Category Archives: White Wines

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2013, Monterey County, California, United States

17 Saturday Jan 2015

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coppola

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Francis Coppola
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Maybe at $10 it might be worth it

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon tart, grapefruit, green apples and pear. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Too sour

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with fish tacos with blood orange sauce.

Tasted: 15 Jan 2015

Score: 7.5+/10, Value: 6+/10 Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO: 708305

DOMAINE LES VIEUX MURS POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2012, Ac Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy, France

17 Saturday Jan 2015

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Domaine

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Les Vieux Murs
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, easy drinking balanced act between fruit & oak

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, granny & golden apples, pineapple, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Works well with both style of Chard glasses, Chablis and Montrachet, but I would give the nod to Monty

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Chicken Waldorf Salad.

Tasted: 12 Jan 2015

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

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

LCBO: 241117

RAVINE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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No Unauthorized Reproduction @Jason Dziver

Cost: $24.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Beyond the nose, this is a very nice, smooth Chard

Description: Light bright gold in colour with medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, green and yellow apples, papaya, pear, and light oak spice. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Acetic notes on the nose

Interesting Note: Works with both New and Old World style Chard glasses, but I give the edge to the New World, which gives it more creaminess.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own.  Pairs amazingly well with with green papaya chicken curry cooked over a wood stove.

Tasted: 6 Jan 2015

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

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

SONOMA-CUTRER RUSSIAN RIVER RANCHES CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States

29 Monday Dec 2014

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Sonoma Cutrer

Cost: $26.95 (Sale price until Jan 4, 2015: $21.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant cool climate Chard that should please those that don’t like woody Chards

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium light oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, nutmeg, Fuji apple, nectarine, oak spice and wet stone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I found the 2013 vintage nicer than the previous vintage, reviewed here April 2014. The winery sells the wine for $28 US, so good buy, especially at the sale price for LCBO

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pan-roasted stilton chicken with apple ginger sauce.

Tasted: 27 Dec 2014

Best Buy at sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 608653

INNISKILLIN MONTAGUE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Dec 2014

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inniskillin

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.00)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Foul Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid Chard that won’t disappoint Chard lovers of oak influence

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, cream corn, pineapple, mango, ginger, light oak spice, butterscotch, crème brûlée and dill. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14% alcohol and a touch sour on the finish

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Cornish Hen

Tasted: 22 Dec 2014

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

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

LCBO: 586347

GHOST PINES WINEMAKER’S BLEND CHARDONNAY 2013, Monterey, Sonoma & Napa Counties, California, United States

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Ghost Pines Chard

Cost: $19.95 ($17.95 Sale until Nov 30, 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: 38% Monterey County, 33% Sonoma County, 29% Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

“Danger Will Robinson” this is so good that it’s easy to drink 2 bottles, maybe even 3 if you’re still standing

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This complex wine features light to medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, lemon meringue, Gala apples, pineapple, mango, kiwi, oak spice, dill, ginger and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: There hasn’t been a vintage that I haven’t liked, but I believe the 2013 is the best that I’ve tried.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor

Tasted: 26 Nov 2014 (Happy 65th anniversary to my mom and dad)

Top Pick and Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (Sale price 10/10), Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 308122

IL TEMPLARE MONTENIDOLI 2009, IGT Toscana, Italy

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sono Montenidoli di Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli, White Wines

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Montenidol

Cost: $9.70 Euros
Grape Variety: 70% Vernaccia, 20% Trebbiano Gentile, 10% Malvasia Bianca
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sono Montenidoli
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Versatile, diverse, interesting, complex and yes yummy

Description: Deep old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This slightly oxidative wine features Lily on the nose followed by lemon tarts, honey, ginger, orange and guava. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried every white wine glass and the results were the same, delicious.

Winemaker; Elisabetta Fagiuoli started a non-profit foundation, Sergio Il Patriarca Onlus, that helps troubled children and elderly people in need. Please visit both the winemaker’s website: www.montenidoli.com, and her foundation; http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

JOEL GOTT CHARDONNAY 2012, Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley: California, United States

08 Monday Dec 2014

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Joel Gott

Cost: $17.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best California Chards made in the Chablis style for under $20

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, kiwi, cloves, East Indian mango, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 100% stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with goat cheese, avocado salad

Tasted: 8 Dec 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

CONO SUR BICICLETA VIOGNIER 2014, Colchagua Valley, Chile

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, White Wines

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Con Sur

Cost: $9.95 ($8.95 Sale until Nov 30, 2014)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cono Sur Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Still the best white for under $10

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features honeysuckle, apricots, peach pit, orange, ginger and anise. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The 2014 is the best vintage I’ve tasted in Cono Sur’s Bicicleta Viognier. Taste double the price and gives you an indication what Condrieu taste like without spending $40+

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Lionfish Ceviche

Tasted: 17 Nov 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 64287

CALIFORNIA SQUARE CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, United States

09 Sunday Nov 2014

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California Square

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Truett-Hurst
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Cool bottle, great region, love the wine, enough said

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, clementine, yellow apple, pineapple, pear, oak spice and clove. Medium+ body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: One would think that a Californian Chard with 14.5% alcohol would drink best in a new world style Chard glass, but you would be wrong, at least I was as it was nicely balanced in a cooler style (smaller style) Chard glass. The best glass was the Riedel Chard/Viognier glass. In the new world glass I would rate this wine at 88, but in the smaller glass the rating goes up to 90.

Ok I admit I bought this Chard because of the cool bottle that’s reminiscent of the California in the mid to late 1800s. In addition, it’s from the Russian River Valley, which is where some of my favourite Chards come from. Lucky for me the taste was equally appealing.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled quail with pepper jelly glaze.

Tasted: 21 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 356717