Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

ARMAND DE BRIGNAC (ACE OF SPADES) BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

12 Thursday Mar 2015

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

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Armand

Cost: $260 Cayman Islands ($299.95 LCBO which is currently out of stock)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattiers
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing but the best! Smooth as silk

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and very fine mousse. This complex Champagne features brioche, lemon pith, honeysuckle, toffee, sweet potatoes, butter cream, peach, kiwi, ginger, orange, limestone and smokey notes reminiscent of Oolong tea. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Made from 2003, 2005 & 2006 vintages

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Caviar

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

MAGNOTTA MOSCATO SUPERIORE CHARMAT METHOD NV, VQA, Ontario, Canada

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

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

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Moscato

Cost: $8.15
Grape Variety: Moscato
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I would put this Canadian Moscato against the best Italian ones any day

Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse, which I found pleasantly surprising. This sparkling wine features a beautiful white flower and peach nose followed by sweet peach, orange, pink grapefruit and juicy Spy apple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Not overly sweet, very pleasant

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with orange juice or peach juice to make some excellent Mimosas or Bellinis

Tasted: 1 March 2015

Amazing and Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

RAVINE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

12 Monday Jan 2015

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

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No Unauthorized Reproduction @Jason Dziver

Cost: $24.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Beyond the nose, this is a very nice, smooth Chard

Description: Light bright gold in colour with medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, green and yellow apples, papaya, pear, and light oak spice. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Acetic notes on the nose

Interesting Note: Works with both New and Old World style Chard glasses, but I give the edge to the New World, which gives it more creaminess.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own.  Pairs amazingly well with with green papaya chicken curry cooked over a wood stove.

Tasted: 6 Jan 2015

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

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

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION MERLOT 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Magnota merlot

Cost: $20.15 (3 day special sale price until 29 Nov 2014: $15.15)
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice juicy quality Merlot from Niagara Peninsula & for $20

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, plums, mulberry, black cherry, Allspice, nutmeg, cassis, mesquite and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES MALBEC 2012, Argentina

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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

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Magnota malbec

Cost: $8.70 (Sale price until 31 Dec 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: 70% Malbec, 20% red blend
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Argentina
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Light Malbec, not impressed

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features turn tamarinds, plums, mulberry and cloves. Medium body with light to medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s a musty finish to it

Drink now on its own or pair it with Smoky Barbecued Chicken.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

SONO MONTENIDOLI 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli

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Sono Montedoli

Cost: $16.00 Euros
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The true essence of Sangiovese and its terroir

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, bramble fruit, cloves, thyme, oregano, basil, spinach, espresso, cocoa, and leather. Medium+ body with high tannins and acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for a minimum of an hour

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with pappardelle in tomato sauce

Tasted: 10 Dec 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

IL TEMPLARE MONTENIDOLI 2009, IGT Toscana, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli, White Wines

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Montenidol

Cost: $9.70 Euros
Grape Variety: 70% Vernaccia, 20% Trebbiano Gentile, 10% Malvasia Bianca
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Versatile, diverse, interesting, complex and yes yummy

Description: Deep old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This slightly oxidative wine features Lily on the nose followed by lemon tarts, honey, ginger, orange and guava. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried every white wine glass and the results were the same, delicious.

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

JOEL GOTT CHARDONNAY 2012, Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley: California, United States

08 Monday Dec 2014

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Joel Gott

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best California Chards made in the Chablis style for under $20

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, kiwi, cloves, East Indian mango, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 100% stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

ANTECH HÉRITAGE CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX BRUT MILLÉSIMÉ 2011, Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

07 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Antech

Cost: $25.95 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac, 10% Pinot
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antech Limoux
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling that is very well balanced

Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This sparkling wine features lemon, pink grapefruit, ginger and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: If you like Ginger Ale, you should like this

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with maple smoked bacon.

Tasted: 7 Dec 2014

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

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

PAHLMEYER JAYSON PINOT NOIR 2005, Sonoma County, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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

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jayson Pinot

Cost: $78.55 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth elegance

Description: Cloudy medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features ripe sea grapes on the nose with strawberry tarts, bramble fruit, rhubarb, bergamot, smoked bacon, roasted fennel, black cherry, toffee and Brazilian coffee on the finish. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity, the alcohol is well integrated and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting this wine to my sister-in-law to give to me as my birthday present.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom and speck brick oven pizza.

Tasted: 5 Dec 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5