Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

MAGNOTTA BRUT 2011, Charmat Method, VQA, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Magnotta Brut

Cost: $11.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Winery or Magnotta Stores
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with fine mousse and a medium intense nose.

If you’re looking for an easy drinking sparkling wine but don’t like the yeasty/baked apples of Champagne, yet want more flavor than a Prosecco, then you should really like/love this sparkling.

Positives: This simple sparkling wine features a nice mix of apple, light lemon, pear and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with an omelet that has some spice in it.

Tasted: 10 June 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

TRIUS ROSÉ 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Trius-Rose1

Cost: $15.95 ($13.95 sale price limited time) ROSÉ
Grape Variety: 56% Syrah, 31% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: The Winery or The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand
Alcohol: 12.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pomegranate in colour with a medium minus nose.

Positives: A simple rosé featuring cherry, strawberry & rhubarb. Medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with super nachos.

Tasted: 6 June 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Sale price 8.5) Total: 17+/20

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

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

19 Sunday May 2013

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

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Jackson-Triggs_Grand_Reserve_Pinot_Noir_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson-Triggs
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Once upon a time Jackson-Triggs produced a lot of low quality wines. Oh how times have changed, and for the better.

Positives: An aromatic Pinot made in the Burgundian style featuring cedar pine mix, champagne mushrooms, plums, smoked Montreal meat & Allspice. Medium minus body with light tannins, good acidity and a really long length.

Drink now on or over the next 3 years its own or pair it with grilled duck.

Tasted: 17 May 13

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

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

Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

JEAN PAUL BRUN BEAUJOLAIS BLANC 2010, AC Beaujolais, France

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Jean-Paul_Brun_Beaujolais_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $23.65
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Agent
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean Paul Brun
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots going on with this Chard from lightly smoked toasted oak with a buttery creaminess, lemon, green apple, persimmon, apple crumble pie, peach and limestone on the finish. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: I like the old style label. Thank you Carol Ann from WineAlign for the opportunity to taste this wine.

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lobster in butter sauce

Tasted: 17 May 13

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

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

MEDUSA OLD VINES ZINFANDEL PIG PEN DEAVER RANCH 2005, Amador County, California

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Medusa

Cost: $39.99 CI (on sale for $27.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Amador County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Medus8 Wines
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Light cedar, raisins, Allspice, black licorice, bramble fruit, dates & Christmas cake. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Medusa winery specializes in Zins.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Bourbon BBQ baby back ribs.

Tasted: 7 April 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (9+/10 on sale) Total: 17.5/20

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

CANEPA GENOVINO CARIGNAN 2008, D.O. Cauquenes, Maule Valley, Chile

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Canepa

Cost: $29.99 CI (on sale for $18.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Chile
Region: Cauquenes, Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canepa Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A delicious wine featuring cedar, ripe tannins, mulberry, plums, steamed artichokes, sour cherry & pomegranate. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom risotto.

Tasted: 7 Aprl 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (10/10 on sale) Total: 18+/20

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

PIANO DEL CERRO, AGLIANICO 2008, DOC, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

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

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Aglianico

Cost: $24.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Aglianico
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Basilicata
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vigneti Del Vulture
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s to suggest this wine, it was simply delicious.

Positives: The nose is amazing and the taste is just as good featuring cedar, naseberry, toffee, purple lilacs, bramble fruit, poppycock, coffee, mocha, peppercorn, red peppers and tar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Aglianico del Vulture is an Italian wine DOC created in 1971 in northern Basilicata, in southern Italy. In 2010, the region received its superiore variant when it was promoted to DOCG, the highest quality level in the Italian wine system.

Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with parmesan crusted flank steak.

Tasted: 14 Mar 13

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

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

SCHUG PINOT NOIR 2009, Sonoma Coast, California

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Schug Pinot

Cost: $25.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Schug Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

One word: Delicious

Positives: Pine, lavender, violets, rhubarb, cranberry, sour cherry, red currant, & boysenberry. Medium minus in body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lavender & pepper spiced French cut pork chops.

Tasted: 18 Mar 13

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

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

SCHUG CHARDONNAY 2008, Sonoma County, California

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $28.99 CI
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Schug Family
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lighter style Chard featuring medium minus toasted oak, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon,  pear and limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and, medium+ length.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish. It appears that this may be past its prime as the fruit is some what muted.

Drink now on its own or match it Chinese roast chicken.

Tasted: 8 April 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Retested: 18 March 2013

This one was better than the last tasting I did in April 2012. The only negative in this tasting was a little sour on the finish.

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

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

Retested 7 Dec 2014

Same as tested in March 2013

CLOS DU VAL CHARDONNAY 2009, Carneros, California

17 Sunday Mar 2013

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

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Clos du val chard

Cost: $28.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos du Val
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Ding ding ding; we have a winner. A Chard that is buttery, medium oak, tropical fruit, citric fruit with minerality and not over 14% alcohol.

Positives: Lots of flavour going on here. Easter Lily, lemon, green and golden apple, pineapple, nutmeg, dill, caramel, creamed corn, crème brulee, toasted coconut, vanilla, mandarin, beeswax, limestone and pink grapefruit on the finish.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seasoned beef brisket.

Tasted: 17 Mar 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5