Category Archives: Red Wines

STREWN THREE TERROIR, 2006, Niagara Lakeshore VQA

02 Thursday Jun 2011

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Imgserv_web

Cost: $28.75
Grape Variety: 48% Cab Sauvignon, 48% Merlot & 4% Cab Franc
Category: Wine
Appellation:
Country: Ontario, Canada
Region: Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.8%
Description: Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour. Med+ intensity. The nose is simply delightful. Med oak with cherry pipe tobacco smoke, dill, black olives, strawberries & oyster mushrooms. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity, balanced, long length & med body. On the palate there’s med oak, Bing cherries, strawberries, raspberry, dill, Macintosh apple, pencil shavings, leather, steamed artichoke & slate. This wine is simply marvelous & I especially like that it’s under 13% alcohol, which is good on it’s own or with tenderloin steak.

This is a top pick & an excellent representation of Niagara wine.

Tasted 1 June 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 468918

LA ROSA LA CAPITANA, CARMÉNÈRE, 2009, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

01 Wednesday Jun 2011

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169896_web

Cost: $15.80
Grape Variety: Carmenere
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina La Rosa
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description:Opaque ruby in colour medium intensity. On the nose there’s cedar, raspberry, mulberry, plum, light coconut & cappuccino. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity with med+ length, med+ body & balanced. The wine shows cedar, raspberry, cherry, plum & cassis. The taste is more expressive than the nose & there’s heat from the 14.5% alcohol. Normally I’m not a fan of Carménère as they tend to be linear; however, this is one of the better ones I tasted & if you’re a fan of this varietal it’s definitely a best buy. Decant it & let it stand for an hour will mellow out the tannins. Goes well with pizza.

Tasted 31 May 2011.

Score: 8.5+, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 169896

PENFOLDS THOMAS HYLAND, SHIRAZ, 2008, AUSTRALIA

26 Thursday May 2011

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611210_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation:
Country: Australia
Region:
Format:
Producer: Penfold Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “In the late 19th century, Thomas Hyland, son-in-law of founder Christopher Rawson Penfold, helped shape Penfolds into Australia’s most famous name in wine. This top-notch Shiraz pays homage to that Aussie pioneer with its aromas of ripe black cherries, plum, chocolate, and hints of smoke and oak. The palate features more ripe berry-fruit flavours, leading to seductively silky tannins and lip-smacking acidity. A fine match for roasted vegetables and portobello mushrooms with a splash of fine balsamic vinegar.” (LCBO description) 

These are my personal tasting notes:
Penfolds doesn’t disappoint on this Shiraz. Dark ruby with med+ intensity. The nose shows plums, boysenberry, blackberry, vanilla bean, mocha, dark chocolate, smoked ham, white & red peppers. Taste is dry, med tannins, med acidity, full body, balanced & med+ length. This med+ complex wine has taste similar to the nose & you’ll experience some heat from the 14.5% alcohol. Drink on its own or with grilled steak.

Tasted 11 May 11.

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10, (bought this for $16.95 which would put it at 10/10). Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 611210

DE BORTOLI DEEN VAT 4, PETIT VERDOT, 2008, Australia

26 Thursday May 2011

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222265_web

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Petit verdot
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark, almost opaque ruby to purple in colour. Med+ intensity showing light oak, carnations, loganberry, plum & smoked sausage. The taste is dry, med+ acidity & tannins with long length. The wine is a little astringent and needs to go with food. The taste shows pomegranate, blueberry, loganberry & plums. Med oak & smoked sausage rounds out the palate. Give this wine 3-5 years of cellaring to mellow it out.

Tasted: 25 May 2011

Score: 7/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO# 222265

CASTILLO DE ALMANSA RESERVA, 2006, Spain

11 Wednesday May 2011

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270363_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Monastrell & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Spain         
Region: Almansa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Piqueras
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description:Med+ intensity of purple to ruby in colour. Highly aromatic showing purple lilacs, dark cherry, vanilla, Christmas cake, Bramble fruit pie, cloves & pine, sambuca & sandalwood . On the palate; medium minus tannins, med acidity, med to full body, balanced with a med+ length. Similar to the nose, there‘s Bramble fruit, Christmas cake, pine, vanilla, dark cherry, fig and plums. I simply love this wine as it’s easy to drink, very pleasant too on the nose and the taste, you can drink on its own or pair with grilled pork chop with sautéed shallots and oyster mushrooms, and it’s only $11.95! (LCBO has it often on sale for $10.95).  

