Category Archives: Red Wines

13th STREET WINERY “ESTATE SERIES” MERLOT, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $17.95

Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
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: Alluring floral notes of carnations followed by cherry & plum notes.   This is an easy drinking wine that has nice cherry, plum, red currants & red peppers on the taste. Good acidity makes this wine food friendly or drink on its own. Try pairing it with cooked ham. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: This wine is un-oaked  

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

13th STREET WINERY “ESTATE SERIES” GAMAY, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $19.95

Grape Variety: Gamay Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery (Coming to Vintages in November)
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: On the nose there are nice earthy notes followed by cherry & raspberry. The taste shows more wet earth notes of fall leaves, cranberry sauce & tamarind.  

Negatives: A little too much tartness for me. 

Interesting Things: Similar to Beaujolais village wine.  

Drink now on its own or pair with turkey dinner. 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

13th STREET WINERY ESSENCE PINOT NOIR, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $44.95

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: Very clean & crisp grape-cranberry nose. The taste has the beginning of some earth notes followed by rhubarb & cherry. The fruit is very intense with a sweetish note due to the late picking of the grapes. 

Negatives: This is not a big Pinot with a lot of earth notes you would find in a Burgundian wine or the notes found in Oregon or Central Otego Pinots, somewhat like drinking a really good grape juice.  

Okay so that was my review of this wine when the bottle has been opened for 2 days! Here’s my review of a new bottle, and why it’s so important for you to ALWAYS ASK WHEN THE BOTTLE WAS OPENED. Don’t be shy anywhere, restaurant, bar, winery, etc to ask for a new bottle. 

Positives: The nose shows more Burgundian aromas of barnyard, suede along with the fruits of rhubarb, cranberry & cherry followed by some sandalwood. The taste is similar as the nose but with more fruit forward & intensity. Long length to this one. 

Negatives: The wine is a little weak in earthiness and it has that grape/cranberry juice taste, but not as bad as when I tasted the 2 day old bottle. In addition, I also found some bitterness on the finish.  

Interesting Things:

  • Picked in mid November that is very unusual as this is traditionally an early ripping grape.
  • The wine was aged in 60% old oak. T
  • his is Jean Pierre’s 1st foray in making Pinot Noir in Ontario.
  • Even though this wine is 14% in alcohol it doesn’t feel like it.

I would recommend laying this wine down for another 3-5 years to see if the secondary notes of the earthiness comes out more to the forefront, and easing the that intense fruitiness that you get now. There is good acidity here now that it should cellar well.  

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

THE CROSSINGS PINOT NOIR 2009, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, NZ

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ager Sectus Company Limited
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: True Pinot nose of pine, barnyard, cranberry, rhubarb & cherry. Some nice dill with cranberry, rhubarb & cherry on the taste. Good length & acidity with light tannins.

Negatives: The taste is subdued compared to the nose. Slightly prickly.

Interesting Points: This Pinot is light body & easy to drink on its own or pair it with a BLT or turkey sandwich.

Good value Pinot

Tasted: 5 Oct 11. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 694471

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2009 Valle de Aconcagua, Chile

05 Wednesday Oct 2011

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Aconcaqua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful ripe, but not cooked Cab aromas featuring cedar, cassis, menthol, nutmeg, cinnamon & cloves followed by some bramble fruit. The taste is just as wonderful. This is a medium to full body wine with a long finish and a good balance of tannis and acidity making the wine feel round and not linear or austere. As with the nose there is a lot going on. The taste is similar as the nose.

Negatives: none

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with classic grilled tenderloin steak. The wine is drinkable now, but can cellar for another 3-4 years.

Best Buy

Tasted: 4 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 335174

MAS DES RESTANQUES VACQUEYRAS 2009, Vacqueyras, Southern Rhone, France

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

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Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Grenache blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vacqueyras
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mas Des Restanques
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: Lots of cherry, crabapple, raspberry, some earthiness & spruce. This wine is easy going with medium tannins & acidity making this a food friendly wine, such as pairing with rack of lamb or to drink on its own.

Negatives: As with its sister wine (Gigondas, reviewed by me), it has a high alcohol level and feel to it. Similarly, I found this wine a little watery. Not as earthy as other Vacqueryas’. Same thought as the modernist label as the Gigondas.

Interesting Notes: I compared the two wines & found this one far better & less expensive. I recommend this one. It just falls outside my Best Buy by $2.95.

