Category Archives: White Wines

COLANERI, CAVALLONE, PINOT GRIGIO, VQA 2010, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: A beautiful copper colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: This is in the Alsatian style with honeysuckle, orange rind, grapefruit, pear and peach on the nose. The taste has a wonderful oiliness to it along with peach, pear, orange, pink grapefruit, limestone and apples.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine won gold at Intervin
  • This is Tara’s mom’s wine (Angiolina)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months Appassimento style
  • Cavallone means horse in Italian. Tara’s grandmother gave her mother that nickname when she was little, which meant in Italian that they were strong and free spirited. The little children on the horse is Tara holding onto her mother not to let to go, and her brother, Michael, pointing to the sky telling her that she is in heaven but saying that she is with them here. The rock on the lower right hand corner represents Tara’s father, who is the rock. 

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

THE PARING, THE HILT, CHARDONNAY 2008, Santa Barbara County, California

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $32.95 (sale price of $23.15)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cool Hand Vineyards Llc
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Golden in colour, medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Classic Burgundian Chard with lemon, apple, limestone, light butter & touch of toasted oak. Medium body, good acidity & long length. The big surprise is there’s no excessive heat from the high alcohol. I describe this Chard as non-offensive, meaning those that like un-oaked to those that like heavy Chards will enjoy it. They may not love it, but should agree with my scoring.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Not worth the original price, but I can live with the sale price.

Drink now on its own or pair with any chicken dish. Make sure you don’t chill it to much so the flavours come out.

Tasted 19 Oct 11.

Score: 8.5+/20, Value: 7.5/10 (sale price: 8.5/10), Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 221176

BENZIGER CHARDONNAY 2008, Carneros California

14 Friday Oct 2011

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Benziger

Cost: $24.95 (Sale price: $17.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Azienda Agraria Communali
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright clear gold in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Distinct Chard nose with medium toasted oak. The nose shows notes of lemon meringue pie, vanilla, caramelized apple & light minerality. More citric notes on the taste with lemon & orange notes, green apples, vanilla & butterscotch. Medium toasted oak with good acidity, medium to full body, medium+ length & not high in alcohol, which is a nice surprise for a mid level Californian Chard.

Negatives: Some bitterness detected.

Interesting Points:

  • Use the larger new world Chard glass vs the smaller old world.
  • Benziger is an organic winery.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared sea bass glazed in Chardonnay.

Tasted 13 Oct 11.

Best buy on sale price.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (sale price would be 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 34777

GAINEY VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, 2008 Sta. Rita Hills, California

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Gainey Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, Santa Rita Hills Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Sta. Rita Hills, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Gainey Vyd
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold colour with medium+ nose.

Positives. Unmistakable Chard with medium toast and oak. The nose shows lemon, golden & granny apples with buttery corn. The taste is similar to the nose with creaminess & good acidity. Medium to full body with a medium+ finish.

Negatives:

  • There is some heat from the alcohol
  • Little bitterness on the finish.
Interesting Note: Even though this bottle is labeled as having 13.9% alcohol, US tax law gives the wine producer a margin of error for alcohol up to 1.5%. Therefore, this wine may in fact be 15.4%

Tasted 8 Oct 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 205484

STREWN CHARDONNAY BARREL-AGED, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2009, Niagara On The Lake VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice Chard nose showing light oak & toast, buttery popcorn, lemon & golden apple. The taste is similar to the nose with a some added spice on the medium+ finish. The taste is smooth & creamy and still maintains good acidity. This medium body Chard is easy to drink on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use an old world or cool climate style Chard glass.

Best Buy.

