Category Archives: Recommended

CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT 2018, AOP Fronton, France

24 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: 55% Négrette, 20% Syrah, 15% Cab Sauv 10% Cab Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Fronton, South West France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Bellevue La Forêt
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Fresh first palate, then fruity and spicy when the wine opens up. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Elderberry, Aronia berry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cocoa, nutmeg, pepper & baby arugula.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Négrette, a unique grape variety in the world, appeared in the 12th century under the name of “MAVRO” (black in Greek) brought from Cyprus by the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Demanding, it has become acclimatized to this single terroir of Fronton; Négrette is one of the rare grape varieties to reveal aromas in wine identical to those found when crunching fresh grapes.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Coffee and Cracked Pepper Rubbed Smoked Beef Brisket.

My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: Jan 22, 2022
LCBO: 354134

LAURENT MIQUEL NORD SUD VIOGNIER 2020, Pays d’Oc, France

18 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays d’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Laurent Miquel
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice crisp wine with some substance all at a fair price. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, white peach, kumquat, some vanilla & acacia on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Broiled Cod with Fennel and Orange in Almond Crust

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 15, 2022

LCBO: 673236

LEONARDO CHIANTI RISERVA 2017, DOC Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

12 Wednesday Jan 2022

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cantine Leonardo Da Vinci Scrl
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Once the wine smooths out, it’s an excellent valued Chianti Riserva. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, red currants, mulberry, oregano, basil, tomato leaves, arugula & mushrooms.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: To smooth out this wine, I recommend decanting it and let it rest for about an hour.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Tagliatelle al tartufo

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 11, 2022

LCBO: 19698

KEW MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2018, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 68% Marsanne, 32% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada     
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant wine showing citric fruits & minerality. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, grapefruit, white peach, pear, apricot, limestone & fresh cut white flowers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% Stainless Steel Fermented, 50% Barrel Fermented, Aged 6 months.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 4, 2022

LCBO: 485334

TERRA D’ALIGI TATONE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2017, DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

30 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terra D’Aligi
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Although the 2017 vintage is good, it’s nowhere what the 2016 vintage was, as I reviewed in back in July 6, 2021. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, blackberry, raspberry, oregano, sage, cardamon, black tea & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using the smaller Chianti style glassware as it will smooth out the wine.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Pizzaiola

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 29, 2021

LCBO: 994616

MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION BLANC 2020, AOP Costières De Nîmes, Rhône, France

23 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 10 %Marsanne, 10% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France      
Region: Costières De Nîmes, Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mas Des Bressades
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant wine showing lots of citric fruits & minerality. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, grapefruit, white peach, pear, apricot, limestone & fresh cut white flowers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Mediterranean Orzo Salad with grilled octopus

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 22, 2021

LCBO: 701094

PAUL MAS SINGLE VINEYARD RÉSERVE MARSANNE 2019, Pays D’Oc, France

23 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Marsanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Paul Mas
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

If you are an ABC person (Anything But Chardonnay), try this wine, you won’t be disappointed. Score: 89/100

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-lime, peach, ripe pear, apricot, honeycomb, Golden Delicious apples, nutmeg, butterscotch, vanilla & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I tried several different styles of wine glasses from Montrachet to Chablis & the wine was tasted good in all of them.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Pork Chops with Pears and Green Peppercorns

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 22, 2021

LCBO: 462457

STEORRA BRUT SPARKLING NV, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, United States of America

22 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: 58% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Copper Cane Wines & Provisions
Alcohol:  12.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of sour notes, which is unusual for a sparkling wine, but I got used to it & in the end this isn’t a bad wine. In addition, this wine needs food to soften the sour notes. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, an intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour dough bread, sour sop, light toast, yeast, grapefruit, lemon rind, apple, pear & honeycomb.

Negatives: Lots of sour notes

Interesting Point: This sparkling is made in the Charmat method where secondary fermentation takes place within the tanks. Winery is owned by the famous California wine maker, Joseph Wagner.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years & pair it with Hunan hot & sour chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Oct 17, 2021

LCBO: 19310

BALANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

21 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario made Cab Sauvignon for under $30. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, bramble fruit, pencil shavings, cassis & Allspice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: A thousand times better than their 2018 vintage, which to me was too jammy, more Port style.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years & pair it with Slow Cooker Beef Cheeks in Red Wine

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 19, 2021

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Tuesday Sep 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic quality cool climate, Vegan friendly, Chardonnay that will get better with aging. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, clementine, baking spice & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 13th Street Viscek Vineyard Chards have consistently been good.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with garlic roasted chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Sept 11, 2021