INNISKILLIN RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Sunday Jan 2016

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Inniskilin

Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A truly enjoyable well balanced Chard with lots of finesse.

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features lightly toasted oak, lemon, green & red apples, pineapple, oak spice, dill, some ginger and lightly buttered. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of the more enjoyable and better priced Ontario Chards.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

Tasted: 28 Dec 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 383562

MCMANIS CHARDONNAY 2014, River Junction, California

03 Sunday Jan 2016

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McManis

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: River Junction, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: McManis Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Well balanced & elegant California chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, green & Spy apples, peach, honeydew melon, pineapple, dill and butterscotch on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Screw top

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Ginger and Honey Chicken Wings.

Tasted: 30 Dec 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 265983

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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Southbrook

Cost: $22.95 (Clearance price: $16.15)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A balanced & elegant Ontario chard with finesse that can go up against Napa Chards priced higher

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, green & Spy apples, peach, clementine, pineapple, dill, ginger, butterscotch, oak spice, vanilla and Easter Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic grapes used and it’s a screw top. I was fortunate to find this wine at the clearance price, and bought the 7 bottles they had.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with escargot in garlic butter.

Tasted: 1 January 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance: 10/10) Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO: 172338

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Southern Hills, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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Wente Cab

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Southern Hills, Livermore Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Intoxicating bouquet followed by a well-balanced taste

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plum, tamarind, blackcurrants, mulberry, turmeric, anise, cinnamon, cloves, leather, pencil shavings, mocha and a violets on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Probably one of the best Cabs for under $20 I’ve had. Tastes like a $35 Napa Cab.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Tamarind and Balsamic Braised Beef Short Ribs.

Tasted: 28 Dec 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 301507

WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY 2014, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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Wente Chard

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Well made California chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, green-yellow-red apples, honeydew melon, pineapple and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Spiced Apple Slow Cooked Pork Chops.

Tasted: 29 Dec 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 175430

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Dec 2015

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Featherstone.

Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting story, too bad the wine is also all about oak

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features toasted oak, lemon tarts, guava, passion fruit, oak spice, vanilla and taffy. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much oak and sour long finish

Interesting Note: Grapes sources from Niagara Peninsula, using wild fermented yeast and aged in local oaked barrels.

Drink now or in the next 3 years. Needs food so soften the wine up. Pair it with Chicken Alfredo with Nutmeg and Bacon.

Tasted: 25 Dec 2015

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 149302

WYNNS BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Coonawarra, Australia

26 Saturday Dec 2015

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Wynn

Cost: $27.95 (Sale price until 3 Jan 2016 $24.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rich and savoury Cab

Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ nose. This complex wine features cedar, pine, dark cherry, plum, blackcurrant, blueberry, tamarind, eucalyptus, cassis, espresso, tobacco leaves, turmeric, pencil shavings and leather. Full body average with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Needs decanting to enjoy now on its own, but better if paired with high protein foods that can break down the tannin. I found the 2008, reviewed by me on my site, far better.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin.

Tasted: 18 Dec 2015

Best Buy at sale price

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale: 9/10) Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 84996

CANNONBALL CHARDONNAY 2013, Sonoma County, California, United States

26 Saturday Dec 2015

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Cannonball

Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cannonball Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Slightly above your average California Chard

Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon pith, lemon tart and green & yellow apples. Medium+ body, mild tannins, good acidity and surprisingly a long length.

Negatives: A little too tart

Interesting Note: Had this wine at Luma restaurant and liked it, not so much now. Use the larger Montrachet glass as the smaller glass will make this wine truly one dimensional.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Snapper Ceviche.

Tasted: 13 Dec 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 311563

MAGNOTTA 25th ANNIVERSARY RIESLING SPARKLING WINE 2014, Extra Dry, Charmat Method, VQA, Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Magnotta Riesling Sparkling

Cost: $25.20 (Sale price December 2015 $15.20)
Grape: Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex sparkler, but nice & pleasant that comes in a pretty bottle

Description: Light yellow straw in colour with a medium nose and a fine mousse. This sparkling wine features lemon drops, clementine, honey and Ylang Ylang on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of the best Riesling Sparkling wines that I’ve tried. There’s a subtle undertone of Riesling Ice Wine

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Sticky, Crispy Honey Ginger Chicken Wings.

Tasted: 20 Dec 2015

Best Buy at sale price

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale: 9+/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

CATHEDRAL CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2013, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in White Wines

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Cathedral

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. Lots of lemon, lime, grapefruit, limestone followed by ginger and some caramel on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: A touch too tart for me.

Interesting Point: Better than the 2012 vintage but no where nearly as good as the  2011.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Spicy Indonesian Ginger Chicken.

Tasted: 12 Dec 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 328559