Category Archives: Highly Recommended

ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Welcome Angels Gate to the Ontario wineries having excellent Chards & this one is complex, elegant with creamy buttery notes, not overtly oaky, good acidity & tropical fruit to balance it out

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features buttered toast, lemon, clementine, Fuji apple, peach, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak spice, flint minerality & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to my friend, Mike who recommended this wine.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 15, 2020

LCBO: 116384

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Ontario is consistently making great Chards at reasonable prices, & this one is a gem for $20. Full body, full of elegance, creaminess, tropical fruit, good acidity & balanced

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, clementine, green & golden apples, pear, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, caramel, vanilla, oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4of years on its own or pair it with steamed snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 13, 2020

LCBO: 438374

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D’IVOIRE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AOC Crémant de Bourgogne, France

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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: Predominantly Chardonnay with Aligoté
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Crémant de Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

LB consistently produces excellent quality Blanc de Blancs at a great price, and this bottle is no exception. “Full and rounded in the mouth, with a certain vivacity, and complex secondary aromas that evolve over time, delighting the taste buds” LB

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light toasted buttery brioche, lemon, green apples, Anjou pear, limestone and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Originally tasted Sept 25, 2016, and it has the same quality & notes as today.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-10 of years on its own or pair it with cranberry Pecan baked Brie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 12, 2020 (Happy birthday to my mom turning 94)

LCBO: 48801

MAZZEI BELGAVARDO TIRRENICO 2016, DOC Maremma, Toscana, Italy

08 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.00
Grape: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Alicante, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Maremma, Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mazzei
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A great price for a quality wine full of flavour, structure & balance

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, balanced tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features sour cherry, blackcurrants, blackberries, plum, strawberries, turmeric, arugula, sage, cassis, leather & pencil shavings.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The Tyrrhenian Sea derived its name from the population of the “Tyrrhenoi”, better known as the Etruscans, who led by Prince Tyrrhenus landed on the coast of Southern Tuscany. This charismatic blend bears the name “Tirrenico” because its native vineyards overlook the sea and benefit from its breezes.” Mazzei

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-12 of years on its own or pair it with pasta with game sauce, white meat stews, baked vegetables.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 8, 2020

LCBO: 12093

CHÂTEAU LÉOUBE ROSÉ DE LÉOUBE 2018, Côtes De Provence, France

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $30.95
Grape: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes De Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Léoube
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Sometimes is worth paying a higher price for a rosé this good

Tasting Note: Pale salmon in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, strawberry, tangerine, Fuji apples with honeysuckle & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: If you’re not familiar with Tartrates in wine (potassium & tartaric acids coming together to form crystals with are is not a negative in wines), this wine has them.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with BBQ Jerk seasoning back ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 29, 2020

LCBO: 491100

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY’S DEAN LIST SYRAH 2018, VQA, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A classic style Syrah that’s full of berries & spice, all for under $30 and with only 13% alcohol, and it’s made in Ontario!

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, white & black pepper, tobacco leaves, and a gorgeous spicy/smoked nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: How much to I like this wine? I tasted it at the Winery in a small plastic glass & I was wowed by it, so in my official tasting with the proper Syrah stemware, not surprisingly I’m stilled wowed.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 7-8 of years on its own or pair it with lamb saltimbocca with port wine & blackberries.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 26, 2020

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jun 2020

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: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Pure elegance; balanced, smooth, complex & only 13% alcohol. Truly impressive Chard that can compete with the best in the world, and at this price for the quality that you get, I haven’t had a Chard anywhere in the world that is better. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, Gala apples, pineapples, Edward mangos, light oak spice, baby dill pickles, ginger & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Every year JP keeps improving his Viscek Chard, and here I thought his last 2 were great, so does this make it great-great-great?

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with Gunn’s Hill Brigio’s Brie (sold at the winery’s bakery store).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 5, 2020

DOMAINE GASTON & PIERRE RAVAUT LADOIX 2015, AOC, Ladoix, Côtes de Beaune, France

28 Thursday May 2020

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

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Cost: $40.95 (Clearance price: $32.80)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Ladoix, Côtes de Beaune
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Gaston & Pierre Ravaut
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Burgundian Pinot; earthy & tart with a barnyard on the nose

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose, low but firm tannin & an average length on the finish. Wine features cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, mushroom, clove, sumac, crushed leaves & barnyard on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with roasted sherry duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 28, 2020

LCBO: 557777

NAPA CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2017, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

23 Saturday May 2020

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Napa Cellars
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

So a Napa winery can make a delicious balanced Chard that’s creamy, nice but not overly oak, tropical fruit & acidity all under 14.5% alcohol

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, mango, pineapple, clove, light oak spice, apple pie & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 23, 2020

LCBO: 225342

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ECUSSON ROSÉ BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

17 Sunday May 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love trying wine from non-tradition wine regions that are rare to get in Ontario, & I am happy to say this is a delight to drink; dry, light & fruity

Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lots of strawberry, cherry, green & red apples & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was founded in 1921

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: May 17, 2020

LCBO: 369074