Category Archives: White Wines

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Monday Dec 2019

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy but with good backbone acidity to this aged Ontario Chard, which is oak driven with tropical fruit is a great value for under $20

Positives: Bright gold in colour this wine features lemon tart, mango, peach, pineapple, golden apple, ginger, dill, oak spice, butterscotch, roasted almonds.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with poulet de bresse,

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 8, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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Cost: $23.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

An aged Chard this is balanced between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour, this wine features medium toast, lemon pie, clementine, green & yellow apples, yellow plums, ginger, dill, oak spice, limestone and Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with grilled buttered halibut.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 29, 2019

PAUL CLUVER ESTATE ELGIN CHARDONNAY 2017, South Africa

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: South Africa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Cluver
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A high end Chard at a bargain price

Positives: Bright gold in colour featuring light toast with butter, lemon, green & yellow apples, white plum, tangerine, honeydew melon, peach, kumquat, ginger, dill, roasted almonds, vanilla, limestone, cinnamon, cloves, oak spice and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: South African wines in my view are best value wines you can get

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Chilean sea bass with lemon, dill and capers.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy at sale price and Top Pick

Tasted: November 6, 2019

LCBO: 570952

CANYON ROAD CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

10 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $9.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canyon Road
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An entry Chard that has character, and I really like its creamy texture, but it’s not fat, tropical fruit yet has acidity as backbone and it’s only 13% alcohol. May I stress that it only has 13% alcohol for a California Chard!

Positives: Bright gold in colour featuring pineapple, mango, lemon meringue, yellow plums, yellow apples, crème brûlée, butterscotch, cinnamon and dill.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Canyon Road Winery is located in Alexander Valley, which is one of my favourite AVAs.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing Buy

Tasted: November 9, 2019

LCBO: 552513

SMOKING LOON CHARDONNAY 2017, California, United States of America

06 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Smoking Loon
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent entry level Chard that is simple, yet elegant, and not above 14% alcohol, which is, unfortunately, the norm for California Chards

Positives: Light gold in colour the wine features lemon, pineapple, yellow apple, papaya, green tea and limestone.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 6, 2019

LCBO: 633594

OYSTER BAY CHARDONNAY 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

24 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until November 10, 2019: $16.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oyster Bay
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Cool climate Chard that is simple but well made

Description: Bright medium gold in colour this wine features well integrated oak, lemon, green apple, honeydew melon, kiwi, ginger & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Originally reviewed 19 June 2016

Drink now or in the next couple of years, on its own or pair it with Pheasant breast à l’orange with dried apricots & prosciutto.

Tasted: October 24, 2019

My Opinion: Recommended

LCBO: 326728

J. LOHR RIVERSTONE CHARDONNAY 201, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California, United States

23 Wednesday Oct 2019

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until November 10, 2019: $16.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: J. Lohr Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to have a California Chard, especially from a warm region, that is full body, well balanced between the oak, fruit, acidity but under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright gold in colour this wine features light toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, mango, pineapple, Kiwi fruit, peach and ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Last reviewed on August 27, 2014

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 23, 2019

LCBO: 258699

RICKETY BRIDGE FOUNDATION STONE 2016, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

19 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $28.75 USD
Grape: 46% Chenin Blanc, 22% Roussanne, 18% Grenache Blanc,11% Viognier, 3% Nouvelle
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek & Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine shows sweet tropical fruits, but the wine itself is not sweet

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features mango, nectarine, tangerine, kiwi, ginger, lemon drops and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Naturally fermented in barrels at 16˚C. The grapes were pressed gently up to 0.9 Bar pressure after a short period of skin contact. Partial malolactic fermentation took place in older 225L French oak barrels and a 2,500L oak Foudre. All five varietals were matured separately in barrel for a total

maturation time of 10 months before being blended for bottling.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with jerk chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 19, 2019

RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2017, W.O Franschhoek, South Africa

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $26.25 USD (On sale for the month of July $17.50 USD)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent South African Chard that is fairly priced and well balance between the oak, fruit & minerality

Positives: Gold in colour this wine features lemon, clementine, nectarine, caramel, oak spice, dill, almonds and lemon meringue with orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Spent 21 months in French oakThis wine was naturally fermented in small French oak barrels and second fill Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older)

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with prawn pasta.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at sale price

Tasted: October 16, 2019

BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Winery
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A beautiful, well balanced rich & buttery Chard that’s worth the price

Positives: New gold in colour, this wine features lemon tart, golden apple, yellow plum, mango, peach, light dill, caramel and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 13, 2019