NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY PINOT GRIS ROSÉ 2023, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

16 Friday Aug 2024

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A delicious dry rosé with substance that you can enjoy year-round, but so nice drinking on a patio. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light rose gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier cherries, strawberries, Macintosh apples, white peach & wet stones.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “The pinot gris was picked and sent direct to press to only allow minimal time on skins, but a perfect hint of colour. The wine was fermented using an aromatic, rose yeast to pull out only the best aromas and flavours from the juice and skins. It was fermented cold, to retain freshness and provide the perfect hue for patio season!”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 3 years on its own or pair it with lamb souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 15, 2024

JEFFERSON SIGNATURE MERITAGE 2021, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

15 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $34.95 US
Grape: 41% Merlot, 30% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Charlottesville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Jefferson Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant drinking Meritage. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, plum, cocoa, arugula, cloves, turmeric, pencil shavings, cinnamon, black pepper & star anise.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for an hour prior to serving to smooth out the tannin

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7 – 9 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bulgogi.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Aug 14, 2024

13th STREET WINERY PINOT GRIS 2023, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

06 Tuesday Aug 2024

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant, beautifully made showing nice citric fruit & acidity. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, honeydew melon, pear, pitahaya, shale & white rose on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan friendly

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 4, 2024

THE FARM PINOT NOIR 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

05 Monday Aug 2024

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

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Cost: $28.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: The Farm
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing & sour cherries, cranberry, pomegranate, rhubarb, roasted beets, Button mushrooms & peat moss on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note:

Winemaker’s Note: “Made from a blend of Pinot Noir from select vineyards across Niagara. After fermentation, the wine was aged in French Oak Burgundy barrels (228L) for 14 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7 – 9 years on its own or pair it with Salmon Poke.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Aug 4, 2024

ESSAY, CHENIN BLANC, VIOGNIER & ROUSSANNE, Cape Coast, South Africa

27 Saturday Jul 2024

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

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: 57% Chenin Blanc, 25% Viognier, 18% Roussanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Cape Coast
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Essay
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Very interesting wine, in a good way, complexity shows waves of different notes. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Guava, papaya, pineapple, litchee, honeydew melon, dragon fruit & lemon.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Essay is a play on words: “SA” is the popular way of saying “South Africa” in SA. It also implies an “assemblage” or blending of ingredients to create a whole greater than its parts.

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were hand harvested and cold fermented in stainless steel tanks. The Chenin Blanc is only free-run juice. A few months of lees contact enhances texture. The unwooded wine was fined and filtered before bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Asian chicken skewers with green papaya salad.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 25, 2024

LCBO: 414144

SOUTHBROOK PINOT NOIR LAUNDRY VINEYARD 2021, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Wednesday Jul 2024

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Southbrook Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An expressive, vibrant Pinot. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier cherries, cranberries, rhubarb, nutmeg, cloves & Oyster mushrooms.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Organic & sustainable

Winemaker’s Note: “Whole clusters were manually sorted and 30% by weight went straight into an open top fermenter. The remaining 70% were destemmed, leaving many whole berries and allowed to ferment in an open top oak fermenter. After pressing the wine was transferred to French oak barrels for 10 months of aging before bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Escargot

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 23, 2024

THE FARM CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

22 Monday Jul 2024

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

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Cost: $25.00
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: The Farm
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Vibrant & full of nice citric fruits, spice & integrated oak. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, low to medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, honeycomb, vanilla, oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: Unfiltered

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Alaskan King Crab legs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 19, 2024

KIN CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Jul 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kin Vineyards, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $25.00 (Sale at the Winery: $20.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Kin Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body Chard with a nice balance between the oak, tropical & citric fruits. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, honeycomb, oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Curry Mango and Lime Chicken Skewers

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 11, 2024

LCBO: 13708

LAS NIÑAS ELLA RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile

08 Monday Jul 2024

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

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Cost: $15.45 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $13.45)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Casablanca
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina del Nuevo Mundo SA
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality of this wine is double of its price. It’s balanced between acidity, oak & fruits. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, mango, pear, light oak spice, ginger, dill, limestone & fresh cut white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Certified sustainable/organic

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Pastel de jaiba (Crab pie)

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 7, 2024

LCBO: 37162

RODNEY STRONG RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 202, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

04 Thursday Jul 2024

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Sale price until July 21, 2024: $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.

Expressive, full flavoured California Pinot without the high alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, subtle tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, sauté mushrooms, cloves & mild earth notes.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Chill to 15C

Winemaker’s Note: Spent 18 months in French oak barrels with 29% in new.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Tuna Tartare with Scotch Bonnet.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 3, 2024

LCBO: 954834