05 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in Amazing Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

Cost: $8.99 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cloudy Break Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Not a complex Chard, but oh so good & at under $10 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, butter, lemon meringue, pineapple, coconut, flan, peach & golden apple. Medium to full body with good acidity & fairly long length.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with classic potato chips to custard desert.

Interesting Point: Nice to see a well balanced, in-expensive & creamy California Chard that is under $13

Tasted: 5 January 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

PIPER-HEIDSIECK BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Reims, Champagne, France

05 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Piper Heidsieck

Cost: $54.95 ($34.95 Total Wines, Florida)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meuniers
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: France
Region: Reims, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Piper Heidsieck
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

The sports car of Champagnes; fast, lean, racy & easy to drink

Positives: This complex wine features light toast & yeast, guava, honeysuckle, pear, green apples, pistachio, tobacco, melba toast & icing sugar on the finish. Light to medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: $20 more expensive in Ontario than Florida.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with raspberry point oysters.

Interesting Point: My wife’s go to Champagne, and if it were priced like Florida this would be a weekly staple.

Tasted: 5 January 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 462432

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE SERIES, MOUNTAIN CUVÉE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States

04 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.99
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Costco, Florida
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kirkland
Alcohol: 14.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This wine is reminiscent of Christmas potpourri

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cherry, black currents, blackberry, mulberry, Darjeeling tea, mocha, espresso, Christmas cake, roasted raspberry almonds, graphite & leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: You can feel the 14.9% alcohol

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

Tasted: 4 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CHANDON ROSÉ NV MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, California, United States

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Moët & Chandon
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

A must buy if you go to Costco in Florida as it’s price is $12.99!

Positives: A fragrant sparkling that pairs well with a variety of foods. This sparkler features light yeast, strawberry, pink grapefruit, watermelon, cherry & roasted garlic on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Costco in Ontario doesn’t carry wine.

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

Interesting Point: Owned by the famed Champagne house; Moët & Chandon

Tasted: 2 January 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17+/20

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

LCBO: 56341

COLUMBIA CREST H3 CHARDONNAY 2009, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington St, University

01 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A creamy full flavoured Chardonnay

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, wood smoke, lemon/lime, crème brulee, toffee, nutmeg, peanut brittle, vanilla & café con leche on the finish. Full body with average acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey for Christmas.

Interesting Point: I bought this wine at Costco in Florida for $11.99, which I think is priced right.

Tasted: 1 January 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 287227

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Champagne, France

01 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine

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Cost: $19.99 US
Grape Variety: 65% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay
Category: Champagne Wine
Location Bought: Costco, Florida
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kirkland
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright yello gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

Happy New Year 2014 with this $20 Champagne!

Positives: This true champagne from Kirkland features a lot of yeast, mild toastiness, tart orange, peach, lemon marmalade & toffee. Full body with fairly good acidity & average length.

Negatives: A little too yeasty, tart & one dimensional.

Drink now on its own or pair it with peach pie.

Tasted: 1 January 2014

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

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

FOUR HEARTS VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, California, United States

27 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Twilight Wines in White Wines

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Cost: $49.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Four Hearts Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

As good as the 2009 was, the 2010 exceeds it. I don’t want to be too technical, but yummy, yummy & yummy!

Positives: This complex wine features medium+ toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, lemon meringue pie, ginger, roasted marshmallows, crème brûlée, walnuts, butterscotch, pineapple, orange, tangerines & limestone. Full body with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The 2010 has a minerality that the 2009 lacks. The wine is unfined & unfiltered.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with lobster for New Years Eve dinner.

Tasted: 27 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO: 95919

PEGASUS BAY PINOT NOIR 2007, Waipara Valley, New Zealand

27 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Twilight Wines in Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $47.95 (Clearance: $33.65)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Waipara Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Donaldson Family Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Reminds me of a cold crisp winter night with wood fireplaces burning their logs.

Positives: A nose that I can immerse myself in and the taste is not far behind. This wine features pine, crisp bacon, pomegranate, sour & dark cherry, violets, strawberry & a touch of earthiness. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted pig.

Tasted: 26 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5+) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 31294

HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR RESERVE 2009, VQA Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Twilight Wines in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently, Canada’s best Baco Noir is Henry of Pelham’s reserve

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, smoky embers, Gaeta olives, bacon, prunes, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, black currants, blueberry, chocolate, Portobello mushrooms & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using a Pinot glass and lightly chill it.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with a melody of olives in olive oil.

Tasted: 22 Dec 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

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

LCBO: 461699

FOUR HEARTS VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2009, Russian River Valley, California, United States

22 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by Twilight Wines in White Wines

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Not for the faint at “heart”. Sorry couldn’t resist. Big, heavy, bold & utterly delicious.

Positives: This complex wine features medium+ toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, lemon meringue pie, roasted marshmallows, crème brûlée, walnuts, butterscotch, pineapple, orange & tangerines. Full body with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The wine is unfined & unfiltered.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey for Christmas.

Tasted: 21 Dec 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 95919

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