Category Archives: White Wines

HENRY OF PELHAM THREE HILLS CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale Price until April 28, 2024: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Henry of Pelham Estate
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

My new favourite Canadian Chard under $20. Excellent balance between oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, quince, dill, ginger, oak spice, vanilla, roasted almonds & jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I reviewed 2019 vintage, and was not too crazy about it, and it was selling for $21.95. Now, now only is it $2 less, but the quality is exceptional.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 11, 2024

LCBO: 268342

JOEL GOTT BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2021, California, United States of America

24 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Styled in the traditional Napa Valley Chard but keeping the alcohol below 14.4% alcohol & nicely balanced between the oak & fruit. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, ginger, baking spice, dill & honeysuckle.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “After harvest, the fruit was fermented in 50% new French oak barrels and 50% one & two-year-old French oak barrels for 6–8 months to add complexity to the wine.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the Clearance Price

Tasted: March 22, 2024

LCBO: 32886

MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

03 Saturday Feb 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $26.95 (Clearance Price: $21.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant Chard that is well balanced between fruit, acidity, minerality & oak. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Maturation: Fermented and aged in barriques and puncheons (93%), 6% Foudre and 1% concrete egg

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Fettuccine with creamy dill sauce with shrimp, bay scallops and sea leg crab.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: February 1, 2024

LCBO: 545004

VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION CHARDONNAY 2022, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

28 Thursday Dec 2023

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

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Villa Maria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made having balance between the oak, tropical fruit, acidity & spiciness. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, clementine, pineapple, green mango, Granny apples, white cranberry, ginger, dill, oak & baking spice, limestone, light toasty wood & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 24, 2023

LCBO: 16012

DOMAINE LES SALICES VIOGNIER 2012, Pays D’Oc, France

03 Sunday Dec 2023

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.40)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine François Lurton
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Oiliness followed by nice yellow fruit acidity. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: White peach, pear, yellow cherry, Cape Gooseberries, apricot, light roasted hazelnuts & limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Tasting of the grapes to determine the harvest date at the moment of the aromatic peak. Harvest by machine (between 4 and 9 a.m.) to take advantage of the cool temperatures and thus limit the phenomenon of oxidation. Skin maceration. Pneumatic pressing then cold stabilization for several days. Racking and yeasting for alcoholic fermentation between 16 and 18°C.
Aged for 6 months in French barrels with regular stirring of the lees for 1/3 of the volume.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken & pork pâté

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: December 1, 2023

LCBO: 358192

TORRE ZAMBA INCASTRO BIANCO 2022, IGT Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

19 Sunday Nov 2023

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.50)
Grape: 50% Pecorino, 30% Passerina & 20% Trebbiano
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Torre Zambra
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, crisp & expressive food friendly wine. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Passion fruit, lemon, orange pith, green apple, pear, white cherry & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan wine

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Chili Lime Trout

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 18, 2023

LCBO: 28121

DONATIEN BAHUAUD LES GRANDS MORTIERS VOUVRAY 2021, AOP Vouvray, France

11 Saturday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $17.60)
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vouray
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Donatien Bahuaud
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Rich, refined and complex. Off dry but finishes with nice minerality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yellow Pitaya, lemon rind, peach, apples, pear, dried apricot, thyme, honeycomb & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with spicy fish tacos

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 8, 2023

LCBO: 140889

DOUGH CHARDONNAY 2020, North Coast, California, United States of America

28 Saturday Oct 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: North Coast, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Dough Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice lean Cali Chard that keeps the alcohol in check & brings up nice tropical notes. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intensity nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon meringue pie, pineapple, tangerine, lime, Fuji apple, baking spice & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Dough offers two needs-based $2,500 scholarships to students of George Brown College’s hospitality and culinary arts programs.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with baked Brie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 27, 2023

LCBO: 25598

RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, Marlborough, New Zealand

29 Friday Sep 2023

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

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Cost: $28.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rapaura Springs
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Expressive, elegant & complex Chard that will please those that like their Chards oaked or unoaked. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, low to medium intensity nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, green apples, white cranberry, clementines, dill, ginger, roasted almonds, oak spice & flint.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Very surprised that the colour is not on the golden spectrum considering the alcohol and that it has oak influence.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Dungeness crab

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 28, 2023

LCBO: 19761

ROMBAUER CARNEROS CHARDONNAY 2021, Carneros, California, United States of America

05 Saturday Aug 2023

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

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Cost: $71.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rombauer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold, luscious & buttery. Score: 97/100.

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Butter on white toasted bread, lemon, peach, mango, pineapple, D’Anjou pear, lemon meringue pie, crème brûlée, nutmeg, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: Increase in price from last year of $8

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware & don’t over chill it. Serve 13°C to 15°C

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 10, 2022

LCBO: 441089