Category Archives: Red Wines

7 DEADLY ZINS 2010, Lodi, California

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

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7 Deadly Zins

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Lodi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Vineyards
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Either you’re going to love this or hate this. For me the first glass was great, but then the alcohol and sweetness got to me.

Positives: The dominant note is Hubba Bubba grape chewing gum, followed by Maltesers, raisins and plums. Full body, mild tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: The heat from the 15% alcohol.

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

Tasted: 15 April 13

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 59311

LE PARISIEN PINOT NOIR 2010, IGP Pays D’Oc, France

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

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Le Parisien

Cost: $12.15
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

I usually find low-end French wines in Ontario of low quality and not even deserving of their low price. However, this one is an exception, and I thank my brother’s finance Liz for bringing it to dinner.

Positives: A simple Pinot featuring cedar, strawberry, cherry, black tealeaf, light underbrush and oyster mushrooms. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity and average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal tenderloin.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

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

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

LCBO#: 265991

CAMBRIA JULIA’S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, Santa Maria Valley, Central Coast, California

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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Cambria

Cost: $31.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A typical California Pinot, in a good way, featuring pine, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, pomegranate and an underlying note of smoke reminiscent of autumn leaves on an open fire. Medium to medium minus body, light tannins, medium+ acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Remember to slightly chill a Pinot.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn glazed pork pâte.

Tasted: 13 April 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 489889

MEDUSA OLD VINES ZINFANDEL PIG PEN DEAVER RANCH 2005, Amador County, California

08 Monday Apr 2013

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Medusa

Cost: $39.99 CI (on sale for $27.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Amador County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Medus8 Wines
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Light cedar, raisins, Allspice, black licorice, bramble fruit, dates & Christmas cake. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Medusa winery specializes in Zins.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Bourbon BBQ baby back ribs.

Tasted: 7 April 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (9+/10 on sale) Total: 17.5/20

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

CANEPA GENOVINO CARIGNAN 2008, D.O. Cauquenes, Maule Valley, Chile

08 Monday Apr 2013

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Canepa

Cost: $29.99 CI (on sale for $18.99 until April 30, 2013)
Grape Variety: Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Chile
Region: Cauquenes, Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canepa Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A delicious wine featuring cedar, ripe tannins, mulberry, plums, steamed artichokes, sour cherry & pomegranate. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 7 Aprl 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (10/10 on sale) Total: 18+/20

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

SMOKING LOON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2011, California

01 Monday Apr 2013

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Smoking Loon

Cost: $14.90 (On sale for $13.90 until April 1st 2013)
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Smoking Loon Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect second bottle to have on hand.

Positives: A light style Zin featuring cedar, raisins, figs, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, prunes, black cherry, Dr. Pepper and chocolate. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity, average length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 31 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 272393

DE LOACH HERITAGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011, California

01 Monday Apr 2013

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DL Pinot

Cost: $14.95 (on sale $12.95 until 1 April 2013)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Loach Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet to ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose.

A very pleasant drinking pinot and at under $15 you really can’t go wrong. Nice to drink with someone special sitting before a fire.

Positives: Light cedar, cloves, violets, cherry Dr. Pepper, raspberry, forest underbrush, cinnamon and Allspice. Medium minus 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 roasted duck.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 220434

BUENA VISTA PINOT NOIR 2009, Carneros, California

28 Thursday Mar 2013

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Buena_Vista_Pinot_Noir_web

Cost: $24.95 (on sale $21.95 until 1 April 2013)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buena Vista Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium minus intense nose.

An elegant Pinot that is now available at the LCBO General List.

Positives: Light cedar, strawberry, cherry and sour cherry, cranberry, rosemary, basil and a nice earthy finish. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rosemary & mustard encrusted lamb.

Tasted: 27 Mar 13

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

PIANO DEL CERRO, AGLIANICO 2008, DOC, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

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

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Aglianico

Cost: $24.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Aglianico
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Basilicata
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vigneti Del Vulture
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s to suggest this wine, it was simply delicious.

Positives: The nose is amazing and the taste is just as good featuring cedar, naseberry, toffee, purple lilacs, bramble fruit, poppycock, coffee, mocha, peppercorn, red peppers and tar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Aglianico del Vulture is an Italian wine DOC created in 1971 in northern Basilicata, in southern Italy. In 2010, the region received its superiore variant when it was promoted to DOCG, the highest quality level in the Italian wine system.

Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with parmesan crusted flank steak.

Tasted: 14 Mar 13

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

SCHUG PINOT NOIR 2009, Sonoma Coast, California

18 Monday Mar 2013

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Schug Pinot

Cost: $25.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Schug Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

One word: Delicious

Positives: Pine, lavender, violets, rhubarb, cranberry, sour cherry, red currant, & boysenberry. Medium minus in body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lavender & pepper spiced French cut pork chops.

Tasted: 18 Mar 13

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

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