Category Archives: Recommended

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB VIOGNIER 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Wood aged Viognier adds a complexity & uniqueness to this wine

Positives: Although wood aged and fermented, it’s dry featuring apricots, lime, kiwi, green apples and white peach.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: All sold out at the winery

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: November 29, 2018

ALVENTO TEMPEST 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: 50% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

On a blind tasting one would guess that this wine was a late vintage Right Bank Bordeaux priced around $60. But no it’s Canadian at half that price.

Positives: Garnet in colour and showing that’s an aged wine. Featuring dark cherry, plum, blackberry, blueberry, Champagne mushrooms, nutmeg, cassis, star anise, oregano, tomato leaf, turmeric and leather.

Negatives: On the nose, the wine’s bouquet shows barnyard notes, which would be fine if this was a Pinot Noir.

Ageability: Drink now

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 1, 2018

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE NOIRE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT MÉTHODE TRADITIONNALLE NV, Bourgogne, France

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir from Bordeaux made in the traditional method for under $18, hard to say no to this sparkler.

Positives: A lighter style Blanc de Noir featuring a fine mousse, baked apples, lemon, pear, limestone and spice.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 6, 2018

LCBO: 464776

M XX270 SYRAH 2015, Vin De France, Corsica

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corsica
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave d’Aléria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rare & unique wine from Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon, to Ontario. Need to try it just for that, and oh yes it’s pretty good too!

Positives: Easy drinking with medium+ tannin that features blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, spice, white pepper, some mint and violets on the nose. Needs decanting to fully open the wine up.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 26, 2018

LCBO: 571778

ARISTOTLE PETITE SIRAH 2014, Monterey County, California, United States

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Petite Sirah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Scheid Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Slightly on the sweater side, but has enough substance to rise above the generic California reds

Positives: Blackberry, kirsch, mocha, plum, pencil shavings, leather and violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 7, 2018

LCBO: 572321

VILLA BLANCHE CHARDONNAY 2017, IGP Pays d’Orc, France

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $15.00 (Sale price: $13.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Pays d’Orc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Calmel & Joseph
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Above average Chard at the sale price

Positives: Lemon, pink grapefruit, tangerine, white peach, McIntosh apples, and honeydew melon.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2018

LCBO: 375071

CON SUR RESERVA ESPECIAL CARMENÈRE 2017, DO Valle del Cachapoal, Chile

16 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Carmenère
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cono Sur
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy, low tannin wine that’s a great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, and it’s under the usual 14.5% alcohol that is normally associated with Carms

Positives: Black currants, blackberry, plums, blueberry, dark chocolate, cinnamon and cigar box.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 20, 2018

LCBO: 569657

BARÓN DE LAY ROSÉ 2017, DOC Rioja, Spain

17 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Tempranillo & Garnacha
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Baron De Ley
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A bold rosé that pairs nicely with grilled pork, grilled stuffed peppers or sharp cheeses

Positives: Red snapper in colour featuring notes of strawberry, blood orange, Thyme and sage.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 25, 2018

LCBO: 117283

LES MARMITONS GASTRONOMY CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Jan 2017

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

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gastronomy-chard-1

Cost: $19.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love finding unique treasures, especially in Canadian wines, and this wine is one of them

Description: Bright straw to gold to in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple, clementine, clove, butterscotch, honey & apple blossoms on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this wine was aged sur lie in barrel oaks for 14 months and had malolactic fermentation, the wine tastes better in smaller Chablis style glass than the larger Montrachet larger glassware.

Drink now or in the next 4 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Lemon Sole.

Tasted: 16 January 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Aug 2016

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

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12 BF Chard Pic

Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Niagara College Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balanced between citric, tropical fruit, acidity & oak

Description: Medium bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, apple, pineapple, Freestone peaches, oak spice, clove, dill and white flower on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Kate from the Teaching Winery for assisting me at the winery’s tasting area.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years, on its own or pair it with pizza bianche with fior di latte, cherry tomatoes, arugula & prosciutto di Parma

Tasted: 20 August 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4