Category Archives: Highly Recommended

CHÂTEAU VAUGELAS LE PRIEURÉ 2019, AOP Corbières, France

14 Wednesday Sep 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Grenache 40%, Syrah 30%, Carignan 25%, Mourvèdre 5%
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corbières
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bonfils Vins & Château
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your usual Corbières style as it’s light fruity, but still very pleasant & easy drinking. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, strawberry, nectarine, black cherry, white pepper, vanilla,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Spiedini

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 12, 2022

LCBO: 154617

LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Saturday Sep 2022

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

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Cost: $27.95 ($24.95 at the winery)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages & Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Le Clos Jordanne
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made with balance of the fruit, acidity & oak that sees this complex wine as rich & full body. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, lanolin, pineapple, Jonagold apples, pear, honeydew melon, caramel, ginger, dill, oak spice, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “We repeatedly tasted barrel by barrel to select only those representatives of the Le Clos terroir. After 19 months of aging (to push the wines away from only having ‘varietal’ characteristics, and more towards terroir), we racked the wines out of barrel and left them to settle in tank for about a month to achieve better homogenization and more elegance in the bouquet. We
filtered the wines just prior to bottling, where they were then aged in bottle
for several months prior to release to further develop both the aromatic
bouquet and the mouthfeel.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with steamed snow crab legs with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at Winery

Tasted: September 9, 2022

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Método Tradicional, DO Cava, Spain

26 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $17.00 (Sale price until Sept 11/22: $15.00)
Grape: 40% Trepat, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Garnacha
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made, very appreciable full of fruit with some spice at a great price. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry, peach, grenadine, redcurrants, cinnamon, cloves & roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Ageing time on the lees is less for this rosado than for the rest of our Cavas, since our objective is to retain the primary aromas of the fruit. A minimum of 12 months in contact with the lees will give the Rosado a perfect balance between fruit aromas and complexity. The fruit, naturally, comes from
the grapes, and the complexity from the process of autolysis of the yeasts during the secondary fermentation in bottle, where the personality of the yeasts is transferred to the wine, enriching it in flavours and nuances.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Mini quiche Lorraine with asparagus and bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 25, 2022

LCBO: 16306

SPIER SIGNATURE CHARDONNAY 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

25 Thursday Aug 2022

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Spier
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, balanced medium body Chard at a great price for the quality Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pink grapefruit, Golden Delicious apples, pear, pineapple, dill, light caramel & baking spices.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established in 1692, Spier is among the oldest of South African wineries.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with pan-fried salmon

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing & Best Buy

Tasted: August 24, 2022

LCBO: 487181

PALACIO DEL BURGO CRIANZA 2018, DOC Rioja, Spain

24 Wednesday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas de Familia Burgo Viejo, S.L Alfaro
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Outstanding value for this delicious Crianza. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, low to medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, mulberry, vanilla & sandalwood.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Combination of stainless-steel vats & American oak barrels for 12 months

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Catalan Coca.

Best Buy

Tasted: August 22, 2022

LCBO: 18939

ROCHES NOIRES MACÉRATION 2019, AOC Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun, France

19 Friday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.25)
Grape: 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This complex wine has everything: fruit, spice & earthiness. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, plum, black olives, Allspice, portobello mushrooms cocoa, white pepper, shale & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Roast Fillet of Beef with Sage and Mushroom stuffing.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 17, 2022

LCBO: 251637

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE VIOGNIER 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Wednesday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, elegant & delicious. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: White peach, lemon zest, honeydew melon, green apples, pear, star fruit (Carambola), vanilla & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Fermented & aged for 12 months in seasoned French oak barrels.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Sautéed chicken with roasted red peppers, tossed in a cajun cream sauce with spinach and feta.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 22 & August 4, 2022

WOLFBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV Méthode Traditionnelle, AOC Alsace, France

16 Tuesday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Wolfberger
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical brut made in the traditional method as it’s less yeasty & more creamier, all at a great price. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Biscuit, lemon zest, peach, ripe pear, honeydew melon & shale.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Dragon Roll sushi

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 11, 2022

LCBO: 460832

VAL D’OCA PROSECCO, DOCG Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Veneto, Italy

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Aug 14, 2022: $17.95)
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Val d’Oca
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant Prosecco with substance. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apple, pear, peach, honeydew melon & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Cool bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with charcuterie and cheese tray

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 7, 2022

LCBO: 340570

FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Sunday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Aug 14, 2022: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently one of the best Ontario Chards under $20 that is balanced with citric, spice, oak for a rich & full body wine. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, yellow plum, Golden delicious apples, kumquat, lemon custard, toffee, ginger, oak spice, honey & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like the new label for the 2021 vintage

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 6, 2022

LCBO: 286278