Category Archives: White Wines

SPERLING VISION SERIES CHARDONNAY 2015, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $30.00 (Clearance price: $21.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sperling Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality BC Chard that balances between Chablis and Montrachet

Positives: A robust, full body Chard featuring lemon zest, green apples, pineapple, lemon meringue, ginger, dill, yeast and Easter Lily on the nose. All this with only 13% alcohol.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

Top Pick

Best Buy at clearance price

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: April 14, 2018

LCBO: 378570

JACKSON ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2015, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


 

Cost: $33.25 (Clearance price: $23.35)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

My style of Chard: buttery, balanced oak, creamy, tropical fruit, good acidity and under 14% alcohol.

Positives: A robust, full body Chard featuring lemon, green apples, pineapple, lemon meringue, mango, dill, and Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy at clearance price

Top Pick

Tasted: May 22, 2018

LCBO: 529735

HMC MCWATTERS COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2014, BVA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $23.25
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Harry McWatters at Time Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Proof that you can make a beautiful, delicious, rich and elegant oak style chard at a reasonable price for the average consumer.

Positives: Medium buttered toast, lemon, pineapple, mango, fudge, dill, lemon meringue pie, ginger, almond, oak spice and white rose on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy and Top Pick

Tasted: June 14, 2018

LCBO: 488536

VILLA BLANCHE CHARDONNAY 2017, IGP Pays d’Orc, France

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $15.00 (Sale price: $13.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Pays d’Orc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Calmel & Joseph
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Above average Chard at the sale price

Positives: Lemon, pink grapefruit, tangerine, white peach, McIntosh apples, and honeydew melon.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2018

LCBO: 375071

SOUTHBROOK WILD FERMENT CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

01 Thursday Nov 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $40.00
Grape: Chardonnay with some Semillon
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Southbrook
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

On the expensive side, but it’s a quality Chard that comes from Southbrook, which is an organic & biodynamic winery. I highly support their effort to live in harmony with the land, and therefore willing to pay more for that.

Positives: Medium body featuring lemon, green apples, Anjou pear, white peach, and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Southbrook is Canada’s first biodynamic winery in Canada, and I highly recommend visiting the winery.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 1, 2018

HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Canada

17 Monday Sep 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Speck Family
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Canadian Chards that rise to the $30 or more price range need to be world class, and the Speck Family Reserve does just that.

Positives: Full body, oak driven but balanced with acidity. Yellow in colour with notes of lemon meringue, green and golden apple, pear, crème brûlée, butter popcorn

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Normally, these full body, buttery Chards are usually high in alcohol (14% to 14.5&), but this one is does all the beautiful things and stays at 13.5%.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 25, 2018

LCBO: 616466

COLUMBIA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2014, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

03 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: $13.30)
Grape: 91% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Gris, 2% Viognier, 2% other white
Category: Chardonnay Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice commercial Chard that will please many

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, buttered toast, lemon, peach, pineapple, mango & vanilla. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Creole Shrimp and Buttered Creamed Corn.

Tasted: 23 September 2017

Best Buy at Clearance Price

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 462804

G. MARQUIS THE SILVER LINE CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balanced, oak influenced, cool climate Ontario Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pear, cantaloupe, ginger and oak spice. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Similar Niagara Chards of this style sell for $19.95, Magnotta’s G. Marquis winery Chard price is $2 less.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken breast stuffed with cheddar cheese & broccoli.

Tasted: 24 Aug 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 258681

PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peller Estates Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple but elegant

Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, green & red apples, almonds, dill and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2-4 of years on its own or pair it with Spiced Sea Bass with Caramelized Fennel.

Tasted: 12 Aug 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 383109

JEAN CLAUDE MAS ORIGINES MARTINOLLES 2015, Pays D’oc Saint Hilaire, France

12 Saturday Aug 2017

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Saint Hilaire, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Les Demaines Paul Mas
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive Chard, even more impressive that’s it’s inexpensive

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features mild oak, lemon/lime, mango, pineapple, Spy apples, white peach, coconut crème pie, vanilla and Ylang Ylang on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try using the Montrachet style glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Quail Roasted with Honey, Cumin and Orange Juice.

Tasted: 4 Aug 2017

Best & Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 469999