Category Archives: Highly Recommended

CHÂTEAU MOULIN DES RICHARDS SIGNATURE 2018, AC Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France

12 Saturday Aug 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Moulin des Richards
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic right bank Bordeaux made for under $20 that’s drinking well now. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose, rounded tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, cassis, pencil shavings, turmeric, baby spinach & light smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 9, 2023

LCBO: 26291

ROMBAUER CARNEROS CHARDONNAY 2021, Carneros, California, United States of America

05 Saturday Aug 2023

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

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Cost: $71.95
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.

Big, bold, luscious & buttery. Score: 97/100.

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: Increase in price from last year of $8

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: December 10, 2022

LCBO: 441089

STRATUS PETIT VERDOT 2019, VAQ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $38.95 (Clearance Price: $27.30)
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Stratus
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Best Canadian Petit Verdot that I’ve tasted. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose, rounded tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, spearmint, dark chocolate, pencil shavings, Allspice,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unfiltered

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Lamb Chops with Garlic & Rosemary.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 27, 2023

LCBO: 142638

BROTHERHOOD NEW YORK PREMIUM SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2017, Washingtonville, New York, United States of America

10 Monday Jul 2023

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance price: $24.95)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Washingtonville, New York
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Brotherhood Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Burgundian style Pinot with layered complexity with fruit & earth notes. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, cranberry, plum, mushrooms, earth, peat moss, black tea & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Listed as the American oldest winery, & they survived Prohibition by producing medicinal and sacramental wines.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with Escargot.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 9, 2023

LCBO: 79939

DOMAINE QUEYLUS TRADITIONAL CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

09 Sunday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine Queylus
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice creamy Chard that’s balance with citric fruits. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, green apple, pear, mandarin, almond, ginger, oak spice, limestone & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass With Lemon, Dill & Caper Sauce.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 8, 2023

LCBO: 417774

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