Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

In addition to Best Buys, these are my top picks with no consideration to price

NAPA CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2017, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

23 Saturday May 2020

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Napa Cellars
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

So a Napa winery can make a delicious balanced Chard that’s creamy, nice but not overly oak, tropical fruit & acidity all under 14.5% alcohol

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, mango, pineapple, clove, light oak spice, apple pie & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 23, 2020

LCBO: 225342

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ECUSSON ROSÉ BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

17 Sunday May 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love trying wine from non-tradition wine regions that are rare to get in Ontario, & I am happy to say this is a delight to drink; dry, light & fruity

Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lots of strawberry, cherry, green & red apples & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was founded in 1921

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: May 17, 2020

LCBO: 369074

DECOY MERLOT 2107, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

16 Saturday May 2020

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $28.00)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duckhorn Wine Company
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Decoy Merlot is still one of my favourite Merlots & a great value for being under $35 for the quality you’re getting

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, medium tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, mulberry, ripe tamarind, blackberry, tobacco leaves, cloves, Star Anise, and cinnamon.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with charbroil ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 16, 2020

LCBO: 460642

BURROWING OWL ESTATE BOTTLED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

08 Friday May 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $33.95 (Clearance price: $23.80)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burrowing Owl
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Full bodied and rich on the palate with crisp acidity and flavours of exotic tropical fruit that is well balanced with the oak. Simply delicious.

Tasting Note: Bright gold colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features butter toast, lemon, peach, mango, pineapple, poached pear, dill, oak spice, ginger & white flower on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 8, 2020

LCBO: 208694

OAK BAY GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2015, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

30 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40
Grape: Gewürztraminer
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Hubertus Winery Ltd
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Alsace style Gewürz that is delicious & at a great price

Tasting Note: Deep yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lychee, honeydew melon, peach, key lime pie with rose petals on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is sustainable & organic.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Jamaican jerk chicken.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 29, 2020

LCBO: 11814

REDSTONE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2016, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

27 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $39.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Pricey; yes, but this is not your typical Ontario Cab Franc, which is usually simple with a lot of green peppers & twiggy notes. This one is smooth, juicy, complex & balanced

Tasting Note: Light ruby with a touch of garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, smooth tannins & a long length on the finish. Wine features ripe redcurrants, plum, strawberry, kirsch, beets, sage & tobacco leaves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Besides the taste, I love the look of the bottle

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with garlic & rosemary balsamic roasted pork loin.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 27, 2020

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D’OR BRUT CRÉMANT BOURGOGNE 2012, Méthode Traditionnelle, Ac Burgundy, France

26 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This has become one of my favourite sparkling wines or Champagnes as this vintage wine (8 yrs old) has a beautiful nose, complexity & is truly a really pleasant sparkling wine to drink for a great price.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features toasted bread, brioche, Anjou pear, peach, apricots, green apples, Honeycrisp apples, vanilla, & Honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Besides the taste, I love the look of the bottle

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with strawberry crepes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 26, 2020

LCBO: 51565

BERINGER NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2017, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $25.95 (Sale price until April 26, 2020: $22.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my top Chards anywhere in the world & one of the few wines that I will drink  that has a high alcohol level because it’s so delicious with lots of tropical fruits, nice creaminess, good acidity & not overtly oaked.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, mangos, pineapple, Spy apples, crème brûlée, ginger, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: High alcohol

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 22, 2020

LCBO: 84988

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

20 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, 2% Grenache blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy & creamy. This is a baby Condrieu: Condrieu’s are the gold standards of Viognier & priced from $50 & up, thus meaning it’s awesome at this price

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features juicy peach, apricot, Kent mango & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Conch Ceviche with Scotch Bonnet

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 20, 2020

LCBO: 290296

STARS BRUT NATURE RESERVA CAVA 2016, DO Cava, Spain

19 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: 40% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada, 30% Macabeu
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castillo Perelada
Alcohol:  11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

My new favourite Cava, so pleasant just makes me smile when I drink it & the price point helps

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine mousse & long length on the finish. Wine features yeast, brioche, pear, green apples, lemon rind, orange & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: On the back label the have taken out Macabeu & replaced it with Chardonnay. However, on the winery’s website it list Macabeu not Chard.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Maple Syrup flavoured bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Best Buy

Tasted: April 19, 2020

LCBO: 515221