13th STREET WINERY, ESSENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $34.95

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. There is lots of creaminess, butter, limestone, peach and a smoky note that is reminiscent of amber glowing after a bonfire. The nose reminds me of a high end Californian Chard, but the taste says it’s not a Chard and more like Fumé Blanc from Loire. This is probably the best Sauvignon Blanc that I have ever tasted. There is lots of complexity and creaminess like the nose, with layers of taste from apples, guava, passion fruit, caramel and lemon candy. The finish is quite lengthy. I think I went for a mile run and I still tasted it.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: 

  • The creaminess comes from the wine being aged in 40% French oak barrels. Make sure you don’t chill this too much, 13-14º C so you can taste all the different layers this wine offers.
  • I tasted this wine over a course of about 20 minutes and continuously found new notes. 
  • The grapes were picked the 1st week in November, which is very unusual for Ontario, heck it’s unheard of due to frost being a viable threat to the grapes. 
  • For those readers that follow my reviews, I am not a fan of high alcohol. This one is 14%, yet no heat from that, and on the plus side it adds to the full body this wine. 

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped scallops that are seared.  

Top Pick Price Not Withstanding 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

13th STREET WINERY ESSENCE PINOT NOIR, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Cost: $44.95

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: Very clean & crisp grape-cranberry nose. The taste has the beginning of some earth notes followed by rhubarb & cherry. The fruit is very intense with a sweetish note due to the late picking of the grapes. 

Negatives: This is not a big Pinot with a lot of earth notes you would find in a Burgundian wine or the notes found in Oregon or Central Otego Pinots, somewhat like drinking a really good grape juice.  

Okay so that was my review of this wine when the bottle has been opened for 2 days! Here’s my review of a new bottle, and why it’s so important for you to ALWAYS ASK WHEN THE BOTTLE WAS OPENED. Don’t be shy anywhere, restaurant, bar, winery, etc to ask for a new bottle. 

Positives: The nose shows more Burgundian aromas of barnyard, suede along with the fruits of rhubarb, cranberry & cherry followed by some sandalwood. The taste is similar as the nose but with more fruit forward & intensity. Long length to this one. 

Negatives: The wine is a little weak in earthiness and it has that grape/cranberry juice taste, but not as bad as when I tasted the 2 day old bottle. In addition, I also found some bitterness on the finish.  

Interesting Things:

  • Picked in mid November that is very unusual as this is traditionally an early ripping grape.
  • The wine was aged in 60% old oak. T
  • his is Jean Pierre’s 1st foray in making Pinot Noir in Ontario.
  • Even though this wine is 14% in alcohol it doesn’t feel like it.

I would recommend laying this wine down for another 3-5 years to see if the secondary notes of the earthiness comes out more to the forefront, and easing the that intense fruitiness that you get now. There is good acidity here now that it should cellar well.  

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

THE CROSSINGS PINOT NOIR 2009, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, NZ

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ager Sectus Company Limited
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: True Pinot nose of pine, barnyard, cranberry, rhubarb & cherry. Some nice dill with cranberry, rhubarb & cherry on the taste. Good length & acidity with light tannins.

Negatives: The taste is subdued compared to the nose. Slightly prickly.

Interesting Points: This Pinot is light body & easy to drink on its own or pair it with a BLT or turkey sandwich.

Good value Pinot

Tasted: 5 Oct 11. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 694471

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2009 Valle de Aconcagua, Chile

05 Wednesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Aconcaqua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful ripe, but not cooked Cab aromas featuring cedar, cassis, menthol, nutmeg, cinnamon & cloves followed by some bramble fruit. The taste is just as wonderful. This is a medium to full body wine with a long finish and a good balance of tannis and acidity making the wine feel round and not linear or austere. As with the nose there is a lot going on. The taste is similar as the nose.

Negatives: none

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with classic grilled tenderloin steak. The wine is drinkable now, but can cellar for another 3-4 years.

Best Buy

Tasted: 4 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 335174

MAS DES RESTANQUES VACQUEYRAS 2009, Vacqueyras, Southern Rhone, France

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Grenache blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vacqueyras
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mas Des Restanques
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: Lots of cherry, crabapple, raspberry, some earthiness & spruce. This wine is easy going with medium tannins & acidity making this a food friendly wine, such as pairing with rack of lamb or to drink on its own.

