Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

LES MARMITONS GASTRONOMY CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Jan 2017

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

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gastronomy-chard-1

Cost: $19.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love finding unique treasures, especially in Canadian wines, and this wine is one of them

Description: Bright straw to gold to in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple, clementine, clove, butterscotch, honey & apple blossoms on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this wine was aged sur lie in barrel oaks for 14 months and had malolactic fermentation, the wine tastes better in smaller Chablis style glass than the larger Montrachet larger glassware.

Drink now or in the next 4 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Lemon Sole.

Tasted: 16 January 2017

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CATTAIL CREEK PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Jan 2017

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Cattail Creek Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattail Creek Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Pinot Noir for Pinot aficionados

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features barnyard notes, strawberries, cherries, cranberries, cloves and smoky ambers on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Oven Baked Salmon served with Roasted Mushrooms and Herbs.

Tasted: 13 December 2016

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

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

CATTAIL CREEK ESTATE SERIES MERLOT 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattail Creek Family Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A light, simple but pleasant Canadian Merlot

Description: Light to medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, dark cherry, blueberry, plum and dark chocolate. Medium light body with medium tannin, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Grilled Pork Chops with Gingered Plum Sauce.

Tasted: 19 September 2016

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

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

KINGSTON ESTATE MERLOT 2014, Mt Benson and Clare Valley, Austalia

22 Tuesday Nov 2016

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kingston-merlot

Cost: Under $20 retail
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Bridges Food & Wine Restaurant, Sarnia
Country: Australia
Region: Mount Benson & Clare Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kingston Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice easy drinking, juicy wine that’s delicious

Description: Dark ruby to purple in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light cedar, cherry, plum, mulberry, blueberry, candy apple, vanilla and light oak spice. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a decent length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Braised Beef Short Ribs.

Tasted: 3 October 2016

Best buy

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

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

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Aug 2016

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

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12 BF Chard Pic

Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Niagara College Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balanced between citric, tropical fruit, acidity & oak

Description: Medium bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, apple, pineapple, Freestone peaches, oak spice, clove, dill and white flower on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Kate from the Teaching Winery for assisting me at the winery’s tasting area.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years, on its own or pair it with pizza bianche with fior di latte, cherry tomatoes, arugula & prosciutto di Parma

Tasted: 20 August 2016

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE BRUT 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Aug 2016

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

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balance brut

Cost: $23.15
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: White Wine
Location Niagara College Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple but pleasant sparkler

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features lemon/lime, white peach, green apples and light yeast on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years, on its own or pair it with baked three cheddar cheese.

Tasted: 21 August 2016

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

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

KITTLING RIDGE LIMITED EDITION BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2012 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Tuesday Aug 2016

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Kittling Chard

Cost: $16.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta & Kittling Ridge Wineries
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A throw back to the 90s California Chards

Description: Old gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, toasted oak, butter oak, followed by pineapple, orange zest, papaya, Ylang Ylang & smoked oak on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Way too much oak and not enough fruit

Past it’s prime unless you like taking wood splints out of your mouth. However, if you were going to pair this wine then I would pair it with Linguine in Butter Sauce with Sweet and Spicy Shrimp.  

Tasted: 27 July 2016

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10 Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2015, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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rose_eq_pinotnoirrose

Cost: $9.95 (Sale price until 31 July 2016: $8.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Still reigning champion for best rosé for under $10

Description: Pale salmon in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, strawberry, Macoun apple, nectarine, rhubarb and light peat moss on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try it with a Pinot Noir style glassware; you won’t be disappointed. See my previous review that I did in 2014 of the 2013 vintage.

Drink now or in the next 2 of years, on its own or pair it with Grilled Pork Chops with Orange Peppers.

Tasted: 26 July 2016

Amazing & Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (Sale price: 10/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

BADDAGINNIE RUN VERDELHO 2014, Victoria, Australia

20 Sunday Mar 2016

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baddaginnie-run-verdelho-nv-510x510

Cost: $18.00
Grape: Verdelho
Category: White Wine
Location American Airlines
Country: Australia
Region: Victoria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Seven Sisters Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting, unique & delightful. Love the nose

Description: Yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features smoked pine nuts, honeysuckle, lemon, pear, pink grapefruit, kiwi, gooseberry and limestone. Medium+ body with crisp acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Verdelho is native to Portugal but now exquisitely grown in Victoria, Australia where the climate and soil suit the grape.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Angel Hair Pasta in a light lemon sauce with Pancetta, Pine Nuts and Chicken.

Tasted: 8 March 2016

Best Buy

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

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

 

 

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Sunday Mar 2016

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.15 (Sale until 29 Feb 2016: $16.15)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A modern style Pinot that balances sweet & tartness to make this a juicy & well received

Description: Medium light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine cedar, sweet cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, truffles, an undertone of earth and violets on the nose. Medium+ body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Less funky than their 2011 vintage, reviewed by me last year, and I believe this will find a wider audience. Remember to lightly chill it.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Sage Pork Chops with Cherry Balsamic Glaze.

26 February 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale Price: 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4