09 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $19.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Roja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muriel
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A simple Reserva, but still good
Positives: Medium purple to garnet in colour this wine features cherry, pomegranate, sandalwood, Allspice and leather.
Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 5-7 years or pair it with chicken and chorizo rice pot.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: March 9, 2020
LCBO: 276030
12 Wednesday Feb 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $13.70
Grape: Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Simple, yet elegant & at a price that’s worth drinking more
Positives: Bright rose colour with fine mousse this wine features cherry, strawberry and Spy apple
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with sweet pepper rose jelly on prosciutto and a Ritz cracker.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: February 12, 2020
14 Tuesday Jan 2020
Posted in Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $27.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon with some Petit Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Havens Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
A California Cab with substance and under $30
Positives: Inky ruby to purple in colour this wine features plum, dark cherry, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, leather, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings and smoked amber on the nose.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: January 14, 2020
LCBO: 13241
25 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended
Cost: $54.75 US (Sale price for December: $38.08 US)
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Père & Fils
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Simple yet classic Champagne
Positives: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features yeast, brioche, white peach, apricot, honeydew melon, lemon and limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: At the regular price there are several better Champagne options. However, at the sale price it’s a good buy.
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with creamy lemon sauce.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: December 25, 2019
18 Wednesday Dec 2019
Cost: $19.15
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Excellent value for a quality Viognier
Positives: Bright new gold in colour this wine features peach, apricot, honeydew melon, orange rind, nutmeg and peach pit.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: December 17, 2019
08 Sunday Dec 2019
Posted in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $30.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Red Stone Winery
Alcohol: 12.% Alcohol/Vol.
A pleasant rosé sparkler that will please those that don’t like the yeastiness in sparkling wine or Champagnes
Positives: Bright salmon to copper in colour with a fine mousse this wine features strawberry, lime, Gala apples and limestone.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: December 8, 2019
01 Sunday Dec 2019
Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Not complex but high quality of this well balanced, crisp & refreshing Blanc de Blanc
Positives: Light straw in colour with a fine mousse this wine features green apples, lemon, lemon zest and limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: From winemaker’s notes: “Second Blanc de Blanc made from our neighbor Lado Viscek’s meticulously farmed vineyard, the fruit was hand-harvested in the second week of September 2017. The grapes were transferred gently into the press and the free run juice was captured separately to preserve the elegant profile. Primary fermentation was kept cool and in 100% stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation was suppressed to keep the fresh fruit character in the wine. The secondary fermentation took place in bottle and the wine was aged sur lattes for a minimum of 12 months. After the lees was removed, winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas felt an addition of two grams per litre of sweetness was the perfect balance to the bracing acidity in the wine. The wine was disgorged in August 2019.”
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters on Ritz crackers.
My Opinion: Recommended
24 Sunday Nov 2019
Cost: $25.15
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
True to its namesake, the sparkler is balanced between classic toasted fermentation, fruit, crispness, dryness and acidity
Positives: Golden straw with a slight pink tinge in colour, fine mousse this wine features toasted hazel nuts, brioche, lemon, green apples, pear, blood orange and limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: I first reviewed Balance Brut in August 2016. I enjoyed it then, but more so today as I feel the wine making it has come of age.
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Raspberry Point oysters.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: November 24, 2019
20 Wednesday Nov 2019
Cost: $23.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
An aged Chard this is balanced between the oak, fruit & minerality
Positives: Gold in colour, this wine features medium toast, lemon pie, clementine, green & yellow apples, yellow plums, ginger, dill, oak spice, limestone and Easter Lily on the nose.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled buttered halibut.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: September 29, 2019
20 Wednesday Nov 2019
Cost: $19.15
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Excellent value red from Ontario made in Bordeaux style
Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, turmeric, green peppers, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Current vintage is far superior than the last one.
Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-Bone steak.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: November 2, 2019
Twilight Wines 