Category Archives: Recommended

BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

13 Thursday Aug 2020

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Mainly Grenache
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brotte
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

It starts with roundness & elegance in the mouth & finishes with a nice clean crispness. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features yellow plum, pear, white peach, apricot, green apple, wet stone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Crawfish Gumbo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 13, 2020

LCBO: 644385

YALUMBA ORGANIC SHIRAZ 2018, South Australia, Australia

12 Wednesday Aug 2020

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Even though there’s a lot of spice, which is to be expected from Shiraz, this wine is very smooth & nice to see that it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby with some purple in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose, mild tannins & a good length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, peppercorn, Allspice & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Shiraz & Syrah are the same grape, but generally Australia’s Shiraz is different from the Rhône style Syrah. This is very noticeable if you compare these grape styles with their appreciate glassware. I tried this wine in both style stemware & found that when I had it in the Syrah style, it should more roughness, so I chose the Shiraz style. Other interesting point is that the wine is Vegan friendly and organic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Duck Breasts with spiced blackberry Au Jus.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 12, 2020

LCBO: 280883

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST PINOT NOIR 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

07 Friday Aug 2020

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

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Cost: $28.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Styled in classic Ontario Pinot style (Old Word meets New World) it’s taut, complexed & full of Pinot flavour. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with high acidity, a medium to low intense nose, firm tannin & a very long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, strawberries, red beets, sweet tobacco, a touch of vanilla, underbrush & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chill to 15 C degrees & use a balloon style glassware.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-5 of years on its own or pair it with roasted duck & pickled red beets.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 7, 2020

MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAND RESERVA 2013, DOP Ariñena, Spain

06 Thursday Aug 2020

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Ariñena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Grandes Vinos
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nicely aged wine full of  flavour & elegance while all under $19. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features Bing cherries, red currants, bramble fruits, plum, ripe tamarind, tobacco, cedar, eucalyptus & aged balsamic.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 2 years in oak barrels with a further 3 years in bottle before being released.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Brazilian skirt steak with golden garlic butter.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 5, 2020

LCBO: 82024

LONE BIRCH CHARDONNAY 2018, Yakima Valley, Washington, United States of America

23 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lone Birch Winery
Alcohol:  13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with lots of citric notes

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon, dragon fruit, pear, honeydew melon, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with seafood medley in a garlic sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 23, 2020

LCBO: 13311

MALIVOIRE ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2108, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, mineral & citric driven chard that makes this a pleasant summer drinking wine

Tasting Note: Straw to gold in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with stuffed scallops in a shell.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 20, 2020

LCBO: 573147

QUAIL’S GATE CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

18 Saturday Jul 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale Price Until July 19, 2020: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quail’s Gate
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, yet pleasant drinking Chard that is balanced between the oak & fruit

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pear, peach, oak spice & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with seared scallops on a bed of greens.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 18, 2020

LCBO: 377770

BARKAN CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Galilee, Israel

17 Friday Jul 2020

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Cost: $20.30 (Clearance Price: $16.30)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barkan Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant young Cab Sauv without the harsh tannin that has nice juicy black fruits

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherry, tamarind & cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with braised beef ribs with blackberry glaze.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 17, 2020

LCBO: 637785

NIAGARA COLLEG TEACHING WINERY BALANCED MUSCAT 2019, VQA Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Muscat
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  10.0% Alcohol/Vol.

People shy away from Muscat as they think it’s too sweet. However, NC Muscat, although stated as off dry, has a lot of acidity making this wine crisp than sweet, for now. Aging this wine will have the same affect as aging Rieslings, which will smooth out the acidity to leave leave it more palatable.

Tasting Note: Very light straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear,

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own, but better off in pairing with food such as Applewood Cheddar cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 5, 2020

TENUTA DI TRECCIANO I CAMPACCI TOSCANA 2016, IGT Tuscany, Italy

09 Thursday Jul 2020

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.00
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti Hill, Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta di Trecciano
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style IGT that makes your mouth water for more

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with high acidity, an intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features sour cherry, red & black currants, blackberries, cocoa, coffee, oregano & balsamic.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO has the grapes as Sangiovese & Merlot, however, on Trecciano’s website it lists this as 100% Merlot.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-12 of years on its own or pair it with roasted wild boar.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 9, 2020

LCBO: 14146