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

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

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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

RUSTENBERG R.M NICHOLSON 2010, Stellenbosh, South Africa

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

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Rustenberg_Rm_Nicholson_2010_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot & Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rustenberg
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A lot going on for a wine under $20

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, plums, dark cherry, hickory, cocoa, eucalyptus, pepper, cassis, arugula, radicchio and licorice. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the finish from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Rustenberg was founded in 1682, but South Africa is still labeled as New World. Decant for 30 min to an hour.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with an aged T-bone steak.

Tasted: 26 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 278390