LA CREMA RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2014, Russian River Valley, California, United States

10 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in White Wines

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la-crema

Cost: $39.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Crema
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Complex, balanced, juicy & delicious

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, orange rind, peach, green & yellow apples, pink grapefruit, coconut, hazelnut, honeydew melon, honeysuckle on the nose and a hint of butterscotch. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it wit Tuna Tartare served with Avocado Brunoise, Sweet & Sour Sauce, White Truffle Oil and Red Caviar

Tasted: 19 November 2016

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 67231

MALIVOIRE CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

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malivoire

Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until 1 Jan 2017: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Tangy & bright with a nice balance of the oak

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features mild toasted oak, lemon, yellow apple, pineapple, clementine, honeydew melon, pear, dill and butterscotch. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Aged Cheddar Fondue with Grilled Tomatoes, Bacon and Shallots.

Tasted: 2 December 2016

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: 573147

TAITTINGER BRUT RÉSERVE CHAMPAGNE NV, Ac Reims, France

09 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by in Champagne, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $60.95
Grape: 46% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 14% Pinot Meunier
Category: Champagne Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Taittinger
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious Champagne elegance

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, brioche, lemon, green apple, persimmon, white peach, pear, honeydew melon, honeycomb, almonds, and honeysuckle on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of the best values for higher end Champagnes and celebrated this fine Champagne today for getting my first hole-in-one in golf.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Truffle Risotto topped with grated fresh Parmesano-Reggiano.  

Tasted: 28 November 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 365312

MACMURRAY RANCH PINOT GRIS 2014, Russian River Valley, California, United States

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in White Wines

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m-pinot-gris

Cost: $22.95 (Clearance price: $16.10)
Grape: Pinot Gris
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: MacMurray Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.4% Alcohol/Vol.

If it wasn’t for the noticeable sulphur this would have been excellent

Description: Bright light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features white peach, pear, honeydew melon, fig and honeysuckle. Medium+ body with good acidity, a fairly long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Noticeable sulphur

Interesting Note: Clearance price is the correct price point for this wine

Drink now or in the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Calamari.

Tasted: 25 November 2016

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10 (Clearance price: 8.5+) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 47787

FOWLES STONE DWELLERS CHARDONNAY PINOT NOIR SPARKLING WINE, NV, Victoria, Australia

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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stone-dwellers

Cost: $11.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Victorian
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fowles Wine
Alcohol: 12.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, very dry, stone fruit character sparkler at a great price

Description: Deep straw with rose hue in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features pastry, lemon, peach pit, strawberry, green apples and Easter Lily on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Instead of a cork, Fowles uses bottle cap to cap this sparkling wine

Drink now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad.

Tasted: 16 October 2016

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 430074

OGIER VENTOUX ROSÉ 2015, Ac Ventoux, Rhône Valley, France

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Rosés

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ventoux

Cost: $13.95 (Sale price until Nov 6, 2016: $11.95)
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Ventoux, Rhône Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ogier
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, delicious & at a great price

Description: Pale salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pink grapefruit, strawberry, Spy apples and basil. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in 2 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Salmon.

Tasted: 17 October 2016

Amazing & 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+

LCBO: 134916

WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY 2015, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

03 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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wente

Cost: $18.95 (Sale price until Nov 6, 2016: $16.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced tropical fruit with oak in this well priced California Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light buttered toast, lemon, green and red apples, peach, pineapple, mango, coconut, dill, ginger, vanilla and Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Drink from the larger Montrachet glassware

Drink now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Halibut Primavera.

Tasted: 18 October 2016

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175430

DUTTON GOLDFIELD DUTTON RANCH CHARDONNAY 2012, Russian River Valley, California, United States

03 Saturday Dec 2016

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

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dutton

Cost: $47.25
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dutton Ranch
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

You’re paying for what you’re getting, an excellent California Chard
Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toast, lemon, green and red apples, peach, pineapple, mango, nutmeg, butterscotch, coconut, pine, dill, ginger, vanilla, oak spice and smoked roasted walnuts on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Don’t over chill the wine as it will mute all its favours. Love the fact that the wine is plush & full body while being 13.5% alcohol.

Drink now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Sea Bass with Sizzled Ginger, Chilli and Spring Onions.

Tasted: 22 October 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18.9/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 287854

SOKOL BLOSSER PINOT NOIR 2012, Dundee Hills, Oregon, United States

03 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Red Wines

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sokol

Cost: $35.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dundee Hills, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sokol Blosser Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit meets the barnyard

Description: Medium to light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features pine, cherry, plum, raspberry, mushrooms, sage, vanilla, dried leaves and barnyard notes on the nose. Medium body with dusty tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: A little overpriced for what you get

Drink now or in 3 years on its own or pair it with Pork Chops with Romesco and Creamy Polenta.

Tasted: 27 October 2016

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 7.5+/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 748434

CHÂTEAU HAUT SELVE 2012, Ac Graves, France

22 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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haut

Cost: $24.95
Grape: 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Haut Selve
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A lighter style of Graves, but not light on flavour

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackcurrant, plum, bramble fruit, dried herbs, and peat moss on the nose. Medium+ body and tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Fire Roasted Veal Chop with Maple Glaze.

Tasted: 28 October 2016

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 738120