WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Coonawarra, Australia

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

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Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Complex wine featuring cedar, cassis, violets, blackberry, dark cherry, mint, tobacco, graphite, sandalwood & plums. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This is Wynns’ Coonawarra Estate 53 vintage, and once again spectacular especially for being under $25. Taste double to triple that price.

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

Tasted: 26 June 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO#: 84996

MARQUES DE RISCAL RESERVA 2006, DOC Rioja, Spain

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

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Marqués De Riscal Reserva 2007, Rioja Bottle

Cost: $20.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vinos De Los Herederos Del
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, sandalwood, plums, dry cherry, a touch of vanilla bean, leather, cinnamon, all spice, red peppers & raspberry. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The Marqués De Riscal Reserva has been on the LCBO general list as long as I can remember & always consistent in taste, which is very good. Best part is the LCBO usually has this wine on sale periodically throughout the year.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 25 June 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 32656

CHAPOUTIER RASTEAU COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES 2009, AC Rasteau, France

23 Saturday Jun 2012

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Chapoutier Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2009, Rasteau Bottle

Cost: $18.45 (sale $16.45 till 24 June 12)
Grape Variety: Grenache blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: France
Region: Rasteau
Format: 750 mL
Producer: M. Chapoutier S.A.
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: Not much but there is a lot of oak & some dark cherry & licorice. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with medium length.

Negatives: Very bland. Nothing special here.

Interesting Point: This low rating maybe due to a defective bottle as normally M. Chapoutier is one of my favourite French producers.

Tasted: 22 June 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 321539

ROMAIN DUVERNAY VACQUEYRAS 2009, AC Vacqueyras, France

23 Saturday Jun 2012

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Romain Duvernay Vacqueyras 2009, Ac Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Grenache/syrah/mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vacqueyras
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dvm Duvernay Vins Millesimes
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, plum, licorice, blackberry, dark chocolate & dried earth. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Very food friendly as the flavours are all subdued.

Drink now or over the next 4 years & pair it with Beef Wellington.

Tasted: 22 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 280966

GOATS DO ROAM WHITE 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

21 Thursday Jun 2012

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Goats Do Roam White 2011, Wo Western Cape Bottle

Cost: $12.00
Grape Variety: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Rousanne
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fairview Trust
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium straw colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Lemon, peach pit, pear, pineapple & apricots. Medium minus body with high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little too tart.

Drink now with lemon-pepper catfish.

Tasted: 19 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 237313

MCMANIS CHARDONNAY 2010, River Junction, California

18 Monday Jun 2012

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Mcmanis Chardonnay 2010, River Junction Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: River Junction
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mcmanis Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light gold with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon, apricot, red & golden apples & cantaloupe. Medium body with good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink on its on now or over the next 2 years and pair it with lemon chicken.

Tasted: 17 June 12

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

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

LCBO#: 265983

MAYU RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009, Elqui Valley, Chile

16 Saturday Jun 2012

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Mayu Reserva Carmenère 2009, Elqui Valley Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Carmenere
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Elqui Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Mayu Limitada
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I’m not usually a Carmenere fan because a lot out there is boring. Well this is anything but featuring cedar, bramble fruit pie, tobacco, dried fig, mesquite, spiced apple, peppers (red, black & white), truffles, plums & ripe tamarind. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: There’s heat coming from the 15% alcohol.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own as a meal or pair it with venison.

Tasted: 16 June 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 90035

RAYMOND CLASSIC CHARDONNAY 2010, North Coast, California

16 Saturday Jun 2012

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Raymond Classic Chardonnay 2010, North Coast, California Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: North Coast, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very pleasant drinking wine featuring light oak, pineapple, lemon, toffee, orange, banana & apple pie. Medium+ body with good acidity, but still creamy & a long length.

Negatives: Surprising, a little heat coming from the 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Tasted: 15 June 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 269753

QUINTA DOS CARVALHAIS 2008, DOC Däo, Portugal

14 Thursday Jun 2012

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Quinta Dos Carvalhais 2008, Doc Dão Bottle

Cost: $15.60
Grape Variety: Touriga Nacional blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Dão
Format: 750 mL
Producer: House Of Sandeman
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium ruby colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Oak, cherry, rhubarb, blackberry, sage, plums & turn tamarind. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & length.

Negatives: A little green to have on its own.

Drink within the next 2 years & match it with ribeye steak.

Tasted: 13 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 13474

TERRE DORA FIANO DI AVELLINO 2009, DOCG Campagnia, Italy

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

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Terredora Fiano Di Avellino 2009, Docg Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Fiano
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terre Dora Di Paulo S.S.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Gold in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lemon, touch of honey, melon, macadamia nuts, chalk, grapefruit & chamomile. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 12 Jun 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/19, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 120048