Category Archives: Red Wines

ALVENTO ARIA NEBBIOLO 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $46.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style Nebbiolo, but still high in tannin

Positives: This wine features pomegranate, strawberry, cranberry, oregano, arugula and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014, and destroyed the vines. Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now but double decant and pair it with beef Braciola or drink on its own over the next 10 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 8, 2018

ALVENTO NEBBIOLO 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $55.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is more austere than the 2007, but truer in style and it is unfiltered

Positives: High in tannin, but very robust and complex. This wine features pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, oregano, tomato leaves and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014, and destroyed the vines. Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now, but pair it with chicken cacciatore in red wine sauce or drink on its own over the next 10-15 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

ALVENTO ARIA NEBBIOLO 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $56.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is at its peak and showing beautifully now

Positives: A smooth wine with a long finish featuring strawberry, cranberry, oregano, Champagne mushrooms and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014.Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2014, DOC Doã, Portugal

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Roriz Ink, 20% National Touriga
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Dão
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cabriz
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

There are quality inexpensive wines vs sweet red inexpensive wines, and this is the former. If this were a Canadian or American wine you would have it priced $20 to $25

Positives: A nice array of black cherries, plums, raspberries, spices & dark chocolates. Nicely balanced between the oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Amazing and Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2018

LCBO: 247973

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

From one of my favourite US wineries, this Cab offers quality taste for a good value.

Positives: A nice array of black fruits, spices, cocoa with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 26, 2018

ALVENTO ASTRAL 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 14% Viognier
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Already an aged wine that is showing beautifully

Positives: Easy to drink with light tannin, and full flavoured. Wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, tamarind, button mushrooms, tomato leaf, pencil shavings, turmeric and leather.

Negatives: Some barnyard notes on the nose

Interesting Point: Garnet in colour that is showing an aged wine older than the 2011 vintage.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 5, 2018

WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.75 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $11.75)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

For an inexpensive California Cab it has good flavour, but not on the sweet side. This one is a winner.

Positives: A nice array of wild berries, cassis with mild tannins.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 48611

LA MASCOTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $12.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mascota Vineyards
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Move on, nothing to see here

Positives: Sale price

Negatives: This isn’t good, but not for the usual over sweet red wines found in this price range. The wine was very astringent.

Ageability: Drink now.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 292110

THREE THIEVES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, California Republic, United States

03 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Republic of California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Three Thieves Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This isn’t half bad for a generic Californian red that’s usually designed for the masses in this price range. I have to admit I bought this wine because the label has it as “California Republic”.

Positives: Prunes and plums, but doesn’t go towards the sweetness that you would expect from a generic Californian Cab as it has good acidity and tannins to hold up.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3 years.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 541961

ALVENTO TEMPEST 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: 50% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

On a blind tasting one would guess that this wine was a late vintage Right Bank Bordeaux priced around $60. But no it’s Canadian at half that price.

Positives: Garnet in colour and showing that’s an aged wine. Featuring dark cherry, plum, blackberry, blueberry, Champagne mushrooms, nutmeg, cassis, star anise, oregano, tomato leaf, turmeric and leather.

Negatives: On the nose, the wine’s bouquet shows barnyard notes, which would be fine if this was a Pinot Noir.

Ageability: Drink now

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 1, 2018