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

MALIVOIRE RED VQA, 2008 Niagara Peninsula

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Malivoire Red 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A delightful nose showing floral notes of purple lilac along with cranberry, beets, rhubarb & a dusting of earth notes. If I just rated the nose it would be a 10/10. The taste is delightful but doesn’t compare with the nose. Medium light body, low tannins, good acidity & a long length. Cranberry, rhubarb, sour cherry, herbal notes & earth flavours.

Negatives: A touch too tart which drops it out of the 9/10 scoring.

Interesting Point: Gamay dominates here & the wood age is almost unnoticeable.

Drink now by pairing it with stuff turkey.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCB0:# 141523

SOUTHBROOK ORGANIC WHITE CONNECT VQA, 2010 Ontario

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Southbrook Connect White 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Vidal
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Southbrook Farms Winery
Alcohol: 9.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Peach, pineapple, hay, lemon & grapefruits predominate. Taste is off dry but it has good acidity to go with food. Medium minus body with a medium finish & low alcohol.

Negatives: A little too much tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: It’s organic.

Drink now & serve with squash soup.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 249078

PERRIN & FILS TAVEL ROSÉ 2010, France

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Perrin & Fils Tavel Rosé 2010, Ac Bottle

Cost: $19.95 (Sale Price: $14.05)
Grape Variety: Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Tavel
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Perrin & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: “Tavel, especially from talented producers such as Perrin, produces some of the richest, yet driest, rosés on the market. They work beautifully as sippers and are quite adaptable to a variety of foods such as grilled chicken, seafood salads, bouillabaisse, pork tenderloin or even grilled lamb chops. The Perrin 2009 is a lovely blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut.” (LCBO)

Bright pomegranate in colour with a medium nose.

Positives: Classic Tavel with strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit & raspberries. The taste is refreshing with good acidity, medium minus body & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Serve it in a Viognier/Chardonnay glass.

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

Tasted: 27 Nov 11

Best Buy 

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (sale price of $14.05, 10/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 680801

MONT-MARÇAL BRUT RESERVA CAVA, Catalunya, Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Mont Marçal Brut Reserva Cava, Do Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Xarello, Macabeu, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mont-Marcal
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh & lively best describes this sparkler. Green & red apples with lemon & some ginger dominate. There’s traces of limestone to give it a touch of minerality. The wine is medium body, good acidity, medium + length & delicious.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is one of if not my favorite Cava that I have tasted. Traditional Method.

Drink now on its own or have it with Chinese food.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 26 Nov 11

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 229021

DOMAINE GEROVASSILIOU WHITE 2009, Epanomi Greece

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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Cost: $16.90
Grape Variety:  Malagousia and Assyrtiko
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Greece
Region: Epanomi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Gerovassiliou
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “A blend of the two indigenous varieties Malagousia and Assyrtiko. The lesser-known Malagousia is an ancient, highly aromatic variety that can produce quite elegant wines; the grape had nearly become extinct, and was only very recently rediscovered in modern Greece. This is a dry, zesty, very fresh and well-balanced wine with a nice length to the finish. Great as an aperitif or as a match for seafood appetizers.” (LCBO)

Rich gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nice wine showing grapefruit, lime, apricots, mandarin, apples and green tea. Medium body with good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Very similar to the Rueda (Pedro Escudero Fuente Elvira) that I have just reviewed, but this one has more yellow grapefruit than pink grapefruit.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon pepper catfish.

Tasted: 22 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 999714

PEDRO ESCUDERO FUENTE ELVIRA VERDEJO 2009, DO Rueda Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pedro Escudero
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very refreshing wine. Pink grapefruit dominates with supporting roles from apples, orange rind, green tea, gooseberry & limestone. Medium minus body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: A yellow synthetic cork. I suggest drinking this wine from glassware used for cool climate Chardonnay or Viognier. I tried it in a Sauvignon Blanc glass & it turned the pink grapefruit to regular grapefruit that I would need sugar to cut through the tartness.

Drink now on its own or with Kung Pao chicken.

Best Buy

Tasted: 21 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 218313

ESPORÃO RESERVA, 2008 DOC Alentejo Portugal

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Esporão Tinto Reserva (V) 2008, Alentejo Bottle

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Aragónes (aka Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and Trincadeira grape
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Alentejo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fingara
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Made from a blend of Aragónes (aka Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and the local Trincadeira grape, this wine is a very modern take on Portugal. Dark, dense and very fruity, it has pronounced flavours and aromas of mixed berries, new leather, coconut and spice. Boisterous and approachable, it has a New World-meets-Old World style and makes a great companion to barbecued or grilled Angus beef steaks or gourmet sausages.” (LCBO)

Deep purple to ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes on the nose are mushrooms, light oak, raspberry, blueberry & cherry. The taste is smooth showing plums, blueberry, sandalwood & rosemary. The wine is medium body, medium tannins with medium+ acidity & length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nothing really wows me on this one.

Tasted: 21 Nov 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 6/10, Total: 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 606590