GIAVI CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE, DOCG, Treviso, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

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Tenuta Giavi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore, Docg Bottle

Cost: $14.65
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta Giavi
Alcohol: 11.0 %
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Prosecco with pear, peach pit, lemon/lime & apple. This is a lighter style Prosecco with medium+ length & good acidity.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the after taste.

Interesting Things: Try this with Reese peanut butter cups, it’s delicious.

Tasted 30 Oct 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 209569

BARONE RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2007, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

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Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casa Vinicola Barone Ricasoli Spa
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Classic Chianti with sour cherry, cedar, dried herbs, blackberry, Conifer spice, red & black pepper. This wine has medium+ tannins with good acidity, medium body & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Pair this wine with traditional Italian tomato based dishes.

Tasted: 29 Oct 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 943613

CHÂTEAU CROIX DE THOMAS 2008, St. Georges, St. Emilion

29 Saturday Oct 2011

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Château Croix De Thomas 2008, Ac St Georges St émilion Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: St. George, St. Émilion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nicely balanced wine. Red & black fruits intertwined with earth notes, medium+ tannins & good acidity. Some spice notes are detected in the middle during its long length. Easy drinking wine.

Negatives: Slightly watery finish.

Interesting Things: If you can’t afford the higher end Right bank Bordeaux, this is a very good entry level.

Drink now or cellar for 2-4 years. Pairs nicely with grilled lamb & squash.

Tasted 28 Oct 11

Best Buy.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 244053

COLANERI WINERY

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Winery Review Series

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I visited the Colaneri winery on Friday 7th October 2011, and was shown around by Tara Colaneri, daughter of Mike Colaneri. The experience was very moving for me as the winery is based on romantic values, family, friendship & good wine. Most of their wine labels have a story to tell, some even moved me to tear up, especially the story behind Tara’s label, which is reviewed.

Colaneri is a young winery to Ontario, but Tara’s grandparents used to sell the grapes to make juice and jams. Visit their website to view their family history.Owners-The Colaneri Family
Winemaker’s name-Andrzej Lipinski
First Crop- 2008
First Bottled-2010
Retail store opened-2010

The first thing you notice when you approach the winery is the large Tuscan villa rising above the grape fields. A beautiful piece of architecture that carries through to the interior, albeit it will not be completely finished for probably another two years. They have a bell tower that was rung when I was there for a couple on their anniversary symbolizing good luck. Even though there is construction, the winery is open for the public to sample their award winning wines.

Tara with Her Award Winning Gold Medal Riesling Wine

Once the interior is finished it will truly be a magnificent & unique place to visit. In regards to their wines that I tasted, they were all very good.  Their winemaker, Andrzej Lipinski, has done an exquisite job making delicious wines.

Tara in the Wine Cellar

Me Enjoying a Glass of Wine in their Wine Cellar

Once again, I would like to thank Tara for her hospitality and making me feel part of the family.

Tara and I in the Wine Cellar

COLANERI, STELLUCHA, RIESLING, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, White Wines

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Coraggioso

Cost: $15.95

Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light gold colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Very clean, smooth and a touch of creaminess. Notes of lemon/lime, peach, tangerine and a hint of grapefruit and minerality. This is a medium body wine with long length and good acidity. On the Riesling sweetness scale (not to be confused with the sugar content of wines) I would put this in the middle. Very pleasant to drink on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp on the BBQ. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This is Tara’s wine that won gold medal at the Ottawa Wine Challenge (should have won diamond, if they had that category)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months
  • Stellucha means little star in Italian. Tara’s mom gave her that nickname when she was little. Tara competes in Latin dance & the picture is of her pose in the dance. On the upper right corner is a silhouette of her mother looking down from heaven to her Stellucha. Tara’s mother had passed away 2 years ago.  

Best Buy 

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI, CAVALLONE, PINOT GRIGIO, VQA 2010, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: A beautiful copper colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: This is in the Alsatian style with honeysuckle, orange rind, grapefruit, pear and peach on the nose. The taste has a wonderful oiliness to it along with peach, pear, orange, pink grapefruit, limestone and apples.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine won gold at Intervin
  • This is Tara’s mom’s wine (Angiolina)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months Appassimento style
  • Cavallone means horse in Italian. Tara’s grandmother gave her mother that nickname when she was little, which meant in Italian that they were strong and free spirited. The little children on the horse is Tara holding onto her mother not to let to go, and her brother, Michael, pointing to the sky telling her that she is in heaven but saying that she is with them here. The rock on the lower right hand corner represents Tara’s father, who is the rock. 

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

COLANERI, UNITA, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Complex wine showing cherry, blackberries, black olives, dill, basil, mocha, tobacco leaves and raspberry.  This wine is full body with a long length.  

Negatives: Needs to age as it is still a little green on the taste.  

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in 50% Appassimento style
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.
  • The label means Unity. This is Michael’s label (Tara’s brother), which represents happy times at the dinner table with his family.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI CORPOSO VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Coraggioso

Cost: $18.95

Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvigon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+  intensity on the nose. 

Positives: There is a lot going on in this wine. Cherry pie, blackberries, black olives, dill and basil predominate on the nose. Similar to the nose with the addition of some tobacco leaves and raspberry.  The wine has a Medium+ body with a long length. Easy to drink on its own or pair it pizza. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in a Ripasso style
  • The label is of Tara’s grandfather pressing the grapes in the traditional Italian method “torchio”
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

THE PARING, THE HILT, CHARDONNAY 2008, Santa Barbara County, California

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in White Wines

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Cost: $32.95 (sale price of $23.15)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cool Hand Vineyards Llc
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Golden in colour, medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Classic Burgundian Chard with lemon, apple, limestone, light butter & touch of toasted oak. Medium body, good acidity & long length. The big surprise is there’s no excessive heat from the high alcohol. I describe this Chard as non-offensive, meaning those that like un-oaked to those that like heavy Chards will enjoy it. They may not love it, but should agree with my scoring.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Not worth the original price, but I can live with the sale price.

Drink now on its own or pair with any chicken dish. Make sure you don’t chill it to much so the flavours come out.

Tasted 19 Oct 11.

Score: 8.5+/20, Value: 7.5/10 (sale price: 8.5/10), Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 221176

ELDERTON SHIRAZ 2007, Barossa, Australia

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $32.95 (Sale price: $23.15)
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ashmead Family
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to purple in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots of red & black currents, mocha, spiciness, sweet plums & earth tones in both the nose & taste. There is a lot going on in this wine. Full body, medium tannin, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the high alcohol.

Interesting Points: This is a typical well made Shiraz from Barossa that’s a meal in itself. Drink now on its own or pair it with a rich spicy Italian dish.

Best Buy on the sale price.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11,

Score: 9+/10, 8/10 (sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 713024