Category Archives: Recommended

MUMM NAPA BRUT PRESTIGE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

13 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $29.95 (Sale Price: $24.95 until Jan 3, 2021)
Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Gris & Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region:  Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mumm Napa Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, creamy & easy drinking sparkling wine. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light brioche & yeast, gingerbread, lemon, green & red apples, peach, pear, cantaloupe, & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Last time I reviewed this wine was in 2016, & true to house form, it hasn’t really changed in taste, which is what you want in a non-vintage sparkling wine year to year.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 7-10 years & pair it with Pork Cutlets with Pear and Ginger Sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 13, 2020

LCBO: 217273

KEN FORRESTER PETIT ROSÉ 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

02 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Grenache & Viognier
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ken Forrester Wines
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant, inexpensive rosé which has a nice sour/tart finish. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features strawberry, sour cherries, raspberry, dragon fruit & granite.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years & pair it with Dong Po Pork [Traditional Braised Pork Belly] especially from Ma Chinese restaurant in St. Catharines.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 2, 2020

LCBO: 553040

JOSH CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, California, United States of America

27 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Nov 29, 2020)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josh Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Unusually a lot of spice to go with the fruit for this Cali Cab that’s under $20, which is a good thing. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, raspberry, blackberry, tamarind, Allspice, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This vintage is a lot better than the 2014 vintage that I reviewed in 2016.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Thai Fried Beef in Tamarind Sauce. 

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 26, 2020

LCBO: 461053

BOSCHENDAL 1685 CHARDONNAY 2019, South Africa

20 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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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