Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 1500 mL
Producer: Viticoltori Friulana La Delizia
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nice nose showing, light cedar, sour cherry, pomegranate, cassis & star anise. The taste shows sour cherry, cranberry, strawberry, cassis & star anise. Light to medium body with medium minus tannins, medium plus acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Watery taste. Plain Jane wine that’s correct on price point.

Interesting Thing: My mom liked it & she doesn’t like complex red wines that have tannins.

Drink now on its own or have it with pizza.

Tasted: 10 Jan 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 351791

Cost: $15.00
Grape Variety: 72% Malbec, 16% Bonarda and 12% Syrah.
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Medoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trivento Bodegas Y Vinedos
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Bramble fruit, cedar, blueberry, oregano & all spice on the nose. Taste shows blueberry, dark cherry, blackberry, plums, oregano, all spice & radish with spinach in the finish. Medium+ body, medium+ tannins, medium+ acidity & a very long length.

Negatives: A little too austere & green on the finish.

Interesting Thing: Thank you POA staff at Brantford (Mena, Sue, Roger & Jay; who picked the wine out, for providing me the wine.

Drink now or cellar for another 2-3 years. Pair it with protein foods like steak to smooth out the tannins & herbaceous notes.

Tasted: 6 Jan 12

Score: 8.5+, Value: 8.5+, Total: 18/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 37036

Cost: $17.95 (on sale $15.95)
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Ravenswood Lynn Rogers
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Ravenswood recognized early on that Zinfandel was an exceptional grape variety for fine wine production. With seductive aromas of spice, black raspberry, and mocha, their Vintners Blend Zin is ready for any occasion. Soft and round with lots of fruit and cocoa flavour, it’s terrific with spicy jerk pork, or barbecued beef ribs basted in a homemade sauce.” LCBO

Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of raisins, blueberry, mocha, allspice, raspberry & touch of vanilla. Medium body, good acidity, medium tannins & medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: This is not your powerhouse Zin with high alcohol, which will appeal to those that like Zins but don’t want it as the main course for dinner.

Easy drinking on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted: 2 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 359257

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yvon Mau Et Fils
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour intensity with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Pleasant aromas featuring mulberry, cherry, mushroom, oak, oregano, cassis, turmeric & leather. Taste is pleasant with similar notes. The wine is medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: Some spinach on the finish giving a touch of bitterness.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork chops.

Tasted 17 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 226142

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Coteaux-Du-Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaines Bru
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: Plums, dark chocolate, bramble fruit, blueberry, cassis, oak, tobacco leaf, radicchio, dark cherry & earthy minerality. This wine is medium to full body, very long length, good acidity & high tannins.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat coming from the alcohol, as well I found this wine too austere with bitter notes.

Interesting Notes: I tried this wine 24 hours later hoping that the wine would mellow out somewhat, but it was the same as I had it before.

Drink with medium-rare steak

Tasted: 16 Dec 11.

Score: 8/10, Value: 6.5/10, Total: 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 237289

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot & Chenin Blanc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robinson & Sinclair S.A.
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, mesquite, blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, plum, black & red peppers on the nose. Medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & full body. Surprisingly the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little austere.

Interesting Point: Use a Shiraz style glassware as I found other glassware accentuated the austerity. After an hour the wine had more Cab notes.

Tasted: 7 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 148619