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

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance $15.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dashwood Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A balanced Chard that should please a lot of people

Positives: This wine features light oak and toast with lemon, peach, pineapple, coconut, green apples and limestone. Medium body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 19 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10)Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 312942

Cost: $16.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier & Rousanne
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Smelling this wine reminds me of spring flowers blossoming

Positives: This wine features lots of floral aromas such as jasmine, Easter Lilly & white Paeonia. The taste has lemon/lime, honeydew melon, tangerine, green mango & peach. Medium+ body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the aftertaste

Interesting Point: This winery not only has great wines but the coolest names

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

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 339465

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $15.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Eden Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hill-Smith Estate
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice cool climate Chard from Aussy land that has the right balance of fruit, oak, alcohol and price

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon-lime, honeydew melon, pear, green apple, & limestone. Medium minus body and with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Waldorf Salad.

Interesting Point: I like seeing an Aussy Chard fermented in oak, but have only 13% alcohol.

Tasted: 5 February 2014

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: 361584