Category Archives: White Wines

PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARD RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Tuesday Jun 2025

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Cost: $26.95 (Clearance price: $21.60)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A creamy spicy Chard. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, peach, pear, apricot, ginger, dill, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Fermented in stainless steel before being aged, sur lie, for 15 months in French and American oak”.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Greek Chicken Kabobs

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: June 16, 2025

LCBO:  78535

CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

18 Sunday May 2025

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Cost: $35.00 (Clearance Price: $24.55)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Prince Edward County, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Closson Chase
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A spicy style Chard that works well with various foods. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, powdery tannin, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, dill, ginger, cloves, pie dough & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Point: Barrel fermented in French oak.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with BBQ glazed striped bass.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: May 17, 2025

LCBO: 148866

SOUTHBROOK WHIMSY LIMITED EDITION UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2023, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday May 2025

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Cost: $30.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Organic Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, but not oak driven Chard that delivers an easy-going drinking wine. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Bright old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, lemon tarts, Golden Delicious apples, white peach, sour dough

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Winemaker’s Point: “Harvested from a unique Chardonnay clonal planting in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation. Grapes were gently pressed using a long & slow press cycle. Settled juice was transferred stainless steel barrels & aged for 10 months on lees before bottling.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Garlic Herb Baked Cod.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 15, 2025

DOMAINE J. DENUZIÈRE CONDRIEU 2020, AC Condrieu, Northern Rhône Valley, France

22 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Cost: $86.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Northern Rhône Valley, Condrieu
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine J. Denuzière
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Fresh, elegant Condrieu with bright fruits & spice. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apricot, tangerine, peach, white pepper, fennel

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is a nice Condrieu, but I’ve had a lot better for same & lower prices.

Winemaker’s Point: “Winery was established in 1876. 100% Viognier comes from a single plot located in the town of Vérin. Partially aged in oak barrel for several months.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled asparagus.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: April 21, 2025

LCBO: 33930

STATUS CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

11 Tuesday Mar 2025

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Cost: $35.20 (Clearance price: $28.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Stratus
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Complexed yet elegant full body Chard that’s cream with a nice balance between the oak & fruit. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, pear, mango, buttered toast, honeycomb, vanilla, almonds, dill, ginger, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unfiltered

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2025

LCBO: 267856

VIENI PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Mar 2025

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Time to drink this now as the oak is over powering the fruit. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Deep gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, pineapple, peach, kumquat, roasted almonds, oak spice, ginger, Chinese 5 spices

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Cellared for 24 months in new French oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance price

Tasted: March 5, 2025

LCBO: 520247

KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Feb 2025

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Cost: $17.40 (Clearance price: $13.95)
Grape: Marsanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville, Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex wine, but it’s full body, silky smooth & something different from the regular Ontario white wines. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: deep straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, peach pit, pear and apples,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with shrimp tempura

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 16, 2025

LCBO: 485334

BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIGIO 2022, Barboursville, Virginia, United States of America

19 Sunday Jan 2025

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Cost: $17.00 US
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Barboursville Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Light, crisp & elegant. One of the best Pinot Grigio’s I had the pleasure of tasting. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a nice length on the finish. This wine features: Green apples, pear, pineapple & fig.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “Thomas Jefferson, a great lover of fine wine, assisted by Italian viticulturist Filippo Mazzei, attempted to establish a vineyard in Virginia. Finally, in 1976, vitis vinifera vines were successfully established at Barboursville Vineyards on the former plantation of Governor James Barbour, whose mansion was designed by Jefferson, his close friend. This mansion, destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1884, now preserved as ruins, is a Virginia historic landmark.”

Winemaker’s Note: “In stainless steel for 10 days at 55ºF. On the lees in stainless steel for 9 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Steamed mussels with saffron, white wine, and fresh tomatoes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: January 19, 2025

CLOSSON CHASE, THE BROCK CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada

11 Saturday Jan 2025

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Cost: $22.10
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Closson Chase
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced Chard between oak & steel tank. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, golden apples, yellow plums, kiwi, marzipan, oak spice & Gorse flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 7, 2025

LCBO: 20899

THE GRANGE OF PRINCE EDWARD, COUNTY CHARDONNAY, 2022, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

04 Wednesday Dec 2024

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Cost: $35.20 (Clearance Price: $24.70)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Prince Edward County, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Grange Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made, elegant, well-balanced Chard. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Old gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, mangos, yellow plums, golden apples, pear, peach, ginger, dill & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting: At the winery, cost is $31.00

Winemaker’s Note: “This elegant, terroir driven Chard is part of our Farmer’s Series, which celebrates the friendships we have with other farmers, growers, and vineyards across Ontario.10 Months in French Oak (1/3 new barrel)”. Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 to 6 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Lobster Tail Pasta.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: Nov 29, 2024

LCBO: 38305