Category Archives: White Wines

STREWN TERROIR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $24.00
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stewn Winery
Alcohol:  13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex Sauv with nice fruits & some spiciness. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: gooseberry, fresh cut grass, honeydew melon, pear, mandarin & white pepper.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My thanks to the winery’s sommelier; Juan Nunez-Sanchez, for his recommendation of this wine for my pairing with the ceviche that I made.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Pico de Gallo

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 26, 2021

KA TAHI “THE ONE” CHARDONNAY 2017, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

20 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ka Tahi
Alcohol:  12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

A clean, balanced, well-made Kiwi Chard that gives you a nice rounded palate. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon peel, nectarine, white peach, fig, green apples, pear, ginger, light oak spice & vanilla.   

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Three friends. One vision. One wine – “the one”…Ka Tahi”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken Thighs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 19, 2021

LCBO: 14557

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE SEMI-DRY RIESLING 2017, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

19 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Well-made classic off dry, but not sweet, Riesling. Probably the best Canadian Riesling for under $17. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, pear, green apple, limestone & petrol on the nose.   

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken Wings.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 18, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BARREL FERMENTED BALANCE CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

06 Saturday Mar 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This Balance Chard is nicely balanced between the citric fruit, the light oak notes & the graceful creaminess but still refreshing without being overtly crisp. 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, green apple, pear, honeydew melon, vanilla & coconut.    

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill this wine, as you will lose its complexity

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with North Atlantic lobster wrapped in egg pasta with sauteed bacon in a beurre blanc sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 5, 2021

ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CHARDONNAY 2018, Margaret River, Australia

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Oakley
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

As 2017 was a great vintage, 2018 is very bad. Over ripened fruits across the board. 75/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: marzipan, over ripened orange, over ripened papaya & over ripened banana.   

Negatives: Over ripened fruits

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 2, 2021

LCBO: 350900

DANDELION VINEYARDS TWILIGHT OF ADELAIDE HILLS CHARDONNAY 2018, Adelaide Hills, New Zealand

27 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dandelion Vineyards
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Chablis in style, this wine has some oak influence & it’s bone dry, crisp & clean. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Light bright gold with a green tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, green apples, pear, peach & ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The grapes were picked during twilight time, ergo the name, & speaking of the name, how could I not get it?!

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with herb & lemon scallops on a bed of Angel Hair.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 27, 2021

LCBO: 368274

TERRES SECRÈTES LES PRÉLUDES 2018, AC Saint-Véran, France

23 Tuesday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Saint-Véran,
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terres Secrètes
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious, balanced, complex & you get a Pouilly-Fuissé style wine at a better price point. Score: 92 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a light green tinge in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, Fuji apple, pear, peach, honeydew melon, tangerine, ginger, dill, toasted almonds, honey, limestone & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Saint-Véran AC is adjacent to Pouilly-Fuissé

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Crawfish Boil.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: February 21, 2021

LCBO: 16725

MCMANIS CHARDONNAY 2019, River Junction, California, United States of America

22 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by in On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: River Junction, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: McManis Family Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Just slightly better than your typical mass-produced Cali Chard, but at a higher price point. Score: 86 /100

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with moderate acidity, medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, yellow apples, banana, peach, pineapple, buttered popcorn & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Pineapple Pork Stir Fry

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: February 21, 2021

LCBO: 265983

BRICKLAYER’S REWARD 20 BARRELS CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

21 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Lakeshore
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Colio Estate Wines
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This nicely balanced cool climate style Chard should please those that like oak & those that don’t all at a good price point. Score: 90 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, green apples, pear, peach, pineapple, oak spice, dill, honey & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The wine has been blended from 20 different oak barrels, mostly new, for 10 months

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster sautéed in ginger & scallions (especially from Ma Chinese Restaurant in St. Catharines).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 20, 2021

LCBO: 644609

ALVI’S DRIFT VIOGNIER 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvi’s Drift
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & very dry not typical of what you would expect or want from a Viognier. Score: 85 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon-lime, grapefruit & orange pith.

Negatives: Too much bitterness & very dry

Interesting Point: The bottle has a gold label on it “2019 Gold Wine Award in Excellent Wine at the Price”. All tasting is very subjective, but this one doesn’t even touch taste just price.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years & pair it with Southeast Asian Grapefruit & Shrimp Salad.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2021

LCBO: 18687