Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

PLUME CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Napa Valley, California, United States

07 Monday Jul 2014

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plume

Cost: $31.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Plume Winery
Alcohol: 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This wine is smooth, fully flavoured & delicious

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, cherry, prunes, black and red currants, raspberry, dark chocolate, blueberry, fig, Christmas cake, woodsmoke and tomato leaf. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated considering it’s 14.6%

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The lack of tannins makes this wine optimal drinking experience now and not for cellaring.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or and pair it with grilled cheese sandwich.

Tasted: 2 July 2014

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 287367

FLOWERS SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY 2010, Sonoma Coast, California, United States

21 Saturday Jun 2014

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Flowers

Cost: $59.95 (Clearance: $42.00)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flowers Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Premier price for a premier wine

Positives: This complex wine features medium light toasted oak, Easter Lilly, lemon, lemon meringue, orange, pineapple, mango, peach, light caramel, ginger, dill, vanilla and some limestone on the finish. Full body with good acidity & a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery uses gravity to move the flow of the grapes and its juice.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with lobster cooked on a beach.

Tasted: 23 May 2014

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 215210

DOMINI PLUS 2008, DOC Douro, Portugal

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

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Domini Plus

Cost: $39.95
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz & Touriga Nacional
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria Da Fonseca
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Simply delicious

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, blueberry, cassis, sage, raisins, fennel, coffee, figs and leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5%

Interesting Point: Dominus Plus is probably my favourite Portuguese wine

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled T-bone steak.

Tasted: 9 June 2014

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 343087

MEANDRO DO VALE MEÃO 2011, DOC Douro, Portugal

13 Friday Jun 2014

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Meandro

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 27% Tinta Roriz, 3% Sousão, 3% Tinta Barroca, and 2% Tinta Cão
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: F. Olazabal & Filhos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Danger Will Robinson, this is so good that it’s a 2 bottle night

Positives: This complex smooth wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, mulberry, nectarine, licorice, thyme, raisins, mocha, dates and leather. Medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14%

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with Portuguese beef Cacoila.

Tasted: 10 June 2014

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 244731

CHAMPAGNE HENRIOT BRUT SOUVERAIN NV, Reims, Champagne, France

28 Wednesday May 2014

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Henriot

Cost: $56.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henriot
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw in colour, a medium to medium+ intense nose with fine mousse.

This may be my new favourite Champagne

Positives: This complex smooth Champagne features medium toasted crostini, brioche, yeast, white flowers, lemon zest, orange, Anjou pears, green and yellow apples, ginger, honey and toasted almonds. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years and pair it with caprese salad made with Mozzarella di Bufala.

Tasted: 28 May 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO: 959643

SAINT CLAIR BLOCK 15 PINOT NOIR 2010, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

20 Tuesday May 2014

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

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Block 15

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Consignment
Country: New Zealand
Region: Lower Waihopai Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saint Clair Family Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with an intense nose.

My favourite wine at the New Zealand Wine Tasting in Toronto

Positives: The nose on this Pinot is simply amazing, so much I wish I had an oxygen mask with the aromas being pumped into it. This wine features pine, purple lilacs, black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, smoked ambers and cardamom. Medium body with  gently tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Not yet imported by LCBO

Interesting Point: Sourced from a single vineyard by the mouth of the Waihopai Valley from clones115, and 777.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with braised slow cooked Bison short ribs.

Tasted: 8 May 2014

Top Pick

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

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

THYMIOPOULOS VINEYARDS YN KAI OUPAVÓ XINOMAVRO 2010 UNFILTERED, Naoussa, Greece

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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Greek

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Xinomavro
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Naoussa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thymiopoulos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A smooth wine with good quality & the nose is to die for

Positives: This complex wine features pine, roses, blackberry, Bing cherry, raspberry, Star anise, Allspice, cinnamon & turn tamarind. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The name ‘Earth and Sky’ appears on the label in Greek, German, French, Japanese, English, and what appears to be a pictograph.

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Ruth Chris steak.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Top Pick, Best Buy

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

LCBO: 360750

NEWTON UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa County, California, United States

24 Thursday Apr 2014

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

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Newton Chard

Cost: $49.00 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Miami International Airport Duty Free
Country: United States
Region: Napa County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite Chards, rich, bold & beautiful

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon, honeydew melon, ginger, butterscotch and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well-integrated due to the rich full body.

Negatives: Would be perfect with a lower alcohol level than 15%

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with lobster souffle.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Top Pick

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

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

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007, DOCG, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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Brunello

Cost: $45.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duca Di Saragnano
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect nose followed by a great taste.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar with sour cherry, cloves, nutmeg, sage, cherry cola, vanilla, white pepper, peppercorn, espresso, blackberry preserve & arugula. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & a long average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Taste like $60-$70 Brunello

Thanks to Mario from the new wine store, The Tasting Room in Grand Cayman for recommending this wine.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with braised Bison short rib.

Tasted: 19 April 2014

Top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

JEAN MARC BROCARD CHABLIS 2011, AC Chablis, France

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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Chablis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean-Marc Brocard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Hard to find a great Chablis is for under $20

Positives: This complex wine features Easter lily, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, Brie rind, Spy apple, honey, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: From single vineyard “Sainte-Claire” 30 year old vines on Kimmeridgian Limestone fermented with indigenous yeast.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Beausoleil oysters in honey, ginger & shallot vinaigrette.

Tasted: 14 April 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 356634