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

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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

HAVENS RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2013, Oakville, California, United States

20 Sunday Dec 2015

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Havens

Cost: $22.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Oakville, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Havens Winery
Alcohol: 15.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A bombastic Chard, & not for the faint at heart

Description: Old gold in colour with an intense nose. This wine features lots of oak, ripe mango and pineapple, candy caramel covered apple (reminds me of the EX – Canadian Exhibition), crème brûlée and a touch of Grand Marnier soufflé. Full body average to good acidity and a fairly long length with the alcohol, a whopping 15.1%, is well integrated.

Negatives: More bark than bite.

Interesting Note: So the professional in me knows that this wine is lacking in the execution, but I am still intrinsically drawn to the flavour profile, especially with the food pairing.

Drink now or in the next 10 years (the fruit may come to the fore front) on its own or pair it with Snow Crab.

Tasted: 14 Dec 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 396259

MURUA RESERVA 2007, Doc Rioja, Spain

20 Sunday Dec 2015

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murua

Cost: $21.95
Grape: 93% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 2% Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Murua
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A sold classic Old World style Rioja

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with an medium+ nose. This wine features sandalwood, dried cherry, dates, cinnamon, thyme, coconut, toasted walnuts, leather and smoked hickory on the nose. Full body average with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Needs to be decanted for an hour

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Chorizo-Stuff Capon with Sorrel Brown Butter.

Tasted: 18 Dec 2015

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

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

LCBO: 439836

WHITEHAVEN PINOR NOIR 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand

20 Sunday Dec 2015

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Whitehaven Pinot

Cost: $24.00 (Sale: $20.00 until Jan 3, 2106)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Whitehaven Wine Company
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

New world style Pinot that is very good

Description: Medium to light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features pine, cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, bramble fruit and a light underbrush on the finish. Medium+ body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Slightly chill and served in a balloon style stemware.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Spiced Lamb Chops with Cherry and Blackberry Salsa.

Tasted: 15 Dec 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 245696

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, DO Puento Alto, Chile

20 Sunday Dec 2015

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Marques

Cost: $21.95 (Sale: $18.95 until Jan 3, 2016)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Puento Alto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Concha Y Toro
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but a solid Cab

Description: Dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, lots of blackberry, plums, mocha, Allspice, turmeric and leather. Full body average with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length with the alcohol well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Parmesan and Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin.

Tasted: 16 Dec 2015

Best Buy at sale price

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

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

LCBO: 337238