Category Archives: White Wines

TRIUS WHITE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale)
Grape Variety: White blend
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Estates
Alcohol: 13.1 %
Description: Medium straw colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose showing spring flower blossoms, lychee, peach, apricot, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, lemon, golden apple & light oak. The taste is smooth & very easy to drink. Be careful because before you know it you’ll be in your second & third bottle. Actually that might be a good thing lol. The taste comes in waves showing lychee, peach, green & golden apples, honeydew melon, apricot, cantaloupe, light oak, lemon, limestone, mandarine & orange rind on the finish. Medium minus body, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: A complex wine for under $20.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 9 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 54957

COYOTE’S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: What a nice, easy drinking Chard under $20 & it’s from Ontario. The nose is closed, but the palate brims with spiced oak, lemon, crisp apple, honeydew melon, pear, limestone, tangerine, medium minus toasted oak & a light creaminess on the finish. Nice Old World style Chard. Medium body with good acidity, a long length & moderate alcohol. Nowadays 12.5% alcohol for a Chard is low.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: You can use both the smaller glass Chard or the larger one, but I give the nod to the smaller Chard glassware.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Drinks well on its own or pair it with pasta in an Alfredo sauce.

Tasted: 5 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 49775

BONNY DOON BEESWAX VINEYARD LE CIGARE BLANC 2008, Arroyo Seco, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Bonny Doon Beeswax Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc 2008, Arroyo Seco, Central Coast Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Rhone Varietal (Roussanne & Granache Blanc)
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonny Doon
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: TASTING NOTE:” (75% grenache blanc and 24% roussanne) Light yellow. A complex bouquet displays nectarine, dried pear and yellow plum scents, along with subtle anise and floral qualities … A snap of tangy minerality keeps things in check and helps to carry the finish. This will be great with lighter meat or fish dishes, and I’d drink it on the young side. Score – 89. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Nov./Dec. 2008)” LCBO

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

Positives: Notes of Verbena, lemon oil, honeysuckle, beeswax, apricots, peach, almonds, ripe pear, cantaloupe & shale. There is some oak but it’s well integrated. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High Alcohol. Interesting Things: This winery is biodynamic & I like the traditional old world wine label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters in a honey-ginger vinegrette.

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 95331

MINER WILD YEAST CHARDONNAY 2007, Napa Valley, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $36.45
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Miner Vineyards
Alcohol: 15.3 %
Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Big & bold are the best descriptors of this Chard. Medium to medium+ toasted oak, with notes of buttery popcorn, lemon, red candy apples, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla & oak spice. Full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol batman.

Interesting Thing: They use wild yeast or natural grown yeast in their wine making which adds complexity but there’s an unknown factor on how these yeast will act in wine processing.

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

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 45906

DE BORTOLI DB RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2009, Australia

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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De Bortoli Db Reserve Chardonnay 2009, South Eastern Australia Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a lovely nose, too bad the taste doesn’t keep up. The aromas show medium toasty oak with butterscotch, honeysuckle, lemon meringue pie, lemons, apples & roasted marshmallows. The taste shows lemon, lime, tart apples & slate. The wine is medium body with high acidity, medium length & medium alcohol, which is a nice change in Aussy Chards.

Negatives: Too acidic which mutes a lot of flavour.

Drink now with BBQ chicken.

Tasted: 28 Jan 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 244426

CASTELLO DELLA SALA BRAMÌTO DEL CERVO CHARDONNAY 2010, IGT Umbria, Italy

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

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Castello Della Sala Bramìto Del Cervo Chardonnay 2010, Igt Umbria Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Umbria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Marchesi Antinori
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “The Umbria region in general, and Antinori’s Castello della Sala estate in particular, have shown a fine hand with Chardonnay. The 2009 Bramìto Chardonnay is no exception. Filled with aromas of peach, apricot, toast and a fine minerality, this well-made, fresh Chardonnay is an ideal partner for barbecued jumbo shrimp or even for the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner.” LCBO

Light gold in colour with a medium minus to medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: A Chablis style chard featuring lemon, apple, peach, limestone & wet stone. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use the smaller chard glass as it brings out more of the intensity of the notes. An excellent alternative to Chablis.

Drink now or within the next two years. Drink on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

Tasted: 23 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 176792

FEUDO PRINCIPI DI BUTERA INSOLIA 2009, Butera, IGT Sicily Italy

22 Sunday Jan 2012

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Feudo Principi Di Butera Insolia 2009, Igt Sicilia Bottle

Cost: $13.75
Grape Variety: Insolia
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Sicily
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Zonin S.P.A.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Not a very expressive white, but very pleasant showing notes of melon, apricot & pear. Medium body, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Don’t expect too much.

Drink now on its own or pair it with sushi.

Tasted: 21 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 229765

HOB NOB CHARDONNAY, 2009 Pays D’Oc, France

21 Saturday Jan 2012

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Hob Nob Chardonnay 2009, Vins De Pays D'oc Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: George Duboeuf
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: New gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A lot of flavour going on especially for a wine that’s under $12. Good balance between citric & tropical fruit. No new wood detected but there is malolactic fermentation to smooth out the wine. Medium body, good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Use the larger new world Chard glass as I found the smaller glass enhanced the citric notes.

Drink now on its own or pair it with a variety of seafood dishes.

Tasted: 20 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#:232710

SANTA RITA RESERVA CHARDONNAY, 2009 DDO Casablanca Valley, Chile

19 Thursday Jan 2012

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Santa Rita Chardonnay Reserva 2009, Casablanca Valley Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.45)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Casablanca Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Santa Rita
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose makes this wine feel like a $50 chard. It shows notes of medium toasted oak, buttery, vanilla, lemon meringue pie, caramel covered apples & popcorn. The taste feels like an under $20 chard with more citric & tart notes of lemon rind, lime, green apples, unripe pineapple, light toasted oak & limestone. Medium body with high acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little tart on the taste.

Interested Thing: LCBO usually has this wine on sale a couple of times a year.

Drink now & pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 17 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 348359

E. Guigal Condrieu 2006, Northern Rhône, Condrieu, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

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Cost:  $52.99
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 ml
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Deep golden to amber in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Simply delicious! I hold all viogniers to E. Guigal’s Condrieu. Creamy apricot marmalade, honeysuckle, orange blossom, vanilla, beeswax and lychee.

Negatives: Oxygenated properties have taken hold.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red lumpfish caviar. Even though it’s on it’s down slope, this wine is still delicious.

Interesting Things: If you like nice complex chardonnays you will love this. Due to it’s oxygenated properties it has similar taste to Fiano. 

Tasted: 14 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5