Category Archives: Red Wines

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY ALLUVIUM 2005, Alexander Valley, California

30 Sunday Jun 2013

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

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Beringer

Cost: $36.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge in colour and a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you have the 2005 in a cellar, lucky you.

Positives: A complex wine featuring cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, Christmas cake, pumpkin pie, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, white pepper, peppercorn, arugula, chocolate, & olive tapenade.  Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: I don’t have any more bottles left.

Drink now on its own and pair it with tenderloin steak. This still can cellar easily for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

GABRIEL MEFFRE LAURUS GIGONDAS 2009, AC Gigondas, France

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Laurus

Cost: $26.95 (Clearance: $18.90)
Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gigondas
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gabriel Meffre
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour and a medium+ nose.

Selecting the correct wine glass is critical to getting the positives out of this wine. I sampled the wine in several different types of glasses and found it either lacking or hot due to the alcohol. The Sommelier Riedel Syrah glass was the perfect match.

Positives: The wine features cedar, lots of pepper and peppercorns, blackberry, bramble fruit, light tar, espresso, lavender, mushrooms and chalk. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with Veal Marsala.

Tasted: 23 June 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance: 9/10)

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

LCBO: 16113

SIMON DI BRAZZAN MERLOT 2010, IGT, Venezia, Italy

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Simon_di_Brazzan_Merlot_Riserva_IGT_web

Cost: $21.00
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Simon Di Brazzan Vineyard Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Venezia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Simon Di Brazzan Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice easy drinking wine.

Positive Notes: Good flavours featuring light oak, raspberry, plum, cherry, black tea and cocoa. Medium+ body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or over the next 2 years and pair it with prime rib.

Tasted: 13 June 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SPERLING OLD VINES FOCH 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Sperling_Vineyards_Old_Vine_Foch_web

Cost: $26.00
Grape Variety: Marechal Foch
Category: Red Wine
Location Sperling Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sperling Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

In comparing this to their reserve Foch, this one is lighter in taste but higher in alcohol. If you had to choose, I would go with the reserve for the extra money.

Positive Notes: A flavorful wine featuring prunes, brambleberry fruit, figs and pastrami. Medium+ body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the taste

Drink now on its own or over the next 3 years and pair it with venison.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

SPERLING RESERVE OLD VINES FOCH 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Sperling_Vineyards_Old_Vine_Foch_web

Cost: $32.00
Grape Variety: Marachel Foch
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Sperling Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sperling Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby to garner in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Unusual try a Fosch from BC rather than Ontario.

Positive Notes: Intense flavours of plums, dark cherry, mulberry, raspberry, pastrami, fennel & pomegranate. Medium+ body with good acidity & length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or over the next 3 years and pair it with venison.

Tasted: 13 June 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17.5/20

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

BURROWING OWL MERLOT 2010, VQA Okanaga Valley, BC, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

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Burrowing Owl Merlot

Cost: $30.00
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Burrowing Owl Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burrowing Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positive Notes: This merlot has nice juicy flavor featuring raspberry, plums, dark chocolate, thyme, sweet basil and vanilla. Full body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the taste

Drink now on its own or over the next 5 years and pair it with beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 13 June 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 7.5/20

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

THERAPY VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Therapy Pinot

Cost: $21.99
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Therapy Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Therapy Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 11.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This doesn’t taste like a Pinot Noir, more like a cheap California wine that you can buy for $5. I believe Therapy needs therapy on this one!

Notes: Strawberry jam, cherry pie and milk chocolate. Medium body with average acidity & length.

Negatives: Too many to name.

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

Tasted: 13 June 13

Score: 8/10, Value: 6/10 Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

GRANT BURGE CORRYTON PARK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Barossa, Australia

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Corryton

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Grant Burge
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium+ ruby to in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A typical Barossa Cab

Positive Notes: Full flavoured cab featuring medium oak, plums, eucalyptus, cherry, black olives, red and black currants, licorice, espresso and slightly leathery on the finish. Full body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Touch hot on the finish

Drink now on its own or over the next 5-7 years and pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317834

LIRICA PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2007, DO Puglia Italy

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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lirica-primitivo-di-manduria

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Primitivo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Consorzio Produttori Vini E Mosti R
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

If you like Zinfandels but you find some of them overly jammy, or high in alcohol, this one will not disappoint you. And for a 2007 vintage at under $20, this is a really good buy. Also if you like Port but not the high alcohol and sweetness, then this one is for you.

Positives: Light cedar, prunes, dates, figs, dark chocolate, Allspice, blackberry & raspberry. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity with a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 14 June 13

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 326710

ALAMOS SELECCION MALBEC 2010, Mendoza, Argentina

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Alamos

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wines of Catena
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Plain Jane Malbec that will appeal to those that like their reds on the sweet side.

Notes: Prunes, blackberry, maraschino cherry in milk chocolate and blueberry pie. Medium+ body with low tannins and acidity with an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair with sweet & spicy BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 14 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO: 322800