Category Archives: Recommended

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

CALLAWAY CELLAR SELECTION CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

13 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95
Grape: 93% Chardonnay, 5% Viognier, 2% French Colombard
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Callaway Cellars
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A Cali Chard that is not overtly flabby or having high alcohol. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, soft tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pineapple, green apple, banana, butterscotch, coconut, vanilla & oak spice.

Negatives: Aggressive with too much banana & butterscotch for my taste.

Interesting Point: Aged 6 months in 90% American oak & 10% unoaked

This might be the lowest alcohol Cali Chard that I’ve ever tasted.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Aug 12, 2021

LCBO: 18627

CELENE AMÉTHYSTE BRUT BLANC DE NOIRS, Méthode Traditionnelle, NV, AOP Crémant de Bordeau, France

21 Wednesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc & Merlot
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Celene Bordeaux
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A creamy dry sparkling wine that shows a lot considering this wine is under $18 & made in the traditional method. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, low intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, brioche, yeast, green apples, pears, redcurrants, clementine, kiwi & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Celene’s sparkling wine bottles are stored in underground cellars dug in the 18th century in the limestone rock of the Right Bank of the Garonne. In these galleries, which are naturally thermoregulated at 13°C, the second fermentation in the bottle will then begin, which corresponds to the foaming process. This stage is crucial : the fineness of the bubble depends on its success. The foaming lasts about 6 weeks during which the still wine is transformed into sparkling wine to reach up to 6 bars of pressure in the bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with escargot in garlic butter & shredded cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 18, 2021

LCBO: 19031

CHATEAU ST. JEAN BRUT CUVÉE SPARKLING WINE NV, California, United States of America

18 Sunday Jul 2021

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $27.80 (Clearance price $22.30)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau St. Jean
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, yet pleasant sparkling that shows tropical fruits & freshness. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, green mango, pineapple, peach with a touch of vanilla & honey as well as yellow flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chateau St. Jean sparkling wines are crafted using the Cuvee Close or Charmat approach, dating to the 1880’s, with a goal of having the Brut Rose as a refreshing and delicate wine.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with apple & honey roasted chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 18, 2021

LCBO: 978659