Category Archives: White Wines

MAURO CHARDONNAY 2014, DOC Puglia, Italy

17 Friday Apr 2015

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Mauro

Cost: $11.70
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mare Magnium
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Good entry level Chard with minimum oak and good fruit all for under $12

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features apple, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pear and lemon on the finish. Medium body with average acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My preference was to use the larger Chardonnay style glass

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Prosciutto and Pear Pizza.

Tasted: 16 April 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 404491

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE OTTONEL MEDIUM DRY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2015

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Muscat

Cost: $12.15
Grape Variety: Muscat Ottonel
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 12.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique to Canadian wines, this Muscat Ottonel delivers tropical sweetness with a nice refreshing finish.

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features ylang ylang flowers on the nose followed by peach, mangos, honeydew melon, sweet apples, cantaloupe followed by pink grapefruit on the finish. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Matthew from Magnotta’s Vaughan store for recommending his favourite white wine by the company.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own as an aperitif or digestif.

Tasted: 7 April 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES PINOT BLANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2015

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Magnotta Pinot Blanc

Cost: $9.15 (On sale April 2015, $8.45)
Grape Variety: Pinot Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

If you’re looking for something different in whites that’s Canadian, try this versatile crisp wine.

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features lemon rind, passion fruit, honeydew melon and grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Not too many 2013 left as 2014 is now on their shelves.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Orange, Walnut, Gorgonzola and Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Citrus Vinaigrette.

Tasted: 7 April 2015

Best Buy

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

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

GLORIA FERRER CHARDONNAY 2011, Carneros, California, United States

07 Tuesday Apr 2015

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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