Category Archives: White Wines

McMANIS CHARDONNAY 2012, River Junction, California, United States

20 Tuesday May 2014

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McManis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: River Junction, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: McManis Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A smooth Chard from California that’s not over !4% alcohol, just wish it was under $15

Positives: This wine features light oak, caramelized apple, lemon candy, pear, peach, and pineapple. Medium+ body with average acidity and length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Brie and honey.

Tasted: 15 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 265983

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

05 Monday May 2014

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Beringer

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

For us in Canada, when I see a Napa Chard from a well known producer for under $20, I think “to good to be true”. This wine is good & true.

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon drops, pineapple, nutmeg, peach, baked apple and light Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pork chops with apple cider glaze.

Tasted: 30 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 84988

NEWTON UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa County, California, United States

24 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Newton Chard

Cost: $49.00 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Miami International Airport Duty Free
Country: United States
Region: Napa County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite Chards, rich, bold & beautiful

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon, honeydew melon, ginger, butterscotch and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well-integrated due to the rich full body.

Negatives: Would be perfect with a lower alcohol level than 15%

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with lobster souffle.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

VENETO VILLA ALMADI CHARDONNAY 2012, IGT Veneto, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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almadi

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Two styles of Chard depending on the glass you use. Outstanding for $14.

Positives: When used in Chablis glassware this wine features Honeysuckle, lemon, melon, green apples, flint & volcanic ash. The Montrachet glassware brings out dates, figs, Rapsflower Blossom honey & apple pie.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops.

Thank you Mario from the Tasting Room for this recommendation.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Amazing Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

BACHELDER NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Monday Apr 2014

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Bachelder Chard

Cost: $29.95 ($27.95 until 27 April 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bachelder
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Crisp yet with a nice mild creaminess on the finish.

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green & yellow apple, ginger, clementine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 8 April 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 302083

SONOMA-CUTRER RUSSIAN RIVER RANCHES CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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Sonoma Cutrer

Cost: $26.95 (on sale $23.95 until 27 April 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

A nice cool climate style Chard from California

Positives: This wine features light oak, white flowers, peach, pear, lemon and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the smaller cool climate Chard glass, highlights the lemon and limestone.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lemon pepper grilled catfish.

Tasted: 10 April 2014

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

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

LCBO: 608653

JEAN MARC BROCARD CHABLIS 2011, AC Chablis, France

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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Chablis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean-Marc Brocard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Hard to find a great Chablis is for under $20

Positives: This complex wine features Easter lily, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, Brie rind, Spy apple, honey, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: From single vineyard “Sainte-Claire” 30 year old vines on Kimmeridgian Limestone fermented with indigenous yeast.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Beausoleil oysters in honey, ginger & shallot vinaigrette.

Tasted: 14 April 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 356634

THE HERMIT CRAB, VIOGNIER MARSANNE 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Hermit Crab

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 68% Viognier, 32% Marsanne
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A full flavoured delicious wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, jasmine, apricot, peach, lemon, mandarin, thyme and peach pit. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine with two different Riedel glassware: one Viognier and the other Sauvignon Blanc style. The Viognier glass presented a more smooth wine with an unexpected peach pit on the finish. Meanwhile, the Cab Sauv glass was more vibrant and crisp with a less noticeable peach pit finish. Both equally good, just depends on what you’re looking for.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare in lemongrass marinade.

Tasted: 2 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 662775

ARROWOOD CHARDONNAY 2010, Sonoma County, California, United States

20 Thursday Mar 2014

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ARROWOOD_CHARDONNAY_web

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arrowood Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

I’m liking it, but not loving it

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, peaches & cream corn, caramel, pineapple, mango, dill and cloves. Full body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster cooked in Chard and butter.

Tasted: 19 March 2014

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

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

LCBO: 270694

JOSEPH CARR CHARDONNAY 2011, St. Helena, Sonoma County, California, United States

15 Saturday Mar 2014

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Joseph Carr
 
Cost: $22.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
 
A delicious well balanced Chard that easy to drink
 
Positives: This complex wine features medium minus toasted oak, butter, mango, pineapple, clementine, nectarine, dill and ginger. Full body with good acidity and a long length.
 
Negatives: None
 
Interesting Note: Joseph also produces a Chard in honour of his father, Josh. However, Joseph’s Chard is better.
 
Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with fried salt and pepper breadfruit.
 
Tasted: 15 March 2014
 
Best Buy
 
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20
 
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+