13th STREET WINERY VIOGNIER 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A dry, light, crisp & fruity style Viognier. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, apricot pit, white peach, pear, oak spice & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% fermented & aged for 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 50% fermented & aged in stainless steel.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with spicy Pad Thai.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 14, 2022

MIRABEAU PURE ROSÉ 2020, AOP Côtes De Provence, France

13 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $28.95 (Clearance Price: $20.25)
Grape: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes De Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Mirabeau
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.


Beautifully made this classic Provence rosé is dry, crisp & full of flavour. Score: 93/100

Tasting Note: Pale cooper in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Peach, lychee, pink grapefruit, kiwi, flint & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 2-4 years on its own or pair it with fresh
oysters with an orange and chorizo dressing or spicy prawn dumplings.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: Feb 12, 2022

LCBO: 19847

CHÂTEAU LABROUSSE BORDEAUX RED 2019, AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, France

10 Thursday Feb 2022

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

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Scea Labrousse
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.


Classic Right Bank Bordeaux with juicy fruits, musk & spice, all at a great price. Score: 95/100

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, fine grained tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, raspberries, pomegranates, blackcurrants, blackberries, plum, cassis, anise, tomato leaves, pencil shavings, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, cedar & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguigon

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 7, 2022

LCBO: 21083

LONGFORD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019, Monterey County, California, United States of America

06 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Longford Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For a wine that’s priced at under $16 this is not your typical commercial Cali Cab as it’s not flabby, sweet or high alcohol and it has character. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sustainably farmed vineyard

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Slow Cooked Prime Rib with Plum Glaze

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Feb 5, 2022

LCBO: 20725

LONG BARN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020, California, United States of America

02 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Long Barn Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


Typical commercial Cali red, minus the high 14.5% alcohol & for those that enjoy a smooth, jammy & chocolate notes. Score: 85/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, blueberry pie, raspberry, ripe tamarind, milk chocolate & cassis.

Negatives: A little too sweet/jammy for my taste

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Venison Stew with Bacon and Parsley Dumplings

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Feb 1, 2022

LCBO: 16482

BADGER MOUNTAIN ORGANIC PINOT NOIR 2020, Oregon, United States of America

01 Tuesday Feb 2022

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Badger Mountain
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


This is bad, reminds me of burnt plastic. Score: Not worth being rated

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: I couldn’t get through the burnt plastic taste to figure out what it has.

Negatives: The wine

Interesting Point: Certified Organic Vineyard

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: Jan 31, 2022

LCBO: 22610

GIUSTI BRUT ASOLO PROSECCO SUPERIORE D.O.C.G, Italy

31 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Societa Agricola Giusti Dal Col Srl
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
One, if not the best Prosecco I’ve tasted. Beautifully made, delicious, elegant & full flavoured Prosecco. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Medium straw with a green ting in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, pear, green apples, thyme & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Glera grapes from vineyards located in Veneto, in the hilly area of Montello and the Asolo hills, in the municipality of Nervesa della Battaglia and precisely in the vineyards of the estates ” Aria Valentina, Abbazia and Sienna located on the southern side of Montello. Primary fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature by selected yeasts. The second fermentation takes place at a low temperature in autoclaves.” Giusti Wines

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Crispy Baked Scallops with panko, Parmesan Cheese, paprika, butter and olive oil

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 30, 2022

LCBO: 16555

CHÂTEAU MAISON NOBLE SAINT MARTIN 2019, Bordeaux Supérieur, France

29 Saturday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Maison Noble St. Martin
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Let this wine open up & you will have discovered a great Bordeaux wine at a great price. Lovely fruit notes followed by spice. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, fine grained tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, blackberry, Ribena, tamarind, anise, cloves, cocoa, turmeric, pencil shavings, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 30% in barrels (French oak) and 70% stainless steel and cement vats

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Quail with Grape Sauce

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 28, 2022

LCBO: 24495

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY MERLOT-CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A pleasant easy drinking wine with some substance to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, plum, elderberry, blackcurrants, fennel, cocoa, spinach leaves, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with smoked gouda.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Jan 26, 2022

BERONIA ELABORACIÓN ESPECIAL TEMPRANILLO, 2019 DOCa Rioja, Spain

26 Wednesday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale Price Until Jan 30, 2022: $13.95)
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Beronia
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Consistent taste profile vintage to vintage. Beautifully made & my favourite Tempranillo for under $20. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, prune, chocolate, Chinese 5 Spices, liquorice, vanilla bean, oak spice & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Can’t beat the sale price for a wine of this quality.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Ibérico Cured Meats.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Top Pick, Best Buy & Amazing Buy at sale price
Tasted: Jan 25, 2022
LCBO: 426981