ORGANIZED CRIME PETIT VERDOT UNFILTERED 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jan 2024

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

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Cost: $54.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Organized Crime
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Bold but at the same time elegant. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, fine grained tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, black cherry, dried cranberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, cocoa, sage & violets on the nose.

Negatives: High alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 18 months in older French Oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

Pairings: Decant for at least 1 hr, & drink this now or in 7 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Chipotle-Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks with Corn Salsa.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: December 31, 2023

VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION CHARDONNAY 2022, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

28 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Villa Maria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made having balance between the oak, tropical fruit, acidity & spiciness. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, clementine, pineapple, green mango, Granny apples, white cranberry, ginger, dill, oak & baking spice, limestone, light toasty wood & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 24, 2023

LCBO: 16012

DOMAINE LES SALICES VIOGNIER 2012, Pays D’Oc, France

03 Sunday Dec 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.40)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine François Lurton
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Oiliness followed by nice yellow fruit acidity. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: White peach, pear, yellow cherry, Cape Gooseberries, apricot, light roasted hazelnuts & limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Tasting of the grapes to determine the harvest date at the moment of the aromatic peak. Harvest by machine (between 4 and 9 a.m.) to take advantage of the cool temperatures and thus limit the phenomenon of oxidation. Skin maceration. Pneumatic pressing then cold stabilization for several days. Racking and yeasting for alcoholic fermentation between 16 and 18°C.
Aged for 6 months in French barrels with regular stirring of the lees for 1/3 of the volume.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken & pork pâté

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: December 1, 2023

LCBO: 358192

BELLE GLOS OEIL DE PERDRIX 2022, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

27 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance Price: $19.60)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Belle Glas
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

A full body rosé without the sweetness or high alcohol. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, white pepper & cantaloupe.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Oeil De Perdrix is French for “eye of the partridge.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with chicken & pork pâté

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy at the clearance price

Tasted: November 26, 2023

LCBO: 343020

LYV ROSÉ 2022, Pays D’OC, France

25 Saturday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $14.00)
Grape: Grenache, Cinsault & Syrah
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: LIV winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice crisp, dry with predominantly red fruits that seem to explode in ones mouth. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Pale salmon in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate, white cranberry, tangerine, limestone & lilac on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan wine and love the shape of the bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with vegan Banh Bao

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: November 22, 2023

LCBO: 32422

CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT NATURE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AC Loire, France

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $33.95 (Clearance Price: $23.65)
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Loire
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domain des Galloires
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality Blanc de Blanc with intensity & a delicious palate. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Toast, brioche, pear, apricot, peach, grilled pineapple, apple, lemon, beeswax & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “The sons and grandsons of Léon and Jean Toublanc pay tribute to them with this 100% Chenin blanc de blanc, which is foamed with the natural sugar of the grapes. Aging for a minimum of 24 months on slats gives a very fine bubble and a nice length in the mouth.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with roasted langoustines.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top pick & Best buy at clearance price

Tasted: November 19, 2023

LCBO: 287382

TORRE ZAMBA INCASTRO BIANCO 2022, IGT Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

19 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.50)
Grape: 50% Pecorino, 30% Passerina & 20% Trebbiano
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Torre Zambra
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, crisp & expressive food friendly wine. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Passion fruit, lemon, orange pith, green apple, pear, white cherry & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan wine

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Chili Lime Trout

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 18, 2023

LCBO: 28121

CHÂTEAU PIERRE DE MONTIGNAC 2020, AOP Médoc, Bordeaux, France

17 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $17.50)
Grape: Right Bordeaux Red Blend
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Mêdoc, Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Pierre de Montignac
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A powerful, yet balanced Médoc at half the price of its AOC cousins. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose, fine grained tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, dried cranberry, plum, cassis, anise, turmeric, pencil shavings, cocoa & granite.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Let the wine breath for about an hour or decant to smooth out the tannin.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 16, 2023

LCBO: 437954

ANGELS & COWBOYS BRUT SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, California, United States of America

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $33.95 (Clearance Price: $27.20)
Grape: 56% Pinot Noir & 44 % Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Angels & Cowboys
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with some complexity. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, buttered toast, green apples, pear, lemon & hazelnut.

Negatives: None

Wine Makers Note: “Wine completes 16-month en tirage (aging on the lees),
a traditional dosage of liqueur dʼexpedition is added for balance
and complexity. The base wine blend contains 24% reserve wines
(from a perpetual reserve).”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Oysters Rockefeller

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: November 12, 2023

LCBO: 32075

DONATIEN BAHUAUD LES GRANDS MORTIERS VOUVRAY 2021, AOP Vouvray, France

11 Saturday Nov 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $17.60)
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vouray
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Donatien Bahuaud
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Rich, refined and complex. Off dry but finishes with nice minerality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yellow Pitaya, lemon rind, peach, apples, pear, dried apricot, thyme, honeycomb & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with spicy fish tacos

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 8, 2023

LCBO: 140889