PALMIRA LARNER VINEYARDS MALVASIA BIANCA 2010, Santa Ynez Valley, California

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Malvasia

Cost: $35.95 (Clearance price $28.80)
Grape Variety: Malvasia
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Santa Ynez Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Palmina Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with an intense floral nose.

Can’t miss wine that one must try. So easy to drink that one can drink 2 bottles in one sitting and not realize it.

Positives: A perfect summer sipper featuring Ylang Ylang, lychee, peach, anise, lemon, orange, pink grapefruit and fennel on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: A cross between Viognier, Muscat and Gewürztraminer. Malvasia is predominantly grown in Italy, but this rare find in California is a gem.

Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Cayman style Wahoo Ceviche.

Tasted: 11 May 13

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 289157

MUGA RESERVA 2008, DOC Rioja, Spain

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Muga

Cost: $23.95 (Sale price $21.45 until 26 May 2013)
Grape Variety: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Oraciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muga
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid wine

Positives: This easy drinking wine features cedar, sour cherry, cigar box, tobacco leaf, pimientos, roasted red peppers with Radicchio & pomegranate on the finish. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Aged 24 months in French & American oak casks. Serve between 16°C and 18° C

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with meat stuffed red peppers – Pimientos Rellenos de Carne.

Tasted: 6 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 177345

TARRAS THE CANYON PINOT NOIR 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand

04 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Red Wines

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Tarras

Cost: $38.50 (Clearance price $30.85)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tarras Vineyards
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Not a typical Central Otago due to its muted flavours, and I would have preferred this wine to be under $25.

Positives: Pine notes give to cranberry, pomegranate, cherry, mulberry, blackberry and earthly notes of forest underbrush & smoked ambers. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Decant for an hour and chill it to 15C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared tuna with tomato, scallop & chilly pepper couscous.

Tasted: 2 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 287219

THE WINEMAKERS’ COLLECTION CUVÉE No 3, CHATEAU D’ARSAC 2007, AOC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

04 Saturday May 2013

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Winemaker

Cost: $37.00 (Clearance price $29.65)
Grape Variety: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau D’Arsac
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A cloudy medium+ garnet to ruby in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

An easy drinking Bordeaux wine that is worth the clearance price.

Positives: This wine is more in the tertiary phase presenting soft oak, mushroom, sage, turmeric, thyme, fennel, leather, graphite, arugula with some blackberry, plum and dark cherry.  Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Chateau D’Arsac has an interesting concept by having a wine maker throughout the world carve out his/her knish by using their technique from start to finish, but the only constant is that it comes from the terroir of Chateau D’Arsac. This is Cuvée 3 comes from the Italian winemaker Andrea Franchetti, whose picture is on the label. On a blind I would have guessed it to be a Tuscan IGT wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

Tasted: 4 May 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 102301

AMPLUS ONE 2008, D.O Cachapoal Valley, Chile

01 Wednesday May 2013

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Amplus

Cost: $23.95 (Sale price $19.20)
Grape Variety: 75% Carmenere, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Santa Ema Vineyards
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with an intense nose.

I feel the sale price is the proper price for this wine.

Positives: An intense wine featuring cedar, black currants, peppercorn, cherry, tamarind, leather, tomato leaf, sage & eucalyptus. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Notes: Santa Ema is a sustainable winery. Amplus is Latin meaning: important, honourable, eminent, & distinguished.

Drink now on its own or pair it with mustard crusted lamb chops with mint sauce.

Tasted: 1 May 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5 Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 169987

THE COUNTY IN THE CITY, 25 April 2013, Tasting Event

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Tasting Events

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This annual affair is a great way for Torontonians to taste and buy wines from some of the Prince Edward County (PEC) wineries without doing the 2 1/2hr drive, and they offer free delivery! I was able to try some wines from their wineries for the first time, and tried some of my old favourites (Closson Chase and Norman Hardie) although I was disappointed that Norm only had 2 wines to show, but he did give me a good reason, just can’t remember it now. I really need to use the spittoon more. During this tasting some wines impressed me, some did not. So what were the positives and negatives at this event?

