Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

ROBERT YOUNG CHARDONNAY 2006, Alexander Valley, California

27 Saturday Aug 2011

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

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Cost: $46.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Young Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Yellow gold with a medium nose. Medium oak & toast follows lemon candy, creme brûlée, caramel, peach, nectarine, hazelnut, peaches & cream corn, limestone, pineapple, golden & green apples, mangos & orange. The taste follows the nose with the addition of lemon meringue. The taste is dry, medium+ acidity, full body, high alcohol (there’s a lot of heat on this Chard), very long length so much that I ran a mile & still could taste it, lol. The wine is balanced & very smooth even with the heat from the alcohol. This would be a perfect Chard for me if the alcohol wasn’t as noticeable on the taste. Drink on it’s own or with steamed lobster on the beach with drawn butter. Only one word describes this Chard & that’s yummy. Don’t chill it to much or you’ll loose the wines complexity. What’s great about this Chard from LCBO is that I got it for 30% off ($32.95). Drink now or it can cellar for another 1-2 years.

Tasted 26 Aug 11.

Top Pick.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10 (reg price) or 9.5/10 (sale price), Score: 17.5/20 or 19/20 sale.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 670430

PIRRAMIMMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Malesco Wine Broker
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: I don’t recall ever having a Pirramimma that I didn’t like, and this one keeps the streak alive.

Dark almost opaque ruby in colour intensity with high intense nose. The nose shows a lot Zin characteristics such as raisin, prunes, dates, figs, mocha, cherry tobacco pipe smoke, cedar, vanilla, blackcurrants, white pepper, violets & eucalyptus. The taste is as complex as the nose. The taste is more skewed to what a Cab is. It’s dry, medium+ tannins & acidity, full body & powerful with long length, high alcohol but balanced. Notes show cedar, raisins, plum, dark cherry, blackcurrants, dates, mocha, turmeric, leather, vanilla, black & white pepper, eucalyptus & some pencil shavings. This is a smooth wine with a velvet touch on your tongue. Love this wine. There are only 2 negatives. 1) Even though I love the nose, I want my Cab to smell like a Cab, and 2) The high alcohol. Drink now on it’s own or with grilled steak. Tasted 24 Aug 11. Best Buy & Top Pick. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 9.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 730374

ROSEMOUNT SHOW RESERVE GSM 2006, McLaren Vale, Australia

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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

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Rosemount Show Reserve Gsm 2006, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Grenache/shiraz/mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: First off let me just say that I have not yet had a Rosemount Show Reserve wine that I didn’t like & this one doesn’t disappoint. Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intensity on the nose. A complex nose that shows plums, dill, raspberry, blackberry, cherry, cedar, dark chocolate smoked bacon, black & white pepper & mocha. The taste is just as complex as the nose showing similar notes as the nose. Surprisingly with the high alcohol & being from Australia you would expect more prune or cooked fruit. However, the taste is old world, except for the heat. The taste is dry, medium+ tannins & acidity with a very long length. The wine has medium to full body & balanced. The wine is drinkable now but will age nicely for the next 5 years. Drink on it’s own or rack of lamb.

Tasted 17 Aug 11.

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value; 7/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 583146

BLUE MOUNTAIN BRUT, NV, Okanaga Valley, BC, Methode Traditiomnelle, NV, Estate bottled

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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

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Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Pinot Gris 
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Blue Mountain Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold with a touch if copper in colour with medium intensity & fine mousse. This sparkling smells & taste like fine Champagne, but at least half the price & it’s Canadian! This sparkling shows notes of baked apple, yeast, pine nuts, brioche, lemon and lime stone.

Tasted 5 Aug 11

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:#206326

CHÂTEAU DE CRUZEAU BLANC, 2007, Pessac-Leognan

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Château De Cruzeau Blanc 2007, Ac Pessac Léognan Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Pessac-Leognan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: André Lurton
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: 1st off just want to let you know that this is so far my favourite Sauvignon Blanc. Gold in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose has beautiful aromas that has a prominent note of guava followed by gooseberry, hay, lantanas, chalk, green apple & passion fruit. The taste is dry, medium+ acid, medium body with long length & balanced. This wine has been on it lies for 10 months prior to bottling that is evident by the creaminess of this wine. Guava dominates the taste. Other notes are as the nose with addition to edamame, pear, pink grapefruit, dry apricot & golden apples. This an exceptional Sauvignon Blanc for its price considering the complexity. The wine isn’t bone dry like a lot if Sauvignons. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with Sea Bass with white wine sauce on a bed of couscous.

