WILLIAM HILL CHARDONNAY 2011, Central Coast, California, United States

22 Sunday Dec 2013

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William_Hill_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $18.99 CI
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Central Coast, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple, on the sweeter style Chard.

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, lemon candy, peach, sweet corn, mango & ripe pineapple. Full body with medium acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: For $10 more the William Hill Napa Chard is far superior and worth the extra money. See my tasting notes 12 Nov 2012

Drink now on its own or pair it with Coquilles St. Jacques.

Tasted: 12 Dec 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

KING ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States

15 Sunday Dec 2013

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King Estate

Cost: $26.30 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: King Estate
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple, light style Pinot Noir

Positives: This wine features pine, cranberry, sour cherry and some earth notes. Light body & tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with thin crust pizza.

Tasted: 15 Dec 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 7/10 Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

DOMAINE CARNEROS BRUT BY TAITTINGER 2008, Method Champenoise, Carneros, California, United States

15 Sunday Dec 2013

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

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Carneros

Cost: $33.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Carneros
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.

If you don’t want to pay triple the cost of a Taittinger vintage Champagne, yet have similar style & notes, this is one of the best.

Positives: This complex yet very smooth sparkling wine features yeast, lemon, brioche, Anjou pear, baked apples, tangerine, seaweed & wet stone. Medium body with good tannins and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 3 years in the bottle before being released.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with truffle oil Parmigiano French fries.

Tasted: 15 Dec 2013

Top Pick

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

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

MARQUIS DE LATOUR BRUT NV, Loire Valley, France

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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3258316030229_web

Cost: $16.99 CI (On sale $12.99 for the month of Dec 2013)
Grape Variety: Ugni Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Remy Pennier
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and plentiful mousse.

Well this was a nice surprise. Crisp, clean & easy to drink & at $13 it’s an amazing buy.

Positives: This sparkling features honeydew melon, lime, green apples, peach, pear & lemon grass. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula and cherry tomato salad with lemon and chili olive oil vinaigrette.

Tasted: 12 Dec 2013

Amazing Buy when it’s under $13, and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

THE OJAI VINEYARD 2005, Santa Barbara, California, United States

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

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

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Ojai

Cost: $19.99 CI
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Ojai Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Inky ruby with purple tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

What an amazing wine that I got for under $20 in the Cayman Islands. LCBO had it in 2011 for $39.99

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, tar, coffee beans, violets, cigar box, peppers, burnt rubber, ripe tamarind, tarragon, licorice & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lucky I bought out the store with this wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with ragù alla Bolognese with garlic bread.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Top Pick & Best Buy (in Cayman)

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2010, DOCG, Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Vino Nobile

Cost: $21.99 CI
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cecchi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A full flavoured Sangiovese that won’t disappoint. Thank you to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for this recommendation.

Positives: The wine features mild oak, sour cherry, thyme, rosemary, leather & Shitake mushrooms. Medium body with high tannins & acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour before serving. LCBO had the 2009 this year, but all sold out, so hopefully the 2010 will be coming soon.

Drink now or over the next 7 years. This wine is meant for food, so pair it ground beef, thyme, tomato & shallot sauce over angel hair.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

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

THE CRUSHER VIOGNIER 2012, Clarksburg, California, United States

09 Monday Dec 2013

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the crusher

Cost: $21.99 CI ($16.95 LCBO)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: Clarksburg, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Crusher Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

One of the truest Viognier outside Condrieu. Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands for this recommendation

Positives: This full flavoured wine features Anjou pear, kumquat, green & yellow apple, apricot, peach, ginger, pineapple, green mango, honeydew melon & coconut. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The up & coming appellation of Clarksburg is surrounded by the cooling waterway of the Sacramento River Delta providing a signature marine climate. The clay & loam soils are rich, fed by runoff from the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains, ensuring healthy fruit. Clarksburg encompasses 56,900 acres over an area 16 miles long & 8 miles wide. Warm summer days and cool nights typify the climate during the long, dry growing season.” (Crusher Winery)

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with spinach & raspberry vinaigrette.

Tasted: 9 Dec 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 361964

JEAN VINCENT 2011 SANCERRE, AOC Sancerre, Loire Valley, France

08 Sunday Dec 2013

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jean-vincent-sancerre-loire-france-10455038

Cost: $29.99 CI  
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Sancerre, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean Vincent Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose. 

A full flavoured Sauvignon Blanc that will not disappoint

Positives: This wine features lime, wakame, Asian pear, gooseberry, grapefruit, green apples, limestone and a hint of grassiness on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.     

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Average price in US is $16 which would make it a best buy.  

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

Tasted: 8 Dec 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LUNETTA PROSECCO NV, DOC Trentino, Italy

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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lunetta_prosecco_low_res

Cost: $22.99 CI (Sale for December 2013 $16.99)
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Trentino
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cavit Winery
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and medium mousse.

A simple Prosecco that I would use in a Bellini

Positives: This sparkling wine features Easter lily & white tea on the nose with green apples, lime & peach on the palate. Medium light body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Price range should be around $10

Drink now on its own or pair it with poached eggs on a bed of wilted greens.

Tasted: 7 Dec 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10 Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

MT. ROSA PINOT NOIR 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand

07 Saturday Dec 2013

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Mt Rosa

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance: $22.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Crossroads LCBO
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A lighter style Pinot that’s easy to drink, maybe too easy? If you’re not careful you may be into your 2nd bottle without even realizing it. At the clearance price it’s a steal as it’s truly worth $40

Positives: The wine features pine, candy apples, cranberry, dried herbs, strawberry and the smell of burning fall leaves. Light body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with duck paté

Tasted: 8 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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