Category Archives: Recommended

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

30 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste Michelle Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Great balance between the oak, fruit & acidity that makes this a pleasant drinking Chard

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pineapples, mangos, peach, dill, light oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sur lie aged for more than six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels (10% new). 42% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh style of Chardonnay.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with scallops on a bed of greens.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 30, 2020

LCBO: 232439

MICHAEL KACABA RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Apr 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $50.15
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Winery
Alcohol:  14.9% Alcohol/Vol.

High-end Ontario Cab that shows why it’s on the expensive side

Tasting Note: Light garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, light tannin & long length on the finish. Wine features sweet cherry, strawberry, plum, blueberry, mocha, vanilla, cinnamon and licorice.

Negative: High alcohol level

Interesting Point: Surprised by how light in colour this wine is for only being 5 years old.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped filet mignon.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: April 18, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PINOT GRIS 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

11 Saturday Apr 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Very interesting Pinot Gris that was fermented in neutral French oak barrels, and skin soaked giving the wine that copper colour. Taste is refreshing.

Tasting Note: Copper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & average length finish. Wine features clementine, green apple, pink grapefruit & pear.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Jerk chicken wings

My Opinion:  Recommended

Tasted: April 11, 2020

13th STREET WINERY ESSENCE PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2020

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

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: 13th Street Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic quality in the Burgundian style

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with mild tannin, high acidity, an intense nose & long finish. Wine features sour cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, wild mushrooms.

Interesting Point: Chill this pinot to 15 C, and use a balloon style stemware.

Pairings: As this wine has high acidity & will still age well over the next 7-10 years, it needs food to really complement it so pair it with rabbit Cacciatore.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: April 9, 2020

CASILLERO DEL DIABLO RESERVA PRIVADA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, DO Maipo Valley, Chile

02 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until April 26, 2020: $16.25)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Maipo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casillero del Diablo
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Chilean style Cab with lots of blackcurrants

Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with medium to high tannin, good acidy this wine features blackcurrants, plum, blackberries, spinach leaves, turmeric, cassis, cedar, vanilla & peppermint.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Asiago cheese.

My Opinion:  Recommended

Tasted: April 2, 2020

LCBO: 570754

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES BLANC DE BLANC 2015, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

29 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance price: $24.50)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château des Charmes
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Blanc de Blanc with freshness

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse featuring baked bread, lemon, pear, green apples, vanilla and white honey.

Interesting Point: Bottle aged of this wine on the lees for a minimum of two years and disgorge each bottle just before it leaves the winery. I preferred this wine in slender Champagne style glass vs the larger mouth stemware. The wine shows more complexity.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with shrimp tempura.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: March 29, 2020

LCBO: 423111

JEAN-LUC COLOMBO LE PAVILLON DES COURTISANES CAIRANNE 2016, AOC Cairanne, France

27 Friday Mar 2020

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Cairanne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean-Luc Colombo
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex wine but it’s rich in flavour & substance, plus it’s priced reasonably

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour this wine features bramble fruit, plums, thyme, white pepper, graphite, black tea & violets on the nose. Full body with good acidity and firm but not aggressive tannin.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Tomato Sauce Base, Mozzarella, Double Smoked Bacon and Sausage, Topped with Prosciutto and Basil Pizza.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 27, 2020

LCBO: 120717

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MERLOT 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Mar 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, juicy, easy drinking yet elegant Ontario Merlot with a nice price tag

Tasting Note: Ruby to purple in colour this wine has light tannin and features plum, blackberry, mulberry and vanilla.

Interesting Note: As of this review, this wine is only available pre-release to Wine Club Members.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with pepperoni, mushroom & tomato pizza.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 23, 2020

SIMONSIG CHARDONNAY 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

21 Saturday Mar 2020

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $16.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Simonsig
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple Chard, but with elegance and a nice balance between citric fruits & oak

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon, red apples, peach, pear, ginger and light oak spice.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with garlic ginger glazed sticky pork.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 21, 2020

LCBO: 345389

DOMAINE DES VALS 2017, AOP Corbières, France

10 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Syrah & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corbières
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cellier des Demoiselles
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet elegant red wine

Positives: Dark purple to ruby in colour this wine features cherry, blackberry, mulberry, black & white peppers and soft tannins.

Interesting Point: The Cellier des Demoiselles was created in 1914, just before the First World War. The name is a tribute to the women of the village who, in the absence of their men, strove to preserve our wines and our Terroir.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Manchego cheese

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 10, 2020

LCBO: 12981