Category Archives: White Wines

BERINGER NAPA VALLEY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2008, Napa Valley, California

23 Thursday Aug 2012

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Beringer Chardonnay 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott)
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in the colour with a medium+ intensity.

Positives: Toasted oak, buttery, lemon zest, tangerines, light smokiness, roasted marshmallows, peach, cashews and limestone. Full body, good acidy and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: LCBO Vintage did carry this Chard.

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

Tasted: 20 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

ACADIA “A” CHARDONNAY, 2008 California

12 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $18.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacque Scott)
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Acacia
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: This is not your big commercially produced plain Jane Chardonnay from California. In fact, it’s quite restrained, simple but eloquent showing light toasted oak, butter, spice, lemon, apple & nutmeg, peach. Medium+ body, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A little heat which makes me think this may be higher than the stated 13.5% on the bottle.

Drink now on its own or pair it with chicken Parmesan.

Tasted: 11 Aug 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

RODNEY STRONG CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY 2010, Sonoma County, California

05 Sunday Aug 2012

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Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Chalk Hill, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium straw to light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour and good balance between tropical and citric fruit featuring medium+ toasted oak, lots of butter, lemon, butterscotch, mango, pineapple, cinnamon apple, marzipan and limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Things: Always nice to see a California Chard under 14% alcohol and not lose the creaminess. A day later the taste was equally good with less sourness on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork tenderloin with a peach & mango glaze.

Tasted: 3 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

LCBO #: 275552

PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2007, Russian River Valley, California

28 Saturday Jul 2012

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

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Cost: $51.99 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wines
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  California
Region:  Russian River Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Paul Hobbs
Alcohol: 14.7%

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I love this wine which features medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, white flowers, peach, pear, lemon and limestone. Full body with good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated considering it’s 14.7%.

Negatives: The high alcohol

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs consistently produces good quality Chards at different price points. Please note this is 2007 vintage and not available at LCBO. However, the 2008 is available at LCBO Vintages.

Drink now on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 25 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

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

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https://i0.wp.com/www.clossonchase.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2009CCV-Chard-VQAPEC.jpg

Cost:  $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country:  Canada
Region:  Prince Edward County
Format: 750 ml
Producer:   Closson Chase Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Rich & creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, butter, yellow plums, lemon, nutmeg, creme brulee, & limestone. Full body with good acidity and long length.

Negatives: A touch bitter from the toasted oak.

Interesting Things: I believe the 2008 & 2009 are sold out at the winery. 

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

Tasted: 10 July 12

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

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

TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA TORRONTÉS 2010, Salta, Argentina

07 Saturday Jul 2012

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Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Torrontés 2010, Salta Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Torrontes
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Salta
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Chandon S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lemon, fennel, white peach, fresh carnations on the nose, white pepper & a slight bitter grapefruit tang on the finish.Medium minus body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A little too bitter on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lake trout.

Tasted: 6 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 243238

MARIMAR ESTATE LA MASÍA DON MIGUEL VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2007, Russian River Valley, California

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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Marimar Estate La Masía Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay 2007, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Unfiltered Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mirimar Estate
Alcohol: 14.2 %
Description: Old gold in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: medium+ oak & toast with lemon, caramel apple & lots of spice. Full body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: One dimensional, over toasted oak, too much fermented orange & a lot of heat coming from the alcohol. I would lay this one down for another 2 years to see if it mellows.

Hard to pair this one due to the powerful toasted oak & fermentation.

Tasted: 6 Mar 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

LCBO#: 270090

STAGS’ LEAP WINERY CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa Valley, California

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 14.1 %
Description: “This well-structured Chardonnay is crafted in a crisp and refreshing style, which is wonderfully atypical for Napa. It features green apple and floral aromas followed by a very dry, full body with more apple and mineral flavours and a vivacious backbone of acidity. Pair this with king crab legs or cellar it 3-5+ years.” LCBO

Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Good balance between creamy & minerality. The wine features light toasted oak with lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apple, vanilla & limestone. Medium to full bodily with good acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This will appease a good cross section of Chard drinkers.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with scallops in angel hair.

Tasted: 27 June 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 655381

YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2010, Eden Valley, Australia

30 Saturday Jun 2012

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Yalumba Viognier 2010, Eden Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Yalumba
Country: South Australia, Australia
Region: Eden Valley
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lots going on here with apricots, nectarines, lemon, green olives, jasmine, clove, walnut & a touch of honey. Medium to full body with good medium+ acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Yalumba is consistently one of the best producers of Viognier outside Condrieu, Northern Rhone in France.

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

Tasted: 29 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 954644

GOATS DO ROAM WHITE 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

21 Thursday Jun 2012

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Goats Do Roam White 2011, Wo Western Cape Bottle

Cost: $12.00
Grape Variety: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Rousanne
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fairview Trust
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium straw colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Lemon, peach pit, pear, pineapple & apricots. Medium minus body with high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little too tart.

Drink now with lemon-pepper catfish.

Tasted: 19 June 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 237313