Category Archives: White Wines

ROSENHALL RUN JCR ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

28 Monday Mar 2016

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Rosenhall

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Prince Edward County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rosenhall Run
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautiful nose but the taste falls short

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, green apples, pear, grapefruit, oak spice, limestone and wood fire smoke on the nose. Medium body with high acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too citric

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Salt and Pepper Prawns served with Chilli Peppers and Picked Onions.

Tasted: 27 March 2016

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 326512

FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

28 Monday Mar 2016

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Frei Brothers

Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Frei Brothers
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice, smooth and well priced for RRV Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light smoked toasted oak, lemon meringue, green apples, pear, peach, ginger, dill, oak spice, light butterscotch, limestone and white roses on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Don’t over chill the wine, and use the larger Chard style glassware

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Potatoes and Dill Sausage.

Tasted: 27 March 2016

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: 317891

PENINSULA RIDGE BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Mar 2016

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Peninsula Ridge

Cost: $15.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Good value Beamsville Bench Chard that’s not overtly oaky.

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon rind, yellow apple, pear, peach, coconut, oak spice & chalk. Medium body with good acidity, an average length.

Negatives: A little too chalky on the finish.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with home made slow cooked Chicken, Bacon and Sage Dumplings.

Tasted: 19 March 2016

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

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

.

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon rind, yellow apple, pear, peach, coconut, oak spice & chalk. Medium body with good acidity, an average length.

Negatives: A little too chalky on the finish.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with home made slow cooked Chicken, Bacon and Sage Dumplings.

Tasted: 19 March 2016

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

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

LCBO: 211490

BADDAGINNIE RUN VERDELHO 2014, Victoria, Australia

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $18.00
Grape: Verdelho
Category: White Wine
Location American Airlines
Country: Australia
Region: Victoria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Seven Sisters Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting, unique & delightful. Love the nose

Description: Yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features smoked pine nuts, honeysuckle, lemon, pear, pink grapefruit, kiwi, gooseberry and limestone. Medium+ body with crisp acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Verdelho is native to Portugal but now exquisitely grown in Victoria, Australia where the climate and soil suit the grape.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Angel Hair Pasta in a light lemon sauce with Pancetta, Pine Nuts and Chicken.

Tasted: 8 March 2016

Best Buy

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

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

 

 

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2014, Napa Valley, California, United States

20 Sunday Mar 2016

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Beringer

Cost: $22.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Rich, buttery, moderately oaky & well balanced Napa Chard at a good price

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, Spy apples, green apple, clementine, pineapple, peaches & cream corn, peach, dill, ginger, oak spice, nutmeg and Jasmine on the nose. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Better balanced and higher quality than the 2013 vintage, which is reviewed on my site.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Seared Scallops with Linguini in a Herb Wine Sauce.

Tasted: 7 March 2016

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 84988

STARMONT CHARDONNAY 2014, Carneros, Napa Valley, United States

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

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Starmont

Cost: $28.15 US
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Starmont Winery & Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Carneros Chard at a good price

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features lightly toasted oak, lemon, green apples, caramel, dill, ginger, wakame salad, vanilla and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium+ body with crisp acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note:

  • Screw top
  • Solar-powered, sustainably farmed and Napa Green Certified
  • To enjoy the full flavours of this wine, don’t over chill it

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with salmon sashimi

Tasted: 10 March 2016

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

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

MARTIN RAY CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

10 Thursday Mar 2016

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Martin Ray

Cost: $28.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lean but suave Chard which possesses a nice balance of oak, fruit & minerality

Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, pear, red & green apples, tangerine, nutmeg, dill, light oak spice and limestone. Medium+ body with some light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Nice to see a Russian River Valley Chard for under $30 and under 14% alcohol.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Chicken Piccata with lemon caper sauce.

Tasted: 22 February 2016

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 57067

ZENATO SAN BENEDETTO LUGANA 2014, DOC San Benedetto del Tornto, Marche, Italy

10 Thursday Mar 2016

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Lugana

Cost: $16.95
Grape: Trebbiano di Lugana
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Zenato
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean, refreshing with layers of flavours

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features honeysuckle, apricot, Asian pear, grapefruit, green apple, peach pit, limestone and a touch almond. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: This could easily pass for a Viognier. Don’t over chill as it will loose it’s underneath layers.

Thanks to Maria from LCBO for recommending this wine to me.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce.

Tasted: 21 February 2016

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 707158

RODNEY STRONG CHARDONNAY 2013, Sonoma County, California, United States

13 Saturday Feb 2016

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Rodney Chard

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A good crisp, slightly oaked California Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, green apple, pink grapefruit, pineapple, pear and oak spice. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Peruvian Style Roast Chicken (marinated in olive oil, lime juice, garlic and spices and oven roasted until tender and the skin is crispy).

Tasted: 11 February 2016

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

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

LCBO: 226936

WENTE RIVA RANCH CHARDONNAY 2013, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California, United States

26 Tuesday Jan 2016

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Substance, elegance, style & balanced. Oh yes, delicious!

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium to light buttered toasted oak, lemon meringue, peach, mango, pineapple, Spy apple, oak spice, cloves, ginger, dill, butterscotch and Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: none

Interesting Note: Wente wines are becoming my go to wines.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Duet of Pork Belly Porchetta and Seared Scallop, served with Apple, Pear and Celery Salad.

Tasted: 23 January 2016

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 979344