Category Archives: White Wines

MER SOLEIL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2015, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


 

cq5dam.web.1280.1280 (21)

Cost: $34.95 (Sale price until 16 July 2017: $29.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mer Et Soleil
Alcohol: 14.9 % Alcohol/Vol.

Full flavoured, tasteful wine

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter popcorn, lemon zest, mango, pineapple, apple pie, cream corn, almonds, ginger and roasted marshmallows on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.9% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Sales price is correct value for this wine.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Chicken Liver Paté served Crème Brûlée Style, with Homemade Pan Brioche and Fruit Confiture

Tasted: 30 June 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Sale price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17+/20

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

LCBO: 958975

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS WILD FERMENT CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $22.95 (Clearance Price: $18.40)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Glen Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

A solid Canadian Chard that’s a nice change from the standard model for an oaked Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon meringue, lime, red & green apples, peach, pear, light yeast, oak spice and white flowers on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Grilled Veal Chops with mushrooms.

Tasted: 1 June 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 484626

STONEHEDGE GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Napa Valley, California, United States

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stonehedge Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balanced Napa Chard between oak, fruit & acidity at a good price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light to medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, orange, pineapple, mango, ginger, dill, peaches & cream corn, oak spice and apple blossoms on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Touch to much heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Seared Foie Gras.

Tasted: 6 June 2017

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 311548

YALUMBA THE Y SERIES VIOGNIER 2016, South Australia, Australia

12 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.95 (Sale price until 18 June 2017: $12.95)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO general list
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best value Viogniers

Description: Deep straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, peach, apricot, pineapple, ginger, peach pit, honey and jasmine on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Spicy Ginger Chicken Pad Thai.

Tasted: 29 May 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 470062

CLOUDY BAY CHARDONNAY 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand

29 Monday May 2017

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $36.95 (Clearance price: $25.90)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cloudy Bay
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Champagne without the bubbles

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, yeast, lemon, lime, kiwi, peach, pear, apricot, ginger, dill, smoked almonds and peat moss on the nose. Full body with light tannin, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Don’t over chill, and use the larger Montrachet style stemware 

Drink now or in the next 5-10 of years on its own or pair it with Oven Poached Pacific Sole with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce.

Tasted: 22 April 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5), Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO: 359513

DÜRNBER L AND T FALKENSTEIN GRÜNER VELTLINER 2015, QbA Niederösterreich, Austria

27 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $14.95
Grape: Grüner Veltliner
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Austria
Region: Niederösterreich
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dürnberg Fine Wine GMBH
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, yet elegant GV that’s light & refreshing

Description: Deep straw with a green ting in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features green apples, lime, peach, white pepper and limestone. Light to medium body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to my brother, Andrew and his wife Liz, for bringing this wine for his visit to my place.

Drink now or in the next 2-3 of years on its own or pair it with Scallop Ceviche in an Orange Juice, Shallot & Scotch Bonnet Vinaigrette.

Tasted: 8 May 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: 464537

JARDIN BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jordan
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid, well balanced Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, butter popcorn, almonds, ginger, dill, oak spice and white rose on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Salmon Poke and Crispy Plantains.

Tasted: 13 May 2017

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 663336

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST 2011, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


2011deanlistchardonnay1

Cost: $25.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Not the typical commercial produced Chard so I give this Dean List Chard an A

Description: Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, pineapple, orange, clove, oak spice and on the nose. Medium= body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I like the Dean’s List report card on the label. What’s interesting is that on the label the aging potential is listed to 2014. However, on the winery web site, they have the aging potential of 2018, with which I agree.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Honey and Clove Glazed Pork Chops.

Tasted: 3 February 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

MIGRATION CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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

≈ Leave a comment


migration

Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duckhorn Wine Company
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.

Classic RRV Chard, love it

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, tangerine, peach, peaches & cream corn, fresh dill, lemon meringue, and apple blossom on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note:

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Poached Corvina Seabass.

Tasted: 13 February 2017

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 396309

CAMBRIA BENCHBREAK CHARDONNAY 2014, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


cambria_benchbreak_chardonnay_2014_web

Cost: $24.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Black Beard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance between oak, fruit & acidity

Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, butter, lemon, passion fruit, pear, ginger, oak spice and Eater Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Winery is Certified Sustainable

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Old Fashioned Linguine with White Clam Sauce.

Tasted: 13 February 2017

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

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