Cost: $25.00 (Sale at the Winery: $20.00) Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Kin Vineyards Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Full body Chard with a nice balance between the oak, tropical & citric fruits. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, honeycomb, oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & on the nose.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Curry Mango and Lime Chicken Skewers
Cost: $29.95 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $26.95) Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California Format: 750 ml Producer: Rodney Strong Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Expressive, full flavoured California Pinot without the high alcohol. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, subtle tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, sauté mushrooms, cloves & mild earth notes.
Negatives: None
Interesting Note: Chill to 15C
Winemaker’s Note: Spent 18 months in French oak barrels with 29% in new.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare with Scotch Bonnet.
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger, almonds & white lilies on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic
Winemaker’s Note: “A regional blend of Chardonnay from our Organic grower partners. All lots were gently pressed to yield delicate juice. Slightly settled juice was transferred to 300L neutral French oak barrels for wild fermentation, including malolactic, light oak spice and aged for 10 months.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with East Coast Lobster
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger, dill, almonds, light oak spice & Acacias on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic
Winemaker’s Note: “A regional blend of Chardonnays from organic growers. Harvested at several dates throughout October 2020. Grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral 300L barrels. Malolactic fermentation was followed by 10 months aging before bottling prior to harvest 2021”
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with East Coast Lobster
Cost: $37.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada Format: 750 ml Producer: Southbrook Vineyards Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.
A simple yet elegant Chard. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger & roasted almonds.
Negatives: None
Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic
Winemaker’s Note: “Hand harvested from a mixed clonal block of old vines (25 years old) in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub appellation. Whole clusters were gently pressed using a long and slow press cycle. Settled juice was transferred to French oak barrels (20% new) for fermentation. The wine was aged in barrels for 10 months before a select few were chosen to make this blend.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Miso & Soy Chilean Sea Bass
Cost: $22.95 Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A simple & clean Pinot that nice to drink. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a low to medium intense nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, cranberry, oak spice & some peatmoss on the nose.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Salmon Poke Bowl.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Twilight Wines 