Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

FOUNDERS SELECT CABERNET FRANC 2016, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

06 Saturday Apr 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

On the pricier side of Canadian reds, but this Cab won’t disappoint in taste & smoothness

Positives: This wine features blackcurrants, black cherry, raspberry, anise, cassis, cigar box, leather, tarragon and roasted green peppers.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with slow cooked BBQ beef ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 6, 2019

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

04 Thursday Apr 2019

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic oaked Chard that delivers balance, complexity with tropical fruit, spice & oh yes, it’s delicious

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a long finish that features toasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, coconut pie, clove, cinnamon, oak spice, dill, ginger, and on the nose smoked amber and Easter Lily.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I first tried Quails’ Gate Chardonnay in 2006 when a co-worker brought it for me from BC. At the time the LCBO had only a pittance of BC wines. This wine was amazing, so when it hit the LCBO stores some years later I was excited only to be disappointed. The wine was thin and not impressive. Quails’ Gate Chard is now a regular at Vintages, but I was sceptical to try it again. However, it was on clearance so I decided to try it. Glad I did. Restored my faith in this wineries Chard.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: April 4, 2019

LCBO: 377770

BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE, NV, DOCG Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Veneto, Italy

02 Tuesday Apr 2019

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

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $17.60)
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bellusi
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This easy drinking Prosecco delivers with full flavour and some added complexity

Positives: Bright straw in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features peach, pear, orange, green apples, lemon, yellow plum and clay on the finish.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Valdobbiadene area is widely considered to be the home of the finest quality Prosecco.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 2-4 years on its own or pair it with Grana Padano cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: April 2, 2019

LCBO: 53215

FLAT ROCK CELLARS 2011 RIDDLED, Traditional Champenoise method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $24.50)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A vintage Blanc de Blanc that is complex, elegant, creamy & delicious

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features brioche, light yeastiness, toasted bread, green apple, pear, lemon, peaches, almonds and Easter lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Screw top used in order to maintain the freshness and eliminate the wine being corked.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with strawberries.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick and Best Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: March 31, 2019

LCBO: 383315

STREWN TERROIR CHARDONNAY AMERICAN OAK 2016, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

22 Friday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $32.20
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Winery
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, oak driven, complex and not for the faint at heart, but oh so good

Positives: Old gold in colour featuring lemon custard, Fuji Apple, Golden Delicious apples, orange peel, mango, pineapple, dill, coconut, vanilla, oak spice, cloves, butterscotch, caramel and smoked fall leaves on the nose.

Negatives: 14.8% alcohol

Interesting Point: Surprisingly the high alcohol is well integrated

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 22, 2019

CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER SPECIAL CUVÉE BRUT, NV, Champagne, France

17 Sunday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $84.95 (Clearance Price: $68.00)
Grape: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bollinger
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Bone dry but full of character & quality

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features brioche, yeastiness, green & golden apple, Anjou pear, lemon, white peaches, walnuts, nutmeg and cloves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Maturation cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation, which in total 36 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10-15 years on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 17, 2019

LCBO: 384529

THE TEACHING WINERY LES MARMITONS: GASTRONOMY FUMÉ BLANC 2017, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

11 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $23.15
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Wine
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

This is a quality Fumé Blanc from Nièvre from the Loire Valley in France, but wait it’s not, it’s from the teaching winery at Niagara College. Well done!

Positives: Light yellow with a green tinge in colour. This wine features fresh cut grass, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, guava, dragon fruit, flint, cloves and light smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with red snapper ceviche.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: March 11, 2019

JACQUES BRUÉRE BON COURAGE ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE, 2011, Bottled Fermented Brut, Roberston, South Africa

10 Sunday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Roberston
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bon Courage Estate
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir sparkling wine that’s is elegant, delicious with flavours nicely integrating with it each other and having good acidity

Positives: Cooper in colour with fine mousse. Wine features light toast, brioche, strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1) I bought the wine because I liked the bottle & label; very elegant 2) On the label it list grapes Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, however on the wineries web site, and on the LCBO site, only grape used is Pinot Noir.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with seafood based canapés.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2019

LCBO: 630855

NOMAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

09 Saturday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $23.95 (Clearance price: $19.20)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hinterbrook Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Canadian Cab that is full body, rich, smooth, easy drinking & all under 13% alcohol

Positives: Wine features dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrants, mulberry, tamarind, mocha, vanilla and light smoked amber on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I bought this wine because I liked the drawing of the Great White Owl on its label. Glad the wine was good too.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with red wine pot roast.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: March 9, 2019

LCBO: 581132

MARYNISSEN ESTATES PLATINUM CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Friday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Get 3 for $65.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Marynissen Winery
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth but with a zip and complexity brings this Ontario Chard to a next level

Positives: The oak is noticeable, but in this case that’s a good thing. This full body Chard that features lemon drops, apples (green, golden & Spy), mango, pineapple, meringue, dill, coconut, oak spice and Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I liked the long neck bottle and impressed with the high quality long cork made for aging.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Best Buy at the buy discount price of 3 bottle = $21.62

Tasted: March 8, 2019