Category Archives: Red Wines

BOLLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2011, DOC Veneto, Italy

17 Sunday Feb 2013

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Bolla
 
Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Valpolicella
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General LIst
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fratelli Bolla S.P.A.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby colour with a medium+ intense nose.
 
Positives: Easy drinking and nothing complicated here. This wine features raspberry, machino cherry with chocolate, vanilla and lilacs. Medium minus in body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.
 
Negatives: None
 
Interesting Point: The LCBO puts this wine on sale through out the year. 
 
A nice wine to just relax and drink on its own or pair it cured meats. Drink now.
 
Tasted: 14 Feb 13
 
Best Buy
 
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20
 
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+ 
 
LCBO: 16840

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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Souverain

Cost: $28.99 (sale $20.99) (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Souverain Winery
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I find that Souverain Winery produces excellent wines and this one doesn’t disappoint me. This Cab features spruce, smoked oak, boysenberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, graphite, leather and arugula. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 6 Feb 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (9/10 sale price), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CASTLE ROCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Paso Robles, California

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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CR-PRCS2010-2

Cost: $14.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castle Rock Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Another surprise for me this week as this Cab from California for under $15 isn’t jammy or high in alcohol. The wine features sandalwood, bramble fruit, figs, cherry pipe tobacco, pecans, cinnamon and cloves. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Interesting Point: If you want to have a second bottle to drink tonight then this is a great option.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Nice to see a Paso Robles Cab that is under 14% alcohol.

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair with butternut squash ravioli.

Tasted: 4 Feb 13

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

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

HESS SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, North Coast, California

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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217184

Cost: $21.75 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Red blend with Cabernet Sauvignon being the main grape
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: North Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Family Estates
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Happily surprised that the Hess entry Cab was a nice drinking wine featuring some oak, vanilla, cherry cola, boysenberry, anise, rubbed sage, mocha and artichoke. Medium+ body, dry tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair with mushroom, pepperoni and tomato pizza.

Tasted: 4 Feb 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

NOBILO ICON PINOT NOIR 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Nobilo Pinot

Cost: $27.59 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nobilo Wines
Alcohol: 15 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A powerful Pinot that features cedar, pine, lavender, dark and sour cherry, cranberry, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, rosemary and champagne mushrooms. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: 15% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair with lavender, black pepper and herb encrusted pork loin.

Tasted: 2 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HESS ALLOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Napa Valley, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Hess Allomi Cab bottle 001

Cost: $30.50 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Hess Collection Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.7 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Cab featuring sweet oak, plums, blackberry, dark cherry, raspberry, roasted red pepper, allspice and a leatherly finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 31 Jan 13

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

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

JOSEPH CARR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California

31 Thursday Jan 2013

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53620

Cost: $22.95 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose

Positives: This wine features pine, blackberry, blueberry, anise, turmeric, rosemary, leather, artichoke, spinach and radicchio. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lots of green notes

Interesting Notes: Good value for a quality Napa Valley Cab. Thanks to Roberto for recommending this.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years with a meat dish such as a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 30 Jan 13

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

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

KATNOOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Coonawarra, Australia

28 Monday Jan 2013

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Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wingara Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A solid Cab showing cedar, blackberry, eucalyptus, olives, blackcurrant, coffee, spinach, graphite, leather, turmeric, green tea and tamarind. Full body with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slightly on the green side and too astringent for me. Needs time to mature.

Drink now, but pair it with a protein dish. Better to age this for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 27 Jan 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 117+/20

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

LCBO#: 590471

BERONIA TEMPRANILLO, 2010 DOC Rioja, Spain

26 Saturday Jan 2013

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Beronia Tempranillo 2008, Rioja Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Beronia S.A.
Alcohol: 14 %
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: The nose is just lovely featuring sandalwood, cloves, cinnamon & coconut. The taste features oak, sour cherry, plums and raspberry tea.

Negatives: The taste doesn’t measure up to the nose.

Interesting Things: I reviewed the 2007 in Nov 2011 and in comparison this one falls well below it. It also has a more opaque appearance and a higher alcohol content of 14%.

Drink now on its own or pair it with pulled pork sandwich.

Tasted: 25 Jan 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 243055

STERLING MERLOT 2009, Napa Valley, California

24 Thursday Jan 2013

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label

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Sterling Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity.

Positives: Easy drinking wine with oak spice, sweet cherry, blackberry, blackcurrants, leather, plums and chocolate. Medium+ body and tannins with medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not worth the price. Should be around $15.

Drink now on its own or pair it with something.

Tasted: 23 Jan 13

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

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

LCBO#: 330241