Category Archives: Red Wines

COLLIER CREEK BIG ROOSTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Lodi, California, United States of America

22 Wednesday Jul 2020

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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.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 21, 2020

LCBO: 14428

BARKAN CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Galilee, Israel

17 Friday Jul 2020

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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.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 17, 2020

LCBO: 637785

TENUTA DI TRECCIANO I CAMPACCI TOSCANA 2016, IGT Tuscany, Italy

09 Thursday Jul 2020

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.00
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti Hill, Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta di Trecciano
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style IGT that makes your mouth water for more

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with high acidity, an intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features sour cherry, red & black currants, blackberries, cocoa, coffee, oregano & balsamic.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO has the grapes as Sangiovese & Merlot, however, on Trecciano’s website it lists this as 100% Merlot.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-12 of years on its own or pair it with roasted wild boar.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 9, 2020

LCBO: 14146

MAZZEI BELGAVARDO TIRRENICO 2016, DOC Maremma, Toscana, Italy

08 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.00
Grape: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Alicante, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Maremma, Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mazzei
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A great price for a quality wine full of flavour, structure & balance

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, balanced tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features sour cherry, blackcurrants, blackberries, plum, strawberries, turmeric, arugula, sage, cassis, leather & pencil shavings.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The Tyrrhenian Sea derived its name from the population of the “Tyrrhenoi”, better known as the Etruscans, who led by Prince Tyrrhenus landed on the coast of Southern Tuscany. This charismatic blend bears the name “Tirrenico” because its native vineyards overlook the sea and benefit from its breezes.” Mazzei

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-12 of years on its own or pair it with pasta with game sauce, white meat stews, baked vegetables.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 8, 2020

LCBO: 12093

CASTELLO DI GABBIANO CAVALIERE D’ORO 2016, IGT Toscana, Italy

02 Thursday Jul 2020

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: $15.20)
Grape: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cavaliere D’oro
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Solid value & versatile IGT red wine for under $20

Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features blackberries, sour cherry, pomegranate, cassis, fig, Allspice and violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with veal parmigiano.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 2, 2020

LCBO: 13453

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY’S DEAN LIST SYRAH 2018, VQA, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A classic style Syrah that’s full of berries & spice, all for under $30 and with only 13% alcohol, and it’s made in Ontario!

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, white & black pepper, tobacco leaves, and a gorgeous spicy/smoked nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: How much to I like this wine? I tasted it at the Winery in a small plastic glass & I was wowed by it, so in my official tasting with the proper Syrah stemware, not surprisingly I’m stilled wowed.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 7-8 of years on its own or pair it with lamb saltimbocca with port wine & blackberries.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 26, 2020

HOYA DE CADENAS RESERVA TEMPRANILLO 2014, DOP Utiel-Requena, Spain

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.00 (Sale price until June 21, 2020: $11.50)
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Utiel-Requena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vicente Gandia
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I wish I could like this as it’s a great price for an aged Tempranillo. Unfortunately, the taste isn’t there. It’s just “blah”.

Not Recommended

Tasted: June 24, 2020

LCBO: 620989

DOMAINE LES PINS CUVÉE LES ROCHETTES BOURGUEIL 2017, AOP Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France

06 Saturday Jun 2020

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40)
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgueil, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Les Pins
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy Cab Franc full of flavours

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, fine tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, bell peppers and white & black peppers.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with pepper crusted venison fillet with Worcestershire glazed mushrooms

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 6, 2020

LCBO: 478263

CREEKSIDE LAURA’S RED 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Cost: $25.00 (Clearance price: $17.55)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah & Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Creekside Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A consistent favourite of mine, but due to the high acidity it drinks best when paired with food. Has a beautiful nose.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with high acidity, a medium+ intense nose, integrated tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackberry, loganberry, plum, tamarind, anise, cloves, tomato leaves, & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Great deal at the clearance price.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years and pair it with Greek styles lamb kebabs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 2, 2020

LCBO: 117960

ROSEMOUNT DIAMON SHIRAZ 2019, South Australia, Australia

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Cost: $15.95 (Sale price until June 21: $13.95)
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rosemount Estates
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent value Shiraz that although has some fruit sweetness to it, it’s balanced with a pleasant taste

Tasting Note: Medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & an average length on the finish. Wine features blackberry, plum, dark cherry, ripe tamarind, sweet steak spice & cinnamon.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The sale price at Sobeys is $12.37 vs LCBO’s $13.95

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with roast beef with red wine & banana shallots.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 1, 2020

LCBO: 302349