CHIVITE GRAN FEUDO ROSÉ, 2010, DO Navarra, Spain

18 Sunday Sep 2011

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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

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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

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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

STONEHEDGE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Napa Valley

13 Tuesday Sep 2011

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Stonehedge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa Valley, Special Vineyard Select Bottle
 
Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stonehedge Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Let me begin to say that there is no way I would have picked this as a Napa Valley Cab on a blind in a million years. My guess would have been Australian Cab. Why? Lots of cooked fruit of plums, cherry, raisins, mint & blueberry pie. Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity. The taste is dry with medium+ tannins & acid, full body with medium length. The taste is similar to the nose with addition to dark chocolate. This was a disappointment as a Napa Cab, but as a wine it was fine.

Tasted 10 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO:# 25122

BODEGAS CALLIA MAGNA SHIRAZ 2008, Valle de Tulum, Argentina

07 Wednesday Sep 2011

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Bodegas Callia Magna Shiraz 2008, Valle De Tulum, San Juan Bottle

Cost: $15.95 (Sale price: $11.25)
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Valle de Tulum, San Juan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Salentein, S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Dark to almost opaque ruby in colour with a medium nose. A very pleasant nose indeed showing spruce, carnations, cloves, cinnamon, smoked bacon, plums, cherry pie, coconut & vanilla. Very surprised that the nose isn’t bigger, but that’s not a negative for this wine. The taste is as good as the nose with similar notes. It’s dry, medium tannins, medium+ acidity, medium+ length, medium+ body & balanced. This is a nice alternative to Australian Shiraz as it’s a little more restraint than most Australian Shiraz under $20.

This wine taste more like a wine around the $30, so I make it a Best Buy. I bought this on sale at the LCBO for $11.25, which I would classify this as an Amazing Buy. Drink now with Prime Rib or by itself. This wine will can be cellared for another 2-3 years.

Tasted: 7 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 218818

BERONIA ELABORACIÓN ESPECIAL TEMPRANILLO 2009, Rioja, Spain

05 Monday Sep 2011

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Beronia Elaboración Especial Tempranillo 2009, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gonzalez Byass & Co.
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description:” Elaboración Especial (special production) refers to the barrel fermentation this wine undergoes over several months in new American oak. This ripe 100% Tempranillo boasts intense plum and licorice notes, with smoky mocha and cigar box characters imparted by the unique production style. Try it with grilled or smoked meats.”(LCBO) You will also find roasted red peppers on both the nose and taste. On the negative, too much heat from the high alcohol.

Tasted: 5 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 723643

LUCAS & LEWELLEN PINOT NOIR, 2007, Santa Barbara County, California

05 Monday Sep 2011

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Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir 2007, Santa Barbara County Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Santa Barbara
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus garnet in colour & intensity on the nose. The aromas & taste are classic Pinot with beets, rhubarb, Earth notes of fallen leaves, mushrooms & suede. The taste is dry, light tannins, medium acidity, light to medium body, medium length & balanced. Love this wine with pâté or roasted duck. This wine maybe understated in its complexity but definitely delivers on taste. Great price for a really good quality Pinot for under $20. Remember to chill it to 15 C. Drink now.

Best Buy

Tasted 4 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 127605