Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

ROBERT MONDAVI RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United States

17 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Considering other Chards at this quality are more expensive, this makes this wine a fairly good value

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, Macintosh apples, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try not to over chill this wine in order for the fruit to fully bloom in your mouth.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years

Tasted: 2 January 2018

Top Pick

Highly Recommended

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 258186

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $27.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, balanced, high quality Chard for under $30 and at 13% alcohol

Positives: Wood is nicely integrated in this wine, which features lemon, apple, peach, pineapples, lemon meringue, oak spice and Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

LCBO 1552 (2017 Vintage not yet in LCBO as of this review)

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE MERLOT 2014, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos du Bois
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Competes with higher end Napa Merlots but at half the price. Reminds me of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($103.95 vs $24.95).

Positives: Yummy, smooth, juicy, rich in flavours, black fruits, spices well balanced between oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: Corrugated cork decreases ageing potential. High alcohol of 14.5%, but it’s well integrated.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: February 13, 2018

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

LCBO: 34900

ALVENTO NEBBIOLO 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $55.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is more austere than the 2007, but truer in style and it is unfiltered

Positives: High in tannin, but very robust and complex. This wine features pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, oregano, tomato leaves and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014, and destroyed the vines. Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now, but pair it with chicken cacciatore in red wine sauce or drink on its own over the next 10-15 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

ALVENTO ARIA NEBBIOLO 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $56.15
Grape: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is at its peak and showing beautifully now

Positives: A smooth wine with a long finish featuring strawberry, cranberry, oregano, Champagne mushrooms and leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2001 with their last vintage 2012. Unfortunately, the polar vortex that hit this region in 2014.Nebbiolo is a rarity for Canada, and even more rare as these vines are no longer here, so value for the money it’s worth the cost.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

SPERLING VISION SERIES CHARDONNAY 2015, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $30.00 (Clearance price: $21.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sperling Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality BC Chard that balances between Chablis and Montrachet

Positives: A robust, full body Chard featuring lemon zest, green apples, pineapple, lemon meringue, ginger, dill, yeast and Easter Lily on the nose. All this with only 13% alcohol.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

Top Pick

Best Buy at clearance price

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: April 14, 2018

LCBO: 378570

JACKSON ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2015, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $33.25 (Clearance price: $23.35)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

My style of Chard: buttery, balanced oak, creamy, tropical fruit, good acidity and under 14% alcohol.

Positives: A robust, full body Chard featuring lemon, green apples, pineapple, lemon meringue, mango, dill, and Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy at clearance price

Top Pick

Tasted: May 22, 2018

LCBO: 529735

HMC MCWATTERS COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2014, BVA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $23.25
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Harry McWatters at Time Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Proof that you can make a beautiful, delicious, rich and elegant oak style chard at a reasonable price for the average consumer.

Positives: Medium buttered toast, lemon, pineapple, mango, fudge, dill, lemon meringue pie, ginger, almond, oak spice and white rose on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy and Top Pick

Tasted: June 14, 2018

LCBO: 488536

GRAHAM BECK PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT BLANC DE BLANC TRADITIONAL METHOD 2013, Robertson, South Africa

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Champagne style sparkler with great value for a vintage Blanc de Blanc

Positives: Fine mousse with taste of brioche, lemon peel, golden apple, pear, apricot and white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 11, 2018

LCBO: 907568

ALVENTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $35.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality & Complexity coming to a Canadian Cab Sauv near you. Oh wait it’s here in this wine!

Positives: A juicy Cab featuring blackberry, blackcurrants, dark cherry, plums, blueberry, cassis, cloves, pencil shavings, turmeric, leather and vanilla. A wonderful pairing with rib-eye steak.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to the sales manager, Anita Cavén for introducing me to this wine.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 17, 2018