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

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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

CHIVITE GRAN FEUDO ROSÉ, 2010, DO Navarra, Spain

18 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Chivite Gran Feudo Rose 2010, Navarra Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Julian Chivite
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright watermelon in colour with a medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Very nice nose & taste of cranberry, strawberries & pomegranates. Very easy drinking wine. Good acidity & length to thus wine.

Negative: A little bit of bitterness on the aftertaste (grapefruit)

Interesting Things: Have it chilled to about 13-15 C & drink from an old world styled Chard glass. I compared it to the Riedel Grape series Chard & the Riedel Vinum Sauvignon Blanc & I found the Chard glass far better. The Sauvignon glass had way to much bitterness. Drink on its own or pair it with grilled Tuna with steak spice. Just make sure it medium rare. Drink now.

Remember that Rosé can be drunk year round, but drink those within 2 years maximum. Rosés are meant to be drank young. Many Rosés are best buys.

Best Buy

Tasted: 17 Sept 11 Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 165845

MALIVOIRE ALBERT’S HONOUR OLD VINES FOCH 2009, VQA Ontario

17 Saturday Sep 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Malivoire Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch 2009, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $16.45
Grape Variety: Maréchal Foch
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Foch (or Maréchal Foch, to use its full name) has a reputation for producing fully ripe, well-structured reds in cool-climate wine regions such as Ontario. This hybrid grape (along with Baco Noir) proved early on Ontario’s mettle for serious red wines. Malivoire happens to be an expert with the grape and this version, from 34-year-old vines, delivers plenty of solid dark fruit character, good concentration, and a touch of rustic charm. ‘Albert’s Honour’ is a tribute to Martin Malivoire’s great uncle, who was awarded the French Legion of Honour medal for heroism in World War I.” (LCBO)

Positives: Medium+ intensity on the nose. I found a lot cranberry with plums, blueberry & light earthy notes of fallen leaves. The nose has pretty violets.

Negatives: The acidity is a light bit high & combined with the low tannins makes this wine a little bit astringent.

Interesting items: One of the last true wines that originated here, & it’s still tasteful & unique. Make sure you chill it like a Pinot Noir to get the full flavours of the fruit & drink it from a ballon glass (same as you would do Pinot).

Drink now on its own or pair with Thanksgiving turkey.

Tasted: 16 Sep 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total; 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 551036

SELLA & MOSCA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA RISERVA, 2007, DOC, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Sella & Mosca Cannonau Di Sardegna Riserva (V) 2007, Doc Sardinia Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Red ineW
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Sardinia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Sella &  Mosca
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “Cannonau (aka Grenache) di Sardegna is the Italian answer to France’s Côtes du Rhône. This pale-coloured red, typical to the variety, displays complex aromas of ripe plum, wild berries, spices, tobacco, dried flowers and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate is filled with plump, attractive fruit flavours.” (LCBO)

Positives: I love this wine. The aroma itself is intoxicating, maybe because it’s 14% alcohol! Luckily the taste is almost as good. Hey if it was as good I would have scored this wine as perfect. This is an easy drinking wine, with light tannin’s, good acidity, medium minus body and a medium+ length.  This is drinking well now, but you can cellar it for another 2 years. Drink on its own or pair it with hot or medium hot Italian sauces in a basil tomato sauce with pasta. It also went well pizza.

Negatives: The high alcohol of 14%, but surprisingly it still went well with hot food. The taste has a slight watery feel to it.

Interesting Item: The label makes this wine look an expensive Italy wine. Bring it to dinners or parties and it will impress people. The taste will back this up. People will think this is easily a $30-$40 wine.

Best Buy

Tasted: 15 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 425488

INNISKILLIN EAST WEST SERIES CHARDONNAY, 2010, Niagara-on-the-Lake & Okanagan BC

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $16.95 (on sale for $15.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Wine Rack
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario) & Okanagan Valley (BC)
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Inniskillin Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light golden in colour with a medium intense nose. 

Positives: This is a well balanced Chard. Good acidity and the oak is nicely integrated into the flavours of apple, pear and spring mix garden salad. (I have to thank Giulia from the Wine Rack in the Metro Supermarket in Woodbridge for the spring mix garden salad note). Very easy drinking that can be had on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter. (Metro had a sale on their lobster for $8.99/lbs).

Negatives: None, unless you taste it in the plastic cups that Wine Rack supplies. When I tasted it at the store I found that there was a bitter note, and again thanks to Giulia, the note was radicchio. 

Interesting Things: Firstly, if you are serious about wine or even want to enjoy wine, please please please buy some nice wine glasses and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Just make sure that the first thing you look for is a thin rim glass. Please email me if you have any question about glassware or wines. Secondly, I usually, ok never have, recommended wine from Canada that is not VQA. But there is always an exception, and this one is it. Thirdly, this is only available at this time at Wine Rack stores and the Winery. (Say hi to Giulia). And finally, this is a Best Buy wine, even at the full price. I just wish that Canada would be like the United States and have real sales on their wines. Seriously $1.00 off?! I guess we’ll take what we can get.   

Tasted: 14 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated it 4

Wine Rack product# 80007027                                                                                


BODEGAS OLARRA CERRO A¤ON GRAN RESERVA 2002, DOC Rioja, Spain

13 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Olarra
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: This is an easy drinking wine that has soft tannins, but still has enough acidity not to make it flabby. Has nice spices of rosemary & oregano. You can drink on its own or pair it with BBQ lamb chops. Drink now.

Negatives: I believe it’s past it prime. I would have liked to have tasted it a year or two ago. A little oxidative now.

Tasted: 12 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 190827

MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS SARATOGA CUVÉE CHARDONNAY 2006, Santa Cruz Mts, California

13 Tuesday Sep 2011

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Mount Eden Vineyards Saratoga Cuvée Chardonnay 2006, Santa Cruz Mountains Bottle

Cost: $26.00
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Vintages LCBO Online Exclusives
Country: United States
Region: Santa Cruz Mountains
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mount Eden Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. Medium complex wine.

Positives: For Chard lovers this isn’t bad, but not worth the money. Has nice toasty oak with buttery popcorn notes, lemon and apple.

Negatives: I found quite a bit if bitterness in the end. Maybe to much toasted oak. Not enough fruit coming through.

Interesting things: The middle palate has a bourbon taste to it. Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 11 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO:# 180406