RAKA QUINARY 2003, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Saturday Mar 2013

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Raka

Cost: $24.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 6% Petite Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raka Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This 2003 vintage is still drinking well and still taste more like a $40-$50 wine.

Positives: Cedar and sandalwood, kalamata olives, black currents, figs, coffee, oregano, prunes and rye & pastrami. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairy long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Bruschetta and olive paste.

Tasted: 16 Mar 13

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

WOODBRDIGE MERLOT BY ROBERT MONDAVI 2010, California

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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Woodbridge
 
Cost: $12.95 (on sale $11.95 until April 1, 2013
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 %

Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

A nice inexpensive bottle to have on hand when you don’t want to open something more expensive, yet something that’s easy to drink and tasteful.

Positives: Bright bramble fruit notes with expresso, light oak, tobacco leaf, red pepper, asparagus and pepperettes. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with spagetti Bolognese.

Tasted: 12 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5

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

LCBO#:494492

CRANE LAKE BRUT SPARKLING WINE, NV, METHODE CHAMPENOISE, California

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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Crane Lake
 
Grape Variety: Chardonnay blend
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Drank: American Airlines business class
Country: USA
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Crane Lake Winery
Alcohol: 11.5 %

Description: Pale straw in colour with fine mousse & a medium+ intensity.

I was surprised that American Airlines had a decent sparkling wine in business class that was produced in the Methode Champenoise.

Positives: This dry & crisp sparkler features lemon, baked apples, Anjou pear, brioche, chalk & a slight yeastiness. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like that AA uses glass instead of plastic cups to to serve their wines.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a Spanish omelette.

Tasted: 12 March 2013 (Happy Birthday to me!)

Score: 8.5+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

GHOST PINES CHARDONNAY WINEMAKER’S BLEND 2010, 61% Sonoma, 22% Napa County, 17% Monterey County, California

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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Ghost Pines
 
Cost: $19.95 (on sale for $17.95 until April 1, 2013)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma Napa & Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity.

Really nice to drink, not too creamy, not too citric, and not too oaky, just right, and being under $20, priced just right. Actually better than just right as I would pick this as a $30-$40 Chard.

Positives: Medium toasted oak, with vanilla, lemon, green & MacIntosh apples, slight apple pie, pear, cashews, pineapple, cantaloupe, sweet corn & limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Louis P. Martin is the son of Napa pioneer Louis M. Martin.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 11 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (sale: 10/10), Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 308122

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Sonoma County, California

11 Monday Mar 2013

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Louis Martini
 
Cost: $18.95 (on sale $16.95 until 1 April)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring cedar, boysenberry, bramble pie, mocha and tobacco. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidy and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with lamb chops.

Tasted: 10 March 2013

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

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

LCBO#: 292151

ROBERT MONDAVI CHARDONNAY NAPA VALLEY 2010, Napa Valley, California

11 Monday Mar 2013

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RM 1
 
Cost: $25.95 (on sale for $23.95 until March 31, 2013)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 %

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Overall I was disappointed in this Chard because its just an okay wine from a good winery, a really good appellation and it tastes more like a $15 wine.

Positives: No new wood detected. Chard features lemon/lime, unripe pineapple, green apples, honeydew melon and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and average length.

Negatives: Not much here, good crispiness but lacks fruit.

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill in order to maximize the fruit that is present.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon/pepper catfish.

Tasted: 7 March 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 310409

FIRESTONE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Santa Ynez Valley, California

11 Monday Mar 2013

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Firestone
 
Cost: $19.90 (On sale for $17.90 until April 1, 2013_
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wind
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Santa Ynez Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Firestone Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

It’s so nice, nay great to find a quality California Cab for under $20 in the LCBO general list. And what makes this even better, for a short time its $2 off. Can’t go wrong with this wine.

Positives: This Cab features cedar, cassis, blackberry, ripe tamarinds, boysenberry, dill, chocolate, turmeric, plums, graphite, peppercorn, cinnamon, arugula and some leather on the finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch of heat on the finish from the 14% alcohol, which makes me think it may be higher.

Interesting Point: Like the classy label.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 9 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (10/10 sale price), Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 292128

RAYMOND RESERVE SELECTION CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa Valley, California

08 Friday Mar 2013

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Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.
 
Positives: Easy drinking & delicious Chard, some would say soft, is not overly complex, but has lots of mango, pineapple, peach, toffee, creme brûlée and a limestone finish. The wood is nicely integrated. Full body with good acidity & a long length.
 
Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol gives it a little bit of heat on the finish.
 
Interesting Point: Worth the $5 extra to buy this over Raymond’s entry level Chard that I reviewed on June 16, 2012.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 7 March 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#:716928

DOMAINE PORTET FONTAINE SHIRAZ/CABERNET/MERLOT 2010, Yarra Valley & Heathcote, Australia

08 Friday Mar 2013

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Fontaine
 
Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 50% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Yarra Valley & Heathcote
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dominique Portet Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

How nice is it to find an Aussie wine under $20 that is under 14% alcohol and doesn’t taste like I just ate toasted bread with grape jelly.

Positives: There’s a lot going on in this easy drinking wine. Light cedar, boysenberry, blueberry, blackberry, cassis, cinnamon, cloves, raspberry, cherry and speck, just to name a few. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with venison

Tasted: 7 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5+/10, Total: 19/20

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

LCBO#: 281410

PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2010, AC Gigondas, Rhône Valley, France

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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PA Gigondas
 
Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Grenache & Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Gigondas 
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pierre Amadieu
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a muted nose.
 
Now this is an easy drinking wine!

Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackberry, plum, thyme, rosemary, white and black peppers and bay leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length. The 14.5% alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Muted nose

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 4 March 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 17400