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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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

GEOGRAFICO PULLERAIA 2006, IGT Tuscany, Italy

01 Sunday Jul 2012

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Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Agricoltori Chianti Geografico
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, sour cherry, truffles, oregano, Thai basil, cassis, plum, blackberry, tamarind, leather & a touch of spinach. Medium body with high tannins, medium to medium+ acidity with a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I would have never guessed this wine as Merlot.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, but right now pair it with a high protein meal to break down the tannins.

Tasted: 1 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 204586

YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2010, Eden Valley, Australia

30 Saturday Jun 2012

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Yalumba Viognier 2010, Eden Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Yalumba
Country: South Australia, Australia
Region: Eden Valley
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lots going on here with apricots, nectarines, lemon, green olives, jasmine, clove, walnut & a touch of honey. Medium to full body with good medium+ acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Yalumba is consistently one of the best producers of Viognier outside Condrieu, Northern Rhone in France.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 29 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 954644

WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Coonawarra, Australia

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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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