BODEGAS SHAYA VERDEJO 2009, DO Rueda, Spain

19 Monday Dec 2011

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Bodegas Shaya Verdejo 2009, Do Rueda Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Shaya
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nice aromas of lemon/lime, carnations, cinnamon, pear, apple & limestone. The taste is not as beautiful as the nose but still nice showing lemon, orange, pear, limestone & grapefruit. The wine is medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A touch too much grapefruit on the finish. Drink now on its own or pair it with oysters.

Interesting Note: If you like Rueda wines, try the Pedro Escudero 2009 Fuente for $13.95, which is a Best Buy that I reviewed in November 2011.

Tasted: 18 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 241554

CHÂTEAU LE MONTEIL D’ARSAC 2006, AC Haut-Médoc, France

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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Le Monteil D'arsac 2006, Ac Médoc Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yvon Mau Et Fils
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour intensity with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Pleasant aromas featuring mulberry, cherry, mushroom, oak, oregano, cassis, turmeric & leather. Taste is pleasant with similar notes. The wine is medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: Some spinach on the finish giving a touch of bitterness.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork chops.

Tasted 17 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 226142

CHÂTEAU PUECH-HAUT PRESTIGE SAINT-DRÉZÉRY 2009, AC Coteaux-Du-Languedoc, France

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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Château Puech Haut Prestige 2009, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc Bottle

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Coteaux-Du-Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaines Bru
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: Plums, dark chocolate, bramble fruit, blueberry, cassis, oak, tobacco leaf, radicchio, dark cherry & earthy minerality. This wine is medium to full body, very long length, good acidity & high tannins.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat coming from the alcohol, as well I found this wine too austere with bitter notes.

Interesting Notes: I tried this wine 24 hours later hoping that the wine would mellow out somewhat, but it was the same as I had it before.

Drink with medium-rare steak

Tasted: 16 Dec 11.

Score: 8/10, Value: 6.5/10, Total: 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 237289

TOASTED HEAD, BARREL AGED, CHARDONNAY, 2010, California

10 Saturday Dec 2011

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Toasted Head Chardonnay (V) 2009, California Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: R.H. Phillips Vineyard & Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: “The name Toasted Head refers to the barrels used to age this wine. Usually, only the barrel walls are charred, but, in this case, the heads are toasted too. The resulting wine is filled with aromas of smoky apple-cinnamon, pear, vanilla and toasty oak. Full bodied with a medium-long finish, it’s a perfect companion to chicken quesadillas, grilled prawns or shrimp stir-fry.” (LCBO)

Light gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Toasted Head has come a long way from the days that California Chards , at least in the inexpensive category of under $30, was like gnawing on oak planks. Toasted Head has been consistently good in the past couple of years producing well balanced, medium toasted oak Chards, full body, long length with good acidity. Notes of lemon, apple, butterscotch, coconut cream pie & pineapple dominate both on the nose and palate.

Negatives: High alcohol.

Interesting Things: I like the shape of the bottle & wax stopper on the cork. Makes it stand out from the rest of the California Chards. LCBO usually puts this wine on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

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

Tasted: 9 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 594341

POST HOUSE PENNY BLACK 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Thursday Dec 2011

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Post House Penny Black 2008, Wo Stellenbosch Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot & Chenin Blanc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robinson & Sinclair S.A.
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, mesquite, blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, plum, black & red peppers on the nose. Medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & full body. Surprisingly the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little austere.

Interesting Point: Use a Shiraz style glassware as I found other glassware accentuated the austerity. After an hour the wine had more Cab notes.

Tasted: 7 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 148619

ABBADIA ARDENGA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2007, DOC

08 Thursday Dec 2011

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Abbadia Ardenga Rosso Di Montalcino 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Abbadia Ardenga
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Classic Sangiovese with sour cherry, wood smoke, cedar, raspberry & truffles. The taste is very smooth & easy to drink with medium tannins, good acidity, medium weight & long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with any classic Italian dish with tomato based sauce.

Tasted: 6 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 184945

AMANI CHARDONNAY 2009, Stellenbosch, South Africa

05 Monday Dec 2011

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Amani Chardonnay 2009, Wo Stellenbosch Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosh
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Amani Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This wine shows a beautiful Chard aromas and bouguet of medium toasted oak, butter, lemon & butterscotch ice cream. The taste is creamy with medium tasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, orange rind, & green apple. The wine is medium to full body, a very long length & good acidity.

Negatives: There’s a little too much tartness on the taste.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glass as smaller glassware will accentuate the tartness. This wine is not for everyone, only for die hard Chard lovers.

Drink now with rich foods such as crab with drawn butter which will help dissipate the bitterness.

Tasted: 4 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 6877442

KAESLER STONEHORSE SHIRAZ/GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE 2008, Barossa Valley

04 Sunday Dec 2011

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Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: 62% Shiraz, 28% Grenache, 10& Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terravintner
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Inky blood ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Description: Very Zin like character in both flavour & power. Notes of plums, raisins, mocha, dark chocolate, blueberry, black cherry, blackberry, sweet peppers, Christmas cake, figs, cinnamon & nutmeg. This wine is full body with low tannins, medium acidity & long length.

Negatives: 16% alcohol! That’s getting to close Port.

Interesting Things: Good wine to give those who don’t like tannins or austere red wines & like it a little sweeter. Nice on a cold winter day.

Drink now as a meal of its own or pair it with T-bone steak. This can age for another 3 years.

Tasted: 3 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 6551

DOMAINE NAPA CHARDONNAY 2008, Napa Valley, California

02 Friday Dec 2011

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Domaine Napa Chardonnay 2008, Napa Valley (Bronco Wine Company) Bottle

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bronco Wine Company
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: As you take your first sip your entire tongue tingles with a plethora of flavours such as: candy coated apples, woodsmoke, marshmallows, egg nog with cinnamon & nutmeg, lemon, orange, mangos, peaches & cream corn, pineapple & some flint. This chard has medium toast & oak with a long finish, good acidity & is medium to full body.

Negatives: Some heat from the alcohol.

Interesting Things: Unusual straw colour for an oaked chard from California. Use the larger Chard glass to get the full flavours on your tongue.

Drink now or cellar for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter. Taste more like a $40-50 bottle.

Tasted: 1 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 244483

DE TOREN Z 2008, Stellenbosch South Africa

01 Thursday Dec 2011

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De Toren Z 2008, Wo Stellenbosch Bottle

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosh
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Toren Cellars
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with high intensity in the nose.

Positives: There is a lot going on with this wine both on the nose & taste. They are: cedar, plums, raisins, herbaceous notes, carnation on the nose, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, candy apple, vanilla bean, turmeric, leather, pencil shavings, black olives & hickory. This wine is full body with good acidity, medium+ tannins & a long finish.

Negatives: A lot of heat coming from the high alcohol, and a little to herbaceous on the taste.

Interesting Thing: The wine’s nose is a lot sweeter than the taste, which is a little austere.

Drink now or cellar for another 5 years. Drink on its own as a meal or pair it with grilled T-bone steak.

Tasted: 30 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 178194