Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

MAGNOTTA IL CACCIATORE GRAND RISERVA 2008,

26 Saturday May 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $26
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère

Category: White Wine
Appellation: Magnotta
Country: Unknown
Region: 

Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium minus garnet with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, plum, blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, blackcurrant, mesquite and tamarind on the finish. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: A nice looking bottle with artist Follente’s work on the label. A collector’s addition.

Tasted: 26 May 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4


FOLEY CHARDONNAY RANCHO SANTA ROSA 2008, Sta. Rita Hills, California

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $28.59 CI
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sta. Rita Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Family Wines Inc.
Alcohol: 14.4 %
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Delicious Chard featuring medium toasted oak, pineapple, mango, lemon,  pear and limestone. Full body with good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Use the larger Chard glasses if you have them.

Drink now on its own or match it with angel hair with scallops and olive oil basil sauce.

Tasted: 8 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

TANDEM PINOT NOIR GREEN VALLEY KEEFER RANCH 2004, Sonoma County, California

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $31.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wine Creek Cellars
Alcohol: 14.2 %
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Interesting Pinot that is still vibrant for a 2004. Shows blueberry, strawberry jam, pine, stewed plums, nutmeg and cloves. Medium to medium minus in body, good acidity, mild tannins, good length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little too syrupy on the finish

Interesting Note: Taste more like a Zin with Merlot than a Pinot, which isn’t a bad thing unless you’re looking for classic Pinot taste.

Drink now on its own or match it with cured dried duck breast.

Tasted: 8 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Foley Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir 2007, Santa Rita Hills, California

07 Saturday Apr 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Foley Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir 2006, Santa Rita Hills Bottle

Cost: $34.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Rita Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Estates
Alcohol: 14.3%
Description: Light ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Pinot, even my wife loved it.  Features classic pinot notes of cranberry, cherry, rhubarb, pine along with spearmint, sage, espresso and cola. Medium minus in body with light tannins, medium acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with rosemary roasted duck.

Tasted: 6 April 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

E. Guigal Condrieu 2006, Northern Rhône, Condrieu, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost:  $52.99
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 ml
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Deep golden to amber in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Simply delicious! I hold all viogniers to E. Guigal’s Condrieu. Creamy apricot marmalade, honeysuckle, orange blossom, vanilla, beeswax and lychee.

Negatives: Oxygenated properties have taken hold.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red lumpfish caviar. Even though it’s on it’s down slope, this wine is still delicious.

Interesting Things: If you like nice complex chardonnays you will love this. Due to it’s oxygenated properties it has similar taste to Fiano. 

Tasted: 14 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

Alamos Extra Brut NV, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.99
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Medium straw colour with medium mousse and medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very easy drinking wine featuring lemon pie, custard, apples, jasmine and ginger. Medium body with good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Charmat (tank) method

Drink now on its own or pair it with shrimp ceviche.

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Doña Paula Malbec Selección de Bodega 2010, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $32-$46
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Doňa Paula
Alcohol: 14%

Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Full flavoured wine showing cedar, vanilla, kirsch, red and black pepper, nutmeg, liquorice, dark chocolate, blackberries, mulberries and raspberries. Full body with good acidity, medium+ tannins, alcohol well integrated and a long length.

Negatives: Not available in Ontario.

Interesting Things: Decant first for an hour to soften the tannins. Drink now or over the next 5 years.

Drink on its own or pair it with porterhouse steak.

Tasted: 11 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5 

CLOSSON CHASE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ, 2010, Canada

02 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: Closson Chase Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Prince Edward County
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Closson Chase
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Salmon in colour with medium+ nose intensity. The nose shows Provence characteristics of strawberry, rhubarb, minerality and cherry. The taste is dry, medium+ acidity, light tannins, medium length, light+ body and balanced. The taste is like the nose. As this is unfiltered, and personally I don’t recall drinking an unfiltered Rosé, you will find sediment at the end of the bottle so decant first. This wine went perfect with French cut pork chops stuffed with Mozzarella and sundried tomatoes on a BBQ. Truly yummy. Unfortunately, this wine is sold at the winery only.

Tasted: 30 June 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4