KAIKEN TERROIR SERIES CORTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

13th STREET PREMIER CUVÉE 2008, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 street cuvee

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance: $24.50)
Grape Variety: 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a quality Ontario sparkling wine

Description: Straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features mild toast, Easter Lily, lemon drops, ginger, pink grapefruit, green apples and limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this sparkling wine has been aged three years and made in the traditional method, not a lot of yeast and brioche notes, which should please those that want quality Champagne style but don’t like those notes.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with delicate cow’s milk cheeses

Tasted: 5 Oct 2014

Best Buy at the clearance price

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9+/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 142679

LITTLE PENGUIN CHARDONNAY 2013, South Eastern Australia, Australia

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Little Penguin

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Little Penguin Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing complicated here, just some nice easy drinking Chard that has both creamy buttery notes balanced with citric notes

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features mild toast, lemons, pineapple, green apple, tangerines, cream corn and vanilla. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with Chef Ken Lefebour from Nellie James Gourmet Food to Go farm fresh baked squash with Ontario Brie, pears and sage on a bed of Arugula

Thanks to Go Cooking for the event with Chef Ken Lefebour

Tasted: 6 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: 598904

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED SPARKLING ROSÉ 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

04 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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Chateau Des Charmes Rose

Cost: $28.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling wine Méthod
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simply delightful sparkling wine, which is not surprising from Château Des Charmes

Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This sparkling wine features brioche, yeast, strawberry, raspberry, nectarines, clementines and Cambozola. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: In experimenting with different Champagne/Sparkling wine glasses, the thinner, longer style ones gave this sparkler a sharper note that may not be inviting to some pallets.

Interesting Note: Bottle fermented and aged on sur lie (on the yeast) for two to three years

Drink now or in the next 3 years or pair with Smoked Salmon Bruschetta.

Tasted: 28 Sept 2014

Best Buy on sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 78055