Category Archives: Recommended

BOSCHENDAL 1685 CHARDONNAY 2019, South Africa

20 Friday Nov 2020

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Boschendal
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A well priced Chard that’s pleasant to drink, which has balance between the oak, the fruit & acidity. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, pineapple, green apples, pear, ginger & oak spice.   

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with grilled peppercorn & salt scallops on a bed of spaghettini in olive oil & basil.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 19, 2020

LCBO: 367698

LE GRAVILLAS SABLET CÔTES DU RHÔNES-VILLAGE 2017, AOC Sablet, Côtes du Rhône, France

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Sablet, Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Le Gravillas
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Very expressive with lots of spice. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Dark purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackcurrants, redcurrants, plum, blackberry, tobacco, arugula, black & white pepper.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with seared venison backstrap with blackberry sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 18, 2020

LCBO: 78790

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY, 2018 California, United States of America

16 Monday Nov 2020

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Cost: $21.95 (Sale price until: Nov 29, 2020)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Estate
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A balanced barrel fermented Chard with good acidity, tropical fruit & some creaminess all without having the high alcohol that Chards from California seem to be the norm. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & golden apples, peach, toasted pineapple, papaya, ginger, dill, oak spice & vanilla.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 16, 2020

LCBO: 369686

NIAGAR COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario

15 Sunday Nov 2020

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: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Better than the standard New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc as this has more complexity to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features gooseberry, passion fruit, kiwi, tangerine & fresh cut grass.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Mahi Mahi ceviche marinated in lemon/orange juice & served with red onions, basil & orange slices.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 15, 2020

THE FEDERALIST CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Lodi, California, United States of America

29 Thursday Oct 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Federalist Winery
Alcohol:  13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A rarity to have a full body red wine from Lodi, that is under $20, under 14% alcohol, not overtly sweet but flavourful with complexity. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberries, mulberry, mocha, cassis, cloves, cinnamon, oregano, leather, pencil shavings & sweet oak.  

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 28, 2020

LCBO: 479105

GHOST PINES MERLOT 2017, 90% Sonoma County, 5% Napa County, 5% Lake County, California, Unite States of America

24 Saturday Oct 2020

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Cost: $21.95 (On sale until Nov 8, 2020: $19.95)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: 90% Sonoma County, 5% Napa County, 5% Lake County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ghost Pines
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A full flavoured & lushes Merlot from 3 different counties in California.  Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberries, blueberry pie, cocoa, mocha, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, smoke & violets on the nose.  

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Hanger steak with cherry shallot sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 24, 2020

LCBO: 454876

REDSTONE SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Friday Oct 2020

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

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Cost: $22.15
Grape: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone Winery
Alcohol:  11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean & simple. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Straw with a green tinge in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, gooseberry, passion fruit & hay.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Mahi Mahi in a butter sauce with lemon & herb spices.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 23, 2020

REDSTONE MERLOT 2014, VQA Limestone Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

22 Thursday Oct 2020

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

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Cost: $46.15
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: GFA Rodet Recapet
Alcohol:  12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Merlot that is pleasant, but for me it’s overpriced. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry jam, coffee, chocolate & leather.  

Negatives: The price

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with roast beef.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 20, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY OLD VINES RIESLING RESERVE 2011, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

11 Sunday Oct 2020

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

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Cost: $35.00 (Clearance Price: 25.00)
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  10.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s a nice dry Riesling that has already been nicely aged for drinking now & it’s on sale. For all this, you can’t beat the price. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, high intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, pear, dragon fruit & lovely petrol on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In partnership with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit that has planted over 180 million trees, Trinity Oaks plants one tree per bottle purchased. The grapes are grown in sustainably farmed vineyards.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken .

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 10, 2020

TRINITY OAKS CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

04 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale Price until Oct 11, 2020: $15.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trinity Oaks
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Who says you can’t find a good inexpensive California Chard that isn’t either overly oaked, sweet or high in alcohol? Might have been me. Well look no further in this well styled & balanced Chard. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pear, peach, dill, oak spice, vanilla & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In partnership with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit that has planted over 180 million trees, Trinity Oaks plants one tree per bottle purchased. The grapes are grown in sustainably farmed vineyards.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 of years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 4, 2020

LCBO: 15762