Category Archives: Recommended

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

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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