Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saiagricola S.P.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium intensity. A pleasant nose that shows distinctive Sangiovese in cedar, oregano, sage, sour cherry, anise, lead pencil, milk chocolate & black peppercorn. The taste is dry, with medium+ tannins & acidity, & medium+ length. The notes on the taste are similar to the nose with addition of spinach leaf. The wine is very smooth & balanced. Nicely aged it’s drinkable now or for the next 2 years. Food friendly wine that will pair with any Italian dish with red sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 180059

Cost: $47.99 (on sale for $29.95)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Upper Maipo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Vina Quebrada de Macul
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Deep cloudy garnet with medium+ intensity on the nose.  The nose is very unique and may not appeal to everyone as it has strong black current and mint that dominate. In the background there are current preserve, espresso and apricot. The taste is dry, medium tannins, medium+ acid, medium+ length, balance and medium to full body. The taste is ribena with alcohol, which you do get the heat from the 14.8% alcohol. Mint, as with the nose dominates. Secondary taste is similar to the nose. The lack of fruit suggest that this is ready to drink now, but the fruits may be dormant the wine may still be sleeping, so in another 2 years maybe the fruits will awaken. This would pair well with rack of lamb. The Wine Spectator gave this a 92, but it doesn’t rank that high for me, maybe 89. This wine is not for everyone.

Tasted: 22 July 2011

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10 (9/10 on sale), Total: 16,5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3.5

LCBO#906123

Cost: $49.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-sauvignon/Shiraz/Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malesco Wine Broker
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “This limited release wine is named I’m honour of the founder, Alexander Campbell Johnston, who in 1892 purchased a small holding of rich farmland near McLaren Vale. He named this land Pirramimma, an aboriginal phrase meaning ‘The moon & the Stars.”

First off, love the pewter label. Secondly, it’s a screw top. Dark ruby-garnet in colour with high intensity. Beautiful complex nose showing cedar, plums, briar pie, menthol, white & back pepper, turmeric & dark cherry. The first thing you notice is the heat from the alcohol, followed by the mouth feel that this isn’t a bold & big wine, more medium to full, then the fruits show up followed by the menthol & lastly other notes such as dark chocolate, anise & Macintosh apples. The length is very long, I stopped timing at 2 minutes & I was still tasting it. The wine has good acidy with medium+ tannins, balanced & it’s drinkable now or will cellar for another 5 yrs. WS rated this 91 & I concur. If it wasn’t for the high alcohol thats very up front I would rate this a 95. Try This with tenderloin steak on the BBQ.

Tasted 20 July 2011.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 72694

Cost: $15.00
Grape Variety: Grenache/shiraz/mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Rhone
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Des Vignerons De Gigondas
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med ruby to purple colour with medium intensity on the nose. Light oak with egg plant, plum, mushroom & fig. You can definitely make out the Grenache. Taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity, long length & a bit austere. Taste is similar to nose. Wine Spectator gave this a 90, but they didn’t try this bottle. Needs to go with food like vegetable lasagna.

Tasted 14 July 2010.

Score: 6/10, value: 8/10, Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO:#222927

Cost: $20.00 (on sale $14.05)
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Rosewood Estates
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium dark ruby with a medium intense nose. Pleasant nose with no notes that over state the others. Light oak with raspberry, wild flowers, coco, vanilla notes, sweet cherry and Christmas cake. The taste is dry, medium tannins and acid, medium length, medium to light body and well balanced. Taste is similar to the nose. This wine is easy drinking and can be paired with an array of different food due to the easiness of the fruits, medium tannins and medium acidity. This wine is nice to drink beside the pool and enjoy during the summer days or night. For the sale price it’s a best buy, for regular price it’s a good buy. If it’s sold out at the LCBO, please visit the winery.

Tasted: 29 June 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3.5

LCBO#211896

Cost: $24.95 (on sale for $21.95)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: USA           
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Always one of my favourite Pinot’s, but this one is not as good as previous vintages. The colour is medium minus garnet, with medium + intensity. The nose shows light cherry wood, rhubarb, slight jammy raspberry, cola cherry, smoked Montreal meat & some mushrooms to give it that earthy Pinot smell and taste. The taste is dry, med minus tannins, med minus body, good acidity, balanced, with long length. The taste is similar to the nose, but you will notice the hot finish due to the 14.5% alcohol. Drink on its own or pair with traditional Pinot dishes like roast duck. Normally this would be a best buy, and for the sale price that I got it for it is, but not for the regular price. Still I enjoyed the wine. Drink now.

Tasted: 22 May 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 00954834