LONE BIRCH CHARDONNAY 2018, Yakima Valley, Washington, United States of America

23 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lone Birch Winery
Alcohol:  13.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with lots of citric notes

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon, dragon fruit, pear, honeydew melon, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with seafood medley in a garlic sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 23, 2020

LCBO: 13311

COLLIER CREEK BIG ROOSTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Lodi, California, United States of America

22 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Collier Creek Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s always a nice surprise to me when I try a California Cab that is under $20 that has substance & not sweet or high alcohol

Tasting Note: Medium light ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, moderate tannins & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarind, cedar, vanilla bean & espresso.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is Certified Green & Sustainable.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with marha pörkölt – Hungarian beef paprika stew.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 21, 2020

LCBO: 14428

MALIVOIRE ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2108, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, mineral & citric driven chard that makes this a pleasant summer drinking wine

Tasting Note: Straw to gold in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with stuffed scallops in a shell.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 20, 2020

LCBO: 573147

GRUET SPARKLING BRUT ROSÉ NV, Méthode Champenoise, New Mexico, United States of America

19 Sunday Jul 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $26.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: New Mexico
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gruet Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Kudos to the LCBO to bring this sparkling to Ontario so we can experience wines from throughout the US & in this case, New Mexico. Let me just add, this is a wonderful Blanc de Noirs

Tasting Note: Pale salmon hue in colour with fine creamy mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features brioche, light yeast, strawberry, Spy apple, pear, Rainier cherry & shale.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Their story is of French roots and American dreams. https://www.gruetwinery.com/heritage

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 7-10 of years on its own or pair it with spicy seafood paella.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 19, 2020

LCBO: 15686

QUAIL’S GATE CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

18 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $24.95 (Sale Price Until July 19, 2020: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quail’s Gate
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple, yet pleasant drinking Chard that is balanced between the oak & fruit

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pear, peach, oak spice & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with seared scallops on a bed of greens.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 18, 2020

LCBO: 377770

BARKAN CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Galilee, Israel

17 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $20.30 (Clearance Price: $16.30)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barkan Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant young Cab Sauv without the harsh tannin that has nice juicy black fruits

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherry, tamarind & cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with braised beef ribs with blackberry glaze.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 17, 2020

LCBO: 637785

ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Welcome Angels Gate to the Ontario wineries having excellent Chards & this one is complex, elegant with creamy buttery notes, not overtly oaky, good acidity & tropical fruit to balance it out

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features buttered toast, lemon, clementine, Fuji apple, peach, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak spice, flint minerality & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to my friend, Mike who recommended this wine.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 15, 2020

LCBO: 116384

NIAGARA COLLEG TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MUSCAT 2019, VQA Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $16.95
Grape: Muscat
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  10.0% Alcohol/Vol.

People shy away from Muscat as they think it’s too sweet. However, NC Muscat, although stated as off dry, has a lot of acidity making this wine crisp than sweet, for now. Aging this wine will have the same affect as aging Rieslings, which will smooth out the acidity to leave leave it more palatable.

Tasting Note: Very light straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear,

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own, but better off in pairing with food such as Applewood Cheddar cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 5, 2020

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


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

Ontario is consistently making great Chards at reasonable prices, & this one is a gem for $20. Full body, full of elegance, creaminess, tropical fruit, good acidity & balanced

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, clementine, green & golden apples, pear, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, caramel, vanilla, oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4of years on its own or pair it with steamed snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 13, 2020

LCBO: 438374

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D’IVOIRE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AOC Crémant de Bourgogne, France

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Predominantly Chardonnay with Aligoté
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Crémant de Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

LB consistently produces excellent quality Blanc de Blancs at a great price, and this bottle is no exception. “Full and rounded in the mouth, with a certain vivacity, and complex secondary aromas that evolve over time, delighting the taste buds” LB

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light toasted buttery brioche, lemon, green apples, Anjou pear, limestone and white roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Originally tasted Sept 25, 2016, and it has the same quality & notes as today.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-10 of years on its own or pair it with cranberry Pecan baked Brie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 12, 2020 (Happy birthday to my mom turning 94)

LCBO: 48801