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

FERNANDEZ ESCUDO DE PLATA GRAN RESERVA 2004, Jumilla Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Fernandez Escudo De Plata Gran Reserva 2004, Do Jumilla Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Monastrell
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Jumilla
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Fernandez
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark purple to ruby in colour medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Light cedar notes on the nose along with raspberry, roses, mushroom & hickory. The taste is smooth with medium minus tannins & acidity, medium body & length. The taste shows plum, raspberry, chocolate, nutmeg, mushrooms & tamarind.

Negatives: There are some volatile notes on the nose, especially as it opens up. In addition, there’s a lot of heat coming from this wine for only 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: The cork is synthetic on a Grand Reserve.

Drink now & pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 21 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO: 246751

SKN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2007 Napa Valley, California

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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S K N Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley, California Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Don Sebastiani & Sons
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose shows sweet oak, cloves, strawberry, pepperoni, cinnamon, mocha, & cherry pipe tobacco. The taste is smooth having medium tannins & acidity, medium+ length, medium+ body and the alcohol is under 14% alcohol. The taste is like the nose with addition to plums & chocolate.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Firstly, I have to thank my wife, Kerri, for introducing this to me a couple years ago in the Cayman Islands. Well it’s finally arrived here in Ontario & at a bargain price for Napa. Now this isn’t comparable to the mid to higher end Napa, but should please the palate of the masses as well as those with acute taste, like my wife. Secondly, SKN stands for Screw Kappa Napa because it’s a screw top, finally, if you like Zinfandel without the high alcohol, you should like this as it has many of the same properties to it.

Drink on its own or pair it with beef stew.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 218834

AMITY VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR, 2008, Willamette Valley Oregon

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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Amity Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Amity Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light to medium garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big Pinot, but it’s also not from California. Very smooth & very easy to drink a bottle or two in one sitting. Low tannins, medium alcohol & medium acidity makes this wine really easy to drink on its own or pair it with duck. The notes show floral notes of violets, roses, cloves & pine. The earth notes are well integrated with cherry & raspberry. Light to medium body & medium+ length. Simply delicious.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Tasted: 19 Nov 11. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 124594