SANTA RITA RESERVA CHARDONNAY, 2009 DDO Casablanca Valley, Chile

19 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Santa Rita Chardonnay Reserva 2009, Casablanca Valley Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.45)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Casablanca Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Santa Rita
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose makes this wine feel like a $50 chard. It shows notes of medium toasted oak, buttery, vanilla, lemon meringue pie, caramel covered apples & popcorn. The taste feels like an under $20 chard with more citric & tart notes of lemon rind, lime, green apples, unripe pineapple, light toasted oak & limestone. Medium body with high acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little tart on the taste.

Interested Thing: LCBO usually has this wine on sale a couple of times a year.

Drink now & pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 17 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 348359

CASALVENTO JANUS 2007, IGT Radda, Chianti Italy

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

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

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Cost: $49.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caslavento Ss
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very smooth & complex wine showing notes of black cherry, plums, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, anise, cigar box & slate. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, alcohol is well integrated, very long length & balanced.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Decant for an hour.

Drink now or cellar for another 10 years. Drink on its own or pair it with Filet Mignon.

Tasted: 16 Jan 12.

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 237594

E. Guigal Condrieu 2006, Northern Rhône, Condrieu, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost:  $52.99
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 ml
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Deep golden to amber in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Simply delicious! I hold all viogniers to E. Guigal’s Condrieu. Creamy apricot marmalade, honeysuckle, orange blossom, vanilla, beeswax and lychee.

Negatives: Oxygenated properties have taken hold.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red lumpfish caviar. Even though it’s on it’s down slope, this wine is still delicious.

Interesting Things: If you like nice complex chardonnays you will love this. Due to it’s oxygenated properties it has similar taste to Fiano. 

Tasted: 14 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008, Napa County, California

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2007, Napa County Bottle

Cost: $64.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Newton Vineyard
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Golden yellow in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Too much to write about but here’s a summary to this complex wine. Medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, creme brûlée lemon meringue pie, roasted marshmallows, apple pie, caramel & cashews. Full body, alcohol is well integrated, good acidity & very long length.

Negatives: 15% alcohol. Interesting Things: Don’t over chill it & use the larger Chard wine glasses.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5-7 years. Drinks well on its own as a meal or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 1537

Alamos Extra Brut NV, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.99
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Medium straw colour with medium mousse and medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very easy drinking wine featuring lemon pie, custard, apples, jasmine and ginger. Medium body with good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Charmat (tank) method

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

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Doña Paula Malbec Selección de Bodega 2010, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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Cost: $32-$46
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Doňa Paula
Alcohol: 14%

Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Full flavoured wine showing cedar, vanilla, kirsch, red and black pepper, nutmeg, liquorice, dark chocolate, blackberries, mulberries and raspberries. Full body with good acidity, medium+ tannins, alcohol well integrated and a long length.

Negatives: Not available in Ontario.

Interesting Things: Decant first for an hour to soften the tannins. Drink now or over the next 5 years.

Drink on its own or pair it with porterhouse steak.

Tasted: 11 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5 

RUINART BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS CHAMPAGNE, Reims, France

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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Ruinart Blanc De Blancs, Champagne Bottle

Cost: $89.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Champagne Ruinart
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with fine mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: My wife says it’s yummy with delicious & a touch of tasty. I happen to agree. We also agree it’s one of the best champagnes we’ve tasted. The nose has aromas of fresh baked bread, apple, ginger, jasmine, biscotti & wet stone. The taste shows macadamia nuts, lemon, apple crumble, strawberry/kiwi, tangerine and with a slight lemon peel & ginger on the finish. Medium body with good acidity & long finish.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or with strawberries.

Tasted: 11 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 62984

CASARSA MERLOT, 2010 IGT Venice, Italy

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

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Casarsa Merlot 2010 (1500ml) Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 1500 mL
Producer: Viticoltori Friulana La Delizia
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nice nose showing, light cedar, sour cherry, pomegranate, cassis & star anise. The taste shows sour cherry, cranberry, strawberry, cassis & star anise. Light to medium body with medium minus tannins, medium plus acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Watery taste. Plain Jane wine that’s correct on price point.

Interesting Thing: My mom liked it & she doesn’t like complex red wines that have tannins.

Drink now on its own or have it with pizza.

Tasted: 10 Jan 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 351791

WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI CHARDONNAY, 2010 California

10 Tuesday Jan 2012

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Cost: $11.95 (on sale $9.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Easy drinking California Chard showing light toast & oak, lemon, apple, peaches & cream corn. Medium to full body, good acidity, balanced & moderate alcohol.

Negatives: A little tartness on the finish.

Interesting Things: I always like when Californian Chards are under 14% alcohol & this one is 13%. Not a complex wine but will satisfy those that like unoaked to oaked Chards. It’s priced nicely & LCBO usually has this wine on sale a handful of times a year.

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

Tasted: 9 Jan 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5, Value: 9.5/10 (sale: 10/10)

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 99408

WILLIAN FEVRE CHABLIS CHAMPS ROYAUX, 2010 Chablis, France

08 Sunday Jan 2012

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William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis 2010, Burgundy Bottle

Cost: $21.55
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Fevre
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw colour with a hint of green & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Refreshing wine with lots of minerality, lemon, green apples, pink grapefruit,  steely, grassy notes & honeydew melon. Medium minus body, good acidity, long length & balanced.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: This wine is a good alternative for anyone wanting an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.

Drink now on its own or pair it with my favourite oysters, Raspberry Point from PEI.

Tasted: 7 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 276436