FINCA VILLACRECES PRUNO 2011, Do Ribera Del Duero, Spain

03 Monday Mar 2014

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Pruno

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance: 17.75)
Grape Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera Del Duero
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Finca Villacreces
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Smooth, juicy, crisp and yummy

Positives: This wine features cedar, prunes, blackberry, mulberry, raspberry, leather, licorice sour cherry, espresso, thyme & mustard seed. Full body with medium+ tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Note: Decant for an hour before serving

Drink now or in the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with grilled Rosemary/Dijon crusted lamp chops.

Tasted: 1 March 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price 9.5+/10)

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

LCBO: 312140

COYOTE’S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Coyote's Run

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance: 20.25)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’s Run
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

I wish the taste was as good as its aromas/bouquet

Positives: This wine features pine, strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate, wood smoke, green peppers, twigs, leather & cocoa. Medium body with medium+ tannins good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little too tart

Interesting Point: The LCBO that I bought this wine discounted on the clearance 30%, so I only paid $14.25

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with meat lasagna.

Tasted: 26 February 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price 8.5, and at what I paid 8.5+/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 50450

DASHWOOD CHARDONNAY 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

21 Friday Feb 2014

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Dashwood

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance $15.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dashwood Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A balanced Chard that should please a lot of people

Positives: This wine features light oak and toast with lemon, peach, pineapple, coconut, green apples and limestone. Medium body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 19 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10)Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 312942

CHÂTEAU DES LANDES CUVÉE TRADITION 2009, Ac Lussac Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France

21 Friday Feb 2014

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Chateau des Landes

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Lussac Saint-Émilion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château des Landes
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice French Right Bank Bordeaux that’s fairly priced

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plums, mulberry, cigar box, radicchio, leather, iodine, dry herbs & spinach. Medium+ body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little bitterness & heat on the finish.

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour

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

Tasted: 21 February 2014

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

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

LCBO: 363101

REDWOOD PASS PINOT NOIR 2011, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Redwood Pass

Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: $14.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vavasour
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

One of the best Pinots for under $20, and can’t think of one that’s better at the clearance price

Positives: Not a complex wine but full of flavour. This wine features cherry, strawberry, raspberry, light cranberry, rubbed sage & lilac. Medium to light body and with light tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters.

Tasted: 10 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance Price 10/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 326041

INCOGNITO WHITE 2011, Lodi, California, United States

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Incognito

Cost: $16.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier & Rousanne
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Smelling this wine reminds me of spring flowers blossoming

Positives: This wine features lots of floral aromas such as jasmine, Easter Lilly & white Paeonia. The taste has lemon/lime, honeydew melon, tangerine, green mango & peach. Medium+ body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the aftertaste

Interesting Point: This winery not only has great wines but the coolest names

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 339465

KENNETH VOLK CHARDONNAY 2009, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Kenneth Volk

Cost: $23.95 (Clearance price: $19.25)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Wine wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kenneth Volk Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Too much oak and not enough fruit to balance it

Positives: This wine features medium+ toasted oak, marzipan, resin, baked apple & butterscotch. Full body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A lot of bitterness and lack of fruit

Interesting Point: It’s a screw cap which is unusual for California Chards.

Drink now and pair it with spicy crawfish gumbo.

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 233891

JEKEL PINOT NOIR 2011, Santa Barbara County, California, United States

13 Thursday Feb 2014

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Jekle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jekel Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple fruit driven Pinot that is deserving at its price

Positives: This wine features a light smoky note, cranberry, cherry, rhubarb & strawberry. Medium body, mild tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14.1% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna sashimi.

Tasted: 12 February 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 27268

FERRARI BRUT NV, Traditional Method, DOC Trento, Italy

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Ferrari

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Trento, Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari SPA
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

Simply delicious! A nice balance between Champagne and Prosecco

Positives: This sparkling wine features light yeast, lemon, clementine, apple blossom, green apple, pear & wet stone. Medium body and with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I was able to purchase this at the Brampton LCBO for $20.80

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Arugula, prosciutto & Brie Panini.

Tasted: 11 February 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 52153

SAINT CLAIR PIONEER BLOCK 10 CHARDONNAY 2010, Omaka Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

07 Friday Feb 2014

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

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Block

Cost: $25.95 (Clearance price: $20.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Omaka Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saint Clair Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

This Chard could compete with wines double its price

Positives: This wine features medium toasted spicy oak, lemon, pineapple, peach, Northern Spy apple, ginger, caramelized sugar & roasted marshmallow. Full body and with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Single vineyard whose grapes were mostly handpicked.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 7 February 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance Price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 317651