Cost: $16.95
Grape: 60% Grenache 40% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cellier des Dauphins
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Has a fruit sweetness that I personally don’t like, but others may. Score: 79/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, raspberry, red currant, Maraschino cherry, chocolate, tobacco, white pepper & ripe tamarind.

Negatives:

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 -4 years on its own or pair it with Italian sausages.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: November 10, 2022

LCBO: 14081

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Badger Mountain
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is bad, reminds me of burnt plastic. Score: Not worth being rated

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: I couldn’t get through the burnt plastic taste to figure out what it has.

Negatives: The wine

Interesting Point: Certified Organic Vineyard

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: Jan 31, 2022

LCBO: 22610

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tom Gore Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

On the plus side it’s under 14% alcohol, but on the negative side it’s your standard sweet mass-produced Cab. Score: Below 80/100.

Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with average acidity, medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Kirsch, plum, raisins, blackcurrant, mocha, figs & tomato leaves.

Negatives: Too sweet for my taste.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ ribs.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: Oct 30, 2021

LCBO: 451336

Cost: $13.95
Grape: Grenache Noir and Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cellier Des Dauphins
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple wine with ripe fruits & spice. Taste more like an Australian Shiraz. Score: 79/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, mild tannin, a medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: dried prunes, ripe tamarins, cloves, white pepper, sage & eucalyptus.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the listed 13.5% alcohol, plus too much ripeness.

Interesting Point: Use Bordeaux style wine stemware as when I tried with Syrah style one, the wine showed a lot of jammy cooked notes.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Lamb Steak in Mint Sauce 

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 10, 2021

LCBO: 385385

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cycles Gladiator
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is a simple but an intense, in your face Cab blend. However, the wine doesn’t know what it wants to be & therefore not worth the price point. Score: 84/100

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, raspberry, plum, black candy licorice & dates.  

Negatives: A little too intense for me in a negative way as its emphasis the black licorice & sweetness that I don’t like

Interesting Point: “Inspired by the women’s suffrage movement, we drew our name from the 19th century French bicycle manufacturer, the Gladiator Company, and honor their iconic art on our wine label. The red-haired maiden soaring through the sky on her bicycle symbolized the new liberation of women from their homes after centuries of repression. Bicycles, as Susan B. Anthony praised, literally emancipated women from domesticity, allowing them to travel outside their households to work and vote.” Cycles Gladiator

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with Blackstrap Molasses BBQ Beef Ribs

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: January 19, 2021

LCBO: 16481