Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

ATALON MERLOT 2004, Napa Valley, California, United States

10 Friday Jan 2014

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

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Atalon

Cost: $26.59 CI
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Atalon
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice juicy, complex but easy drinking Merlot. One of my favourites.

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, figs, Moroccan spices, espresso, artichoke & some cigar box notes. Medium to full body with round tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted rack of lamb & mint sauce.

Interesting Point: Almost 10 years old and still going strong.

Tasted: 9 January 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

PIPER-HEIDSIECK BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Reims, Champagne, France

05 Sunday Jan 2014

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Piper Heidsieck

Cost: $54.95 ($34.95 Total Wines, Florida)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meuniers
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: France
Region: Reims, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Piper Heidsieck
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

The sports car of Champagnes; fast, lean, racy & easy to drink

Positives: This complex wine features light toast & yeast, guava, honeysuckle, pear, green apples, pistachio, tobacco, melba toast & icing sugar on the finish. Light to medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: $20 more expensive in Ontario than Florida.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with raspberry point oysters.

Interesting Point: My wife’s go to Champagne, and if it were priced like Florida this would be a weekly staple.

Tasted: 5 January 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 462432

PEGASUS BAY PINOT NOIR 2007, Waipara Valley, New Zealand

27 Friday Dec 2013

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

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pegasus

Cost: $47.95 (Clearance: $33.65)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Waipara Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Donaldson Family Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Reminds me of a cold crisp winter night with wood fireplaces burning their logs.

Positives: A nose that I can immerse myself in and the taste is not far behind. This wine features pine, crisp bacon, pomegranate, sour & dark cherry, violets, strawberry & a touch of earthiness.  Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted pig.

Tasted: 26 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5+) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 31294

DOMAINE CARNEROS BRUT BY TAITTINGER 2008, Method Champenoise, Carneros, California, United States

15 Sunday Dec 2013

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

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Carneros

Cost: $33.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Carneros
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

If you don’t want to pay triple the cost of a Taittinger vintage Champagne, yet have similar style & notes, this is one of the best.

Positives: This complex yet very smooth sparkling wine features yeast, lemon, brioche, Anjou pear, baked apples, tangerine, seaweed & wet stone. Medium body with good tannins and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 3 years in the bottle before being released.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with truffle oil Parmigiano French fries.

Tasted: 15 Dec 2013

Top Pick

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

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

THE OJAI VINEYARD 2005, Santa Barbara, California, United States

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Ojai

Cost: $19.99 CI
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Ojai Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Inky ruby with purple tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

What an amazing wine that I got for under $20 in the Cayman Islands. LCBO had it in 2011 for $39.99

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, tar, coffee beans, violets, cigar box, peppers, burnt rubber, ripe tamarind, tarragon, licorice & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lucky I bought out the store with this wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with ragù alla Bolognese with garlic bread.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Top Pick & Best Buy (in Cayman)

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

MT. ROSA PINOT NOIR 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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Mt Rosa

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance: $22.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Crossroads LCBO
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A lighter style Pinot that’s easy to drink, maybe too easy? If you’re not careful you may be into your 2nd bottle without even realizing it. At the clearance price it’s a steal as it’s truly worth $40

Positives: The wine features pine, candy apples, cranberry, dried herbs, strawberry and the smell of burning fall leaves. Light body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with duck paté

Tasted: 8 Nov 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 18+/20

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

JOSEPH PHELPS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, United States

15 Friday Nov 2013

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

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Joseph Phelphs

Cost: $37.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Phelps
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I have ever tried.

Positives: This complex wine features mild oak, lemon-lime, kumquat, peach, gherkins, honeydew, white flowers, Asian pear and clarified butter on the finish.  Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Not your typical Sauvignon Blanc, which for me is a good thing.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with cherry/grape tomatoes with basil and Bufala mozzarella on a bed of arugula.

Tasted: 15 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 34546

WILLIAM HILL CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

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William Hill

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A luxurious Napa Chard that’s under $30.

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, butterscotch, orange, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, mango and Easter lily on the nose.  Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass and don’t over chill this wine.

Drink now or over the next 6 years on its own or pair it with garlic shrimp scampi on a bed of angel hair.

Tasted: 12 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 988840

GEYSER PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Alexander Valley, California, United States

30 Friday Aug 2013

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6935_dd3a97a18217b6397bfcc4fc8aac5d24

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Geyser Peak Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Now this is what I’m talking about! A quality California Cab that’s yummy and less than 14% alcohol.

Positives: This wine features cedar, pine cones, cloves, blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla, raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and some leather & pencil shavings on the finish. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with rib eye steak.

Tasted: 29 Aug 2013

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 343467

TARLANT ZERO BRUT NATURE NV, AC Marne River Valley, Champagne, France

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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Tarlant_Zero_Brut_Nature_Champagne_web

Cost: $44.95 (Clearance Price $31.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Category: Champagne Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Marne River Valley, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tarlant Père & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

Not often can I say that Champagne is so smooth that it should have a warning on it, being easy to consume 2 bottles in one sitting, but this one should.

Positives: This easy drinking but complex Champagne features citrus, pears, brioche, yeast, almonds, ginger, wet hay, Magnolia and limestone. Medium body with good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill this, as you will not get all the nuances from this beautiful Champagne. Harvested in 2006 with reserve wines, 4 years on the lees and no dosage which means it’s dry.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with cheese, tomato, shallot omelet.

Tasted: 7 July 2013

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 996264