Category Archives: Recommended

24 Sunday Nov 2019

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

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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

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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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

TOM THOMSON 100th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION ALGONQUIN RED 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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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

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