Category Archives: Recommended

QUEENSTON MILE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Tuesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rose Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean rosé with a nice flavour profile. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright copper in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot noir, immediately pressed, left on the grape skins for 3.5 hours, fermented in stainless steel.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with chili.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 24, 2025

QUEENSTON MILE SPARKLING PINOT NOIR, Pétillant Naturel – Ancestral Method, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Nov 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Queenston Mile Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting, but in a good way. A rustic style sparkling. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Cloudy bloody Mary in colour with good acidity, low intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, rhubarb, Fuji apple, strawberry, Oyster mushrooms

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t disturb the sediment in the bottle before opening as if you do (and I did), it will uncontrollably bubble over.

Winemaker’s Note: “100% Pinot noir harvested September 22nd 2020 from Estate Vineyard. Bottled during wild fermentation on October 14th 2020. This wine was left unfiltered on its lees for extended ageing in bottle.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Escargot.

My Opinion: Recommended

November 16, 2025

KIN VINEYARDS CARP RIDGE CHARDONNAY 2020, VQA Ontario, Canada

16 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kin Vineyards, Non LCBO Wine, Organic/Sustainability, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $32.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Cap Ridge, Ottawa, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kin Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Versatile Chard made mostly in neutral oak. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Kumquat, golden apples, pineapple, pear, peach, dill & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Taste better in the oak style chard glass vs the Chablis style ones.

Winemaker’s Note: “Carp Ridge Chardonnay grapes, grown organically as well as biodynamically, were harvested with rigorous selection and sorting, over three days. After gentle pressing and cool settling, the juice was transferred to French Oak Burgundy format cooperage for indigenous fermentation and malolactic conversion over 5 months. Oak profile is 3% New Oak, 85% Neutral Oak and 12% Stainless Steel. Total elevage of 9 months with biweekly battonage for 4 months. Following barrel blending, light bentonite fining and cold stabilization, the wine was bottled with minimal filtration.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles Saint-Jacques.

My Opinion: Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 15, 2025

LA COLLECTION CHARDONNAY GRAND RESERVE 2024, France

26 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $14.25 (Sale price until Nov 9/25: $12.25)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison Francois Martenot
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, crisp Chard that’s tasty & nicely priced. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, Quince, pear & Pitahaya.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Works well with larger Chard style glassware as well as Chablis styled ones, but each one gives out different notes.

Winemaker’s Note: 50% stainless steel, 50% neutral oak

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Porchetta.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 25, 2025

LCBO: 42074

EL TOCADOR OLD VINES TEMPRANILLO 2023, Castilla – La Mancha, Spain

19 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines, Vegan Friendly

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Cost: $11.95 (On sale until Nov 9/25: $10.95)
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla – La Mancha
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Hammeken Cellars
Alcohol: 14.00% Alcohol/Vol.

A great alternative to U.S. Cabs that are around $20 mark, but this one is half the price & has better structure. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Blueberry jam, dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, cherry cola, cloves, milk chocolate, cooked spinach & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan Friendly

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Hungarian Goulash.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing & Best Buy

Tasted: October 18, 2025

LCBO: 44192

SMOKY BAY BUTTERY CHARDONNAY OPULENCE COLLECTION, NV, Australia

18 Thursday Sep 2025

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95 (Sale price until Oct 12, 2025: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Smoky Bay
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An entry Aussy Chard that’s has character, good value, but it’s not overtly buttery. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, orange zest, peach, pear, green apples & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t use glassware for oaked Chard as it will show more flatness than using a Chablis style glassware.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing & Best Buy

Tasted: September 17, 2025

LCBO: 40373

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY LES MARMITONS NIAGARA GASTRONOMY PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024, VAQ St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Saturday Aug 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice sour base rosé. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb & cranberry.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Chinese food.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2025

BARON DE LEY RIOJA RESERVA 2019, DOC Rioja, Spain

05 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Baron De Ley
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja reserva with nice fruits & spice. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense+ nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, black currants, mulberry, blackberries, raspberry, Allspice, cassis & cinnamon.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged for a minimum of 20 months in oak casks & then matured in bottle to complete its evolution.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 24, 2025

LCBO:  23760

KACABA IRRESISTIBLE JOANNE’S BLEND SPARKLING ROSÉ 2023, VQA Ontario, Canada

11 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A refreshing off-dry sparkling rosé perfect for the patio. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Pink in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, Bing cherries, rhubarb & MacIntosh apples

Negatives: On the pricy side.

Interesting Point: Make sure the wine is very cold to bring out the freshness of the fruit.

Winemaker’s Note: Charmat method

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ chicken wings.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 6, 2025

PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARD RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Tuesday Jun 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.95 (Clearance price: $21.60)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A creamy spicy Chard. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, peach, pear, apricot, ginger, dill, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Fermented in stainless steel before being aged, sur lie, for 15 months in French and American oak”.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Greek Chicken Kabobs

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: June 16, 2025

LCBO:  78535