LE GRAVILLAS SABLET CÔTES DU RHÔNES-VILLAGE 2017, AOC Sablet, Côtes du Rhône, France

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Sablet, Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Le Gravillas
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Very expressive with lots of spice. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Dark purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, blackcurrants, redcurrants, plum, blackberry, tobacco, arugula, black & white pepper.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with seared venison backstrap with blackberry sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 18, 2020

LCBO: 78790

ROMBAUER CHARDONNAY 2018, Carneros, California, United States of America

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

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.

Is this an expensive Chard? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. Has Rombauer Chard been my favourite Chard bar none for the past 2 decades? Yes. Why? Rombauer makes what I love in a Chard, which it needs to be balanced between the oak, the fruit, the spiciness, the acidity & the mouth feel, as well as being complex. Score: 96/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, Fuji apple, peach, Edward mango, pineapple, papaya, ginger, dill, light oak spice, salted butter, vanilla, limestone & Easter Lily on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: So why not give this vintage a 99 or 100/100? Although I really love this vintages, I have tasted vintages from Rombauer that were even better.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 7-10 years & pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 17, 2020

LCBO: 441089

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY, 2018 California, United States of America

16 Monday Nov 2020

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Cost: $21.95 (Sale price until: Nov 29, 2020)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jackson Estate
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A balanced barrel fermented Chard with good acidity, tropical fruit & some creaminess all without having the high alcohol that Chards from California seem to be the norm. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & golden apples, peach, toasted pineapple, papaya, ginger, dill, oak spice & vanilla.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 16, 2020

LCBO: 369686

NIAGAR COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario

15 Sunday Nov 2020

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

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Better than the standard New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc as this has more complexity to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features gooseberry, passion fruit, kiwi, tangerine & fresh cut grass.  

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Mahi Mahi ceviche marinated in lemon/orange juice & served with red onions, basil & orange slices.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 15, 2020

ROTARI BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE 2014, DOC Trento, Italy

15 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Trento
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rotari
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A fine and elegant vintage rosé sparkling wine at a great price. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, fine perlage (mousse in Italian), a medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features light yeast & toast, strawberry, raspberry, pear, peach, cherry & limestone.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “All the grapes are hand selected and picked from our wine growers and then brought into the cellar quickly to be processed and made into wine. To respect the rich aroma of red fruit of the Pinot noir and Chardonnay the wine is vinified only in steel with selected yeasts and without any aging in oak wood. The wines are aged in steel until February, then processed according to the champagne method with a maturation on the lees in bottle for at least 24 months. Only the Chardonnay basic wines are subjected to malolactic fermentation in order to smooth down the acidity of the Pinot noir and increase the roundness.” (Rotari Winery notes)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with pasta with olive oil paté, tomatoes & pecorino cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: November 15, 2020

LCBO: 16601

THE GOOD WINE PINOT 2017, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $32.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Good Earth Winery
Alcohol:  13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, tart Pinot that nice to drink with food, just don’t think it’s price right. Score: 86/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with high acidity, a low intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features Bing & sour cherry, rhubarb, pomegranate, mushrooms & peat moss.  

Negatives: The price

Interesting Point: The Good Earth Winery has a great restaurant, and I’ve never had a bad experience.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with the Winery’s Bistro’s Duck Confit: Jerusalem Artichoke & Celeriac Mash, Fried Brussels Sprouts, Chilies, Pickled Butternut Squash, White Wine Jus.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: November 14, 2020

TARLANT BRUT RESERVE CHAMPAGNE NV, France

08 Sunday Nov 2020

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

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Cost: $47.70
Grape: 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Meunier
Category: Champagne
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Oeuilly, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tarlant
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

In honour of Joe Biden’s victory & the next President of the United States of America, I present to you this very dry, crisp & elegant Champagne. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features toasted bread, brioche, sourdough, lemon, tangerine, baked apple, Anjou pear, hazelnut, ginger & Champagne mushrooms.     

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10+ years on its own or pair it with Shiny Sea oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 8, 2020

LCBO: 325167

MANOIR DU CARRA BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES 2017, AOC Beaujolais, France

03 Tuesday Nov 2020

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

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Manoir du Carra
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This maybe the best Beaujolais Villages I’ve tried. Full of flavour which taste more like a Cru rather than a Village. Score: 95/100

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features Bing cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, raspberry, mulberry, cassis, cloves, leather & peat moss.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Many thanks to Jean-Pierre Colas from 13th Street who 1st served this wine to me, and who happens to have taught the winemaker at Manoir du Carra. This wine is also unfiltered. Use a balloon style glass & chill the wine to about 15C.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Broiled Pork Loin with Pomegranate Clove Sauce.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: November 3, 2020

LCBO: 14735

THE FEDERALIST CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, Lodi, California, United States of America

29 Thursday Oct 2020

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Federalist Winery
Alcohol:  13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A rarity to have a full body red wine from Lodi, that is under $20, under 14% alcohol, not overtly sweet but flavourful with complexity. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberries, mulberry, mocha, cassis, cloves, cinnamon, oregano, leather, pencil shavings & sweet oak.  

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 28, 2020

LCBO: 479105

KACABA FUMÉ BLANC 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards
Alcohol:  11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

There’s quality in this Fumé that has a nice crispness at the beginning & ending with a roundness. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features lime, kiwi, gooseberry, green apple, shale rock & flint.   

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: October 26, 2020