QUADY ESSENSIA ORANGE MUSCAT 2007

21 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Fortified & Desert Wine

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299552_web

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Muscat
Category: Desert Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: California
Region:  
Format: 375 mL
Producer:  Quady Winery
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Ripe apricot colour, high intensity nose showing apricots, fermented tangerine, butterscotch, ginger and vanilla. On the taste, good acidity, full body desert wine that shows as the nose does. On the sweetness scale it’s not as sweet as Ice Wine on the palate, so pare it well with deserts that are not overly sweet such as Maple Citrus Tart made by Chef Tobias from Red Canoe Bistro in Burlington.

For the price this is a Best Buy.

Tasted: 19 April 2011

Score: 8/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#299552

SIERRA CANTABRIA COLECCIÓN PRIVADA 2006 RIOJA

19 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Red Wines

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Dsc06124_web

Cost: $49.00
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sierra Cantabria
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark purple/ruby with highly intense nose. Purple lilacs, sandalwood, cedar & pine, cloves, blueberry, mulberry, dark cherry, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate & eucalyptus (due to the high alcohol). Highly complex nose, almost reminds me of a good quality Napa Meritage. On the taste less complex & a let down from the nose (absolutely love the nose). Dry, med+ acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, long length, med+ body & balanced. Shows cedar, blueberry, mulberry, dark & sour cherry, leather, fennel & pomegranate. It lost points for noticeable high alcohol on taste & a let down from nose to taste. It could have been an outstanding wine, but now it’s just a good one. Bought it on sale for $34.35.

Tasted 18 April 2011.

Score: 9/10, Value: 6/10 (7.5/10 sale price), Total: 15/20 & 16.5/20 respectively. FYI nose is a 10/10.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO# 195735

CATHEDRAL CELLAR, TRIPTYCH, 2007

18 Monday Apr 2011

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

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53124_web

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby colour, with med+ intensity. True cab Sauvignon notes of cedar, turmeric, blackberry, plum, smokey notes, earth tones, high complexity on nose. Truly a beautiful nose. Taste is medium tannins with medium acid. Full body, easy to drink with or without food. Taste shows anise, blueberry, cassis, raspberry, plums, bacon & some earth tones like leather. Med+ length. KWV consistently produced excellent value wines & this doesn’t disappoint.

Score: 9.5, Value: 10, total: 19.5

Best Buy

Tasted: April 2011

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

DÔLE DU VALAIS 2007, Swiss Valley. Pinot Noir & Gamay

18 Monday Apr 2011

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160697_web

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Switzerland
Region: Swiss Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Provins
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour. High intensity on nose. Love the aromas of cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, light milk chocolate mousse, earth tones with roses. On taste med- body, med+ length, low tannins & med acidity leads to a well balanced & excellent priced Pinot. Flavours as with the nose with addition of pomegranates & juicy red apples. I like the fact that this wine is not high in alcohol. Very food friendly, pairs well with Quail, lamb, pork & tuna. Also very pleasant on it’s own. Bought it on sale for $13.35, but even regular price still a Best Buy. Drink now.

Score: 9+/10 Value: 10/10, Total: 19+/20. One of the best light Pinot’s I’ve tried for under $20.

Tasted 17 April 2011.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#160697

SEAVIEW BRUT, Sparkling Wine

15 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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216333_web

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: South Eastern Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Seaview Winery
Alcohol: 11.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: NV sparkling wine made from typical champagne blend of three grapes – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. Deep bright gold colour, lots of mousse with light yeasty nose and taste. On the nose, baked apple, apricot, pear & lemon. Good balance and acidity on the taste. Med+ weight & length. Med complex. Easy to drink. Taste is similar to nose. Went well with Speck or garlic cheese spread.

