Category Archives: White Wines

ARGYLE RESERVE SERIES NUTHOUSE CHARDONNAY 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon

14 Thursday Feb 2013

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Argyle

Cost: $39.95 (Clearance $29.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Argyle Winery
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Medium to medium toasted oak followed by some buttery notes, lemons, green apples, limestone, cashews, marzipan and pineapple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little touch of bitterness on the finish.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 13 Feb 13

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

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

LCBO: 232777

DANIEL LENKO VIOGNIER 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Thursday Feb 2013

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Daniel

Cost: $40.35 (Clearance $32.15)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Daniel Lenko Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Daniel Lenko has an eye for Viognier in Canada and doesn’t disappoint. The wine is crisp and refreshing featuring apricot, nectarine, peach pit, honeydew melon, mango, Ylang Llang, honeysuckle, lemon/lime, lychee and wet stone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 12 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 913731

JOSEPH CARR CHARDONNAY 2010, St. Helena, California

04 Monday Feb 2013

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Joseph Carr Chard

Cost: $22.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A pleasant drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon, quince, pear, peanuts, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Use the larger Chard glasses and don’t over chill it. I really like Joseph Carr’s labels as they are clean and classic.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 3 Feb 13

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

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

CASTLE ROCK BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2010, Central Coast, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Castle Rock Chard

Cost: $14.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castle Rock Winery Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I am always surprised to drink an inexpensive Chard from the Central Coast and when it’s labeled “barrel fermented” and not be drinking an oak drink with some flavor. This is not a complex wine by any stretch of the imagination, but what does have is good quality. You’ll find medium buttery toasted oak, lemon candy, quince apples with a nice mineral finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with a cheese plate.

Tasted: 1 Feb 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18+/20

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

BERINGER NIGHTS VALLEY BLANC 2009, Knights Valley, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Beringer White

Cost: $25.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay & Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: United States
Region: Knights Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A rich gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: On the nose the Chard & Viognier come thru, and the taste turns to tropical Sauvignon notes. The wine features light oak, apricot, peach, melon, pineapple, brioche, lemon, green apples & honeydew. The finish has a nice silky feel. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon chicken with couscous.

Tasted: 30 Jan 13

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

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

DOMAINE MICHEL & STEPHANE OGIER LA COMBE DE MALLEVAL CONDRIE 2009, AOC Condrieu, France

27 Sunday Jan 2013

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

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label

Cost: $59.95 (Clearance $42)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michel & Stephane Ogier
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Condrieu is Latin for nectar of the gods. (Not really, but it should be!). A simply delightful wine to drink and at the clearance price, seems even better. The wine has a nice balance showing tropical fruit, stone fruit, a touch of minerality with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: I’m not living in Condrieu.

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill this wine, or any Condrieu. It’s beauty must shine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Foie Gras or lobster with drawn butter.

Tasted: 26 Jan 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 226704

 

 

CHATEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY BARREL FERMENTED 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

25 Friday Jan 2013

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Château Des Charmes Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2010, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price of $11.20)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Des Charmes
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ nose.

Positives: What a nice balanced Chard that is only $13.95, or even better at the clearance price of $11.20, which you really can’t beat. This wine features a mild oak spice, lemon, melon, clementine, MacIntosh apple & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I can just see myself on a nice summer day drinking this Chard at my favourite golf course patio after just posting a 62, then realizing that I did that only on the front nine. Oh well, I’ll have another bottle please. Drink from the smaller Chardonnay glass. FYI it’s -25 C with windchill right now!

Drink now on its own, as above, or pair it with chicken parmigiana.

Tasted: 24 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 81653

THREE RIVERS CHARDONNAY 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Three Rivers Chardonnay 2008, Columbia Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95 (clearance price of $14)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Family Wines Inc.
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Rich gold with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Yummy! I would rate this a two bottle per person to drink in a day/night, (three if you start in the morning). This may not have a balanced fruit to mineral ratio to make it a high scoring Chard, but if you just want to enjoy a wine, not care about the technical scores and just get hammered, this one’s for you. Medium+ oak with a medium toast, Paula Deen buttery delight, butterscotch, toffee, coconut, lemon meringue pie and roasted marshmallows. Full body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14.3% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glasses and don’t chill it too much.

Drink now on its own or pair with lobster and drawn butter, or surf and turf.

Tasted: 22 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 233445

COORALOOK PINOT GRIS 2008, Strathbogie Ranges (90%) Mornington Peninsula (10%), Australia

20 Sunday Jan 2013

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Cooralook Pinot Gris 2008 Bottle

Cost: $14.90
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Strathbodie Ranges & Mornington Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yabby Lake International Pty.L
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Pinot Gris styled between the Italian Pinot Grigio and Alsace Pinot Gris. This wine is crisp with lemon, honeysuckle, pink grapefruit and pineapple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The 2008 is on sale now for $11.95, which is a great deal.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Chinese food.

Tasted: 19 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 212712

ROBERT MONDAVI PINOT NOIR CARNEROS, 2007, Carneros, California

14 Monday Jan 2013

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Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 2008, Carneros, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $27.95 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

A simple Pinot that shouldn’t offend anyone but disappointing considering it comes from Carneros.

The wine features rhubarb, cranberry, pine, cola and sour cherry.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rabbit.

Tasted: 13 Jan 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5