Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

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

13th STREET WINERY GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR 2017, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, finesse & elegance, a true delight

Positives: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse. This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, Rainier cherries, light dough, almonds and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 13th Street has become the quintessential winery in Canada for making the highest quality of sparkling wines thanks to winery maker Jean Pierre Colas.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 22, 2019

BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Friday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Winery
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A beautiful, well balanced rich & buttery Chard that’s worth the price

Positives: New gold in colour, this wine features lemon tart, golden apple, yellow plum, mango, peach, light dill, caramel and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 13, 2019

13th STREET WINERY GRAND CUVÉE BLANC DE NOIR 2013, Méthode Tradionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $59.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Finesse, complexity, richness and freshness. It’s simply delicious, maybe Canada’s best Blanc de Noir

Positives: Gold with pink tinge in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features light brioche & toast, lemon, apples, pear, white cranberry, white cherry and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Another winner by winemaker Jean Pierre.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 1, 2019 (Pre-release date to public)

PONDVIEW BELLA TERRA PINOT NOIR 2014, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

01 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $50.20
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Estate Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lot of tart on the taste, which mostly goes away when it opens up. Nice Pinot but the price is to too high for what you’re getting

Positives: Pale garnet in colour featuring cranberry, pomegranate, cherry and light tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: Too expensive

Interesting Point: Let it open out or else it will be too tart, and lightly chill it.

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

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: September 1, 2019