Category Archives: White Wines

RAYMOND FAMILY CLASSIC CHARDONNAY 2014, California, United States

19 Monday Oct 2015

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Raymond

Cost: $17.00 (On Sale until 8 Nov 2015: $14.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena, Sonoma & Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Macon style California Chard at a great price

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, lots of apple (Granny & Spartan), peach, vanilla, nutmeg and clove. Medium+ body with, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Boisset of Burgundy purchased Raymond vineyards in 2009 and began converting to biodynamic viniculture.

Drink now or in the next 4 years on its own or in the next year on its own or pair it with Shrimp Fettuccine in Cajun Alfredo Sauce.

Tasted: 18 Oct 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale Price: 9+/10) Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 269753

YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2013, Eden Valley, Australia

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Eden Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vicenta Gandia
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, rich, elegant & so beautiful

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This complex wine features orange blossom, honeydew melon, orange, apricot, guava and white pepper. Medium+ body and with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Best non Condrieu Viognier I’ve had. Far superior in every sense than Yalumba’s Y Series Viognier (see my previous review).

Drink now or in the next 10 of years on its own or pair it with Spicy Honey Glazed BBQ Chicken with Crispy Sweet Potato Fries.

Tasted: 31 Aug 2015

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 954644

YALUMBA THE Y SERIES VIOGNIER 2014, South Australia, Australia

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Yulumba

Cost: $16.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yulumba
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mid-weight, crisp, food friendly Viognier

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features pink grapefruit, peach pit, honeysuckle, apricot and lychee. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Has a bit of a bitter finish, but not noticeable when paired with food

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques.

Tasted: 30 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 18.5+/20

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

LCBO: 624502

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Pinot Gris

Cost: $12.10
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Pinot Gris with substance

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features green and red apples, lemon, grapefruit, guava and a hint of honey. Medium body and with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Made in the Alsace style

Drink now on its own or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Ginger Pork served with Kimchi.

Tasted: 22 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Sauvignon Blanc

Cost: $14.10
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best Canadian Sauvignon Blanc: Elegance, substance & taste

Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features Jasmine, light gooseberry, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, lychee, tangerine and kiwi. Medium body and with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Made in the Alsace style

*In Support of…* Magnotta Winery is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine to the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases to establish Canada’s first research centre for vector-borne illnesses including Lyme Disease.

Drink now on its own or in the next 5 years.  This wine can easily be paired with a vast variety of foods but when enjoyed with a simple item like green olives it elevates this wine to a silky complex experience on the palete.

Tasted: 22 Sept 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Inniskillin_Estate_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A lean but clean Chard

Description: Straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, peach, pink grapefruit, pickled ginger, and chalk. Medium+ body with some tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch over sour on the mouthfeel

Interesting Point: A significant drop from their 2013 vintage but still enjoyable. The 2013 and 2014 vintages are on the shelves, so look carefully in choosing the better vintage. Use the larger Chardonnay glassware.

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with hardwood Smoked Trout.

Tasted: 27 Aug 2015

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

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

LCBO: 317768

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Inniskillin_Estate_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A top Ontario Chard at this price that is well balanced & has some complexity

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, Spy apple, oak spice, almonds, ginger, dill and vanilla. Medium+ body with some tannin, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I enjoyed their 2010 vintage, but this one is a grade higher. Use the larger Chardonnay glasses

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with poached Salmon with Cucumber Dill Raita.

Tasted: 22 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317768

TRIUS CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Trius

Cost: $13.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean refreshing with mild oak which adds a bit of substance.

Description: Medium light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a light oak, lemon, pear, green apples, melon & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with Crab cakes with horseradish cream.

Tasted: 25 Aug 2015

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

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

LCBO: 497248

MIKE WEIR CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Weir

Cost: $14.95 (Clearance price: $12.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mike Weir
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy, straightforward, middle of the road Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon candy, granny apple, pear, honeydew melon and apple pips on the finish. Medium body with, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: Bitter note at the back of the throat

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass as the smaller cooler climate Chard glass eventuates the bitter note

Drink now on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 14 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 00000026

CHARLES AND CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Charles

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles & Charles
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice simple Chard, priced right, even better at the sale price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, Granny apples, vanilla, oak spice and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken thighs seared and sauteed in an olive oil, butter white wine sauce with basil and shallot remoulade.

Tasted: 19 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 394734