ETUDE ESTATE GROWN PINOT NOIR 2009, Carneros, California

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Etude Pinot Noir 2008, Carneros Bottle

Cost: $59.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Consignment
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby in colour with medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: An elegant Pinot featuring sandalwood, cherry, rhubarb, strawberry & some earth notes. Medium to light with medium minus tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

KENNETH VOLK SANTA MARIA CUVÉE PINOT NOIR 2008, Santa Maria Valley, California

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County Bottle

Cost: $36.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Aqua Pumpkin Inc.
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful Pinot that is smooth & complex featuring pine, beets, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, and burning leaves of the fall foliage.  Medium to medium minus body with good acidity, a fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My best wine award at the Wine Tasting Challenge held in Toronto on 26 Nov 12.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 Nov 12

Top Pick

 

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 291039

DOPFF & IRION VORBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009, Grand Cru Vorbourg, Alsace, France

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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

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Dopff & Irion Vorbourg Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Grand Cru Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vorbourg, Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dopff & Irion S.A.
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Golden honey in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: It’s been a long time since I tasted a really good Pinot Gris. This features white birch, honey, apricot, white peach, lychee, sweet potato with butter, cinnamon & nutmeg. Off-dry with medium acidity, fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Danger Will Robinson! This wine is so good it’s hard not to drink 2 bottles in one sitting, but the real danger is that’s its 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: On a blind taste I would have guessed this as a Viognier or Gewürztraminer. Use the Viognier style glass if you have one. Unusual for a Pinot Gris to have 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 8-12 years on its own or pair it with a spicy dish.

Tasted: 22 Nov 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 292227

PEDRO MARTÍNEZ ALESANCO RESERVA 2006, DOC Rioja, Spain

22 Thursday Nov 2012

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Pedro Martínez Alesanco Reserva 2006, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garanacha
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Pedro Martinez Alesanco
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of cedar, sandalwood, cherry covered with black dark chocolate, raspberry and rosemary. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its on or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 21 Nov 12

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

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

LCBO#: 170092

JOAN SIMÓ SENTIUS 2006, DOC Priorat, Spain

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Priorat
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Celler Joan Simo
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Oak, cherry, blackberry, graphite, coffee, mesquite, and champagne oyster mushrooms. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol Batman! Would like to try the 2004 (pictured above) with only 14.6%.

Interesting Point: Bought this at the Crossroads LCBO (Weston Rd/401) at the clearance price of $20.35, which is what this wine is worth.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 20 Nov 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 16+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 35477

CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario. Méthode Traditionelle

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cave Spring Blanc De Blancs Brut, VQA Niagara Escarpment Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring Cellars Ltd
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling that I could just drink everyday. Features lemon, green apple, brioche, some yeast, baked apples, Anjou pear, mandarin & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at clearance price at LCBO in Brampton for $20.80, which would make this a Best Buy & a Top Pick.

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto pizza.

Tasted: 18 Nov 12 (congrats to the Argos in making it to the Grey Cup, which I’ll be seeing them there ) If they win I’ll drink another of this sparkling to celebrate)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 213983

CHÂTEAU CORDET 2008, AC Margaux, France

19 Monday Nov 2012

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Château Cordet 2008, Ac Margaux Bottle

Cost: $29.05
Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Margaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ballande & Meneret Sas
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If you want an inexpensive Margaux try this one. A fine balanced and juicy wine featuring cedar, blackberries, raspberry, plums, coffee, graphite, blackcurrants, rubbed sage, and smoked hickory. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly, I get some heat from the 13% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak

Tasted: 16 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 24949

HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2007, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Hemel-En-Arde Valley Bottle

Cost: $22.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A rich old gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Heavy on the toasted oak with orange rind, lemon, banana cream pie, mandarin &cloves. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too much oak, slight oxidation & burnt butter lead to a bitter finish.

This might have been past its optimal drinking point.

Tasted: 14 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

WILLIAM FÈVRE CHABLIS MONTMAIN 1er CRU 2007, Chablis, France

15 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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William Fèvre Chablis Montmains 2006, Ac, 1er Cru Bottle

Cost: $38.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine William Fèvre
Alcohol: 13 %
Description: A pale green to straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: One of the best Chablis I have tried. The Premier Cru Chablis features white and pink grapefruit, lemon, green apples, anjou pear, honey, limestone, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with oysters.

Tasted: 13 Nov 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

PEDRONCELLI BUSHNELL VINEYARD ZINFANDEL 2009, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Pedroncelli Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel 2009, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: J Pedroncelli Winery
Alcohol: 15.2 %
Description: A beautiful medium ruby colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is a smooth, not jammy Zin, considering the 15.2% alcohol. The wine features cedar, plums, raisins, dark cherry, raspberry, Christmas cake, chili peppers, All-spice & black peppers. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 15.2% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I really like the rich looking label/bottling. Made more in an old world style wine, not a fruit bomb, and easy to pair with different styles of food.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 5 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 463026