JOSEPH CARR CHARDONNAY 2011, St. Helena, Sonoma County, California, United States

15 Saturday Mar 2014

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Joseph Carr
 
Cost: $22.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
 
A delicious well balanced Chard that easy to drink
 
Positives: This complex wine features medium minus toasted oak, butter, mango, pineapple, clementine, nectarine, dill and ginger. Full body with good acidity and a long length.
 
Negatives: None
 
Interesting Note: Joseph also produces a Chard in honour of his father, Josh. However, Joseph’s Chard is better.
 
Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with fried salt and pepper breadfruit.
 
Tasted: 15 March 2014
 
Best Buy
 
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20
 
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

NEWTON CLARET 2008, Napa County, California, United States

15 Saturday Mar 2014

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

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Newton 2008

Cost: $29.59 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 53% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A delicious Right Bank Bordeaux style from Napa

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherry, cigar box, plum, purple lilacs, cinnamon, cloves & dark chocolate. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Note: Tasted the 2007 as well, and the 2008 is more to my liking.

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

Tasted: 8 March 2014

Top Pick

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

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

NEWTON CLARET 2007, Napa County, California, United States

15 Saturday Mar 2014

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Newton 2007

Cost: $29.59 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A good representation of Right Bank Bordeaux from Napa

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, mulberry, dark cherry, arugula, white pepper & nutmeg. Medium body and tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Alcohol overwhelms the gentle taste.

Interesting Note: The 2008 was a lot better.

Drink now on its own or pair it with beef Carpaccio.

Tasted: 9 March 2014

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

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

BARNETT VINEYARDS TINA MARIA VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2011, Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California, United States

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

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Barnett Tina Maria

Cost: $44.99
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: Green Valley, Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barnett Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

There’s yummy and there’s YUMMY, this is the later. A good wine to have with my birthday dinner

Positives: This complex wine features pine, purple lilacs, sultana, dark cherry, pomegranates, strawberry, autumn leaves, bacon, pickled beets and cherry pipe tobacco. Medium minus body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of my favourites, if not the favourite Pinot Noir

Drink now or cellar it for another 7 years on its own or pair it with Rosemary roasted duck.

Tasted: 12 March 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 19/20

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

PALMES D’OR BRUT CHAMPAGNE 1998, Ac Champagne, France

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Tasting Events

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Palmes

Cost: $98 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nicolas Feuillatte
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose & a fine mousse.

Powerful, distinguished & smooth. Happy birthday to me!

Positives: This complex Champagne features melba toast, peach, pear, apricot, lemon, walnut, candied ginger & limestone. Full body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: You can serve this as an Aperitif, Starter, Main & Desert

Thank you Jacs & Mandy for this Champagne

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Foie gras.

Tasted: 12 March 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

TANDEM PELOTON 2006, Sonoma County, California

10 Monday Mar 2014

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Tandem

Cost: $22.00 Cayman Island
Grape Variety: Primarily Pinot Noir 
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Liquor Outlet
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wine Creek Cellars
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby and garnet with an intense nose.

A juicy & rich Pinot Noir style wine

Positives: This complex wine features pine, violets, strawberry, pomegranates, oyster mushrooms, forest brush, dark cherry, wood smoke, coffee & Rosemary. Medium minus in body, light tannins with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Tandem combines five red and three white grape varieties. Chill lightly 

Drink now on its own or pair it with Peking duck.

Tasted: 10 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

VAL DELLE ROSE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO 2010, DOCG Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

10 Monday Mar 2014

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val-delle-rose-morellino-scansano-362x630

Cost: $21.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Maremma, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Morellino Di Scansano
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A new Sangiovese favourite of mine due to its smoothness

Positives: This complex wine features sweet cherry tobacco on the nose, light oak, sour and dark cherry, prunes, boysenberry, white pepper & thyme. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for recommending the wine.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with New York style pizza.

Tasted: 9 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

FANTINI CUVEÈ COCOCCIOLA NV, Charmat Method, Abruzzo, Italy

09 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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farnese-fantini-cuvee-cococciola-spumante-abruzzo-italy-10516174

Cost: $23.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Cococciola
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fantini
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw colour with a medium+ intense nose and full mousse.

A good alternative to Prosecco utilizing the Cococciola grape

Positives: This wine features lots of peach, pear & honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes:

  • Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for recommending this wine.
  • In collaboration with Swarovski, a Swarovski crystal is impeded in the label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled cheese with pear & ham.

Tasted: 9 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

WHISPERING TREE CHARDONNAY 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States

09 Sunday Mar 2014

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Whispering Tree

Cost: $15.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mahluke Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Not for the Chard purist, but I like it

Positives: This wine features oak, buttered popcorn, butterscotch, wakame, summer squash, apple crumble pie, lemon candy & malolactic fermentation. Full body with medium acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lacks fruit & crispness

Drink now on its own or pair it with Cornish hen & butternut squash.

Tasted: 9 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

BERINGER PINOT NOIR 2008, Napa Valley, California, United States

08 Saturday Mar 2014

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Beringer Pinot

Cost: $39.95 ($22.25 Clearance)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Disappointing

Positives: This wine features oak, cherry, raspberry, chocolate & licorice. Light to Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Sweet baked cherry pie and heat on the finish from the 14.3% alcohol

Drink now on its own or pair it with peppercorn steak.

Tasted: 3 March 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 12.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO: 718668