Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

MAGNOTTA BLANC DE NOIRS NV, Méthode Classique, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Sunday Jul 2014

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

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d_swbldenoir

Cost: $21.15
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir with a dosage of Cabernet Franc Icewine
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Salmon in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

A simple sparkling with nice flavours & easy to drink

Positives: This wine features MacIntosh apples, strawberry, raspberry, cantaloupe and a hint of honey. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1. It was better in a wider base Champagne/Sparkling glass than the slimmer style. 2. Made with a touch of icewine.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or and pair it with bacon wrapped seared scallops served on a bed of cantaloupe with caramelized shallots.

Tasted: 13 July 2014, Congrats to Germany on their World Cup Win!

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Thursday Jun 2014

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Magnotta Chard

Cost: $17.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Hard to find vintage, but worth it if you find it

Positives: This wine features light oak, oak spice, lemon, papaya, nectarine, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the smaller cool climate Chard glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Caprese Salad.

Tasted: 25 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Sunday Jun 2014

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

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rose_eq_pinotnoirrose

 

Cost: $9.15 (on sale for June 2014: $8.65)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé wine ROSÉ
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple wine that’s delicious, dry yet smooth. Best under $10 rosé this year.

Positives: This wine features cherry, cranberry, strawberry with a light smoked note. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I found the best glassware to showcase this wine was a traditional Pinot glass.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 21 June 2014

Amazing & Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

 

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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Cab and Franc

Cost: $14.15
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Reminds me of a pepperoni, tomato & green pepper pizza. Smooth & delicious

Positives: This wine features cedar, grilled green peppers, white pepper, mixed olives, dark chocolate, mocha and tomato leaf. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Normally an overt Cab Franc featuring bell peppers is a negative note, but with everything else that goes into this wine, it translates to a positive.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with tapas.

Tasted: 18 June 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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Magnotta Limited

Cost: $17.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An Interesting wine, in a good way

Positives: This wine features lemon, green apple, grapefruit, pear, passion fruit and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The best glass was the Viognier/Chard style followed by the Montrachet. What’s interesting is that this wine is barrel fermented, sur lie and had malolactic fermentation, which means it should be buttery and creamy, yet this wine is anything but. One would conclude that being a 2013 vintage it hasn’t had time to achieve those results. Yet the crispness and juicy fruit right now makes this wine really good. On a blind I would have guessed it as a Premier Cru Chablis. Need to cellar several bottles and bring them out one year at a time to see where the apex is.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with oyster Rockefeller.

Tasted: 18 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

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Magnotta Chard

Cost: $13.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Impressive on the quality for the price

Positives: This wine features light toasted oak, mild creamy butter with lemon/lime, pineapple, peach, melon and grapefruit. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Tried with the larger new world Chard glass, which had a sour note in the back of the tongue, but the smaller cooler climate Chard glass didn’t which provided a better drinking experience

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 17 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

ZD PINOT NOIR 2010, Carneros, California, United States

29 Thursday May 2014

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zd

Cost: $51.99 Cayman (On sale in May for $34.99)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: ZD Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Smooth as silk

Positives: This wine features light cedar, boysenberry, bramble fruit, cloves, Kirsch and roasted butternut squash on the finish. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with pulled pork.

Tasted: 29 May 2014

Score: 9/10, Value: 8/10 (Sale price: 8.5/10) Total: 17/20

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

DOMAINE SERENE YAMHILL CUVÉE 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

28 Wednesday May 2014

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Domaine

Cost: $34.99 Cayman
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Serene
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Makes me nostalgic for Christmas.

Positives: This wine features pine, cranberry, cherry, strawberry, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and tobacco leaf. Medium body with soft tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

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

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

ANTICA VITE PINOT NERO 2012, Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

28 Wednesday May 2014

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Pinot Pavia

Cost: $18.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Pavia, Lombardy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antica Vite
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Easy drinking but doesn’t have Pinot Noir characteristics

Positives: This simple wine features plums, cherry, thyme and chocolate. Medium body with soft tannins, good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: Over priced, should be under $9

Interesting Point: Chill to 15C

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ chips.

Tasted: 27 May 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

VILLA ALMADI VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2011, DOC, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

28 Wednesday May 2014

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valoplicella-almadi

Cost: $29.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: 45% Corvinone 30% Corvina, 20% Rondinella 5% Molinara
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Almadi
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A good wine, just wish it was in the under $25 category

Positives: This wine features plums, raisins, dark cherry, sage, dates, fennel, coffee and leather. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine and the delicious aged steaks.

Drink now or in the next 5 years and pair it with BBQ aged steak seasoned with traditional italian spice rub from Vincenta’s deli.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

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

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