BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007, DOCG, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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Brunello

Cost: $45.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duca Di Saragnano
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect nose followed by a great taste.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar with sour cherry, cloves, nutmeg, sage, cherry cola, vanilla, white pepper, peppercorn, espresso, blackberry preserve & arugula. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & a long average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Taste like $60-$70 Brunello

Thanks to Mario from the new wine store, The Tasting Room in Grand Cayman for recommending this wine.

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

Tasted: 19 April 2014

Top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

CUVÉE 2010, Dalmatia, Croatia

21 Monday Apr 2014

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croatia

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Croatia
Region: North Dalmatia’s Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Benkovac
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Three reasons to buy this wine: 1. Taste’s good, 2. Dalmatia is an ancient wine growing area that is coming back to form after the Soviet Union reign & 3. It’s only $15.95, can’t loose

Positives: This wine features a beautiful nose and an old world rustic taste. It shows cedar, blackberry, blueberry, oyster mushrooms, leather, graphite, sage, thyme, dark cherry & plum. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

Tasted: 12 April 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 359901

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

21 Monday Apr 2014

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Dry Creek

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A nice wine, but I’m torn as it taste more Chilean than Sonoma

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, plum, black peppercorn, green peppers, menthol, soy, graphite & leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with prosciutto mushroom pizza.

Tasted: 17 April 2014

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

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

LCBO: 642207

BACHELDER NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Monday Apr 2014

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Bachelder Chard

Cost: $29.95 ($27.95 until 27 April 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bachelder
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Crisp yet with a nice mild creaminess on the finish.

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green & yellow apple, ginger, clementine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with orange roughy.

Tasted: 8 April 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 302083

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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cq5dam.web.1280.1280

Cost: $37.95 (On sale $32.95 until 27 April 2014)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Knights Valley, Sonoma, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good time to try Beringer’s mid level Cab while it’s $5 off

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, plum, raspberry, mocha, arugula, radicchio, spinach & leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A bit bitter on the finish, however it dissipates after being decanted for about an hour.

Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with speck & arugula pizza.

Tasted: 9 April 2014

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

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

LCBO: 352583

SONOMA-CUTRER RUSSIAN RIVER RANCHES CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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Sonoma Cutrer

Cost: $26.95 (on sale $23.95 until 27 April 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

A nice cool climate style Chard from California

Positives: This wine features light oak, white flowers, peach, pear, lemon and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the smaller cool climate Chard glass, highlights the lemon and limestone.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lemon pepper grilled catfish.

Tasted: 10 April 2014

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

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

LCBO: 608653

JEAN MARC BROCARD CHABLIS 2011, AC Chablis, France

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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Chablis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean-Marc Brocard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Hard to find a great Chablis is for under $20

Positives: This complex wine features Easter lily, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, Brie rind, Spy apple, honey, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: From single vineyard “Sainte-Claire” 30 year old vines on Kimmeridgian Limestone fermented with indigenous yeast.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Beausoleil oysters in honey, ginger & shallot vinaigrette.

Tasted: 14 April 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 356634

BERONIA GRAN RESERVA 2006, DOC Rioja, Spain

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Beronia

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Predominately Tempranillo with Graciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beronia
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is reminiscent of the smell of smoke from wood burning fireplaces while on an evening walk.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, plum, figs, dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, mocha, vanilla, coconut, rosemary, sage, blueberry, mulberry and pipe tobacco. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Very youthful for a Gran Reserva

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 3 April 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 940965

THE HERMIT CRAB, VIOGNIER MARSANNE 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Hermit Crab

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 68% Viognier, 32% Marsanne
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A full flavoured delicious wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, jasmine, apricot, peach, lemon, mandarin, thyme and peach pit. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine with two different Riedel glassware: one Viognier and the other Sauvignon Blanc style. The Viognier glass presented a more smooth wine with an unexpected peach pit on the finish. Meanwhile, the Cab Sauv glass was more vibrant and crisp with a less noticeable peach pit finish. Both equally good, just depends on what you’re looking for.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare in lemongrass marinade.

Tasted: 2 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 662775

EQUULEUS 2010, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Equuleus

Cost: $37.75 (Clearance Price $30)
Grape Variety: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Des Charmes
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite from Des Charmes, but even better that it’s at $30

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, red & black peppers, turmeric, Allspice, mocha & leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with braised beef shank.

Tasted: 31 March 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 319525