For the price this a Best Buy. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20

Tasted 14 April 2011

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 216333

THE PAIRING, RED, 2006 Santa Ynez Valley

12 Tuesday Apr 2011

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218909_web

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Cab.-sauv./merlot/petit verdot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cool Hand Vineyards Llc
Alcohol: 15.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque inky ruby colour, med+ intensity, I can smell the vapors of alcohol. Cedar, cassis, blackberry, menthol, basil, cigar box. High complexity showing warm climate style. Taste has med+ tannins, med acid, balanced, full body, with high alcohol. Taste is mild compared to the nose. Cedar, black currants, some cranberry, leather notes, twiggy, spinach which gives it a bit of a green bite. Not worth the price. Score: 7, Value: 4, Total: 11/20 After being opened up for 2hrs, the nose is more fragrant with carnations & blueberry pie. On taste it was still linear, but does open up with mulberry & dark cherry. The spinach turns more to artichoke. Long finish. Score improves a bit, 7.5. Nose is 9.5

52% cab, 42% merlot, 6% petit verdot

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO# 218909

CHATEAU HAUT BERNASSE MONBAZILLAC, 2003

12 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Fortified & Desert Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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 Château Haut-Bernasse

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety:
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Southwest France
Format: 500 mL
Producer: Jules Et Marie Villette
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: TASTING NOTE: This sweetie won a Silver Medal at Concours Général Agricole de Paris, 2010. Bright, deep yellow-gold in the glass, with gorgeous aromas of peach purée, ripe mango, dried apricot, honeycomb and floral. It’s sweet, with a pretty seam of acidity keeping things lively. Full body, and a decadent, unctuous texture. Simply scrumptious. Ready to drink now, expect it to show well for 15+ years. Savour with (or as) dessert, or with milder aged cheeses. (VINTAGES panel, Sept. 2010)

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

These are my personal tasting notes:
Colour is bright old gold. What a beautiful nose, with ripe peach, apricot, cinnamon, nutmeg, mango, orange rind & roses. Taste is sweet, but not overtly. Good acidity, long length & balanced. Taste as nose. Pairs well with chocolate orange mousse. Best Buy.

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

Tasted 11 April 2011.

LCBO# 194225

THE PAIRING, PINOT NOIR, 2008, Sta. Rita Hills

12 Tuesday Apr 2011

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218958_web

Cost: $32.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cool Hand Vineyards Llc
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med garnet, med+ intensity on the nose. A lot going on with rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry, pine, allspice, violets & earth tones. On the palate, dry, soft tannins, med+ acidity, med- weight, balanced, long length. Rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry, pomegranate, cherry, suede, pine & light earth tones. Complex wine, good quality. Food friendly or drink on it’s own. Compliments turkey well. Score: 9+/10, value: 8+/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Tasted: 8 April 2011

LCBO #218958

Montecillo Reserva 2006, Rioja

12 Tuesday Apr 2011

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621003_web

Cost: $18.45
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Osborne Y Cia
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med ruby with a slight garnet colour. Nose & taste are classic Rioja Reserva, with med+ intensity of sandalwood, smoked meat, dark cherries, sweet basil & carnations. On the palate, good acidity, med tannins, balanced, med body, long length. Like the nose, sandalwood, smoked meat, sweet basil, cedar, black currants, dark & sour cherry. Overall med+ complexity that you can drink now or age for another 3-5yrs. Best with food such as smoked sausages or grilled lamb. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20. For the price this a best buy. Solid wine from a solid winery.

Tasted 11 April 2011

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO #621003

Luca Chardonnay, 2008

11 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Puerto Ancona Sa/Luca
Alcohol: 14.0 %

LCBO#: 167338

Tasted: 9 April 2011
Description: Bright gold colour, med+ intensity with lemon tarts, vanilla, pineapple, mango, white lilies & limestone. Med+ complexity on the nose. On the taste good acidity, full body, some heat in the after taste, long length & balanced. Creamy buttery mouth feel, vanilla, lemon meringue, pineapple, cantaloupe, mango, orange, limestone. More complex on the taste than the nose. Medium oak on nose & taste. Easy drinking Chard from a reliable producer.

Highly recommend.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 18/20. I got it on sale for $23.15, which raised the value to 9.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5