CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2013, DO Rioja, Spain

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Rose

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Still one of my favourite rosés

Positives: This wine features raspberry, watermelon, sweet cherry tomatoes, pink grapefruit, kumquat & roses on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although I really like this vintage, the 2012 was better. Please see my earlier review of the 2012 vintage.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 1 May 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175620

TAWSE SKETCHES ROSÉ 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Sketches

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Predominantly Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

There are some elements of this wine that I like and others that I don’t care for.

Positives: This wine features rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry and plum. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some sulphur dioxide

Drink now on its own or pair it with sweet potato Burritos.

Tasted: 3 May 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 172643

HESS ALLOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Napa Valley, California, United States

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Hess Allomi

Cost: $37.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Cabernet
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Collection Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice smooth wine, albeit a little on the sweet side with noticeable high alcohol

Positives: This wine features cedar, maraschino cherry, blackberry, raspberry, cinnamon, plums, milk chocolate and graphite. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with BBQ brisket.

Tasted: 2 May 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8+/10, Total: 16.5+/20

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

LCBO: 906420

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Beringer

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

For us in Canada, when I see a Napa Chard from a well known producer for under $20, I think “to good to be true”. This wine is good & true.

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon drops, pineapple, nutmeg, peach, baked apple and light Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pork chops with apple cider glaze.

Tasted: 30 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 84988

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLÈNE RULLY LES CLOUX PREMIER CRU 2011, AOC Rully Les Cloux, France

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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MAISON_ROCHE_DE_BELL_NE_RULLY_LES_CLOUS_1ER_CRU_web

Cost: $24.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Rully Les Cloux, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Roche De Bellene
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you want to impress at a dinner party, but not break the bank, this wine will do it

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, mandarin, pineapple, peach, apple, caramel, ginger, nutmeg and orange rind on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

Tasted: 29 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 339226

BEN MARCO MALBC 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Malbec

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: 95% Malbec, 5% Bonarda
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ben Marco
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby to purple in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

The taste is full, juicy, delicious & all for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, blackberry, prunes, dates, licorice, mocha and mesquite. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: The nose is somewhat mute and watery

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 28 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 657601

CHÂTEAU DE CHANTEGRIVE GRAVES 2009, Ac Graves, France

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Chateau Chantegrive

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau de Chantegrive
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Classic Graves wine that you pay a little more, but it’s worth it.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, anise, cassis, dark cherry, graphite, sage, thyme, tobacco leaf, cocoa, espresso and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with dry aged steak.

Tasted: 27 April 2014

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 321356

CHÂTEAU LE BOURDILLOT GRAVES 2009, Ac Graves, France

27 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by in Red Wines

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Ch_teau_Le_Bourdillot_S_duction_web

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Le Bourdillot
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

The nose is better than the taste

Positives: This wine features cedar, plum, cherry, radish, shitake mushrooms, arugula, sage & leather. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A little watery

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Beef Stroganoff.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 365908

THYMIOPOULOS VINEYARDS YN KAI OUPAVÓ XINOMAVRO 2010 UNFILTERED, Naoussa, Greece

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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

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Greek

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Xinomavro
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Naoussa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thymiopoulos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A smooth wine with good quality & the nose is to die for

Positives: This complex wine features pine, roses, blackberry, Bing cherry, raspberry, Star anise, Allspice, cinnamon & turn tamarind. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The name ‘Earth and Sky’ appears on the label in Greek, German, French, Japanese, English, and what appears to be a pictograph.

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Ruth Chris steak.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Top Pick, Best Buy

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

LCBO: 360750

NEWTON UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa County, California, United States

24 Thursday Apr 2014

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

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Newton Chard

Cost: $49.00 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Miami International Airport Duty Free
Country: United States
Region: Napa County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite Chards, rich, bold & beautiful

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, Easter Lily, pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon, honeydew melon, ginger, butterscotch and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well-integrated due to the rich full body.

Negatives: Would be perfect with a lower alcohol level than 15%

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

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Top Pick

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

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