Tag Archives: Niagara Peninsula

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Inniskillin_Estate_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A lean but clean Chard

Description: Straw in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, peach, pink grapefruit, pickled ginger, and chalk. Medium+ body with some tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch over sour on the mouthfeel

Interesting Point: A significant drop from their 2013 vintage but still enjoyable. The 2013 and 2014 vintages are on the shelves, so look carefully in choosing the better vintage. Use the larger Chardonnay glassware.

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with hardwood Smoked Trout.

Tasted: 27 Aug 2015

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: 317768

COYOTE’S RUN PINOT NOIR 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Coyote

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A smooth & vibrant entry Pinot from a winery that specializes in Pinots

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, violets, cherry, raspberry, portabella mushrooms, basil, thyme, forest greens and smouldering autumn leaves. Medium body and tannin with a mouthful of acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lightly chill and serve in a balloon glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Crispy Duck with spicy plum sauce.

Tasted: 28 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance: 9.5/10) Total: 18.5+/20

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

LCBO: 53090

MIKE WEIR CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Weir

Cost: $14.95 (Clearance price: $12.00)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mike Weir
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy, straightforward, middle of the road Chard

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon candy, granny apple, pear, honeydew melon and apple pips on the finish. Medium body with, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: Bitter note at the back of the throat

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass as the smaller cooler climate Chard glass eventuates the bitter note

Drink now on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 14 Aug 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 00000026

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Magnotta Pinot

Cost: $20.05
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, funky & earthy styled Pinot. One of the best Canadian Pinot’s for $20 & under

Description: Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a barnyard nose in addition to aromas and flavours of pine, violets, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, forest earth and smoked charcoal. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I wasn’t impressed with this wine at the winery tasting, but figured that may be due to the small tasting glass and the wine being at room temperature. I figured right as in a proper glass and slightly chilled, this Pinot is beautiful.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Venison with rosemary.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RAVINE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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

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Cabernet-Franc-300x448

Cost: $35.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ravine Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

High quality Ontario Cab Franc for a moderate price

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, dark and sour cherry, plum, ripe red currants, raspberry, blueberry, Allspice, rosemary, tobacco leaves, white peppers, roasted red peppers and forest greens. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established winery making sparkling wine since 1877. Nice bottle to impress dinner guest.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Mushroom and Rosemary Risotto.

Tasted: 31 July 2015

Top Pick

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

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

CREEKSIDE ESTATE LAURA’S BLEND 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Saturday Jul 2015

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wine_76781_web

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec & 1% Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Creekside Estates
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Ontario wine for under $20

Description: Dark ruby in colour with an intense nose. A fairly complex wine featuring cedar, black & red currants, black raspberry, cloves, cinnamon, dried herbs, mint, cassis, smoked Montreal meat, black pepper, leather and tomato leaves. Medium body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: This shows the world that Ontario red wines can be of good quality at a reasonable price.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Lamb Chops in Moroccan BBQ Sauce.

Tasted: 18 July 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 117960

No. 99 WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Friday Jul 2015

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Wayne Gretzky

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wayne Gretzky
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

The right glassware is key to enjoying this wine

Description: Medium to light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. Not a complex wine but what it does have is full flavour that features hints of lemon, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple and kiwi. Full body with average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine in warm climate style Chard glass, and all though it had flavour it was flat, lacking acidity. In the cooler style glass the acid was better making this wine very pleasant, and why it’s a Best Buy.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with grilled calamari with tomato citrus salad.

Tasted: 16 July 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 63826

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday May 2015

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Featherstone

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $15.40)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is for those that like oaked chard, and a unique perspective that the entire process is from Ontario

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features toasted butter, spiced oaked, lemon, ripe pineapple, peach, walnuts, butterscotch, toasted marshmallows, vanilla and coconut. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Truly a Canadian Chard with oak barrels from trees that grew near by, wild airborne yeast and estate grown grapes

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Linguine and Lobster Scampi.

Tasted: 26 May 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 149302

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Saturday May 2015

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

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Cab and Franc

Cost: $14.15 (Sale: $13.15 until 18 May 2105)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently a good quality Cab Franc for under $15

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackberry, raspberry, grilled green peppers, white pepper, Kalamata olives, dark chocolate, mocha and tomato leaf. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This vintage is slightly better than the previous 2011 vintage, that I reviewed last year so I up it to be an Amazing Value.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with lamb chops glazed with spicy tomato leaf infused mint sauce.

Tasted: 14 May 2015

Best Buy

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

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

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES PINOT BLANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2015

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Magnotta Pinot Blanc

Cost: $9.15 (On sale April 2015, $8.45)
Grape Variety: Pinot Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

If you’re looking for something different in whites that’s Canadian, try this versatile crisp wine.

Description: Light gold in colour with a low intense nose. This wine features lemon rind, passion fruit, honeydew melon and grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Not too many 2013 left as 2014 is now on their shelves.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Orange, Walnut, Gorgonzola and Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Citrus Vinaigrette.

Tasted: 7 April 2015

Best Buy

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

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