ANTICA VITE PINOT NERO 2012, Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

28 Wednesday May 2014

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Pinot Pavia

Cost: $18.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Pavia, Lombardy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antica Vite
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Easy drinking but doesn’t have Pinot Noir characteristics

Positives: This simple wine features plums, cherry, thyme and chocolate. Medium body with soft tannins, good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: Over priced, should be under $9

Interesting Point: Chill to 15C

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ chips.

Tasted: 27 May 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

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

VILLA ALMADI VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2011, DOC, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

28 Wednesday May 2014

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valoplicella-almadi

Cost: $29.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: 45% Corvinone 30% Corvina, 20% Rondinella 5% Molinara
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Almadi
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A good wine, just wish it was in the under $25 category

Positives: This wine features plums, raisins, dark cherry, sage, dates, fennel, coffee and leather. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour

Thanks to Mario from The Tasting Room for recommending this wine and the delicious aged steaks.

Drink now or in the next 5 years and pair it with BBQ aged steak seasoned with traditional italian spice rub from Vincenta’s deli.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17+/20

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

FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2009, Napa Valley, California, United States

26 Monday May 2014

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Folie a deux

Cost: $18.99 Cayman ($10.99 Sale until end of May 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice non aggressive Napa Chard and for $11 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green apple, dill and toffee. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: 1. This wine is better after decanting as it brings out more of the tertiary aromas such as toffee. 2. Last year Folie à Deux made Napa Valley Chard. Their 2010 comes from Sonoma with a new label.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with sweet and sour cucumber salad.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (sale price $10/10), Total: 17.5/20

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

 

CATTAIL CREEK CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada

26 Monday May 2014

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Cattail Creek

Cost: $20.25
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattail Creek Family Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An easy drinking and quality Chard from a small Ontario winery

Positives: This wine features light buttered toasted oak, pineapple, lemon, dill, mandarin and peach pit. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: I like their new labels

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

Tasted: 20 May 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: 348987

TWENTY BENCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States

26 Monday May 2014

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Twenty Bench

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance $24.00)
Grape Variety: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot,
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Twenty Bench
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A juicy and complex wine from Napa

Positives: This wine features cedar, black currants, plum, blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, cassis, tobacco, spinach and leather. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Don’t be confused with the Ontario winery of the same name. This winery celebrated 10 years in 2010.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with parmesan crusted sirloin steak.

Tasted: 21 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 319145

BORGO BELLO 2010, DOC Bolgheri, Italy

26 Monday May 2014

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Borgo Bello

Cost: $18.80 (Clearance price: $15.10)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Bolgheri
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Borgo Bello
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Smooth, easy drinking and delicious

Positives: This wine features light oak, cherry, plum, champagne mushrooms, umami, rosemary and cappuccino. Medium body and tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: Decant for 30 minutes

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with stuffed red peppers.

Tasted: 22 May 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 341123

CHÂTEAU HAUT-BEAUSÉJOUR SAINT-ESTÈPHE 2010, Ac Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

26 Monday May 2014

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haut beausejour

Cost: $36.99 Cayman (sale price May 2014: $23.99)
Grape Variety: 53% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: France
Region: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Haut-Beausèphe
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good wine to open up at a dinner party in which you like the people

Positives: This wine features beautiful smoked red and black fruits on nose. The nose and taste has cedar, blackberry, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, spinach, Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Interesting Point: Being a left bank Bordeaux but having more Merlot than Cab in its blend.

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

Tasted: 24 May 2014

Best Buy at sale price

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (sale price: 9+/10), Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CINQUEPASSI VENETO ROSSO 2010, IGT Veneto, Italy

26 Monday May 2014

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CinquePassi-500x500 (1)

Cost: $16.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 30% Ancillota, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Almadi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Retasted 4 June 2015, and there are some different notes now but the score is the same. This wine features plums, prune pit, flan, espresso, bramble, rhubarb and tobacco leaf.

An easy drinking everyday wine that has good quality

Positives: This wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberry, oyster mushrooms and some leather. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: No producer.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with pasta with beef and tomato pasta.

Tasted: 25 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

TORRESELLA PROSECCO NV, DOC Veneto, Italy

25 Sunday May 2014

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Torresella

Cost: $19.99 Cayman
Grape Variety: Prosecco (Glera)
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto, Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torresella
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

This Prosecco has depth and character

Positives: This wine features a creamy texture with pear, lavender, honeycomb, white raspberry and almonds. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with raspberry parfait.

Tasted: 25 May 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SAINT CLAIR BLOCK 15 PINOT NOIR 2010, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

20 Tuesday May 2014

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

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Block 15

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Consignment
Country: New Zealand
Region: Lower Waihopai Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saint Clair Family Estate
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with an intense nose.

My favourite wine at the New Zealand Wine Tasting in Toronto

Positives: The nose on this Pinot is simply amazing, so much I wish I had an oxygen mask with the aromas being pumped into it. This wine features pine, purple lilacs, black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, smoked ambers and cardamom. Medium body with  gently tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Not yet imported by LCBO

Interesting Point: Sourced from a single vineyard by the mouth of the Waihopai Valley from clones115, and 777.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with braised slow cooked Bison short ribs.

Tasted: 8 May 2014

Top Pick

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

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