MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cab and Franc

Cost: $14.15
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Reminds me of a pepperoni, tomato & green pepper pizza. Smooth & delicious

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

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Normally an overt Cab Franc featuring bell peppers is a negative note, but with everything else that goes into this wine, it translates to a positive.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with tapas.

Tasted: 18 June 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Magnotta Limited

Cost: $17.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An Interesting wine, in a good way

Positives: This wine features lemon, green apple, grapefruit, pear, passion fruit and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The best glass was the Viognier/Chard style followed by the Montrachet. What’s interesting is that this wine is barrel fermented, sur lie and had malolactic fermentation, which means it should be buttery and creamy, yet this wine is anything but. One would conclude that being a 2013 vintage it hasn’t had time to achieve those results. Yet the crispness and juicy fruit right now makes this wine really good. On a blind I would have guessed it as a Premier Cru Chablis. Need to cellar several bottles and bring them out one year at a time to see where the apex is.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with oyster Rockefeller.

Tasted: 18 June 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Magnotta Chard

Cost: $13.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Impressive on the quality for the price

Positives: This wine features light toasted oak, mild creamy butter with lemon/lime, pineapple, peach, melon and grapefruit. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Tried with the larger new world Chard glass, which had a sour note in the back of the tongue, but the smaller cooler climate Chard glass didn’t which provided a better drinking experience

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 17 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

BUENA VISTA CHARDONNAY 2011, Carneros, California, United States

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Buena Vista

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buena Vista
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

An excellent Carneros Chard under $24 that’s not flabby or high in alcohol

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak with light butter, lemon, pineapple, peach, Allspice, ginger, turn mangos and green apple. Full body with light tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: This wine has some tannin, and they have revamped the labels to make the bottle more appealing.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 11 June 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 67405

S & M ROSATO 2013, DOC Algero, Sardinia, Italy

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Rosato

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Cannonau, Sangiovese
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Algero
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sella & Mosca
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium intense nose.

A nice easy going rosé for under $12

Positives: This wine features Rainier cherry, pink grapefruit and plums. Medium light body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Opportunity to experience a wine from Sardinia

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

Tasted: 12 June 2014

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

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

LCBO: 367417

DOMINI PLUS 2008, DOC Douro, Portugal

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Domini Plus

Cost: $39.95
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz & Touriga Nacional
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria Da Fonseca
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Simply delicious

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, blueberry, cassis, sage, raisins, fennel, coffee, figs and leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5%

Interesting Point: Dominus Plus is probably my favourite Portuguese wine

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

Tasted: 9 June 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO: 343087

MORGAN HIGHLAND CHARDONNAY 2010, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Morgan

Cost: $31.95 (Clearance price $25.60)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Morgan Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright deep gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A smooth Chard with good fruit

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, buttered corn, pineapple, peach, Allspice, yellow apple, apricots and limestone. Full body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with chicken a la King.

Tasted: 13 June 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 953273

MEANDRO DO VALE MEÃO 2011, DOC Douro, Portugal

13 Friday Jun 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Meandro

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 27% Tinta Roriz, 3% Sousão, 3% Tinta Barroca, and 2% Tinta Cão
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: F. Olazabal & Filhos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Danger Will Robinson, this is so good that it’s a 2 bottle night

Positives: This complex smooth wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, mulberry, nectarine, licorice, thyme, raisins, mocha, dates and leather. Medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14%

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with Portuguese beef Cacoila.

Tasted: 10 June 2014

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO: 244731

BV BEAUROUGE 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


BV

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Touriga National, Tempranillo & Charbono (Bonarda)
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beaulieu Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Smooth as silk with a plethora of flavours

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, bramble fruit, licorice, anise, cassis, sage, dates, fennel, coffee, figs and leather. Medium+ body with smooth tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Despite the high alcohol this wine is not jammy

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with coffee crusted pork tenderloin.

Tasted: 7 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 363531

STELLER’S JAY 2008 BRUT, Méthode Classique VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Steller's Jay
Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sumac Ridge, Constellation Brands
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. 

A lighter vintage style Champagne that’s easy to drink and it’s good

Positives: This creamy sparkling wine features light toast, brioche, Anjou pear, baked apple, pink grapefruit and lemon filling. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged en triage for a minimum 3 years, then hand riddled and disgorged.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or and pair it with oyster Rockefeller.

Tasted: 8 June 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 264879