ROSEMOUNT SHOW RESERVE GSM 2006, McLaren Vale, Australia

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Rosemount Show Reserve Gsm 2006, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $34.95
Grape Variety: Grenache/shiraz/mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: First off let me just say that I have not yet had a Rosemount Show Reserve wine that I didn’t like & this one doesn’t disappoint. Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intensity on the nose. A complex nose that shows plums, dill, raspberry, blackberry, cherry, cedar, dark chocolate smoked bacon, black & white pepper & mocha. The taste is just as complex as the nose showing similar notes as the nose. Surprisingly with the high alcohol & being from Australia you would expect more prune or cooked fruit. However, the taste is old world, except for the heat. The taste is dry, medium+ tannins & acidity with a very long length. The wine has medium to full body & balanced. The wine is drinkable now but will age nicely for the next 5 years. Drink on it’s own or rack of lamb.

Tasted 17 Aug 11.

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value; 7/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 583146

OPEN SOCIABLE SPARKLING, 2009 VQA,Ontario

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Open Sociable Sparkling 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Charmat method, this sparkling wine shows medium straw colour with medium nose intensity & fine mousse. The nose has a very nice Easter lily aroma along with green & red apple, peach, lemon & some minerality. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body, long length & balanced. Easy drinking that has green & red apples, lemon/lime, limestone & peach. Not a complex wine, just easy going. This sparkler was a pleasant surprise to me with no negatives. Drink on its own or pair it with Capresse salad.

Best Buy.

Tasted 15 Aug 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 224410

BLUE MOUNTAIN BRUT, NV, Okanaga Valley, BC, Methode Traditiomnelle, NV, Estate bottled

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Pinot Gris 
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Blue Mountain Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold with a touch if copper in colour with medium intensity & fine mousse. This sparkling smells & taste like fine Champagne, but at least half the price & it’s Canadian! This sparkling shows notes of baked apple, yeast, pine nuts, brioche, lemon and lime stone.

Tasted 5 Aug 11

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:#206326

FATTORIA DEL CERRO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO, 2006 DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Saiagricola S.P.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium intensity. A pleasant nose that shows distinctive Sangiovese in cedar, oregano, sage, sour cherry, anise, lead pencil, milk chocolate & black peppercorn. The taste is dry, with medium+ tannins & acidity, & medium+ length. The notes on the taste are similar to the nose with addition of spinach leaf. The wine is very smooth & balanced. Nicely aged it’s drinkable now or for the next 2 years. Food friendly wine that will pair with any Italian dish with red sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 180059

CHÂTEAU DE CRUZEAU BLANC, 2007, Pessac-Leognan

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Château De Cruzeau Blanc 2007, Ac Pessac Léognan Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Pessac-Leognan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: André Lurton
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: 1st off just want to let you know that this is so far my favourite Sauvignon Blanc. Gold in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose has beautiful aromas that has a prominent note of guava followed by gooseberry, hay, lantanas, chalk, green apple & passion fruit. The taste is dry, medium+ acid, medium body with long length & balanced. This wine has been on it lies for 10 months prior to bottling that is evident by the creaminess of this wine. Guava dominates the taste. Other notes are as the nose with addition to edamame, pear, pink grapefruit, dry apricot & golden apples. This an exceptional Sauvignon Blanc for its price considering the complexity. The wine isn’t bone dry like a lot if Sauvignons. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with Sea Bass with white wine sauce on a bed of couscous.

Tasted: 30 July 11

Best buy & top pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 966010

PELLER ESTATES FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY 2008 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY VQA

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Andres Wines Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium intensity. The nose has a light oak, nice lemon pie smell, mango, peach, apple, melon & honeydew. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body & length that’s balanced. Taste is as the nose & best part there’s no bitterness on the finish. Peller has done a wonderful job with this Chard. Easy drinking that can be drank on its own or pair excellently with rotisserie chicken. This one I would definitely take to a social or party. Drink now.

Tasted 30 July 2011.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 582825

ANGELS GATE SUSSRESERVE, RIESLING 2009 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation:
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Medium minus straw colour with medium+ intensity. Lemon, grapefruit & pear predominate with limestone. The taste is slightly off dry due to the addition of unfermented grape juice that’s added before bottling (Sussreserve), medium+ acidity, medium length & body. The wine is balanced & shows lemon, grapefruit, pear, peach, limestone & ginger. The freshness with the ginger makes this a food friendly wine that will pair with any sweet sauce like BBQ. Drink now or cellar for up to 4 years.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 24 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 620104

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CHARDONNAY, 2008, Limari River, Chile

30 Saturday Jul 2011

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Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Limari River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Concha Toro S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright golden in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose shows medium oak & toast, macadamia nut, pineapple, lemon, buttered popcorn & peach. The taste is dry, good acidity, medium+ body, medium+ length, alcohol is well integrated & the wine is balanced. The taste is similar to the nose with pink grapefruit & caramel The after taste has a slight bitterness from the toasted oak & may detract those who are sensitive or adverse to that note in Chards. Use the larger Chard glass for this warm climate Chard. Drink now & on it’s own or with the classic crab with drawn butter.

Best Buy.

Tasted 29 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 342857

THE BLACK CHOOK VMR, 2008, McLaren Vale, South Australia

28 Thursday Jul 2011

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The Black Chook Vmr 2008, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Viognier 84%, Marsanne 8%, Roussanne 8%
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Galvanized Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light yellow with medium+ intensity. The nose has a nice bouquet of wild flowers, peach, orange rind & smoked toasted Pine nuts. The taste is dry, good acidity, medium+ length, medium body & balanced. Definitely Viognier on the taste with peach, orange rind, smoked apple, nectarine, some vanilla & toasted Pine nuts. This wine has an addictive quality that you just want to go back & keep drinking. Lucky the alcohol is not above 14%. Drink now on it’s own or pair it with roasted sweet orange pepper & grilled French cut pork chops. Delicious.

Best Buy.

Tasted 27 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 186338

VILLA SANDI PROSECCO, NV, Veneto, Italy

23 Saturday Jul 2011

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Villa Sandi Prosecco, Doc Treviso Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.95)
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO, General List
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Gioiosa S.P.A.
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw colour with a full mousse on it’s head. Medium+ intensity showing some yeast, lemon, peach, pear, apple & some minerality. Taste is dry with med acidity, med body, long length, especially for a Prosecco & balanced. The taste is as the nose. This is a lovely Prosecco with way more character than a lot of Proseccos out there especially in the same price range. Almost taste like a light Champagne. What I also like is that this Prosecco comes in 500 ml, which is great if you just want to have A couple glasses & not waste the rest.

Best Buy

Tasted 23 July 2011.

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

LCBO#: 249722