Category Archives: White Wines

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

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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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

SIMONSIG CHARDONNAY 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

21 Saturday Mar 2020

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $16.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Simonsig
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple Chard, but with elegance and a nice balance between citric fruits & oak

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon, red apples, peach, pear, ginger and light oak spice.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with garlic ginger glazed sticky pork.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 21, 2020

LCBO: 345389

DELTA ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand

20 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Delta Estate
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice balances between tropical fruit, citric fruit, oak & creaminess

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon, peach, pineapple, mangos, kiwi, dill, ginger, light oak spice and caramel.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with shrimp and scallop Oscar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 20, 2020

LCBO: 149542

GHOST PINES CHARDONNAY 2018, 36% Monterey County, 33% Napa Valley, 31% Sonoma County, California, United States of America

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

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

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Cost: $21.95 (Sale price: 19.95 until March 29, 2020)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: 36% Monterey County, 33% Napa Valley, 31% Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This Chard is the exception to my rule of not buying high alcohol wines (above 14.1% alcohol) due to the fact it is so bloody good.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon, baked apples, pineapples, yellow plums, peach, crème brûlée, lemon meringue pie, vanilla, light oak spice, ginger, dill and limestone.

Interesting Point: As my viewers know, I am anti high alcohol (above 14.1%), and although this one is 14.5%, the alcohol is well integrated, and the wine is too good not to buy just because of the high alcohol.

Pairings: Drink now on its own for the next 3-5 years or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: March 17, 2020

LCBO: 308122

PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE 2017 CHARDONNAY, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $20.95 at The Wine Shop, $19.95 LCBO
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peller Estates
Alcohol:  13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Verges on the flabby side plus I don’t like marzipan

Tasting Notes: Gold in colour this wine features papaya, cantaloupe, lemon & marzipan.

Interesting Point: So why is The Wine Shop selling this wine at $1 more than LCBO?

Pairings: Drink now on its own or pair it with buttermilk fried chicken.

My Opinion: Not recommended

Tasted: March 16, 2020

LCBO: 383109

THE AUDACITY OF THOMAS G. BRIGHT SUSSRESERVE CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale price until March 1, 2020: $14.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

An Ontario Chard that will please those that like oaked Chards that are full body, powerful yet balanced and has complexity. Oh yes, so far haven’t tried a Canadian Chard with all that & at this price!

Positives: Deep gold (you can tell it’s oaked age just by the colour), this wine features lemon tart, Golden apples, pineapple, peach, clementine, vanilla, oak spice, ginger, dill and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2019 /CNW/ – Today, Arterra Wines Canada announced a very special homage to one of its original founders, with the launch of the company’s newest VQA wine The Audacity of Thomas G. Bright. In 1874, a young man named Thomas G. Bright had a bold idea: grow European grapes in Niagara, Ontario. In the face of countless challenges, from the soil conditions to the unique Canadian climate and an army of naysayers, T.G. Bright & Co. – his company – persevered, eventually importing hundreds of types of vines to Canada. His innovation and leadership were fundamental to the development of the Niagara wine industry, and his company eventually became part of the modern-day Arterra Wines Canada. “Anyone who has ever enjoyed a glass of Canadian wine owes a debt to Thomas G. Bright,” explains Andrea Hunt, senior vice president marketing, Arterra Wines Canada.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with lobster bisque.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 22, 2020

LCBO: 11565

FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Tuesday Feb 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until March 1, 2020: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Middle of the road Ontario Chard that should please those that enjoy the heavier oak style and those that like the crisp unoaked style

Positives: Bright gold in colour this wine features light butter, lemon, green apples, pear, honeydew melon, ginger, some oak spice and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Not as good as their 2015 vintage, which I reviewed back in 2017

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with grilled chicken.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: February 25, 2020

LCBO: 286278