BACHELDER BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY 2009, Ac Burgundy, France

31 Sunday May 2015

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B Chard

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bachelder
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice smooth and well balanced Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, peach, green apple, dill, oak spice, clementine and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Drinking at it’s peak now

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled free range chicken breast with roasted fennel and lemon marmalade relish.

Tasted: 28 May 2015

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

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

LCBO: 272005

CITRA CERASUOLO ROSÉ D’ABRUZZO 2014, Doc Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

31 Sunday May 2015

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Citra

Cost: $8.45
Grape Variety: Montepulciano
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Citra

Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

For $8.45 you get a lot for the money

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features sour cherry, strawberry, mulberry, peach pit, and rhubarb. Medium to light body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Has bitter notes

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared pork chops served with ginger and rhubarb chutney.

Tasted: 27 May 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 404541

PENINSULA RIDGE MCNALLY VINEYARDS PROPRIETOR’S RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2012, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday May 2015

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Peninsula Ridge

Cost: $20.25
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Tries to deliver premium Pinot taste at a good price, but falls short

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features spruce, violets, cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, cranberry, musk and white pepper. Medium light body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little light on the taste

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Herb Lamb Cutlets with caramelized shallots and oven roasted diced sweet potatoes and red peppers.

Tasted: 27 May 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 257543

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday May 2015

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Featherstone

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $15.40)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is for those that like oaked chard, and a unique perspective that the entire process is from Ontario

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features toasted butter, spiced oaked, lemon, ripe pineapple, peach, walnuts, butterscotch, toasted marshmallows, vanilla and coconut. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Truly a Canadian Chard with oak barrels from trees that grew near by, wild airborne yeast and estate grown grapes

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Linguine and Lobster Scampi.

Tasted: 26 May 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 149302

BURNING KILN CAB FRANK 2012, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Friday May 2015

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Burning Kiln

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique Cab Franc in an appassimento style leaving a nice sweetness & no green bell pepper

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features dark plums, cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, cassis, anise, tobacco, chocolate and Christmas cake. Full body with medium to low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat at the end from the 14.3% alcohol

Interesting Note: The grapes dried for 10-14 days, and the wine is named after the wine maker; Frank DeLeebeck.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and rosemary fingerling potatoes.

Tasted: 21 May 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 310268

DOMAINE TOUSSAINT VOUVRAY 2013, AC Vouvray, Loire, France

22 Friday May 2015

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Vourvray

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vouvray, Loire, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Toussaint
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A blend of sweet & sour fruit

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, pink grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, passion fruit, quince and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little too sour on the finish

Interesting Note: Unlike some of their other Special Reserve wines from Ontario, this one isn’t VQA.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare served on Avocado Brunoise, drizzled with Sweet & Sour Sauce, WhiteTruffle Oil and Red Caviar.

Tasted: 20 May 2015

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

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

LCBO: 408260

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE SHIRAZ 2013, Ontario, Canada

22 Friday May 2015

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

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l_srshiraz09

Cost: $13.10 (Sale until 18 May 2015: $11.70)
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, good flavours with a little spice

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plums, cassis, anise and peppercorn. Medium body with medium to light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Unlike some of their other Special Reserve wines from Ontario, this one isn’t VQA. Styled in the French Syrah way rather than the Aussie Shiraz way.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seared pork glazed with sweet and tangy plum sauce.

Tasted: 18 May 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+

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2014, DOC Rioja, Spain

18 Monday May 2015

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Rose

Cost: $11.80
Grape Variety: Tempranillo Rosé
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Can’t beat the quality & price for this Rosé which is dry but smooth as silk

Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry candy, peach, strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb and Spy apple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Consistently a great Rosé, but I think this is so far my favourite vintage.

Drink now or in the next couple years on its own or pair it with spicy deep fried chicken

Tasted: 16 May 2015

Amazing Value & Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 175620

KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR 2014, South Island, New Zealand

16 Saturday May 2015

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Kim Crawford

Cost: $19.95 (Sale: $17.95 until 24 May 2015)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: South Islands
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kim Crawford
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing complex, just a nice easy drinking wine

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, raspberry, strawberry and watermelon. Medium light body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Remember to chill Pinots to 15 C or 59 F

Thanks to my friend Doug who recommended this wine

Drink now or in the next couple years on its own or pair it with Salmon with a herb butter sauce.

Tasted: 15 May 2015

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: 626390

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Saturday May 2015

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Cab and Franc

Cost: $14.15 (Sale: $13.15 until 18 May 2105)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently a good quality Cab Franc for under $15

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackberry, raspberry, grilled green peppers, white pepper, Kalamata olives, dark chocolate, mocha and tomato leaf. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This vintage is slightly better than the previous 2011 vintage, that I reviewed last year so I up it to be an Amazing Value.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with lamb chops glazed with spicy tomato leaf infused mint sauce.

Tasted: 14 May 2015

Best Buy

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

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