Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.00) Grape: 70% Nero di Troia – 30% Other local varieties Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Castel del Monte, Apulia Format: 750 mL Producer: Rivera Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A mix of berries, spice & leather. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, redcurrants, leather, anise, tobacco leaves & Allspice.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Aged in French oak for at least 14 months and for a further year in bottle.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 7- 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with marinated venison steak.
Cost: $25.95 Grape: Red blend Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Central Coast, California Format: 750 mL Producer: 22 Pirates Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Ok I confess, I bought this wine because I loved the name, the picture on the front label & the rear label summarizing the wine, even though it’s at 14.5% alcohol, & those that read my reviews know I’m not a person that likes high alcohol wines. After tasting this wine, I still don’t like the high alcohol, but I really like this wine. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Dark purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackcurrant, dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, thyme, oregano, eucalyptus, white & black peppers, cigar box & lilac on the nose.
Negatives: Heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: 1) Every bottle introduces you to a different member of the crew with a customized cork listing his name and role aboard the ship. Unfortunately, mine was Rusty Latches aka The Swab. 2) There may be up to 22 Rhône Valley varietals, but that’s a secret, as Pirates don’t tell. 3) “The label is an original artwork created by a French painter named Francois-Auguste Biard in 1855. Biard’s work tells the tale of treachery, as the thieving crew lures a passing ship to come closer with the promise of companionship and music. Completely unaware those are not women or fanciful passengers, but a crew lying in wait.” www.22pirates.com
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Quail with Rosemary Thyme and Garlic.
Very rustic in nature, which one would expect from a Gran Reserva 14 yrs in age, but still very youthful. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dried cherry & cranberry, Allspice, Star Anise, leather, cedar, oak resin, vanilla and cigar box on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Love the bottle
Pairings: Drink this now or in 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with Pisto Manchego.
Cost: $17.95
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Even though there’s a lot of spice, which is to be expected from Shiraz, this wine is very smooth & nice to see that it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby with some purple in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose, mild tannins & a good length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, peppercorn, Allspice & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Shiraz & Syrah are the same grape, but generally Australia’s Shiraz is different from the Rhône style Syrah. This is very noticeable if you compare these grape styles with their appreciate glassware. I tried this wine in both style stemware & found that when I had it in the Syrah style, it should more roughness, so I chose the Shiraz style. Other interesting point is that the wine is Vegan friendly and organic.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Duck Breasts with spiced blackberry Au Jus.
Cost: $28.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Styled in classic Ontario Pinot style (Old Word meets New World) it’s taut, complexed & full of Pinot flavour. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with high acidity, a medium to low intense nose, firm tannin & a very long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, strawberries, red beets, sweet tobacco, a touch of vanilla, underbrush & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Chill to 15 C degrees & use a balloon style glassware.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-5 of years on its own or pair it with roasted duck & pickled red beets.
A mishmash of red wines makes this on the sweeter side but has some nice spice to add some complexity. Score: 85/100
Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a length on the finish. Wine features plum, Kirsch, blueberry pie, Bing cherries, raspberry, ripe tamarinds, black tea, raspberries & Allspice.
Negatives: Comes across a little like a commercial California red wine.
Interesting Point: This is where the quality of the stemware is important as if you use high quality glassware it will accentuate the negatives in this wine, therefore use the traditional Italian table wine glassware, just a glass will do.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Moroccan spiced lamb chops with allspice and thyme.
Cost: $18.95
Grape: Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Ariñena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Grandes Vinos
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A nicely aged wine full of flavour & elegance while all under $19. Score: 88/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features Bing cherries, red currants, bramble fruits, plum, ripe tamarind, tobacco, cedar, eucalyptus & aged balsamic.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Aged 2 years in oak barrels with a further 3 years in bottle before being released.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Brazilian skirt steak with golden garlic butter.
Cost: $18.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
It infrequently happens when I give a wine under $19 with a Top Pick, (Price Not Withstanding), & this Cab Franc gets into that category as the wine exudes elegance with mouth-watering fruits, spice & beautiful fragrant violets on the nose.
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features bramble fruit, red currants, plum, white pepper, arugula & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Have it slightly chilled to 17-18 C in order to bring out even more of the freshness of the fruit.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto wood oven pizza.
Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Collier Creek Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
It’s always a nice surprise to me when I try a California Cab that is under $20 that has substance & not sweet or high alcohol
Tasting Note: Medium light ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, moderate tannins & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarind, cedar, vanilla bean & espresso.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: This wine is Certified Green & Sustainable.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with marha pörkölt – Hungarian beef paprika stew.
Cost: $20.30 (Clearance Price: $16.30)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barkan Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A very pleasant young Cab Sauv without the harsh tannin that has nice juicy black fruits
Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherry, tamarind & cedar.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with braised beef ribs with blackberry glaze.
Twilight Wines 