FERNÁNDEZ DE PIÉROLA RESERVA 2004, DOC Rioja, Spain

15 Sunday Jul 2012

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Fernández De Piérola Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Fernandez De Pierola S.L.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium minus ruby with a garnet rim in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Elegant Reserva featuring sandalwood, cedar, cigar box, plums, dried cherry, incense, cloves, rosemary, leather, blackberry, hickory & earthy notes. Lots of complexity going here. Medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity, long length & the wine is nicely balanced with only 13% alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Decant this wine as there will be sediment at the bottom of the bottle.  I like the classic Spanish label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 14 July 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 270579

STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN MAYACAMAS RANGE NAPA ESTATE ZINFANDEL 2009, Napa Valley, California

14 Saturday Jul 2012

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Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $46.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Storybook Mountain Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.9 %
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose. This is an elegant Zin featuring blackberries, figs, raisins, raspberries, red currants, plums, fennel seeds, lead pencil & cracked black pepper. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the 14.9% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Don’t expect your typical jammy Zin. This is smooth & elegant, like a well aged Scotch. This winery does not use herbicides or insecticides on their grapes.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 13 July 12

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO#: 682989

CHÂTEAU DE BERNE TERRES DE BERNE CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2011, AOC Côtes De Provence, France

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

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Château De Berne Terres De Berne Côtes De Provence 2011, Ac Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Grenache and Cinsault
Category: Rosé
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Côte De Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Berne Selection Sarl
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light salmon colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: The mouth explodes full of flavour such as strawberries, rhubarb, sour cherry, white pepper, lemon/lime & apricot pit. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish.

Interesting Point: Ok I have to admit that I bought this wine because I loved the bottle, and it didn’t disappoint.

Drink now on its own or pair it with French cut pork chops stuffed with goat cheese, spinach & red peppers.

Tasted: 11 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 278861

CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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https://i0.wp.com/www.clossonchase.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2009CCV-Chard-VQAPEC.jpg

Cost:  $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category:  White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country:  Canada
Region:  Prince Edward County
Format: 750 ml
Producer:   Closson Chase Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6

Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Rich & creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, butter, yellow plums, lemon, nutmeg, creme brulee, & limestone. Full body with good acidity and long length.

Negatives: A touch bitter from the toasted oak.

Interesting Things: I believe the 2008 & 2009 are sold out at the winery. 

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 July 12

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

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

TORREVENTO VIGNA PEDALE RISERVA 2006, DOC Puglia, Italy

08 Sunday Jul 2012

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Torrevento Vigna Pedale Riserva 2006, Doc Castel Del Monte Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Nero di Troia (aka Uva di Troia)
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torrevento
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Oak, plums, black currents, black & white pepper, mulberry, dry sage, black tea, licorice & wild mushrooms. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: The nose is a little musty which will turn off some people.

Drink now & it paired well with medium veal from California Sandwich.

Tasted: 7 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 208256

TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA TORRONTÉS 2010, Salta, Argentina

07 Saturday Jul 2012

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Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Torrontés 2010, Salta Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Torrontes
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Salta
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Chandon S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lemon, fennel, white peach, fresh carnations on the nose, white pepper & a slight bitter grapefruit tang on the finish.Medium minus body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A little too bitter on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lake trout.

Tasted: 6 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 243238

KIWI WALK SPARKLING SAUVIGNON BLANC NV, Marlborough, New Zealand

05 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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Kiwi Walk Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yealands Estate Wines Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with frothy mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: You get the traditional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc notes of gooseberry, lantana, guava, lime, hay, cucumber, asparagus & chalk. Medium body with good acidity & a surprisingly long length.

Negatives: If you don’t like traditional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, you wont care for this one.

Interesting Point: Comes with its own sparkling wine stopper, which is always a bonus. The LCBO just brought this into the general list.

Drink now in its own or pair it with cooked asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.

Tasted: 4 July 12, Happy US Independence Day!

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

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

LCBO#: 270462

MARIMAR ESTATE LA MASÍA DON MIGUEL VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2007, Russian River Valley, California

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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Marimar Estate La Masía Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay 2007, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Unfiltered Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mirimar Estate
Alcohol: 14.2 %
Description: Old gold in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: medium+ oak & toast with lemon, caramel apple & lots of spice. Full body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: One dimensional, over toasted oak, too much fermented orange & a lot of heat coming from the alcohol. I would lay this one down for another 2 years to see if it mellows.

Hard to pair this one due to the powerful toasted oak & fermentation.

Tasted: 6 Mar 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

LCBO#: 270090

ZUCCARDI Q TEMPRANILLO 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2008, Santa Rosa Vineyards, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Medoza
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: La Agricola
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a nice wine this is featuring cedar, incense, blackberry, sandalwood, dark cherry, cherry liquorice, hickory, sage & rosemary. Medium body & tannins, good acidity, fairly long length & alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Zuccardi has done a nice job taking the Spanish Tempranillo & transplanting it to Argentina.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 8 June 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 973503

STAGS’ LEAP WINERY CHARDONNAY 2010, Napa Valley, California

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

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Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 14.1 %
Description: “This well-structured Chardonnay is crafted in a crisp and refreshing style, which is wonderfully atypical for Napa. It features green apple and floral aromas followed by a very dry, full body with more apple and mineral flavours and a vivacious backbone of acidity. Pair this with king crab legs or cellar it 3-5+ years.” LCBO

Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Good balance between creamy & minerality. The wine features light toasted oak with lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apple, vanilla & limestone. Medium to full bodily with good acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This will appease a good cross section of Chard drinkers.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with scallops in angel hair.

Tasted: 27 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 655381