Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

CASALVENTO JANUS 2007, IGT Radda, Chianti Italy

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

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

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Cost: $49.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caslavento Ss
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very smooth & complex wine showing notes of black cherry, plums, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, anise, cigar box & slate. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, alcohol is well integrated, very long length & balanced.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Decant for an hour.

Drink now or cellar for another 10 years. Drink on its own or pair it with Filet Mignon.

Tasted: 16 Jan 12.

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 237594

E. Guigal Condrieu 2006, Northern Rhône, Condrieu, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

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Cost:  $52.99
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 ml
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Deep golden to amber in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Simply delicious! I hold all viogniers to E. Guigal’s Condrieu. Creamy apricot marmalade, honeysuckle, orange blossom, vanilla, beeswax and lychee.

Negatives: Oxygenated properties have taken hold.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red lumpfish caviar. Even though it’s on it’s down slope, this wine is still delicious.

Interesting Things: If you like nice complex chardonnays you will love this. Due to it’s oxygenated properties it has similar taste to Fiano. 

Tasted: 14 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008, Napa County, California

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

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Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2007, Napa County Bottle

Cost: $64.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton Vineyard
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Golden yellow in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Too much to write about but here’s a summary to this complex wine. Medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, creme brûlée lemon meringue pie, roasted marshmallows, apple pie, caramel & cashews. Full body, alcohol is well integrated, good acidity & very long length.

Negatives: 15% alcohol. Interesting Things: Don’t over chill it & use the larger Chard wine glasses.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5-7 years. Drinks well on its own as a meal or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 1537

RUINART BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS CHAMPAGNE, Reims, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Champagne, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Ruinart Blanc De Blancs, Champagne Bottle

Cost: $89.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Champagne Ruinart
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with fine mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: My wife says it’s yummy with delicious & a touch of tasty. I happen to agree. We also agree it’s one of the best champagnes we’ve tasted. The nose has aromas of fresh baked bread, apple, ginger, jasmine, biscotti & wet stone. The taste shows macadamia nuts, lemon, apple crumble, strawberry/kiwi, tangerine and with a slight lemon peel & ginger on the finish. Medium body with good acidity & long finish.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or with strawberries.

Tasted: 11 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 62984

PAHLMEYER CHARDONNAY 2009, Napa Valley, California

02 Monday Jan 2012

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

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Pahlmeyer Chardonnay 2009, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $79.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pahlmeyer
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Lemon gold in colour with medium to medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: Wow! The taste just keep coming in waves. Medium toasted oak with lots of butter, butterscotch, lemon meringue pie, apple, ginger, limestone, peach, mango, tangerine, pineapple, Jicama, naseberry & lemon grass on the finish. The wine is highly complex, full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High alcohol.

Interesting Things: This is my wife’s wine of choice for our New Years Eve dinner & I wholeheartedly agree.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5-7 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted hens.

Tasted: 31 Dec 11

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 147454

FLAT ROCK CELLARS RESERVE CHARDONNAY, 2007 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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

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Cost: $35.20
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a nice wine showing lemon/lime, ginger, apple, medium toasted oak, buttery biscuit, roasted marshmallow, mango, pineapple & limestone. Medium to full body, good acidity, long length, balanced & complex. Not your typical Ontario Chard having tropical notes with medium alcohol & I love that.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1. Use the larger Chard glass that would go with California or Australian Chards. I tried it in a cool climate Chard glass & the bitterness really came out. 2. Screw cap. 3. I like the minimalist label.

Drink now or cellar it for another 2-3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 21 Dec 11.

Top Pick, Price Not Withstanding

Best Buy on sale price of $24.70.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (sale price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 198812

MONT-MARÇAL BRUT RESERVA CAVA, Catalunya, Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Mont Marçal Brut Reserva Cava, Do Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Xarello, Macabeu, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mont-Marcal
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh & lively best describes this sparkler. Green & red apples with lemon & some ginger dominate. There’s traces of limestone to give it a touch of minerality. The wine is medium body, good acidity, medium + length & delicious.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is one of if not my favorite Cava that I have tasted. Traditional Method.

Drink now on its own or have it with Chinese food.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 26 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 229021

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Miapo Valley, Chile

17 Thursday Nov 2011

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

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Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Maipo Valley Bottle

Cost: $15.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Miapo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Tarapacá’s Ex Zavala vineyards. Vinified in stainless steel and then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, the wine spends an additional year maturing in bottle before release. This intense wine displays cassis and ripe blackberry fruit aromas and flavours as well as notes of black pepper, chocolate and spices. Enjoy it with grilled spring lamb.” (LCBO)

Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I concur with the LCBO notes but in addition there’s cedar, coffee beans, mint, cassis, anise, pencil savings, leather, turmeric & sage. The taste is surprisingly smooth considering that this wine has medium+ tannins & acidity. The wine is also full body with a long length, and the alcohol is well managed.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: The notes are more old world style than the new world fruit forward style.

Drink now or cellar for another 5 years. Drink on it’s own or with a grilled T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 15 Nov 11

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 18721

13th STREET WINERY, ESSENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $34.95

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. There is lots of creaminess, butter, limestone, peach and a smoky note that is reminiscent of amber glowing after a bonfire. The nose reminds me of a high end Californian Chard, but the taste says it’s not a Chard and more like Fumé Blanc from Loire. This is probably the best Sauvignon Blanc that I have ever tasted. There is lots of complexity and creaminess like the nose, with layers of taste from apples, guava, passion fruit, caramel and lemon candy. The finish is quite lengthy. I think I went for a mile run and I still tasted it.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: 

  • The creaminess comes from the wine being aged in 40% French oak barrels. Make sure you don’t chill this too much, 13-14º C so you can taste all the different layers this wine offers.
  • I tasted this wine over a course of about 20 minutes and continuously found new notes. 
  • The grapes were picked the 1st week in November, which is very unusual for Ontario, heck it’s unheard of due to frost being a viable threat to the grapes. 
  • For those readers that follow my reviews, I am not a fan of high alcohol. This one is 14%, yet no heat from that, and on the plus side it adds to the full body this wine. 

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped scallops that are seared.  

Top Pick Price Not Withstanding 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

HUTCHESON COLHEITA PORT 1999. DOC Douro, Portugal

01 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Fortified & Desert Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Hutcheson Colheita Port 1999, Doc Douro, Matured In Wood, Btld. 2010 Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Port Blend
Category: Port
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sogevinus Fine Wine
Alcohol: 20.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: This is pure unadulterated pleasure, and one of my highiest rated wines. Vibrant golden brown with garnet, light+ intensity. Figs, dates, almonds, toffy & raisins predominate on the nose. Silky smooth taste. Dates, mocha, chocolate, wood spice, almonds, some orange peel & figs on taste, as well as woodspice and toffy. I love having this with chilled black chocolate with almonds. For under $30 for 12 yr old is very nice & makes it a Top Pick. Good complexity on nose & taste.

Top Pick

Tasted: 27 Aug 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 196832