Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

FOLIE À DEAUX CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

05 Thursday Nov 2015

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Folie

Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

My style of Chard; juicy, buttery, creamy, oaked, layered flavours, well balanced & under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, lemon merengue pie, peach, golden and Spartan apples, honey, clove, ginger, dill, slate & peat smoke. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Butternut Squash Ravioli with Garlic Aioli.

Tasted: 27 Oct 2015

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 146951

MEYER PINOT NOIR 2013, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

19 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Meyer

Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Strath Ale Wine & Spirits Merchants, Victoria, BC
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Meyer Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

This could pass for a $50 Burgundian Pinot, truly delicious

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features barnyard smells, pine, dark cherries, raspberry, rhubarb, pinenuts, beets, a touch of Christmas cake, forest moss and smoked ambers. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly, there’s some heat from only 13% alcohol

Interesting Point: Lightly chill

Drink now on its own or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Balsamic Cherry and Thyme Glazed Duck Breast.

Tasted: 7 Oct 2015

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 392449 (2012 vintage presently at LCBO)

YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2013, Eden Valley, Australia

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Eden Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vicenta Gandia
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, rich, elegant & so beautiful

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This complex wine features orange blossom, honeydew melon, orange, apricot, guava and white pepper. Medium+ body and with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Best non Condrieu Viognier I’ve had. Far superior in every sense than Yalumba’s Y Series Viognier (see my previous review).

Drink now or in the next 10 of years on its own or pair it with Spicy Honey Glazed BBQ Chicken with Crispy Sweet Potato Fries.

Tasted: 31 Aug 2015

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 954644

RAVINE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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

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Cabernet-Franc-300x448

Cost: $35.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality Ontario Cab Franc for a moderate price

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, dark and sour cherry, plum, ripe red currants, raspberry, blueberry, Allspice, rosemary, tobacco leaves, white peppers, roasted red peppers and forest greens. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established winery making sparkling wine since 1877. Nice bottle to impress dinner guest.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Mushroom and Rosemary Risotto.

Tasted: 31 July 2015

Top Pick

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

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

BARNETT VINEYARDS TINA MARIA VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2010, Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California, United States

23 Monday Mar 2015

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

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Barnett Tina Maria

Cost: $44.99
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: Green Valley, Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barnett Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

There’s yummy and there’s YUMMY, this is the later. A good wine to have on a special occasion

Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, purple lilacs, sultana, dark cherry, pomegranates, raspberry, autumn leaves, bacon, pickled beets and cherry pipe tobacco. Full body with light tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of my favourites, if not the favourite Pinot Noir

Drink now or cellar it for another 7 years on its own or pair it with Rosemary roasted duck.

Tasted: 22 March 2015

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

ALMADI BARDOLINO CHIARETTO ROSÉ 2013, DOCG Lake Garda, Bardolino Charetto, Veneto, Italy

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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

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rose

Cost: $16.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara
Category: Rosé Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Lake Garda, Bardolino Charetto, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Rosé tasted. Balanced, substance, versatile & just plain yummy

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium to medium+ intense. This complex wine features the fragrant bouquet of cherry blossoms, with strawberry, tangerine, Spy apple, white cranberry and pineapple on the palette. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this in several different wine glasses; all were slightly different and yet all very good.

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with chicken spicy Thai chicken soup

Tasted: 17 March 2015

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

ACROBAT PINOT NOIR 2012, Oregon, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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Acrobat

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region: Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: King Estates
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

This Pinot achieves an all too rare goal in this day and age, delivering a high quality, Oregon Pinot Noir at an affordable price

Description: Medium to light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This juicy wine features pine, cranberry, wild strawberry, rhubarb, autumn forest smells, cinnamon & cloves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with slow smoked ham served with mango and braised sweet onion.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 11 March 2015

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

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

WILLIAM HILL NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2013, Napa Valley, California, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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chardonnay[1]_0

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently one of my favourite Napa Chards for under $30

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, mango, pineapple, green and yellow apples, peach, dill, ginger, oak spice, caramel and limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with sweet and spicy ginger chicken wings.

Tasted: 6 March 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 988840

ARMAND DE BRIGNAC (ACE OF SPADES) BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

12 Thursday Mar 2015

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

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Armand

Cost: $260 Cayman Islands ($299.95 LCBO which is currently out of stock)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location Tortuga
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattiers
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing but the best! Smooth as silk

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and very fine mousse. This complex Champagne features brioche, lemon pith, honeysuckle, toffee, sweet potatoes, butter cream, peach, kiwi, ginger, orange, limestone and smokey notes reminiscent of Oolong tea. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Made from 2003, 2005 & 2006 vintages

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Caviar

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

PAHLMEYER JAYSON PINOT NOIR 2005, Sonoma County, California, United States

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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

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jayson Pinot

Cost: $78.55 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth elegance

Description: Cloudy medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features ripe sea grapes on the nose with strawberry tarts, bramble fruit, rhubarb, bergamot, smoked bacon, roasted fennel, black cherry, toffee and Brazilian coffee on the finish. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity, the alcohol is well integrated and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting this wine to my sister-in-law to give to me as my birthday present.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with mushroom and speck brick oven pizza.

Tasted: 5 Dec 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5