Category Archives: Highly Recommended

PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Traditionnelle Méthode, AC Crémant D’Alsace, France

29 Saturday Oct 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pierre Sparr
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made Blanc de Noirs that is crisp, dry but having good fruitiness that doesn’t make it too tart. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Pomegranate in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherry, pomegranate, MacIntosh apples, strawberry, pink grapefruit & crisp mineral notes.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 8 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 28, 2022

LCBO: 39016

STREWN TERROIR CHARDONNAY FRENCH OAK 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

28 Friday Oct 2022

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

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Cost: $32.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Strewn Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Just like to reiterate my previous review on Strewn’s Terroir Chards that I am so thankful that they are now under 14%. This French Oak Chard has style similar to Meursault & beautiful made. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium to medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Jonagold apples, peach, ripe pear, kumquat, brioche, grilled pineapple, almond butter, honey, oak spice, ginger, dill, butterscotch & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Barrel fermented with malolactic fermentation in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Left on lees for 11 months in oak with bâttonage as desired.” (Winery)

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: October 25, 2022

CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2018, AC Bordeaux, France

27 Thursday Oct 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Darriet Family
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, fruit forward wine that’s easy to drink, very good quality especially at the price. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, mulberry, raspberry, dark chocolate, tobacco leaves, turmeric, pencil shavings & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged in tanks for 18 months.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 22, 2022

LCBO: 426247

STREWN WINERY SPARKLER, SAUVIGNON BLANC, NV, Méthode Cuve Close, VQA Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Oct 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $25.00
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Strewn Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant surprise for this Charmat method Sauvignon Blanc. Not complex but good quality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, fresh grass & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Fermented in stainless steel down to dryness. Following stabilization and sterile filtration, the wine base underwent secondary fermentation to 6.5 g/L residual sugar in specialized pressurized tanks followed by battonage.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Devil
Eggs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 16, 2022

CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2018, AC Bordeaux, France

19 Monday Sep 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Les Tourelles
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Intense fruit & spicy flavours showing great quality all at a really good price point. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, cinnamon, cloves, tobacco, turmeric, vanilla, pencil shavings & leather.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 16, 2022

LCBO: 426247

13TH STREET WINERY JUNE’S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2020, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Sep 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Canadian non-oaked Chards I’ve tasted that shows a creamy rich texture along with minerality. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Straw with some gold tinge in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, Jonagold apples, ripe pear, honeycomb, honeydew melon & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan Friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 12, 2022

LCBO: 154617

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