FINCA LOS MAZA RESERVA MALBEC 2016, Valle De Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.00 (Clearance price: $13.65)
Grape: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Valle De Uco, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Finca Los Maza
Alcohol:  13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Malbec full of fruit, structure & spice

Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose, firm tannin & an average length on the finish. Wine features blackberry, plum, loganberry, anise, cocoa & tobacco leaves.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 27, 2020

LCBO: 10772

LONGSHOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017, California, United States of America

26 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $16.00 (Sale price until May 24, 2020: $14.00)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E & J Gallo
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This ain’t half bad for a commercially produced California Cab Sauvignon

Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features sweet plums, blueberry jam, black cherries, blackberries, espresso, vanilla and cloves.

Negatives: Has just enough jammy sweetness that makes it on the fence for me.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with mushroom, sautéed onions, cheese burger.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: May 26, 2020

LCBO: 633347

NAPA CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2017, Napa Valley, California, United States of America

23 Saturday May 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Napa Cellars
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

So a Napa winery can make a delicious balanced Chard that’s creamy, nice but not overly oak, tropical fruit & acidity all under 14.5% alcohol

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, mango, pineapple, clove, light oak spice, apple pie & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 23, 2020

LCBO: 225342

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ECUSSON ROSÉ BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

17 Sunday May 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love trying wine from non-tradition wine regions that are rare to get in Ontario, & I am happy to say this is a delight to drink; dry, light & fruity

Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lots of strawberry, cherry, green & red apples & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was founded in 1921

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: May 17, 2020

LCBO: 369074

DECOY MERLOT 2107, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

16 Saturday May 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $28.00)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duckhorn Wine Company
Alcohol:  14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Decoy Merlot is still one of my favourite Merlots & a great value for being under $35 for the quality you’re getting

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, medium tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plum, mulberry, ripe tamarind, blackberry, tobacco leaves, cloves, Star Anise, and cinnamon.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with charbroil ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 16, 2020

LCBO: 460642

14 Thursday May 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: $15.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kenwood Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking Chard that balances the oak with the fruit, acidity & minerality without the high alcohol level usually associated with California Chards

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, Golden apples, yellow plums, honeydew melon, light oak spic, vanilla & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with  rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 14, 2020

LCBO: 158790

JOSH CELLARS MERLOT 2018, California, United States of America

13 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $18.95 (Sale price until May 24, 2020: $16.95)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Josh Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s a nice surprise: a California red that is below 14% alcohol, not sweet or flabby, has some complexity, it’s priced under $20 & oh yes, it’s nice to drink

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black & red currants, raspberries, arugula, mocha & vanilla

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: You won’t find this wine on Josh Cellars winery website, strange but true. I expect it is made for export only.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Mongolian Beef.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 13, 2020

LCBO: 638221

BODACIOUS BOLD & BUTTERY CHARDONNAY NV, Ontario, Canada

13 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $11.95 (Sale price: $10.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Arterra Wines
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Oh dear Lord no! This wine is like eating bark from an oak tree with an overripe banana & rubbing alcohol

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: May 13, 2020

LCBO: 10427

CUDDY BY TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE SPARKLING WINE NV, Traditional Method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Saturday May 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $25.95 (Clearance price: $18.20)
Grape: Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol:  10.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A well-made Riesling sparkling wine

Tasting Note: Straw colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light brioche, lemon, green apples, pears, & petrol on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: On Tawse website they list this wine at $28.15. In addition, the label list the alcohol as 12%, but LCBO has put a label on it listing the alcohol as 10.7%.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with breaded calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 9, 2020

LCBO: 546762

BURROWING OWL ESTATE BOTTLED CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

08 Friday May 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $33.95 (Clearance price: $23.80)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burrowing Owl
Alcohol:  13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Full bodied and rich on the palate with crisp acidity and flavours of exotic tropical fruit that is well balanced with the oak. Simply delicious.

Tasting Note: Bright gold colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features butter toast, lemon, peach, mango, pineapple, poached pear, dill, oak spice, ginger & white flower on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 8, 2020

LCBO: 208694