HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE ROSÉ BRUT NV, Traditional Methode, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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cc-rose-brut

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Red snapper in colour with a fine mousse and medium+ nose.

A true quality sparkling that is a good substitute for Champagne rosé

Positives: A complex wine featuring brioche, baked apple, yeast, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb and chalk. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “The grapes were hand picked and bunch selected followed by a gentle whole cluster pressing. The secondary fermentation was finished in this bottle followed by a further 30 months.” (Winemaker’s notes)

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

Tasted: 19 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 217505

PETER LEHMAN PORTRAIT SHIRAZ 2010, Barossa, Australia

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Peter Lehman

Cost: $19.95 (On sale for $17.95 until May 26, 2013
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peter Lehman
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood venous in colour (vampires will love the colour, but it’s not blood yo!) with medium+ smoked mesquite on the nose.

This is a throw back to what started the “Oz” Shiraz craze many moons ago before they went overboard and decided to overplant & make their Shiraz’s into sweet pepper bramble jam.

Positives: Very smooth drinking and lots of flavor going on here with mild cedar, plums, roasted red peppers, white peppers, tar, dark cherry, bramble, chocolate, mocha, cinnamon & cloves.  Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with beef brisket or Cheetos.

Tasted: 17 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

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

LCBO: 572875

FLOR DE VETUS VERDEJO 2012, DO Rueda, Spain

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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