THE FARM CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $25.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: The Farm
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Vibrant & full of nice citric fruits, spice & integrated oak. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, low to medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, honeycomb, vanilla, oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: Unfiltered

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Alaskan King Crab legs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 19, 2024

KIN CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $25.00 (Sale at the Winery: $20.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kin Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body Chard with a nice balance between the oak, tropical & citric fruits. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, honeycomb, oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Curry Mango and Lime Chicken Skewers

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 11, 2024

LCBO: 13708

LAS NIÑAS ELLA RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile


Cost: $15.45 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $13.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Casablanca
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina del Nuevo Mundo SA
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality of this wine is double of its price. It’s balanced between acidity, oak & fruits. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, light oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & fresh cut white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Certified sustainable/organic

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Pastel de jaiba (Crab pie)

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 7, 2024

LCBO: 37162

RODNEY STRONG RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 202, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America


Cost: $29.95 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $26.95)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Expressive, full flavoured California Pinot without the high alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, subtle tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, sauté mushrooms, cloves & mild earth notes.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Chill to 15C

Winemaker’s Note: Spent 18 months in French oak barrels with 29% in new.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare with Scotch Bonnet.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 3, 2024

LCBO: 954834

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CHARDONNAYS 2019 VS 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada


SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Pennisula, Ontario, Canada
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Expressive yet an elegant Chard. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger, almonds & white lilies on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “A regional blend of Chardonnay from our Organic grower partners. All lots were gently pressed to yield delicate juice. Slightly settled juice was transferred to 300L neutral French oak barrels for wild fermentation, including malolactic, light oak spice and aged for 10 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with East Coast Lobster

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 29, 2024

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CHARDONNAY 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Pennisula, Ontario, Canada
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Expressive yet an elegant Chard. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger, dill, almonds, light oak spice & Acacias on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “A regional blend of Chardonnays from organic growers. Harvested at several dates throughout October 2020. Grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral 300L barrels. Malolactic fermentation was followed by 10 months aging before bottling prior to harvest 2021”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with East Coast Lobster

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 29, 2024

SOUTHBROOK KELTA VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $37.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet elegant Chard. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pear, green apples, kumquat, ginger & roasted almonds.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “Hand harvested from a mixed clonal block of old vines (25 years old) in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub appellation. Whole clusters were gently pressed using a long and slow press cycle. Settled juice was transferred to French oak barrels (20% new) for fermentation. The wine was aged in barrels for 10 months before a select few were chosen to make this blend.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Miso & Soy Chilean Sea Bass

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 23, 2024

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC SPARKLING WINE, NV, VQA, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $30.00
Grape: Vidal
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, light style Charmat sparkling wine that would be versatile in making cocktail drinks. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, pear, green apples & radicchio.

Negatives: Overpriced

Interesting Note: Vegan & Certified Organic

Winemaker’s Note: “Estate grown biodynamic Vidal was picked and quickly pressed to produce a base wine for second-ever Charmat bubbly. Using a special Champagne press cycle where only 50% of the yield is taken to ensure the brightest acidity, the resulting juice was fermented with cooler temperatures to maintain the tropical fruit character of Vidal. Base wine underwent secondary fermentation in tank with 6g RS leftover to create balance in the wine.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with truffle oil French fries

My Opinion: On the fence

Tasted: June 23, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PINOT NOIR 2021, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $22.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple & clean Pinot that nice to drink. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, a low to medium intense nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, cranberry, oak spice & some peatmoss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Salmon Poke Bowl.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 21, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2023, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Tavel style rosé without the high alcohol associated with Tavel’s. This rosé is bold & full of flavour. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright cranberry in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainer cherries, strawberry, cranberry, watermelon & fresh cut red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: Direct to press after 12 hours on skins.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with Mesquite chicken wings.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 20, 2024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY GASTRONOMY PINOT NOIR 2020, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada


Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit driven Pinot featuring mouth-watering berries. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light ruby garnet in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, cranberries, raspberries, beets, vanilla and earth notes on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Wild Pheasant In Mushroom and Wine Sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 12, 2024