FAMILLE PERRIN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2022, AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

13 Thursday Mar 2025

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

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Cost: $43.95
Grape: Syrah & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Famille Perrin
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Complexed, smooth, elegant with layers of flavours & spiciness. Score: 96/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing Cherries, plums, tamarind, mulberries, dark chocolates, Allspice, vanilla bean, white & black peppers & baby arugula.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Ageing
“From the month of August onwards we carry out maturity checks and taste the berries regularly to determine the optimum harvest date. Each grape variety is harvested separately. On arrival at the cellar the berries are sorted. Part of the Syrah is vinified in whole clusters and the remainder, plus the Grenache, is destemmed. Vinification is in wooden and stainless-steel vats using the same methods as for the Château de Beaucastel wines. The wines are then tasted to determine the blend, and finally aged in foudres for 2 years.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 7 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Wild Boar with wine mushroom sauce.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 11, 2025

LCBO: 926626

STATUS CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

11 Tuesday Mar 2025

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

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Cost: $35.20 (Clearance price: $28.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Stratus
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Complexed yet elegant full body Chard that’s cream with a nice balance between the oak & fruit. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, peach, pear, mango, buttered toast, honeycomb, vanilla, almonds, dill, ginger, oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unfiltered

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2025

LCBO: 267856

VIENI PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Mar 2025

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Time to drink this now as the oak is over powering the fruit. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Deep gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, pineapple, peach, kumquat, roasted almonds, oak spice, ginger, Chinese 5 spices

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Cellared for 24 months in new French oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at Clearance price

Tasted: March 5, 2025

LCBO: 520247

TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2024, D.O. Valle Del Maipo, Chile

28 Friday Feb 2025

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Cost: $20.80 (Clearance price: $20.25
Grape: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, and 2% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Valle Del Maipo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina Tarapacá
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, elegant, lots of flavour with fruits & spices all a great price point. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, mulberry, raspberry, black currents, white pepper, tobacco leaves, anise, cloves, leather, granite & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with ribeye tacos.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: February 26, 2025

LCBO: 37868

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY, BLANC DE NOIRS, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, 2019, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Monday Feb 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $40.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Medium body yet full flavoured sparkling with a nice depth. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Buttered toast, lemon zest, peach, pear, MacIntosh apples & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Sparkling wine was aged for 54 months on lees. The grapes were gently whole cluster pressed to avoid any pick-up of colours or hard phenolics. It was fermented in stainless steel for its primary ferment, and then was placed in a 750mL for tirage and secondary fermentation and aging.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Maritime lobster & crêpes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 23, 2025

KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Feb 2025

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Cost: $17.40 (Clearance price: $13.95)
Grape: Marsanne
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.

Not a complex wine, but it’s full body, silky smooth & something different from the regular Ontario white wines. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: deep straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, peach pit, pear and apples,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with shrimp tempura

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 16, 2025

LCBO: 485334

KACABA RESERVE MERLOT 2022, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

12 Wednesday Feb 2025

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

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Cost: $ 69.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

A full body, expressive Merlot showing great taste & depth. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plums, strawberries, blueberries, figs, spinach leaves, cassis, anise, pencil shavings, cocoa, baking spice & vanilla

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: French & American oak barrels for 17 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 11, 2025

NIAGARA TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST BLANC DE BLANCS 2019, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

10 Monday Feb 2025

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $ 35.18
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This new vintage, traditional method Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine has risen to the top of my favourites for Canadian production. It shows crispness & finesse along with good value. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, toast, lemon, pear, green apples & almonds.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “This wine was gently whole cluster pressed to avoid any hard phenolics and maintain a clean, neutral based wine.  It was fermented in stainless steel for primary fermentation and was but on tirage or secondary fermentation in 2020.  This 100% Chardonnay based wine was aged on lees for 54 months.” 

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 6 – 8 years on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 9, 2025

BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIGIO 2022, Barboursville, Virginia, United States of America

19 Sunday Jan 2025

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Cost: $17.00 US
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Barboursville Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Light, crisp & elegant. One of the best Pinot Grigio’s I had the pleasure of tasting. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a nice length on the finish. This wine features: Green apples, pear, pineapple & fig.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “Thomas Jefferson, a great lover of fine wine, assisted by Italian viticulturist Filippo Mazzei, attempted to establish a vineyard in Virginia. Finally, in 1976, vitis vinifera vines were successfully established at Barboursville Vineyards on the former plantation of Governor James Barbour, whose mansion was designed by Jefferson, his close friend. This mansion, destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1884, now preserved as ruins, is a Virginia historic landmark.”

Winemaker’s Note: “In stainless steel for 10 days at 55ºF. On the lees in stainless steel for 9 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Steamed mussels with saffron, white wine, and fresh tomatoes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: January 19, 2025

CLOSSON CHASE, THE BROCK CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada

11 Saturday Jan 2025

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Cost: $22.10
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Closson Chase
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced Chard between oak & steel tank. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, golden apples, yellow plums, kiwi, marzipan, oak spice & Gorse flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 7, 2025

LCBO: 20899