Tasted 6 Oct 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 522730

PODERE CASTORANI AMORINO PECORINO 2007, IGT, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Podere Castorani Amorino Pecorino 2007, Igt Colline Pescaresi, Estate Btld. Bottle

Cost: $25.00
Grape Variety: Pecorino
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages Online
Country: Italy
Region: Pescara, Abruzzo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Colline Pescaresi, Estate Btld.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description:” ‘The peaceful vineyards in the hills near the Italian seaside town of Pescara are a vastly different world from the speed, glamour and noise of a Grand Prix weekend. But Jarno Trulli has a passion for both environments. Trulli has been competing in F1 since 1997 and racing since 1983. For the past 10 years, he also has been deeply involved in his other ‘profession’, making wine … Trulli was born in Pescara. When he eventually retires from the hectic world of F1, the peaceful vineyards in the hills near his hometown and his other profession as a vintner await him.’ (Dan Knutson, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, June 3, 2007) This engaging Pecorino conveys intense aromas of exotic fruits and white flowers, a rich, well-structured palate, and a finish full of ripe fruits. ” LCBO

Dark golden in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Very aromatic and a good substitute for Chardonnay. Wild flowers, ginger, white sage, white pepper, lemon, golden apples, mango, tangerines and mineral notes.

Negatives: It has a little bit of an oxidative note to it that may turn some people away.

Interesting Things: This wine has similar notes to Fiano. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 8 Oct 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 111708

13th STREET WINERY WHITE PALETTE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $14.95

Grape Variety: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay Musqué,
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. It reminds me of late spring with all the flowers in bloom and freshly cut grass. Not surprising as the 3 major grape varietals are all very aromatic. The taste is just as wonderful with a myriad of layers from lychee, to peach & pear to grassy. This wine has a nice long length.  

Negatives: Found a slight bitterness and heat like radicchio & radish on the finish. 

Interesting Things: This is a blend of 6 grapes and they all seem to come out in this wine one way or another, either through the nose or taste. The Chardonnay Musqué is an aromatic clone of Chardonnay also known as Wente. (Yes same as the California Winery. Rumour has it they are credited with the clone). The varietal are: 32.4% Riesling, 24.8% Gewurztraminer, 21.6% Musqué, 7.7% Semillon, 7.7% Pinot Gris & 5.8 % Sauvignon Blanc. 

Drink now on its own or pair it with angel hair with olive oil, cracked pepper and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#: 207340

13th STREET WINERY “ESTATE SERIES” PINOT GRIS, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $19.95

Grape Variety: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium straw in colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: This is an easy going Pinot Gris with some oiliness on the taste which gives it more of a medium minus body rather than a lighter style Pinot Grigio. The nose and taste has some nice notes of sweet pear & limestone. Nice long length to it. 

Negatives: Too simple for my taste, but still nice to drink. 

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

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

13th STREET WINERY, ESSENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $34.95

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. There is lots of creaminess, butter, limestone, peach and a smoky note that is reminiscent of amber glowing after a bonfire. The nose reminds me of a high end Californian Chard, but the taste says it’s not a Chard and more like Fumé Blanc from Loire. This is probably the best Sauvignon Blanc that I have ever tasted. There is lots of complexity and creaminess like the nose, with layers of taste from apples, guava, passion fruit, caramel and lemon candy. The finish is quite lengthy. I think I went for a mile run and I still tasted it.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: 

  • The creaminess comes from the wine being aged in 40% French oak barrels. Make sure you don’t chill this too much, 13-14º C so you can taste all the different layers this wine offers.
  • I tasted this wine over a course of about 20 minutes and continuously found new notes. 
  • The grapes were picked the 1st week in November, which is very unusual for Ontario, heck it’s unheard of due to frost being a viable threat to the grapes. 
  • For those readers that follow my reviews, I am not a fan of high alcohol. This one is 14%, yet no heat from that, and on the plus side it adds to the full body this wine. 

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped scallops that are seared.  

Top Pick Price Not Withstanding 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2008, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Beautiful Chard nose with lemon meringue, apples, medium oak & toast. This Chard has a long taste with a medium body.

Negatives: Although it has a nice long finish, part of it is bitter.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 377770