DANIEL LENKO OLD VINES CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Friday Aug 2013

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Daniel Lenko

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Daniel Lenko
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Either you’ll love it or hate it. I happen to love it.

Positives: This is not a fruit driven Chard as it features smokey sweet oak spice, buttery toast, butterscotch, toasted marshmallows, lemon, pear, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut and peaches & cream corn. Full body with medium acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the new world large Chardonnay glasses if you have them.

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

Tasted: 22 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 352328

BERONIA RESERVA 2008, DOC Rioja, Spain

21 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Beronia

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gonzalez Byass & Co.
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is not a gentle wine as the wood & fruits explode in your mouth, and I like it.

Positives: Full flavour wine featuring lots of cedar, vanilla, sandalwood, cherry pipe tobacco, dark cherry, chocolate, mocha, bramble fruit, cloves and licorice. Full body with medium+ to high tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Touch high on the heat due to the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Decant for 30 min to ease the tannins.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 20 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 50203

CHATEAU DE LANDIRAS 2010, AC Graves, France

18 Sunday Aug 2013

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Chateau Landira

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Red Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michel Pelissie
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark garnet to ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A juicy & delicious wine from the Graves region.

Positives: Nothing shy about this wine which features cedar, blackcurrants, cinnamon, dark chocolate, Kahlua, raspberry, cigar box, turmeric, graphite, and spinach leaves. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:  ‘In 1173, William the Knight Templar, Archbishop of Bordeaux, bought the land of Landiras and the fortress previously built by the lords of Landiras. In 1306, the castle of Landiras was rebuilt on the ruins of the fortress. This château gave its name to the estate, Château de Landiras. Today, a magnificent barbican stands as a testimony of the past fame of Château de Landiras. During the 17th century, the Château used to be the residence of the most important owner of all times, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac, founder of the order The Company of Mary Our Lady. This is the reason why the Château is still a place for pilgrimage.’ (Chateau Landiras)

Drink now or over the next 5 year on its own or pair it with Roquefort cheese

Tasted: 17 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 324673

CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2012, Western Cape, South Africa

17 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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Cathedral

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple Chard and not as good as their 2011 vintage

Positives: Lots of lemon, lime, grapefruit with limestone. Medium body with high acidity and an average length.

Negatives: A touch too sour for me.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Tasted: 16 Dec 2013

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 16.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 328559

RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH CHARDONNAY 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa

17 Saturday Aug 2013

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Chard

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rustenberg
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A quality Chard that is under $25.

Positives: This wine features well-integrated oak, lightly buttered toast, lemon, peach, pineapple, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger new World Chardonnay glass.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops wrapped in bacon.

Tasted: 15 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 598631

BURNING KILN HARVEST PARTY CHARDONNAY 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Burning Kiln

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with a medium to low intense nose.

Thank you to my friend Marty for bringing this fairly priced Chard that’s easy to drink.

Positives: Nothing really expresses itself in this mild Chard, instead it has a soft melody of light oak, lemon, peach & apples (red, yellow & green). Medium body with medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A slight bitterness on the aftertaste.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Chilean sea bass.

Tasted: 12 Aug 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

KAIKEN BRUT NV, Traditional Method, Mendoza, Argentina

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Kaiken Brut

Cost: $14.05
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages Consignment
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kaiken Winery
Alcohol: 12.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

Nice to get quality sparkling wine similar to Champagne and yet only pay a quarter of the price.

Positives: This sparkling wine features lemon, yeast, brioche, baked apples, pears, green apples, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Over two years aged in bottle

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil, nutmeg, and basil and tomato.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

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

THOMAS FOGARTY CHARDONNAY 2008, Santa Cruz Mountain, California

05 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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thomas-fogarty-santa-cruz-mountains-estate-chardonnay-santa-cruz-county-usa-10141285_web

Cost: $18.95 (Clearance: $15.95 with a further clearance $12.80)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Cruz Mountain
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thomas Fogarty
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Taste is better than the nose

Positives: The taste is rich and creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, buttered popcorn, apple crumble pie, pear & peach. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Didn’t like the powerful wood resin/smoky peat nose.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Camembert.

Tasted: 5 August 2013

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8+/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 269746

CHATEAU LA FLEUR JONQUET 2009, AC Graves, France

03 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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le fleur

Cost: $20.95 (Clearance: $15.25)
Grape Variety: Bordeaux blend
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau La Fleur Jonquet
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium+ garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Juicy and smooth, drink on its own or pair it with food. Best Buy especially at the clearance price.

Positives: This wine features well-integrated oak, smoked meat, blackberry, mulberry, dark cherry, blueberry, oregano, turmeric, leather and graphite. Medium to medium+ body and tannin’s with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rib eye steak.

Tasted: 3 Aug 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: 307280

PUNT ROAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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Punt Road

Cost: $27.95 (Clearance: $20.75)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Yarra Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Napoleone Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Nice to see an Australian Cab that has only 13% alcohol, not jammy and easy to drink with or without food. The best part is its new price of $20.75.

Positives: This juicy wine features cedar, blackcurrants, eucalyptus, blackberry, sage, sour cherry, plums and slightly graphite on the finish. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 31 July 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 280255