Negatives:

-There were two wineries with white wines that displayed volatile notes.

-Didn’t find any quality sparkling wines or reds outside the standard Pinot Noirs that PEC is becoming well known for.

-There were several wines that I felt were over priced for the quality.

Positives:

-Closs Chase had the best white in their 2011 Loyalist Chardonnay, but it’s only available to restaurants, so keep an eye out for it when you dine out. Their 2010 Pinot took best red, but at $40 it’s pricey, and needs time to decant before serving.

-Keint-He 2011 Portage Pinot Noir took best buy red at $25.

-Best overall winery for their quality that had more than 3 different varieties to offer customers went to Exultet Estates. In particular, their 2011 The Blessed Chardonnay & the 2012 White Light Chardonnay. Honourable mention went to Stanners Vineyard, a really nice 2010 Pinot Noir, and Lighthall’s 2010 Chardonnay.

-Most unique & intriguing wine had to be Exultet Estates 2012 Mysterium Pinot Noir. Why? Because it’s a white wine.

Overall, a great time. Lots of people attended which was nice to see. It was held in an old church at 315 Queen St E, which I took pictures and included them below. Finally, need to thank the caterers for their great finger foods that went well with the wines and WineAlign for promoting it. See you next year!

IMG_4351 IMG_4352 IMG_4353

ZUCCARDI CUVÉE SPECIAL BLANC DE BLANC NV, Champenoise Method, Tupungato Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Zuccardi Blanc de Blanc

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance $17.30)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Argentina
Region: Tupungato, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Zuccardi Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with fine mousse and medium+ intense nose.

Classic Blanc de Blanc Champagne style

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling (ok it’s really yummy) featuring toasted bread, baked apple, brioche, quince, pear, orange peel and a kiss of honey. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long, long, long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 58 months on the yeast. This is what I describe as a 2-bottle wine, i.e. easy to drink 2 bottles in one sitting. I found this gem at the Crossroad LCBO (HWY 401 at Weston Rd). Luckily I bought all 3 bottles that they had. Buy it if you find it! I also really like the bottle shape and the classic label.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with wild mushrooms, rosemary infused cream fresh mozzarella, arugula, and truffle oil shaved Parmesan pizza. If you go to Grand Cayman, visit The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Periwinkle Restaurant where you’ll find this gem of a pizza.

Tasted: 28 April 13

Top Pick and Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (10/10 Clearance price) Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+/5

LCBO: 227447

MARQUES DE RISCAL RESERVA 2007, DOC Rioja, Spain

27 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Riscal

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vinos De Los Herederos Del
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Consistently reliable good taste.

Positives: Cedar, sandalwood, plums, cherry, a touch of vanilla bean, leather, cinnamon, all spice, red peppers, black olives & raspberry. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Check out my review 25 June 2012 for the 2006 vintage. You’ll notice that it’s $2 more for the 2007. One of my favourite labels; very classic looking.

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

Tasted: 24 April 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 32656

HOGUE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007, Wahluke Slope, Washington State, United States

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

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Hogue

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Wahluke Slope, Washington St
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Brands Inc
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A lighter style of Cab showing medium oak, mushrooms, black currants, spinach, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, sage and an undertone of plums and cherry. Medium body with tight tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat on the finish from the 14.3% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Beef Stroganoff with Shitake mushrooms.

Tasted: 23 April 13

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

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

LCBO: 301358

TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Tawse Chard

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour and medium intense nose.

Always nice to have a good quality Ontario Chardonnay that’s under $20.

Positives: This is a delicate Chard which has several layers featuring light oak, lemon, grapefruit, peat, green apple, wood smoke, limestone and hints of caramel. Medium body, with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops wrapped in bacon served on a bed of wilted spinach with candy tomatoes (my wife’s great recipe).

Tasted: 19 April 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 89037