Category Archives: White Wines

DOMAINE DE SÉRAME VIOGNIER 2017, IGP Pays D’Oc, France

05 Tuesday May 2020

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Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Sérame
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet elegant wine; very pleasant to drink at a good price

Tasting Note: Straw colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features apricot, peach, pear, lemon & cloves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Organic wine

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with poached salmon.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 5, 2020

LCBO: 10631

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

30 Thursday Apr 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: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste Michelle Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Great balance between the oak, fruit & acidity that makes this a pleasant drinking Chard

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pineapples, mangos, peach, dill, light oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sur lie aged for more than six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels (10% new). 42% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh style of Chardonnay.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with scallops on a bed of greens.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 30, 2020

LCBO: 232439

OAK BAY GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2015, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40
Grape: Gewürztraminer
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Hubertus Winery Ltd
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Alsace style Gewürz that is delicious & at a great price

Tasting Note: Deep yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lychee, honeydew melon, peach, key lime pie with rose petals on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is sustainable & organic.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Jamaican jerk chicken.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 29, 2020

LCBO: 11814

THE WANTED CHARDONNAY 2018, Puglia & Sicily, Italy

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia & Sicily
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Orion Wines
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

I like the price, moderate alcohol & some tasting notes, but don’t like the overpowering marzipan note on the nose & taste

Tasting Note: Deep yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon tart, banana, nectarine, coconut, butterscotch, vanilla & light oak spice

Negatives: Strong marzipan note on the nose & taste

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Escovitch.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: April 28, 2020

LCBO: 13634

BERINGER NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2017, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Cost: $25.95 (Sale price until April 26, 2020: $22.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my top Chards anywhere in the world & one of the few wines that I will drink  that has a high alcohol level because it’s so delicious with lots of tropical fruits, nice creaminess, good acidity & not overtly oaked.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, mangos, pineapple, Spy apples, crème brûlée, ginger, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: High alcohol

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 22, 2020

LCBO: 84988

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

20 Monday Apr 2020

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, 2% Grenache blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy & creamy. This is a baby Condrieu: Condrieu’s are the gold standards of Viognier & priced from $50 & up, thus meaning it’s awesome at this price

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features juicy peach, apricot, Kent mango & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Conch Ceviche with Scotch Bonnet

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 20, 2020

LCBO: 290296

REDSTONE LIMESTONE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A Chard that has some positives but a little heavy on the oak & a little pricey

Tasting Note: Bright straw to gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & yellow apples, cantaloupe, lemon-lime, oak spice, ginger & limestone.

Negatives: Not crazy about the marzipan notes in this wine

Interesting Point: Limestone vineyard is farmed sustained

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Cornish Hen.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: April 20, 2020

PONDVIEW VIOGNIER 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Friday Apr 2020

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

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale price: $13.46)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Estate Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking white wine that has a nice balance of acidity & tropical fruit

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, a light intense nose, & average length on the finish. Wine features apricot, peach, honeydew melon and honey.

Interesting Point: Great value at the sale price.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques

My Opinion:  Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at the sale price

Tasted: April 17, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PINOT GRIS 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

11 Saturday Apr 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Very interesting Pinot Gris that was fermented in neutral French oak barrels, and skin soaked giving the wine that copper colour. Taste is refreshing.

Tasting Note: Copper in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & average length finish. Wine features clementine, green apple, pink grapefruit & pear.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Jerk chicken wings

My Opinion:  Recommended

Tasted: April 11, 2020

GUILLAUME AURÈLE VIOGNIER 2018, IGP Pay D’OC, France

29 Sunday Mar 2020

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Cost: $14.95 (Clearance price: $12.00)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alma Cersius
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but an excellent valued Viognier showing bright fruits & just pleasant drinking

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour this wine features apricot, peach and honey.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Bouillabaisse & Rouille.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy at the clearance price

Best Buy

Tasted: March 29, 2020

LCBO: 380741