Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Gamacha (Grenache) & Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Baron De Ley
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: What a devine nose. I just want to get an oxygen mask & substitute the oxygen for the aromas of this wine. Notes of cedar, sandalwood, cigar box, cherry, cloves, cinnamon & suede. The taste ain’t bad either featuring cedar, dark & sour cherry, raspberry, strawberry, cassis, cloves, leather, arugula & spinach. Medium to medium+ body, medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & a touch of heat from the alcohol.

Negatives: Surprisingly astringent for a 2001 Grand Reserva. Decant for at least an hour & during that time just inhale the aromas. The taste catches up to the nose.

Drink now or over the next 2 years & pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 19 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 642496

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Unmistakable Pinot featuring spruce, potpourri, rhubarb, sour cherry, cranberry, pesto, suede & earthy notes. Medium minus in body, light tannins, good acidity with long length & alcohol well integrated.

Negatives: A little too much sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: If you’ve seen the movie Sideways, you’ll recognize this winery, Hitching Post. Remember to lightly chill this Pinot.

Drink now on its own or pair with duck.

Tasted: 15 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 256644

Cost: $44.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Constellation Wines
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a jammy Zin that you only taste prunes. This wine is well balanced showing notes of raisins, dark cherry, plums, tobacco leaves, raspberry, blackberry & lots of spice. The nose has a nice smokey note that reminds me of chimney smoke from wood burning in a cold winter’s night. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the 15% alcohol.

Interesting Note: Taste more like a Washington Syrah than a Zin. Drink on its own or pair it with T-bone steak. Drinkable now or over the next 3 years. Decant for an hour & you’ll be rewarded with a smoother taste.

Tasted: 13 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 672741

Cost: $35.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Wairarapa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Borthwick Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “Grown near Masterton, in the Gladstone sub-region, the 2008 vintage is a deeply coloured, attractively perfumed red with vibrant cherry and plum flavours, showing excellent depth, ripeness and suppleness. Youthful, with good, savoury complexity and plenty of muscle, it should mature well. Score: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) (Michael Cooper, Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wine, 2010)” LCBO

Medium minus ruby with a tint of garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A good mix of Old World & New World Pinot in style, meaning not over bearing & having a good balance between fruit & earthy notes. Very smooth Pinot showing pine, rhubarb, cranberry, sour cherry, wooden embers, suede & truffles. Medium minus in body with medium minus tannins, good acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Slightly over sour on the finish.

Food friendly wine that will go well with duck or turkey. Drink now or over the next 2 years.

Tasted: 12 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 586065

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sa Vignobles Brumont
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Deep dark ruby with a hint of garnet on the colour & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A complex & higher end wine from the South of France. Notes of cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, mulberry, raspberry, macintosh apple, leather, pencil shaving, turmeric, all spice, arugula & radicchio on the finish. Full body, medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little astringent & thus needs time to age.

If you’re drinking this now, decanter for 2 hours & pair it with medium rare steak.

Tasted: 11 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 704718