Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

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

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST GAMAY NOIR 2022, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

27 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $32.95
Grape: Gamay Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice juicy Gamay Noir with expressive fruits. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, watermelon, raspberry, white pepper, cedar, fresh cut violets & smoked ambers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note:

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Turkey with Chestnut stuffing.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Aug 25, 2024

FERRARI CARANO TRÉ TERRE CHARDONNAY 2022, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

24 Saturday Aug 2024

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

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Cost: $23.95 US
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Costco, Virginia, United States of America
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Ferrari Carano
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made full body, complex Chard for those that like oaked Chards & one of the best, especially at this price. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, pear, golden apples, dill, ginger, crème brûlée, meringue, oak spice, cinnamon, roasted almonds & Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “Each lot for this wine is hand harvested, whole-cluster pressed, then barrel fermented with native and cultured yeast. The wine completes 89% malolactic fermentation and is sur lee aged and stirred weekly for 5 months. The final blend was assembled in June, 2019, and the wine is barreled again in neutral oak until bottling, for a total of almost 15 months of barrel aging. All vineyard lots are treated separately until blending.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with cooked lobster on a campfire.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 23, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY PINOT GRIS ROSÉ 2023, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Aug 2024

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious dry rosé with substance that you can enjoy year-round, but so nice drinking on a patio. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light rose gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier cherries, strawberries, Macintosh apples, white peach & wet stones.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “The pinot gris was picked and sent direct to press to only allow minimal time on skins, but a perfect hint of colour. The wine was fermented using an aromatic, rose yeast to pull out only the best aromas and flavours from the juice and skins. It was fermented cold, to retain freshness and provide the perfect hue for patio season!”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with lamb souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 15, 2024

JEFFERSON SIGNATURE MERITAGE 2021, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

15 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $34.95 US
Grape: 41% Merlot, 30% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jefferson Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Meritage. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, plum, cocoa, arugula, cloves, turmeric, pencil shavings, cinnamon, black pepper & star anise.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for an hour prior to serving to smooth out the tannin

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7 – 9 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bulgogi.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Aug 14, 2024