CARPINETO DOGAJOLO ROSSO 2014, IGT Tuscany, Italy

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Carpineto Casa Vinicola
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, versatile & delicious

Description: Medium ruby to purple in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cheery, strawberry, red currants, leather, Unagi and purple lilacs on the nose. Medium body with dusty tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Penne Arrabbiata with Pancetta.

Tasted: 17 March 2017

Best buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 361501

CHÂTEAU BONNIN PICHON GRANDE-RESERVE 2014, Ac Lussac Saint-Emilion, France

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 70% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Lussac Saint-Emilion
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Bonnin Pichon
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Classic nuances of the right bank Bordeaux, but it’s affordable

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, cherry, plum, blackberry, cassis, anise, black & red peppers, nutmeg and purple lilacs on the nose. Medium+ body and tannin with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Like the classic label.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington with Spinach and Artichoke. 

Tasted: 23 March 2017

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 280008

LUIGI BOSCA GALA 2, 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

21 Tuesday Mar 2017

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

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luigi-bosca

Cost: $27.99 CI
Grape: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits, Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious!

Description: Medium to dark ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, ripe plums, raspberry, dates, blueberry, cloves, cassis, black olives, pepper, espresso, cocoa, mint, leather, pencil shavings and smoked tobacco on the nose. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of my highest rated wines and I got it on sale for $15!!!

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Stuffed Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce.

Tasted: 26 January 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST 2011, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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2011deanlistchardonnay1

Cost: $25.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Not the typical commercial produced Chard so I give this Dean List Chard an A

Description: Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, pineapple, orange, clove, oak spice and on the nose. Medium= body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I like the Dean’s List report card on the label. What’s interesting is that on the label the aging potential is listed to 2014. However, on the winery web site, they have the aging potential of 2018, with which I agree.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Honey and Clove Glazed Pork Chops.

Tasted: 3 February 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

KANONKOP KADETTE CAPE BLEND 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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k

Cost: $18.99 CI (Sale price Feb 2017: $13.99 CI)
Grape: 44% Pinotage, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kanonkop
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, smoky & easy drinking

Description: Bright dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, cherry, plum, mocha, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, caramel, coke, spinach and peat moss on the nose. Medium+ body, light tannin with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Kanonkop means “Cannon Hill” and is derived from the days when cannons were fired to signal the arrival of Danish trade ships into Cape Town harbour.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Cherry-Smoked Duck.

Tasted: 12 February 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5+/20

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

MIGRATION CHARDONNAY 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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migration

Cost: $34.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Duckhorn Wine Company
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.

Classic RRV Chard, love it

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, butter, lemon, tangerine, peach, peaches & cream corn, fresh dill, lemon meringue, and apple blossom on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note:

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Poached Corvina Seabass.

Tasted: 13 February 2017

Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 396309

CAMBRIA BENCHBREAK CHARDONNAY 2014, Santa Maria Valley, California, United States

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

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cambria_benchbreak_chardonnay_2014_web

Cost: $24.99 CI
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Black Beard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance between oak, fruit & acidity

Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, butter, lemon, passion fruit, pear, ginger, oak spice and Eater Lily on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Winery is Certified Sustainable

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Old Fashioned Linguine with White Clam Sauce.

Tasted: 13 February 2017

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

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

DRY CREEK VINEYARD DRY CHENIN BLANC 2015, Clarksburg, California, United States

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

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dry-creek

Cost: $20.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Clarksburg, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dry Creek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance between oak, fruit & acidity

Description: Bright straw in colour with an intense nose. This wine features orange, sugar snaps, pineapple, honeydew, kiwi, limestone and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Nice detail on the front label

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Crispy Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Tasted: 20 February 2017

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

Best Buy

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

LCBO: 994442

NOVELLUM CHARDONNAY 2014, IGP Pays d’Orc Roussillon, France

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

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novellum

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Novellum
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Unoaked but has subtle nuances that make it smooth with some complexity

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features orange, lemon meringue, pineapple, Spy and Golden apples, coconut cream pie, macadamia nuts and white flowers on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: No wood was used; instead the wine was aged on Viognier lees to give it more substance.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Broiled Chicken stuffed with macadamia and camembert.

Tasted: 24 February 2017

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

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 390781

FEATHERSTONE JOY PREMIUM CUVÉE MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE 2011, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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joy

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $24.50)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone
Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Simple yet elegant

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features brioche, lemon, green apples, dill, ginger and white flowers on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The 2011 Vintages are on clearance as 2012 are now coming to stores. This sparkler is topped with a bottle cap not cork.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Grouper with Lemon Basil Cream Sauce.

Tasted: 5 March 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 9/10), Total: 17+/20

Best Buy at Clearance Price

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

LCBO: 310334