Cost: $17.95 Grape: Glera Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Format: 750 ml Producer: Tenuta di Collalbrigo Winery Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Classic DOCG Prosecco being dry, crisp, clean with nice fruit flavours. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, green apples, pear & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Vegan friendly
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.
Higher end of the Freixenet Cavas with Chardonnay being the dominant grape and styled like Champagne but at half the price. Score: 94/100.
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sourdough bread, pineapple, peach, Reineta apple, roasted almonds, honey and acacia flowers on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Minimum 10 months ageing in the bottle.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Iberian Ham.
Cost: $20.99 KY (April 2023 sale: $13.99) Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 2% Category: Red Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman Country: South Africa Region: Stellenbosch Format: 750 ml Producer: Vergelegen Winery Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A complex Bordeaux style wine from South Africa at a great price. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cassis, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee & Freesia on the nose.
Negatives: None
VINIFICATION: “At Vergelegen the grapes are handpicked followed by storage in a refrigerated container at -10°C for 24 hours. The cool grapes (8-10°C) are then carefully sorted on combinations of vibrating tables and slow movingconveyors, where between 1,5-3 tons are sorted per hour. The grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed and the grapes/must cold soaked for 7 days followed by a feral fermentation lasting 96 hours. Eventually, cultured yeast is addedand the juice fermented dry. The young red wine is now macerated on the skins for a further 32 days before going to barrel. The wine was bottled on 17 December 2019.” Winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with baby back ribs
Cost: $38.99 KY Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman Country: United States of America Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California Format: 750 ml Producer: Jordan Winery Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Not your typical heavy style Cali Chard with high alcohol, but styled like Pouilly-Fuissé, elegant & full of charm. Score: 97/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lemon peel, green apples, white peach, quince, pear, pineapple, and honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Fermentation: “Clusters destemmed and gently pressed at night to extract freshness and acidity while avoiding astringent phenolic character from the skins. Inoculated and fermented 13 days in 61% new French oak barrels and 39% in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation limited to only 27% to ensure that aromas were not masked by a buttery component. Aged 6 months in 100% French Oak.” Winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with a Lemon Parmesan Cream.
Cost: $23.99 KY Grape: Merlot Category: Red Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman Country: United States of America Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California Format: 750 ml Producer: Pedroncelli Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A rich, juicy Merlot with some spiciness. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, crème de cassis, raspberry, plum, black tea, mocha, Star Anise, cloves, oak spice, tobacco, vanilla, leather & arugula.
Negatives: The heat from the high alcohol of 14.5%
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with ribeye steak.
Smooth, complex & elegant. This high-quality Canadian red at a great price as other wineries are charging twice the amount. Score: 98/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, Crème de Cassis, pencil shavings, .
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Wine spent 2 years in French Oak. Love the classic bottle.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with a juicy tenderloin grilled steak with roasted orange & red peppers.
Cost: $82.00 Grape: Viognier Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Condrieu, Rhône Format: 750 ml Producer: Les Vins de Vienne Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Smooth, complex & elegant. Just gorgeous. Score: 96/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dried apricots, orange zest, lemon custard, honeydew melon, white peach, yellow passion fruit, honeycomb, peach pit, granite & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: 14.5% alcohol
Interesting Point: 9 months on lees in French oak casks.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with baked Brie with apricot jam & honey.
Cost: $17.99 KY (March 2023 sale: $12.99 KY) Grape: 70% Garganega, 30% Trebbiano Category: White Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands Country: Italy Region: Soave, Veneto Format: 750 ml Producer: Zenato Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Probably one of the best Soave’s I’ve had tasted as it has a lot of complexity. Clean & crisp with a beautiful white flower nose. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, lemon meringue, green apples, pear, honeydew melon, white peace, limestone & elderflower on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Focaccia
Cost: $16.99 KY Grape: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano Category: Red Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands Country: Spain Region: Rioja Format: 750 ml Producer: Bodegas Herederos del Marqués de Riscal Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Classic Rioja Crianza with nice fruits & spices all at a good price point. Score: 94/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, nutmeg, cloves, coconut, vanilla & sandalwood on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: 18 months aged in American oak barrels followed more aging in the bottle.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Paella.
Cost: $25.99 KY Grape: 93% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec Category: Red Wine Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands Country: United States of America Region: Yakima Valley, Washington State Format: 750 ml Producer: Two Mountain Winery Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Nicely balance between fruit, acidity & oak. Score: 94/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, raspberry, tamarind, roasted beets, licorice, black peppers, cocoa, bay leaves & lilac on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Certified green winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Teppanyaki vegetables .
