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

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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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

STERLING VINTER”S CHARDONNAY 2010, Central Coast, California

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay 2010, Central Coast, California Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sterling Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour a medium intense nose.

Positives: A well made inexpensive Chard from California, a goal that I try to search out because I do favour their well made Chards. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon zest, juicy apple, cinnamon, pineapple, peach, lemon custard, guava, apricot & limestone. Medium bodily with good acidity & length.

Negatives: Slightly sour on the taste.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass & look for LCBO to have specials on this wine throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with garlic buttered escargot.

Tasted: 19 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 669242

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC

20 Thursday Sep 2012

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Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an improvement over the 2008 vintage that I reviewed awhile ago. This is a nice balanced Chard that features medium toasted oak, butter popcorn, lemon meringue, clementines, spiced apple cider, guava, pineapple & peach. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting point: Use the larger Chard glasses. I have put my review of the 2008 vintage below so you can compare.

Drink now or over the next 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 18 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 377770

PREVIOUS 2008 VINTAGE REVIEW

Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Beautiful Chard nose with lemon meringue, apples, medium oak & toast. This Chard has a long taste with a medium body.

Negatives: Although it has a nice long finish, part of it is bitter.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

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

STONESTREET ALEXANDER MOUNTAIN ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006, Alexander Valley, California

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

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Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Wine Estates International
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, black currents, blackberries, cassis, plums, graphite, black tea, sweet basil, thyme, red peppers, pencil shavings & leather. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: Somewhat astringent.

Interesting Points: Decant this puppy for at least an hour in order to soften the tannins plus you’ll find sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This wine may improve, ie soften the tannins, over the next 5 years.

Pair it with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 17 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 4002

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VOLNAY LES PITURES 1ER CRU 2008, AC Volnay, France

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

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Roche De Bellene Volnay Les Pitures 1er Cru 2008, Ac Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Volnay, Burgundy, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Roche De Bellene
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An elegant Pinot showing some spruce, cranberry, sour cherry, raspberry, rhubarb & light earthiness. Light to medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish.

Drink now & a very food friendly wine that you can match with game fowl.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 241083

DOMAINE FRANÇOIS SCHWACH BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE 2007, Méthod Traditionnelle, AC Alsace, France

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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François Schwach Le Crémant Blanc De Blancs 2007, Ac Alsace Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Francois Schwach
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with medium mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex sparkling, but very pleasant & easy going that will benefit  those that don’t like the yeasty, heavier champagne style. The wine features peach, honeydew melon, apple, lemon zest & nectarines. Lighter style with medium+ acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A touch watery.

Drink now on its own or pair it with eggs Benedict.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 268060

RUTHERFORD RANCH ZINFANDEL 2008, Napa Valley, California

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is an intense Zinn without any jammy qualities. Cedar, pine nuts, vanilla bean, menthol, smoked hickory, cassis, cloves, blueberry, nectarines, boysenberry, dark chocolate, cherry cola & mocha. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Holy 16% alcohol Batman! Lots of heat coming from it. Good medicine. If it wasn’t for the high alcohol this would be an exceptional Zinn.

Interesting Point: Rutherford Ranch is a consistent producer of good wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs based in an Italian tomato style sauce.

Tasted: 15 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 279828

OBIKWA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Bottle

Cost: $9.45
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Distillers Corporation Limited
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pretty medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: There’s a lot going on for a Cab that’s priced at under $10. Cedar, lots of peppers (red, black & white), black currants, cinnamon spiced apples, nutmeg, blueberry pie, plums & oregano. Medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Item: New Eco-friendly lightweight bottle. This is a great bottle to have as a second bottle to open during the day, evening, or to bring a couple (heck for $9.95 you can bring several bottles) over to a friends place for BBQ.

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything on the BBQ. I would even try it with fish on the BBQ due to its lower tannin level.

Tasted: 12 Sept 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 665323