FLOR DE VETUS VERDEJO 2012, DO Rueda, Spain

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Flor de Vetus

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Vetus
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with an intense nose.

A good alternative to Sancerre at half the price or Oz Sauvignon Blanc at the same price.

Positives: A great summer wine that features a lot of citric and stone fruit with an added minerality at the end. Medium body with refreshing acidity and a fairly long length.

Drink now on its own or pair it with sushi.

Tasted: 17 May 13

Best Buy

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

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

Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

LCBO: 320259

 

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

19 Sunday May 2013

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

≈ Leave a comment


Jackson-Triggs_Grand_Reserve_Pinot_Noir_web

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson-Triggs
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Once upon a time Jackson-Triggs produced a lot of low quality wines. Oh how times have changed, and for the better.

Positives: An aromatic Pinot made in the Burgundian style featuring cedar pine mix, champagne mushrooms, plums, smoked Montreal meat & Allspice. Medium minus body with light tannins, good acidity and a really long length.

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

Tasted: 17 May 13

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

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

Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

TERRAZAS RESERVA MALBEC 2010, Mendoza, Argentina

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Terrazas

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Chandon S.A
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

There are too many Malbec’s that are simple and just don’t meet the quality vs price ratio, however this one does.

Positives: Very tasty Malbec featuring oak, mulberry, plum, smoked Montreal meat, tobacco leaves and a touch of leather. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Notes: Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted: 17 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:29280

JEAN PAUL BRUN BEAUJOLAIS BLANC 2010, AC Beaujolais, France

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Jean-Paul_Brun_Beaujolais_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $23.65
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Agent
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean Paul Brun
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots going on with this Chard from lightly smoked toasted oak with a buttery creaminess, lemon, green apple, persimmon, apple crumble pie, peach and limestone on the finish. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: I like the old style label. Thank you Carol Ann from WineAlign for the opportunity to taste this wine.

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lobster in butter sauce

Tasted: 17 May 13

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

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

GROTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Oakville, Napa Valley, California

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Groth

Cost: $74.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Oakville
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Groth Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark venous red in colour with a medium+ nose.

The nose is to die for. I could just sniff this all day long.

Positives: A complex Cab, and it should be for the money. Featuring cedar, blackcurrants, blackberry, star anise, turmeric, leather, plum, black cherry, blueberry, dark chocolate, mocha, and Allspice. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Notes: Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

Drink now on or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 17 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 606517

14 HANDS HOT TO TROT RED BLEND 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


14 Hands

Cost: $15.15 (Sale price $13.15 until May 26, 2013)
Grape Variety: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 14 Hands Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A generic red blend that will appeal more to those that like a slight sweetness to their reds.

Positives: Although this is slightly sweet it’s not jammy. The wine features light oak, plums, black cherry cola, chocolate & ripe tamarinds. Medium to medium+ body average tannins and acidity with fairly long length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ chips.

Tasted: 15 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 226522

RAVINE VINEYARD MERITAGE 2010, VQA St. David’s Bench, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Ravine

(Picture is of the old bottle, the new one is traditional. Too bad, love this bottle shape)

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price $20.00)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Category: Red Wine Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada Region: St. David’s Bench Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Easy drinking with a slightly sweet taste, but not jammy.

Positives: Light oak with lots of sweet cherry, blackberry, raspberry, mulberry, graphite, mocha, leather, turmeric and lavender. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 13 May 13

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: 285627

CAVE SPRING ROSÉ 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cave_Spring_Rose_web

(Old label, new label not yet available)

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium intense nose.

Yummy

Positives: This easy drinking wine features strawberry, cranberry & tangerine. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 8 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 295006

GLORIA FERRER VA DE VI ULTRA CUVÉE NV, Méthode Champenoise Sonoma County, California

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


GF-VA-de-VI-new-134x245

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay with a trace of Muscat
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Goria Ferrer Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw with a cooper tinge in colour, full mousse and an intense nose.

Positives: A slightly sweet dosage makes this an easy drinking sparkling wine from premier California sparkling producer features baked apple, lemon, Asian pear, peach and pink grapefruit on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with spicy pork sausage.

Tasted: 12 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 17+/20

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

LCBO: 200790

KENDALL-JACKSON GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2009, Santa Barbara/Monterey County, California

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


KJ

Cost: $27.95 (Clearance price $22.40)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: 51% Santa Barbara County, 49& Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Kendall-Jackson produces solid Chardonnay’s from the entry level to their high end, and is probably one of my top 10 go to Chards.

Positives: Nicely balanced Chard that has medium buttered toasted oak with oak spice, cloves, lemon, crème brûlée, Easter Lilly, butterscotch, marshmallow, pineapple, peach, orange, apple crumble pie and a touch of limestone. Full body with good acidity and a very long length. Nice to see a quality Chard being under 14% alcohol.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 10 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 59576