Category Archives: Red Wines

PEGASUS BAY PINOT NOIR 2007, Waipara Valley, New Zealand

27 Friday Dec 2013

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pegasus

Cost: $47.95 (Clearance: $33.65)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Waipara Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Donaldson Family Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Reminds me of a cold crisp winter night with wood fireplaces burning their logs.

Positives: A nose that I can immerse myself in and the taste is not far behind. This wine features pine, crisp bacon, pomegranate, sour & dark cherry, violets, strawberry & a touch of earthiness.  Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted pig.

Tasted: 26 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5+) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 31294

HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR RESERVE 2009, VQA Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Dec 2013

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2009_Baco_Noir_Reserve_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently, Canada’s best Baco Noir is Henry of Pelham’s reserve

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, smoky embers, Gaeta olives, bacon, prunes, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, black currants, blueberry, chocolate, Portobello mushrooms & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using a Pinot glass and lightly chill it.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with a melody of olives in olive oil.

Tasted: 22 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 461699

KING ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

15 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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King Estate

Cost: $26.30 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: King Estate
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple, light style Pinot Noir

Positives: This wine features pine, cranberry, sour cherry and some earth notes. Light body & tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with thin crust pizza.

Tasted: 15 Dec 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 7/10 Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

THE OJAI VINEYARD 2005, Santa Barbara, California, United States

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

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

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Ojai

Cost: $19.99 CI
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Ojai Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Inky ruby with purple tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

What an amazing wine that I got for under $20 in the Cayman Islands. LCBO had it in 2011 for $39.99

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, tar, coffee beans, violets, cigar box, peppers, burnt rubber, ripe tamarind, tarragon, licorice & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lucky I bought out the store with this wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with ragù alla Bolognese with garlic bread.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Top Pick & Best Buy (in Cayman)

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2010, DOCG, Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Vino Nobile

Cost: $21.99 CI
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cecchi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A full flavoured Sangiovese that won’t disappoint. Thank you to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for this recommendation.

Positives: The wine features mild oak, sour cherry, thyme, rosemary, leather & Shitake mushrooms. Medium body with high tannins & acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour before serving. LCBO had the 2009 this year, but all sold out, so hopefully the 2010 will be coming soon.

Drink now or over the next 7 years. This wine is meant for food, so pair it ground beef, thyme, tomato & shallot sauce over angel hair.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

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

MT. ROSA PINOT NOIR 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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Mt Rosa

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance: $22.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Crossroads LCBO
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A lighter style Pinot that’s easy to drink, maybe too easy? If you’re not careful you may be into your 2nd bottle without even realizing it. At the clearance price it’s a steal as it’s truly worth $40

Positives: The wine features pine, candy apples, cranberry, dried herbs, strawberry and the smell of burning fall leaves. Light body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with duck paté

Tasted: 8 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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

VERGENOEGD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006, Stellenbosch, South Africa

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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VERGENOEGD_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Faure Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Well aged Cab for under $25

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, anise, iodine, pencil shavings, dark cherry, sage, arugula and leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This Cab comes from one of the oldest vineyards dating back to 1696.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-bone steak.

Tasted: 28 Nov 2013

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

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

LCBO: 68445

COTO DE IMAZ RESERVA 2005, Doc Rioja, Spain

25 Monday Nov 2013

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Coto

Cost: $20.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coto de Rioja
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A true pleasure to drink and for just over $20.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, coconut, vanilla, nutmeg and some leather.  Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like the classic label.

Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Crusted Black Pepper and Cinnamon seared Pork Loin served with fried yucca drizzled with garlic butter.

Tasted: 18 Nov 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 23762

LUCA LABORDE DOUBLE SELECT SYRAH 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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Luca

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Luca
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid Syrah for under $25

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plums, black and red peppers, sage, thyme, cloves, cinnamon and some menthol on the finish. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat coming from this wine that I suspect may be higher alcohol than the stated 14%.

Interesting Point: The wine comes from Syrah vines from France over a century ago.

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

Tasted: 20 Nov 2013

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

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

LCBO: 167346

RAMÓN BILBAO GRAN RESERVA 2004, Doc, Rioja, Spain

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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Ramon

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazųelo, 5% Graciano
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

If you want a really good Tempranillo Gran Reserva for under $30 this one is it (hint hint Gary P)

Positives: This smooth yet complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, plums, vanilla, coconut, Rosemary, mint, cinnamon & nutmeg. Medium body with medium low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 4 years and pair it with grilled rack of lamb.

Tasted: 21 Nov 2013

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

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

LCBO: 244715