HAHN PINOT NOIR 2014, Monterey County, California, United States

16 Monday Nov 2015

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Hahn

Cost: $18.75
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hahn Family Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like sweet Pinots

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sweet cranberry, dark chocolate Maraschino cherry and Christmas cake. Full body with light tannins, average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now on its own or pair it with Roasted Turkey with Apple-Onion stuffing.

Tasted: 12 Nov 2015

Score: 5/10, Value: 5/10 Total: 10/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO: 226555

CHÂTEAU DE MONTGUÉRET CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT NV, Traditional Method, Loire, France

12 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Cremant

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Loire
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Montguéret
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, well balanced & simply delicious. This should please a wide range of taste buds.

Description: Pale straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This sparkling wine features lightly buttered toasted brioche, yeast, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, green apple, McIntosh apple, pear, lemon grass 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 Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with Dill Hollandaise.

Tasted: 8 Nov 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 217760

G. MARQUIS THE SILVER LINE CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada

12 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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G Marquis

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Ontario
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple elegant Chardonnay.

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features lemon, green apples, pink grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: More Chablis style than Meursault

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Poached Halibut.

Tasted: 5 Nov 2015

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

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

LCBO: 258681

VILLA CAFAGGIO CORTACCIO VENDEMMIA 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

12 Thursday Nov 2015

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Cortaccio

Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Chianti, Tuscani
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Cafaggio
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Old World style that’s smooth, delicious & a great price for an aged wine that’s available now

Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. This complex wine features a mix of cedar and sandalwood, followed by dried cherry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, Portobello mushrooms, Christmas cake, cassis, cinnamon, sage, oregano, mocha, forest floor and damp moss. Full body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Interesting Point: An Atypical Tuscan Cab.  This wine is more like a Rioja Grand Reserva than a Tuscan Cab, but I still like it.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Slow Braised Lamb Shanks.

Tasted: 3 Nov 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 20966

OSTATU RESERVA 2008, DOC Rioja, Spain

05 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Ostatu

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Ostatu
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Complex, well balanced & simply delicious

Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. This complex wine features sandalwood, blueberry, dried cherry, plum, orange zest, cola, cigar box, sage, rosemary, curried meats, Allspice and white pepper. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sourced from 50 year old vines, and aged in French oak for 16 months.

Drink now or in the next 15 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Sausage and Sage Lasagna.

Tasted: 30 Oct 2015

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 379909

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2013, Napa Valley, California, United States

05 Thursday Nov 2015

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Beringer

Cost: $22.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Rich, full body Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, Lily of the Valley, lemon tart, clementine, peaches & cream corn, peach, oak spice and caramel coated apple. Full body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Scallops drizzled with white wine garlic cream sauce.

Tasted: 28 Oct 2015

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

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

LCBO: 84988

FOLIE À DEAUX CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

05 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Folie

Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

My style of Chard; juicy, buttery, creamy, oaked, layered flavours, well balanced & under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, lemon merengue pie, peach, golden and Spartan apples, honey, clove, ginger, dill, slate & peat smoke. Full 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 Butternut Squash Ravioli with Garlic Aioli.

Tasted: 27 Oct 2015

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 146951

CHURCH and STATE MERLOT 2011, VQA Okanagan Valley, Sun Ridge Vineyard, British Columbia, Canada

02 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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church

Cost: $19.90
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location British Columbia
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, Sun Ridge Vineyard
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Church & State Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but it’s juicy, well-balanced & delicious

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, ripe tamarind and spinach. Medium+ body with some green tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Not in LCBO

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

Tasted: 29 Oct 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

DOMAINE HERVÉ AZO BEAUROY PREMIER CRU 2011, Ac Beauroy, Burgundy, France

25 Sunday Oct 2015

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Chablis

Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bauroy, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Hervé Azo
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balanced Chablis

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon/lime, green apples, mandarin, grapefruit, ginger with a long chalky and limestone finish. 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 Court Bouillon-Poached Halibut.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2015

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

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

LCBO: 276451

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION SHIRAZ 2103, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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l_leshiraz10

Cost: $18.15 (Sale price until 31 Oct 2015: $14.15)
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid well balanced Canadian Rhône style wine

Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, violets, black & white peppers, plums, loganberry and sage. Medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Naming the wine Shiraz instead of Syrah

Interesting Points: I just loved the 2010 vintage (reviewed on this site) and the 2013 vintage, although still young, follows closely behind. Big difference is that this vintage maybe smoother than the 2010, but not as complex.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Fig Skewers.

Tasted: 22 Oct 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4