RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2020, Franschhoek, South Africa

27 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $20.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balance of oak, fruit, acidity & spice. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, peach, pear, light caramel, honey, light oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

WINE MAKING: “This wine was fermented in 500l French oak barrels and Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older) The must was fermented at 14° – 17° C and lees was stirred up daily. The wine was matured for 10 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with seared shrimp in garlic butter sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 27, 2023

RICKETY RIDGE BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Méthode Cap Classique, Franschhoek, South Africa

26 Sunday Mar 2023

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $34.00 KY
Grape: 53% Pinot Noir, 47% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An expressive brut rosé with a distinctive taste. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kumquat, Marmite, brioche, raspberry, apricot & white peach

Negatives: None

WINE MAKING: “Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. The must was fermented between 14 – 17˚C and the lees was stirred up daily for three months and then twice every week for three months thereafter. The wine spent 18 months on the lees during and after second fermentation before it was disgorged.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Sunday brunch.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 26, 2023

LUNDY MANOR WINE CELLARS MERITAGE 2016, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $39.95
Grape: 40% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 17.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Lundy Manor Wine Cellars
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, complex & elegant. This high-quality Canadian red at a great price as other wineries are charging twice the amount. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, Crème de Cassis, pencil shavings, .

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Wine spent 2 years in French Oak. Love the classic bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with a juicy tenderloin grilled steak with roasted orange & red peppers.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 9, 2023

LES VINS DE VIENNE CONDRIEU LIEU-DIT JEAN RAUDE 2019, DOC Condrieu, Rhône, France

12 Sunday Mar 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $82.00
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Condrieu, Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Les Vins de Vienne
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, complex & elegant. Just gorgeous. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dried apricots, orange zest, lemon custard, honeydew melon, white peach, yellow passion fruit, honeycomb, peach pit, granite & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: 9 months on lees in French oak casks.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with baked Brie with apricot jam & honey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2023

LCBO: 21406

BERONIA ROSÉ 2021, DOC Rioja, Spain

09 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.95 (Clearance Price: $9.80)
Grape: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Beronia
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An earthlier style rosé. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light pink in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, strawberry, thyme, Kalamata olives & Champagne mushrooms.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “On arrival at the winery both the Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes underwent cold pre-fermentation maceration for several hours, which extracted as much as possible of their primary aromas. Next, they underwent static debourbage at 5ºC, then alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature below 22ºC immediately afterwards. Finally, the wine was bottled in January 2022 and rested in bottle at least 2 months before being released to the market.”
‘WINEMAKER´

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Paella Valenciana.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: March 8, 2023

LCBO: 323519

ZENATO SOAVE CLASSICO COLOMBRA 2021, DOC Soave, Veneto, Italy

08 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.99 KY (March 2023 sale: $12.99 KY)
Grape: 70% Garganega, 30% Trebbiano
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Soave, Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Zenato
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably one of the best Soave’s I’ve had tasted as it has a lot of complexity. Clean & crisp with a beautiful white flower nose. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, lemon meringue, green apples, pear, honeydew melon, white peace, limestone & elderflower on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Focaccia

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at the sale price

Tasted: March 4, 2023

MON FRÈRE CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

03 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mon Frère Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

I’m not a fan of over ripe bananas so getting past that, this wine isn’t that bad. Score: 86/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon custard, fried pineapple, orange, ripped banana, melted buttered popcorn & ripped banana on the nose.

Negatives: Over ripped bananas on the nose and taste.

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: March 2, 2023

ARIENZO DE MARQUES DE RISCAL RIOJA 2016 CRIANZA, DO CA Rioja, Spain

02 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $16.99 KY
Grape: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Herederos del Marqués de Riscal
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja Crianza with nice fruits & spices all at a good price point. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, nutmeg, cloves, coconut, vanilla & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 18 months aged in American oak barrels followed more aging in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Paella.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: March 1, 2023

TWO MOUNTAIN MERLOT 2019, Yakima Valley, Washington State, United States of America

28 Tuesday Feb 2023

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $25.99 KY
Grape: 93% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: United States of America
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Two Mountain Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balance between fruit, acidity & oak. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, raspberry, tamarind, roasted beets, licorice, black peppers, cocoa, bay leaves & lilac on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Certified green winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Teppanyaki vegetables .

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 27, 2023

CAPE LANDING RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2019, Margaret River, Australia

27 Monday Feb 2023

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $34.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cape Landing
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in Chablis style having clean, clear, bright notes with lots of citric fruit. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Clear bright light gold in colour with high acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, orange, kiwi, marzipan, limestone & white flower on the nose.

Negatives: $10 over priced

Interesting Point: Use Chablis style glassware

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7years, on its own or pair it with smoked trout.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 26, 2023