Tasted: 27 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 245597

MAS DES RESTANQUES GIGONDAS 2009, Gigondas, Southern Rhone, France

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

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Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gigondas, Southern Rhone
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mas Des Restanques
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Nice red fruits on the nose & taste with some sandalwood & Macintosh apples.

Negatives: A little austere right now with noticeable heat from the high alcohol. I found it a little watery.

Interesting Notes: Has elegant potential so lay it down for another 5 years. Interesting modern label to try to appease the nouveau wine drinker. Too bad I’m somewhat of a traditionalist.

Tasted: 26 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 245662

VIÑA COBOS FELINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

26 Monday Sep 2011

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Viña Cobos Felino Malbec 2008, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Cobos S.A.
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: “Hot on the heels of the recently released 2007 comes the 2008 vintage of this well-crafted Cab. Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in both the Luján de Cuyo and Maipú sub-regions of Mendoza, it’s aged in French and American oak barrels for 8 months. This rich and complex Cab puts its emphasis on pure fruit flavours so look for loads of cassis and ripe blackcurrant as well as layers of earthy minerality, sweet tobacco and coffee notes culminating in a lingering finish.” (LCBO)

Positives: Despite it’s high alcohol, this wine is not jammy or overtly hot. The nose is very pleasant with classic Sauvignon notes of cedar, black currants, black cherry, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather & mocha. The taste is similar to the nose but not as pronounced.

Negatives: High alcohol, which is a pet peeve of mine. On the taste I found a slight watery feel to it which may be the result of a less than stellar crop. I also detected spinach leaf.

Interesting Notes: Light tannins with good acidity makes this wine ready to drink on its on pair it with T-bone steak on the grill.

Tasted: 25 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 132365

MALIVOIRE ALBERT’S HONOUR OLD VINES FOCH 2009, VQA Ontario

17 Saturday Sep 2011

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Malivoire Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch 2009, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $16.45
Grape Variety: Maréchal Foch
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Foch (or Maréchal Foch, to use its full name) has a reputation for producing fully ripe, well-structured reds in cool-climate wine regions such as Ontario. This hybrid grape (along with Baco Noir) proved early on Ontario’s mettle for serious red wines. Malivoire happens to be an expert with the grape and this version, from 34-year-old vines, delivers plenty of solid dark fruit character, good concentration, and a touch of rustic charm. ‘Albert’s Honour’ is a tribute to Martin Malivoire’s great uncle, who was awarded the French Legion of Honour medal for heroism in World War I.” (LCBO)

Positives: Medium+ intensity on the nose. I found a lot cranberry with plums, blueberry & light earthy notes of fallen leaves. The nose has pretty violets.

Negatives: The acidity is a light bit high & combined with the low tannins makes this wine a little bit astringent.

Interesting items: One of the last true wines that originated here, & it’s still tasteful & unique. Make sure you chill it like a Pinot Noir to get the full flavours of the fruit & drink it from a ballon glass (same as you would do Pinot).

Drink now on its own or pair with Thanksgiving turkey.

Tasted: 16 Sep 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 551036

SELLA & MOSCA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA RISERVA, 2007, DOC, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy

15 Thursday Sep 2011

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Sella & Mosca Cannonau Di Sardegna Riserva (V) 2007, Doc Sardinia Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Red ineW
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Sardinia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Sella &  Mosca
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “Cannonau (aka Grenache) di Sardegna is the Italian answer to France’s Côtes du Rhône. This pale-coloured red, typical to the variety, displays complex aromas of ripe plum, wild berries, spices, tobacco, dried flowers and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate is filled with plump, attractive fruit flavours.” (LCBO)

Positives: I love this wine. The aroma itself is intoxicating, maybe because it’s 14% alcohol! Luckily the taste is almost as good. Hey if it was as good I would have scored this wine as perfect. This is an easy drinking wine, with light tannin’s, good acidity, medium minus body and a medium+ length.  This is drinking well now, but you can cellar it for another 2 years. Drink on its own or pair it with hot or medium hot Italian sauces in a basil tomato sauce with pasta. It also went well pizza.

Negatives: The high alcohol of 14%, but surprisingly it still went well with hot food. The taste has a slight watery feel to it.

Interesting Item: The label makes this wine look an expensive Italy wine. Bring it to dinners or parties and it will impress people. The taste will back this up. People will think this is easily a $30-$40 wine.

Best Buy

Tasted: 15 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 425488