Category Archives: White Wines

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

08 Monday Dec 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


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

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

NYARAI CELLARS VIOGNIER 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


nyarai_cellars_viognier_web

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nyarai Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A vibrant wine from one of my favourite varietals, and it’s Canadian! Just don’t over chill it

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, apricot, peach, clementine, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with above average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Nyarai Cellars is a virtual winery and uses minimalist approach to their wine making process. Nyarai (na-rye) is South African name meaning Humility.

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

Tasted: 19 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 378414

JOSEPH DROUHIN POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2012, AC Pouilly-Fuissé, France

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Joseph Drouhin

Cost: $26.95 (Clearance: $18.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pouilly-Fuissé, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josesph Drouhin
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex wine, but what it has to offer is very good

Description: Light gold colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak with oak spice, green and yellow apple, lemon tart, and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 361683

LITTLE PENGUIN CHARDONNAY 2013, South Eastern Australia, Australia

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ 1 Comment


Little Penguin

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Little Penguin Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing complicated here, just some nice easy drinking Chard that has both creamy buttery notes balanced with citric notes

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features mild toast, lemons, pineapple, green apple, tangerines, cream corn and vanilla. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with Chef Ken Lefebour from Nellie James Gourmet Food to Go farm fresh baked squash with Ontario Brie, pears and sage on a bed of Arugula

Thanks to Go Cooking for the event with Chef Ken Lefebour

Tasted: 6 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 598904

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2O10, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


teaching-winery

Cost: $18.95 (Clearance: $15.20)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

You must like Oaky Chards to like this one, and I do

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. The wine features medium to medium+ toasted oak, lemon tarts, pineapple, green and yellow apples, dill, ginger, butterscotch, vanilla and Allspice. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: A bit tart on the finish

Interesting Note: Students from the Niagara College Winery made this wine. If you’re in St. Catharines, Ontario, please visit the college winery as these students produce some great wines.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Renegade Pork with Mango Ginger Rub.

Tasted: 9 Sept 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price 10/10) Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 40634

LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Clos Jordanne

Cost: $30.00 (Clearance: $20.85)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Le Clos Jordanne
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the smoothest Chards I’ve tried. This may even please those that are ABCers

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. The wine features oak that’s well integrated, light toast, lemon, pineapple, green apples, peach, limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Works with both Montrachet and Chablis style stemware

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Gouda cheese

Tasted: 10 Sept 2014

Best Buy at clearance price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 33936

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE DRY GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2010, VQA, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Sunday Sep 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Magnotta Gewurtz

Cost: $14.15 (Sale price September 2014: $12.15)
Grape Variety: Gewürztraminer
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An impressive Gewürz from Niagara Peninsula

Description: Deep gold in colour with a highly intense nose. The wine features lychee, granny smith apples and lemon meringue pie. Full body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Gary Parker’s Pad Thai

Tasted: 8 Sept 2014

Best Buy (Amazing Buy at the sale price)

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

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

DOMAINE FOUASSIER LES GRANDS GROUX SANCERRE 2009, Ac Sancerre, France

07 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Domain Fouassier

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Sancerre
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Fouassier
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

This may just be this bottle but the wine was not a typical Sancerre and had too much orange fermentation going on

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features orange rind, fermented orange, dried apricots and capsicum. Medium+ body with average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Maybe past its prime

Drink now on its own or pair it with mussels in a white wine butter garlic sauce

Tasted: 31 Aug 2014

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8+/10 Total: 16.5/20

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

LCBO: 267948