Category Archives: Recommended

BERINGER BROS BOURBON BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2016, California, United States

25 Thursday Jul 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.24 US
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Brothers
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

A unique concept of imparting Bourbon barrel flavour into a Chard, & I’m happy to say it works. Love the Bourbon shape of the bottle & the old style label.

Positives: This wine features a cross between lemon meringue pie & apple pie, with apricots, pineapples, mangos, crème brûlée, vanilla bean, caramel and ginger.

Negatives: A little high with the 14.5% alcohol, but it is well integrated

Interesting Point: Beringer Bros. Chardonnay is picked at the peak of flavour development from top sites across California and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with 25% malolactic fermentation. 20% of the wine is aged for 60 days in second-pass charred American Oak barriques, which previously held Bourbon.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 24, 2019

KACABA REBECCA ROSÉ 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Friday Jul 2019

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

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Cost: $18.35
Grape: Gamay
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 12.3 % Alcohol/Vol.

This is what a rosé should be; refreshing, dry, juicy, flavourful & easy drinking

Positives: Salmon in colour featuring strawberry, raspberry, white cranberry, pink grapefruit & limestone.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with St. Louis style BBQ pork chops.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 4, 2019

KACABA CABERNET/SYRAH 2017 VQA, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

03 Wednesday Jul 2019

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

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: 46% Syrah, 27% Cab Franc, 27% Cab Sauv
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.7 % Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of spice in this baby, which I like

Positives: Wine features red berries, blueberries, cherries, mint, cassis, Star Anise, peppercorn, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves and arugula.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 13 months in French oak

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with any Italian dish with tomato sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 3, 2019

KACABA OAK AGED CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

29 Saturday Jun 2019

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

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Cost: $25.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 12.6 % Alcohol/Vol.

A well balanced Canadian Chard that is pleasant to drink

Positives: Bright gold in colour, this wine features lemon tarts, peach, nectarines, pineapples, honeydew melon, vanilla, oak spice, dill and ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 8 months in French wood.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 29, 2019

RIVAROSE BRUT SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, IGP Salon De Provence, Mediterranee, Provence, France

22 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 50% Grenache, %50 Syrah
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Salon De Provence, Mediterranee, Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rivarose
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Refreshing Provence sparkling rosé that glides easily over the palate

Positives: Rose gold in with a fine mousse that features raspberry, pink grapefruit, nectarine, honey and almond nugget.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established in 1909, Rivarose is situated in Salon De Provence, and is now Provence’s oldest and largest producer in sparkling wines.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 22, 2019

LCBO: 515288

DE WETSHOF BON VALLON UNWOOD CHARDONNAY 2017, Wo Robertson, South Africa

04 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $22.95 (Sale price $19.95 until June 23, 2019)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Wetshof
Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

An unwooded Chard that has citrus, orchard fruit & minerality all at a great price. A great option over Chablis.

Positives: Light gold with a green tinge that features lemon, green apples, pear, guava, pear and limestone.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 4, 2019

LCBO: 403675

ANTECH-LIMOUX EXPRESSION CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX BRUT 2015, Traditional Method, AC Limoux, Languedoc, France

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Limoux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antech-Limoux
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

This pleasant vintage Blanc de Blanc is complex, creamy, fresh & clean

Positives: Light gold a green tinge with a fine mousse. Wine features light yeast, brioche, lemon-lime, honeydew melon, green apples, Spy Apple & Napoleon Custard.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 2, 2019

LCBO: 68239

LANDER-JENKINS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, California, United States

15 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon blend
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Wine approaches the typical commercial California red sweeter side, but then it retreats to open up to a nice array of fruits & tertiary notes without the typical high alcohol

Positives: Wine features kirsch, blackberries, mulberries, raspberries, plums, cranberry, toffee, tobacco leaves and smoked tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I bought this wine because I like there motto on the back of the label: “Family Owned, Family farmed. Good for the land. Good for the grapes. Good for the wine.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 15, 2019

LCBO: 161398

CALVET BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX ROSÉ TRADITIONAL METHOD 2016, AOP Bordeaux, France

12 Sunday May 2019

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dulong Calvet
Alcohol: 12 % Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but it’s pleasant & easy drinking

Positives: Light rosé colour with fine mousse. Wine features strawberries, cherry, light yeast and red apples.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 12, 2019

LCBO: 624759

PIERRE JOURDAN TRANQUILLE CLASSIQUE STILL WINE NV, Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

29 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Rosés, White Wines

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Cost:$25 US
Grape:60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: White & Rosé Wine
Location: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Haute Cabrière
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant wine made like a sparkling wine with Pinot Noir & Chardonnay grapes, but take out the carbonation and ergo you get still wine keeping the same low alcohol level.

Positives: Wine has a light rosé colour, and features lime, kiwi, raspberry, Spy Apples, tangerine and peach.

Interesting Point: “The emphasis of Tranquille being a ‘still Champagne’ type wine relates to the production process, whereby the juice is recovered from whole bunches of grapes that have not been crushed, which excludes the tannins out of the wine structure, creating the fine elegance.” Wine.co.za

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with plethora of different styles of olives.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: April 18, 2019