Category Archives: Recommended

HAVENS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

14 Tuesday Jan 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon with some Petit Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Havens Winery
Alcohol:  14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A California Cab with substance and under $30

Positives: Inky ruby to purple in colour this wine features plum, dark cherry, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, leather, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings and smoked amber on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: January 14, 2020

LCBO: 13241

L’HOSTE CHAMPANGE TRADITON BRUT NV, AOC Champagne, France

25 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended

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Cost: $54.75 US (Sale price for December: $38.08 US)
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Père & Fils
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple yet classic Champagne

Positives: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features yeast, brioche, white peach, apricot, honeydew melon, lemon and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: At the regular price there are several better Champagne options. However, at the sale price it’s a good buy.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with creamy lemon sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 25, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE VIOGNIER 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Wednesday Dec 2019

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

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value for a quality Viognier

Positives: Bright new gold in colour this wine features peach, apricot, honeydew melon, orange rind, nutmeg and peach pit.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 17, 2019

RED STONE SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, Traditional Method, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Sunday Dec 2019

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

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Red Stone Winery
Alcohol:  12.% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant rosé sparkler that will please those that don’t like the yeastiness in sparkling wine or Champagnes

Positives: Bright salmon to copper in colour with a fine mousse this wine features strawberry, lime, Gala apples and limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 8, 2019

13th STEET WINERY BLANC DE BLANC 2017, Traditional Method, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

01 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but high quality of this well balanced, crisp & refreshing Blanc de Blanc

Positives: Light straw in colour with a fine mousse this wine features green apples, lemon, lemon zest and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: From winemaker’s notes: “Second Blanc de Blanc made from our neighbor Lado Viscek’s meticulously farmed vineyard, the fruit was hand-harvested in the second week of September 2017. The grapes were transferred gently into the press and the free run juice was captured separately to preserve the elegant profile. Primary fermentation was kept cool and in 100% stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation was suppressed to keep the fresh fruit character in the wine. The secondary fermentation took place in bottle and the wine was aged sur lattes for a minimum of 12 months. After the lees was removed, winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas felt an addition of two grams per litre of sweetness was the perfect balance to the bracing acidity in the wine. The wine was disgorged in August 2019.”

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters on Ritz crackers.

My Opinion: Recommended

24 Sunday Nov 2019

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

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Cost: $25.15
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12% Alcohol/Vol.

True to its namesake, the sparkler is balanced between classic toasted fermentation, fruit, crispness, dryness and acidity

Positives: Golden straw with a slight pink tinge in colour, fine mousse this wine features toasted hazel nuts, brioche, lemon, green apples, pear, blood orange and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I first reviewed Balance Brut in August 2016. I enjoyed it then, but more so today as I feel the wine making it has come of age.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Raspberry Point oysters.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 24, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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Cost: $23.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Chard this is balanced between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour, this wine features medium toast, lemon pie, clementine, green & yellow apples, yellow plums, ginger, dill, oak spice, limestone and Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled buttered halibut.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 29, 2019

TOM THOMSON 100th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION ALGONQUIN RED 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value red from Ontario made in Bordeaux style

Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, turmeric, green peppers, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Current vintage is far superior than the last one.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-Bone steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 2, 2019

ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY BLANC DE BLANC 2013, Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate
Alcohol:  12% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balance Blanc de Blanc that has some complexity, good acidity, fruit and most importantly, taste good.

Positives: Golden straw in colour with a fine mousse, this wine features light brioche, lemon, kiwi, green apple, and limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: November 17, 2019

LCBO: 227009

CANYON ROAD CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

10 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $9.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canyon Road
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An entry Chard that has character, and I really like its creamy texture, but it’s not fat, tropical fruit yet has acidity as backbone and it’s only 13% alcohol. May I stress that it only has 13% alcohol for a California Chard!

Positives: Bright gold in colour featuring pineapple, mango, lemon meringue, yellow plums, yellow apples, crème brûlée, butterscotch, cinnamon and dill.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Canyon Road Winery is located in Alexander Valley, which is one of my favourite AVAs.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing Buy

Tasted: November 9, 2019

LCBO: 552513