Category Archives: Recommended

FEATHERSTONE JOY PREMIUM CUVÉE ROSÉ 2017, Méthode Classique, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This almost dry sparkling wine presents a lot of red juicy sweet fruit

Tasting Note: Tawny in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features Maraschino cherry, strawberry, raspberry, red currant & Fuji apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Better when it’s chilled below 10C.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with pan seared pork chops with red currant glaze

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 7, 2020

LCBO: 450700

DOMAINE LES PINS CUVÉE LES ROCHETTES BOURGUEIL 2017, AOP Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France

06 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40)
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgueil, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Les Pins
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy Cab Franc full of flavours

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, fine tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, bell peppers and white & black peppers.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with pepper crusted venison fillet with Worcestershire glazed mushrooms

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 6, 2020

LCBO: 478263

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE WHITE 2106, VQA Ontario, Canada

06 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Vidal, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Normally I’m not crazy about wineries that make white wines from more than 3 grapes, then add the kitchen sink just because they can, but this one even though it’s off dry, still has balance & character, which I like. Reminds me more of Southern France white blends.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, orange, lychee, yellow apple & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Great deal at the clearance price.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with homemade butternut squash ravioli with sage and butter sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 5, 2020

ROSEMOUNT DIAMON SHIRAZ 2019, South Australia, Australia

01 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95 (Sale price until June 21: $13.95)
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rosemount Estates
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent value Shiraz that although has some fruit sweetness to it, it’s balanced with a pleasant taste

Tasting Note: Medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & an average length on the finish. Wine features blackberry, plum, dark cherry, ripe tamarind, sweet steak spice & cinnamon.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The sale price at Sobeys is $12.37 vs LCBO’s $13.95

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with roast beef with red wine & banana shallots.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 1, 2020

LCBO: 302349

FINCA LOS MAZA RESERVA MALBEC 2016, Valle De Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Wednesday May 2020

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Cost: $17.00 (Clearance price: $13.65)
Grape: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Valle De Uco, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Finca Los Maza
Alcohol:  13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Malbec full of fruit, structure & spice

Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose, firm tannin & an average length on the finish. Wine features blackberry, plum, loganberry, anise, cocoa & tobacco leaves.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with lamb shank.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 27, 2020

LCBO: 10772

JOSH CELLARS MERLOT 2018, California, United States of America

13 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95 (Sale price until May 24, 2020: $16.95)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josh Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s a nice surprise: a California red that is below 14% alcohol, not sweet or flabby, has some complexity, it’s priced under $20 & oh yes, it’s nice to drink

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black & red currants, raspberries, arugula, mocha & vanilla

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: You won’t find this wine on Josh Cellars winery website, strange but true. I expect it is made for export only.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Mongolian Beef.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 13, 2020

LCBO: 638221

CUDDY BY TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE SPARKLING WINE NV, Traditional Method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Saturday May 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $25.95 (Clearance price: $18.20)
Grape: Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol:  10.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A well-made Riesling sparkling wine

Tasting Note: Straw colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light brioche, lemon, green apples, pears, & petrol on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: On Tawse website they list this wine at $28.15. In addition, the label list the alcohol as 12%, but LCBO has put a label on it listing the alcohol as 10.7%.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with breaded calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 9, 2020

LCBO: 546762

PENINSULA RIDGE RESERVE SYRAH 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Wednesday May 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $17.30)
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Ontario Syrah made in the classic Rhone style & it’s great deal at the clearance price if you can find it

Tasting Note: Light+ ruby colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, medium to mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, mulberry, plum, clove, white & black peppers and a slight smokiness on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: For some reason if you buy it at the winery, the cost is $30.15?!

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with braised beef short-ribs.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 6, 2020

LCBO: 230896

DOMAINE DE SÉRAME VIOGNIER 2017, IGP Pays D’Oc, France

05 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Sérame
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet elegant wine; very pleasant to drink at a good price

Tasting Note: Straw colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features apricot, peach, pear, lemon & cloves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Organic wine

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with poached salmon.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 5, 2020

LCBO: 10631

OYSTER BAY SPARKLING CUVÉE ROSÉ, NV Hawke’s Bay & Marlborough, New Zealand

03 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $22.95 (Clearance price: $18.40)
Grape: 80% Chardonnay & 20% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay & Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oyster Bay
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A clean, crisp & lean sparkling rosé

Tasting Note: Copper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features strawberry, cherry, green & red apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Charmat method

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Waldorf salad.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 3, 2020

LCBO: 280172