BELLINGHAM DRAGON’S LAIR 2006, South Africa

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

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Bellingham Dragon's Lair 2006, Wo Coastal Region Bottle

Cost: $16.90 (Sale price: $11.70)
Grape Variety: Shiraz 84%, Mourvèdre 11%, Viognier 5%
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dgb-Bellingham
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark garnet to ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Earth notes dominate the nose & taste. Medium tannin, good acidity, full body with medium+ length.

Negatives: There’s quiet a bit of heat coming the high alcohol. Mid palate shows some pungency.

Interesting points: I believe the wine is past it’s prime & on the downside. Still palatable, but don’t expect too much. Sale price helps. Try it with pizza.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11.

Score: 7.5+/10, Value: 6/10 (sale price: 8/10), Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 68692

GALIL MOUNTAIN SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON KP 2009, Galilee Israel

16 Sunday Oct 2011

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Galil Mountain Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Upper Galilee Bottle

Cost: $24.95 (Sale price $17.55)
Grape Variety: Shiraz/cabernet-sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Galil Mountain Winery
Alcohol: 15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby to purple in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A light Shiraz/Cabernet compared with the usual massive ones from Aussie land. Smooth, low tannin with medium acidity & medium length. Some nice red & blackberries with wood spice, black and white pepper & celery.

Negatives: Although this is a light Shiraz/Cab it has the heat from the high alcohol & somewhat of a watery finish.

Tasted: 16 Oct 11

Score: 8/10, Value: 7/10 (sale price: 8+/10), Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 156570

BENZIGER CHARDONNAY 2008, Carneros California

14 Friday Oct 2011

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Benziger

Cost: $24.95 (Sale price: $17.55)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Azienda Agraria Communali
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright clear gold in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Distinct Chard nose with medium toasted oak. The nose shows notes of lemon meringue pie, vanilla, caramelized apple & light minerality. More citric notes on the taste with lemon & orange notes, green apples, vanilla & butterscotch. Medium toasted oak with good acidity, medium to full body, medium+ length & not high in alcohol, which is a nice surprise for a mid level Californian Chard.

Negatives: Some bitterness detected.

Interesting Points:

  • Use the larger new world Chard glass vs the smaller old world.
  • Benziger is an organic winery.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared sea bass glazed in Chardonnay.

Tasted 13 Oct 11.

Best buy on sale price.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (sale price would be 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 34777

PELEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MERLOT, 2009 VQA Ontario

14 Friday Oct 2011

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Pelee Island Merlot 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful nose full of bramble fruit pie, cherry & with a light touch pine & cloves. The nose reminds me of wine gummy berries. The taste is similar to the nose but without the sweet pie notes. Nicely balanced, medium tannins, medium body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None for the price.

Interesting things: This vintage label is a lot nicer than their old one.

Drink now on its own or pair it with ham & pineapple.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 11 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 612622

KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK SHIRAZ 2006, Coonawarra

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Katnook Founder's Block Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wingara Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby going towards garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lower alcohol than your average Australian Shiraz. The nose & taste show a lot of spiciness with white, black & red peppers, eucalyptus, pimento, cedar, plum, blackcurrants, raspberry, leather, tobacco leaves & some slate. There is a lot of complexity for a wine that is under $20. This wine is medium body with mild tannins, good acidity & a long finish.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: Screw cap

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

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 108167

GAINEY VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, 2008 Sta. Rita Hills, California

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Gainey Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, Santa Rita Hills Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Sta. Rita Hills, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Gainey Vyd
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold colour with medium+ nose.

Positives. Unmistakable Chard with medium toast and oak. The nose shows lemon, golden & granny apples with buttery corn. The taste is similar to the nose with creaminess & good acidity. Medium to full body with a medium+ finish.

Negatives:

  • There is some heat from the alcohol
  • Little bitterness on the finish.
Interesting Note: Even though this bottle is labeled as having 13.9% alcohol, US tax law gives the wine producer a margin of error for alcohol up to 1.5%. Therefore, this wine may in fact be 15.4%

Tasted 8 Oct 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 205484

STREWN CHARDONNAY BARREL-AGED, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2009, Niagara On The Lake VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice Chard nose showing light oak & toast, buttery popcorn, lemon & golden apple. The taste is similar to the nose with a some added spice on the medium+ finish. The taste is smooth & creamy and still maintains good acidity. This medium body Chard is easy to drink on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use an old world or cool climate style Chard glass.

