Category Archives: Recommended

TRIUS BARREL FERMENTD CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Saturday Oct 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Oct 11, 2020: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Fresh new label, both on the front & back, which I really like, and although this wine is still very young, it presents balance between the oak aging & citric notes. Score: 89/100

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

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: New label on the front & back with the back label giving the consumer a lot of good information.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 2, 2020

LCBO: 251470

GREENLAND ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

27 Sunday Sep 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, but pleasant. This is a nice bridge between un-oaked and oaked Chard. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Straw to light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach & vanilla custard.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50/50 between oak barrels & stainless tanks.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass with lemon, dill & caper sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 27, 2020

PELEE ISLAND CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Sep 2020

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Cost: $12.45 (Sale price: $11.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, crisp unoaked Chard that is priced right. Score: 87/100

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features lemon zest, green apple, pear & passion fruit.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The 2018 label is a lot nicer than their previous ones for this Chard.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with tangy Caesar salad.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 26, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY SUR LIE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Sep 2020

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale price $19.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like buttered popcorn, you’ll love this. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Yellow to old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, pineapple, peach, pear, yellow apples, yellow plum, buttered popcorn, & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is getting low on how many bottles they have.

Pairings: Drink this now or in couple of years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken .

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 24, 2020

CHÂTEAU LE CLOS DU NOTAIRE 2015, AOC Côtes De Bourg, Bordeaux, France

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc.
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes De Bourg, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Le Clos Du Notaire
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely aged left bank Bordeaux at a great price. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry, anise, pencil shavings, leather with violet notes on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Mongolian beef.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 16, 2020

LCBO: 14718

BAR DOG CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

14 Monday Sep 2020

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Our Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to see a California Chard under $18 that is not: A) above 14% alcohol, B) sweet, C) overtly oaky. This balanced Chard offers a lot for the buck. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, yellow plum, vanilla & oak spice.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: From the winery: “My Best Friend… Bar Dog Companion, partner, bone-vivant. Always by my side. In my kitchen or at my dog-friendly bar until it is time to go. Like Bar Dog, we love this wine unconditionally. So will you.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Devilled stuffed crab.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 14, 2020

LCBO: 10886

RIVERA IL FALCONE CASTEL DEL MONTE ROSSO RISERVA 2014, DOCG Castel del Monte, Apulia, Italy

06 Sunday Sep 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.00)
Grape: 70% Nero di Troia – 30% Other local varieties
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Castel del Monte, Apulia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rivera
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mix of berries, spice & leather. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, redcurrants, leather, anise, tobacco leaves & Allspice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged in French oak for at least 14 months and for a further year in bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7- 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with marinated venison steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 5, 2020

LCBO: 177295

LEEUWENKUIL RESERVE WHITE 2017, Swartland, South Africa

05 Saturday Sep 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% blend of: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Leeuwenkuil Family Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An interesting wine with good complexity & full of array of taste. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon pith, pineapple, peach, green apples, mandarin, white pepper, limestone, white blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Cayman style conch ceviche.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 27, 2020 LCBO: 14937

FAUSTINO I GRAN RESERVA 2006, DOC Rioja, Spain

15 Saturday Aug 2020

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Cost: $31.95 (Clearance Price: $25.55)
Grape: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Faustino
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Very rustic in nature, which one would expect from a Gran Reserva 14 yrs in age, but still very youthful.  Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dried cherry & cranberry, Allspice, Star Anise, leather, cedar, oak resin, vanilla and cigar box on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Love the bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with Pisto Manchego.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 14, 2020

LCBO: 976662

BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

13 Thursday Aug 2020

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Mainly Grenache
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brotte
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

It starts with roundness & elegance in the mouth & finishes with a nice clean crispness. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features yellow plum, pear, white peach, apricot, green apple, wet stone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Crawfish Gumbo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 13, 2020

LCBO: 644385