TRAPICHE EXTRAVAGANZA 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Trapiche

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 55% Malbec, 35% Bonarda, 10% Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Trapiche
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like sweet styled red wines

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features Christmas cake, plums, milk chocolate, raspberry jam and vanilla. Medium body with low tannins, fair acidity, an average length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me

Drink now on its own or pair it with spicy beef tacos

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2+

LCBO: 360776

TREVERI BLANC DE BLANC EXTRA BRUT NV, Mèthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Treveri

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: White grapes
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treveri Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling wine that has a nice flavour to it

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, brioche, grapefruit, lemon, honeydew melon, passion fruit, guava and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

  • “The name “Treveri” comes from the historic name of the city Trier, Germany, one of the former seats of the Roman Empire.” trevericellars.com. The coin on the label is of Constantine’s era coin in which thousands were discovered in the city the 1980s after they were discovered when repairing an old bridge.
  • No dosage was added to the wine.
  • Treveri Cellars specializes in making only sparkling wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014 (Happy birthday to my cousin; Birute)

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 383844

CALIFORNIA SQUARE CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, United States

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


California Square

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Truett-Hurst
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Cool bottle, great region, love the wine, enough said

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, clementine, yellow apple, pineapple, pear, oak spice and clove. Medium+ body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: One would think that a Californian Chard with 14.5% alcohol would drink best in a new world style Chard glass, but you would be wrong, at least I was as it was nicely balanced in a cooler style (smaller style) Chard glass. The best glass was the Riedel Chard/Viognier glass. In the new world glass I would rate this wine at 88, but in the smaller glass the rating goes up to 90.

Ok I admit I bought this Chard because of the cool bottle that’s reminiscent of the California in the mid to late 1800s. In addition, it’s from the Russian River Valley, which is where some of my favourite Chards come from. Lucky for me the taste was equally appealing.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled quail with pepper jelly glaze.

Tasted: 21 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 356717

KAIKEN TERROIR SERIES CORTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Kaiken Terroir

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kaiken
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This will please those that like sweeter style red wines like the basic Aussy Reds but not as flabby

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features prunes, raisins, milk chocolate, mocha and blueberry pie. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Too sweet for my taste

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pulled pork sliders.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2014

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 384305

NK’MIP CELLARS MERLOT 2011, VQA BC, Canada

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Nk'Mip

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nk’Mip Cellars
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Wow, I like to be surprised by a great Canadian Merlot that can go toe to toe with the best Napa Merlots

Description: Medium to dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, bramble fruit, cherry pie, plums, chocolate, coffee, peppers, cinnamon, cloves, pencil shavings and leather. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nk’Mip (pronounced in-ka-MEEP) is the first Aboriginally owned and operated winery in North America.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Wagyu steak

Tasted: 22 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 626416

NYARAI CELLARS VIOGNIER 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


nyarai_cellars_viognier_web

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nyarai Cellars
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A vibrant wine from one of my favourite varietals, and it’s Canadian! Just don’t over chill it

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features lemon, apricot, peach, clementine, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with above average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Nyarai Cellars is a virtual winery and uses minimalist approach to their wine making process. Nyarai (na-rye) is South African name meaning Humility.

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

Tasted: 19 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 378414

MURIEL GRAN RESERVA 2004, Rioja, Spain

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


muriel_gran_reserva_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muriel
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mild Gran Reserva with a good balance of tertiary notes and fruit, and well priced

Description: Medium to dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, plums, prunes, licorice, blueberry, dark cherry, champagne mushrooms and mesquite. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with

Tasted: 18 Oct 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 984187

JOSEPH DROUHIN POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2012, AC Pouilly-Fuissé, France

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Joseph Drouhin

Cost: $26.95 (Clearance: $18.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pouilly-Fuissé, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josesph Drouhin
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a complex wine, but what it has to offer is very good

Description: Light gold colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak with oak spice, green and yellow apple, lemon tart, 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 lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 361683

SEVEN SINNERS PETITE SYRAH OLD VINES THE RANSOM, 2012 Lodi, California, United States

04 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


seven-sinners

Cost: $20.90
Grape Variety: Petit Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nine North Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Bold Petit Syrah that drinks more like a Zin

Description: Dark to opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry jam, plums, raisins, blueberry, Allspice, roasted green peppers and Christmas cake. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point: Sourced from vines that average over 50 years

Drink now on its own or pair it with bison

Tasted: 4 Nov 2014

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

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

LCBO: 319152

TRIUS RED 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Trius

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: 14% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages & The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hildebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep to dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

If you don’t mind the black tea, bell pepper dominance it’s a nice wine

The wine features oak, bell peppers, twigs, plum, tobacco leaves, black cherry, black tea, turmeric, anise and leather. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

This vintage is Cab dominated which explains the predominant green notes. I prefer the 2011 vintage as it’s more complex. See my earlier review on that vintage.

Drink now or over the next  5-8 years on its own or pair it with steak and spiced asparagus.

Tasted: 17 Oct 2014

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

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

LCBO: 303800