Not complex but easy drinking & delicious: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, light brioche, green apples, pear, limestone
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with salt and vinegar chips.
Cost: $36.95 (Clearance Price: $30.25) Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Carneros, California Format: 750 mL Producer: Domain Carneros Alcohol: 13.8 % Alcohol/Vol.
Consistently one of my favourite Pinots. Juicy, tart & delicious: 95/100.
Tasting Note: Light ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, supple tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, pomegranate, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, cloves, tobacco leaves & pickle beets.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Chill wine to approximately 15 C
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.
Cost: $17.95 Grape: Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Format: 750 mL Producer: Duca Di Saragnano Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Juicy, full flavoured & easy to drink Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark & sour cherries, sweet plum, raspberries, blackberry, sage, cocoa, turmeric, graphite & leather.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: This wine is made according to the ancient Tuscan tradition of governo alla toscana, whereby partially dried grapes are added into the winemaking after first fermentation.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rosticciana.
Cost: $26.95 (Clearance Price: $21.60) Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Format: 750 mL Producer: Quails’ Gate Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Not complexed, but quality with nice crispness in this BC Chard. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, kiwi, pineapple, white peach, Red Delicious apple & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Halibut with Lemon Butter Sauce
Cost: $19.95 Grape: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 7% Sangiovese Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: California Format: 750 mL Producer: Shannon Ridge Family of Wines Alcohol: 13.9 % Alcohol/Vol.
A balanced Cab Sauv from Cali with moderate alcohol & great taste. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackberry, mulberry, plum, crème de cassis, Allspice, black pepper, anise, turmeric, pencil shavings, vanilla & cedar.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Shannon Ridge won the 2021 Green Medal Environment Award for their efforts in creating sustainably farmed wines.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Porterhouse Steak
Cost: $17.95 Grape: 84.3% Syrah, 15.7% Grenache Noir. Category: Rosé Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Coteaux D’Aix en Provence Format: 750 mL Producer: Le Cellier D’Equilles Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Classic Provence rosé being elegant & crisp. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, watermelon, basil, blood orange & limestone.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-4 years on its own or pair it with pan fried prawns.
Cost: $28.95 Grape: Gamay Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Online Exclusive Country: France Region: Mâcon-Cruzille, Burgundy Format: 750 mL Producer: Domain Guillot-Broux Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.
This is what a very good gamay should taste like; balanced with complexity, juicy, crisp & gamey. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Light bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, pomegranate, redcurrants, strawberry, portobello mushrooms & peat moss on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic since 1991
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seared Ahi tuna.
Cost: $15.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: South Africa Region: Western Cape Format: 750 mL Producer: Le Bonheau Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.
Lightly wooded this Chard is medium body, clean & crisp. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, yellow plum & limestone.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Teriyaki Stir Fry chicken, vegetables on a bed of rice.
Cost: $29.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Online Exclusive Country: United States of America Region: Fauquier County, Virginia Format: 750 mL Producer: Pearmund Cellars Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Nice to see Virginian wines at the LCBO, especially such a delicious one like this one. This is like an aged Bourbon (minus the high alcohol) as it’s smooth, complex, balanced, tangy, citric, spicy & smoked. Score: 99/100.
Tasting Note: Medium bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kumquat, lemon zest, green apples, pear, peach, grilled pineapple, hazelnut, nutmeg, dill, ginger, honeycomb, butter toast, vanilla & smoked fall leaves.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: • Meriwether Vineyard is the 1st East Coast vineyard nominated as Grand Cru Vineyard from the American Grand Cru Society, as well as Virginia’s oldest Chardonnay vineyard that was established in 1976. • The Winery sells this chard for $34 (+tax) US, so it’s a great price for LCBO to sell. • Don’t over chill this wine in order to bring out all the complexity of the Chard.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner
Cost: $13.95 Grape: Montepulciano Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Villamagna, Abruzzo Format: 750 mL Producer: Federico de Cerchio Family Estates Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.
High score due to exceptional value, high quality, smooth, balanced, simply delicious & tasted the same after trying the wine on a variety of different glassware. Score: 97/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine grained tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, ripe redcurrants, raspberry, roasted red peppers, licorice, cocoa, thyme, sage, Champagne mushrooms, tobacco leaves & leather.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable wine & Vegan
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Eggplant Parmesan.
Twilight Wines 