Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS ROSÉ 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95
Grape: 86% Pinot Noir, 14% Riesling
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Pleasant dry versatile rosé

Description: Pink in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, Rainier Cherry and Bay Leaves on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Note: Good price point would be $14.95

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Torched Sashimi of Wahoo and Tuna marinated in Soy, Sesame and Ginger.

Tasted: 30 June 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8+/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

VIENI CLASSIC BRUT 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $22.95 (On sale: $19.95)
Grape: 60% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir, 16% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & dry with complexity

Description: Straw with bronze tinge in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features yeast, lemon, green apples, pear, Honeydew Melon, Brazilian nuts, ginger, rose petals on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Champagne grapes but made in Charmat method.

Thanks to Suzie who was a gracious host to me at the winery.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Pistachio-Crusted Scallops served with Linguine and olive oil garlic sauce.

Tasted: 2 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CANADA 150 EXTRA DRY RED SPARKLING WINE CHARMAT METHOD, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Jul 2017

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $16.95
Grape: 44% Pinot Noir, 30% Baco Noir, 26% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple but full flavoured, delicious sparkler that is a hidden Canadian treasure

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features black cherry, strawberry, raspberry and purple lilacs on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Suzie who was a gracious host to me at the winery.

Drink now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Rabbit served with a Sage, Rosemary and Black Cherry reduction.

Tasted: 1 July 2017 (Happy 150th Canada: congrats to my cousin-in-law, Kerry for becoming a Canadian citizen today!)

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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+