ANT MOORE PINOT NOIR 2009, Central Ortago

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Ant Moore Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, South Island Bottle

Cost: $20.85 (sale: $18.85)
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Ortago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antmoore Wineworks Limited
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus to light garnet in colour with medium intensity.

Positives: Earth notes dominate with fall leaves, mushrooms, & suede followed by sour cherry, rhubarb & cranberry. A lighter style Pinot with good acidity, soft tannins & a long length.

Negatives: There is some bitterness on the mid palate, but dissipates thanks to the long finish. I’m not crazy about the label, looks like Nouveau Beaujolais.

Interesting Point: It’s unusual to find a Central Ortago Pinot this inexpensive, but I found it muted compared to other Ortago Pinots. Reminds me more of Côte de Beaune. Food friendly wine that I would pair with turkey. Drink now or over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 11 Feb 12

Score: 8.5, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 220657

WAKEFIELD CHARDONNAY 2009, Clare Valley, Australia

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Wakefield Chardonnay 2009, Clare Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Clare Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wakefield Wines Pty Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “A ripe, luscious, peach-, nectarine- and citrus-scented wine with well-integrated creamy oak tones. This clean, balanced, and fruity wine is an excellent match for roast pork, mushroom risotto and, as the producer suggests, Chinese spice-encrusted duck.” LCBO

Gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: An inoffensive chard that should please the masses. Notes of lemon, nectarine, peach, apple, some wet stone & a light creamy oak finish.

Negatives: None.

A food friendly chard that is also easy to drink on its own. Priced fairly.

Tasted: 10 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 711556

VILLA MT. EDEN GRAND RESERVE BIEN NACIDO CHARDONNAY 2007, Santa Maria Valley, California

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Villa Mt. Eden Grand Reserve Bien Nacido Chardonnay 2007, Santa Maria Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Santa Maria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Fob
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep gold in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: A powerful nose showing creme brûlée, buttered popcorn, peaches & cream corn and medium toasted oak. The taste is more refined showing lemon, apple crumble pie, creme brûlée, mango, pineapple, butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn with a medium tossed oak. Full body, good acidity, long finish & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The powerful nose is a little too much that it detracts from the enjoyment of drinking the wine. Pity.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glass.

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

Tasted: 10 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#: 393892

TRIUS WHITE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale)
Grape Variety: White blend
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Estates
Alcohol: 13.1 %
Description: Medium straw colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose showing spring flower blossoms, lychee, peach, apricot, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, lemon, golden apple & light oak. The taste is smooth & very easy to drink. Be careful because before you know it you’ll be in your second & third bottle. Actually that might be a good thing lol. The taste comes in waves showing lychee, peach, green & golden apples, honeydew melon, apricot, cantaloupe, light oak, lemon, limestone, mandarine & orange rind on the finish. Medium minus body, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: A complex wine for under $20.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 9 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 54957

DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2009, DO Bierzo, Spain

12 Sunday Feb 2012

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Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos 2009, Do Bierzo Bottle

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Mencia
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Palacios
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Descendientes De J. Palacios
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Earthy wine featuring mushrooms, twigs, leather, plums, dried foliage, tobacco leaves, sage, blackberries, wild berries, oak & cherry cough syrup. Medium to medium+ body & tannins with good acidity, extremely long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Not sure about the cherry cough syrup notes.

Drink now or for the next 5 years on its own or with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 8 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#: 675207

COYOTE’S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: What a nice, easy drinking Chard under $20 & it’s from Ontario. The nose is closed, but the palate brims with spiced oak, lemon, crisp apple, honeydew melon, pear, limestone, tangerine, medium minus toasted oak & a light creaminess on the finish. Nice Old World style Chard. Medium body with good acidity, a long length & moderate alcohol. Nowadays 12.5% alcohol for a Chard is low.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: You can use both the smaller glass Chard or the larger one, but I give the nod to the smaller Chard glassware.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Drinks well on its own or pair it with pasta in an Alfredo sauce.

Tasted: 5 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 49775

BONNY DOON BEESWAX VINEYARD LE CIGARE BLANC 2008, Arroyo Seco, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Bonny Doon Beeswax Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc 2008, Arroyo Seco, Central Coast Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Rhone Varietal (Roussanne & Granache Blanc)
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonny Doon
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: TASTING NOTE:” (75% grenache blanc and 24% roussanne) Light yellow. A complex bouquet displays nectarine, dried pear and yellow plum scents, along with subtle anise and floral qualities … A snap of tangy minerality keeps things in check and helps to carry the finish. This will be great with lighter meat or fish dishes, and I’d drink it on the young side. Score – 89. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Nov./Dec. 2008)” LCBO

Medium gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of Verbena, lemon oil, honeysuckle, beeswax, apricots, peach, almonds, ripe pear, cantaloupe & shale. There is some oak but it’s well integrated. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High Alcohol. Interesting Things: This winery is biodynamic & I like the traditional old world wine label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters in a honey-ginger vinegrette.

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 95331

MINER WILD YEAST CHARDONNAY 2007, Napa Valley, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $36.45
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Miner Vineyards
Alcohol: 15.3 %
Description: Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Big & bold are the best descriptors of this Chard. Medium to medium+ toasted oak, with notes of buttery popcorn, lemon, red candy apples, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla & oak spice. Full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol batman.

Interesting Thing: They use wild yeast or natural grown yeast in their wine making which adds complexity but there’s an unknown factor on how these yeast will act in wine processing.

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

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 45906

BONTERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, 90% Mendocino County, 10% Lake County, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon (V) 2009, Mendocino County Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: “This organically grown Cabernet rewards with pure and polished aromas and flavours of cassis, cherry, roasted herbs, licorice and ripe blackberry, all wrapped in silky tannins and culminating in a medium-long finish. Toast mother nature by serving this Cab with organic steaks and roasted potato wedges topped off with stir-fried portobello mushrooms.”LCBO

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with high intensity on the nose. Positives: Lots of black fruits to go with cedar, anise, ribena, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, arugula & a touch of spinach leaf on the finish. Medium body, medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The wine is organic.

Pleasant drinking wine that can be drank now or over the next 2 years on its own or paired prime rib.

Tasted: 31 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 342428

DE BORTOLI DB RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2009, Australia

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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De Bortoli Db Reserve Chardonnay 2009, South Eastern Australia Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a lovely nose, too bad the taste doesn’t keep up. The aromas show medium toasty oak with butterscotch, honeysuckle, lemon meringue pie, lemons, apples & roasted marshmallows. The taste shows lemon, lime, tart apples & slate. The wine is medium body with high acidity, medium length & medium alcohol, which is a nice change in Aussy Chards.

Negatives: Too acidic which mutes a lot of flavour.

Drink now with BBQ chicken.

Tasted: 28 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 244426