Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

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

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

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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+

SIMON DI BRAZZAN MERLOT 2010, IGT, Venezia, Italy

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Simon_di_Brazzan_Merlot_Riserva_IGT_web

Cost: $21.00
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Simon Di Brazzan Vineyard Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Venezia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Simon Di Brazzan Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice easy drinking wine.

Positive Notes: Good flavours featuring light oak, raspberry, plum, cherry, black tea and cocoa. Medium+ body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or over the next 2 years and pair it with prime rib.

Tasted: 13 June 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SPERLING OLD VINES FOCH 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Sperling_Vineyards_Old_Vine_Foch_web

Cost: $26.00
Grape Variety: Marechal Foch
Category: Red Wine
Location Sperling Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sperling Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

In comparing this to their reserve Foch, this one is lighter in taste but higher in alcohol. If you had to choose, I would go with the reserve for the extra money.

Positive Notes: A flavorful wine featuring prunes, brambleberry fruit, figs and pastrami. Medium+ body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the taste

Drink now on its own or over the next 3 years and pair it with venison.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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