Category Archives: Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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

LAS NIÑAS ELLA RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile

08 Monday Jul 2024

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

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Cost: $15.45 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $13.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Casablanca
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina del Nuevo Mundo SA
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality of this wine is double of its price. It’s balanced between acidity, oak & fruits. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, light oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & fresh cut white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Certified sustainable/organic

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Pastel de jaiba (Crab pie)

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 7, 2024

LCBO: 37162

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2023, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

21 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Tavel style rosé without the high alcohol associated with Tavel’s. This rosé is bold & full of flavour. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright cranberry in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainer cherries, strawberry, cranberry, watermelon & fresh cut red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: Direct to press after 12 hours on skins.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Mesquite chicken wings.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 20, 2024

13th STREET WINERY PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2021, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

11 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $39.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Pinot Noirs from Ontario showing traditional Burgundian style with elegance, a delicate taste but full of flavour. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, red currants, Champagne mushrooms, Chinese 5 spices, vanilla and peat moss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Sourced from our own Whitty Vineyard in Creek Shores. After harvest in early October, the grapes were crushed and destemmed before being transferred to open-top fermenters for approximately 30 days of alcoholic fermentation on the skins with regular pigeage to gently extract tannin and colour. Following fermentation, the wine was pressed off the skins and transferred to 1st, 2nd and 3rd use French barriques for 15 months of ageing. A selection of a few barrels went for more aging after racking in old 500-litre French oak. The wine was lightly fined and filtered before bottling in February 2022.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 10, 2024

ROMBAUER CHARDONNAY 2022, Carneros, California, United States of America

25 Saturday May 2024

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

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Cost: $69.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rombauer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Rombauer successfully made my favourite Chard even better by having a better balance of acidity, oak, fruit & spiciness. Score: 99/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, mango, peach, pear, honeydew melon, nectarine, clementine, ginger, dill, vanilla bean, chamomile, buttered egg bread & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 9 months in American and French oak barrels (30% new)

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 22, 2024

LCBO: 441089

DOMAINE DE CAROBELLE 2021, AOP Vacqueyras, Côte du Rhône

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

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

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance Price: $23.25 & $18.65 if you can get find it.)
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre, Cinsault)
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vaqueyras, Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine de Carobelle
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made showing bright fruits & spice. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blueberry, mulberry, strawberry jam, black & white pepper, and Champagne mushrooms & lavender on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Made with organic grapes.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 15, 2024

LCBO: 31966

HENRY OF PELHAM THREE HILLS CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Apr 2024

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

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale Price until April 28, 2024: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Henry of Pelham Estate
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

My new favourite Canadian Chard under $20. Excellent balance between oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, quince, dill, ginger, oak spice, vanilla, roasted almonds & jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I reviewed 2019 vintage, and was not too crazy about it, and it was selling for $21.95. Now, now only is it $2 less, but the quality is exceptional.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 11, 2024

LCBO: 268342

MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

03 Saturday Feb 2024

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

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Cost: $26.95 (Clearance Price: $21.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant Chard that is well balanced between fruit, acidity, minerality & oak. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Maturation: Fermented and aged in barriques and puncheons (93%), 6% Foudre and 1% concrete egg

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Fettuccine with creamy dill sauce with shrimp, bay scallops and sea leg crab.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: February 1, 2024

LCBO: 545004

ORGANIZED CRIME PETIT VERDOT UNFILTERED 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jan 2024

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

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Cost: $54.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Organized Crime
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Bold but at the same time elegant. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, fine grained tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, black cherry, dried cranberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, cocoa, sage & violets on the nose.

Negatives: High alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 18 months in older French Oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

Pairings: Decant for at least 1 hr, & drink this now or in 7 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Chipotle-Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks with Corn Salsa.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: December 31, 2023

VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION CHARDONNAY 2022, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

28 Thursday Dec 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Villa Maria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made having balance between the oak, tropical fruit, acidity & spiciness. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, clementine, pineapple, green mango, Granny apples, white cranberry, ginger, dill, oak & baking spice, limestone, light toasty wood & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 24, 2023

LCBO: 16012

CABRAL RESERVA 2020, DOC Douro, Portugal

24 Tuesday Oct 2023

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

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Viosinho, Arinto, Rabigato & gouveiro
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vallegre – Cabral
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Taste profile: It’s a combination of Sancerre, Viognier & Chenin Blanc. Great price especially for the quality. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: White peach, yellow pitahaya (yellow Dragon Fruit), pear, kiwi, apricot, white pepper & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with sushi.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: October 23, 2023

LCBO: 35446