Category Archives: White Wines

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

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, White Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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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

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

01 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by in White Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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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

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

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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

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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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

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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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