JOSEPH PHELPS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, United States

15 Friday Nov 2013

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

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Joseph Phelphs

Cost: $37.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena, Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Phelps
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I have ever tried.

Positives: This complex wine features mild oak, lemon-lime, kumquat, peach, gherkins, honeydew, white flowers, Asian pear and clarified butter on the finish.  Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Not your typical Sauvignon Blanc, which for me is a good thing.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with cherry/grape tomatoes with basil and Bufala mozzarella on a bed of arugula.

Tasted: 15 Nov 2013

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

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

LCBO: 34546

WILLIAM HILL CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

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William Hill

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Hill Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A luxurious Napa Chard that’s under $30.

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak, butterscotch, orange, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, mango and Easter lily on the nose.  Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass and don’t over chill this wine.

Drink now or over the next 6 years on its own or pair it with garlic shrimp scampi on a bed of angel hair.

Tasted: 12 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 988840

FAUSTINO VII TEMPRANILLO 2010, DOC Rioja, Spain

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Faustino

Cost: $12.65 ($11.65 until 10 Nov 2013)
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Faustino Martinez
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Quality is very good for a wine under $15

Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, plums, dates, licorice stick, black tea, leather, sage and burlap. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO usually has this wine on sale a couple times a year.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Spanish Salami.

Tasted: 28 Oct 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 315234

ARTESA CHARDONNAY 2011, Carneros, California, United States

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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Artesa

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Artesa Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

A Chard that goes better with food then by itself.

Positives: This wine has light toasted oak with lemon, green apples, mandarin, pear, some guava and limestone.  Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A slight bitter aftertaste.

Interesting Point: I loved, loved, loved the 2010 vintage, unfortunately this one doesn’t measure up to that year. Use the smaller cooler climate Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 28 Oct 2013

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

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

LCBO: 657585

COLUMBIA CREST MERLOT 2010, Columbia Crest, Washington, United States

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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Columbia Crest

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you look beyond the musky nose, it’s not bad especially at the price point.

Positives: This wine features mild oak, plum, cherry, blackberry, mulberry, graphite, leather, oregano and mushrooms. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s s musky smell that I wouldn’t associate with Merlot. Some heat generated from the 13.5% alcohol, which makes me supect that’s it’s actually higher.

Interesting Point: I like the new label on this wine.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

Tasted: 27 Oct 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 263418

ROEDERER ESTATE BRUT ROSÉ NV, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, United States

03 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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Rod

Cost: $35.95
Grape Variety: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maisons Marques & Domaines
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light turmeric in colour with a medium intense nose.

I like it, but not at the price point. Their regular sparkling is far superior.

Positives: This sparkling wine made in the traditional method shows yeast, crab apples, grapefruit, roasted garlic, cantaloupe, green papaya and flint. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum two years on the yeast

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

Tasted: 3 Nov 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 479758

FERRARI-CARANO CHARDONNAY 2011, Sonoma County, California, United States

27 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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Ferrari

Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An eloquent Chard that would be well suited for a black tie affair.

Positives: This complex wine features integrated oak, lightly buttered toast, lemon, tangerine, green apple, McIntosh apple, peach, pineapple, honeydew melon, caramel, crème brũlée and limestone.  Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.1% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Two different Chard glasses, two different tastes. If you use the larger glass you gain more creaminess, but loose some citric notes and vice versa with the smaller cool climate glass.

Drink now or over the next 6 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Capon with Tarragon Butter and Mango Relish.

Tasted: 26 Oct 2013

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

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

LCBO: 295055

CHÂTEAU CISSAC 2008, Ac Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

25 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Chateau Cissac

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Cissac
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

An elegant wine from Bordeaux that you would expect to pay $50 for.

Positives: The wine features cedar, dark cherry, blackcurrant, star anise, pencil shavings, turmeric, sage, plum, arugula and cigar box. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 25 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 324665

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2012, California, United States

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kendall-Jackson
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently a good Chard for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, oak spice, lemon, green apples, some nutmeg, peach, pear and white flower on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2013

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

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

LCBO: 369686

GRAY FOX CHARDONNAY 2012, California, United States

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Gray Fox

Cost: $8.25
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gray Fox Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light yellow in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

It’s hard to find a budget conscious Chard that you won’t want to spit out and this one succeeds. The larger 1.5ltr is only 14.45.

Positives: A simple, somewhat soft Chard featuring light oak, lemon candy, golden apples, some oak spice and pears. Also nice to see this Chard is only 13% in alcohol. Medium body with medium acidity and length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with a chicken dish.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 614271