DOMAINE MARGUERITE DUPASQUIER LES CAILLOUX RULLY 2009

10 Monday Sep 2012

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Domaine Marguerite Dupasquier Rully 2009, Ac Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Rully
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Moillard
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Gold in colour & a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lots of citric fruit featuring lemon, lime, pink grapefruit & a slight touch of guava. The oak is barely noticeable with just a touch of creaminess. Medium body with medium+ acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A little too citric for me.

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass as I found it to be too sour & low in fruit in the larger glass. Interesting that the French are starting to use screw caps for their wines.

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

Tasted: 10 Sept 12, Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 265066

EDNA VALLEY PARAGON CHARDONNAY, 2009, San Luis Obispo County, California

10 Monday Sep 2012

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Edna Valley Paragon Chardonnay 2009, San Luis Obispo County Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wines
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: San Luis Obispo County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple Chard featuring lemon, lime candy, white pepper, All-Spice, Braeburn apples, golden delicious apple, limestone & a peach finish. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with chicken Kiev.

Tasted: 9 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 984153

GIRARD CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, California

09 Sunday Sep 2012

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Girard Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Russian Valley River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vintage Wine Estates
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Chard that has a nice balance between the oak, fruit & minerarilty. This Chard has nice creamy butteriness, lightly to medium toasted oak, lemon, juicy apples, pineapple, honeydew melon, limestone, peach, tangerines & some coconut. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Interesting Points: I like the minimalist label.  Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or cellar it over the next 3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 8 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 276675

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Henry Of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry Of Pelham Family Est. Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If my best buy category was for under $30, this sparkling would definitely be one. Side note: Some LCBOs have this in clearance for $24.95, which does make it a best buy. This sparkling is easy to drink & features brioche, yeast, baked apples, lemon custard & stone fruit. Medium to medium minus in body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red Lumpfish caviar.

Tasted: 7 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 217521

CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR D’ARTHUS 2008, AC St. Emilion Grand Cru, France

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Château La Fleur D'arthus 2008, Ac St émilion Bottle

Cost: $30.40
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: St. Emillion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nath. Johnston & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A fine St. Emillion featuring wet cedar, blackberries, red & black currants, licorice, graphite, spinach, radicchio, all-spice & red peppers. Medium body with high tannins & acidity with a long length.

Negatives: A little astringent now.

You will be rewarded with another 4-6 years for the wine to mature.

Tasted: 2 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 251702

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Valley of Aconcagua, Chile

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Aconcagua Valley Bottle

Cost: $18.95 (on sale $16.95 until 16 Sept 12)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valley of Aconcagua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The Max Reserva Cab is a fairly complex wine and unusual for such complexity at under $20, and even better when the LCBO puts it on sale a couple of times throughout the year. The 2010 vintage  features cedar, cassis, menthol, cloves, dark cherry, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves, red & black currants. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 6 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO# 335174

PERRIN RÉSERVE ROSÉ 2011, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Perrin Réserve Rosé 2011, Côtes Du Rhône Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Perrin & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: “From the family behind Château de Beaucastel comes this very popular rosé. Sourced from the Perrin Brothers’ southern Rhône vineyards, this versatile cherry- and strawberry-scented rosé is an excellent companion for cucumber sandwiches, seafood appetizers or other light garden-party fare.” LCBO

Watermelon in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Although the nose might be mute, the taste isn’t, featuring strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, lime & Macintosh apple. Medium minus in body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I found drinking from a Riesling glass was the best option as other grape style glasses showed more tartness.

Drink now on its own or bring to a BBQ party, just bring several bottles as people are going to drink it down like water.

Tasted: 5 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#: 719062

ALIANCA TERRA BOA TINTO 2010, Portugal

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Alianca Terra Boa Tinto 2010 Bottle

Cost: $7.25
Grape Variety: Tinta Roriz, Touruga Nacionale & Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves Alianca Vinicola De Sangalhos
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring plums, raisins, blueberry jam & some cedar. Medium body with low tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch sweet.

Interesting Point: This best buy comes by the recommendation from my brother Andrew.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ Chinese ribs.

Tasted: 3 Sep 12

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

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

LCBO#: 590364

SUMAC RIDGE TRIBUTE SPARKLING WINE PRIVATE RESERVE, MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE (Blanc de Blanc) NV, VQA Okanagan, British Columbia

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Sumac Ridge Tribute, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc. – B.C.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw to gold in colour with fine mousse & a medium intense nose.

Positives: This sparkling can compete with Champagne at the $40-50 price range. This sparkling features green apples, lemon/lime, some yeast, pear & peach. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at 30% off at an LCBO store, which would make it a best but.

Drink now on its own or have it with Sunday brunch.

Tasted: 2 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 169508

BONTERRA VIOGNIER 2010, Mendocino, California

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Bonterra Viognier 2010, Mendocino County Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.7 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: Here’s another winner from Bonterra & a very pleasant surprise for producing a quality Viognier for under $20. Featuring peaches, apricots, mangoes, clementines, lemongrass & lemon custard. Medium light to medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This Viognier is more citric & less oily & complex than Condrieu (the benchmark for Viogniers), but still very good for its price. Bonterra produces organic wines.

Drink now & pair it with lemon pepper grilled catfish.

Tasted: 4 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 128900