JACKSON-TRIGGS PROPRIETORS’ GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2011 VQA Niagara Peninsula

24 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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JTResChardNV-hi_web
 
Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: A Silver Medal winner at the 2010 Canadian Wine Awards. Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
 
Positives. A perfect Chard nose, unfortunately the taste falls shy, but still good. Medium creamy, toasted oak with lemon, butterscotch, Anjou pear, Macintosh apples, nutmeg, cinnamon & limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.
 
Negatives. There’s is a slight bitterness on the finish.
 
Interesting Point: Don’t use the large Chardonnay glass as the bitterness will be over whelming.
 
Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.
 
Tasted: 22 Feb 13
 
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5+/20 
 
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+ 
 
LCBO#:526251

SEQUILLO CELLARS RED 2009, Swartland, South Africa

18 Monday Feb 2013

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

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Sequillo

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price $21.00)
Grape Variety: Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Sadie Family Wines Pty Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose

Positives: A complex wine that needs time to decant and it’s a steal at the clearance price. The wine features medium smoked oak, boysenberry, bramble fruit, tamarinds, cinnamon, sage, oregano, anise, dark cherry, spinach, tobacco leaves and arugula. Full body with high tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too astringent if you just open it and drink on its own.

Interesting Notes: Naturally produced with no fining or filtering. This is a good wine to give to a discerning fan of wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with T-bone steak, medium rare.

Tasted: 16 Feb 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 277996

WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL SPARKLING WINE NV, South Eastern Australia

17 Sunday Feb 2013

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WBL_Sparkling_Brut_web

Cost: $17.95 (Sale price until March 3, 2013 $15.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mildara Blass Limited
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and average mousse.

Positives: An easy drinking sparkling wine, and a good substitute if you don’t like Proseccos. Wine features pineapple, pear, lemon/lime and granny smith apples.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with smoked oysters.

Tasted: 16 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 649996

DR. LOOSEN SPARKLING RIESLING DEUTSCHER SEKT NV, Germany

17 Sunday Feb 2013

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Dr. Loosen
 
Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Germany
Region: 
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Weingut Dr Loosen
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale straw in colour with a medium intense nose.
 
I was a little disappointed in the sparkling from Dr. Loosen as I expected better quality. On the plus side, my mother and aunt who are not Champagne lovers really loved this wine.
 
Positives: Light crisp wine featuring lemon/lime, chalk, green apples and pink grapefruit.

Negatives: Has a slightly bitter after taste.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Chinese food

Tasted: 15 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 296095

COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2009, Columbia Valley, Washington

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in White Wines

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Columbia Crest Chard
 
Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chat Ste Michelle
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
 
Positives: This is not a complex Chard, but sometimes when you just want a big fat Chard from California and you don’t want to pay more than $15, yet want some good flavours, this one is it. The wine features medium+ toasted oak, butterscotch, baked apples, buttered popcorn, peaches & cream corn and coconut cream pie. 
 
Negatives: Lacks fruit
 
Interesting Point: Use the large Chardonnay glasses if you have them.
 
Drink now on its own or pair it with snow crab legs and drawn butter

Tasted: 15 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 366542

BOLLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2011, DOC Veneto, Italy

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Bolla
 
Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Valpolicella
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General LIst
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fratelli Bolla S.P.A.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby colour with a medium+ intense nose.
 
Positives: Easy drinking and nothing complicated here. This wine features raspberry, machino cherry with chocolate, vanilla and lilacs. Medium minus in body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.
 
Negatives: None
 
Interesting Point: The LCBO puts this wine on sale through out the year. 
 
A nice wine to just relax and drink on its own or pair it cured meats. Drink now.
 
Tasted: 14 Feb 13
 
Best Buy
 
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20
 
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+ 
 
LCBO: 16840

ARGYLE RESERVE SERIES NUTHOUSE CHARDONNAY 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon

14 Thursday Feb 2013

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Argyle

Cost: $39.95 (Clearance $29.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Argyle Winery
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Medium to medium toasted oak followed by some buttery notes, lemons, green apples, limestone, cashews, marzipan and pineapple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little touch of bitterness on the finish.

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

Tasted: 13 Feb 13

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

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

LCBO: 232777

DANIEL LENKO VIOGNIER 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Thursday Feb 2013

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Daniel

Cost: $40.35 (Clearance $32.15)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Daniel Lenko Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Daniel Lenko has an eye for Viognier in Canada and doesn’t disappoint. The wine is crisp and refreshing featuring apricot, nectarine, peach pit, honeydew melon, mango, Ylang Llang, honeysuckle, lemon/lime, lychee and wet stone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill.

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

Tasted: 12 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 913731

07 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Souverain

Cost: $28.99 (sale $20.99) (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Souverain Winery
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I find that Souverain Winery produces excellent wines and this one doesn’t disappoint me. This Cab features spruce, smoked oak, boysenberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, graphite, leather and arugula. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 6 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CASTLE ROCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Paso Robles, California

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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CR-PRCS2010-2

Cost: $14.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castle Rock Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Another surprise for me this week as this Cab from California for under $15 isn’t jammy or high in alcohol. The wine features sandalwood, bramble fruit, figs, cherry pipe tobacco, pecans, cinnamon and cloves. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Interesting Point: If you want to have a second bottle to drink tonight then this is a great option.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Nice to see a Paso Robles Cab that is under 14% alcohol.

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair with butternut squash ravioli.

Tasted: 4 Feb 13

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

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