ROMBAUER CHARDONNAY 2023, Carneros, California, Unites States of America

16 Saturday Nov 2024

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

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Cost: $63.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rombauer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.

A powerful Chard. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, butter toast, green apples, pear, peach, cloves, nutmeg, almonds, oak spice, vanilla & honeycomb.

Negatives: High alcohol

Interesting Note: 2023 vintage is not as good as previous ones, and this vintage the alcohol

Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. The juice was pumped to tank to cold-settle overnight before it was racked to barrel for primary and malolactic fermentations. The lees were stirred every 7-10 days to give the wine rich flavors and a creamy texture. 9 months in American and French oak barrels (35% new).” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Alaska King Crab in a Warm Lemon-Cilantro Sabayon

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Nov 15, 2024

LCBO: 441089

JEFFERSON VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2022, Monticello, Virginia, United States of America

01 Friday Nov 2024

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Monticello, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jefferson Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely made with lots of fruits & spiciness and not high on the alcohol. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, peach, kumquat, cloves, nutmeg, oak spice, vanilla & honeycomb.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 9 months in oak.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Fontina.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Nov 1, 2024

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE MERLOT 2020, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

26 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, mulberry, cocoa, vanilla, oak spice, cinnamon, cloves & light amber smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Aged in 100% French oak barrels (225L, 500L & 600L) for 18 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Filet Mignon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2024

WESTCOTT VINEYARDS BRILLIANT ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE, NV, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Oct 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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

Don’t let the earthy style sparkling rosé sway you away from this beautifully made wine. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright deep salmon in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, rhubarb, peat moss, portobello mushrooms & thyme.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Made in the Traditional French Champagne method. Skin soaked for 2 hours. 24 months lees contact, hand riddled, disgorged and labelled at Westcott.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with hamburger from Westcott patio.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Oct 22, 2024

LCBO: 38733

JACQUES BRUÉRE CAP CLASSIQUE BLANC DE BLANCS 2012, Robertson, South Africa

20 Sunday Oct 2024

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

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bon Courage Estate
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A creamy, full body vintage traditional method Sparkling wine full of character. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Deep gold in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, light brioche, lemon-lime, pear, Fuji apples, honeycomb & limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “The base wine was kept on the lees for 8 months initially
during the first fermentation. 10% of the Chardonnay was Barrel Fermented. The “magic of the bubbles” begins during the 2nd fermentation that occurs in the bottle thereby extending maturation on the lees for 100 months. After “disgorgement” (removal of the yeast lees) and “dosage” (adding base wine and sugar) the final product is left on the cork +- 9months, and then released.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 20, 2024

LCBO: 23971

13th STREET WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE, 2020, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

19 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $59.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A high-end, robust Cab with a price to match. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, fine grained tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainer cherries, plum, wild blueberries, bramble fruit, pomegranate, cranberry, cassis, cloves, graphite, dark chocolate, arugula, vanilla & smoked oak on the nose.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “Sourced from Lakeshore Farm vineyard, fermented with minimal intervention & selected from the top barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon following 20 months ageing.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years & pair it with Marinated Flank Steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 17, 2024

RODNEY STRONG ESTATE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2020, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

18 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Sale Price until Nov. 10/24: $26.95)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body & flavour RRV Pinot without the high alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, rhubarb, roasted beets, Shitake mushrooms, peat moss, vanilla & light toasted oak smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: For several years this wine had high alcohol of 14.5%. Thankfully they have lowered it now to a respectable 13.5%.

Winemaker’s Note: “10 months in French oak barrels, 30% new”.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 6 – 8 years on its own or pair it with Steak Tartare.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Oct 17, 2024

LCBO: 954834

SOUTHBROOK WITNESS BLOCK, CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ, 2021, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Monday Oct 2024

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

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Cost: $34.80
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 10.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Interesting & different style rosé. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Red copper in colour with good acidity, low+ intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, rhubarb, Button mushrooms & thyme.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & Vegan

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were hand-harvested and whole clusters were sorted and loaded directly into the press. Slower, gentler cycle allowed for colour extraction from grape skins. Cold juice settling and racking was followed by wild fermentation in old, neutral oak barrels. Alcoholic fermentation spanned two months and finished dry with no malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity. Bentonite fining was used prior to sterile filtration and bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner (Happy Thanksgiving!).

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 14, 2024

HENRY OF PELHAM SPARKLING WINE, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

13 Sunday Oct 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.95 (Sale price until Oct 13, 2024: $15.95)
Grape: Blend of white grapes
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A great Canadian alternative to Prosecco. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine to medium mousse, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon tart, peach & pear.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: New to LCBO stores

Winemaker’s Note: “The grapes used in this blend were picked in late September to obtain the perfect balance between acidity and sugar. The base wine was fermented cool to preserve aromatics with no malolactic fermentation done in order to maintain freshness. Secondary fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks to produce elegant bubbles. Minimum 30 days aging on lees.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie Board.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 13, 2024

LCBO: 37965

CLAY SHANNON EL COYOTE CHARDONNAY 2021, Lake County, California, United States of America

05 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, White Wines

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Cost: $25.99 (Clearance price: $14.99)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Giant Grocery, Virginia
Country: United States of America
Region: Lake County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Shannon Family of Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, but not overtly high alcohol Cali Chard that tastes a lot better at the clearance price. Score: 85/100.

Tasting Note: Bright old gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, cantaloupe, marzipan, kumquat, golden apples, nutmeg, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3years on its own or pair it with Yang Nyum Chicken.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: October 3, 2024