WHITEHAVEN PINOT NOIR 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Whitehaven Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough Bottle

Cost: $22.95 (sale: $18.40 until Dec 31/12)
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Whitehaven Wines Com. Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light+ garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Pinot showing cranberry, cherry, sour cherry, rhubarb, All-spice and some strawberry jam. Medium minus body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Marlborough is starting to make a name for good Pinots priced under $25 in Ontario. Remember to lightly chill Pinot.

Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Thanksgiving turkey, which I did.

Tasted: 6 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 245696

BURNING KILN CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This Chard is easy drinking, smooth, lightly toasted oak featuring notes of lemon, Macintosh apple, buttered toast, tangerine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not in the LCBO.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Normandy Style.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

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

BURNING KILN CABERNET FRANC 2011, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category:  Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln Winery
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The first thing that I noticed was that there wasn’t the usual twiggy/leafy notes associated with Cabernet Franc from Ontario, and the second was that it was easy drinking. This Cab Franc had nice smokey notes, sizzling bacon, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, plum, cedar and boysenberry. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not sold in LCBO, yet.

Interesting Note: I tasted this wine at the Taste of Ontario on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Rabbit Stifado.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

SMOKE & GAMBLE RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Smoke & Gamble Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 49.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc & 13.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dover Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: The nose is divine and the taste is not far behind showing sizzling bacon, cedar, blackberry, cassis, leather, cloves, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and black currants. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points:

  • This was the best red that I tasted at the Taste Ontario that was held on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I had a great time talking with the wine maker; Robert Gill and their distributor; Douglas Russell.

I love the copper label. 

  • The winery is located near Port Dover, Fort Erie

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:332825

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington State

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2010, Columbia Valley Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chat Ste Michelle
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Chard featuring light toasted oak, lemon, lemon custard, peach, pear, green and yellow apples, limestone and spice. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass.

Tasted: 27 Sept 12

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon seared scallops

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#232439

ASTROLABE VOYAGE PINOT NOIR 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, South Island Bottle

Cost: $24.95 (sale $17.30)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Astrolabe
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby and garnet with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of juicy fruit featuring cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, Macintosh apple rhubarb, pipe tobacco, pine needles and forest leaves. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity, and  a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5 alcohol.

Interesting Point: I’m somewhat surprised that a cool climate Pinot reached 14.5% alcohol. Remember to slightly chill Pinot.

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

Tasted: 25 Sept 12

Best Buy (Especially at the sale price!)

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

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

LCBO#: 179200

AMAYNA CHARDONNAY 2008, Leyda Valley, San Antonio, Chile

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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Amayna Chardonnay Estate Btld. 2008, Leyda Valley, San Antonio Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Leyda Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Garces Silva Ltda.
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A really nice, smooth and creamy Chard featuring medium toasted oak, buttery, spiced apple, mango, pineapple, lemon zest, persimmon, creme brulée, lemon meringue pie, coconut, vanilla and cashews. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: You do get some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: LCBO has this at $3 off regular price until it’s sold off. Good time to buy now.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with, what else?; Lobster and drawn butter. Utterly hedonistic.

Tasted: 22 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 76265

JOSÉ MARIA da FONSECA & VAN ZELLER, DOMINI PLUS 2005, Duoro, Portugal

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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

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Cost: $42.99 CI
Grape Variety: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott Wines)
Country: Portugal
Region: Duoro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is one of my favourite wines. When I travel to the Caymans I always try to pick up a few bottles as the LCBO doesn’t sell it. Sad, very very sad. A complex wine made from grapes normally used to make Port. It features cedar, plums, raisins, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, MacIntosh apples, anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, thyme, red & black peppers, and some earthiness. Medium to full body, medium to medium+ tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Not sold in Ontario!

Interesting Point: The bottle is heavy with a unique shape that I like.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a rack of lamb.

Tasted: 24 Sept 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

QUAILS’ GATE MERLOT 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Quails' Gate Merlot 2009, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 15.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with garnet ting and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A good complex wine from BC featuring cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, blueberry, spinach, star anise, black tea, leather and radicchio. Medium body with high tannins and acidity with a medium+ length.

Negatives: Too astringent at this time. Needs time to age. A little hot from the 15.4% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Taste very Cab like. Decant for an hour if you’re going to drink now.

Needs protein food to be paired up with like T-bone steak.

Tasted: 21 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 169961

MCMANIS FAMILY VINEYARDS VIOGNIER 2011, California

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Mcmanis Family Vineyards Viognier 2011, California Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mcmanis Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium gold colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A nice smooth somewhat creamy Viognier featuring lemon, orange zest, apricot, peach, white pepper and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with scallops.

Tasted: 20 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 658112