Category Archives: Highly Recommended

ARTERRA CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Friday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $21.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
One of the better made Ontario Chards that seems like a hybrid of Meursault & Puligny-Montrachet styles. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Rich yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, peach, pineapple, lemon grass, toasted almonds, drawn butter, ginger, oak spice, vanilla, limestone & crushed stones.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use Montrachet style wine glassware & don’t over chill it.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Crab Coconut Thai Soup with Lemon Grass & Rice Noodles

My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price
Tasted: Jan 20, 2022
LCBO: 577007

FOLKLORE CABERNET MERLOT 2018, Western Australia

20 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Cabernet & Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Western Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex wine but it has intense flavours & pleasant to drink. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mint, blackcurrants, plum, strawberry, mocha & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Lamb and Rosemary Meat Pie

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 19, 2022

LCBO: 20879

CHÂTEAU LA COMMANDERIE DU BARDELET 2019, AOC Bordeaux, France

13 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Famille Petit Les Grands Vins
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Well made, easy drinking with nice flavours. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blackberry, anise, cassis, cloves, pencil shavings, leather & vanilla sticks.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Boeuf de Bazas

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 12, 2022

LCBO: 21282

OAK BAY PINOT NOIR 2019, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

10 Monday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, BC
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently good vintage to vintage & one would be hard to find a better Pinot under $20.  Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, red plum, beetroot, peat moss, Champagne mushrooms & smoked cherry tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vineyards planted in 1928, Oak Bay now is 100% sustainable & organically maintained.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 6-7 years on its own or pair it with Honey Roasted Duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 9, 2022 LCBO: 267146

FORTANT GRANDS TERROIRS 2018, AOC Minervois, Languedoc, France

09 Sunday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Minervois, Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fortant
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive both taste & cost. On the taste it’s complex, full flavoured, smoky & meaty.  Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherries, plum, blackberries, cassis, cloves, cocoa, sage, black pepper, licorice, anise, portobello mushrooms, black olives & smoked ambers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: After trying several styles of wine glassware, I found that the Syrah style was the best as it gave the wine a smoother after taste than other styles such as Bordeaux.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Pappardelle Pasta with Portobello Mushroom Ragu.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 8, 2022

LCBO: 20713

LAGAR DE ROBLA PREMIUM MENCIA 2016, DO Castilla y León, Spain

07 Friday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Mencia
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla y León
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Viños de Arganza
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body wine that’s complexed & not jammy or sweet plus it’s under $20. Great alternative for someone that wants a red wine other than the classic varietals. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherries, plum, tamarind, blackberries, raisins, cassis, cloves, dark chocolate, sage, Allspice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: After trying several styles of wine glassware, I found that the Syrah style was the best as it gave the wine a smoother after taste than other styles such as Bordeaux.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Spanish Beef Empanadas

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 6, 2022

LCBO: 439729

KEN FORRESTER OLD VINES RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa

06 Thursday Jan 2022

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

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

A consistent winner year to year, delivers citric, spicy & smoky notes. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, spicy backed apples, pink grapefruit, white peach, flint, honeycomb, vanilla & verbena on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “They farm sustainably with no herbicides or pesticides, till by hand, prune thin bunches and leaves all by hand and finally harvest by hand.” (KF)

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Crayfish Boil.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 5, 2022

LCBO: 231282

CAMPILLO BLANCO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA 2019, DOC Rioja, Spain

22 Wednesday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Viura & Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain        
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex wine that’s intense with layers of flavours. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Aged gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, honeydew melon, quince, lemon verbena tea, orange zest, pistachios, cardamon, toast, vanilla & flint.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Seafood Paella

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: Dec 21, 2021

LCBO: 657478

CERRO CHAPEU RESERVE TANNAT 2018, Uruguay

21 Tuesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Tannat
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Uruguay
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Cerro Chapeu
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious juicy fruits at its core followed by nice spiciness & smoke. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Tamarind, plum, Aronia berries, blackberries, cardamom, smoked ambers, dark chocolates, licorice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The grapes are crushed over tanks without pumping. After with low temperature, spontaneous fermentation is slowly started with open tanks and punching down in stainless steel tanks at 20°C. These conditions allowed the development of increase diversity of native yeasts, resulting in more body and flavor complexity. After 10 days of fermentation, the wine is finished in second use wine French oak barrels and then aged for 12 months without any racking over the lies.” (Cerro Chapeu)

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 20, 2021

LCBO: 19476

ROMBAUER CARNEROS CHARDONNAY 2019, Carneros, California, United States of America

08 Wednesday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $63.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rombauer Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full disclosure: Rombauer Chard has been my favourite chard for years, but this vintage is one of their best if not their best vintage to date. Big, bold, luscious & buttery. Score: 99/100 (my highest rating of any wine to date).

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Butter on white toasted bread, lemon, peach, mango, pineapple, D’Anjou pear, lemon meringue pie, crème brûlée, nutmeg, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware & don’t over chill it. Serve 13°C to 15°C

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Nov 17, 2021

LCBO: 441089