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

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.05
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, funky & earthy styled Pinot. One of the best Canadian Pinot’s for $20 & under

Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a barnyard nose in addition to aromas and flavours of pine, violets, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, forest earth and smoked charcoal. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I wasn’t impressed with this wine at the winery tasting, but figured that may be due to the small tasting glass and the wine being at room temperature. I figured right as in a proper glass and slightly chilled, this Pinot is beautiful.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Venison with rosemary.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

GÉRARD BERTRAND LANGUEDOC SYRAH/GRENACHE 2011, Ac Languedoc, France

08 Saturday Aug 2015

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Gerard

Cost: $17.00
Grape: Syrah & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gérard Bertrand
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Thin but juicy, & at a reasonable price

Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features plums, dark cherry, raspberry, white and black peppers and dry herbs. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None, however this wine does not live up to Wine Spectator’s score of 90.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Seared Lamb Chops served with Pomegranate-Pistachio Couscous.

Tasted: 6 Aug 2015

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

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

LCBO: 413237

MAGNOTTA INTERNATIONAL SERIES CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY 2012, California, United States

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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l_calchard11

Cost: $9.15 (Sale $8.15 Until 3 Aug 2015)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Winery
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s an inexpensive California Chard that has substance, not oaked & with a beautiful nose

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features jasmine on the nose, grapefruit, pear, green apple and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 1 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

RAVINE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cabernet-Franc-300x448

Cost: $35.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality Ontario Cab Franc for a moderate price

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, dark and sour cherry, plum, ripe red currants, raspberry, blueberry, Allspice, rosemary, tobacco leaves, white peppers, roasted red peppers and forest greens. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established winery making sparkling wine since 1877. Nice bottle to impress dinner guest.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Mushroom and Rosemary Risotto.

Tasted: 31 July 2015

Top Pick

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

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