Category Archives: White Wines

TRINITY OAKS CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

04 Sunday Oct 2020

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale Price until Oct 11, 2020: $15.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trinity Oaks
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Who says you can’t find a good inexpensive California Chard that isn’t either overly oaked, sweet or high in alcohol? Might have been me. Well look no further in this well styled & balanced Chard. Score: 89/100

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

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In partnership with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit that has planted over 180 million trees, Trinity Oaks plants one tree per bottle purchased. The grapes are grown in sustainably farmed vineyards.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 of years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 4, 2020

LCBO: 15762

TRIUS BARREL FERMENTD CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Saturday Oct 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Oct 11, 2020: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Fresh new label, both on the front & back, which I really like, and although this wine is still very young, it presents balance between the oak aging & citric notes. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, dill, ginger, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: New label on the front & back with the back label giving the consumer a lot of good information.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 2, 2020

LCBO: 251470

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

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

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If the winemaker, Dianne Smith, wanted to make a quality, complex, balanced, full body buttery Chard in the style of California’s, at a reasonable price, well she has succeeded. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, pineapple, mango, dill, ginger, oak spice, limestone & vanilla custard.

Negatives: Some heat from the high alcohol

Interesting Point: “Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, then fermented in 7 very different French oak barrels with 7 specially selected yeast strains, making this is our Winemaker’s ode to California. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 32 months, this hot climate style wine is luscious and ripe with notes of tropical fruit and custard.” Greenlane Winery

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 30, 2020

GREENLAND ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

27 Sunday Sep 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, but pleasant. This is a nice bridge between un-oaked and oaked Chard. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Straw to light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach & vanilla custard.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50/50 between oak barrels & stainless tanks.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass with lemon, dill & caper sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 27, 2020

PELEE ISLAND CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Sep 2020

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Cost: $12.45 (Sale price: $11.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, crisp unoaked Chard that is priced right. Score: 87/100

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features lemon zest, green apple, pear & passion fruit.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The 2018 label is a lot nicer than their previous ones for this Chard.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with tangy Caesar salad.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 26, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY SUR LIE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Sep 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale price $19.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like buttered popcorn, you’ll love this. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Yellow to old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, pineapple, peach, pear, yellow apples, yellow plum, buttered popcorn, & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is getting low on how many bottles they have.

Pairings: Drink this now or in couple of years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken .

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 24, 2020

SPECK BROTHERS, FAMILY TREE “THE GOAT LADY” CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale price until Oct 1, 2020: $14.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Although there is a lot going on with this wine it doesn’t know if it wants to be a commercial California style Chard or a cool climate Chard. Score: 84/100

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, marzipan, peach, pear, green & yellow apples, ripe pineapple, orange, and passion fruit.

Negatives: There’s a touch of sweetness that has a lingering finish, plus I’m not a fan of marzipan.

Interesting Point: In a glass, I blended this Chard with Niagara Teaching Winery unoaked Chard, & it wasn’t bad, way better than drinking this Chard on its own.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with slow cooked chicken with filled figs.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: September 22, 2020

LCBO: 16792

PAUL MAS RÉSERVE MARSANNE 2018, Pays D’Oc, France

15 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Marsanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Mas Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

ABC (Anything But Chardonnay), well look no further as this Marsanne is undervalued, under appreciated and underpriced, which for the consumer to find is truly a treasure. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, pineapple, yellow plum, yellow apples and apple blossoms on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Love the bottle: elegant & classic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with pan seared Chilean Sea Bass – glitter and graze.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

Tasted: September 15, 2020

LCBO: 462457

BAR DOG CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

14 Monday Sep 2020

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Our Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to see a California Chard under $18 that is not: A) above 14% alcohol, B) sweet, C) overtly oaky. This balanced Chard offers a lot for the buck. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, yellow plum, vanilla & oak spice.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: From the winery: “My Best Friend… Bar Dog Companion, partner, bone-vivant. Always by my side. In my kitchen or at my dog-friendly bar until it is time to go. Like Bar Dog, we love this wine unconditionally. So will you.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Devilled stuffed crab.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 14, 2020

LCBO: 10886

LEEUWENKUIL RESERVE WHITE 2017, Swartland, South Africa

05 Saturday Sep 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% blend of: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Leeuwenkuil Family Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An interesting wine with good complexity & full of array of taste. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon pith, pineapple, peach, green apples, mandarin, white pepper, limestone, white blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Cayman style conch ceviche.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 27, 2020 LCBO: 14937