CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2014, DOC Doã, Portugal

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.95
Grape: 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Roriz Ink, 20% National Touriga
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Dão
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cabriz
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

There are quality inexpensive wines vs sweet red inexpensive wines, and this is the former. If this were a Canadian or American wine you would have it priced $20 to $25

Positives: A nice array of black cherries, plums, raspberries, spices & dark chocolates. Nicely balanced between the oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Amazing and Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2018

LCBO: 247973

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA NV, Traditional Method, Do Spain

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent substitute for Champagne style wines but at substantial lower price.

Positives: Nice complexity from of the yeast, brioche, apples, pear, pineapple and almonds. Good acidity with a medium+ body.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 25, 2018

LCBO: 392548

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

From one of my favourite US wineries, this Cab offers quality taste for a good value.

Positives: A nice array of black fruits, spices, cocoa with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 26, 2018

ELYSSIA ROSÉ BRUT CAVA NV, Spain

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $33.75 (Comes only in a gift box with Elyssia Brut Cava)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best rosé cava’s I’ve tried

Positives: Full flavoured with red berries that finishes dry.

Negatives: Unable to buy separately

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 517664

ALVENTO ASTRAL 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

06 Thursday Dec 2018

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $25.95
Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 14% Viognier
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Already an aged wine that is showing beautifully

Positives: Easy to drink with light tannin, and full flavoured. Wine features cherry, plum, blackberry, tamarind, button mushrooms, tomato leaf, pencil shavings, turmeric and leather.

Negatives: Some barnyard notes on the nose

Interesting Point: Garnet in colour that is showing an aged wine older than the 2011 vintage.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 5, 2018

CHÂTEAU DES BERTRANDS RÉSERVE DES BERTRANDS ÉLEGANCE ROSÉ 2017, Ac Côtes de Provence, France

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95
Grape: Cinsault, Black Grenache
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Winery
Country: France
Region: Côtes de Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Côtes de Provence rosé showing elegance and class

Positives: A light onion coloured rosé, which is dry and having a long finish. The wine features apricots, orange zest, peach, strawberry, white pepper and wet stone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like the classic label and unique bottle.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 4, 2018

LCBO: 557371

WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.75 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $11.75)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

For an inexpensive California Cab it has good flavour, but not on the sweet side. This one is a winner.

Positives: A nice array of wild berries, cassis with mild tannins.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 48611

LA MASCOTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $14.95 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $12.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mascota Vineyards
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Move on, nothing to see here

Positives: Sale price

Negatives: This isn’t good, but not for the usual over sweet red wines found in this price range. The wine was very astringent.

Ageability: Drink now.

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 292110

ST. FRANCIS CHARDONNAY 2015, Sonoma County, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Francis Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The grapes are sourced from my favourite California wine AVAs: Russian River Valley, Carneros and Alexander Valley. Too bad I wasn’t overly impressed with this wine. Good but not great.

Positives: Standard good Chard at this price range featuring integrated oak, tropical and citric fruits with good acidity and structure.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol, but it is well integrated.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 317131

13th STREET WINERY WINE CLUB VIOGNIER 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $27.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Wood aged Viognier adds a complexity & uniqueness to this wine

Positives: Although wood aged and fermented, it’s dry featuring apricots, lime, kiwi, green apples and white peach.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: All sold out at the winery

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: November 29, 2018