Category Archives: Recommended

BONTERRA CHARDONNAY 2016, Mendocino County, California, United States

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Feb 25, 2018)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Fair priced Chardonnay that I like

Positives: Smooth, rich in flavour, tropical fruit, spicy, well balanced between oak, fruit and acidity, it’s organic and under $20.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 12, 2018

LCBO: 342436

HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A fairly priced Chard

Positives: Easy drinking, good citric flavours mixed in with some tropical notes, and the oak is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy at the clearance price

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 14, 2018

LCBO: 268342

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $21.55 Clearance price
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A robust Chard that may need time to smooth out its edges, but still a good quality Chard

Positives: This wine is medium to full body featuring lemon, green apples, dragon fruit, pear, oak spice and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I prefer the 2017 vintage as it more balanced, creamy, tropical fruit and at 13% alcohol.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 13, 2018

LCBO 1552

SIMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Simi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This shouldn’t disappoint people looking for a quality Cab from one of my favourite wine areas in the world, Alexander Valley.

Positives: Lower price than most Cabs from Alexander Valley. Not a heavy wine, but still having a good mix of red and black fruit along with moderate tannins and good acidity.

Negatives: Corrugated cork decreases ageing potential.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 15, 2018

LCBO: 25221

ALVENTO ARIA NEBBIOLO 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $46.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style Nebbiolo, but still high in tannin

Positives: This wine features pomegranate, strawberry, cranberry, oregano, arugula and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014, and destroyed the vines. Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now but double decant and pair it with beef Braciola or drink on its own over the next 10 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 8, 2018

M`A`N MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT NV, Coastal Region, South Africa

09 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.75
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Coastal Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: MAN Family Wines
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This sparkling wine won’t blow away people, but it’s fairly priced and enjoyable

Positives: Yellow in colour with medium mousse. This wine features light oxidative characteristics, Granny Apples, lemon/lime, quince and peaches.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is named after the first initials of the 3 winemakers wives names.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 9, 2018

LCBO: 556670

BOHIGAS RESERVA BRUT CAVA NV, DO Cava, Spain

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: $15.20)
Grape: 50% Xarello, 30% Macabeo, 20% Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fermi Bohigas
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A dry, versatile sparkling wine that’s easy to drink

Positives: Well balanced sparkling wine with some depth. A nice mix of yeast, citric fruit and white fruit.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 18, 2018

LCBO: 401216

 

ALVENTO ASTRAL 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 14% Viognier
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Already an aged wine that is showing beautifully

Positives: Easy to drink with light tannin, and full flavoured. Wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, tamarind, button mushrooms, tomato leaf, pencil shavings, turmeric and leather.

Negatives: Some barnyard notes on the nose

Interesting Point: Garnet in colour that is showing an aged wine older than the 2011 vintage.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 5, 2018

WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.75 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $11.75)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

For an inexpensive California Cab it has good flavour, but not on the sweet side. This one is a winner.

Positives: A nice array of wild berries, cassis with mild tannins.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 48611

ST. FRANCIS CHARDONNAY 2015, Sonoma County, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Francis Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The grapes are sourced from my favourite California wine AVAs: Russian River Valley, Carneros and Alexander Valley. Too bad I wasn’t overly impressed with this wine. Good but not great.

Positives: Standard good Chard at this price range featuring integrated oak, tropical and citric fruits with good acidity and structure.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol, but it is well integrated.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 317131