Category Archives: Red Wines

MAGNOTTA GRAN RESERVA MERITAGE 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Tuesday Mar 2015

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Magnotta Meritage

Cost: $29.20
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Magnotta Wines
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 15.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold, beautiful & quality that’s rare in Ontario reds under $30

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, mulberry, dark cherry, raspberry, cassis, anise, cinnamon, cloves, Allspice, eucalyptus, nutmeg, turmeric and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Recommended serving temperature is 12-16 C or 54-61 F

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Beef Tenderloin in Cherry Black Pepper Sauce.

Tasted: 28 March 2015

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

BARNETT VINEYARDS TINA MARIA VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2010, Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California, United States

23 Monday Mar 2015

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

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Barnett Tina Maria

Cost: $44.99
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: Green Valley, Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barnett Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

There’s yummy and there’s YUMMY, this is the later. A good wine to have on a special occasion

Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, purple lilacs, sultana, dark cherry, pomegranates, raspberry, autumn leaves, bacon, pickled beets and cherry pipe tobacco. Full body with light tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of my favourites, if not the favourite Pinot Noir

Drink now or cellar it for another 7 years on its own or pair it with Rosemary roasted duck.

Tasted: 22 March 2015

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

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

SOLANTICO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2012, Doc, Puglia, Italy

21 Saturday Mar 2015

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PrimitivoSolanticoBottiglia72dpi-500x500

Cost: $18.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Primitivo
Category: Red Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style Primitivo that’s well balanced & juicy

Description: Bright deep ruby in colour with a medium intense. This wine features light cedar, ripe blackberry, raisins, plums, dark cherry, violets and peppers. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with mushroom, pepperoni & tomato pizza

Tasted: 18 March 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

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

JOSH PINOT NOIR 2013, California, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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pinot

Cost: $19.99 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josh Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A balanced, juicy & easy drinking that’s above average for a general Californian Pinot under $20

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features dark cherry, strawberry, oak spice and chocolate. Medium+ body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Chill the wine to 15 C

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with corned beef brisket.

Tasted: 16 March 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

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

ACROBAT PINOT NOIR 2012, Oregon, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Acrobat

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region: Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: King Estates
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

This Pinot achieves an all too rare goal in this day and age, delivering a high quality, Oregon Pinot Noir at an affordable price

Description: Medium to light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This juicy wine features pine, cranberry, wild strawberry, rhubarb, autumn forest smells, cinnamon & cloves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with slow smoked ham served with mango and braised sweet onion.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 11 March 2015

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

JOSEPH PHELPS INSIGNIA 2005, Napa Valley, California, United States

14 Saturday Mar 2015

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Insignia

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Cost: $180.59 (Cayman Islands funds bought in Nov 2013)
Grape Variety: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably the best red wine I’ve ever tasted

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, black cherry, plums, butter toffee, sea grape, caramel, medjool dates, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, espresso & Cherry Bonbon pipe tobacco throughout. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak from Mario’s; The Tasting Room and my wife’s grilled peppers, green beans and mushrooms

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Top Pick

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Score: 10/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO: 710400

MORGENSTER LOURENS RIVER VALLEY 2005, Lourens River Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

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morgenster

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Lourens River Valley, Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Morgenster Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique, interesting; you will either love it or hate it. Full flavoured but highly medicinal in character

Description: Dark cloudy ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features oak, iodine, menthol, blackberry, plums, bell peppers, tar, dark chocolate, cloves, cinnamon, liquorice, fresh herbs, wild flowers, vanilla and leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The iodine reminds me of my grandmother. In the negative she used to put iodine on my cuts, ouch! On the positive, reminds me of my grandmother.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with whiskey glazed pork chops.

Tasted: 25 Feb 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 709303

ANGELINE SIGNATURE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2013, California, United States

14 Saturday Feb 2015

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angeline

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angeline Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple easygoing, non-offensive Pinot

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light cedar, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, light rhubarb and cinnamon. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None if chilled properly

Interesting Notes: Keep it chilled as if it warms up negatives such as sweet fruits such as prunes, cherry pie and dates show up

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with BBQ pulled pork sliders.

Tasted: 12 Feb 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 396143

MATUA VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand

14 Saturday Feb 2015

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matua

Cost: $17.95 (On sale $15.95 until 1 March 15)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Matua
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A lot to offer for a Pinot for under $20

Description: Medium to light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, rhubarb, cherry, cranberry, strawberry, cinnamon, smoked amber and a touch of forest. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Sweet potato crusted salmon on a bed of spinach & roasted tomato quinoa with a grainy dijon & dill Chimichurri (as per Chef Carl Dahl executive chef from Julia & Ritorno restaurants)

Tasted: 10 Feb 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 358952

THE RULE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States

14 Saturday Feb 2015

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the-rule-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-usa-10423456

Cost: $16.95 Clearance
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Special Order
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: BNA Wine Group
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice easy drinking wine for under $20, Did I mention that’s for a Napa Cab?!

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, dark cherry, plums, raspberry, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, arugula and Radicchio. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch of heat from the 14.2% alcohol

Interesting notes: Bought this at LCBO clearance price. The winery sells this for $24.69 US, but in reading the prices in the States, looks like $15 is the norm, which is an excellent price. At this price I would get a case.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak grilled with sage, parsley and lemon zest infused compound butter.

Tasted: 21 Jan 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4