CONO SUR BICICLETA PINOT NOIR 2014, Central Valley, Chile

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Con Sur

Cost: $10.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $9.95)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Central Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cono Sur Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

For $10 you will never get close to a DRC, but I also never had a Pinot at this price that I liked either until this one

Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features a barnyard nose with light pine, cherry, raspberry, red tea, forest greens and smoked charcoal. Medium body and tannin with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: For those unfamiliar; DRC (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti) is the benchmark for the world’s top and most expensive Pinots. Remember to lightly chill this wine and use balloon style glassware.

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with Grilled Porcini Mushroom Risotto.

Tasted: 25 Aug 2015

Amazing Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5+ (Sale: 10/10) Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 341602

PELEE ISLAND BACO NOIR RESERVE 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Pelee

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.45)
Grape: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, lighter style Baco Reserve, but has all the essence of a quality baco for a good price

Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, clementine and tobacco smoke. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My benchmark for a great if not the best Baco Noir Reserve is Henry Pelham’s. In comparing this one to that, at $10 cheaper, Pelee Island has done a nice job.

Lightly chill and serve in a Pinot glass (Balloon style)

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with slow roasted brisket glazed with pomegranate molasses.

Tasted: 21 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 414508

MIKE WEIR CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Weir

Cost: $14.95 (Clearance price: $12.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mike Weir
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy, straightforward, middle of the road Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon candy, granny apple, pear, honeydew melon and apple pips on the finish. Medium body with, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: Bitter note at the back of the throat

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass as the smaller cooler climate Chard glass eventuates the bitter note

Drink now on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 14 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 00000026

CHARLES AND CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Charles

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles & Charles
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice simple Chard, priced right, even better at the sale price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, Granny apples, vanilla, oak spice and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken thighs seared and sauteed in an olive oil, butter white wine sauce with basil and shallot remoulade.

Tasted: 19 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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: 394734

CLOS DU BOIS NORTH COAST CHARDONNAY 2013, North Coast, California, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Clos

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 16 Aug 2015: $14.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: North Coast, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos Du Bois Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine is trying to figure out if it’s a cool climate or warm climate style Chard, but falls short on both

Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, pear, green and yellow apples, pink grapefruit, peach pit and a touch of butterscotch. Medium body with high acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much acidity and sourness

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with snapper grapefruit ceviche.

Tasted: 15 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8+/10 (Sale price: $8.5/10) Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 400549

STONELEIGH PINOT NOIR 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

17 Monday Aug 2015

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Stoneleigh

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stoneleigh Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Explosive flavours with a nice mix of sweet & sour fruits

Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, cherry, cranberry, raspberry, oak spice, nutmeg and autumn leaves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13% alcohol

Interesting Point: Slightly chill and serve in a Balloon style glass

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with my wife’s roasted rack of lamb with sour cherry sauce.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 54353

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Sonoma County, California, United States

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Louis Martini
 
Cost: $18.95 (On sale: $15.95 until 16 Aug 2015)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
 

I challenge anyone to find at the LCBO a Sonoma Cab of this quality for under $16 sale price

Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ nose. An easy drinking wine featuring cedar, boysenberry, bramble fruit, mocha, roasted red peppers, peppercorns, tobacco, turmeric and leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidy and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I found the 2013 better quality than 2009 that I had reviewed.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Fillet Mignon with Peppercorn Butter Sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 292151

OGGI PRIMITIVO ROSATO 2014, IGT Puglia, Italy

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Oggi

Cost: $9.95
Grape: Primitivo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oggi
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine will quickly grow on you, and at under $10 can’t ask for more

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This dry rosé features strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, roses and oregano. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unusual to find a Primitivo rosé at LCBO. Chill well

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with pepperoni calzone.

Tasted: 5 Aug 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: 125773

TORO DE PIEDRA GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Toro

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Toro De Piedra
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold & beautiful, but you need to like oaked Chards

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium+ toast, Easter Lily, lemon tarts, pineapple, mango, peaches & cream corn, buttered popcorn, roasted marshmallows, oak spice, almonds, caramel, dill, ginger and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This may not be a critically acclaimed Chard, but I really like it because it’s an oaked Chard that’s different from the usual oaked Chards you get for under $25, and this is almost half that price. Don’t over chill and use the large Chard glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Cornish Game Hen with cornbread stuffing.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 417493

NUGAN ESTATE THIRD GENERATION CHARDONNAY 2013, South Eastern Australia

14 Friday Aug 2015

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3rd

Cost: $11.65 (On sale: $10.15 until 16 Aug 2015)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nugan Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If this was $25 Chard, I would be disappointed, but this is under $12

Description: Deep straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, dusty spiced oak, green & yellow apples, ginger, hazel & pine nuts and poached peach. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: On a blind I would think this maybe a Fiano

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with seared chicken with caramelized onions and apples.

Tasted: 8 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 400317