Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: R.H. Phillips Vineyard & Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: “The name Toasted Head refers to the barrels used to age this wine. Usually, only the barrel walls are charred, but, in this case, the heads are toasted too. The resulting wine is filled with aromas of smoky apple-cinnamon, pear, vanilla and toasty oak. Full bodied with a medium-long finish, it’s a perfect companion to chicken quesadillas, grilled prawns or shrimp stir-fry.” (LCBO)

Light gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Toasted Head has come a long way from the days that California Chards , at least in the inexpensive category of under $30, was like gnawing on oak planks. Toasted Head has been consistently good in the past couple of years producing well balanced, medium toasted oak Chards, full body, long length with good acidity. Notes of lemon, apple, butterscotch, coconut cream pie & pineapple dominate both on the nose and palate.

Negatives: High alcohol.

Interesting Things: I like the shape of the bottle & wax stopper on the cork. Makes it stand out from the rest of the California Chards. LCBO usually puts this wine on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

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

Tasted: 9 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 594341

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bronco Wine Company
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: As you take your first sip your entire tongue tingles with a plethora of flavours such as: candy coated apples, woodsmoke, marshmallows, egg nog with cinnamon & nutmeg, lemon, orange, mangos, peaches & cream corn, pineapple & some flint. This chard has medium toast & oak with a long finish, good acidity & is medium to full body.

Negatives: Some heat from the alcohol.

Interesting Things: Unusual straw colour for an oaked chard from California. Use the larger Chard glass to get the full flavours on your tongue.

Drink now or cellar for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter. Taste more like a $40-50 bottle.

Tasted: 1 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 244483

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pedro Escudero
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very refreshing wine. Pink grapefruit dominates with supporting roles from apples, orange rind, green tea, gooseberry & limestone. Medium minus body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: A yellow synthetic cork. I suggest drinking this wine from glassware used for cool climate Chardonnay or Viognier. I tried it in a Sauvignon Blanc glass & it turned the pink grapefruit to regular grapefruit that I would need sugar to cut through the tartness.

Drink now on its own or with Kung Pao chicken.

Best Buy

Tasted: 21 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 218313

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Diageo Canada Inc
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh nose showing lemon, sweet apples, nectarines, pineapples, light toast & oak, vanilla & limestone. The taste is smooth & creamy and yet has good acidity. Medium to full body with a long length & good complexity. The taste shows light to medium toast & oak, lemon, pineapples, mangos, nectarines, Macintosh apples & limestone. It is also nice that the alcohol is not on the high side.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Use the larger Chard glass vs the smaller cooler version as the cooler version glass will bring out more citric flavours as well as a bitterness on the taste while loosing the smoothness you get with the larger glass.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years. Drink on it’s own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 14 Nov 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 80226

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma Mountain
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Hobbs Imports Inc.
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Well balanced Chard that is smooth & easy to drink. Paul Hobbs has done a wonderful job with his entry level Chard which exhibits classic Chardonnay notes of lemon, apples, nectarines, pineapple & limestone. In addition, you’ll find some creaminess from the butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn. This Chard is medium+ body & length, well balanced especially between the oak & the fruit.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs is one of the masters in producing excellent California Chardonnays & this one is half the price of his mid to higher end wines. The bottle has a cork screw so drink now or cellar for next 3 years.

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

Tasted: 3 Nov 11.

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 235945