Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

I can easily drink 2 bottles of this, as I just love it!

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plum, Black Forest cake, dark chocolate, espresso, bramble fruit, coconut & vanilla. Medium+ body & with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or with beef tenderloin.

Tasted: 18 January 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 497933

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon & Canaiolo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Carmignano, Tuscany
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

My new favourite wine to pair with pizza

Positives: This wine features cedar, sour cherry, Bing cherry, oregano, sage, rosemary, raspberry, leather, graphite & fresh cut carnations. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pizza.

Interesting Point: Tasted the wine from the smaller Chianti/Zinfandel wine glass & the larger Cabernet Sauvignon glass; in the Cab glass it was dull & muted, while shined in the Chianti glass.

Tasted: 17 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 508531

Cost: $18.55
Grape Variety: Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa & McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wolf Blass
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good balance between the Rhone & Ausy style SGMs

Positives: This wine features integrated oak, vanilla, plums, tamarinds, blackcurrants, mint, sage, oregano, peppers (red, black & white), blueberry pie, shitake mushrooms, burnt rubber & leather on the finish. Full body with round tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted rack of lamb & mint sauce.

Interesting Point: Wolf Blass special edition Yellow Label is celebrating 30yrs in Canada.

Tasted: 11 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 340166