Category Archives: Recommended

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

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