Category Archives: White Wines

GLORIA FERRER CHARDONNAY 2011, Carneros, California, United States

07 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,


Gloria Ferrer

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $18.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gloria Ferrer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A delightful, balanced, good quality Carneros Chard for under $25 & under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toast, lemon rind, oak spice, Anjou pear, green apple, peach, clove, nutmeg, pink grapefruit, vanilla bean and a touch of caramel. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Recommended serving temperature is 12-16 C or 54-61 F

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Olive Leaf Pasta with Nutmeg Cream Sauce.

Tasted: 31 March 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 83345

THE CRUSHER WILSON VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2013, Clarksburg, California, United States

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


the crusher

Cost: $16.99 (Cayman Islands funds) $16.95 LCBO
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands or LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Clarksburg, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Crusher Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Great alternative to Chard with a balance of citric & tropical fruit with creaminess on the finish

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features peach, apricot, mango, green apples, lime and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

2012 Vintage reviewed in Dec 2013 and just as good but now it’s $5 less expensive

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with chicken roulades stuffed with mango chutney and Brie

Tasted: 22 March 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 361964

LUGANA 2014, DOC Veneto, Italy

21 Saturday Mar 2015

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

≈ Leave a comment


Immagini 041

Cost: $18.00 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Trebbiano di Luganda (Turbiana)
Category: White Wine
Location The Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Lake Garda, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Campagnola
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, refreshing & versatile wine

Description: Yellow straw in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features lychee, gooseberry, pink grapefruit, Bartlett pear, Logan berry and limestone on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Interesting grape, interesting bottle, both of which I really like. Unique grape with notes that are a blend between Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with German potato salad

Tasted: 19 March 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

WILLIAM HILL NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2013, Napa Valley, California, United States

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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

≈ Leave a comment


chardonnay[1]_0

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently one of my favourite Napa Chards for under $30

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, mango, pineapple, green and yellow apples, peach, dill, ginger, oak spice, caramel and limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with sweet and spicy ginger chicken wings.

Tasted: 6 March 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 988840

INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2013, DOC Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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

≈ Leave a comment


lab_Vin_Soave

Cost: $18.59 (Cayman Islands funds)
Grape Variety: Garganega
Category: White Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Soave Classico, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inama
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance of crispness and creaminess as a result of the malolactic fermentation

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense. This wine features peach, pear, apricot, elder flower, chalk and sweet almond on the finish. 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 citrus and mango marinated conch.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Best Buy

Tasted: 16 March 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

REDSTONE CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Redstone

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like grapefruit, you’ll love this wine

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features grapefruit, lemon, green apple, pear and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Too much sourness

Interesting Note: This wine was aged in 12 months in French oak, yet on taste very little or no oak detected. I may have had a dud.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 4 March 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 398966

BACHELDER OREGON CHARDONNAY 2011, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Bachelder

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $21.00)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bachelder
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Clear & focused Chard, oh yes it’s also yummy

Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features a beautiful nose followed up by crisp citric fruits, sweet tropical fruit, spices with oak playing a supporting role. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glass to bring out the tropical fruit

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with pecan crusted pan seared Trout.

Tasted: 26 Feb 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 273334

WENTE MORNING FOG ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2013, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

25 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


2013_Morning_Fog_DOBS_150dpi

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy, not overly oaky Chard with tropical fruit to make it yummy, and it’s under $20

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features neutral toasted oak, lemon meringue, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, Macintosh apple, pineapple, vanilla, a touch of coconut and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “Fermentation: 50% of this wine was barrel fermented in neutral French, American and Eastern European oak. The other 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the natural fruit flavors inherent in this Chardonnay. Aging: The barrel fermented portion was aged sur lie for 7 months. Bâtonnage, the art of stirring the barrels, was performed monthly. This adds a creamy note to the wine and greatly enhances the texture. From the remaining 50% of the stainless steel portion, half was aged on lees for 7 months while the other half was racked clean to preserve the fresh fruit characters.” http://www.Wentevineyards.com

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Coconut Crusted Scallops drizzled with Pineapple Rum Sauce.

Tasted: 22 Feb 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175430

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Okanaga Valley, British Columbia, Canada

15 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Quails Gate

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance: $15.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my favourite Canadian Chards, and probably the best for under $22

Description: Light gold to straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, ginger, pineapple, hazelnuts, crème brûlée, flint and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill, as you’ll loose the essence of this wine.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare on a bed of Avocado Brunoise, drizzled in Sweet & Sour Sauce, WhiteTruffle Oil and Red Caviar

Tasted: 14 Feb 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 377770

KEINT-HE VOYAGEUR CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

07 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Keint

Cost: $16.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Keint-He Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A versatile chard that shows good balance between oak, fruit and minerality

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, butterscotch and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s heat from the 13% alcohol

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill, as the underlying flavours such as butterscotch don’t come up when it’s too cold, and use the larger New World or Montrachet Chard glasses. In addition, I like the aged parchment label.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp in grapefruit BBQ sauce.

Tasted: 27 Jan 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 16/20

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

LCBO: 389544