ROBERT MONDAVI PINOT NOIR CARNEROS, 2007, Carneros, California

14 Monday Jan 2013

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Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 2008, Carneros, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $27.95 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

A simple Pinot that shouldn’t offend anyone but disappointing considering it comes from Carneros.

The wine features rhubarb, cranberry, pine, cola and sour cherry.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rabbit.

Tasted: 13 Jan 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

WILD ROCK CUPIDS ARROW 2008, Central Otagao, New Zealand

14 Monday Jan 2013

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Wild Rock Cupids Arrow Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, South Island Bottle

Cost: $17.60
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kobrand Corporation
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium minus nose.

Not sure if this was past its prime, but nothing special here folks. You’ll find rhubarb, sour cherry, light pine and bitter coffee on the finish.

Tasted: 13 Jan 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO:# 61242

SEGURA VIUDAS ARIA, NV, Traditional Method, Catalunya, Spain

12 Saturday Jan 2013

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Segura

Cost: $19.95 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Macabeau, Xarel-lo & Parellada
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with lots of mousse and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking sparkling wine featuring lemon, ginger, light yeast, green apple & nectarine. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair with as a brunch option especially with bacon.

Tasted: 12 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California

12 Saturday Jan 2013

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Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a nice surprise to have a Napa Valley Cab for under $20 that doesn’t taste like blueberry jam on toast. This wine features cedar, raspberry, plum, ribena, blueberry, mocha, cherry and a touch of leather. Medium+ body, tannins, acidity and length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Very similar to Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Chile ($18.5 & a best buy from my earlier review), but not as strong in the ribena and blueberry notes.

Tasted: 9 Jan 13

Best Buy

Drink now or over the next 3 years, on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 73817

SCOTT FAMILY ESTATE DIJON CLONE CHARDONNAY 2011, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Scott Family Estate Dijon Clone Chardonnay 2011, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County Bottle

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A pleasant wine featuring lightly toasted oak, green apple, lemon meringue and butterscotch on the finish. Medium+ body, with good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 8 Jan 13

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

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

LCBO#: 99051

SOLAR DE CASTRO VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2009, DOC Rioja, Spain

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Solar De Castro Vendimia Seleccionada 2009, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: 80% Tempranillo 20% Garnacha
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Domeco De Jarauta, S.L.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring oak, black cherry, shiitake mushrooms, green tea, lavender & leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: “Majuelos de Espana’s Rioja offering is the 2009 Solar de Castro Vendimia Seleccionada, a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha sourced from biodynamically farmed vineyards, all over 30 years of age. It was fermented with native yeasts, went through malolactic in barrel, and was aged for 12 months in new French oak.” LCBO

Drink now on its own or pair it with pork souvlaki.

Tasted: 7 Jan 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 285593

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Knights Valley, Sonoma, California

06 Sunday Jan 2013

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Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Knights Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $34.95 (in sale: $31.95 until 6 Jan 13)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3 %
Description: Dark, almost opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour on both the nose & taste showing cedar, cassis, plums, cloves, blueberries, blackberries, tobacco leaves, sage, leather, pencil shavings & turmeric. Full body, medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the high alcohol.

Interesting Points: See my review of the 2009 Knights Valley on 23 May 12 and compare the two.

Drink now or cellar it for another 7 years, and pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 5 Jan 13

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

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

LCBO#352583

CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

04 Friday Jan 2013

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Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2011, Wo Western Cape Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking & balanced Chard that features light toasted oak, melon, pineapple, lemon, all-spice, green apple, lemon drops & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length, unusual for a white wine under $15.

Interesting Point: Drink from the larger Chard glass as this will bring out the tropical fruits.

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

Tasted: 3 Jan 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 328559

COYOTE’S RUN RED PAW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

04 Friday Jan 2013

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Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A lighter old world style Pinot featuring a nice balance between fruit and earthiness. Light pine and violets, cranberry, champagne mushrooms, strawberry, cinnamon, some cherry pipe tobacco and thyme. Light body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with pâté.

Tasted: 1 Jan 13. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

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

LCBO#: 79228

TRINITY HILL THE GIMBLETT 2009, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

04 Friday Jan 2013

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Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2009, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, North Island Bottle

Cost: $35.95 (clearance $25.25)
Grape Variety: 38% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec.
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trinity Hill Winery
Alcohol: 14%
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nicely balanced, complex wine featuring medium oak, blackberry, blueberry, black & red pepper, pomegranate, mocha, tobacco leaves, arugula, anise, turmeric, tamarind, leather & graphite. Medium+ body with firm tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Well worth the clearance price.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 19 Dec 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (clearance price 9.5/10), Total: 18/20

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

LCBO#: 280263