Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

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

26 Monday May 2014

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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

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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

CINQUEPASSI VENETO ROSSO 2010, IGT Veneto, Italy

26 Monday May 2014

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CinquePassi-500x500 (1)

Cost: $16.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 30% Ancillota, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Almadi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Retasted 4 June 2015, and there are some different notes now but the score is the same. This wine features plums, prune pit, flan, espresso, bramble, rhubarb and tobacco leaf.

An easy drinking everyday wine that has good quality

Positives: This wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberry, oyster mushrooms and some leather. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: No producer.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with pasta with beef and tomato pasta.

Tasted: 25 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

SAINT CLAIR BLOCK 15 PINOT NOIR 2010, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

20 Tuesday May 2014

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

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Block 15

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Consignment
Country: New Zealand
Region: Lower Waihopai Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saint Clair Family Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with an intense nose.

My favourite wine at the New Zealand Wine Tasting in Toronto

Positives: The nose on this Pinot is simply amazing, so much I wish I had an oxygen mask with the aromas being pumped into it. This wine features pine, purple lilacs, black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, smoked ambers and cardamom. Medium body with  gently tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Not yet imported by LCBO

Interesting Point: Sourced from a single vineyard by the mouth of the Waihopai Valley from clones115, and 777.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with braised slow cooked Bison short ribs.

Tasted: 8 May 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

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

NEWTON UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa County, California, United States

24 Thursday Apr 2014

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Newton Chard

Cost: $49.00 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Miami International Airport Duty Free
Country: United States
Region: Napa County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite Chards, rich, bold & beautiful

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon, honeydew melon, ginger, butterscotch and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well-integrated due to the rich full body.

Negatives: Would be perfect with a lower alcohol level than 15%

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

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

CHÃTEAU LA COURANÇONNE SEGURET ROSÉ 2012, AOC Côte Du Rhône Villages, France

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Seguret

Cost: $18.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Cincault, 25% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: France
Region: Côte Du Rhône Villages
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Courançonne
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good quality Rosé wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, pomegranate, cucumber and flint. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 22 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

INDACO 2008, IGT Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Indaco

Cost: $38.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta Dei Sette Cieli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Beautiful ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

An elegant easy drinking wine

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, pine, Christmas cake, cassis, cloves, vanilla, cranberry, turmeric, spearmint & spinach on the finish. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Reminds me of a well-made Napa Cab. Good value for the money.

Thank you Mario, from The Tasting Room, for recommending this wine.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops with mint-mascarpone pesto.

Tasted: 21 April 2014

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

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

VENETO VILLA ALMADI CHARDONNAY 2012, IGT Veneto, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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almadi

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Two styles of Chard depending on the glass you use. Outstanding for $14.

Positives: When used in Chablis glassware this wine features Honeysuckle, lemon, melon, green apples, flint & volcanic ash. The Montrachet glassware brings out dates, figs, Rapsflower Blossom honey & apple pie.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops.

Thank you Mario from the Tasting Room for this recommendation.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

ALI 2012, IGT Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Ali

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Donna Laura
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

An easy going wine that is exceptional for being under $15

Positives: This wine features light cedar with sour cherry, basil, thyme, cherry tomatoes, strawberry and Turkish delight. Medium body & tannins with good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The classic bottle and great taste create quite a sophisticated presentation.

Thanks to Mario from the new wine store, The Tasting Room in Grand Cayman for recommending this wine.

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

Tasted: 19 April 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5+/10, Total: 19/20

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

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007, DOCG, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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Brunello

Cost: $45.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duca Di Saragnano
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect nose followed by a great taste.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar with sour cherry, cloves, nutmeg, sage, cherry cola, vanilla, white pepper, peppercorn, espresso, blackberry preserve & arugula. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & a long average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Taste like $60-$70 Brunello

Thanks to Mario from the new wine store, The Tasting Room in Grand Cayman for recommending this wine.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with braised Bison short rib.

Tasted: 19 April 2014

Top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5