Tasted: 30 July 11

Best buy & top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 966010

STREWN THREE TERROIR, 2006, Niagara Lakeshore VQA

02 Thursday Jun 2011

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

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Cost: $28.75
Grape Variety: 48% Cab Sauvignon, 48% Merlot & 4% Cab Franc
Category: Wine
Appellation:
Country: Ontario, Canada
Region: Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.8%
Description: Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour. Med+ intensity. The nose is simply delightful. Med oak with cherry pipe tobacco smoke, dill, black olives, strawberries & oyster mushrooms. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity, balanced, long length & med body. On the palate there’s med oak, Bing cherries, strawberries, raspberry, dill, Macintosh apple, pencil shavings, leather, steamed artichoke & slate. This wine is simply marvelous & I especially like that it’s under 13% alcohol, which is good on it’s own or with tenderloin steak.

This is a top pick & an excellent representation of Niagara wine.

Tasted 1 June 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 468918

EMERI PINK MOSCATO, NV, SPARKLING WINE, AUSTRALIA

26 Thursday May 2011

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

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222190_web

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Moscato
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia   
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Bortoli
Alcohol: 8.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Pale pink in colour with high intensity in the nose, this wine is off-dry sparkling wine that shows vibrant fruits of strawberry, raspberry, and fruit cocktail. A little bit of lemon gives nice acidity on the finish that rounds off this sparkling with a clean finish. With only 8% alcohol this wine is easy to drink by itself or with breaded calamari. This wine is similar to a rosé prosecco, but with more body and less alcohol. Priced accordingly, I put this sparkling wine in my top pick.

Tasted: 18 May 2011

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 1.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#222190

CASTILLO DE ALMANSA RESERVA, 2006, Spain

11 Wednesday May 2011

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

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270363_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Monastrell & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Spain         
Region: Almansa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Piqueras
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description:Med+ intensity of purple to ruby in colour. Highly aromatic showing purple lilacs, dark cherry, vanilla, Christmas cake, Bramble fruit pie, cloves & pine, sambuca & sandalwood . On the palate; medium minus tannins, med acidity, med to full body, balanced with a med+ length. Similar to the nose, there‘s Bramble fruit, Christmas cake, pine, vanilla, dark cherry, fig and plums. I simply love this wine as it’s easy to drink, very pleasant too on the nose and the taste, you can drink on its own or pair with grilled pork chop with sautéed shallots and oyster mushrooms, and it’s only $11.95! (LCBO has it often on sale for $10.95).  

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 10 May 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#270363

RODNEY STRONG RESERVE, CHARDONNAY, 2007, Russian River Valley

08 Sunday May 2011

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

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210039_web

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Long long finish. Complexed Chard. Lemon in the middle of the tongue, fortune cookies, lots of butter popcorn, butterscotch, cloves, spiced apple, Italian spices (fresh sage & dried oregano). Tropical fruits of mango, pineapple, peach, apricot & oranges. Nose & taste. High alcohol diminished my score. Goes well with a lot of foods as it’s very broad in tastings due to it’s complexity. Goes well with Italian wedding soup, red snapper, angel hair with garlic oil & sea scallops, grilled garlic pork chops & caesar salad (as long as the dressing is balanced & not over powering with garlic or anchovies)

My Top Pick

Tasted: March, 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 210039

TERREDORA CAMPORE FIANO DI AVELLINO, 2008, Italy

05 Thursday May 2011

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

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Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Fiano Di Avellino
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terre Dora Di Paulo S.S.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: ‘Terredora is a relatively young property founded in 1994 by Walter Mastroberardino and his family. The estate farms over 150 hectares of vineyards in Campania, making it one of the larger producers in the region. The top wines are rich, flavorful and loaded with character.'(Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2008)

I’m a big fan of Fiano. This has macadamia nut on palate & taste. Full body, med+ intensity, tropical fruits good mineralogy in limestone. Some orange rind & peach. Good acidity makes it food friendly such as crab with butter or by itself. Truly a treasure.

Tasted: March 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 905596