Category Archives: Recommended

TORRESELLA ROSÉ PROSECCO NV, DOC Prosecco, North East Italy

18 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $23.99 CI
Grape: Glera, Pinot Nero
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: North-East Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torresella
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent wine to pair with Asian foods. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Pale copper in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, tangerine, Pink Lady apples & spun sugar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The glera off the skins for 7–8 days at a temperature of 16 °C, and the pinot nero on the skins for 6–7 days. The cuvée is assembled just before second fermentation and the percentage of pinot nero may vary from 10 to 15% depending on the vintage. The second fermentation and subsequent resting on the lees require at least 60 days in order to obtain a fine, persistent bead and more stable colour over time.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Bibimbap Bulgogi beef, marinated shitake mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, topped with a sunny side egg.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 14, 2022

CHÂTEAU FUISSÉ SAINT-VÉRAN 2108, AC Saint-Véran, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France

14 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Saint-Véran, Mâconnais, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château-Fuissé
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Citric tropical notes followed by sour notes. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Light old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach pit, pear, acacia, orange peel, hazelnut, sour dough, honey, vanilla & smoked notes on the nose.

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with trout with lemon, dill & butter.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 13, 2022

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Thursday Jun 2022

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

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
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.

Creamy style Chard with both citric & tropical notes. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, pineapple, mango ginger, limestone, vanilla & oak spice

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 7, 2022

LCBO: 43874

VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN CHARDONNAY 2020, East Coast, New Zealand

30 Monday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $18.05 (Sale price until June 19, 2022: $16.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: East Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Maria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A crispness of citric fruit followed by some creaminess on the finish. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, pineapple, yellow pitahaya, ginger, vanilla & some smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 29, 2022

LCBO: 13293

FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2019, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

26 Thursday May 2022

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Frei Brothers
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to see a Russian River Valley Chard that has complexity yet under 14.5% alcohol. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon meringue, green & yellow apples, pear, pineapple, cantaloupe, orange, ginger, buttered toast, butterscotch, vanilla & honeycomb

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This may have gone by the commercially typical Cali Chard; flabby & one dimensional, but the cool winds in the Valley also bring out the citric notes which balances the warm climate & oak notes.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Moroccan Olive Oil & Orange Chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 25, 2022

LCBO: 317891

QUADRUS RED 2015, DOC Douro, Portugal

21 Saturday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: 55% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 15% Sousão
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quadrus
Alcohol: 14.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made with bramble fruit & spiciness. 91/100.

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, raspberry, loganberry, blackberry, licorice, nutmeg, black peppercorn & cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with smoked brisket

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 18, 2022

LCBO: 15663

CHÂTEAU HYOT RÉSERVE 2018, AC Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux, France

18 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Hyot
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit forward Bordeaux blend that ready to drink now: 89/100.

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, blackberry, raspberry, plum, blackcurrant, nutmeg, vanilla, turmeric, pencil shavings & leather.

Negatives: Heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Pork Loin seasoned and seared with light rub of cinnamon and pepper and sliced and served in thyme and shallot au jus.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 17, 2022

LCBO: 14667

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ÉCSSON BRUT SPARKLING NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

16 Monday May 2022

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Noir.
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol: 13.8 % Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but easy drinking & delicious: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, light brioche, green apples, pear, limestone

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with salt and vinegar chips.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 15, 2022

LCBO: 970970

DUCA DI SARAGNANO GOVERNO 2019, IGT Tuscany, Italy

14 Saturday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duca Di Saragnano
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy, full flavoured & easy to drink Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark & sour cherries, sweet plum, raspberries, blackberry, sage, cocoa, turmeric, graphite & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is made according to the ancient Tuscan tradition of governo alla toscana, whereby partially dried grapes are added into the winemaking after first fermentation.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 13, 2022

LCBO: 25399

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

13 Friday May 2022

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: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate
Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Not complexed, but quality with nice crispness in this BC Chard. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, kiwi, pineapple, white peach, Red Delicious apple & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Halibut with Lemon Butter Sauce

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: May 12, 2022

LCBO: 377770