LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE NOIRE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT MÉTHODE TRADITIONNALLE NV, Bourgogne, France

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir from Bordeaux made in the traditional method for under $18, hard to say no to this sparkler.

Positives: A lighter style Blanc de Noir featuring a fine mousse, baked apples, lemon, pear, limestone and spice.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 6, 2018

LCBO: 464776

YALUMBA COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Coonawarra, Australia

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking but solid Cab from Down Under that’s not sweet or overtly high in alcohol.

Positives: Dark cherry, plum, black currant, cassis, mint, turmeric, black olives and a light smokiness on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 8, 2018

LCBO: 460667

HMC MCWATTERS COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2014, BVA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $23.25
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Harry McWatters at Time Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Proof that you can make a beautiful, delicious, rich and elegant oak style chard at a reasonable price for the average consumer.

Positives: Medium buttered toast, lemon, pineapple, mango, fudge, dill, lemon meringue pie, ginger, almond, oak spice and white rose on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy and Top Pick

Tasted: June 14, 2018

LCBO: 488536

BARONNE DU CHATELARD ROSÉ D’ÉTÉ 2017, AP Beaujolais, France

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Baronne Du Chatelard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rare rosé from Beaujolais that shouldn’t be missed, plus it’s well priced. A dry wine having tropical fruit, tangy with some spice to it.

Positives: Salmon colour featuring peach, nectarine, lime, kiwi and white pepper.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: July 18, 2018

LCBO: 119438

M XX270 SYRAH 2015, Vin De France, Corsica

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Corsica
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave d’Aléria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rare & unique wine from Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon, to Ontario. Need to try it just for that, and oh yes it’s pretty good too!

Positives: Easy drinking with medium+ tannin that features blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, spice, white pepper, some mint and violets on the nose. Needs decanting to fully open the wine up.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 26, 2018

LCBO: 571778

GRAHAM BECK PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT BLANC DE BLANC TRADITIONAL METHOD 2013, Robertson, South Africa

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Champagne style sparkler with great value for a vintage Blanc de Blanc

Positives: Fine mousse with taste of brioche, lemon peel, golden apple, pear, apricot and white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 11, 2018

LCBO: 907568

ALVENTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $35.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Alvento Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality & Complexity coming to a Canadian Cab Sauv near you. Oh wait it’s here in this wine!

Positives: A juicy Cab featuring blackberry, blackcurrants, dark cherry, plums, blueberry, cassis, cloves, pencil shavings, turmeric, leather and vanilla. A wonderful pairing with rib-eye steak.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to the sales manager, Anita Cavén for introducing me to this wine.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 17, 2018

 

13th STREET WINERY PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT NATURE 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An impressive and delicious Champagne style sparkling at half the price.

Positives: Full body, bone dry with lively acidity, a fine mousse and a long finish. Featuring brioche, green and yellow apples, Anjou pear, toasted pineapple, lemon-lime, limestone and gently oxidative. Pair this with shucked oysters.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: No dosage, 2nd fermentation in the bottle and aged sur lattes (en tirage) for a minimum 48 months.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 25, 2018

CORTE MEDICEA ATOS 2015, IGT, Tuscany, Italy

23 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $28.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bollina
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

I don’t know if I should like this or not as if I’m looking for a Merlot, this is atypical. However, if I’m searching for a Primitivo, this fits the taste profile.

Positives: Full body, oak driven featuring raisins, plum, dried prunes, figs, cherry, mocha, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and Christmas cake.

Negatives: Some heat from the listed 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: The bottle label has this as 14% alcohol, however LCBO web site puts it at 15%. I would lean more towards the 15%.

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

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: November 23, 2018

LCBO: 475996

ARISTOTLE PETITE SIRAH 2014, Monterey County, California, United States

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Petite Sirah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Scheid Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Slightly on the sweater side, but has enough substance to rise above the generic California reds

Positives: Blackberry, kirsch, mocha, plum, pencil shavings, leather and violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 7, 2018

LCBO: 572321