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 10 May 2011

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#270363

XANADU NEXT OF KIN, SHIRAZ, 2008, Margaret River

08 Sunday May 2011

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212662_web

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Xanadu Wines Pty Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med+ deep of ruby to purple. Med+ intensity showing lots of berries, such raspberry, blueberry & mulberry. Sweet notes of vanilla bean, raisins,mocha & caramel apple candy, but no jammy over ripe fruit here. The taste is dry, med+ acidity, med tannins, med+ length, balanced & full body. As the nose, lots of berries & shows some white & red pepper. This is a med complex wine that’s easy to drink on it’s own or with food. I paired it with a veal sandwich that had both hot & sweet peppers & it was good. This Ausie Shiraz is part of the new re:invention of wine making happening in Australia, which is going away from flat, sweet, jammy & high alcohol wines. Thank goodness.

Best Buy

Tasted 7 May 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 212662

CARRICK PINOT NOIR 2007, New Zealand

06 Friday May 2011

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919837_web

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Carrick Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with med intensity on the nose. The nose shows unmistakeable Pinot with light beetroot, rhubarb, cherry, strawberry, lightly smoked bacon, truffles & carnations. Overall med+ complexity on the nose. On the taste it’s dry, med+ acidity, med minus tannins, long length & balanced. Cranberry, pomegranate, sour cherry, rhubarb & tobacco leaf. The nose is a lot nicer than the taste that I felt was too tart & lacked depth. Not a typical Central Otago Pinot, more like Marlborough Pinot.

Tasted: 5 May 2011.

Score: 7.5 Value: 7/10, Total; 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 919837

MILCAMPOS TEMPRANILLO RIBERA DEL DUERO 2008, Spain

05 Thursday May 2011

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Milcampos_tempranillo_2006_web

Cost: $9.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera Del Duero
Format: 750 mL
Producer: S.C. La Milagrosa
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Nice nose, sandalwood, cherry nose, smokey bacon, black currents & black berries. On the taste all green & twigs. Very austere. I thing after 10 yrs it might age, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Can’t drink on it’s own & needs something salty like speck.

Tasted: March 2011

Score: 5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 1

LCBO#: 173625

BERSANO COSTALUNGA BARBERA D’ASTI 2008, Italy

05 Thursday May 2011

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348680_web

Cost: $12.00
Grape Variety: Barbera
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Barbera d’Asti
Country: Italy
Region: Piemont
Format: Red Wine
Producer: Bersano-Antico Podere
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med ruby color with med+ intensity. Sour cherry, smokey, cherry licorice mixed with earth tones on the nose. On the palate true Italian notes of sour cherry, red apple, some cherry licorice, red currants & pomegranate. Med body with a long finish. Med tannins, med+ acidity, balanced. Medium complexity. Drink now, on it’s own or with a veal sandwich. 

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 348680

MACMURRAY RANCH PINOT NOIR 2007, Sonoma Coast

05 Thursday May 2011

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48207_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California, Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Actor Fred MacMurray, from My 3 Sons, purchased the ranch in 1940’s. This Pinot grows on me. Med+ intensity, med- garnet. Nose shows black olives, cranberry, smoked bacon, light earth tones & light butterscotch. On the palate, med- body, med acidity, low tannins. Wine seems higher in alcohol than it is (13.5%). Cranberry, strawberry, cherry, bacon. Even though there’s a slight sweet note on the nose, there’s non on the palate. More complexed on the nose than palate. Drink on it’s own or with grilled pork chops. It wants to be a Burgundian Pinot, but falls short, still not bad considering the price.

Tasted: March 2011

Score: 8+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 48207