Negatives: As with its sister wine (Gigondas, reviewed by me), it has a high alcohol level and feel to it. Similarly, I found this wine a little watery. Not as earthy as other Vacqueryas’. Same thought as the modernist label as the Gigondas.

Interesting Notes: I compared the two wines & found this one far better & less expensive. I recommend this one. It just falls outside my Best Buy by $2.95.

Tasted: 27 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 245597

MAS DES RESTANQUES GIGONDAS 2009, Gigondas, Southern Rhone, France

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gigondas, Southern Rhone
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mas Des Restanques
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Nice red fruits on the nose & taste with some sandalwood & Macintosh apples.

Negatives: A little austere right now with noticeable heat from the high alcohol. I found it a little watery.

Interesting Notes: Has elegant potential so lay it down for another 5 years. Interesting modern label to try to appease the nouveau wine drinker. Too bad I’m somewhat of a traditionalist.

Tasted: 26 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 245662

VIÑA COBOS FELINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

26 Monday Sep 2011

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Viña Cobos Felino Malbec 2008, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Cobos S.A.
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: “Hot on the heels of the recently released 2007 comes the 2008 vintage of this well-crafted Cab. Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in both the Luján de Cuyo and Maipú sub-regions of Mendoza, it’s aged in French and American oak barrels for 8 months. This rich and complex Cab puts its emphasis on pure fruit flavours so look for loads of cassis and ripe blackcurrant as well as layers of earthy minerality, sweet tobacco and coffee notes culminating in a lingering finish.” (LCBO)

Positives: Despite it’s high alcohol, this wine is not jammy or overtly hot. The nose is very pleasant with classic Sauvignon notes of cedar, black currants, black cherry, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather & mocha. The taste is similar to the nose but not as pronounced.

Negatives: High alcohol, which is a pet peeve of mine. On the taste I found a slight watery feel to it which may be the result of a less than stellar crop. I also detected spinach leaf.

Interesting Notes: Light tannins with good acidity makes this wine ready to drink on its on pair it with T-bone steak on the grill.

Tasted: 25 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 132365

YELLOW TAIL BUBBLES, NV, Australia

25 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: White blend, predominantly Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casella Wines
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with fine mousse and medium intensity

Positives: This is a vast improvement over past Yellow Tail Bubbles & not only the nicer label & bottle, but the nose & taste. The mousse is fine & lasting. The nose has nice aromas of white flowers, apples, lemon/lime & a little biscotti. The taste is easy to drink & will do well mixing with fruit juices or drinking in its own. The taste has pear, sweet peach, mango & lemon/lime.

Negatives: The taste is weaker than the nose, but Yellow Tail is going in the right direction.

Interesting Things: With the new bottling there is a new reusable top that I really like, so if you need to cork it & still have the carbonation later, just use their top. Drink now on its own or with Sunday brunch or with gelato.

Tasted: 25 Sept 11

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 229039

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2008, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC

25 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Beautiful Chard nose with lemon meringue, apples, medium oak & toast. This Chard has a long taste with a medium body.

Negatives: Although it has a nice long finish, part of it is bitter.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 377770

 

 

WARRE’S WARRIOR PORT RESERVE, NV, Portugal

24 Saturday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Fortified & Desert Wine

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Cost: $15.15
Grape Variety: Red Blends from Portugal
Category: Fortified
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: W & J Graham & Company
Alcohol: 20.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour.

Positives: The nose shows a lot of complexity with chocolates, dates, figs, raisins, plums, red licorice, blackcurrants, mulberry & black cherry with a nice oak integration and spicy/mint finish. The nose reminds me of the Prisoner, which is a blend that’s dominated by Zinfandel. The taste is similar to the nose but with more traditional Port notes of prunes, nuts & caramel.

Negatives: none.

Interesting items: This port has steadily been a Best Buy year to year & you will not be disappointed. On sale now at LCBO. Drink now

Tasted: 23 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 197202