KRATISTOS 2008, Nemea, Greece


Kratistos

Cost: $15.75
Grape Variety: Agiorgitiko
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Nemea
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lykos Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A unique wine that’s a mix of Sambuca, a well aged rum and port.

Positives: This easy drinking wine features lots of pine, sandalwood, anise, sugar cane, dark cherry, dates, raisins, Rosemary and basil. Medium+ body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with white chocolate.

Tasted: 17 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 61473

TRIUS BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada


trius_chardonnay-bf_2

Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until 13 Oct 13: $17.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Hillebrand Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple oaked Chard that is of good quality.

Positives: The wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, red crab apple, white flower and pineapple. Medium+ body with good acidity and a surprising long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with turkey dinner.

Tasted: 9 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

TRIUS RED 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada


Trius Red

Cost: $22.95 (Sale price until 13 Oct 13: 20.95)
Grape Variety: 43% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages & The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hildebrand Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good quality Ontario Bordeaux style for under $25

Positives: The wine features oak, twigs, blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, cherry, blueberry, turmeric, anise and leather. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour and I like the long neck bottle.

Drink now or over the next  5-8 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 8 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 303800

WHITE OAK CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States


White Oak

Cost: $27.25
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian Valley River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: White Oak Winery
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

This is quite an elegant and polished Chardonnay.

Positives: The wine features medium minus toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, ginger, dill, peach, pineapple, clementine and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight heat coming from the 14.4% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 7 Oct 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 945816

GOOD KHARMA CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada


Good Karma

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 13.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An easy drinking Chard that would be great to take to a party.

Positives: The wine features medium minus oak, some buttered toast, mandarin, orange rind, apple, lemon, peach, pineapple and cashews. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: A portion of sales of this wine goes to the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crab with drawn butter.

Tasted: 3 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 356873

SPINIFEX PAPILLON 2010, Barossa Valley, Australia


Spinifex_Papillon_web

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $22.25)
Grape Variety: Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan & Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domain Jardin
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a slight cloudiness and a medium+ intense nose.

Full flavour wine that is truly enjoyable. Best Buy at the clearance price.

Positives: The wine is complex featuring cedar, plums, white & red peppers, strawberry, raspberry, cassis, cloves, cinnamon, basil, sage, dried leaves and mushrooms. Medium body and medium tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 4 Oct 2013

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

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

LCBO: 285205

COYOTE’S RUN RED PAW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada


coyote

Cost: $22.95 (Clearance Price: $19.25)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote Run
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A very earthy Pinot, may not be for everyone.

Positives: The wine features some cedar, lots of mushrooms, cranberry, pomegranate, sour cherry and wet earth. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch too tart Drink now on its own or pair it with veal Provence.

Tasted: 6 Oct 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 8.5+/10) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 79228

BERONIA ELABORACION ESPECIAL TEMPRANILLO 2010, DOCa Rioja, Spain


Beronia

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beronia
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Easy drinking, full of flavour and in a word, marvellous.

Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, licorice stick, candied caramel apple, cola, Montreal smoked meat and all the aromas of burning Autumn leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t get this confused with the entry level Beronia Tempranillo in General List for $11.90. It’s night and day, and frankly; pay the extra $7 as it’s well worth it.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with sautéed lamb chops with herbs de Provence.

Tasted: 2 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 723643

LA MONTECCHIA CA’EMO MERLOT/CABERNET 2009, DOCG Veneto, Italy


Caemo

Cost: $15.75
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Montecchia
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple yet pleasant wine. The nose is more inviting than the taste.

Positives: This wine features cedar, sour cherry, blackcurrants, blackberry, radicchio, sage, oregano, leather and cocoa. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slightly watery and a bitter note on the finish. However, the next day there was no bitterness.

Interesting Point: The owner of the winery is Count Umbero Capodilista whose family can be traced back to the late 10th Century.

Drink now on it own or pair it with pizza.

Tasted: 30 Sept 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 316141

CHATEAU ST. JEAN PINOT NOIR 2011, California, United States


Chateau_St._Jean_Pinot_Noir_2011_web

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Jean
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a slight garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple yet flavourable Pinot

Positives: This wine features cedar, cloves, cinnamon, cranberry, BBQ lit coals and autumn forest leaves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or have it with Thanksgiving dinner.

Tasted: 29 Sept 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance Price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 308221