Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

ETUDE ESTATE GROWN PINOT NOIR 2009, Carneros, California

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Etude Pinot Noir 2008, Carneros Bottle

Cost: $59.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Consignment
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby in colour with medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: An elegant Pinot featuring sandalwood, cherry, rhubarb, strawberry & some earth notes. Medium to light with medium minus tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey.

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2007, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Hemel-En-Arde Valley Bottle

Cost: $22.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A rich old gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Heavy on the toasted oak with orange rind, lemon, banana cream pie, mandarin &cloves. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much oak, slight oxidation & burnt butter lead to a bitter finish.

This might have been past its optimal drinking point.

Tasted: 14 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

WILLIAM FÈVRE CHABLIS MONTMAIN 1er CRU 2007, Chablis, France

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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

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William Fèvre Chablis Montmains 2006, Ac, 1er Cru Bottle

Cost: $38.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine William Fèvre
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A pale green to straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: One of the best Chablis I have tried. The Premier Cru Chablis features white and pink grapefruit, lemon, green apples, anjou pear, honey, limestone, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with oysters.

Tasted: 13 Nov 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

ARCENO PRIMAVOCE 2006, IGT Toscana, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Cost: $25.99 (From Bestwine4less.com)
Grape Variety: 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese, 5% Cab Franc, 2% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: American Airlines Business Class
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arceno
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose

Positives: The nose on this wine is second to none, and the taste doesn’t lag too far behind. This complex nose features cedar, vanilla, cassis, raspberries, strawberries, cloves, dark chocolate, mocha, blackberries, plums, cherry, licorice, cherry pipe tobacco, all-spice, red and black peppers. The taste has some of the nose’s properties in addition to leather, pencil shavings & blackcurrents. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well intergrated.

Negatives: Not sold at LCBO

Interesting Point: If you fly American Airlines Business Class, ask if they serve it on your flight, and if they do, take the bottle!

Drink now on its own or pair it with beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 22 Oct 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

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

BURNING KILN CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This Chard is easy drinking, smooth, lightly toasted oak featuring notes of lemon, Macintosh apple, buttered toast, tangerine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not in the LCBO.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Normandy Style.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

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

BURNING KILN CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category:  Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The first thing that I noticed was that there wasn’t the usual twiggy/leafy notes associated with Cabernet Franc from Ontario, and the second was that it was easy drinking. This Cab Franc had nice smokey notes, sizzling bacon, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, plum, cedar and boysenberry. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not sold in LCBO, yet.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Stifado.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SMOKE & GAMBLE RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Smoke & Gamble Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 49.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc & 13.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dover Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: The nose is divine and the taste is not far behind showing sizzling bacon, cedar, blackberry, cassis, leather, cloves, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and black currants. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points:

  • This was the best red that I tasted at the Taste Ontario that was held on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I had a great time talking with the wine maker; Robert Gill and their distributor; Douglas Russell.

I love the copper label. 

  • The winery is located near Port Dover, Fort Erie

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 9+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:332825

JOSÉ MARIA da FONSECA & VAN ZELLER, DOMINI PLUS 2005, Duoro, Portugal

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Cost: $42.99 CI
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott Wines)
Country: Portugal
Region: Duoro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is one of my favourite wines. When I travel to the Caymans I always try to pick up a few bottles as the LCBO doesn’t sell it. Sad, very very sad. A complex wine made from grapes normally used to make Port. It features cedar, plums, raisins, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, MacIntosh apples, anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, thyme, red & black peppers, and some earthiness. Medium to full body, medium to medium+ tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Not sold in Ontario!

Interesting Point: The bottle is heavy with a unique shape that I like.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a rack of lamb.

Tasted: 24 Sept 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO FALANGHINA 2010, DOC Campania, Italy

25 Saturday Aug 2012

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Cost: $24.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Falanghina
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacque Scott)
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Feudi Di San Gregorio
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
Positives: Feudi Di San Gregorio makes my favourite Falanghina. A nicely crisp wine featuring notes of peach, lemon/lime, tangerines, a touch of mango, pink grapefruit and limestone. Medium minus body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Feudi Di San Gregorio is one of my favourite Italian wineries. Their labels feature mosaics that are very beautiful. Lastly, the Falanghina grape is one of Italy’s oldest grape brought from Greece and used by the Romans.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted hen.

Tasted: 24 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

BERINGER NAPA VALLEY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2008, Napa Valley, California

23 Thursday Aug 2012

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Beringer Chardonnay 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott)
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in the colour with a medium+ intensity.

Positives: Toasted oak, buttery, lemon zest, tangerines, light smokiness, roasted marshmallows, peach, cashews and limestone. Full body, good acidy and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: LCBO Vintage did carry this Chard.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 20 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5