Category Archives: White Wines

CLOS DU BOIS CALCAIRE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

29 Thursday Nov 2012

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Clos Du Bois Calcaire Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Medium toasted oak with buttered popcorn, lemon, peach, green apple, grapefruit, pear, cinnamon, butterscotch & limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch too sour in the mid palate.

Interesting Point: Calcaire means limestone or chalk and describes the soil that the grapes come from.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted 24 Nov 12

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

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

LCBO#: 421941

DOPFF & IRION VORBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009, Grand Cru Vorbourg, Alsace, France

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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Dopff & Irion Vorbourg Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Grand Cru Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vorbourg, Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dopff & Irion S.A.
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Golden honey in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: It’s been a long time since I tasted a really good Pinot Gris. This features white birch, honey, apricot, white peach, lychee, sweet potato with butter, cinnamon & nutmeg. Off-dry with medium acidity, fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Danger Will Robinson! This wine is so good it’s hard not to drink 2 bottles in one sitting, but the real danger is that’s its 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: On a blind taste I would have guessed this as a Viognier or Gewürztraminer. Use the Viognier style glass if you have one. Unusual for a Pinot Gris to have 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 8-12 years on its own or pair it with a spicy dish.

Tasted: 22 Nov 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 292227

HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2007, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Hemel-En-Arde Valley Bottle

Cost: $22.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A rich old gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Heavy on the toasted oak with orange rind, lemon, banana cream pie, mandarin &cloves. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much oak, slight oxidation & burnt butter lead to a bitter finish.

This might have been past its optimal drinking point.

Tasted: 14 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

WILLIAM FÈVRE CHABLIS MONTMAIN 1er CRU 2007, Chablis, France

15 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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William Fèvre Chablis Montmains 2006, Ac, 1er Cru Bottle

Cost: $38.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine William Fèvre
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A pale green to straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: One of the best Chablis I have tried. The Premier Cru Chablis features white and pink grapefruit, lemon, green apples, anjou pear, honey, limestone, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with oysters.

Tasted: 13 Nov 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

02 Friday Nov 2012

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Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $19.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn’t disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 479527

LAROCHE CHABLIS SAINT MARTIN 2011, AC Chablis, France

28 Sunday Oct 2012

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Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: S & D Adams, Prop.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Any easy drinking Chablis that’s not overly steely and a nice balance of fruit and minerality. The wine features lemon, dill, green apples, white peach, quince apple, limestone and chalk. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)

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

Tasted: 27 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 289124

DOMAINE LOUIS MICHEL & FILS VAUDÉSIR CHABLIS GRAND CRU 2008, Vaudésir, France

14 Sunday Oct 2012

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Cost: $59.00 (Clearance price $41.35)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vaudesir
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domain Louis Michele
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a low intensity nose.

Positives: A strikingly complex Chablis which features lime zest, grapefruit (both white & pink), wakame salad, dill, horseradish, quince and ends in a cool citrus bite interwoven with alkaline and iodine nuances. Medium minus body with high acidity and a long length. This Chablis came to play.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 6 years. Paired extremely well with Raspberry Point oysters. and with dill pickles.

Tasted: 13 Oct 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 172569

BODEGAS CAMPILLO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA BLANCO 2010, DOC Rioja, Spain

13 Saturday Oct 2012

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Bodegas Campillo Fermentado En Barrica Blanco 2010, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $16.95 (clearance $11.70)
Grape Variety: Viura & Malvasia
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale straw in colour with high intense nose.

Positives: This smokey and oxygenated wine features medium toasted oak with lemon candy, orange rind, pine needles, tarragon and truffles, . Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: If you don’t like oxygenated style wines, this wine is not for you.

Interesting Point: Use the Viognier style glass if you have it as it brings out the most in this wine. Don’t over chill it for it will dull the wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red snapper ceviché.

Tasted: 12 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 657478

BURNING KILN CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This Chard is easy drinking, smooth, lightly toasted oak featuring notes of lemon, Macintosh apple, buttered toast, tangerine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not in the LCBO.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Normandy Style.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10. Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington State

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2010, Columbia Valley Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chat Ste Michelle
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Chard featuring light toasted oak, lemon, lemon custard, peach, pear, green and yellow apples, limestone and spice. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass.

Tasted: 27 Sept 12

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon seared scallops

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#232439