Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

PENINSULA RIDGE RESERVE SYRAH 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Jul 2013

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Peninsula Syrah

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This is one of the better Canadian Syrah I have tasted to date.

Positives: This easy drinking wine has a beautiful smoky-violet/sandalwood nose combining on the taste with pepper, rhubarb, cured meats, tobacco leaf, forest greens & sour cherry. Medium body with medium minus tannins, medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly I get some heat from the 12.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Peninsula Ridge’s Antipasto Platter consistent of House smoked duck, Pingue’s prosciutto, Mennonite summer sausage, rabbit rillette,citrus marinated olives and grilled vegetable salad.

Tasted: 26 July 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 230896

TRIUS ROSÉ 2011, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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trius rose

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 56% Syrah, 31% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: Winery or The Wine Store
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andre Wines Ltd
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright cherry in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This dry rosé features cranberry, strawberry, sour cherry and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: A little tart on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seafood paella.

Tasted: 11 July 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

PENINSULA RIDGE RESERVE VIOGNIER 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Viognier

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This is one of the better Canadian Viogniers I have tasted to date.

Positives: This wine has a good balance between fruit and acidity showing apricot, peach, lemon, grapefruit & white pepper. Medium body and tannins with medium+ acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with apricot glazed pork.

Tasted: 23 July 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CUVÉE ALEXANDRE MERLOT 2011 APALTA VINEYARD, Colchagua Valley, Chile

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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Cuvee Merlot

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 85% Merlot, 15% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Trialto Wine group
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lapostolle
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

A nice juicy merlot, but be careful as its listed at 15% alcohol

Positives: A complex wine featuring blackberry, blueberry, Allspice, tamarinds, vanilla, raspberry and some cooked spinach. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 7 years. Pair it with venison.

Tasted: 11 June 2013

Best Buy

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

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

CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 APALTA VINEYARD, Colchagua Valley, Chile

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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Cuvee Cab

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Trialto Wine group
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lapostolle
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: A complex wine featuring blackberry, leather, cassis, anise, turmeric, white pepper, Allspice, tamarinds, vanilla, raspberry, tobacco and some fresh spinach. Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch too green right now

Drink now if you decant for an hour or cellar it for another 10 years. Pair it with high protein food such as steak.

Tasted: 11 June 2013

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

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

CHATEAU DE SANCERRE 2011, AC Loire Valley, France

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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Chateau de Sancerre

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Trialto
Country: France
Region: Sancerre, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lapostolle
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A powerful Sancerre showing tropical fruits and minerality. Medium body with high acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Due to the high acidity this wine needs food to be paired with food such as Julian salad.

Tasted: 11 June 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 19/20

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

FARNESE OPI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO RISERVA 2008, DOCG Colline Teramane, Abruzzo, Italy

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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

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Farnese opi

Cost: $29.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Montepulciano
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Colline Teramane, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Farnese
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Very beautiful deep dark ruby to purple in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is a smooth wine featuring cedar, lots of pepper, dark cherry, licorice, chocolate, plums, cherry pipe tobacco, mocha, tamarind and arugula on the finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: On a blind taste I would have said this was an Australian Shiraz.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with Domino’s thin crust pizza with mushroom, tomato and pepperoni.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY ALLUVIUM 2005, Alexander Valley, California

30 Sunday Jun 2013

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Beringer

Cost: $36.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge in colour and a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you have the 2005 in a cellar, lucky you.

Positives: A complex wine featuring cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, Christmas cake, pumpkin pie, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, white pepper, peppercorn, arugula, chocolate, & olive tapenade.  Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: I don’t have any more bottles left.

Drink now on its own and pair it with tenderloin steak. This still can cellar easily for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

BYRON 2010 CHARDONNAY, Santa Maria Valley, California

28 Friday Jun 2013

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Byron Chard

Cost: $28.59 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Byron Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: Medium toasted oak featuring light butter, lemon meringue, tangerines, pineapples, and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years and pair it with angel hair pasta with pepper scallops.

Tasted: 28 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

FIVE ROWS PINOT GRIS 2011, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Five Rows

Cost: $ Can’t remember
Grape Variety: Pinto Gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Five Rows
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw with a pink tinge (looks like light bronze) in colour and a medium+ nose.

A very nice, crisp Pinot Gris made in the Alscasian style.

Positives: This wine features green apples, pear, almonds and peach. Medium body with high acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I recommend visiting this small winery at St. David’s as they have a great assortment of cheese and bread to go with their wines.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with seared scallops on wilted greens.

Tasted: 23 June 13

Score: 9+/10,

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