Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castello Banfi
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby with some garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A good wine but would have been a great wine if it wasn’t for the heat coming from the high alcohol

Positives: This wine features cedar, sour cherry, plums, rosemary, basil, espresso, tobacco leaves, spinach & leather. Medium body with dry to astringent tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Needs at least an hour to decant.

Drink now or in the next 15 years on its own or pair it with veal parmigiana.

Tasted: 5 May 2014

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

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

LCBO: 332635

Cost: $37.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Cabernet
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Collection Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice smooth wine, albeit a little on the sweet side with noticeable high alcohol

Positives: This wine features cedar, maraschino cherry, blackberry, raspberry, cinnamon, plums, milk chocolate and graphite. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

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

Tasted: 2 May 2014

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

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

LCBO: 906420

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau de Chantegrive
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Classic Graves wine that you pay a little more, but it’s worth it.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, anise, cassis, dark cherry, graphite, sage, thyme, tobacco leaf, cocoa, espresso and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with dry aged steak.

Tasted: 27 April 2014

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 321356

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Le Bourdillot
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

The nose is better than the taste

Positives: This wine features cedar, plum, cherry, radish, shitake mushrooms, arugula, sage & leather. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A little watery

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Beef Stroganoff.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 365908