Category Archives: Not Recommended

COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2016, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

11 Tuesday Aug 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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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

HOYA DE CADENAS RESERVA TEMPRANILLO 2014, DOP Utiel-Requena, Spain

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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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

BODACIOUS BOLD & BUTTERY CHARDONNAY NV, Ontario, Canada

13 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

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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

THE WANTED CHARDONNAY 2018, Puglia & Sicily, Italy

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

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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

PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE 2017 CHARDONNAY, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

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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

THE AUDACITY OF THOMAS G. BRIGHT MERLOT-CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Red Wines

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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

G. Marquis The Silver Line Blanc De Blancs Sparkling, Icewine Dosage, NV, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

27 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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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

WESTCOTT PINOT NOIR ESTATE 2015, VQA

07 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $30.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A sweeter style Pinot, but without the high alcohol

Positives: Garnet in colour featuring cherry cola, blackberry, tarragon, vanilla, caramel and violets on the nose.

Negatives: A little too sweet for my taste

Ageability: Drink now or over couple of years on its own or pair it with Peking duck.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 30, 2019

WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2015, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

30 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $30.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A sweeter style Pinot, but without the high alcohol

Positives: Garnet in colour featuring cherry cola, blackberry, tarragon, vanilla, caramel and violets on the nose.

Negatives: A little too sweet for my taste

Ageability: Drink now or over couple of years on its own or pair it with Peking duck.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 30, 2019

HAUTE COUTURE FRENCH BUBBLES BLANC NV, Méthode Traditionnelle , France

10 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.00)
Grape: unknown
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Haute Couture Bubbles
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple wine made for those that like sweetness in their sparkling wine and none of the yeastiness

Positives: Gold in colour with average mousse that features peach, pear and golden apples

Negatives: Not worth the price

Interesting Point: More like a Prosecco rather than a sparkling wine made in the traditional method.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: February 10, 2019

LCBO: 617258