Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008, Napa County, California

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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

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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

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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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

Posted by in Champagne, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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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

Posted by in Red Wines

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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

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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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

TRIVENTO AMADO SUR MALBEC/BONARDA/SYRAH 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

08 Sunday Jan 2012

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Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah 2009, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $15.00
Grape Variety: 72% Malbec, 16% Bonarda and 12% Syrah.
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Medoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trivento Bodegas Y Vinedos
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Bramble fruit, cedar, blueberry, oregano & all spice on the nose. Taste shows blueberry, dark cherry, blackberry, plums, oregano, all spice & radish with spinach in the finish. Medium+ body, medium+ tannins, medium+ acidity & a very long length.

Negatives: A little too austere & green on the finish.

Interesting Thing: Thank you POA staff at Brantford (Mena, Sue, Roger & Jay; who picked the wine out, for providing me the wine.

Drink now or cellar for another 2-3 years. Pair it with protein foods like steak to smooth out the tannins & herbaceous notes.

Tasted: 6 Jan 12

Score: 8.5+, Value: 8.5+, Total: 18/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 37036

J. LOHR RIVERSTONE CHARDONNAY, 2010 Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California

08 Sunday Jan 2012

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Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: J Lohr Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Bright medium-yellow Chardonnay with an enticing toasty/fruity nose (particularly apricot, apple and cranberry). Dry and quite clean with pretty oak tones surrounding the fruit. Medium-full bodied with a medium finish. An ideal Chardonnay for grilled herbed chicken or smoky prawns with mango salsa.” LCBO

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

Positives: Tropical flavours of pineapple, mango, orange, bananas, honeydew melon & lemon with medium oak & buttered popcorn. Full body, good acidity, balanced with medium+ length & moderate alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: If you want a good drinking buttery Chard with moderate alcohol & under $20, you can’t beat this wine. Drink from new world Chard glass & don’t over chill it.

Drink now on its own or pair it with steak & lobster. Chris Ruth’s Steak House comes to mind.

Tasted: 5 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 258699

LOUIS JADOT BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY, 2010 Burgundy, France

04 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in White Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Louis Jadot
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Long-time Jadot winemaker Jacques Lardière is not one to rest on his laurels. Even with this terrific-value Bourgogne Chardonnay, he creates a wonderfully versatile wine. Aromas of almond, toffee apple, lemon, pear and toasty oak are prominently on display. Dry, richly textured with a long finish, it is a textbook example of how well oak and fruit flavours can mingle. A fine partner for roasted vegetables and chicken breast.” LCBO

Light to medium+ gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lemon/lime, grapefruit, limestone, light oak & pear. Medium bodily, high acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A lot of tartness & taste is muted.

Interested Things: Chill it to ice wine temperature to dull the tartness.

Cellar it for 2 years to see if the acidity comes down. Pair it with lemon pepper cat fish.

Tasted: 3 Jan 12

Score: 8/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 933077