Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

LUNDY MANOR WINE CELLARS MERITAGE 2016, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Mar 2023

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: 40% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 17.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Lundy Manor Wine Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, complex & elegant. This high-quality Canadian red at a great price as other wineries are charging twice the amount. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, Crème de Cassis, pencil shavings, .

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Wine spent 2 years in French Oak. Love the classic bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with a juicy tenderloin grilled steak with roasted orange & red peppers.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 9, 2023

LES VINS DE VIENNE CONDRIEU LIEU-DIT JEAN RAUDE 2019, DOC Condrieu, Rhône, France

12 Sunday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $82.00
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Condrieu, Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Les Vins de Vienne
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, complex & elegant. Just gorgeous. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dried apricots, orange zest, lemon custard, honeydew melon, white peach, yellow passion fruit, honeycomb, peach pit, granite & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: 9 months on lees in French oak casks.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with baked Brie with apricot jam & honey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2023

LCBO: 21406

ARIENZO DE MARQUES DE RISCAL RIOJA 2016 CRIANZA, DO CA Rioja, Spain

02 Thursday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $16.99 KY
Grape: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Herederos del Marqués de Riscal
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja Crianza with nice fruits & spices all at a good price point. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, nutmeg, cloves, coconut, vanilla & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 18 months aged in American oak barrels followed more aging in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Paella.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: March 1, 2023

TWO MOUNTAIN MERLOT 2019, Yakima Valley, Washington State, United States of America

28 Tuesday Feb 2023

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

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Cost: $25.99 KY
Grape: 93% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Two Mountain Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balance between fruit, acidity & oak. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, raspberry, tamarind, roasted beets, licorice, black peppers, cocoa, bay leaves & lilac on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Certified green winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Teppanyaki vegetables .

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 27, 2023

VILLA AIX EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2021, AOP Coteaux D’Aix en Provence, France

19 Sunday Feb 2023

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

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Cost: $20.95 (Clearance price: $16.75)
Grape: 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 5% Syrah
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Coteaux D’Aix en Provence
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Le Vins Bréban
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant, generous, very dry and delicious. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light salmon in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cranberry, honeydew melon, clementines, Fuji Apples, white peach, clay minerality & red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The vineyards of the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence are the most westerly of the wines of Provence.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: February 14, 2023

LCBO: 668426

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RESERVA CAVA, NV, Método Tradicional, DO Cava, Spain

18 Saturday Feb 2023

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

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale price until Feb 26, 2023: $14.95)
Grape: 50% Macabeo, 30% Xarel·lo, 20% Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably my favourite inexpensive sparkling wine as it features fruitiness, freshness and complexity. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, pitaya, Granny apples, peach, & fresh cut carnations on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Autolysis of the yeast cells in the base wine for 3 months before bottling, and a second autolysis of the yeast cells for a minimum of 15 months ageing in bottle.” Winery. Really like the new

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with Porcini mushroom risotto.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: February 12, 2023

LCBO: 216960

LUNDY MANOR WINE CELLARS PROPRIETOR’S RED 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Friday Jan 2023

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: 51.4% Cab Franc, 27.7% Merlot, 14.5% Syrah, 6.3% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Lundy Manor Wine Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Tied for best Canadian red wine with Lundy Manor’s 2016 Red. Drinking like a nicely aged Bordeaux. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, dried cranberries, raspberry, blueberry, plum, baby spinach, white & black pepper & shale.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 18 months in French oak.

Pairings: Drink this now on its own or pair it with Slow Cooker Beef Cheeks in Red Wine.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: January 9, 2023

LCBO: 20188

MON FRÈRE PINOT NOIR 2018, California, United States of America

07 Saturday Jan 2023

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

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Cost: $ 21.99 KYD
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mon Frère
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

I love it when I get impressed by a California Pinot that’s not high in alcohol, not made in the commercial & it’s under $25. This Pinot is made more like in the Willamette Valley style, & it is elegant, bright & well made. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raspberry, some plum, rhubarb, clove & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: ‘A blend of Sonoma Coast vineyards, Santa Rita Hills Vineyards in Santa Barbara and Santa Lucia Highlands and Vineyards in Monterey. A full spectrum of Pinot Noir clones are represented in this wine.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: January 5, 2023

DECOY BRUT CUVÉE SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Champenoise, United States of America

27 Tuesday Dec 2022

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

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Cost: $28.99 KYD
Grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Decoy
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Traditional Champagne grapes & traditionally made. Great taste, that’s easy to drink, especially when it’s almost ice cold & at half the price of the lowest priced Champagne wines. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Straw to light gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, pear, white peach, lemon zest, green apples & limestone stone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Dosage with French oak barrel fermented Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 26, 2022

BILLECART SALMON BRUT RÉSERVE NV, AOC Champagne, France

25 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $71.0 KYD (December 2022 sale: $50.99 KYD)
Grape: 40% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Montagne de Reims & Grande Vallée de la Marne
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bellecart-Salmon
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A Christmas treat. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Rich gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, Anjou pear, peach, lemon, green apples, salted almonds, thyme & wet stone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vinification in stainless steel tanks, 50% to 60% reserve wines, ageing on lees: 30 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with crab spiced with ginger and a creamy courgette sauce which is topped with Daurenki caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 25, 2022