Category Archives: Red Wines

REININGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, United States

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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reininger

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $17.60)
Grape Variety: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Walla Walla Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Reininder Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality cab with some kick to it

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, dark and sour cherries, plums, red currents, thyme, cassis, turmeric, graphite, Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, peppers and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Same wine sells for $45 at the winery

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Pan-Roasted Veal Chops with Cabernet Sauce.

Tasted: 27 Nov 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale price 9.5/10), Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 387027

SONO MONTENIDOLI 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli

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Sono Montedoli

Cost: $16.00 Euros
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The true essence of Sangiovese and its terroir

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, bramble fruit, cloves, thyme, oregano, basil, spinach, espresso, cocoa, and leather. Medium+ body with high tannins and acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for a minimum of an hour

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with pappardelle in tomato sauce

Tasted: 10 Dec 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HESS COLLECTION 19 BLOCK MOUNTAIN CUVÉE 2010, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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Hess

Cost: $37.95 Cayman Islands, $49.95 LCBO
Grape Variety: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 11% Syrah, 6% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga, Cayman Islands or LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Hess Collection
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Silky smooth and yummy, but that’s the technical term

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, stewed plums, blueberry, raspberry, espresso, tobacco leaves, cherry tobacco, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and pencil shavings with suede on the finish. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 15 years on its own or pair it with grilled sirloin served with roasted baby potatoes drizzled with aged balsamic.

Tasted: 6 Dec 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

PAHLMEYER JAYSON PINOT NOIR 2005, Sonoma County, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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

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jayson Pinot

Cost: $78.55 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth elegance

Description: Cloudy medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features ripe sea grapes on the nose with strawberry tarts, bramble fruit, rhubarb, bergamot, smoked bacon, roasted fennel, black cherry, toffee and Brazilian coffee on the finish. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity, the alcohol is well integrated and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting this wine to my sister-in-law to give to me as my birthday present.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom and speck brick oven pizza.

Tasted: 5 Dec 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, United States

23 Sunday Nov 2014

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Dry Creek Sauv

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5%Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dry Creek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice juicy, full flavoured wine

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, dried thyme, cassis, anise, espresso, bell peppers, arugula, pencil shavings, turmeric and leather. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with thyme glazed lamb shank served with turmeric saffron and pear tomato salsa.

Tasted: 14 Nov 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 642207

MAGNOTTA CARMENÈRE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2012, Chile

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Carmeniere

Cost: $8.95 (Sale price Nov 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: Carmenère
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Chile
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant and easy drinking wine

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, plum, licorice and Allspice. Medium to medium+ body with low 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 beef stew

Tasted: 16 Nov 2014

Best Buy

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

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

TRAPICHE EXTRAVAGANZA 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

20 Thursday Nov 2014

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Trapiche

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 55% Malbec, 35% Bonarda, 10% Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Trapiche
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like sweet styled red wines

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features Christmas cake, plums, milk chocolate, raspberry jam and vanilla. Medium body with low tannins, fair acidity, an average length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me

Drink now on its own or pair it with spicy beef tacos

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2+

LCBO: 360776

KAIKEN TERROIR SERIES CORTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Sunday Nov 2014

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Kaiken Terroir

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kaiken
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This will please those that like sweeter style red wines like the basic Aussy Reds but not as flabby

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features prunes, raisins, milk chocolate, mocha and blueberry pie. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Too sweet for my taste

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pulled pork sliders.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2014

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 384305

MURIEL GRAN RESERVA 2004, Rioja, Spain

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

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muriel_gran_reserva_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muriel
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mild Gran Reserva with a good balance of tertiary notes and fruit, and well priced

Description: Medium to dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, plums, prunes, licorice, blueberry, dark cherry, champagne mushrooms and mesquite. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with

Tasted: 18 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 984187

SEVEN SINNERS PETITE SYRAH OLD VINES THE RANSOM, 2012 Lodi, California, United States

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

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seven-sinners

Cost: $20.90
Grape Variety: Petit Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nine North Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Bold Petit Syrah that drinks more like a Zin

Description: Dark to opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry jam, plums, raisins, blueberry, Allspice, roasted green peppers and Christmas cake. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point: Sourced from vines that average over 50 years

Drink now on its own or pair it with bison

Tasted: 4 Nov 2014

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

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

LCBO: 319152