Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

CHÂTEAU MONCONTOUR TÊTE DE CUVÉE VOUVRAY SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AOC Vouvray

24 Sunday Oct 2021

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

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vouvray, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Moncontour
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking but with complexity. This delicious Brut wine is juicy with tropical fruit notes. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, light yeast, baked apples, mango, peach, lemon, kiwi, roasted nuts, limestone & jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine matures at least for 20 months in bottle after the second fermentation and before disgorgement in cool cellars carved out of the limestone cliffs beneath the Château.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Vegetables & Goat Cheese Tart.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 24, 2021

LCBO: 207936

MALLORY & BENJAMIN TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2020, AOC Mâcon-Uchizy, Mâconnais, France

19 Tuesday Oct 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Mâcon-Uchizy, Mâconnais
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Talmard
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made. This delicious Chard has finesse & elegance, all at a bargain price for this quality. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, peach, almonds, light ginger, dill & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Winery was founded in the 17th Century and is still family owned.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years & pair it with Roasted Portobello Pepper Caps with Goat Cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 18, 2021

LCBO: 733956

FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2018, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

16 Saturday Oct 2021

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

From one of my favourite AVA’s, this Chard doesn’t disappoint. Not only is this a beautiful full body, complex & balanced wine, but it’s also made under 14.5% alcohol. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, Golden Delicious apple, peach, clementine, pear, pineapple, mango, kumquat, apricot, Allspice, caramel & honey.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Folie à Deux wines are sustainably grown in Sonoma County.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 8, 2021

LCBO: 146951

MICHEL GASSIER EMBRUNS DE VIOGNIER 2020, Pay D’Oc, France

30 Thursday Sep 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Camargue, Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Gassier
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A beautifully made Viognier with richness, oiliness & full of flavour.  Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, apricot, Golden Delicious apple, peach, clementine, nectarine & oyster shell.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is Bio Organic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Tangerine Sage Rotisserie Chicken. 

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Sept 29, 2021

LCBO: 669531

GASSIER SABLES D’AZUR ROSÉ 2020, AOP Provence, France

22 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: $15.20)
Grape: Cinsault, Grenache & Syrah
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Advini
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious dry rosé that is elegant & full of flavour. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier Cherries, strawberries, cranberries, peach, Fuji Apples, limestone & bouquet of roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Moroccan quail with rose-petal sauce & cucumber relish.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Sept 21, 2021

LCBO: 33621

PONGRÁCZ BRUT PINOT NOIR/CHARDONNAY CAP CLASSIQUE, NV, W.O. Western Cape, South Africa

19 Sunday Sep 2021

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: W.O. Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves de Pongrácz
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality, complexity & delicious to drink all at an amazing price. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Baked apples, light yeast, brioche, green apples, kumquat, kiwi & honeycomb & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In my opinion Pongrácz produces the best sparkling, in the traditional method, at an amazing price, bar none. Check out my review of their rosé sparkling wine. In addition, I love the shape of their bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with red onion vinaigrette.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Sept 19, 2021

LCBO: 404111

CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2018, AOP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, Frane

04 Wednesday Aug 2021

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

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: 70% Roussanne, 15% Viognier, 15% Grenache Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Costières de Nîmes, Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Nages
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold & beautiful, very Montrachet in style without being a Chard. Score: 97/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon pie, lemon zest, apricot, peach, orange pith, pineapple, golden apples, granny apples, pear, honey, vanilla with orange blossoms & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Montrachet glassware and don’t over chill it to bring out all that this wine has to offer.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Mahi-mahi ceviche with pineapple salsa.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Aug 2, 2021

LCBO: 485854

MONTEMAJOR EQUINOX LIMITED EDITION 2017, IGT Campania, Italy

03 Tuesday Aug 2021

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Aglianico and Piedirosso
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Montemajor
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious wine that is fresh, smooth with lots of fruits & spiciness. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberry, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, aged balsamic, licorice, cinnamon, Allspice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The name Equinox, comes from the Latin aequa-nox which literally means equal night, as this is one of the two solely days in which night and day have the same length. EQUINOX recalls the period of harvest of this wine, when summer ends letting autumn taking its course. The grapes were harvested during the Fall Equinox on 21 September 2017.

Although I enjoyed this wine in a variety of wine glasses, the Sangiovese/Riesling glassware won out.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Mussels Marinara with Linguine

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 31, 2021

LCBO: 19027

TERRA D’ALIGI TATONE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2016, DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

08 Thursday Jul 2021

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

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terra D’Aligi
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

If you want a full body Italian red wine that is delicious, has a lot to offer, ready to drink now or cellar & yet inexpensive; this wine is it. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherries, plum, blackberry, raspberry, oregano, sage, peppercorn, cardamon & leather,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Tatone is a nickname for grandfather. This wine as aged 24 months in big barrels made of oak of Slavonia and 3 months in bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with wood oven Margarita Pizza

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 6, 2021

LCBO: 994616

GRUET BRUT SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, Méthode Champenoise, New Mexico, United States of America

05 Monday Jul 2021

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

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: New Mexico
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gruet Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant dry sparkling rosé wine. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Rosemary gold in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, wild strawberries, raspberries, green mangos & green apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is made in the Saignée method by adding 2% still Pinot Noir to the blend & aged in Tirage for a minimum of 18 months. The winery roots originating from Gilbert Gruet’s Champagne house in Bethon, France. It’s nice to see a New Mexico wine at the LCBO stores now.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Summer Strawberry Gazpacho (with strawberries, tomato, red wooed, cucumber, minced garlic, thyme, olive oil and balsamic vinegar).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 4, 2021

LCBO: 15686