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

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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

CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Clos Chardonnay

Cost: $30.00 (Clearance: $21.05)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clos Jordanne (Constellation Brands Inc)
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Quality wine that is well balanced at a reasonable price, and a best buy if you can get it at the clearance price.

Positives: This wine features well-integrated oak, mild toast, maple, lemon, peach, pineapple, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I tried this wine in several different Riedel style Chardonnay glasses and found the larger new world style to be the best.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with seared scallops with a hint of nutmeg and cracked pepper over angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil with basil and grape tomatoes.

Tasted: 29 July 2013

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 33936

PENINSULA RIDGE RESERVE SYRAH 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

26 Friday Jul 2013

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

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Peninsula Syrah

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This is one of the better Canadian Syrah I have tasted to date.

Positives: This easy drinking wine has a beautiful smoky-violet/sandalwood nose combining on the taste with pepper, rhubarb, cured meats, tobacco leaf, forest greens & sour cherry. Medium body with medium minus tannins, medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly I get some heat from the 12.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Peninsula Ridge’s Antipasto Platter consistent of House smoked duck, Pingue’s prosciutto, Mennonite summer sausage, rabbit rillette,citrus marinated olives and grilled vegetable salad.

Tasted: 26 July 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 230896

TRIUS BRUT NV, Méthode Classique, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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Trius Brut

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andre Wines
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale gold in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

A solid Ontario sparkling wine.

Positives: This sparkling features lemon/lime, brioche, baked apples, pear, toasted almonds & grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with squash or pumpkin soup.

Tasted: 11 July 2013  (Happy Birthday Mom)

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

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

LCBO: 284539

TRIUS ROSÉ 2011, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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trius rose

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 56% Syrah, 31% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: Winery or The Wine Store
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andre Wines Ltd
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright cherry in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This dry rosé features cranberry, strawberry, sour cherry and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: A little tart on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seafood paella.

Tasted: 11 July 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

PENINSULA RIDGE RESERVE VIOGNIER 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Viognier

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This is one of the better Canadian Viogniers I have tasted to date.

Positives: This wine has a good balance between fruit and acidity showing apricot, peach, lemon, grapefruit & white pepper. Medium body and tannins with medium+ acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with apricot glazed pork.

Tasted: 23 July 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4