13 Wednesday May 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Not Recommended, White Wines
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
09 Saturday May 2020
Posted in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine
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
08 Friday May 2020
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
07 Thursday May 2020
Posted in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés
Cost: $12.85 (Sale price until May 24: $11.35)
Grape: 38% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gran Feudo
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Probably one of the best Rosé you can find for under $13
Tasting Note: Rich pomegranate colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features strawberry, Dragon Fruit, orange.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: On the label it list Syrah but not Granache as one of the grapes used. However, on the Gran Feudo’s website it’s the opposite.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with BBQ spare ribs.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Amazing Buy & Best Buy
Tasted: May 7, 2020
LCBO: 165845
06 Wednesday May 2020
Posted in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $17.30)
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A pleasant drinking Ontario Syrah made in the classic Rhone style & it’s great deal at the clearance price if you can find it
Tasting Note: Light+ ruby colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, medium to mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, mulberry, plum, clove, white & black peppers and a slight smokiness on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: For some reason if you buy it at the winery, the cost is $30.15?!
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with braised beef short-ribs.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: May 6, 2020
LCBO: 230896
05 Tuesday May 2020
Posted in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château de Sérame
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A simple yet elegant wine; very pleasant to drink at a good price
Tasting Note: Straw colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features apricot, peach, pear, lemon & cloves.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic wine
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with poached salmon.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: May 5, 2020
LCBO: 10631
03 Sunday May 2020
Posted in Recommended, Sparkling Wine
Cost: $22.95 (Clearance price: $18.40)
Grape: 80% Chardonnay & 20% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay & Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oyster Bay
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A clean, crisp & lean sparkling rosé
Tasting Note: Copper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose, & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features strawberry, cherry, green & red apples.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Charmat method
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Waldorf salad.
My Opinion: Recommended
Tasted: May 3, 2020
LCBO: 280172
03 Sunday May 2020
Posted in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines
Cost: $17.95
Grape: 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir, 20%Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pézenas, Coteaux de Languedoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Symposia
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A delicious classic Southern French rustic style wine
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, medium tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features cherry, plum, strawberry, white pepper, peppercorn, Allspice, tarragon, sandalwood & purple lilac on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic wine
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.
My Opinion: Highly Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: May 2, 2020
LCBO: 298620
01 Friday May 2020
Posted in On The Fence, Red Wines
Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro (Mourvèdre)
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Nice to see a Shiraz from Australia that is under 14% alcohol, unfortunately for my taste it has a little too much jammy notes, but those that like low tannin wines will like this wine
Tasting Note: Medium to light ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, low tannin & average length on the finish. Wine features plum, blueberry pie, strawberry jam & white pepper.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with seared venison with blueberry sauce.
My Opinion: On the Fence
Tasted: May 1, 2020
LCBO: 295873
30 Thursday Apr 2020
Posted in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines
Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ste Michelle Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Great balance between the oak, fruit & acidity that makes this a pleasant drinking Chard
Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green & red apples, pineapples, mangos, peach, dill, light oak spice & Easter Lily on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sur lie aged for more than six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels (10% new). 42% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh style of Chardonnay.
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with scallops on a bed of greens.
My Opinion: Recommended
Best Buy
Tasted: April 30, 2020
LCBO: 232439
Twilight Wines 