Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

L’HOSTE CHAMPANGE TRADITON BRUT NV, AOC Champagne, France

25 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended

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Cost: $54.75 US (Sale price for December: $38.08 US)
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Père & Fils
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple yet classic Champagne

Positives: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features yeast, brioche, white peach, apricot, honeydew melon, lemon and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: At the regular price there are several better Champagne options. However, at the sale price it’s a good buy.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with creamy lemon sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 25, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE VIOGNIER 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value for a quality Viognier

Positives: Bright new gold in colour this wine features peach, apricot, honeydew melon, orange rind, nutmeg and peach pit.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 17, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Monday Dec 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy but with good backbone acidity to this aged Ontario Chard, which is oak driven with tropical fruit is a great value for under $20

Positives: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon tart, mango, peach, pineapple, golden apple, ginger, dill, oak spice, butterscotch, roasted almonds.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I first reviewed Balance Brut in August 2016. I enjoyed it then, but more so today as I feel the wine making it has come of age.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with poulet de bresse,

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 8, 2019

RED STONE SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, Traditional Method, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Red Stone Winery
Alcohol:  12.% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant rosé sparkler that will please those that don’t like the yeastiness in sparkling wine or Champagnes

Positives: Bright salmon to copper in colour with a fine mousse this wine features strawberry, lime, Gala apples and limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 8, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $23.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Chard this is balanced between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour, this wine features medium toast, lemon pie, clementine, green & yellow apples, yellow plums, ginger, dill, oak spice, limestone and Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled buttered halibut.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 29, 2019

TOM THOMSON 100th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION ALGONQUIN RED 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value red from Ontario made in Bordeaux style

Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, turmeric, green peppers, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Current vintage is far superior than the last one.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-Bone steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 2, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST PRESIDENT’S RED 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Saturday Nov 2019

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: $31.15
Grape: 43% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of Ontario best blended red wines that is fruit forward with complexity & structure

Positives: Deep ruby to purple in colour having medium tannins and featuring blackcurrants, blackberry, plum, fennel, black & white pepper, cloves, vanilla and spinach leaves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Spent 21 months in French oak

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: October 8, 2019

RICKETY BRIDGE FOUNDATION STONE 2016, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

19 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $28.75 USD
Grape: 46% Chenin Blanc, 22% Roussanne, 18% Grenache Blanc,11% Viognier, 3% Nouvelle
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine shows sweet tropical fruits, but the wine itself is not sweet

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features mango, nectarine, tangerine, kiwi, ginger, lemon drops and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Naturally fermented in barrels at 16˚C. The grapes were pressed gently up to 0.9 Bar pressure after a short period of skin contact. Partial malolactic fermentation took place in older 225L French oak barrels and a 2,500L oak Foudre. All five varietals were matured separately in barrel for a total

maturation time of 10 months before being blended for bottling.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with jerk chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 19, 2019

RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2017, W.O Franschhoek, South Africa

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.25 USD (On sale for the month of July $17.50 USD)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent South African Chard that is fairly priced and well balance between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features lemon, clementine, nectarine, caramel, oak spice, dill, almonds and lemon meringue with orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Spent 21 months in French oakThis wine was naturally fermented in small French oak barrels and second fill Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older)

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with prawn pasta.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at sale price

Tasted: October 16, 2019

FRANCISCAN MERLOT 2014, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

14 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $35.60 USD
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Black Beards, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Franciscan
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant Merlot that is well balanced with nice dark fruit

Positives: Deep ruby to purple in colour having medium tannins and featuring mulberry, plum, dark cherry, blackberry, cola, cherry tobacco, dark chocolate, black pepper and violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled meats.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 14, 2019