Category Archives: Highly Recommended

GIRARD CHARDONNAY 2019, Carneros, California, United States of America

08 Saturday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $39.95 (Clearance Price: $32.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Girard Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, powerful & complex Cali Chard without the high alcohol. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Metallic gold in colour with good acidity, high intensity nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, mango, peach, golden apple, kumquat, pear, orange, crème brûlée, ginger, toasted oak & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with chicken marsala.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 7, 2023

LCBO: 276675

13th STREET WINERY CHARDONNAY 2020, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

01 Saturday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Great year for wine in Niagara, great Chard at a great price. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pineapple, pear, peach, yellow plum, ginger, dill, oak spice & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Hand harvested in late September and early October and immediately full-cluster pressed, then fermented and aged in French oak barrels of a variety of sizes (225L, 400L and 500L) and a variety of ages, averaging 10% new oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 -6 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Lobster Tails with Stelline and Lemon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 30, 2023

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

27 Tuesday Jun 2023

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: $39.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic quality cool climate with vibrant citric, tropical fruit and balanced oak . Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, clementines, pineapples, peach, ginger, dill, honeycomb, baking spice & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:  “No sorting was required as the grapes were in pristine condition. The must was then transferred to a mix of 228L, 400L and 500L French oak where it underwent alcoholic and full malolactic fermentation. Following this, the wine was kept in contact with its fine lees for 12 months prior to being transferred to stainless steel tanks for an additional 6 months of rest before bottling in February 2023, following light fining and filtration.” Winery 

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 6 -8 years on its own or pair it with .

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER RESERVE 2021, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Jun 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant Viognier. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apricot, peach pit, pear, white peach, orange peel, ginger, vanilla & Jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Fermented and aged for 12 months in seasoned French Oak barrels (228L, 400L, & 500L) to enhance the intensity fruit character and aromatics typical of this varietal.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 -6 years on its own or pair it with mild shrimp curry.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: June 16, 2023

CHAMPAGNE POMMERY BRUT ROSÉ, NV, AOC Reims, Champagne, France

12 Monday Jun 2023

Posted by in Champagne, Highly Recommended

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Cost: $80.00
Grape: Chardonnay 34 %, Pinot Meunier 33 %, Pinot Noir 33 %
Category: Champagne
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Reims, Champagne
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Champagne Pommery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant brut rosé Champagne. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche, strawberry, raspberry, Fuji Apples, cherry, tangerine, pink grapefruit & shale stone on the finish.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 10 years on its own or pair it with strawberry & tomato Gazpacho.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 11, 2023

LCBO: 25904

GRAN BARÓN RESERVA CAVA, NV, Método Tradicional, Spain

15 Monday May 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Macabeu – Xarel·lo – Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Gran Barón
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic brut Cava being expressive, not complicated, just good. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kiwi, McIntosh apples, pear, white peach & orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly. Aged an average of 18 months on in bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Spanish Tortilla.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 14, 2023

LCBO: 16836

Collalbrigo Extra Dry Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, NV, DOCG Conegliano and Valdobbiadene

07 Sunday May 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Tenuta di Collalbrigo Winery
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic DOCG Prosecco being dry, crisp, clean with nice fruit flavours. Score: 92/100.

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

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 7, 2023

LCBO: 30579

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA, NV, Penedès, Spain

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Penedès
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Freixenet Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Higher end of the Freixenet Cavas with Chardonnay being the dominant grape and styled like Champagne but at half the price. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sourdough bread, pineapple, peach, Reineta apple, roasted almonds, honey and acacia flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum 10 months ageing in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Iberian Ham.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 23, 2023

LCBO: 392548

VERGELEGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Saturday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $20.99 KY (April 2023 sale: $13.99)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 2%
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vergelegen Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex Bordeaux style wine from South Africa at a great price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cassis, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee & Freesia on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “At Vergelegen the grapes are handpicked followed by storage in a refrigerated container at -10°C for 24 hours. The cool grapes (8-10°C) are then carefully sorted on combinations of vibrating tables and slow movingconveyors, where between 1,5-3 tons are sorted per hour. The grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed and the grapes/must cold soaked for 7 days followed by a feral fermentation lasting 96 hours. Eventually, cultured yeast is addedand the juice fermented dry. The young red wine is now macerated on the skins for a further 32 days before going to barrel. The wine was bottled on 17 December 2019.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with baby back ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 6, 2023

JORDAN CHARDONNAY 2017, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

03 Monday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $38.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jordan Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical heavy style Cali Chard with high alcohol, but styled like Pouilly-Fuissé, elegant & full of charm. Score: 97/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lemon peel, green apples, white peach, quince, pear, pineapple, and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Fermentation: “Clusters destemmed and gently pressed at night to extract freshness and acidity while avoiding astringent phenolic character from the skins. Inoculated and fermented 13 days in 61% new French oak barrels and 39% in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation limited to only 27% to ensure that aromas were not masked by a buttery component. Aged 6 months in 100% French Oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with a Lemon Parmesan Cream.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Apil 1, 2023