Category Archives: Red Wines

LAURA HARTWIG RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, Colchagua Valley, Chile

24 Thursday Mar 2016

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Laura

Cost: $17.95 (Clearance: $12.65)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hartwig Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

One needs food to enjoy this tart, tannic & high alcohol feeling wine

Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, blackberry, pomegranate, unripe tamarinds, eucalyptus, pepper, graphite, tomato leaves, spinach & leather. Medium body with green tannin, good acidity, an average length.

Negatives: Too tart for me and a little too much heat from the 14% listed alcohol. Needs decanting.

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Pan Seared NY Strip Steak with Garlic Butter Sauce.

Tasted: 22 March 2016

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 727495

CAYMUS VINEYARDS 2013, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, United States

21 Monday Mar 2016

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

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Caymus

Cost: $99.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caymus Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Oh my! This is decadent

Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features layers of flavours starting with cedar/sandalwood, dark cherry, plum, blueberry pie, tamarind, raspberry, chocolate, cherry tobacco, espresso, dates, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and purple lilacs & peat moss on the nose. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: 14.9% alcohol, but what they hay!

Interesting Note: This is so smooth and delicious I could easily drink bottles of this, but then I would be broke, oh well, you only live once (that one remembers?)

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Spice-Crusted Strip Steak with Tamarind Sauce.

Tasted: 8 March 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 222877

 

 

ANTICA MASSERIA JORCHE PRIMITIVO Di MANDURIA 2011, DOC Manduria, Puglia, Italy

20 Sunday Mar 2016

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Jorche

Cost: $21.95
Grape: Primitivo
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Manduria, Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antica Masseria Jorche
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.

Good but a little one dimensional

Description: Dark purple to ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, cherry, pomegranate, figs, raisins, oregano, sage, graphite and tomato leaves. Medium+ body with high tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 15% alcohol

Interesting Note: Decanting for an hour. Really like the classy label

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Rigatoni with Spicy Sausage-Tomato Sauce, Arugula and Parmesan.

Tasted: 27 February 2016

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 417535

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Sunday Mar 2016

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.15 (Sale until 29 Feb 2016: $16.15)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A modern style Pinot that balances sweet & tartness to make this a juicy & well received

Description: Medium light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine cedar, sweet cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, truffles, an undertone of earth and violets on the nose. Medium+ body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Less funky than their 2011 vintage, reviewed by me last year, and I believe this will find a wider audience. Remember to lightly chill it.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Sage Pork Chops with Cherry Balsamic Glaze.

26 February 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale Price: 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

PAHLMEYER PROPRIETARY RED 2008, Napa Valley, California, United States

18 Friday Mar 2016

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Pahlmeyer

Cost: $149.95
Grape Variety: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 15.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Weighty price, heavy bottle, hefty flavour

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, blueberry, plum, raspberry, mocha, cappuccino, Allspice, cherry tobacco, turmeric and vanilla. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: 15.2% alcohol

Interesting Point: Tasted this wine in several style glassware, including the Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux and even the Pinot Noir style. An interesting find with the latter as it eliminated the traditional green notes that initially dominated the finishing notes in the other styles. However, after being allowed to breathe in the Sommelier glass for a while it was elegant, silky and just plain delicious. Decant for an hour.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Porterhouse Lamb Chops with Garlic Herb Mashed potatoes.

Tasted: 16 March 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO:329375 Old skew number: 967992

SAMSARA MELVILLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2011, Melville, Sta. Rita Hills, California

18 Friday Mar 2016

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Samsara

Cost: $85.50 US
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Melville, Sta. Rita Hills, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Samsara
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

New World style Pinot that is just beautiful & worth the premium price

Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This wine features an beautiful aromatic nose followed by an equally delicious palate. Notes include purple lilacs, paradise plum, sage, strawberry, raspberry, peat moss, forest greens, and Sea-grape. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room www.caymanboutique.com for suggesting this wine to my daughter; Sarah, for my birthday present.

Interesting Note:

  • Lightly chill and serve in a balloon style Pinot glass
  • Hand picked & hand made
  • Neither fined nor filtered

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Spiced Roasted Crispy Goose.

Tasted: 16 March 2016

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Top Pick

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

GUENOC PETITE SIRAH 2013, Lake County, California, United States

18 Friday Mar 2016

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Guenoc

Cost: $28 US
Grape: Petit Sirah 2013
Category: Red Wine
Location Club House One, Miami International Airport
Country: United States
Region: Lake County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Langtry Estate
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy & a treat to drink

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, plum, dark cherry, white & black peppers, chocolate, arugula, vanilla, leather and violets on the nose. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Would like to taste this wine in a proper wine glassware.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Club House One Rib-eye steak (It was delicious)

Tasted: 17 March 2016

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Restaurant price) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CRAGGY RANGE TE KAHU GIMBLETS 2011, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

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10_cr_redb1

Cost: $30.50 US
Grape: 69% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Craggy Range
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting in a good way

Description: Bright deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, dark cherry, raspberry, plum, tamarind, blackcurrant, cherry-cola, sage, thyme and leather. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Te Kahu means “The cloak in the Te Reo Maori and refers to the mist that envelops their giants winery in the Tuki Tuki Valley. Legend has it this mist protected a mythical Maori maiden from the sun as she visited her lover Te Mata.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Garlic Pit Roasted Picanha.

Tasted: 12 March 2016

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

DIEMERSFONTEIN PINOTAGE 2014, Wellington, South Africa

15 Tuesday Mar 2016

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Pinotage

Cost: $30 US ($18.95 at LCBO)
Grape: Pinotage
Category: Red Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Wellington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Diemersfontein Wine & Country Estate
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic smoky intense Pinotage that’s quite delicious

Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features oak, tiramisu, buttered dark toast, mocha, Christmas cake, sticky toffee, cigar box, strawberry jam, tar and sizzled bacon. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room www.caymanboutique.com for suggesting this wine and a delightful afternoon of wine tasting.

Interesting Note: Wine is made from hand-picked grapes.

Ideally suited to drink this wine on its own over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 14 March 2016

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 956409 (As of this review the 2014 vintage is not yet available at the LCBO)

CASTRA RUBRA RED 2009, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria

15 Tuesday Mar 2016

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Castra Rubra-500x500

Cost: $37 US
Grape: 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Bulgaria
Region: Thracian Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castra Rubra Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality wine from Bulgaria that is worth the premier price

Description: Medium deep bright ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, espresso, peat moss, leather, eucalyptus, oregano, cola, Crimini mushrooms and arugula. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room www.caymanboutique.com for suggesting this wine

Interesting Note: Wine is made from hand-picked grapes.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Coffee Rubbed Boston Butt Pulled Pork.

Tasted: 14 March 2016

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4