CHÂTEAU DE CRUZEAU BLANC, 2007, Pessac-Leognan

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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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

STLTO MERLOT-MALBEC, 2009, Abruzzo, Italy

23 Saturday Jul 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Stlto Merlot Malbec 2009 Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Feudi San Pio Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: This wine surprised me considering the label that had to be done by a female. Oh wait it was! Usually these labels are designed as a quick pick-up marketing to get the consumer to buy, but not really a quality style wine. This one is! It has dark ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose. The nose is pleasant with light oak, blackberry, cherry, raisins, blueberry & cola notes. The taste is also pleasant with similar notes as the nose. Medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, medium length & body. This wine is balanced & easy to drink on it’s own or try with chicken with rum & cola sauce or if you’re being more conventional it pairs well with BBQ lamb chops. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years.

Best Buy. Good complexity & quality for a wine under $15.

Tasted 21 July 2011. Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 18.5+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS, CABERNET SAUVIGNON & MERLOT, 2008, Okanagan Valley, BC, VQA,

23 Saturday Jul 2011

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Mission Hill 5 Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2008 Bottle

Cost: $16.45
Grape Variety: Cabernet/merlot
Category: Red
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, BC
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mission Hill Vineyards Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium intense nose. The nose shows cedar, blackberry, turmeric, cassis, anise, pencil shavings, all spice & raspberry. The taste is dry, med+ tannins with med+ acid. A bit astringent & linear. Med+ length & med+ body. Taste is similar as taste with addition of leather & tobacco leaves. This wine needs to be paired with something that has a lot of protein, like steak. Try BBQ rib-eye.

Tasted 22 July 2011.

Score 8/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

VINA QUEBRADA De MACUL, DOMUS AUREA, 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile

22 Friday Jul 2011

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Cost: $47.99 (on sale for $29.95)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Upper Maipo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Vina Quebrada de Macul
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Deep cloudy garnet with medium+ intensity on the nose.  The nose is very unique and may not appeal to everyone as it has strong black current and mint that dominate. In the background there are current preserve, espresso and apricot. The taste is dry, medium tannins, medium+ acid, medium+ length, balance and medium to full body. The taste is ribena with alcohol, which you do get the heat from the 14.8% alcohol. Mint, as with the nose dominates. Secondary taste is similar to the nose. The lack of fruit suggest that this is ready to drink now, but the fruits may be dormant the wine may still be sleeping, so in another 2 years maybe the fruits will awaken. This would pair well with rack of lamb. The Wine Spectator gave this a 92, but it doesn’t rank that high for me, maybe 89. This wine is not for everyone.

Tasted: 22 July 2011

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10 (9/10 on sale), Total: 16,5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3.5

LCBO#906123

PIRRAMIMMA ACJ, CABERNET-SAUVIGNON, SHIRAZ, PETIT VERDOT, 2005, McLaren Vale, Australia

21 Thursday Jul 2011

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Pirramimma Acj 2004, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $49.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-sauvignon/Shiraz/Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malesco Wine Broker
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “This limited release wine is named I’m honour of the founder, Alexander Campbell Johnston, who in 1892 purchased a small holding of rich farmland near McLaren Vale. He named this land Pirramimma, an aboriginal phrase meaning ‘The moon & the Stars.”

First off, love the pewter label. Secondly, it’s a screw top. Dark ruby-garnet in colour with high intensity. Beautiful complex nose showing cedar, plums, briar pie, menthol, white & back pepper, turmeric & dark cherry. The first thing you notice is the heat from the alcohol, followed by the mouth feel that this isn’t a bold & big wine, more medium to full, then the fruits show up followed by the menthol & lastly other notes such as dark chocolate, anise & Macintosh apples. The length is very long, I stopped timing at 2 minutes & I was still tasting it. The wine has good acidy with medium+ tannins, balanced & it’s drinkable now or will cellar for another 5 yrs. WS rated this 91 & I concur. If it wasn’t for the high alcohol thats very up front I would rate this a 95. Try This with tenderloin steak on the BBQ.

Tasted 20 July 2011.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 72694