ROMAIN DUVERNAY VACQUEYRAS 2009, AC Vacqueyras, France

23 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

FULL PRESS CHARDONNAY, NV Canadian & International Blend

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Full Press Chardonnay Bottle

Cost: $7.20
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium minus intensity in this nose.

Positives: Considering this is a multi country blend, it’s not that bad. Nothing fancy or complex showing light butterscotch, apple, lemon & melon. Medium body with medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Some sourness on the finish. There’s some heat coming from the moderate alcohol.

Interesting Point: This wine will go nicely if you’re drunk & need another bottle that’s not disgusting & it’s only $7.20; or you’re just looking for another bottle to open after you drank the good stuff; or you have people over that don’t have taste buds and you don’t want to open a good bottle of wine, but you need to drink something that doesn’t taste that bad. Keep it well chilled & use a larger Chard glass.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Camembert cheese.

Tasted: 8 Jun 12

Score: 8+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 219923

13TH STREET PINK PALETTE ROSÉ 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula , Ontario

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


13th Street Pink Palette Rosé 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thirteenth Street Wine Corp.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: A beautiful rich pomegranate colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Probably the best rosé I have tasted from Canada. Features strawberry, pomegranate, watermelon, cranberry, Bing & sour cherry. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I used the Viognier glass which brought out the best in this wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with pork chops with a sweet & spicy rub.

Tasted: 7 Jun 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 275834

PORCA DE MURÇA RESERVA TINTO 2008, DOC Douro, Portugal

07 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Porca De Murça Reserva Tinto 2008, Doc Douro Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Red blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Real Companhia Velha
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Easy to drink featuring notes of pine needles, blackberry, raspberry, truffles, cloves, blackcurrant, cassis & radicchio. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Has some bitterness (mustard greens) & a touch watery. Nose is better than the taste. Drink now on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 6 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#: 684753