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

MUD HOUSE PINOT NOIR 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand

02 Friday Nov 2012

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Mud House Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand Bottle

Cost: $18.50
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mudhouse Wine Company Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple fruit forward Pinot featuring pine, Bing cherries, sour cherries, cranberry, pomegranate and finishing with a bit of earthiness. Medium to medium minus in body & tannins with good acidity & a fairly decent length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness at the back of the throat. There’s quite a bit of heat coming from the listed 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Chill this more than you would normally chill a Pinot to bring out the fruit & lessen the affect of alcohol. Try around 10-12 C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roast duck.

Tasted: 31 Oct 12 Happy Hallowe’en

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 190462

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

02 Friday Nov 2012

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Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $19.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn’t disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 479527

D’ARENBERG THE GALVO GARAGE 2007, McLaren Vale & Adelaide Hills, Australia

02 Friday Nov 2012

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D'arenberg The Galvo Garage 2007, Mclaren Vale/Adelaide Hills, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.90
Grape Variety: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 21% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale & Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg Wines
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavours happening in this wine. Cedar, Ribena, cherry cola, prunes, raisins, menthol, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, red & black pepper, all-spice, cassis, star anise, cinnamon & cloves. Full body, medium+ tannins and acidity with a long length.

Negatives: There is some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: LCBO has this wine on clearance now, from 29.95 to 24.90. The 07 is not as good as the 06, but with the new price its definitely worth the buy.

Drink now on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted 28 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 907584

LA SAUVAGEONNE PICA BROCA 2008, AC Coteaux du Languedoc, France

02 Friday Nov 2012

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La Sauvageonne Pica Broca 2008, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc Bottle

Cost: $12.90
Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Coteaux du Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Sauvageonne
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, blackberry, Ribena,  pomegranate, black & white pepper. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch on the watery side. This may be past its prime.

Interesting Point: This product is on clearance at the LCBO. Original price was $18.95. This wine is worth buying at its new price.

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal steak.

Tasted: 28 Oct 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 223669

LAROCHE CHABLIS SAINT MARTIN 2011, AC Chablis, France

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: S & D Adams, Prop.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Any easy drinking Chablis that’s not overly steely and a nice balance of fruit and minerality. The wine features lemon, dill, green apples, white peach, quince apple, limestone and chalk. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with oysters.

Tasted: 27 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 289124