LA GRANGE DES COMBES 2018, AC Saint-Chinian Roquebrun, Languedoc, France

06 Sunday Jun 2021

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

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Saint-Chinian Roquebrun, Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave de Roquebrun
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious combination of red fruits, spiciness & earthiness. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherry, strawberries, raspberries, dried herbs, mocha, portobello mushrooms, & white pepper

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Reminds me of Vaqueyras

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Herb Duck Breast

My Opinion: Top Pick & Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 5, 2021

LCBO: 155804

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

03 Thursday Jun 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale price until June 2021: $21.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M Martini
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Cali Cab wine under $25 that’s smooth with lots of nice black & red fruits. Nice to see this vintage below 14.5% alcohol. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blackcurrants, blackberries, plum, tamarind, raspberry, mocha, Crème de Cassis turmeric, vanilla, leather & purple lilacs on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 1, 2021

LCBO: 292151

CONCANNON VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Paso Robles, California, United States of America

30 Sunday May 2021

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Paso Robles, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Concannon Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex, not sweet or flabby, not in the usual high alcohol range of 14.5% that’s common from the warm region of Paso Robles, just nice, smooth & great taste. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blackcurrants, blackberries, plum, ripe tamarind, raspberry, cocoa, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla, leather & purple lilacs on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established in 1883 when the winery imported grapes from Bordeaux to establish their Cabernet Sauvignon

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with slow cooker Beef Cheeks in Red Wine.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 2, 2021

LCBO: 10039

IVORY & BURT CHARDONNAY 2019, Lodi, California, United States of America

28 Friday May 2021

Posted by in On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, soft but not sweet Cali Chard. Score: 85/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, yellow apples, marzipan, banana, kumquat, light oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: Flabby

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2-4 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Garlic Asian Noodles.

My Opinion: On-the-fence

Tasted: May 26, 2021

LCBO: 17575

TRIENNES ROSÉ 2020, IGP Méditerranée, France

25 Tuesday May 2021

Posted by in Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Merlot
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Méditerranée
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine de Triennes
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean & crisp wine that shows both sour & tart fruits. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light pink in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Pink grapefruit, passion fruit, apricot & kiwi.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2-4 years on its own or pair it with spicy calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 24, 2021

LCBO: 409771

MICHAEL DAVID CHARDONNAY 2019, Lodi, California, United States of America

19 Wednesday May 2021

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

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Winery
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

The stainless-steel fermentation gives this wine a crisp start with tropical fruits, which is followed by the more mellow soft & creamy notes from the oak aging. Truly a top Chard. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium-low intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, peach, pineapples, honeydew melon, ginger, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Phillips family have been farming this soil since the 1860’s and cultivating wine grapes since the early 20th century. The founders, brothers Michael and David Phillips, are 5th generation grape growers who have raised their families in the vineyard, and now the 6th generation has joined the team, Mike’s son Kevin and daughter Melissa. They understand the importance of leaving it better than you found it for future generations. Their family legacy and love of Lodi drive their focus on sustainability.

I bought this wine based on 2 things: 1) The bottle, just love the unique shape & the beveled engraved winery logo, 2) Under 14.5% alcohol.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 18, 2021

LCBO: 396283

BELLERUCHE ROUGE CÔTE-DU-RHÔNE 2019, AOP Côtes-du-Rhône, France

07 Friday May 2021

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale price: $13.95 until May 23, 2021)
Grape: Grenache & Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes-Du-Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: M. Chapoutier
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex just a flavourful wine with nice fruits & spiciness at a reasonable price & even that much better at the sale price. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby with a purple tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrants, mulberry, white & black peppers, Allspice & licorice.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Aged 6 months in concrete and stainless-steel tanks.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Moroccan Lamb Burger with harissa and black pepper Mayo

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 6, 2021

LCBO: 17779

STONELIEGH PINOT NOIR 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

05 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in Not Recommended

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95 until May 23, 2021)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stoneleigh Vineyards
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Awful; like eating rotten beets. Score: Not worth scoring.

FLOR DE MAIO MAYFLOWER 2016, IG Alentejano, Portugal

02 Sunday May 2021

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Trincadeira, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional and Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Alentejano
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnum Vinhos Wines
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An undervalued wine, which is great for the consumer, as you get lots of red fruit with spiciness. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Opaque in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate, mulberry, white & black peppers, Allspice, licorice & fennel on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is Vegan friendly & 100% fermented in stainless steel.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with BBQ Alabama Beef Ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy, Best Buy

Tasted: May 1, 2021

LCBO: 427195

WENTE RIVA RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California, United States of America

30 Friday Apr 2021

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

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance price: $22.40)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rare sighting for a full body, rich, complex Cali Chard that’s delicious & yet having under 14% alcohol. Score: 96/100

Tasting Note: Bright deep gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pineapple, mango, pear, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, roasted almonds, oak spice, vanilla & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard style stemware & don’t over chill this wine in order to bring out all the flavours it has to offer.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 6-8 years on its own or pair it with Chilean Sea Bass

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 29, 2021

LCBO: 979344