Category Archives: Red Wines

BURIED CANE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

27 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buried Cane Winery
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A full body, smooth & expressive Cab that’s is also well balanced

Positives: Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium tannin, this wine features dark cherry, plum, tamarind, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, turmeric, leather, cedar, spinach leaves

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Buried Cane” refers to the practice of burying grapevine canes to protect them from freezing the cold Washington winters.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with beef ribs.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 27, 2019

LCBO: 402081

RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

13 Friday Sep 2019

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

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Cost: $39.95 (Clearance Price: $32.00)
Grape: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Ranch
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical plush high alcohol Napa Cab, this one is bright, juicy with finesse

Positives: Medium to dark ruby in colour, this wine features, black & red currants, black cherry, red plums, spearmint, vanilla and dark chocolate.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: It’s becoming a rarity now days to have a red wine from California below 14% alcohol.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 11, 2019

LCBO: 73817

PONDVIEW BELLA TERRA PINOT NOIR 2014, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

01 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $50.20
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Estate Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lot of tart on the taste, which mostly goes away when it opens up. Nice Pinot but the price is to too high for what you’re getting

Positives: Pale garnet in colour featuring cranberry, pomegranate, cherry and light tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: Too expensive

Interesting Point: Let it open out or else it will be too tart, and lightly chill it.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters.

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: September 1, 2019

KACABA ESCARPMENT CABERNET/SYRAH 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Tuesday Aug 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of red fruit, spice with firm tannin gives this Ontario Cab/Syrah complexity

Positives: This wine features cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, blackberry, black & white pepper, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, cinnamon with a smoked oak nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled marinated leg of lamb

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 13, 2019

GEYSER PEAK WALKING TREE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015, Alexander Valle, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

02 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valle, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Geyser Peak Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Disappointing showing of a wine I use to love

Positives: This wine features plum, dark cherry, blackberry, black figs, mocha, turmeric, leather and vanilla.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Vintages 2008 & 2007 that I wrote reviews in 2013 & 2012 respectively, the price was $19.95 and the alcohol was great at 13.5%. Taste was just wonderful, unfortunately it seems Geyser Peak has decided to join the rest of the California clan to make sure their wines, red & white are 14.5% alcohol or higher, and raised their prices by $10. So sad.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: August 2, 2019

LCBO: 161323

ANGUS THE BULL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Central Victoria, Australia

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Central Victoria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Aberdeen Wine Company
Alcohol: 14.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy with full flavour & slightly on the sweeter style, but not California sweet

Positives: Dark cherry, plum, raspberry, tamarind, dark chocolate,

Negatives: Some heat from the 14% alcohol

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with a tomahawk steak.

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: July 16, 2019

LCBO: 602615

KACABA CABERNET/SYRAH 2017 VQA, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

03 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: 46% Syrah, 27% Cab Franc, 27% Cab Sauv
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.7 % Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of spice in this baby, which I like

Positives: Wine features red berries, blueberries, cherries, mint, cassis, Star Anise, peppercorn, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves and arugula.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 13 months in French oak

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with any Italian dish with tomato sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 3, 2019

SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECT VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2016, DO Valley Del Maule, Chile

24 Friday May 2019

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Carmenère
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Valley Del Maule
Format: 750 mL
Producer: San Pedro
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy, bright, green & spicy

Positives: Wine features blackcurrants, blueberries, raspberries, green pepper, arugula & black tea.

Negatives: High alcohol of 14.5

Interesting Point: Not my cup of tea, but others may like it.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with beef brisket.

My Opinion: One the fence

Tasted: May 24, 2019

LANDER-JENKINS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, California, United States

15 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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

Wine approaches the typical commercial California red sweeter side, but then it retreats to open up to a nice array of fruits & tertiary notes without the typical high alcohol

Positives: Wine features kirsch, blackberries, mulberries, raspberries, plums, cranberry, toffee, tobacco leaves and smoked tobacco on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I bought this wine because I like there motto on the back of the label: “Family Owned, Family farmed. Good for the land. Good for the grapes. Good for the wine.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Osso Buco.

My Opinion: Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 15, 2019

LCBO: 161398

13th STREET WINERY SANDSTONE VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2016, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

01 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Gamay Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably one of the worldwide best Gamays & the best Canadian Gamay that I ever tasted.

Positives: It starts with a beautiful smoky nose followed on the taste by dark cherry, raspberry, mulberry, Champagne mushrooms, nutmeg and fried bacon.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use balloon style glass and slightly chill it.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Arrosticini.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 30, 2019