Category Archives: White Wines

WHISPERING TREE CHARDONNAY 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States

09 Sunday Mar 2014

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Whispering Tree

Cost: $15.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mahluke Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Not for the Chard purist, but I like it

Positives: This wine features oak, buttered popcorn, butterscotch, wakame, summer squash, apple crumble pie, lemon candy & malolactic fermentation. Full body with medium acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lacks fruit & crispness

Drink now on its own or pair it with Cornish hen & butternut squash.

Tasted: 9 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

DASHWOOD CHARDONNAY 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

21 Friday Feb 2014

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Dashwood

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

INCOGNITO WHITE 2011, Lodi, California, United States

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Incognito

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

KENNETH VOLK CHARDONNAY 2009, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Kenneth Volk

Cost: $23.95 (Clearance price: $19.25)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kenneth Volk Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Too much oak and not enough fruit to balance it

Positives: This wine features medium+ toasted oak, marzipan, resin, baked apple & butterscotch. Full body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A lot of bitterness and lack of fruit

Interesting Point: It’s a screw cap which is unusual for California Chards.

Drink now and pair it with spicy crawfish gumbo.

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 233891

SAINT CLAIR PIONEER BLOCK 10 CHARDONNAY 2010, Omaka Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

07 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Block

Cost: $25.95 (Clearance price: $20.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Omaka Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saint Clair Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

This Chard could compete with wines double its price

Positives: This wine features medium toasted spicy oak, lemon, pineapple, peach, Northern Spy apple, ginger, caramelized sugar & roasted marshmallow. Full body and with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Single vineyard whose grapes were mostly handpicked.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 7 February 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance Price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 317651

HILL SMITH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2010, Eden Valley, Austalia

07 Friday Feb 2014

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Hill Chard

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

MAZZEI BELGUARDO VERMENTINO 2010, Toscana, Italy

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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Belguardo

Cost: $22.09 CI
Grape Variety: Vermentino
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Toscana
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mezzei
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Try this crisp & tart wine that’s different from your Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigio etc.

Positives: This wine features lemon, nectarines, lots of minerality, slight oxidation and orange rind on the finish. Light to medium body with high acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled calamari.

Interesting Point: Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s in recommending this wine.

Tasted: 7 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

05 Sunday Jan 2014

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

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cloud break

Cost: $8.99 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cloudy Break Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Not a complex Chard, but oh so good & at under $10 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, butter, lemon meringue, pineapple, coconut, flan, peach & golden apple. Medium to full body with good acidity & fairly long length.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with classic potato chips to custard desert.

Interesting Point: Nice to see a well balanced, in-expensive & creamy California Chard that is under $13

Tasted: 5 January 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

COLUMBIA CREST H3 CHARDONNAY 2009, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington St, University

01 Wednesday Jan 2014

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H3

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A creamy full flavoured Chardonnay

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, wood smoke, lemon/lime, crème brulee, toffee, nutmeg, peanut brittle, vanilla & café con leche on the finish. Full body with average acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey for Christmas.

Interesting Point: I bought this wine at Costco in Florida for $11.99, which I think is priced right.

Tasted: 1 January 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 287227

FOUR HEARTS VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, California, United States

27 Friday Dec 2013

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Four Hearts

Cost: $49.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Four Hearts Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

As good as the 2009 was, the 2010 exceeds it. I don’t want to be too technical, but yummy, yummy & yummy!

Positives: This complex wine features medium+ toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, lemon meringue pie, ginger, roasted marshmallows, crème brûlée, walnuts, butterscotch, pineapple, orange, tangerines & limestone. Full body with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The 2010 has a minerality that the 2009 lacks. The wine is unfined & unfiltered.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with lobster for New Years Eve dinner.

Tasted: 27 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO: 95919