09 Saturday Jan 2021
Posted in Not Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $13.95
Grape: Petite Syrah, Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Mexico
Region: Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: L.A. Cetto
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
I always like to find the positive in everything, no matter how bad it is, so this wine is better than turpentine. Score: Not worth scoring. Not Recommended
Tasted: January 7, 2021
LCBO: 983742
25 Sunday Oct 2020
Posted in Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $15.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Costers Del Segre
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raimat
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Lots of orange pith makes this very linear. Score: 84/100
Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features orange pith, lemon & green apples.
Negatives: Too sour
Interesting Point: Organic wine
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years & pair it with grilled shrimp.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: October 25, 2020
LCBO: 15413
23 Wednesday Sep 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $16.95 (Sale price until Oct 1, 2020: $14.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Although there is a lot going on with this wine it doesn’t know if it wants to be a commercial California style Chard or a cool climate Chard. Score: 84/100
Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, marzipan, peach, pear, green & yellow apples, ripe pineapple, orange, and passion fruit.
Negatives: There’s a touch of sweetness that has a lingering finish, plus I’m not a fan of marzipan.
Interesting Point: In a glass, I blended this Chard with Niagara Teaching Winery unoaked Chard, & it wasn’t bad, way better than drinking this Chard on its own.
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with slow cooked chicken with filled figs.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: September 22, 2020
LCBO: 16792
11 Tuesday Aug 2020
Posted in Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Years ago, this wine was one of my favourite Chards under $20. Today, with still being 2106 vintage, it’s past its prime, in fact it needs to be put out to pasture. Score: 75/100
Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon curd, butterscotch, cooked apples, banana, cantaloupe & lots of oak.
Negatives: Over ripe fruit with oak being at the forefront
Pairings: I wouldn’t drink this now.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: August 10, 2020
LCBO: 462846
24 Wednesday Jun 2020
Posted in Not Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $13.00 (Sale price until June 21, 2020: $11.50)
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Utiel-Requena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vicente Gandia
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
I wish I could like this as it’s a great price for an aged Tempranillo. Unfortunately, the taste isn’t there. It’s just “blah”.
Not Recommended
Tasted: June 24, 2020
LCBO: 620989
13 Wednesday May 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $11.95 (Sale price: $10.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Oh dear Lord no! This wine is like eating bark from an oak tree with an overripe banana & rubbing alcohol
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: May 13, 2020
LCBO: 10427
28 Tuesday Apr 2020
Posted in Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $13.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia & Sicily
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Orion Wines
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
I like the price, moderate alcohol & some tasting notes, but don’t like the overpowering marzipan note on the nose & taste
Tasting Note: Deep yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon tart, banana, nectarine, coconut, butterscotch, vanilla & light oak spice
Negatives: Strong marzipan note on the nose & taste
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Escovitch.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: April 28, 2020
LCBO: 13634
17 Tuesday Mar 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $20.95 at The Wine Shop, $19.95 LCBO
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peller Estates
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Verges on the flabby side plus I don’t like marzipan
Tasting Notes: Gold in colour this wine features papaya, cantaloupe, lemon & marzipan.
Interesting Point: So why is The Wine Shop selling this wine at $1 more than LCBO?
Pairings: Drink now on its own or pair it with buttermilk fried chicken.
My Opinion: Not recommended
Tasted: March 16, 2020
LCBO: 383109
02 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $17.95 (Sale price until March 1, 2020: $15.95)
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
I enjoyed their Chard, but this red, not so much as it flabby & a lot of sweet notes like strawberry rhubarb pie, milk chocolate covered prunes. Those that prefer the sweet California wines will like this one.
My Opinion: Not Recommended
Tasted: March 2, 2020
LCBO: 11564
27 Sunday Oct 2019
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $20.25)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A simple sweet sparkling wine due to the icewine dosage
Positives: Yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features orange, nectarine, peach and yellow plum
Negatives: Too sweet
Ageability: Drink now on its own or add orange juice and make it a Mimosa.
My Opinion: Not recommended
Tasted: October 27, 2019
LCBO: 644617
