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Twilight Wines

Category Archives: Not Recommended

LES DAUPHINS CÔTES DU RHÔNE CUVÉE SPÉCIALE 2018, Côtes du Rhône, France

11 Thursday Mar 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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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

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ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CHARDONNAY 2018, Margaret River, Australia

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Oakley
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

As 2017 was a great vintage, 2018 is very bad. Over ripened fruits across the board. 75/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: marzipan, over ripened orange, over ripened papaya & over ripened banana.   

Negatives: Over ripened fruits

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 2, 2021

LCBO: 350900

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ALVI’S DRIFT VIOGNIER 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvi’s Drift
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & very dry not typical of what you would expect or want from a Viognier. Score: 85 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon-lime, grapefruit & orange pith.

Negatives: Too much bitterness & very dry

Interesting Point: The bottle has a gold label on it “2019 Gold Wine Award in Excellent Wine at the Price”. All tasting is very subjective, but this one doesn’t even touch taste just price.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years & pair it with Southeast Asian Grapefruit & Shrimp Salad.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2021

LCBO: 18687

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CYCLES GLADIATOR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, California, United States of America

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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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

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L.A. CETTO PETITE SYRAH 2007, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico

09 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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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

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RAIMAT CASTELL CHARDONNAY 2018, DO Costers Del Segre, Spain

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines in Not Recommended, White Wines

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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

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SPECK BROTHERS, FAMILY TREE “THE GOAT LADY” CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

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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

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

11 Tuesday Aug 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines 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

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

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines 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

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BODACIOUS BOLD & BUTTERY CHARDONNAY NV, Ontario, Canada

13 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines 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

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Edward Rasiulis, Sommelier, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

What is Twilight Wines?

Twilight is sometimes defined as when something is approaching its end, especially in a gentle or peaceful way. It is universally known as that optimum moment between day and night, light and darkness. Twilight is that point when we have learned the lessons we are apt to learn and have spun our last breath, and told our last tale: our twilight years. It is that moment when everything and everyone is at its finest, when the earth and all its occupants pause for just a fraction of time in anticipation of what comes next. That is the moment at which all wine should be drank and with a little insight and a lot of luck, fate will allow us the moment in which this will occur. The luck my friend’s is totally of your own creation. Here in my domain, Twilight wines. I will endeavour to impart that insight.

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