Category Archives: Red Wines

ARCENO PRIMAVOCE 2006, IGT Toscana, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Cost: $25.99 (From Bestwine4less.com)
Grape Variety: 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese, 5% Cab Franc, 2% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: American Airlines Business Class
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arceno
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose

Positives: The nose on this wine is second to none, and the taste doesn’t lag too far behind. This complex nose features cedar, vanilla, cassis, raspberries, strawberries, cloves, dark chocolate, mocha, blackberries, plums, cherry, licorice, cherry pipe tobacco, all-spice, red and black peppers. The taste has some of the nose’s properties in addition to leather, pencil shavings & blackcurrents. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well intergrated.

Negatives: Not sold at LCBO

Interesting Point: If you fly American Airlines Business Class, ask if they serve it on your flight, and if they do, take the bottle!

Drink now on its own or pair it with beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 22 Oct 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

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

WHITEHAVEN PINOT NOIR 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Whitehaven Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough Bottle

Cost: $22.95 (sale: $18.40 until Dec 31/12)
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Whitehaven Wines Com. Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light+ garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Pinot showing cranberry, cherry, sour cherry, rhubarb, All-spice and some strawberry jam. Medium minus body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Marlborough is starting to make a name for good Pinots priced under $25 in Ontario. Remember to lightly chill Pinot.

Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Thanksgiving turkey, which I did.

Tasted: 6 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 245696

BURNING KILN CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category:  Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The first thing that I noticed was that there wasn’t the usual twiggy/leafy notes associated with Cabernet Franc from Ontario, and the second was that it was easy drinking. This Cab Franc had nice smokey notes, sizzling bacon, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, plum, cedar and boysenberry. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not sold in LCBO, yet.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Stifado.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SMOKE & GAMBLE RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Smoke & Gamble Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 49.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc & 13.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dover Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: The nose is divine and the taste is not far behind showing sizzling bacon, cedar, blackberry, cassis, leather, cloves, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and black currants. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points:

  • This was the best red that I tasted at the Taste Ontario that was held on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I had a great time talking with the wine maker; Robert Gill and their distributor; Douglas Russell.

I love the copper label. 

  • The winery is located near Port Dover, Fort Erie

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 9+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:332825

ASTROLABE VOYAGE PINOT NOIR 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, South Island Bottle

Cost: $24.95 (sale $17.30)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Astrolabe
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby and garnet with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of juicy fruit featuring cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, Macintosh apple rhubarb, pipe tobacco, pine needles and forest leaves. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity, and  a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5 alcohol.

Interesting Point: I’m somewhat surprised that a cool climate Pinot reached 14.5% alcohol. Remember to slightly chill Pinot.

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

Tasted: 25 Sept 12

Best Buy (Especially at the sale price!)

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

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

LCBO#: 179200

JOSÉ MARIA da FONSECA & VAN ZELLER, DOMINI PLUS 2005, Duoro, Portugal

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Cost: $42.99 CI
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott Wines)
Country: Portugal
Region: Duoro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is one of my favourite wines. When I travel to the Caymans I always try to pick up a few bottles as the LCBO doesn’t sell it. Sad, very very sad. A complex wine made from grapes normally used to make Port. It features cedar, plums, raisins, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, MacIntosh apples, anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, thyme, red & black peppers, and some earthiness. Medium to full body, medium to medium+ tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Not sold in Ontario!

Interesting Point: The bottle is heavy with a unique shape that I like.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a rack of lamb.

Tasted: 24 Sept 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

QUAILS’ GATE MERLOT 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Quails' Gate Merlot 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 15.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with garnet ting and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A good complex wine from BC featuring cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry, spinach, star anise, black tea, leather and radicchio. Medium body with high tannins and acidity with a medium+ length.

Negatives: Too astringent at this time. Needs time to age. A little hot from the 15.4% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Taste very Cab like. Decant for an hour if you’re going to drink now.

Needs protein food to be paired up with like T-bone steak.

Tasted: 21 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 169961

STONESTREET ALEXANDER MOUNTAIN ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006, Alexander Valley, California

20 Thursday Sep 2012

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Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Wine Estates International
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, black currents, blackberries, cassis, plums, graphite, black tea, sweet basil, thyme, red peppers, pencil shavings & leather. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: Somewhat astringent.

Interesting Points: Decant this puppy for at least an hour in order to soften the tannins plus you’ll find sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This wine may improve, ie soften the tannins, over the next 5 years.

Pair it with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 17 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 4002

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VOLNAY LES PITURES 1ER CRU 2008, AC Volnay, France

20 Thursday Sep 2012

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Roche De Bellene Volnay Les Pitures 1er Cru 2008, Ac Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Volnay, Burgundy, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Roche De Bellene
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An elegant Pinot showing some spruce, cranberry, sour cherry, raspberry, rhubarb & light earthiness. Light to medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish.

Drink now & a very food friendly wine that you can match with game fowl.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 241083

RUTHERFORD RANCH ZINFANDEL 2008, Napa Valley, California

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is an intense Zinn without any jammy qualities. Cedar, pine nuts, vanilla bean, menthol, smoked hickory, cassis, cloves, blueberry, nectarines, boysenberry, dark chocolate, cherry cola & mocha. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Holy 16% alcohol Batman! Lots of heat coming from it. Good medicine. If it wasn’t for the high alcohol this would be an exceptional Zinn.

Interesting Point: Rutherford Ranch is a consistent producer of good wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs based in an Italian tomato style sauce.

Tasted: 15 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 279828