Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

JOSÉ MARIA da FONSECA & VAN ZELLER, DOMINI PLUS 2005, Duoro, Portugal

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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

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Cost: $42.99 CI
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott Wines)
Country: Portugal
Region: Duoro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is one of my favourite wines. When I travel to the Caymans I always try to pick up a few bottles as the LCBO doesn’t sell it. Sad, very very sad. A complex wine made from grapes normally used to make Port. It features cedar, plums, raisins, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, MacIntosh apples, anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, thyme, red & black peppers, and some earthiness. Medium to full body, medium to medium+ tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Not sold in Ontario!

Interesting Point: The bottle is heavy with a unique shape that I like.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a rack of lamb.

Tasted: 24 Sept 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

ARTESA CHARDONNAY 2010, Carneros, California

02 Sunday Sep 2012

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

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Artesa Chardonnay 2010, Carneros Bottle

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay with a small blend of Sauvignon Blanc, albariño & pinot blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Artesa Winery
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big blockbuster California Chard, but there’s a lot to it, rich, creamy & one of the longest tasting in length for a Chardonnay I’ve tasted. Lightly toasted oak featuring lemon, green apples, mangos, pineapple, peach, marshmallow, custard, limestone, orange, crème brûlée & a slight peppery note. Medium to full body, good acidity & a very long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: One of the best Chards that I tasted that should appease those that like big Chards & those that like Chablis style.

Drink now or over the next 5 years. Can be drank on its own, but this was one of the best Chards I’ve tasted for pairing with crustaceans and drawn butter.

Tasted: 31 Aug 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 657585

VILAFONTÉ SERIES M 2004, Paarl, South Africa

08 Wednesday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $48.85 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 25% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Paarl
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vilafonté
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A rich complex wine featuring cedar, plums, bramble fruit, blueberry pie, cloves, anise, fennel, brett, dried sage, ripe papaya, espresso, cocoa, vanilla bean, tobacco leaves, bacon, black cherry & Christmas cake on the finish. Full body, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: Decant for an hour and the 2004 is showing better than the 2006. (See my earlier review on the 2006)

Drink now on its own or pair it with rosemary & garlic seasoned rack of lamb.

Tasted: 7 Aug 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

TSARINE PREMIER CRU 2002,

05 Sunday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $71.50 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: 78% Pinot Noir & 22% Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: À Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chanoine
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light yellow with a green ting in colour with a fine mousse & a medium minus intense nose.

Positives: A very smooth Champagne in which grapefruit dominates along with butter notes, rose petals, cloves, light brioche, limestone, baked apples, cinnamon stick & pepper. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Tortuga had this champagne at 50% off, which is a steal. I love the bottle and the history of this Champagne house:

History:

The French language echoes through the palace corridors in Saint Petersburg, Parisian fashion is all the rage, interesting discussions take place on the major works of the age of enlightenment. At this period, Russian high society took a liking to French culture, and especially to its finest illsutration: champagne.

Introduced to the court of the Empress Anna Ivanovna, it quickly became the guest of honour at all banquets, especially at the table of Catherine the Great and the highest nobility in the Empire.

It is to pay tribute to this period in Russian history that Maison Chanoine, founded in 1730, created Tsarine Champagne.

Its exclusively designed, long, curved bottle bears certain similarities to the architecture of the great Russian monuments. Its emblematic colours, its rounded label and its evocative name are all redolent of the period of the great Russian dynasties.

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese, mushroom, tomato, shallots & red pepper omelette.

Tasted: 5 Aug 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5+

GLORIA FERRER BRUT ROSÉ 2007, Carneros, California

29 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost:  $32.39 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category:  Sparkling Wine
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 ml
Producer:  Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Light copper colour with full mousse and medium intense nose.

Positives: Full flavoured sparkling featuring strawberry, cranberry, lemon, clementine, brioche and some minerality.

Negatives: None 

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese, tomato omelette with clementines on the side.

 Interesting Things: Made in méthode Champenoise.

Tasted: 29 July 12

Top Pick 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

 

PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2007, Russian River Valley, California

28 Saturday Jul 2012

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

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Cost: $51.99 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wines
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  California
Region:  Russian River Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Paul Hobbs
Alcohol: 14.7%

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I love this wine which features medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, white flowers, peach, pear, lemon and limestone. Full body with good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated considering it’s 14.7%.

Negatives: The high alcohol

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs consistently produces good quality Chards at different price points. Please note this is 2007 vintage and not available at LCBO. However, the 2008 is available at LCBO Vintages.

Drink now on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 25 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

FERNÁNDEZ DE PIÉROLA RESERVA 2004, DOC Rioja, Spain

15 Sunday Jul 2012

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

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Fernández De Piérola Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Fernandez De Pierola S.L.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium minus ruby with a garnet rim in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Elegant Reserva featuring sandalwood, cedar, cigar box, plums, dried cherry, incense, cloves, rosemary, leather, blackberry, hickory & earthy notes. Lots of complexity going here. Medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity, long length & the wine is nicely balanced with only 13% alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Decant this wine as there will be sediment at the bottom of the bottle.  I like the classic Spanish label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 14 July 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 270579

STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN MAYACAMAS RANGE NAPA ESTATE ZINFANDEL 2009, Napa Valley, California

14 Saturday Jul 2012

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Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $46.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Storybook Mountain Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.9 %
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose. This is an elegant Zin featuring blackberries, figs, raisins, raspberries, red currants, plums, fennel seeds, lead pencil & cracked black pepper. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the 14.9% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Don’t expect your typical jammy Zin. This is smooth & elegant, like a well aged Scotch. This winery does not use herbicides or insecticides on their grapes.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 13 July 12

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 18/20.

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

LCBO#: 682989

WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Coonawarra, Australia

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

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Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Complex wine featuring cedar, cassis, violets, blackberry, dark cherry, mint, tobacco, graphite, sandalwood & plums. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This is Wynns’ Coonawarra Estate 53 vintage, and once again spectacular especially for being under $25. Taste double to triple that price.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with a nice grilled tenderloin.

Tasted: 26 June 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 84996

ANDREW RICH CUVÉE B PINOT NOIR 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon

27 Sunday May 2012

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Andrew Rich Cuvée B Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andrew Rich Wines
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very elegant wine whose style is between old world & new world Pinot. Notes feature pine, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, nutmeg, pistachio, earth tones & suede. Medium minus body with low tannins, medium+ acidity and long length.

Negatives: None.

Drink slightly chilled on its own or pair it with squash soup & roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 May 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 127043