NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY GASTRONOMY SPARKLING WINE, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

19 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of NC best dry sparkling wines they’ve made, which is delicious, elegant, clean & crisp. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Straw to light gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, sourdough bread, lemon rind, green apples, pear, white peach,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 4 years on lees.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Norwegian eggs Benedict.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 18, 2022

MAISON NO. 9 2021, IGP Méditerranée, France

10 Saturday Dec 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $22.25)
Grape: Grenache based
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Provence
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison No.9
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious, elegant, clean & crisp rosé. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Pale salmon in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Pink grapefruit, watermelon, strawberry, pomegranate, orange zest & white pepper.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Check out the cocktails you can make with this wine from the winemakers: https://maison9wine.com/collections/cocktails

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with sushi.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: December 8, 2022

LCBO: 20188

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET 2019, Livermore Valley, California, United States of America

08 Thursday Dec 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Livermore Valley, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth wine with some sweet fruit but it’s contained by the acidity and being under 14% alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, Bing cherries, mulberry, blueberry, cocoa, cloves, cinnamon & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Originally reviewed 2014 vintage in 2018, and the price is still the same today. That’s unprecedented!

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with beef back ribs.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 5, 2022

LCBO: 301507

GRAHAM BECK BRUT SPARKLING NV, Western Cape, South Africa

05 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean, fruit driven dry sparkling wine. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & toasted bread, lemon zest, peach, Fuji apples, saline, pink grapefruit & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with salt n pepper calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 4, 2022

LCBO: 593483

DOMAINE DU GRAND TINEL HERES 2015, AC Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France

03 Saturday Dec 2022

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $106.00
Grape: Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine du Grand Tinel
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not a heavy wine considering the high alcohol, but a very powerful wine on the nose, yet elegant on the taste. Should please those with eclectic taste. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Medium garnet in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, grilled plum, black tea, Kalamon olives, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, crushed gravel & wild mushrooms on the nose.

Negatives: 15.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: “Issued from very old vines grown on ‘La Gardole’ quarter, on a sandy soil, conducted without pesticides and by hand-harvest. Produced in exceptional vintages only. Very limited production.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Porchetta.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 2, 2022

LCBO: 24741

FOLKLORE CHARDONNAY 2019, Western Australia

01 Thursday Dec 2022

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $12.60)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Western Australia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Folklore
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Horrible, like biting into over ripe orange. Score: Not worth to score.

Not recommended

Tasted: November 1, 2022

LCBO: 19905

GRAND VIN DU CHÂTEAU CITRAN 2010, AC Haut-Médoc, France

30 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $55.00 (Clearance Price: $38.55)
Grape: 55% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Citran
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is a wine with plenty of expression that is elegant, fine and racy. Still several more years left to enjoy this wine. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, plush tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, mulberry, blackcurrant, sautéed Oyster mushrooms, tar, cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, baby spinach, graphite & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Thermoregulation on each tank. Traditional vinification (T 28°C). Malolactic fermentations partially made in new barrels. 38% of new barrels in French oak. Traditional ageing with racking every three months. Fining with white eggs. Bottling at the Château.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with venison.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 29, 2022

LCBO: 24738

GRAHAM BECK ULTRA BRUT 2016, Méthode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa

28 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality, complexity, dry but creamy & at under $30, this would best those Blanc de Blancs at $100+. Score: 99/100. My highest score for a Blanc de Blancs.

Tasting Note: Light gold to straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, sour dough, lemon, Key lime pie, Jonagold apples, peach, pear, Ataulfo mango, honeydew melon, roasted almonds & shale.

Negatives:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 27, 2022

LCBO: 435453

ANTECH CUVÉE EUGÉNIE BRUT CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX 2018, AC Limoux, Languedoc, France

17 Thursday Nov 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Limoux, Languedoc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison Antech
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my favourite Limouxs. Fresh, clean & creamy. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, green apples, honeydew melon, white peach, limestone, & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Spanish omelette.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: November 10, 2022

LCBO: 25367

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE GRENACHE SYRAH 2019, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

13 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: 60% Grenache 40% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cellier des Dauphins
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Has a fruit sweetness that I personally don’t like, but others may. Score: 79/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, raspberry, red currant, Maraschino cherry, chocolate, tobacco, white pepper & ripe tamarind.

Negatives:

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 -4 years on its own or pair it with Italian sausages.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: November 10, 2022

LCBO: 14081