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

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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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

RAIMAT CASTELL CHARDONNAY 2018, DO Costers Del Segre, Spain

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Not Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Costers Del Segre
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raimat
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of orange pith makes this very linear. Score: 84/100

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. Wine features orange pith, lemon & green apples.  

Negatives: Too sour

Interesting Point: Organic wine

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years & pair it with grilled shrimp.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: October 25, 2020

LCBO: 15413

GHOST PINES MERLOT 2017, 90% Sonoma County, 5% Napa County, 5% Lake County, California, Unite States of America

24 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $21.95 (On sale until Nov 8, 2020: $19.95)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: 90% Sonoma County, 5% Napa County, 5% Lake County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ghost Pines
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A full flavoured & lushes Merlot from 3 different counties in California.  Score: 89/100

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, blueberry pie, cocoa, mocha, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, smoke & violets on the nose.  

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 24, 2020

LCBO: 454876

REDSTONE SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $22.15
Grape: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Redstone Winery
Alcohol:  11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean & simple. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Straw with a green tinge in colour with high acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, gooseberry, passion fruit & hay.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Mahi Mahi in a butter sauce with lemon & herb spices.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 23, 2020