Category Archives: White Wines

SARDUS PATER IS SOLUS 2017, DOC Carignano del Sulcis, Sardega, Italy

01 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Carignano 100%
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Carignano del Sulcis, Sardega
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sardus Pater
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

And now for something completely different, but in a good way. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features tart cherry, plum, blackberry, mulberry, arugula, white pepper, peppercorn, licorice & oregano.

Negatives: There’s some heat coming from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: Is Solus is a fountain of Roman origin present in the historic center of the town of Sant’Antioco. The label shows a mosaic present in the city archaeological museum, which depicts two wild beasts drinking from the vase from which the tree of life rises.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with brisket.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 1, 2020

LCBO: 13452

BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

13 Thursday Aug 2020

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Mainly Grenache
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brotte
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

It starts with roundness & elegance in the mouth & finishes with a nice clean crispness. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features yellow plum, pear, white peach, apricot, green apple, wet stone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Crawfish Gumbo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 13, 2020

LCBO: 644385

COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2016, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

11 Tuesday Aug 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Years ago, this wine was one of my favourite Chards under $20. Today, with still being 2106 vintage, it’s past its prime, in fact it needs to be put out to pasture. Score: 75/100

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon curd, butterscotch, cooked apples, banana, cantaloupe & lots of oak.

Negatives: Over ripe fruit with oak being at the forefront

Pairings: I wouldn’t drink this now.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: August 10, 2020

LCBO: 462846

CAMPILLO BLANCO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA 2018, DOC Rioja, Spain

10 Monday Aug 2020

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 75% Viura (Macabeo), 25% Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This reminds me of sitting outside at a restaurant on the waterfront in the Cayman Islands feeling the Caribbean saltwater breeze on my face & having some calamari with some Scotch Bonnet sauce. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Straw with a green ting in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, pear, mango, white peach, vanilla, eucalyptus & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: August 9, 2020

LCBO: 657478

LONE BIRCH CHARDONNAY 2018, Yakima Valley, Washington, United States of America

23 Thursday Jul 2020

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lone Birch Winery
Alcohol:  13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with lots of citric notes

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon, dragon fruit, pear, honeydew melon, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with seafood medley in a garlic sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 23, 2020

LCBO: 13311

MALIVOIRE ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2108, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Jul 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, mineral & citric driven chard that makes this a pleasant summer drinking wine

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

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with stuffed scallops in a shell.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 20, 2020

LCBO: 573147

QUAIL’S GATE CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

18 Saturday Jul 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale Price Until July 19, 2020: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quail’s Gate
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, yet pleasant drinking Chard that is balanced between the oak & fruit

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

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with seared scallops on a bed of greens.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 18, 2020

LCBO: 377770

ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Welcome Angels Gate to the Ontario wineries having excellent Chards & this one is complex, elegant with creamy buttery notes, not overtly oaky, good acidity & tropical fruit to balance it out

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features buttered toast, lemon, clementine, Fuji apple, peach, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak spice, flint minerality & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to my friend, Mike who recommended this wine.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 15, 2020

LCBO: 116384

NIAGARA COLLEG TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MUSCAT 2019, VQA Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Muscat
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  10.0% Alcohol/Vol.

People shy away from Muscat as they think it’s too sweet. However, NC Muscat, although stated as off dry, has a lot of acidity making this wine crisp than sweet, for now. Aging this wine will have the same affect as aging Rieslings, which will smooth out the acidity to leave leave it more palatable.

Tasting Note: Very light straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear,

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own, but better off in pairing with food such as Applewood Cheddar cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 5, 2020

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Jul 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Ontario is consistently making great Chards at reasonable prices, & this one is a gem for $20. Full body, full of elegance, creaminess, tropical fruit, good acidity & balanced

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, clementine, green & golden apples, pear, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, caramel, vanilla, oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4of years on its own or pair it with steamed snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 13, 2020

LCBO: 438374