Category Archives: Recommended

CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL CHARDONNAY 2021, Washington, United States of America

05 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $20.95 (Clearance Price: $16.80)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Washington
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Christopher Michael
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Medium body, lightly oaked Chard that shows a lot of flavour. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, kumquat, pear, peach, tangerine, honeydew melon, ginger, oak spice

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Kumquat Chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 4, 2024

LCBO: 32826

DECOY MERLOT 2021, California, United States of America

06 Saturday Apr 2024

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $27.80)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Decoy
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A touch sweet, which is typical for a Cali Merlot, but it’s not jammy or thick with above 14.5% alcohol. Lots of expression in fruit & spice. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, raspberries, tamarind, kirsch, Allspice, anise, cinnamon, sage & lavender on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 28, 2024

LCBO: 460642

JOEL GOTT BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2021, California, United States of America

24 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Styled in the traditional Napa Valley Chard but keeping the alcohol below 14.4% alcohol & nicely balanced between the oak & fruit. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, ginger, baking spice, dill & honeysuckle.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “After harvest, the fruit was fermented in 50% new French oak barrels and 50% one & two-year-old French oak barrels for 6–8 months to add complexity to the wine.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the Clearance Price

Tasted: March 22, 2024

LCBO: 32886

CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV, AC Alsace, France

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $22.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: 80% Pinot Blanc, 20% Auxerrois
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cave de Ribeauville
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Bone dry on the taste with citric fruit & minerality. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, high acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, green & yellow apples, pear, orange, limestone & acacia on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “The grapes are exclusively harvested by hand. This Crémant is produced in the purest respect of the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle, followed by aging for a minimum of 12 months on slats. A dosage of 8.5g/l during disgorging gives it its raw character.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it for Sunday Brunch.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 17, 2024

LCBO: 183624

CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2019, AC Bordeaux, France

23 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.00
Grape: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Dauphiné-Rondillon – Vignobles Darriet
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A good example of left bank Bordeaux at an inexpensive price point. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, tamarind, raspberry, pomegranate, cloves, pencil shavings, turmeric, clay & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for at least 1 hour

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Moroccan Beef Stew

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 22, 2024

LCBO: 426247

FREIXENET ITALIAN ROSÉ 2021, IGT Veneto, Italy

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: $14.20)
Grape: Veneto Grape Varieties
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet nice easy dry drinking rosé. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light pink to salmon in colour with good acidity, a light intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry & tangerine.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan & I love the look of the bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in a couple years on its own or pair it with Sweat & Spicey Shrimp

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 18, 2024

LCBO: 21623

DOMAINE LES SALICES VIOGNIER 2012, Pays D’Oc, France

03 Sunday Dec 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.40)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine François Lurton
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Oiliness followed by nice yellow fruit acidity. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: White peach, pear, yellow cherry, Cape Gooseberries, apricot, light roasted hazelnuts & limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Tasting of the grapes to determine the harvest date at the moment of the aromatic peak. Harvest by machine (between 4 and 9 a.m.) to take advantage of the cool temperatures and thus limit the phenomenon of oxidation. Skin maceration. Pneumatic pressing then cold stabilization for several days. Racking and yeasting for alcoholic fermentation between 16 and 18°C.
Aged for 6 months in French barrels with regular stirring of the lees for 1/3 of the volume.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken & pork pâté

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: December 1, 2023

LCBO: 358192

BELLE GLOS OEIL DE PERDRIX 2022, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

27 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance Price: $19.60)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Belle Glas
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A full body rosé without the sweetness or high alcohol. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, white pepper & cantaloupe.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Oeil De Perdrix is French for “eye of the partridge.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken & pork pâté

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy at the clearance price

Tasted: November 26, 2023

LCBO: 343020

TORRE ZAMBA INCASTRO BIANCO 2022, IGT Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

19 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.50)
Grape: 50% Pecorino, 30% Passerina & 20% Trebbiano
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Torre Zambra
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, crisp & expressive food friendly wine. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Passion fruit, lemon, orange pith, green apple, pear, white cherry & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan wine

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Chili Lime Trout

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 18, 2023

LCBO: 28121

ANGELS & COWBOYS BRUT SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, California, United States of America

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $33.95 (Clearance Price: $27.20)
Grape: 56% Pinot Noir & 44 % Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Angels & Cowboys
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with some complexity. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, buttered toast, green apples, pear, lemon & hazelnut.

Negatives: None

Wine Makers Note: “Wine completes 16-month en tirage (aging on the lees),
a traditional dosage of liqueur dʼexpedition is added for balance
and complexity. The base wine blend contains 24% reserve wines
(from a perpetual reserve).”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Oysters Rockefeller

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: November 12, 2023

LCBO: 32075