Category Archives: Red Wines

BARONE RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2007, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

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Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casa Vinicola Barone Ricasoli Spa
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Classic Chianti with sour cherry, cedar, dried herbs, blackberry, Conifer spice, red & black pepper. This wine has medium+ tannins with good acidity, medium body & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Pair this wine with traditional Italian tomato based dishes.

Tasted: 29 Oct 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 943613

CHÂTEAU CROIX DE THOMAS 2008, St. Georges, St. Emilion

29 Saturday Oct 2011

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Château Croix De Thomas 2008, Ac St Georges St émilion Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: St. George, St. Émilion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nicely balanced wine. Red & black fruits intertwined with earth notes, medium+ tannins & good acidity. Some spice notes are detected in the middle during its long length. Easy drinking wine.

Negatives: Slightly watery finish.

Interesting Things: If you can’t afford the higher end Right bank Bordeaux, this is a very good entry level.

Drink now or cellar for 2-4 years. Pairs nicely with grilled lamb & squash.

Tasted 28 Oct 11

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 244053

COLANERI, UNITA, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Complex wine showing cherry, blackberries, black olives, dill, basil, mocha, tobacco leaves and raspberry.  This wine is full body with a long length.  

Negatives: Needs to age as it is still a little green on the taste.  

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in 50% Appassimento style
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.
  • The label means Unity. This is Michael’s label (Tara’s brother), which represents happy times at the dinner table with his family.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI CORPOSO VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $18.95

Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvigon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+  intensity on the nose. 

Positives: There is a lot going on in this wine. Cherry pie, blackberries, black olives, dill and basil predominate on the nose. Similar to the nose with the addition of some tobacco leaves and raspberry.  The wine has a Medium+ body with a long length. Easy to drink on its own or pair it pizza. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in a Ripasso style
  • The label is of Tara’s grandfather pressing the grapes in the traditional Italian method “torchio”
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

ELDERTON SHIRAZ 2007, Barossa, Australia

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

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Cost: $32.95 (Sale price: $23.15)
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ashmead Family
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to purple in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots of red & black currents, mocha, spiciness, sweet plums & earth tones in both the nose & taste. There is a lot going on in this wine. Full body, medium tannin, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the high alcohol.

Interesting Points: This is a typical well made Shiraz from Barossa that’s a meal in itself. Drink now on its own or pair it with a rich spicy Italian dish.

Best Buy on the sale price.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11,

Score: 9+/10, 8/10 (sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 713024

BELLINGHAM DRAGON’S LAIR 2006, South Africa

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

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Bellingham Dragon's Lair 2006, Wo Coastal Region Bottle

Cost: $16.90 (Sale price: $11.70)
Grape Variety: Shiraz 84%, Mourvèdre 11%, Viognier 5%
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dgb-Bellingham
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark garnet to ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Earth notes dominate the nose & taste. Medium tannin, good acidity, full body with medium+ length.

Negatives: There’s quiet a bit of heat coming the high alcohol. Mid palate shows some pungency.

Interesting points: I believe the wine is past it’s prime & on the downside. Still palatable, but don’t expect too much. Sale price helps. Try it with pizza.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11.

Score: 7.5+/10, Value: 6/10 (sale price: 8/10), Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 68692

GALIL MOUNTAIN SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON KP 2009, Galilee Israel

16 Sunday Oct 2011

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Galil Mountain Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Upper Galilee Bottle

Cost: $24.95 (Sale price $17.55)
Grape Variety: Shiraz/cabernet-sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Galil Mountain Winery
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby to purple in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A light Shiraz/Cabernet compared with the usual massive ones from Aussie land. Smooth, low tannin with medium acidity & medium length. Some nice red & blackberries with wood spice, black and white pepper & celery.

Negatives: Although this is a light Shiraz/Cab it has the heat from the high alcohol & somewhat of a watery finish.

Tasted: 16 Oct 11

Score: 8/10, Value: 7/10 (sale price: 8+/10), Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 156570

PELEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MERLOT, 2009 VQA Ontario

14 Friday Oct 2011

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Pelee Island Merlot 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful nose full of bramble fruit pie, cherry & with a light touch pine & cloves. The nose reminds me of wine gummy berries. The taste is similar to the nose but without the sweet pie notes. Nicely balanced, medium tannins, medium body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None for the price.

Interesting things: This vintage label is a lot nicer than their old one.

Drink now on its own or pair it with ham & pineapple.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 11 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 612622

KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK SHIRAZ 2006, Coonawarra

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Katnook Founder's Block Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wingara Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby going towards garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lower alcohol than your average Australian Shiraz. The nose & taste show a lot of spiciness with white, black & red peppers, eucalyptus, pimento, cedar, plum, blackcurrants, raspberry, leather, tobacco leaves & some slate. There is a lot of complexity for a wine that is under $20. This wine is medium body with mild tannins, good acidity & a long finish.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: Screw cap

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

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 108167

13th STREET WINERY RED PALETTE, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $14.95

Grape Variety: 61.5% Merlot, 25.3% Gamay, 3.2% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Nice cherry & plum notes followed by a little bit of fall leaves on both the nose & taste. There are some cranberry sauce & tamarind notes on the finish. This medium+ length wine is easy to drink on its own or pair it pheasant.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: Similar to the Estate Series Gamay, but better due to the complexity and flavours that come out on this wine. 

Drink now. 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3.5

LCBO#: 249458