Best Buy.

Tasted 6 Oct 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 522730

PODERE CASTORANI AMORINO PECORINO 2007, IGT, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy

10 Monday Oct 2011

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Podere Castorani Amorino Pecorino 2007, Igt Colline Pescaresi, Estate Btld. Bottle

Cost: $25.00
Grape Variety: Pecorino
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages Online
Country: Italy
Region: Pescara, Abruzzo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Colline Pescaresi, Estate Btld.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description:” ‘The peaceful vineyards in the hills near the Italian seaside town of Pescara are a vastly different world from the speed, glamour and noise of a Grand Prix weekend. But Jarno Trulli has a passion for both environments. Trulli has been competing in F1 since 1997 and racing since 1983. For the past 10 years, he also has been deeply involved in his other ‘profession’, making wine … Trulli was born in Pescara. When he eventually retires from the hectic world of F1, the peaceful vineyards in the hills near his hometown and his other profession as a vintner await him.’ (Dan Knutson, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, June 3, 2007) This engaging Pecorino conveys intense aromas of exotic fruits and white flowers, a rich, well-structured palate, and a finish full of ripe fruits. ” LCBO

Dark golden in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Very aromatic and a good substitute for Chardonnay. Wild flowers, ginger, white sage, white pepper, lemon, golden apples, mango, tangerines and mineral notes.

Negatives: It has a little bit of an oxidative note to it that may turn some people away.

Interesting Things: This wine has similar notes to Fiano. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 8 Oct 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 111708

13th STREET WINERY, ST. CATHARINES, NIAGARA, ON

07 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Winery Review Series

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This is my first foray into reviewing wineries. I would like to thank Peter Rod, Sommelier at 13th Street for setting everything up and the owner, Karen Whitty, for her hospitality.
DSCF0212
                Peter in the Garden

A word of caution in attending this winery: If you think that you can fully appreciate everything they have to offer in an hour or two, that’s not going to happen. There is too much to experience here, from the tasting of the wines, to pairing of the wines with their selection of cheeses and meats, visiting the bakery and just walking around the grounds. They encourage people to stay awhile to enjoy the ambiance with wine and food while on the property. They have picnic tables as well as tables & chairs around the wine tasting house so you can sit, relax, drink and eat at your own pace. Inside the tasting house you will find more than just wine and cheese, but also art work. They have beautiful paintings and pictures from local artist as well as jewellery, and other art works. Outside you will continue with your experience in viewing larger pieces of art.

 

                      Gallery Room
IMG_1261
The Gallery Room Set Up For Wine Tastings
IMG_1262
                      The Grounds

                           Patio

The bakery is an artwork itself. Besides the novelties that they have for sale, the food looks amazing. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to eat there, but it looked extremely enticing. Karen gave me some heirloom tomatoes and blackberries that were just delicious. I will definitely go back and try their butternut soup and flat bread pizza.

IMG_1279
Karen Welcomes You to the Bakery
IMG_1274
                                  Bakery

I tasted 7 wines that Peter provided for me, and all were good, some better than others. My full review is posted below. Winemaker Jean Pierre Colas has done an impressive job making wines that are for the most part drinkable now, both food friendly or to be drank on their own.

IMG_1280
Me in the Blackberry Orchard

The only downside that I found here was that they are not open on Sundays. The owners and their staff work long hard hours during the week and due to their religious beliefs, they put their values ahead of business. Kudos for them.

This Winery is highly recommended.

13th STREET WINERY WHITE PALETTE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

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Cost: $14.95

Grape Variety: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay Musqué,
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. It reminds me of late spring with all the flowers in bloom and freshly cut grass. Not surprising as the 3 major grape varietals are all very aromatic. The taste is just as wonderful with a myriad of layers from lychee, to peach & pear to grassy. This wine has a nice long length.  

Negatives: Found a slight bitterness and heat like radicchio & radish on the finish. 

Interesting Things: This is a blend of 6 grapes and they all seem to come out in this wine one way or another, either through the nose or taste. The Chardonnay Musqué is an aromatic clone of Chardonnay also known as Wente. (Yes same as the California Winery. Rumour has it they are credited with the clone). The varietal are: 32.4% Riesling, 24.8% Gewurztraminer, 21.6% Musqué, 7.7% Semillon, 7.7% Pinot Gris & 5.8 % Sauvignon Blanc. 

Drink now on its own or pair it with angel hair with olive oil, cracked pepper and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#: 207340