Category Archives: White Wines

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES PAUL BOSC ESTATE VINEYARDS 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Dec 2018

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château des Charmes
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario Chards at this price point

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, lemon tart, peach, pineapple, green & yellow apples, crème brûlée, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice and a light smoke on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years

Tasted: 4 January 2018

Best Buy

Highly Recommended

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO: 511345

BONTERRA CHARDONNAY 2016, Mendocino County, California, United States

14 Friday Dec 2018

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Feb 25, 2018)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Fair priced Chardonnay that I like

Positives: Smooth, rich in flavour, tropical fruit, spicy, well balanced between oak, fruit and acidity, it’s organic and under $20.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years

Best Buy

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 12, 2018

LCBO: 342436

HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A fairly priced Chard

Positives: Easy drinking, good citric flavours mixed in with some tropical notes, and the oak is well integrated.

Negatives: None

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

Best Buy at the clearance price

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 14, 2018

LCBO: 268342

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

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

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Cost: $27.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, balanced, high quality Chard for under $30 and at 13% alcohol

Positives: Wood is nicely integrated in this wine, which features lemon, apple, peach, pineapples, lemon meringue, oak spice and Easter Lilly on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 8, 2018

LCBO 1552 (2017 Vintage not yet in LCBO as of this review)

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $21.55 Clearance price
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A robust Chard that may need time to smooth out its edges, but still a good quality Chard

Positives: This wine is medium to full body featuring lemon, green apples, dragon fruit, pear, oak spice and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I prefer the 2017 vintage as it more balanced, creamy, tropical fruit and at 13% alcohol.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 13, 2018

LCBO 1552

ST. FRANCIS CHARDONNAY 2015, Sonoma County, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Francis Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The grapes are sourced from my favourite California wine AVAs: Russian River Valley, Carneros and Alexander Valley. Too bad I wasn’t overly impressed with this wine. Good but not great.

Positives: Standard good Chard at this price range featuring integrated oak, tropical and citric fruits with good acidity and structure.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol, but it is well integrated.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 317131

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB VIOGNIER 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Wood aged Viognier adds a complexity & uniqueness to this wine

Positives: Although wood aged and fermented, it’s dry featuring apricots, lime, kiwi, green apples and white peach.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: All sold out at the winery

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: November 29, 2018

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

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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

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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

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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