BURROWING OWL CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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

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Burrowing Chard

Cost: $24.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Burrowing Vineyard Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

I don’t know if I like it or dislike it? I tried this a day later and I liked it. Needs time to open up.

Positives: Medium+ toasted oak with light butter, lemon, flint, pink grapefruit, peach pit, and limestone. After a day the wine opens up to feature mangos, golden apples, and cantaloupe. Medium body to medium+ with good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

TALLEY VINEYARD BISHOP’S PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011, Paso Robles, California, United States

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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BISHOP_S_PEAK_CABERNET_SAUVIGNON_web

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Talley Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

This is produced more in the Australian Barossa Cab style.

Positives: This is a softer style cab featuring light cedar, bramble pie, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarinds, plums, dark cherry, mocha, black pepper, light tar and menthol.  Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly length.

Negatives: A touch sweet for me.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn steak.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

LCBO: 327254

MAGNOTTA BRUT 2011, Charmat Method, VQA, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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

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Magnotta Brut

Cost: $11.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Winery or Magnotta Stores
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with fine mousse and a medium intense nose.

If you’re looking for an easy drinking sparkling wine but don’t like the yeasty/baked apples of Champagne, yet want more flavor than a Prosecco, then you should really like/love this sparkling.

Positives: This simple sparkling wine features a nice mix of apple, light lemon, pear and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with an omelet that has some spice in it.

Tasted: 10 June 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

BENNETT LANE MAXIMUS RED FEASTING WINE 2006, Napa Valley, United States

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Maximus

Cost: $43.95 (Clearance price $35.50, and then a further reduction to $28.60 in another LCBO)
Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bennett Lane Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Slightly cloudy with a medium+ ruby in colour & with a medium+ intense nose.

Veni, Vidi, Bibi (I came, I saw, I drank). I have wanted to try this wine for a while, as I love the label, but was hesitant at the regular price. However, at the clearance price (which is by the way is the same price at the winery albeit at US price) is definitely worth the buy.

Positives: Drinking beautifully now, this Napa blend serves up good complexity featuring cedar, blackberry, black cherry, anise, violets, dark chocolate covered cherries, ripe tamarinds, plums, mocha, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric & tobacco. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Named after Emperor Magnus Maximus (AD 383 to AD 388) who was an ardent wine lover. Interesting story to his rise and fall. Decant the wine as it’s unfiltered.

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

Tasted: 9 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 293258

TRIUS ROSÉ 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Trius-Rose1

Cost: $15.95 ($13.95 sale price limited time) ROSÉ
Grape Variety: 56% Syrah, 31% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: The Winery or The Wine Shop
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand
Alcohol: 12.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pomegranate in colour with a medium minus nose.

Positives: A simple rosé featuring cherry, strawberry & rhubarb. Medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with super nachos.

Tasted: 6 June 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Sale price 8.5) Total: 17+/20

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

LIBERTY SCHOOL ROSÉ, California

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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Liberty Rose

Cost: $16.95 É
Grape Variety: Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hope Family
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Robin red in colour with a medium nose.

My favourite red blend (GSM), but Hope Family misses the mark on this rosé.

Positives: A simple rosé featuring strawberry, raspberry & cherry. Medium body with average acidity and length.

Negatives: It’s a touch hot, unusual for a rosé.

Interesting Notes: There are better rosés at lower prices. Check my favourites.

Drink now on its own and it paired excellently with Porchetta.

Tasted: 4 June 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7.5/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 276667

MUGA ROSÉ 2012, DOCA Rioja, Spain

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Rosés

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muga-rose

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Garnacha, Tempranillo & Viura
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muga
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale salmon in colour with a medium+ nose.

WARNING: Easy to consume more than 1 bottle in a sitting. One of the best light style rosé I’ve ever had.

Positives: This easy drinking rosé features lavender, sweet strawberry, watermelon, juicy apple and pink grapefruit on the finish. Lighter+ body with good acidity a very length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I compared this wine in different style glasses and the Tempranillo style came way out ahead of the others.

Drink now on its own and it paired excellently with sweet & spicy BBQ pork chops.

Tasted: 1 June 13

Amazing Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 603795

EOS ESTATE PETITE SIRAH 2009, Paso Robles, California

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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eos

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Petit Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Family Winery
Alcohol: 19.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ nose.

Lots of juicy fruit with a balance of wood.

Positives: An expressive wine featuring cedar, plum, mocha, blackberry, dark cherry, peach, wood smoke and a touch leathery on the finish. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 29 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317677

TAWSE QUARRY ROAD CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Ontario, Canada

30 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Tawse

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price $24.50)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Well balanced & made in the Mâcon style.

Positives: Oak is well integrated and features white roses, mandarin, grapefruit, verbena, fennel, lemon grass, lemon rind, green apples, pear and limestone. Medium body with above average acidity for a Chard and a very long length. Don’t over chill.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish for me.

Interesting Notes: I used the large warmer or Meursault style Chard glass and the smaller traditional Chard glass and each one were slightly different and I couldn’t decide which one I liked best.

Drink now on or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with creamy seafood risotto.

Tasted: 28 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 111989

CHÂTEAU PIERRE DE MONTIGNAC, MÉDOC 2009, AC Médoc, France

27 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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PM

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: France
Region: Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Famille Sallette
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

A nice mid level Boudreaux from Médoc at a moderate price.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackcurrants, turmeric, pencil shavings, cherry, arugula and leather. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

This is more of a food friendly wine than for drinking on its own so pair with prime rib. Drink now on or over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 27 May 13 (Happy Memorial Day to our American cousins)

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 307041