Category Archives: On The Fence

CAVE SPRING DRY ROSÉ 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

04 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, On The Fence, Rosés

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple wine with lots of sour notes. Score: 86/100

Tasting Note: Light salmon in colour with high acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, passionfruit, cranberries, mandarin, white pepper & cardamon seed.

Negatives: Too sour for my taste

Pairings: Drink this in the next couple of years on its own, but goes better when you pair it with food such as Strawberry Gazpacho.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: June 3, 2022

LCBO: 295006

BABU RESERVA 2018, Portugal

29 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Babu
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Straddles the jammy sweet side to full ripe berry notes. Luckily the price is palatable. Score: 87/100

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium, soft tannin, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, ripe blackberry, plum, cloves, cinnamon & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using the smaller Tempranillo glassware vs the larger Cab as the larger glassware brought more jammy sweet notes to the wine.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Leitão da bairrada

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: May 28, 2022

LCBO: 617175

HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

28 Saturday May 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95 (Sale price until June 19, 2022: $18.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

I can’t figure this one out; either I like, or I don’t. Score: 87/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with high acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, ginger, dill, marzipan, pear, mandarin, caramel & vanilla.

Negatives: Not crazy about marzipan

Interesting Point: Wouldn’t buy it at the regular price, but at the sale price; maybe.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with crisp fried chicken wings

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: May 27, 2022

LCBO: 268342

DRAMA DARK BLEND 2018, DO La Mancha, Spain

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 50% Garnacha, 50% Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: La Mancha
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Familia Bastida
Alcohol: 14.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Designed for those that like the sweeter Cali red style wines, but a little less alcohol. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, stewed strawberry, orange peel, chocolate, Allspice & sandalwood.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Gazpachos Manchegos

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: March 29, 2022

LCBO: 22445

LONG BARN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020, California, United States of America

02 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Long Barn Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


Typical commercial Cali red, minus the high 14.5% alcohol & for those that enjoy a smooth, jammy & chocolate notes. Score: 85/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, blueberry pie, raspberry, ripe tamarind, milk chocolate & cassis.

Negatives: A little too sweet/jammy for my taste

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Venison Stew with Bacon and Parsley Dumplings

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Feb 1, 2022

LCBO: 16482

HESS SELECT MONTEREY COUNTY CHARDONNAY 2019, Monterey County, California, United States of America

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Persson
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This Cali Chard takes on a little too much sweetness & lacks balance. On the positive it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 85/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, grilled pineapple, peach, ripe pear, golden apple, coconut, butterscotch & vanilla.

Negatives: Too much sweetness

Pairings: Drink this now or in next couple of years on its own or pair it with Crab Linguini Alfredo.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Jan 10, 2022

LCBO: 986778

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MALBEC 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, On The Fence, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Winemaker Gavin Robertson foray into Malbec, which is a rarity for any winery in Ontario to make generally succeeds. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, light tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberries, mulberries, eucalyptus & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: A little too medicinal

Interesting Point: First couple of tastes, I wasn’t liking it, but the wine grew on me.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Lamb Shank.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Nov 10, 2021

TOM GORE CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

07 Sunday Nov 2021

Posted by in On The Fence, White Wines

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

This wine is overpriced as it tries to be a good Cali Chard but falls short. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, Golden Delicious apples, peach, pear, cooked pineapple, marzipan, ginger, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine taste better in the Chablis style wine glass vs the traditional Montrachet style.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Creamy Herb Chicken

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Nov 5, 2021

LCBO: 458810

FOLIE À DEUX CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

25 Monday Oct 2021

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $44.95 (Clearance Price: $36.00)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The wine is pleasant, although on the jammy side, which is not surprising as it has 14.5% alcohol & just not worth the price, even at the clearance price. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blueberry pie, plum, black olives, sage, black tea, licorice & tobacco leaves.

Negatives: The price and 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Folie à Deux wines are sustainably grown in Sonoma County.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ Ribs

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Oct 23, 2021

LCBO: 186163

CHATEAU ST. JEAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019, California, United States of America

26 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau St. Jean
Alcohol:  13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Not my cup of tea, but this is a better commercially produced Cali red wine that will please those that prefer ripe fruit forward with low tannin wines. Nice to see the alcohol level is below 14%. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with average acidity, medium+ intense nose, low tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Kirsch, raspberry, mulberry, plum, cassis, mocha & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Pork Tenderloin with sweet balsamic plum sauce. 

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Sept 26, 2021

LCBO: 38034