Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

CHÂTEAU LA VARIÈRE CABERNET D’ANJOU CUVÉE DU ROSSIGNOL 2020, AOP Cabernet D’Anjou, Loire Valley, France

01 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $15.99 CI
Grape: Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Cabernet D’Anjou, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château La Varière
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple but pleasant semi-sweet rosé. Score: 87/100

Tasting Note: Pale copper in colour with medium acidity, medium nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Peach, Anjou Pear, papaya, lemon drop on the finish & orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in a couple of years on its own or pair it with spicy foods.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 1, 2022

PEDRONCELLI CHARDONNAY 2017, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

28 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $18.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pedroncelli
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably the smoothest, beautifully Cali made Chard I’ve ever tried, & this is not a complex wine nor a high-end Chard. Lastly, it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 97/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon meringue, mango, Honey Crisp apple, clementine, peach, honeydew melon, dill, nutmeg, light oak spice, vanilla, honeycomb & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I find that Dry Creek Valley wines are one of my favourite with white or red wines.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with New England Lobster Dip

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 27, 2022 & April 3, 2023

DECOY CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

27 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $27.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Decoy Wines
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced Cali Chard. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, kumquat, Mandarin orange, pineapple, golden apple, pear, butterscotch, vanilla, wet stone & lemon zest on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 26, 2022

JOSEPH DROUHIN MÂCON-LUGNY LES CRAYS, AOC Mâcon-Lugny, Burgundy, France

21 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $18.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Mâcon-Lugny, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Joseph Drouhin
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Fresh and light with a very pleasant aftertaste. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, red apples, ginger, limestone & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged in stainless steel vats for 6-8 months. Normally I would use a Chablis style glass, but I found that the Montrachet style worked better as it didn’t have a bitter peach pit taste.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with vegetable & prawn wok

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 18, 2022

TORRESELLA ROSÉ PROSECCO NV, DOC Prosecco, North East Italy

18 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $23.99 CI
Grape: Glera, Pinot Nero
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: North-East Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torresella
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent wine to pair with Asian foods. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Pale copper in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, tangerine, Pink Lady apples & spun sugar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The glera off the skins for 7–8 days at a temperature of 16 °C, and the pinot nero on the skins for 6–7 days. The cuvée is assembled just before second fermentation and the percentage of pinot nero may vary from 10 to 15% depending on the vintage. The second fermentation and subsequent resting on the lees require at least 60 days in order to obtain a fine, persistent bead and more stable colour over time.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Bibimbap Bulgogi beef, marinated shitake mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, topped with a sunny side egg.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 14, 2022

CHÂTEAU FUISSÉ SAINT-VÉRAN 2108, AC Saint-Véran, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France

14 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Saint-Véran, Mâconnais, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château-Fuissé
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Citric tropical notes followed by sour notes. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Light old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach pit, pear, acacia, orange peel, hazelnut, sour dough, honey, vanilla & smoked notes on the nose.

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with trout with lemon, dill & butter.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 13, 2022

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Feb 2022

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gewurztraminer
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A light style GW dominated by grapefruit. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, lychee, ginger & pear

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with jerk honey chicken wings

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 23, 2022

13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A dry, light, crisp & fruity style Viognier. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, apricot pit, white peach, pear, oak spice & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% fermented & aged for 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 50% fermented & aged in stainless steel.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with spicy Pad Thai.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 14, 2022

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY MERLOT-CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A pleasant easy drinking wine with some substance to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, plum, elderberry, blackcurrants, fennel, cocoa, spinach leaves, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Jan 26, 2022

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious Pinot Gris with elegance & complexity. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, pink grapefruit, pear, white peach, honeycomb, vanilla, thyme, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sourced from Home Farm Vineyard in Creek Shores, the grapes were fermented and aged in a selection of 228, 400 & 500 Litre French barrels for 12 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seafood gumbo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2021