GLORIA FERRER CHARDONNAY 2008, Carneros, California

21 Saturday Apr 2012

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Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay 2008, Carneros Bottle

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Vintages LCBO
Country: California, United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not your typical California Chard, which makes sense as this one comes from the cooler region of Carneros. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, pineapple, chives & limestone. Medium to full body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little sour.

Drink on its own, but would be better off pairing it with food such as crab Alfredo.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 83345

PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE PINOT GRIS 2009, AC Alsace, France

15 Sunday Apr 2012

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Pierre Sparr Réserve Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Pierre Sparr & Successeurs
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep straw with pink tinge in colour & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delicious wine featuring peach, pear, pink grapefruit, lemon/lime, lychee, beeswax ending off on a creamy finish. Off dry, medium+ body with medium to medium+ acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: This is another two bottle wine that you can drink in a seating. The back label gives a lot of detail about this wine that would benefit consumers. Use the Viongier/Chardonnay glass if you have them.

Drink now on its own or pair it with shrimp tempura.

Tasted: 15 Apr 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 983395

DOMDECHANT WERNER HOCHEIMER KIRCHENSTUECK RIESLING AUSLESE 2003, Prädikatswein, Rheingau, Germany

15 Sunday Apr 2012

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Domdechant Werner Hocheimer Kirchenstueck Riesling Auslese 2003, Prädikatswein Bottle

Cost: $27.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Germany
Region: Rheingau
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domdechant Werner’Sches Weingut
Alcohol: 7.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Dried apricot, mango, beeswax, honey, peach compote, lemon/lime candy, nutmeg & tangerine. Medium sweet, medium+ body with medium acidity, long length & low alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: It’s unusual to find Riesling with this somewhat muted nose. If you like aged Riesling but don’t like the classic petrol note, this wine is for you. Be careful when drinking this wine as you can easily drink a bottle very quickly so I suggest you get 2 bottles. Make sure you don’t over chill it to get the most out of what this wine has to offer.

Drink two bottles on its own or pair it with jerk pork & chicken.

Tasted: 14 April 12

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 931386

TRAPICHE FINCAS LAS PALMAS MALBEC 2006, San Carlos, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Saturday Apr 2012

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Trapiche Fincas Las Palmas Malbec 2006, Uco Valley, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Penaflor/Trapiche
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium purple to ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots of bramble fruit, cedar, graphite, blueberry pie, plums & turn tamarind. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: The wine is a little astringent.

Interesting Point: I bought on sale for $14.05, which would make it a best buy.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted: 13 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 186668

FOLEY CHARDONNAY RANCHO SANTA ROSA 2008, Sta. Rita Hills, California

09 Monday Apr 2012

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Cost: $28.59 CI
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sta. Rita Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Family Wines Inc.
Alcohol: 14.4 %
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Delicious Chard featuring medium toasted oak, pineapple, mango, lemon,  pear and limestone. Full body with good acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Use the larger Chard glasses if you have them.

Drink now on its own or match it with angel hair with scallops and olive oil basil sauce.

Tasted: 8 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

TANDEM PINOT NOIR GREEN VALLEY KEEFER RANCH 2004, Sonoma County, California

09 Monday Apr 2012

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Cost: $31.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wine Creek Cellars
Alcohol: 14.2 %
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Interesting Pinot that is still vibrant for a 2004. Shows blueberry, strawberry jam, pine, stewed plums, nutmeg and cloves. Medium to medium minus in body, good acidity, mild tannins, good length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little too syrupy on the finish

Interesting Note: Taste more like a Zin with Merlot than a Pinot, which isn’t a bad thing unless you’re looking for classic Pinot taste.

Drink now on its own or match it with cured dried duck breast.

Tasted: 8 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Foley Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir 2007, Santa Rita Hills, California

07 Saturday Apr 2012

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Foley Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir 2006, Santa Rita Hills Bottle

Cost: $34.99 CI
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Rita Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Estates
Alcohol: 14.3%
Description: Light ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Pinot, even my wife loved it.  Features classic pinot notes of cranberry, cherry, rhubarb, pine along with spearmint, sage, espresso and cola. Medium minus in body with light tannins, medium acidity, long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with rosemary roasted duck.

Tasted: 6 April 12

Top Pick

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

FAMILIA ZUCCARDI Q CHARDONNAY 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

05 Thursday Apr 2012

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FAMILIA ZUCCARDI Q CHARDONNAY 2009

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Agricola
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: The nose has a sweet peach smell along with lemon, orange, mango, pineapple, dill, butter & light toasted oak. The taste shows similar notes to the aromas with the addition of pink grapefruit rind. Medium body with good acidity & very long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point:

  • Taste more like a $40 Chard
  • Use the smaller Chard glasses if you have them.
  • I was able to find it on sale for $14.05 at a LCBO store.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 4 Apr 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 232702

ST. SUPÉRY MERLOT 2007, Napa Valley, California

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

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St. Supéry Merlot 2007, Napa Valley Bottle

Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St.Supery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Although the nose is somewhat muted in scent but the taste surely is not. The mouth explodes with blueberry, plum, raspberry, cassis, cedar, black cherry, dark chocolate & cinnamon. Medium+ body with young tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: A little heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Thing: I was able to get this at the LCBO on sale for $13.35, which would give it a 10/10 on the value scale.

Decant and drink on its own today or pair it with prime rib. I believe this wine will get better in 2 years.

Tasted: 3 Apr 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 398214

CHÂTEAU ROUSSEAU DE SIPIAN 2006, Médoc, France

01 Sunday Apr 2012

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Château Rousseau De Sipian 2006, Ac Médoc Bottle

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Rousseau De Sipian
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, blackberry, plum, cassis, anise, turmeric, pencil shavings & leather. In other words classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium body with medium tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Flavours are somewhat muted.

Interesting Point: Found this wine on sale at LCBO for $16.15.

Drink now on its own or pair it bacon, mushroom burger.

Tasted: 31 Mar 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (sale price 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 246637