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

FREIXENET CORDON NEGRGO BRUT CAVA NV, Méthodo Tradicional, Spain

08 Saturday Mar 2014

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Cava

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Macabeo, Xarel-lo & Parellada
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Penedes
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

A quality sparkling wine at bargain basement price

Positives: This wine features light yeast, green apple, grapefruit, almond butter, pear, peach, honeydew melon, lemon, green olives & limestone. Light to Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Grapes are hand picked and harvest starts in August with Macabeo and ends at the beginning of October with Parellada. Second fermentation takes place in the bottle.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with hickory smoked peppered bacon.

Tasted: 2 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 216945

MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAND RESERVA 2005, DOC Cariñena, Spain

03 Monday Mar 2014

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Monasterio

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: 60% Garnacha, 30& Tempranillo, 10% Cariñena
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Cariñena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: San Josè de Aguaròn
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark purple to ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A rustic wine that will please a discerning palate

Positives: This wine features sandalwood, sour cherry, pine needles, graphite, forest floor, dry herbs, coconut, black currants, leather, arugula, cocoa & allspice. Medium body with dry tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch watery on the finish.

Interesting Point: I prefer the 2006 vintage that is $2 cheaper. See my review 9 July 2013.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto pizza.

Tasted: 24 February 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 82024