Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

KENNETH VOLK SANTA MARIA CUVÉE PINOT NOIR 2008, Santa Maria Valley, California

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

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

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Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County Bottle

Cost: $36.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Aqua Pumpkin Inc.
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful Pinot that is smooth & complex featuring pine, beets, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, and burning leaves of the fall foliage.  Medium to medium minus body with good acidity, a fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My best wine award at the Wine Tasting Challenge held in Toronto on 26 Nov 12.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 Nov 12

Top Pick

 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 291039

DOPFF & IRION VORBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009, Grand Cru Vorbourg, Alsace, France

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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Dopff & Irion Vorbourg Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Grand Cru Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vorbourg, Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dopff & Irion S.A.
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Golden honey in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: It’s been a long time since I tasted a really good Pinot Gris. This features white birch, honey, apricot, white peach, lychee, sweet potato with butter, cinnamon & nutmeg. Off-dry with medium acidity, fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Danger Will Robinson! This wine is so good it’s hard not to drink 2 bottles in one sitting, but the real danger is that’s its 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: On a blind taste I would have guessed this as a Viognier or Gewürztraminer. Use the Viognier style glass if you have one. Unusual for a Pinot Gris to have 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 8-12 years on its own or pair it with a spicy dish.

Tasted: 22 Nov 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 292227

CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario. Méthode Traditionelle

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cave Spring Blanc De Blancs Brut, VQA Niagara Escarpment Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring Cellars Ltd
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling that I could just drink everyday. Features lemon, green apple, brioche, some yeast, baked apples, Anjou pear, mandarin & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at clearance price at LCBO in Brampton for $20.80, which would make this a Best Buy & a Top Pick.

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto pizza.

Tasted: 18 Nov 12 (congrats to the Argos in making it to the Grey Cup, which I’ll be seeing them there ) If they win I’ll drink another of this sparkling to celebrate)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 213983

WILLIAM FÈVRE CHABLIS MONTMAIN 1er CRU 2007, Chablis, France

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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

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William Fèvre Chablis Montmains 2006, Ac, 1er Cru Bottle

Cost: $38.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine William Fèvre
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A pale green to straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: One of the best Chablis I have tried. The Premier Cru Chablis features white and pink grapefruit, lemon, green apples, anjou pear, honey, limestone, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 13 Nov 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

02 Friday Nov 2012

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Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $19.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn’t disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 479527

ARCENO PRIMAVOCE 2006, IGT Toscana, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Cost: $25.99 (From Bestwine4less.com)
Grape Variety: 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese, 5% Cab Franc, 2% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: American Airlines Business Class
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arceno
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose

Positives: The nose on this wine is second to none, and the taste doesn’t lag too far behind. This complex nose features cedar, vanilla, cassis, raspberries, strawberries, cloves, dark chocolate, mocha, blackberries, plums, cherry, licorice, cherry pipe tobacco, all-spice, red and black peppers. The taste has some of the nose’s properties in addition to leather, pencil shavings & blackcurrents. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well intergrated.

Negatives: Not sold at LCBO

Interesting Point: If you fly American Airlines Business Class, ask if they serve it on your flight, and if they do, take the bottle!

Drink now on its own or pair it with beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 22 Oct 12

Top Pick

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

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

DOMAINE LOUIS MICHEL & FILS VAUDÉSIR CHABLIS GRAND CRU 2008, Vaudésir, France

14 Sunday Oct 2012

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Cost: $59.00 (Clearance price $41.35)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vaudesir
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domain Louis Michele
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a low intensity nose.

Positives: A strikingly complex Chablis which features lime zest, grapefruit (both white & pink), wakame salad, dill, horseradish, quince and ends in a cool citrus bite interwoven with alkaline and iodine nuances. Medium minus body with high acidity and a long length. This Chablis came to play.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 6 years. Paired extremely well with Raspberry Point oysters. and with dill pickles.

Tasted: 13 Oct 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Value: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 172569

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

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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