Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Talley Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

This is produced more in the Australian Barossa Cab style.

Positives: This is a softer style cab featuring light cedar, bramble pie, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarinds, plums, dark cherry, mocha, black pepper, light tar and menthol.  Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly length.

Negatives: A touch sweet for me.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn steak.

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+

LCBO: 327254

Cost: $43.95 (Clearance price $35.50, and then a further reduction to $28.60 in another LCBO)
Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bennett Lane Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Slightly cloudy with a medium+ ruby in colour & with a medium+ intense nose.

Veni, Vidi, Bibi (I came, I saw, I drank). I have wanted to try this wine for a while, as I love the label, but was hesitant at the regular price. However, at the clearance price (which is by the way is the same price at the winery albeit at US price) is definitely worth the buy.

Positives: Drinking beautifully now, this Napa blend serves up good complexity featuring cedar, blackberry, black cherry, anise, violets, dark chocolate covered cherries, ripe tamarinds, plums, mocha, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric & tobacco. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Named after Emperor Magnus Maximus (AD 383 to AD 388) who was an ardent wine lover. Interesting story to his rise and fall. Decant the wine as it’s unfiltered.

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

Tasted: 9 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 293258

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price $28.00)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hartley Ostini
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ nose.

A solid Pinot, but a touch more expensive than it should be. The clearance price is more appropriate.

Positives: A flavorful Pinot exhibiting wood smoke and purple lilacs on the nose, and on the taste pine, cherry pie, sour cherry, cranberry, strawberry and dried rosemary. Medium minus body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14.2% alcohol, and a touch overtly tart.

Interesting Notes: The movie Sideways brought The Hitching Post into mainstream.

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

Tasted: 26 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 179812

Cost: $26.95 (Clearance $18.90)
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera Del Duero
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

This will only please a discernable few.

Positives: Heavy into the tertiary tasting field with oak, mushroom, underbrush, espresso, thyme, with black olives, dark cherry, sour cherry & black currants. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Note: I like the Spanish bottle and label.

Drink now or over the next 5 years with food such as the Spanish dish Pringá.

Tasted: 20 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 8.5+/10) Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 341461

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Empson & Co. S.R.L.
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose.

A simple easy drinking Italian wine that still retains some ruggedness.

Positives: Cedar, plum, dark & sour cherry, sage, red licorice & leather. Medium to medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: Nose is better than the taste.

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

Tasted: 19 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Thanks to Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

LCBO: 69377

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yvon Mau Et Fils
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple entry level Bordeaux wine.

Positives: Light cedar, blackcurrants, cherry, anise, pencil shavings & spinach. Medium to medium+ body and tannins, with average acidity and length.

Negatives: Slightly green in its finish.

Drink now on its own but it would pair better with food such as hamburgers and meatloaf.

Tasted: 19 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Thanks to Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

LCBO: 255067