Category Archives: White Wines

ESTATE HATZIMICHALIS CHARDONNAY 2011, Atalanti Valley, California

20 Thursday Dec 2012

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Estate Hatzimichalis Chardonnay Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Greece
Region: Atalanti Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Farma Atalantis Agr S.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium gold with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon/lime, lemon curd, dill, green & yellow apples and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A tad sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon pepper catfish.

Tasted: 19 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 269654

COOPERS CREEK VIOGNIER 2008, Gisborne, New Zealand

17 Monday Dec 2012

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Coopers Creek Viognier 2008, Gisborne, North Island Bottle

Cost: $17.95 (clearance price $12.65)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Gisborne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cooper’S Creek Vineyard Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good news, bad news. Good news: This is the best Viognier for under $20 & it’s on clearance at LCBO for $12.65. Bad news: I bought the last bottles, so you’ll have to wait until LCBO restock it stores, hopefully next year.

This wine features peach, pear, apricot, jasmine on the nose, white pepper, orange rind, mandarin & ginger. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: All sold out at LCBO.

Drink now on its own or pair it with wahoo ceviche.

Tasted: 15 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 61416

STAGS’ LEAP WINERY VIOGNIER 2011, Napa Valley, California

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

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Stags' Leap Winery Viognier 2011, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.1 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice Viognier that reminds me more of the Argentine Torrontes. This wine features peach, nectarine, tangerine peel, lemon, grapefruit, limestone and a touch of rosemary. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years, on its own or pair it with deviled eggs.

Tasted: 10 Dec 12

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

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

LCBO#: 597369

FERRARI CARANO FUMÉ BLANC 2010, Sonoma County, California

02 Sunday Dec 2012

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label

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands, Jacques Scott
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A nice easy and well balanced Sauv featuring light oak with gooseberry, hay, guava, passion fruit, limestone, lots of pineapple and a silky finish. Medium  to medium minus in body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with lemon pepper catfish.

Tasted 2 Dec 12

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

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

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

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

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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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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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