Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caymus Vyds
Alcohol: 13.9 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Well this was a disappointment. Belle Glos makes some wonderful Pinot’s in their higher end wines, but this entry wine for them has very little Pinot qualities & a lot of jammy sweet notes, more reminiscent of cheap California Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Tasted: 14 Dec 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

LCBO#: 130138

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garanacha
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Pedro Martinez Alesanco
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of cedar, sandalwood, cherry covered with black dark chocolate, raspberry and rosemary. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its on or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 21 Nov 12

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

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

LCBO#: 170092

Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Priorat
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Celler Joan Simo
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Oak, cherry, blackberry, graphite, coffee, mesquite, and champagne oyster mushrooms. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol Batman! Would like to try the 2004 (pictured above) with only 14.6%.

Interesting Point: Bought this at the Crossroads LCBO (Weston Rd/401) at the clearance price of $20.35, which is what this wine is worth.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 20 Nov 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 16+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 35477

Cost: $29.05
Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Margaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ballande & Meneret Sas
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If you want an inexpensive Margaux try this one. A fine balanced and juicy wine featuring cedar, blackberries, raspberry, plums, coffee, graphite, blackcurrants, rubbed sage, and smoked hickory. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly, I get some heat from the 13% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak

Tasted: 16 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 24949

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: J Pedroncelli Winery
Alcohol: 15.2 %
Description: A beautiful medium ruby colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is a smooth, not jammy Zin, considering the 15.2% alcohol. The wine features cedar, plums, raisins, dark cherry, raspberry, Christmas cake, chili peppers, All-spice & black peppers. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 15.2% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I really like the rich looking label/bottling. Made more in an old world style wine, not a fruit bomb, and easy to pair with different styles of food.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 5 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 463026

Cost: $18.50
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mudhouse Wine Company Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple fruit forward Pinot featuring pine, Bing cherries, sour cherries, cranberry, pomegranate and finishing with a bit of earthiness. Medium to medium minus in body & tannins with good acidity & a fairly decent length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness at the back of the throat. There’s quite a bit of heat coming from the listed 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Chill this more than you would normally chill a Pinot to bring out the fruit & lessen the affect of alcohol. Try around 10-12 C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roast duck.

Tasted: 31 Oct 12 Happy Hallowe’en

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 190462

Cost: $24.90
Grape Variety: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 21% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale & Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavours happening in this wine. Cedar, Ribena, cherry cola, prunes, raisins, menthol, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, red & black pepper, all-spice, cassis, star anise, cinnamon & cloves. Full body, medium+ tannins and acidity with a long length.

Negatives: There is some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: LCBO has this wine on clearance now, from 29.95 to 24.90. The 07 is not as good as the 06, but with the new price its definitely worth the buy.

Drink now on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted 28 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 907584

Cost: $12.90
Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Coteaux du Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Sauvageonne
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, blackberry, Ribena,  pomegranate, black & white pepper. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch on the watery side. This may be past its prime.

Interesting Point: This product is on clearance at the LCBO. Original price was $18.95. This wine is worth buying at its new price.

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

Tasted: 28 Oct 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 223669