LOAN WINES SPECIAL RESERVE SEMILLON 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia

08 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Semillon

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Semillon
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tanuda Creek
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A good alternative to a Chard, but it will only please the discerning

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This unoaked wine features bees wax, tangerine, orange rind, lemon tart, golden apple and grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity and a very long length (The flavour was still in my mouth after 5 min).

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Found it was best in the Viognier glassware.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 7 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 301127

MONTEBUENA CUVÉE KPF RIOJA 2012, Doc, Rioja, Spain

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Montebuena

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Montebuena
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

The nose won’t please a lot, but the taste will

Description: Deep ruby to purple in colour with a medium intense nose. The wine shows smoked spiced oak, bitter cherry, bramble fruit, licorice, umami and Portobello mushrooms. Medium body with low but dry tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My mom really liked it (Insert shocked face)

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 31 July 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 211029

DON JACOBO ROSÉ 2013, DOCa Rioja, Spain

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Don Jacobo

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo and Garnacha
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Don Jacobo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of juicy flavour

Description: Bright salmon colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, raspberry, plum and apples. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Using the Tempranillo glassware makes this wine even smoother

Drink now or in the next year on its own or and pair it with pork skewers.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 374850

CHATEAU RAHOUL GRAVES 2010, Ac Graves, France

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Chateau Rahoul

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: 70% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Rahoul
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth as silk

Description: Deep almost opaque ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, blackberry, black tea, licorice, cinnamon, umami, tobacco leaf, and oregano. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat on the finish from the 14% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 30 July 2014

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 226043

MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, Valle de Aconcagua, Chile

06 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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wine_25106_web

Cost: $18.95 (Sale $15.95 until 17 Aug 2014)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Aconcagua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Errazuriz
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

“Danger Will Robinson!” So smooth & delicious that’s it’s easy to drink 2 bottles

Description: Medium+ ruby with a hint of garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine for under $20 wine features cedar, violets, black and red currants, cherry, blueberry, plum, cassis, turmeric, mocha, light graphite and leather. Medium+ body with smooth tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Always a solid wine for under $20, but this is the best vintage that I have tried to date.

Drink now or in the next 5 year on its own or pair it with oxtail stew.

Tasted: 3 Aug 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale: 9.5)Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO: 335174

CLOS DU BOIS MARLSTONE 2010, Alexander Valley, California, United States

30 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Marlstone

Cost: $49.95
Grape Variety: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos Du Bois
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid well balanced California Bordeaux style wine

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, licorice, anise, cassis, plums, cocoa, dates, leather, arugula and tobacco leaf. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I confess I bought the wine because I liked the sophisticated label. Looked expensive and at $24.95, I figured why not. Yes, the store had confused the lesser Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that was priced at $24.95 with the Marlstone. Their loss my gain. Decanting for 30 min will smooth the wine out.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or and pair it with Bison.

Tasted: 22 July 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 955104

CHATEAU POUYANNE GRAVES TRADITION 2009, AC Graves, France

30 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Chateau Pouyanne

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Pouyanne
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple Bordeaux wine that reminds me of a Nouveau Beaujolai

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features bubble gum and bandaid on the nose sweet cherry and blackberry. Medium body with average acidity and length.

Negatives: A little volatile and watery

Drink now on its own or and pair it with steak and cheese sandwich.

Tasted: 29 July 2014

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO: 349332

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION SHIRAZ 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

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

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l_leshiraz10

Cost: $18.15
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid well balanced Canadian Rhône style wine

Description: Deep bright ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, violets, black & white peppers, plums, loganberry, arugula, ash and sage. Full body with soft tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Naming the wine Shiraz instead of Syrah

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or and pair it with peppercorn steak.

Tasted: 26 July 2014

Best Buy

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

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

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2013, AC Côtes Du Rhône, France

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Guigal 2013

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Grenache, Cinsaut, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Giving my standard warning: “DANGER WILL ROBINSON” This is so smooth you can drink 2 bottles easily. Perfect summer party wine.

Description: Beautiful bright salmon in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features watermelon, MacIntosh apple, wild strawberry and cherry. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: E. Guigal is one of my favourite French winemakers/producers. Usually a safe bet to get their wines from entry level to high end.

Drink now or in the next year on its own or and pair it with Caprese salad.

Tasted: 27 July 2014

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 225003

C.H. BERRES ÜRZIGER WÜRZGARTEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2011, Prädkatswein Mosel, Germany

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

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

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C.H._Berres__rziger_W_rzgarten_Riesling_Sp_tlese_2010_web

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
Format: 750 mL
Producer: C.H. Berres
Alcohol: 9.5% Alcohol/Vol.

How could you not love Rieslings when there are gems like this out there and this wine will only get better with age

Description: Although this is medium-dry wine (Spätlese) there a nice balance between sweet and dry. The wine shows bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features Ylang Ylang, petrol, peach, apple pie, honey, orange, ginger, pink grapefruit and limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: C.H Berres consistently makes great Rieslings

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or and pair it with jerk chicken.

Tasted: 24 July 2014

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 301952