Category Archives: Red Wines

13th STREET WINERY CABERNET MERLOT 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario Cab/Merlot blends under $20. Smooth with substance & it makes your mouth dance in a good way

Tasting Note: Medium light ruby in colour, light tannin this wine features raspberry, pomegranate, licorice, sage, rosemary, cloves, cinnamon and light cedar.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with roasted sherry duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 19, 2020

DOMAINE DES VALS 2017, AOP Corbières, France

10 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Syrah & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corbières
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cellier des Demoiselles
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet elegant red wine

Positives: Dark purple to ruby in colour this wine features cherry, blackberry, mulberry, black & white peppers and soft tannins.

Interesting Point: The Cellier des Demoiselles was created in 1914, just before the First World War. The name is a tribute to the women of the village who, in the absence of their men, strove to preserve our wines and our Terroir.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Manchego cheese

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 10, 2020

LCBO: 12981

MURIEL FINCAS DE LA RESERVA 2014, Rioja, Spain

09 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Roja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muriel
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple Reserva, but still good

Positives: Medium purple to garnet in colour this wine features cherry, pomegranate, sandalwood, Allspice and leather.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 5-7 years or pair it with chicken and chorizo rice pot.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 9, 2020

LCBO: 276030

THE AUDACITY OF THOMAS G. BRIGHT MERLOT-CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale price until March 1, 2020: $15.95)
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I enjoyed their Chard, but this red, not so much as it flabby & a lot of sweet notes like strawberry rhubarb pie, milk chocolate covered prunes. Those that prefer the sweet California wines will like this one.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 2, 2020

LCBO: 11564

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SELECT SERIES SYARH GRENACHE NV, France

11 Tuesday Feb 2020

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.15 (Sale price Feb 2020: $13.15)
Grape: Syrah-Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: Magnotta Winery
Country: France & Canada
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple and not half bad

Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features plum, cherry, red apples, white pepper with light tannins.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now on its own or pair it with stewed meats.

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: February 11, 2020

RCABERNET CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, California

10 Monday Feb 2020

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: V Vines
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For a generic California Cab, there’s lots of positives, such as the alcohol is under 14% & it isn’t flabby or sweet, but it doesn’t encourage me to buy it again at this price.

Positives: Ruby to purple in colour, this wine features dark cherry chocolate, mocha, blackberry, plum, baking spice, turmeric and graphite.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The wine didn’t hold up with steak as it made it flabby. It can’t take the protein in red meats.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Country Style Potato Salad drizzled with Bourbon BBQ Sauce.

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: February 10, 2020

LCBO: 13181

PANTOCRATOR 2005, DOC Rioja Alta, Spain

03 Monday Feb 2020

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

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Cost: $37.95 (Clearance price: $30.40)
Grape: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja Alta
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Tarón
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rich, complex & powerful aged Tempranillo

Positives: Ruby to garnet in colour, this wine features cherry, raisin, Allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, liquorice, black pepper, peppermint, leather and smoked wood.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Traditional winemaking that entails ageing the two varieties separately in American oak barrels for twelve months. The wines are then blended and returned to the barrels, where they spend another six months. After ageing, the wine is left for 12 months in steel tanks, where it is further refined, and then it is ready for bottling.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb, medium rare.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 3, 2020

LCBO: 12181

CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2017, AOP Corbières, Languedoc, France

23 Thursday Jan 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40)
Grape: 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corbières, Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Tréviac
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A powerhouse red, in classic Southern French style, at a great price

Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features blackberry, plum, pepper (black & white), thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, leather and Liguria olives.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Coq au Vin.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy and Amazing Buy at sale price

Tasted: January 23, 2020

LCBO: 670505

HAVENS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

14 Tuesday Jan 2020

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon with some Petit Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Havens Winery
Alcohol:  14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A California Cab with substance and under $30

Positives: Inky ruby to purple in colour this wine features plum, dark cherry, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, leather, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings and smoked amber on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: January 14, 2020

LCBO: 13241

TOM THOMSON 100th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION ALGONQUIN RED 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $19.15
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value red from Ontario made in Bordeaux style

Positives: Dark ruby in colour this wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, turmeric, green peppers, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Current vintage is far superior than the last one.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-Bone steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 2, 2019