Category Archives: Recommended

KACABA CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95 (Sale Price until Feb 27, 2022: $13.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Hard to find a half decent Ontario red wine for under $16 & this one scores a hit. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, blackberry, sage, chocolate, turmeric, pencil shavings, cloves, vanilla & light smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 26, 2022

LCBO: 499384

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gewurztraminer
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A light style GW dominated by grapefruit. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, lychee, ginger & pear

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with jerk honey chicken wings

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 23, 2022

13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A dry, light, crisp & fruity style Viognier. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, apricot pit, white peach, pear, oak spice & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% fermented & aged for 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 50% fermented & aged in stainless steel.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with spicy Pad Thai.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 14, 2022

LONGFORD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019, Monterey County, California, United States of America

06 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Longford Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For a wine that’s priced at under $16 this is not your typical commercial Cali Cab as it’s not flabby, sweet or high alcohol and it has character. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sustainably farmed vineyard

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Slow Cooked Prime Rib with Plum Glaze

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 5, 2022

LCBO: 20725

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY MERLOT-CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A pleasant easy drinking wine with some substance to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, plum, elderberry, blackcurrants, fennel, cocoa, spinach leaves, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with smoked gouda.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Jan 26, 2022

CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT 2018, AOP Fronton, France

24 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: 55% Négrette, 20% Syrah, 15% Cab Sauv 10% Cab Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Fronton, South West France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Bellevue La Forêt
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Fresh first palate, then fruity and spicy when the wine opens up. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Elderberry, Aronia berry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cocoa, nutmeg, pepper & baby arugula.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Négrette, a unique grape variety in the world, appeared in the 12th century under the name of “MAVRO” (black in Greek) brought from Cyprus by the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Demanding, it has become acclimatized to this single terroir of Fronton; Négrette is one of the rare grape varieties to reveal aromas in wine identical to those found when crunching fresh grapes.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Coffee and Cracked Pepper Rubbed Smoked Beef Brisket.

My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: Jan 22, 2022
LCBO: 354134

LAURENT MIQUEL NORD SUD VIOGNIER 2020, Pays d’Oc, France

18 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays d’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Laurent Miquel
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice crisp wine with some substance all at a fair price. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, white peach, kumquat, some vanilla & acacia on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Broiled Cod with Fennel and Orange in Almond Crust

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 15, 2022

LCBO: 673236

LEONARDO CHIANTI RISERVA 2017, DOC Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

12 Wednesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cantine Leonardo Da Vinci Scrl
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Once the wine smooths out, it’s an excellent valued Chianti Riserva. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, red currants, mulberry, oregano, basil, tomato leaves, arugula & mushrooms.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: To smooth out this wine, I recommend decanting it and let it rest for about an hour.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Tagliatelle al tartufo

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 11, 2022

LCBO: 19698

KEW MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2018, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 68% Marsanne, 32% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada     
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant wine showing citric fruits & minerality. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, grapefruit, white peach, pear, apricot, limestone & fresh cut white flowers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% Stainless Steel Fermented, 50% Barrel Fermented, Aged 6 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 4, 2022

LCBO: 485334

TERRA D’ALIGI TATONE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2017, DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

30 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terra D’Aligi
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Although the 2017 vintage is good, it’s nowhere what the 2016 vintage was, as I reviewed in back in July 6, 2021. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, blackberry, raspberry, oregano, sage, cardamon, black tea & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using the smaller Chianti style glassware as it will smooth out the wine.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 29, 2021

LCBO: 994616