Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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+

FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2009, Napa Valley, California, United States

26 Monday May 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Folie a deux

Cost: $18.99 Cayman ($10.99 Sale until end of May 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice non aggressive Napa Chard and for $11 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green apple, dill and toffee. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: 1. This wine is better after decanting as it brings out more of the tertiary aromas such as toffee. 2. Last year Folie à Deux made Napa Valley Chard. Their 2010 comes from Sonoma with a new label.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with sweet and sour cucumber salad.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

 

CHÂTEAU HAUT-BEAUSÉJOUR SAINT-ESTÈPHE 2010, Ac Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


haut beausejour

Cost: $36.99 Cayman (sale price May 2014: $23.99)
Grape Variety: 53% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: France
Region: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Haut-Beausèphe
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good wine to open up at a dinner party in which you like the people

Positives: This wine features beautiful smoked red and black fruits on nose. The nose and taste has cedar, blackberry, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, spinach, Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Interesting Point: Being a left bank Bordeaux but having more Merlot than Cab in its blend.

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

Tasted: 24 May 2014

Best Buy at sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4