DOMAINE TROTEREAU QUINCY 2009, AOC Quincy, France

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Domaine Troterau Quincy 2009, Ac Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Quincy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Troterau
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a slight green tinge in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Sauvignon Blanc with no notes over competing with one another. Notes of gooseberry, melon, cantaloupe, honey, wet stone, lemon/lime, pear, herbal tea & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Quincy is located in Loire Valley.

Drink now on its own or have it with regular potato chips.

Tasted: 28 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 225185

SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, DO Maipo Valley, Chile

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Maipo Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Maipo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Santa Rita
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful complex nose showing cedar, cassis, star anise, cloves, blackberry, dark chocolate, cigar box, leather & pencil shavings. The taste is just as complex with its notes coming in waves. Similar notes to the nose but a fair amount of spinach on mid palate & finish that is traditionally found in Chilean Cabs. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins & acidity, alcohol well integrated & a very long finish.

Negatives: Taste falls well below the aromas due to the dominate green notes.

Drink now by decanting an hour before service. This Cab should cellar well for another 5 years. Pair it with medium-rare steak.

Tasted: 27 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 275594

ZONIN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE, 2009 DOC Veneta, Italy

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Zonin Ripasso 2009, Valpolicella Bottle

Cost: $16.45
Grape Variety: Molinara, Corvina, Rondinella
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Zonin S.P.A.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, sour cherry, raspberry, mulberry & plums. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: Way too musty.

Pair this with pizza.

Tasted: 28 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

LCBO#: 170142

TRUCHARD CHARDONNAY, 2008 Carneros, Napa Valley, California

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Truchard Chardonnay 2008, Carneros, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $32.95 (sale: $23.15)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Truchard Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Medium toasted oak with lemon, apples, pineapples, buttery popcorn, light smoke, and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and medium+ finish.

Negatives: Too much sourness on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with chicken Alfredo.

Tasted: 27 Feb 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 60459

LAGUNA RANCH CHARDONNAY 2008, Russian River Valley, California

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Gallo Family Laguna Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: California, United States
Region: Russian River
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Slightly creamy with medium toasted oak, buttery, pineapple, mango, oranges, caramel, lemon, apple, limestone and butterscotch. Medium to full body, good acidity and long length.

Negatives: Slight sourness on the finish.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 25 Feb 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 544981

SALTRAM MAMRE BROOK SHIRAZ 2008, Barossa Valley, Australia

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Veinous in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: There’s a lot going here in this complex wine. Violets, cedar, spices, blackberries, coffee, plums, anise, dark chocolate, menthol, smoked bacon, roasted red peppers and sawdust. Full body, medium tannins, good acidity with long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

This wine is a meal on itself, but will also pair nicely with a medium rare T-bone steak. Drink now or cellar for another 5 years.

Tasted: 25 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 32227

LAILEY VINEYARD CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Lailey Vineyard Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara River Bottle

Cost: $19.95 (sale $14.05)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lailey Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: An old world style chard showing chrysanthemums, lemon, green apples, mandarine, light oak, limestone & sweat peach on the nose.

Negatives: Not complex while showing a lot of citric flavours. The nose is the best part of this wine.

Interesting Thing: Made with Canadian oak.

Drink now on its own or pair chicken breast in a lemon/basil sauce.

Tasted: 24 Feb 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 225474

DR. HERMANN RIESLING KABINETT 2008,Qmp, Erdener Treppchen, Mosel, Germany

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Dr. Hermann Riesling Kabinett 2008, Qmp, Erdener Treppchen Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Weingut Dr. Hermann
Alcohol: 7.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Petrol nose featuring lime, peach, slate, pineapple, apple and honey.  Off dry with medium body, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: None

This wine is starting to come of age but you will be rewarded for cellaring this wine for another 10 years. Drink on its own or it will pair nicely with BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 21 Feb 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 189647

DR. LOOSEN BLUE SLATE RIESLING KABINETT 2010,Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett 2010, Prädikatswein Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Weingut Dr Loosen
Alcohol: 7.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Wine & Spirits magazine, in their December 2008 issue, also gave this wine a score of 90.p

Description: Medium+ straw in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Sweet peach, lime and honey. Off dry, ibody with high acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: Lots of sulphur and closed nit. Not worth drinking now.

Cellar it for at least 5 years, and hope that the petrol notes come out and the acidity will smooth out bring out the fruit.

Tasted: 22 Feb 11

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 160846

NORMAN HARDIE UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2008 VQA Ontario

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

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Norman Hardie Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008, VQA Prince Edward County Bottle

Cost: $35.00 (sale $24.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hardie Wines
Alcohol: 11.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ nose.

Rich, smooth & complex wine whose taste come in waves. Medium toasty oak with buttery popcorn, lemon zest, tangarine, pineapple, limestone, nectarine, apricot, ginger, dill & butterscotch. Medium+ body, good acidity, extremely long length & unusual low alcohol for a chard of such richness.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Use the smaller chard glasses to capture the complexity of this wine & be careful not to over chill it.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or with white tail tuna sashimi.

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+ (sale price 10/10 & a Best Buy), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 184432