Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

13th STREET WINERY PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2021, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

11 Tuesday Jun 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: $39.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Pinot Noirs from Ontario showing traditional Burgundian style with elegance, a delicate taste but full of flavour. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, red currants, Champagne mushrooms, Chinese 5 spices, vanilla and peat moss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Sourced from our own Whitty Vineyard in Creek Shores. After harvest in early October, the grapes were crushed and destemmed before being transferred to open-top fermenters for approximately 30 days of alcoholic fermentation on the skins with regular pigeage to gently extract tannin and colour. Following fermentation, the wine was pressed off the skins and transferred to 1st, 2nd and 3rd use French barriques for 15 months of ageing. A selection of a few barrels went for more aging after racking in old 500-litre French oak. The wine was lightly fined and filtered before bottling in February 2022.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 10, 2024

ORGANIZED CRIME PETIT VERDOT UNFILTERED 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jan 2024

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

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Cost: $54.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Organized Crime
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Bold but at the same time elegant. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, fine grained tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, black cherry, dried cranberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, cocoa, sage & violets on the nose.

Negatives: High alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 18 months in older French Oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

Pairings: Decant for at least 1 hr, & drink this now or in 7 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Chipotle-Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks with Corn Salsa.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: December 31, 2023

13th STREET WINERY SYRAH 2021, VQA Ontario, Canada

20 Sunday Aug 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: 90% Syrah 10% Viognier
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Northern Rhône style without the high alcohol. Well-made featuring a complex mix of red fruits & spice. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose, rounded tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, pomegranate, Bing cherry, arugula, white & cracked pepper, rosemary, shale & Sarah Peony on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaking Notes: “100% destemmed grapes. Grapes went through one-week cold soak and three more weeks maceration before pressing. The first six months in small barrels 228 liter. After racking from lees, extra aging in 500-liter French oak old puncheon. A selection of a few barrels.” Winery

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: August 19, 2023

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE SYRAH 2021, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Sunday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice clean, not aggressive Syrah that those that don’t like red wines may like this one. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherries, plum, raspberry, cocoa, cloves, white pepper, baby spinach, & violets with light smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Arabic coffee beef ribs with Pomegranate BBQ Sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 17, 2023

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2022, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario

16 Sunday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé 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.

Dry, crisp & full of flavour. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, cranberry, pink grapefruit, red currants, peach pit & cranberries on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: First wine produced for NC winery by winemaker Allison Findlay.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 -4 years on its own or pair it with Smoked salmon and cucumber canapés.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 4, 2023

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, spicy Chard. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, kumquat, Golden apples, pear, white peach, toasted pineapple, ginger & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 11, 2023

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

01 Saturday Jul 2023

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Great year for wine in Niagara, great Chard at a great price. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pineapple, pear, peach, yellow plum, ginger, dill, oak spice & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Hand harvested in late September and early October and immediately full-cluster pressed, then fermented and aged in French oak barrels of a variety of sizes (225L, 400L and 500L) and a variety of ages, averaging 10% new oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 -6 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Lobster Tails with Stelline and Lemon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 30, 2023

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

27 Tuesday Jun 2023

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

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Cost: $39.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic quality cool climate with vibrant citric, tropical fruit and balanced oak . Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, clementines, pineapples, peach, ginger, dill, honeycomb, baking spice & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:  “No sorting was required as the grapes were in pristine condition. The must was then transferred to a mix of 228L, 400L and 500L French oak where it underwent alcoholic and full malolactic fermentation. Following this, the wine was kept in contact with its fine lees for 12 months prior to being transferred to stainless steel tanks for an additional 6 months of rest before bottling in February 2023, following light fining and filtration.” Winery 

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 6 -8 years on its own or pair it with .

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER RESERVE 2021, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Jun 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant Viognier. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apricot, peach pit, pear, white peach, orange peel, ginger, vanilla & Jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Fermented and aged for 12 months in seasoned French Oak barrels (228L, 400L, & 500L) to enhance the intensity fruit character and aromatics typical of this varietal.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 -6 years on its own or pair it with mild shrimp curry.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: June 16, 2023

VERGELEGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Saturday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $20.99 KY (April 2023 sale: $13.99)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 2%
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vergelegen Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex Bordeaux style wine from South Africa at a great price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cassis, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee & Freesia on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “At Vergelegen the grapes are handpicked followed by storage in a refrigerated container at -10°C for 24 hours. The cool grapes (8-10°C) are then carefully sorted on combinations of vibrating tables and slow movingconveyors, where between 1,5-3 tons are sorted per hour. The grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed and the grapes/must cold soaked for 7 days followed by a feral fermentation lasting 96 hours. Eventually, cultured yeast is addedand the juice fermented dry. The young red wine is now macerated on the skins for a further 32 days before going to barrel. The wine was bottled on 17 December 2019.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with baby back ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 6, 2023