Cost: $15.95 (Clearance price: $12.80)
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Aconcagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina San Estaben
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good Chard at the clearance price

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, green apple, apricot, peach and pineapple. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Bitterness and sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: One would think that the Riedel Chardonnay/Viognier glass would be the perfect stemware for this wine; nope. The glass accentuated the bitterness/sourness. Instead I used the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

Tasted: 9 Sept 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (clearance price:9/10) Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 311746

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau St. Michelle
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Easy drinking Chard

Positives: This wine features light oak, medium toast, lemon, green apple,ginger, peach, pineapple, and cinnamon. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: I prefer the 2010 to the 2011, and unlike the 2010, this vintage fares better drinking from the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with lemon pepper grilled cat fish.

Tasted: 4 Sept 2013

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

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

LCBO: 232439

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance: $22.25)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gann Family Cellars
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Quality wine that is well balanced at a reasonable price, and a best buy if you can get it at the clearance price.

Positives: This wine features well-integrated oak, mild toast, caramel, lemon, peach, pineapple, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A slight burnt sugar taste on the finish.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with lobster with drawn butter.

Tasted: 28 Aug2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 311571

Cost: $37.95 (Clearance: $28.25)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Landmark Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A solid Chard with good complexity.

Positives: Lots of tropical fruit that blends well with the integrated oak. In addition, there’s sweet spice, some nuttiness, creaminess and minerality on the finish. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 14.2% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie Cornish hens.

Tasted: 23 Aug 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 356501

Cost: $27.95 (Clearance: $20.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Cruz Mountains
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mount Eden Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Even at the clearance price it’s still over priced for the quality.

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, apricots, peach and limestone Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Burnt butter and overly fermented citrus notes.

Interesting Point: I like the colonial style label.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with seared garlic and butter scampi.

Tasted: 23 Aug 2013

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: 296145

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple Chard and not as good as their 2011 vintage

Positives: Lots of lemon, lime, grapefruit with limestone. Medium body with high acidity and an average length.

Negatives: A touch too sour for me.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Tasted: 16 Dec 2013

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

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

LCBO: 328559

Cost: $18.95 (Clearance: $15.95 with a further clearance $12.80)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Cruz Mountain
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thomas Fogarty
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Taste is better than the nose

Positives: The taste is rich and creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, buttered popcorn, apple crumble pie, pear & peach. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Didn’t like the powerful wood resin/smoky peat nose.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Camembert.

Tasted: 5 August 2013

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

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

LCBO: 269746