JEAN CLAUDE MAS ORIGINES MARTINOLLES 2015, Pays D’oc Saint Hilaire, France

12 Saturday Aug 2017

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Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Saint Hilaire, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Les Demaines Paul Mas
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive Chard, even more impressive that’s it’s inexpensive

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features mild oak, lemon/lime, mango, pineapple, Spy apples, white peach, coconut crème pie, vanilla and Ylang Ylang on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try using the Montrachet style glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Quail Roasted with Honey, Cumin and Orange Juice.

Tasted: 4 Aug 2017

Best & Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 469999

ORGANIZED CRIME CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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Cost: $14.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Organized Crime
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice rich, creamy Chard Ontario Chard that’s not high in alcohol & under $15

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium oak, butter toast, lemon, mango, pineapple, peach, Fuji Apples, cream corn, vanilla and buttered popcorn on the nose. Medium+ body with light average acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with.

Tasted: 13 July 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 408435

THE FOREIGN AFFAIR: THE CONSPIRACY 2015, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price: $17.95 until 16 July 2017)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Foreign Affair Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice well balanced Ontario red for under $20

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, blackcurrants, cherry, plum, blackberry, turmeric, clove and eucalyptus on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Done in the Ripasso method of drying of the grapes giving the wine more richness & depth.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Roasted Châteaubriand with Red Wine-Mushroom Reduction and Pommes Puree.

Tasted: 11 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 149237

ENIGMA CHARDONNAY 2014, California, United States

23 Sunday Jul 2017

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Cost: $14.15 (On sale until 16 July 2017: $12.15)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E.J Gallo Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

This is comfort Chardonnay

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features toasted oak, lemon meringue, baked apples, peach, mango, pineapple, orange, oak spice, butterscotch, vanilla and Easter Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with average acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Orange Honey BBQ Chicken.

Tasted: 20 June 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 428854

BERONIA RIOJA, TEMPRANILLO, ELABORACION ESPECIAL 2014, Rioja, Spain

23 Sunday Jul 2017

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beronia
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja style that’s smooth and delicious at a great price

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose. This wine features sandalwood, strawberry, dark cherry, pomegranate, grilled red peppers, cloves, cinnamon, cigar box, oregano, vanilla and leather on the finish. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the finish from the 14% alcohol.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Steak with Olive Salsa.

Tasted: 21 June 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 426981

RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

22 Saturday Jul 2017

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Cost: $30.00
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Alexander Valley Cab, but alcohol tries to overwhelm the fruit flavours

Description: Deep ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plum, raspberry, black currants, boysenberry, cinnamon, cloves, smoked, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather and purple lilac on the nose. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and long length.

Negatives: Too much heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Previous vintage that I reviewed was the 2012, which was far superior to the 2014.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with London Broil drizzled with Onion Marmalade .

Tasted: 28 February 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 350454

GENESIS XINOMAVRO MERLOT 2014, Pgi Macedonia, Greece

22 Saturday Jul 2017

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Cost: $16.95 (Clearance price: $13.60)
Grape: Xinomavro & Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Macedonia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kechris & Company
Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Full flavoured, tasteful wine that is a great buy

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, dark cherry, plum, raspberry, tamarind, blackberry, red & black pepper, cassis, tobacco leaves and cherry pipe tobacco on the nose. Medium to medium+ body with medium+ tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Love the nose on this wine. Reminds of wines from Graves.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with a medley of Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Peppers and Beets served with Grilled Flank Steak.

Tasted: 20 June 2017

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at clearance price

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 465914

ROCKWAY VINEYARDS SMALL LOT MERLOT 2013, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Jul 2017

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rockway Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy yet firm, one of the better Ontario Merlot’s for under $25

Description: Medium bronze in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, black cherry, blackcurrants, plum, blueberry, anise, cassis, tobacco leaves, green peppers, rosemary and violets on the nose. Medium+ body with medium tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 of years on its own or pair it with Mediterranean Lamb Burgers.

Tasted: 4 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RITUS 2010, DOC Ribera Del Duero

20 Thursday Jul 2017

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Cost: $17.25
Grape: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera Del Duero
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Balbas
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple but full flavoured

Description: Light to medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, plum, raspberry, blackberry, coconut and tomato leaves. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 14% alcohol and a little soapy on the nose.

Interesting Note: I found the wine tasted better in the larger Cab glass rather than the typical Tempranillo glass that I would normally use for a dominant Tempranillo wine.

Drink now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Lamb Shanks with Ancho Chile Honey Glaze.

Tasted: 5 July 2017

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 461236

POWERS VIOGNIER 2015, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

20 Thursday Jul 2017

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

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: $15.20)
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Badger Mountain Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Deliciously expressing the Viognier grape at an excellent price

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features peach, pear, lemon tart, apricot, Fuji apples, Honeydew melon, clementine, honey and peach pit on the finish. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity and a good length.

Interesting Note: Don’t over chill this wine or you’ll loose its complexity.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Veal Piccata with Parsley and Capers.

Tasted: 7 July 2017

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 18.5/20

Best Buy & Top Pick

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 486993