Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS SMALL LOT RESERVE MERITAGE 2011, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday May 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $40.00
Grape: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Rockway Vineyards
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Tastes like an aged Right Bank Bordeaux, but for a price

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, black cherry, plum, raspberry, anise, cloves, vanilla and violets on the nose. Medium+ body with medium tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Worcestershire BBQ Fillet rubbed with Butter and Rosemary.

Tasted: 2 April 2017

Score: 9/10, Value: 8+/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS SMALL LOT RESERVE MERLOT 2010, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

27 Thursday Apr 2017

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Cost: $40.00
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Rockway Vineyards
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Unfortunately not complex enough to warrant the high price

Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, Bell pepper, cherry, plum, raspberry, anise and cloves. Medium+ body with medium+ tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Screw top for an expensive wine & it’s not from Down Under.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Grilled Pork Chops.

Tasted: 5 April 2017

Not recommended

Score: 8/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LUIGI BOSCA GALA 2, 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

21 Tuesday Mar 2017

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

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luigi-bosca

Cost: $27.99 CI
Grape: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits, Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious!

Description: Medium to dark ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, ripe plums, raspberry, dates, blueberry, cloves, cassis, black olives, pepper, espresso, cocoa, mint, leather, pencil shavings and smoked tobacco on the nose. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of my highest rated wines and I got it on sale for $15!!!

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Stuffed Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce.

Tasted: 26 January 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST 2011, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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2011deanlistchardonnay1

Cost: $25.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Not the typical commercial produced Chard so I give this Dean List Chard an A

Description: Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, pineapple, orange, clove, oak spice and on the nose. Medium= body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I like the Dean’s List report card on the label. What’s interesting is that on the label the aging potential is listed to 2014. However, on the winery web site, they have the aging potential of 2018, with which I agree.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Honey and Clove Glazed Pork Chops.

Tasted: 3 February 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

KANONKOP KADETTE CAPE BLEND 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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

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k

Cost: $18.99 CI (Sale price Feb 2017: $13.99 CI)
Grape: 44% Pinotage, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kanonkop
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, smoky & easy drinking

Description: Bright dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, cherry, plum, mocha, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, caramel, coke, spinach and peat moss on the nose. Medium+ body, light tannin with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Kanonkop means “Cannon Hill” and is derived from the days when cannons were fired to signal the arrival of Danish trade ships into Cape Town harbour.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Cherry-Smoked Duck.

Tasted: 12 February 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

CAMBRIA BENCHBREAK CHARDONNAY 2014, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

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cambria_benchbreak_chardonnay_2014_web

Cost: $24.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Black Beard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance between oak, fruit & acidity

Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, butter, lemon, passion fruit, pear, ginger, oak spice and Eater Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Winery is Certified Sustainable

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Old Fashioned Linguine with White Clam Sauce.

Tasted: 13 February 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

FREIXENT BLANC DE BLANC CAVA BRUT TRADITIONAL METHOD NV, Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Spain

13 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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freixenet-blanc-de-blancs-brut-cava-catalonia-spain-10713841

Cost: $16.99 (CI)
Grape: White grapes
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Spain
Region: Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking, delicious, creamy yet refreshing & inexpensive

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense and fine mousse nose. This complex wine features light toast, biscuit, pineapple, Bosc pear, white chocolate, lemon tart, apple pie and orange blossom the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Freixenet web site doesn’t list this wine.

Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with pineapple dipped in white chocolate fondue.

Tasted: 2 January 2017

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: /10 Total: /20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

MYSTERIOUS DIGGINS PINOT NOIR 2012, Central Otago, New Zealand

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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1195216x

Cost: $23.99 (CI)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terra Sancta Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

The nose shows sweetness, yet the taste is balanced

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, dark cherry, plum, cloves, blueberry, smoke amber & violets on the taste and the nose. Medium body with mild tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the balloon style glassware and chill to 15C.

Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Pork Chops with Garlic and Sage.

Tasted: 1 January 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

AU CONTRAIRE CHARDONNAY 2014,Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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au-contraire

Cost: $18.99 (CI)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Au Contraire Wines
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

An interesting RRV Chard, in that it tastes better a day later

Description: Bright gold in colour with an intense nose. This wine features medium to light oak, lemon, grapefruit, coconut custard pie, marzipan, apple, pear and brown sugar on the nose. Medium body with mild tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Overtly citric with too much brown sugar on the nose

Interesting Note: The taste was better a day later as the overtly citric flavours had been muted out.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Four-Cheese Perogies with herb-butter sauce.

Tasted: 1 January 2017

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

ENROUTE LES POMMIERS PINOT NOIR 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

30 Monday Jan 2017

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

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btl-pn-lespommiers

Cost: $23.99 (CI)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Enroute Winery
Alcohol: 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.

This is why I love RRV Pinot’s

Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This wine features pine, Bing cherry, boysenberry, plum, ripe tamarinds, cinnamon, cloves and smoked leaves & violets the nose. Medium+ body with mild tannin, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

My thanks to my sister-in-law; Tina for giving me this wine.

Interesting Note: Use the balloon style glassware and chill to 15C.

Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Herb Roasted Cornish Game Hens.

Tasted: 3 January 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+