KEN FORRESTER OLD VINES RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa

06 Thursday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ken Forrester Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A consistent winner year to year, delivers citric, spicy & smoky notes. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, spicy backed apples, pink grapefruit, white peach, flint, honeycomb, vanilla & verbena on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “They farm sustainably with no herbicides or pesticides, till by hand, prune thin bunches and leaves all by hand and finally harvest by hand.” (KF)

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Crayfish Boil.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 5, 2022

LCBO: 231282

KEW MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2018, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 68% Marsanne, 32% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada     
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant wine showing citric fruits & minerality. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, grapefruit, white peach, pear, apricot, limestone & fresh cut white flowers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 50% Stainless Steel Fermented, 50% Barrel Fermented, Aged 6 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Jan 4, 2022

LCBO: 485334

TERRA D’ALIGI TATONE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2017, DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

30 Thursday Dec 2021

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terra D’Aligi
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Although the 2017 vintage is good, it’s nowhere what the 2016 vintage was, as I reviewed in back in July 6, 2021. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, blackberry, raspberry, oregano, sage, cardamon, black tea & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using the smaller Chianti style glassware as it will smooth out the wine.

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 29, 2021

LCBO: 994616

MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION BLANC 2020, AOP Costières De Nîmes, Rhône, France

23 Thursday Dec 2021

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 10 %Marsanne, 10% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France      
Region: Costières De Nîmes, Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mas Des Bressades
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant wine showing lots of citric fruits & minerality. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, grapefruit, white peach, pear, apricot, limestone & fresh cut white flowers.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Mediterranean Orzo Salad with grilled octopus

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 22, 2021

LCBO: 701094

CAMPILLO BLANCO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA 2019, DOC Rioja, Spain

22 Wednesday Dec 2021

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Viura & Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain        
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex wine that’s intense with layers of flavours. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Aged gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, honeydew melon, quince, lemon verbena tea, orange zest, pistachios, cardamon, toast, vanilla & flint.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Seafood Paella

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: Dec 21, 2021

LCBO: 657478

CERRO CHAPEU RESERVE TANNAT 2018, Uruguay

21 Tuesday Dec 2021

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Tannat
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Uruguay
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Cerro Chapeu
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious juicy fruits at its core followed by nice spiciness & smoke. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Tamarind, plum, Aronia berries, blackberries, cardamom, smoked ambers, dark chocolates, licorice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The grapes are crushed over tanks without pumping. After with low temperature, spontaneous fermentation is slowly started with open tanks and punching down in stainless steel tanks at 20°C. These conditions allowed the development of increase diversity of native yeasts, resulting in more body and flavor complexity. After 10 days of fermentation, the wine is finished in second use wine French oak barrels and then aged for 12 months without any racking over the lies.” (Cerro Chapeu)

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 20, 2021

LCBO: 19476

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious Pinot Gris with elegance & complexity. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, pink grapefruit, pear, white peach, honeycomb, vanilla, thyme, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sourced from Home Farm Vineyard in Creek Shores, the grapes were fermented and aged in a selection of 228, 400 & 500 Litre French barrels for 12 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seafood gumbo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2021

ROMBAUER CARNEROS CHARDONNAY 2019, Carneros, California, United States of America

08 Wednesday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $63.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rombauer Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full disclosure: Rombauer Chard has been my favourite chard for years, but this vintage is one of their best if not their best vintage to date. Big, bold, luscious & buttery. Score: 99/100 (my highest rating of any wine to date).

Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Butter on white toasted bread, lemon, peach, mango, pineapple, D’Anjou pear, lemon meringue pie, crème brûlée, nutmeg, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the Montrachet style wine glassware & don’t over chill it. Serve 13°C to 15°C

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Nov 17, 2021

LCBO: 441089

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PETIT VERDOT 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Friday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

And now for something completely different for Ontario wines, a Petit Verdot & winemaker Gavin’s first foray at NC with this grape is a success. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberry, plum, dark cherry, sage, lavender, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, light smoke & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: As Petit Verdot is bold & tannic, it needs a large style Bordeaux glass & decant to soften the tanin.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Biryani.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 1, 2021

PAUL MAS SINGLE VINEYARD RÉSERVE MARSANNE 2019, Pays D’Oc, France

23 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Marsanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Paul Mas
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

If you are an ABC person (Anything But Chardonnay), try this wine, you won’t be disappointed. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, peach, ripe pear, apricot, honeycomb, Golden Delicious apples, nutmeg, butterscotch, vanilla & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I tried several different styles of wine glasses from Montrachet to Chablis & the wine was tasted good in all of them.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Pork Chops with Pears and Green Peppercorns

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 22, 2021

LCBO: 462457