11 Tuesday Feb 2020
Posted in On The Fence, Red Wines
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
10 Monday Feb 2020
Posted in On The Fence, Red Wines
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
03 Monday Feb 2020
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
23 Thursday Jan 2020
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
14 Tuesday Jan 2020
Posted in Recommended, Red Wines
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
20 Wednesday Nov 2019
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
02 Saturday Nov 2019
Cost: $31.15
Grape: 43% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
One of Ontario best blended red wines that is fruit forward with complexity & structure
Positives: Deep ruby to purple in colour having medium tannins and featuring blackcurrants, blackberry, plum, fennel, black & white pepper, cloves, vanilla and spinach leaves.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Spent 21 months in French oak
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled rib-eye steak.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: October 8, 2019
25 Friday Oct 2019
Cost: $70.00
Grape: 50% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mission Hill Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
After 12 years in the bottle, this Oculus is still showing its complexity & flavours
Positives: Dark garnet in colour with an intense nose, this wine features plum, dates, blackberry, blueberry pie, Champagne mushrooms, tobacco, vanilla, turmeric, coffee, black pepper, black olives and leather.
Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol
Interesting Point: Current vintage in store, 2013, now sells for $130
Ageability: Drink now on its own or pair it with prime rib Au Jus.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: October 25, 2019
LCBO: 9316
14 Monday Oct 2019
Posted in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $35.60 USD
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Black Beards, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Franciscan
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A very pleasant Merlot that is well balanced with nice dark fruit
Positives: Deep ruby to purple in colour having medium tannins and featuring mulberry, plum, dark cherry, blackberry, cola, cherry tobacco, dark chocolate, black pepper and violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled meats.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: October 14, 2019
04 Friday Oct 2019
Cost: $20.95
Grape: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Olarra
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Delicious, Rioja at its best
Positives: Deep ruby to garnet in colour with medium tannin this wine features cherry, raspberry, plum, ripe tamarind, Kirsch, sandalwood, leather, champagne mushroom, sage, arugula, cinnamon and cloves.
Negatives: Slight heat from the 14% alcohol
Interesting Point: Spent 20 months in American and French oak
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with macadamia nut encrusted rack of lamb.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick
Tasted: October 4, 2019
LCBO: 114306
Twilight Wines 