Category Archives: Recommended

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

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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

MAGNOTTA BLANC DE BLANCS CHARDONNAY, NV, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Sunday Sep 2021

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

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Cost: $26.95 (Sale Price until Sept 30, 2021: $23.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery Stores
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol:  13.6% Alcohol/Vol.

This XD- Extra Dry sparkling wine is easy drinking, full body & well suited for those that don’t like the classic Champagne taste. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon meringue, green & golden apples, pear, kumquat, pineapple, kiwi, nutmeg & vanilla.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: There’s an additional icewine dosage, which gives it the colour & tropical notes.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Spicy Mahi Fish Tacos with homemade jicama slaw. 

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the sales price

Tasted: Sept 5, 2021

GRAN FEUDO RESERVA 2016, DO Navarra, Spain

03 Friday Sep 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95 (Sale Price until Sept 12, 2021: $16.95)
Grape: 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 30% Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gran Feudo
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, lighter style, not a complex blend of Cab/Merlot/Tempranillo which is pleasant to drink. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense+ nose, mild tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, mulberry, turmeric & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My preference is using a Tempranillo style glassware as this isn’t a bold wine

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with lamb chops with pesto sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Sept 3, 2021

LCBO: 479014

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE DRY RIESLING 2020, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

31 Tuesday Aug 2021

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: $16.95
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery,
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean, dry & not complex but has quality. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with high acidity, medium intense+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, kiwi, pear, green apples & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 10+ years on its own or pair it with sweet chilli wings

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 31, 2021

PIERRE JOURDAN BELLE ROSE SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa

26 Thursday Aug 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Haute Cabrière, Franschhoek
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple yet elegant brut rosé sparkling wine. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Pale copper in colour with good acidity with fine mousse, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry & red apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Beautiful Rose!” said the grandmother of our Cellar Master when she saw the colour.

South Africa is producing the best rosé sparkling wines at great prices

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with whipped Ricotta cherry crostini.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 15, 2021

LCBO: 18569

PAUL MAS RÉSERVE NICOLE VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2019, Pays D’Oc, France

23 Monday Aug 2021

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Mas
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean, full of orchard fruits. ‘Luxe rural’ (simple luxury). Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw to gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, peach, apricot, pear, limestone & honey.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Caprese Salad

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 22, 2021

LCBO: 370098

HIDALGO TRADICIÒN H RESERVA 2015, DOC Rioja, Spain

21 Saturday Aug 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vinicola Hidalgo
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja Tempranillo. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, dark cherry, raspberry, cassis, star anise, sage, tobacco, espresso, arugula, vanilla, baking spice, leather & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 20, 2021

LCBO: 18933