Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

NIAGARA TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST BLANC DE BLANCS 2019, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Feb 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $ 35.18
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This new vintage, traditional method Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine has risen to the top of my favourites for Canadian production. It shows crispness & finesse along with good value. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, toast, lemon, pear, green apples & almonds.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “This wine was gently whole cluster pressed to avoid any hard phenolics and maintain a clean, neutral based wine.  It was fermented in stainless steel for primary fermentation and was but on tirage or secondary fermentation in 2020.  This 100% Chardonnay based wine was aged on lees for 54 months.” 

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 6 – 8 years on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 9, 2025

BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIGIO 2022, Barboursville, Virginia, United States of America

19 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $17.00 US
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Barboursville Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Light, crisp & elegant. One of the best Pinot Grigio’s I had the pleasure of tasting. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a nice length on the finish. This wine features: Green apples, pear, pineapple & fig.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “Thomas Jefferson, a great lover of fine wine, assisted by Italian viticulturist Filippo Mazzei, attempted to establish a vineyard in Virginia. Finally, in 1976, vitis vinifera vines were successfully established at Barboursville Vineyards on the former plantation of Governor James Barbour, whose mansion was designed by Jefferson, his close friend. This mansion, destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1884, now preserved as ruins, is a Virginia historic landmark.”

Winemaker’s Note: “In stainless steel for 10 days at 55ºF. On the lees in stainless steel for 9 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Steamed mussels with saffron, white wine, and fresh tomatoes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: January 19, 2025

DELPHINE ROSÉ, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

30 Saturday Nov 2024

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

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Cost: $22.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Cab Franc rosé bursting with red fruits & some herbaceous notes. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, MacIntosh apple, dried herbs, eucalyptus & white peppers.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “6-hour skin maceration, fermented using select yeast. Complete malolactic fermentation.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with pork souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 29, 2024

JEFFERSON VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2022, Monticello, Virginia, United States of America

01 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Monticello, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jefferson Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely made with lots of fruits & spiciness and not high on the alcohol. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, peach, kumquat, cloves, nutmeg, oak spice, vanilla & honeycomb.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 9 months in oak.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Fontina.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Nov 1, 2024

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE MERLOT 2020, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, mulberry, cocoa, vanilla, oak spice, cinnamon, cloves & light amber smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged in 100% French oak barrels (225L, 500L & 600L) for 18 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Filet Mignon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2024

SOUTHBROOK WITNESS BLOCK, CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ, 2021, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $34.80
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 10.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting & different style rosé. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Red copper in colour with good acidity, low+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, rhubarb, Button mushrooms & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were hand-harvested and whole clusters were sorted and loaded directly into the press. Slower, gentler cycle allowed for colour extraction from grape skins. Cold juice settling and racking was followed by wild fermentation in old, neutral oak barrels. Alcoholic fermentation spanned two months and finished dry with no malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity. Bentonite fining was used prior to sterile filtration and bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner (Happy Thanksgiving!).

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 14, 2024

CLAY SHANNON EL COYOTE CHARDONNAY 2021, Lake County, California, United States of America

05 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $25.99 (Clearance price: $14.99)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Giant Grocery, Virginia
Country: United States of America
Region: Lake County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Shannon Family of Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, but not overtly high alcohol Cali Chard that tastes a lot better at the clearance price. Score: 85/100.

Tasting Note: Bright old gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, cantaloupe, marzipan, kumquat, golden apples, nutmeg, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3years on its own or pair it with Yang Nyum Chicken.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: October 3, 2024

SOUTHBROOK WHIMSY LIMITED EDITION CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

29 Sunday Sep 2024

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

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Cost: $37.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A musky style, quality but at a price. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, cantaloupe, blood orange, guava, vanilla & musk.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “Hand-harvested from a unique Chardonnay clonal planting in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation. Grapes were gently pressed using a long and slow press cycle. Settled juice was transferred to French oak barrels (20% new) for 10 months of aging before bottling.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Tandoori chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: September 27, 2024

JEFFERSON VINEYARDS VIOGNIER 2022, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95 US
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jefferson Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Oaked style Viognier showing bright fruits and spice. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, light intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, Kumquat, green & yellow apples, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Love the bottle.

Winemaker’s Note: 9 months in oak.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Fontina.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: September 24, 2024

13th STREET WINERY SANDSTONE GAMAY 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

24 Tuesday Sep 2024

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $39.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality Gamay at a price. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, nectarine, raspberry, white pepper, baby spinach & peat moss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan friendly & certified sustainable

Winemaker’s Note: “Sourced from our own Whitty Vineyard in Creek Shores, Sandstone, our top Gamay, is selected from new and seasoned French oak barrels after 12 months of ageing. The grapes were harvested in early October at an average of 19.5° brix. Crushed and destemmed before cold soak, followed by alcoholic fermentation and maceration in stainless steel over 30 days. After pressing, the wine was transferred to a selection of French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and ageing. The wine was lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling in February 2023.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Fired Roasted Glazed Salmon.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Sept 22, 2024