Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Diageo Canada Inc
Alcohol: 14.2 %
Description: “An excellent value from Napa, Sterling barrel ferments and ages this medium-full bodied winner giving it toasty and smoky notes balanced with aromas and flavours of ripe apple, peach, pear and tropical fruit. Terrific with grilled prawns or grilled chicken.” LCBO

Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Chard featuring medium toasted oak, honeysuckle, lemon, maple, apple, buttered popcorn, sweet corn, vanilla, orange rind, oak spice & marshmallow. Medium+ body with medium acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Sterling consistently makes good value wines. Use the larger Chard glass if you have it.

Drink now on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 30 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 330233

Cost: $9.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Tocornal
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium+ straw colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A pleasant drinking wine which features apricots, grapefruit, lime, apple & limestone. Medium body wine with good acidity, medium+ length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Interesting Point: Cono Sur is one of the top wine companies making good & inexpensive wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with any potato dish, like potato chips, fries etc.

Tasted: 23 Mar 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 64287

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Constantia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buitenverwachting Farm Trust (Pty)
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a nice Chard that has just enough toasted oak as not to over shadow the fruit in this wine. Notes of lemon, crisp apple, caramel, light butter, lemon candy, limestone & tangerine. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Some overly tart notes on the finish.

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

Tasted: 14 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 269084

Cost: $7.65
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Sapin Sa
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an unpretentious chard that, by its own label, is just Chardonnay. A delightful easy drinking wine that you can take to parties or open as an apéritif. Lightly oaked with lemon, pineapple, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, apple & some limestone. Medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Just a slight tartness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Good news bad news. Good news is that this wine for $7.65 is a best buy. Bad news is that it’s on sale for that price as the LCBO is discontinuing it, so get it where you can.

Tasted: 6 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 161232

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice aromatic wine showing honeysuckle, apricot, peach, pear, lemon marmalade. orange rind. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Yalumba consistently produces good Viogniers.

Drink now on its own. Enjoy it with pork loin stuffed with sun dried tomatoes & mozzarella cheese.

Tasted: 4 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 624502

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Quincy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Troterau
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a slight green tinge in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Sauvignon Blanc with no notes over competing with one another. Notes of gooseberry, melon, cantaloupe, honey, wet stone, lemon/lime, pear, herbal tea & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Quincy is located in Loire Valley.

Drink now on its own or have it with regular potato chips.

Tasted: 28 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 225185