Category Archives: Recommended

ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY BLANC DE BLANC 2013, Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate
Alcohol:  12% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balance Blanc de Blanc that has some complexity, good acidity, fruit and most importantly, taste good.

Positives: Golden straw in colour with a fine mousse, this wine features light brioche, lemon, kiwi, green apple, and limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: November 17, 2019

LCBO: 227009

CANYON ROAD CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

10 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $9.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canyon Road
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An entry Chard that has character, and I really like its creamy texture, but it’s not fat, tropical fruit yet has acidity as backbone and it’s only 13% alcohol. May I stress that it only has 13% alcohol for a California Chard!

Positives: Bright gold in colour featuring pineapple, mango, lemon meringue, yellow plums, yellow apples, crème brûlée, butterscotch, cinnamon and dill.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Canyon Road Winery is located in Alexander Valley, which is one of my favourite AVAs.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing Buy

Tasted: November 9, 2019

LCBO: 552513

SMOKING LOON CHARDONNAY 2017, California, United States of America

06 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Smoking Loon
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent entry level Chard that is simple, yet elegant, and not above 14% alcohol, which is, unfortunately, the norm for California Chards

Positives: Light gold in colour the wine features lemon, pineapple, yellow apple, papaya, green tea and limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 6, 2019

LCBO: 633594

CRÉMANT D’ALSACE BRUT ROSÉ NV, Méthode Traditionelle , Alsace, France

03 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.95)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave de Beblenheim
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking sparkling wine with lots of red berry flavours

Positives: Pale salmon in colour with fine mousse this wine features strawberry, red currants and pomegranates.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with baked salmon with garlic and Dijon.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 3, 2019

LCBO: 168948

OYSTER BAY CHARDONNAY 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

24 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until November 10, 2019: $16.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oyster Bay
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Cool climate Chard that is simple but well made

Description: Bright medium gold in colour this wine features well integrated oak, lemon, green apple, honeydew melon, kiwi, ginger & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Originally reviewed 19 June 2016

Drink now or in the next couple of years, on its own or pair it with Pheasant breast à l’orange with dried apricots & prosciutto.

Tasted: October 24, 2019

My Opinion: Recommended

LCBO: 326728

J. LOHR RIVERSTONE CHARDONNAY 201, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California, United States

23 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until November 10, 2019: $16.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: J. Lohr Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to have a California Chard, especially from a warm region, that is full body, well balanced between the oak, fruit, acidity but under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright gold in colour this wine features light toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, mango, pineapple, Kiwi fruit, peach and ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Last reviewed on August 27, 2014

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 23, 2019

LCBO: 258699

RICKETY BRIDGE FOUNDATION STONE 2016, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

19 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $28.75 USD
Grape: 46% Chenin Blanc, 22% Roussanne, 18% Grenache Blanc,11% Viognier, 3% Nouvelle
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine shows sweet tropical fruits, but the wine itself is not sweet

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features mango, nectarine, tangerine, kiwi, ginger, lemon drops and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Naturally fermented in barrels at 16˚C. The grapes were pressed gently up to 0.9 Bar pressure after a short period of skin contact. Partial malolactic fermentation took place in older 225L French oak barrels and a 2,500L oak Foudre. All five varietals were matured separately in barrel for a total

maturation time of 10 months before being blended for bottling.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with jerk chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 19, 2019

RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2017, W.O Franschhoek, South Africa

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.25 USD (On sale for the month of July $17.50 USD)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent South African Chard that is fairly priced and well balance between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features lemon, clementine, nectarine, caramel, oak spice, dill, almonds and lemon meringue with orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Spent 21 months in French oakThis wine was naturally fermented in small French oak barrels and second fill Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older)

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with prawn pasta.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at sale price

Tasted: October 16, 2019

FRANCISCAN MERLOT 2014, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

14 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $35.60 USD
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Black Beards, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Franciscan
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant Merlot that is well balanced with nice dark fruit

Positives: Deep ruby to purple in colour having medium tannins and featuring mulberry, plum, dark cherry, blackberry, cola, cherry tobacco, dark chocolate, black pepper and violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled meats.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 14, 2019

BURIED CANE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

27 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buried Cane Winery
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A full body, smooth & expressive Cab that’s is also well balanced

Positives: Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium tannin, this wine features dark cherry, plum, tamarind, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, turmeric, leather, cedar, spinach leaves

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Buried Cane” refers to the practice of burying grapevine canes to protect them from freezing the cold Washington winters.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 27, 2019

LCBO: 402081