Category Archives: Highly Recommended

ROBERT MONDAVI RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United States

17 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Considering other Chards at this quality are more expensive, this makes this wine a fairly good value

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, Macintosh apples, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try not to over chill this wine in order for the fruit to fully bloom in your mouth.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years

Tasted: 2 January 2018

Top Pick

Highly Recommended

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 258186

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES PAUL BOSC ESTATE VINEYARDS 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château des Charmes
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario Chards at this price point

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, lemon tart, peach, pineapple, green & yellow apples, crème brûlée, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice and a light smoke on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years

Tasted: 4 January 2018

Best Buy

Highly Recommended

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 511345

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $27.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, balanced, high quality Chard for under $30 and at 13% alcohol

Positives: Wood is nicely integrated in this wine, which features lemon, apple, peach, pineapples, lemon meringue, oak spice and Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

LCBO 1552 (2017 Vintage not yet in LCBO as of this review)

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE MERLOT 2014, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos du Bois
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Competes with higher end Napa Merlots but at half the price. Reminds me of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($103.95 vs $24.95).

Positives: Yummy, smooth, juicy, rich in flavours, black fruits, spices well balanced between oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: Corrugated cork decreases ageing potential. High alcohol of 14.5%, but it’s well integrated.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: February 13, 2018

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

LCBO: 34900

ALVENTO NEBBIOLO 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $55.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is more austere than the 2007, but truer in style and it is unfiltered

Positives: High in tannin, but very robust and complex. This wine features pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, oregano, tomato leaves and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014, and destroyed the vines. Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now, but pair it with chicken cacciatore in red wine sauce or drink on its own over the next 10-15 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

ALVENTO ARIA NEBBIOLO 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $56.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is at its peak and showing beautifully now

Positives: A smooth wine with a long finish featuring strawberry, cranberry, oregano, Champagne mushrooms and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014.Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2014, DOC Doã, Portugal

07 Friday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Roriz Ink, 20% National Touriga
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Dão
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cabriz
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

There are quality inexpensive wines vs sweet red inexpensive wines, and this is the former. If this were a Canadian or American wine you would have it priced $20 to $25

Positives: A nice array of black cherries, plums, raspberries, spices & dark chocolates. Nicely balanced between the oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Amazing and Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2018

LCBO: 247973

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA NV, Traditional Method, Do Spain

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent substitute for Champagne style wines but at substantial lower price.

Positives: Nice complexity from of the yeast, brioche, apples, pear, pineapple and almonds. Good acidity with a medium+ body.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 25, 2018

LCBO: 392548

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

From one of my favourite US wineries, this Cab offers quality taste for a good value.

Positives: A nice array of black fruits, spices, cocoa with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 26, 2018

ELYSSIA ROSÉ BRUT CAVA NV, Spain

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $33.75 (Comes only in a gift box with Elyssia Brut Cava)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best rosé cava’s I’ve tried

Positives: Full flavoured with red berries that finishes dry.

Negatives: Unable to buy separately

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 517664