Category Archives: Red Wines

GOATS DO ROAM RED, 2010 Western Cape, South Africa

02 Monday Jan 2012

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Cost: $12.95 (On sale for $11.95)
Grape Variety: Shiraz, Cinsaut, Carignan, Mourvèdre & Pinotage
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Fairview Trust
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “Immensely popular worldwide, this cheeky Rhône-style blend (Shiraz, Cinsaut, Carignan and Mourvèdre with a dash of the local Pinotage) has proven to be more than just a witty name. It’s a friendly, straightforward and fun wine featuring berry fruit and plum aromas with some pepper and leather in the background. A fantastic value and a great party wine! Lovely with rich meat-based pasta dishes.” LCBO

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

Positives: The nose shows carnations, plums, blackberries, pomegranate, star anise, sandalwood, eucalyptus & cherry pie. The taste is rich showing similar notes as the nose with plums being dominant. Medium to medium+ body, low tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: High alcohol that you can detect on the nose & taste.

Interesting Thing: The name is a take off Côte du Rhône and its style. Consistent year to year. Periodically the LCBO puts this wine on sale for $1 off.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lamb chops.

Tasted: 1 Jan 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 718940

SANTA RITA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2009 Maipo Valley, Chile

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Maipo Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina Santa Rita
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Classic Cab Sauv notes of cedar, blackberry, anise, cassis, cloves, pencil shavings, leather, turmeric, tamarin & some tobacco leaf on the finish. Well balanced wine, medium+ body & length, good acidity & medium tannins.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Santa Rita is a well established winery that consistently produces good wines at all their price points. This one is the second level on their pricing scale of wines found in the LCBO. Best part is they usually have sales a couple times of year. This ones on sale for $11.95 until the beginning of January. Nice thing about this wine is its ready to drink now & it taste as if you’re drinking a bottle double its price.

Drink on its own or pair it with any beef dish.

Tasted: 20 Dec 11

Best Buy (amazing buy at the sale price).

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 253872

CHÂTEAU LE MONTEIL D’ARSAC 2006, AC Haut-Médoc, France

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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Le Monteil D'arsac 2006, Ac Médoc Bottle

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

CHÂTEAU PUECH-HAUT PRESTIGE SAINT-DRÉZÉRY 2009, AC Coteaux-Du-Languedoc, France

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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Château Puech Haut Prestige 2009, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc Bottle

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

POST HOUSE PENNY BLACK 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Thursday Dec 2011

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Post House Penny Black 2008, Wo Stellenbosch Bottle

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

ABBADIA ARDENGA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2007, DOC

08 Thursday Dec 2011

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Abbadia Ardenga Rosso Di Montalcino 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Abbadia Ardenga
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Classic Sangiovese with sour cherry, wood smoke, cedar, raspberry & truffles. The taste is very smooth & easy to drink with medium tannins, good acidity, medium weight & long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with any classic Italian dish with tomato based sauce.

Tasted: 6 Dec 11

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 184945

KAESLER STONEHORSE SHIRAZ/GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE 2008, Barossa Valley

04 Sunday Dec 2011

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Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: 62% Shiraz, 28% Grenache, 10& Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terravintner
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Inky blood ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Description: Very Zin like character in both flavour & power. Notes of plums, raisins, mocha, dark chocolate, blueberry, black cherry, blackberry, sweet peppers, Christmas cake, figs, cinnamon & nutmeg. This wine is full body with low tannins, medium acidity & long length.

Negatives: 16% alcohol! That’s getting to close Port.

Interesting Things: Good wine to give those who don’t like tannins or austere red wines & like it a little sweeter. Nice on a cold winter day.

Drink now as a meal of its own or pair it with T-bone steak. This can age for another 3 years.

Tasted: 3 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 6551

DE TOREN Z 2008, Stellenbosch South Africa

01 Thursday Dec 2011

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De Toren Z 2008, Wo Stellenbosch Bottle

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosh
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Toren Cellars
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with high intensity in the nose.

Positives: There is a lot going on with this wine both on the nose & taste. They are: cedar, plums, raisins, herbaceous notes, carnation on the nose, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, candy apple, vanilla bean, turmeric, leather, pencil shavings, black olives & hickory. This wine is full body with good acidity, medium+ tannins & a long finish.

Negatives: A lot of heat coming from the high alcohol, and a little to herbaceous on the taste.

Interesting Thing: The wine’s nose is a lot sweeter than the taste, which is a little austere.

Drink now or cellar for another 5 years. Drink on its own as a meal or pair it with grilled T-bone steak.

Tasted: 30 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 178194

MALIVOIRE RED VQA, 2008 Niagara Peninsula

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Malivoire Red 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A delightful nose showing floral notes of purple lilac along with cranberry, beets, rhubarb & a dusting of earth notes. If I just rated the nose it would be a 10/10. The taste is delightful but doesn’t compare with the nose. Medium light body, low tannins, good acidity & a long length. Cranberry, rhubarb, sour cherry, herbal notes & earth flavours.

Negatives: A touch too tart which drops it out of the 9/10 scoring.

Interesting Point: Gamay dominates here & the wood age is almost unnoticeable.

Drink now by pairing it with stuff turkey.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCB0:# 141523

ESPORÃO RESERVA, 2008 DOC Alentejo Portugal

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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Esporão Tinto Reserva (V) 2008, Alentejo Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Aragónes (aka Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and Trincadeira grape
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Alentejo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fingara
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Made from a blend of Aragónes (aka Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and the local Trincadeira grape, this wine is a very modern take on Portugal. Dark, dense and very fruity, it has pronounced flavours and aromas of mixed berries, new leather, coconut and spice. Boisterous and approachable, it has a New World-meets-Old World style and makes a great companion to barbecued or grilled Angus beef steaks or gourmet sausages.” (LCBO)

Deep purple to ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes on the nose are mushrooms, light oak, raspberry, blueberry & cherry. The taste is smooth showing plums, blueberry, sandalwood & rosemary. The wine is medium body, medium tannins with medium+ acidity & length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nothing really wows me on this one.

Tasted: 21 Nov 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 6/10, Total: 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 606590