 2017, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, finesse & elegance, a true delight

Positives: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse. This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, Rainier cherries, light dough, almonds and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 13th Street has become the quintessential winery in Canada for making the highest quality of sparkling wines thanks to winery maker Jean Pierre Colas.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Thanksgiving turkey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 22, 2019

RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

13 Friday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $39.95 (Clearance Price: $32.00)
Grape: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Ranch
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical plush high alcohol Napa Cab, this one is bright, juicy with finesse

Positives: Medium to dark ruby in colour, this wine features, black & red currants, black cherry, red plums, spearmint, vanilla and dark chocolate.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: It’s becoming a rarity now days to have a red wine from California below 14% alcohol.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 11, 2019

LCBO: 73817

BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Winery
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A beautiful, well balanced rich & buttery Chard that’s worth the price

Positives: New gold in colour, this wine features lemon tart, golden apple, yellow plum, mango, peach, light dill, caramel and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 13, 2019

13th STREET WINERY GRAND CUVÉE BLANC DE NOIR 2013, Méthode Tradionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $59.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Finesse, complexity, richness and freshness. It’s simply delicious, maybe Canada’s best Blanc de Noir

Positives: Gold with pink tinge in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features light brioche & toast, lemon, apples, pear, white cranberry, white cherry and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Another winner by winemaker Jean Pierre.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 1, 2019 (Pre-release date to public)

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 2013, Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Aug 2019

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

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A high-quality Canadian Blanc de Blanc in a Champagne style with a Champagne price

Positives: Golden apple in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features brioche, toast, lemon, apple pie, pear, honey, hazelnut, limestone with an oxidative nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Picked by hand on the estate and matured in the bottle on the lees for 60 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 25, 2019

LCBO: 315200

KRONE ROSÉ BRUT 2017, Méthode Cap Classique, Tulbagh, Western Cape, South Africa

18 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Tulbagh, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Twee Jonge Gezellen
Alcohol:  11.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like vintage Champagne rosés but cost 75% less

Positives: Dark salmon to rust in colour with a fine mousse. Wine features yeast, toasted hazelnut, brioche, strawberry, cherry, nectarine and red apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The historic Twee Jonge Gezellen farm in Tulbagh is the home of Krone, a collection of notable, vintage-only South African Méthode Cap Classiques made from grapes grown and night-harvested in this distinctive terroir.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with maple flavoured bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2019

LCBO: 130047

KIM CRAWFORD ROSÉ 2018, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

15 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale price: $15.95 until Aug 18, 2019)
Grape: Merlot & Malbec
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kim Crawford Winery
Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Love this wine as it’s easy drinking, dry yet juicy

Positives: This salmon colour rosé features strawberry, watermelon, nectarine, Honeycrisp apple and peaches.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with grilled pork chops

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 15, 2019

LCBO: 650325

HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Thursday Aug 2019

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.3 % Alcohol/Vol.

Steady as she goes; one of the top Canadian Chards

Positives: This wine features lemon, green apples, yellow plums, pineapple, peach, pear, vanilla, oak spice, ginger and dill all with a long finish.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance Price & Top Pick

Tasted: August 2, 2019

LCBO: 616466

HENRY OF PELHAM ROSÉ 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Wednesday Aug 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $14.95 (Sale Price: 12.95 until Aug 18)
Grape: Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 11 % Alcohol/Vol.

A Provence style rosé that’s nice, easy drinking, crisp but juicy

Positives: This wine features strawberry, cherry, cranberry, Honeycrisp apple and rose pedals on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Amazing buy at the sale price

Tasted: August 7, 2019

LCBO: 613471