Pale salmon in color with a mild minerally nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice mild strawberry notes and nice minerality. On the medium length finish the lively acidity sticks nicely to the tongue. This is a nice albeit milder rose, nice and dry. I’d give it a -88 or so … for the price it’s not a bad deal and another good Italian Rose. From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$16.95 VINTAGES#: 37640
Product Details
Bright baby pink. On the nose fresh raspberries and cherries, then light savoury notes. Fresh and salty on the palate, with a light tannic grip, slightly abrupt on the finish. Score – 88. (Othmar Kiem & Simon Staffler, falstaff.com, May 26, 2023)
Garnet in color with a nice bright red berry nose. On the mid palate the displays some nice vibrant raspberries and red cherries. On the medium length finish the varietal rustic notes dance on the tongue and the firm tannins and acidity linger nicely … nice and dry. This is a lovely pinot that punches well above it’s price point, definitely a yummy wine! From the LCBO site, check stock:
$22.95 VINTAGES#: 12627
Product Details
Sweetly fruited and immediately appealing, the wine shows ripe cherry, raspberry, floral and mixed spice aromas, leading to a juicy palate that’s smooth and supple. Beautifully rounded and elegantly flavoursome with a lingering silky finish. At its best: now to 2024. Score – 91. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, May 2022)
Salmon in color with a nice crisp minerally nose. On the mid palate this is a spot on varietal, vibrant Provence Rose … super dry, super crisp, and super tart on the finish without being harsh. On the medium length finish the wine displays lovely vibrant acidity and minerality that dance beautifully on the tongue, especially without food. Yumm . I would give this a solid 88 … While not an ageing wine it sure ought to keep for at least a year plus … I will go back and get more … From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$21.95 VINTAGES#: 409771
Product Details
This collaborative project between winemakers Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac), Aubert de Villaine (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti) and Michel Macaux is a love letter to the Triennia festival: an annual celebration of Bacchus, god of wine. This juicy rosé shows notes of watermelon and strawberry, with hints of rose petal on the finish.
Dark in color with a firm black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some subtle dark berries, dark plums and the like, whacked almost immediate by some very strong harsh notes, when tasted straight out of the bottle. I got strong earthy notes, and scads of rustic notes, my GF got old wood notes. Now, the commonality in these adjectives is they are not a good thing … On the medium length finish the wine displays FIRM tannins and acidity. This is a wine that really runs rough shod over your food, and your palate leaving rustic notes living on in the mouth. As a pinot I expected a certain degree of finesse and had paired it with artic char … this wine has NO finesse … It definitely softened as we drank it, and I’m pleased to admit we did not want to injure the fish by pouring it down the drain, so we did end up finishing the bottle, but I have a second and will most definitely be returning it. Oh, speaking of which, as you may know, the LCBO has changed their policy and will only accept a bottle back if you have the receipt, so keep your receipts … PSA. I would have to say, this is one of the worst bottles of wine I’ve had in quite a while … I would give this wine an 84 at best, and this definitely has earned my YUCK score.
$21.95 VINTAGES#: 325654
Product Details
Well worth cellaring, this sturdy red was grown in the Rapaura district of the Wairau Valley. Full, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, with good concentration of plummy, spicy flavours, oak complexity, and a savoury, fairly firm finish. Best drinking 2023+. Score – 95. (Michael Cooper, Winestate, Nov./Dec. 2021)
Pale straw in color with a mild citrus and minerally nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice smooth citrus notes, nice minerality … On the medium length finish the wine’s citrus notes dance nicely on the tongue and the lovely dryness coats the palate. There’s a nice oily/floral note that noticeable as well. This wine is a a sauvignon blanc/semion blend, smoother more elegant sauv blanc then say an edgy one … This is a lot more to my style these days and this wine punches way above it’s price point, but, be sure and not buy much, this is most definitely a drink now style of wine, I would give it a -88 … It’s a bargain and I’ll be going back to get more! From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$13.95 VINTAGES#: 38196
Product Details
This blend of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Sémillon is sourced from vines averaging 20 years of age. It’s highly aromatic and fruity, with peach and citrus notes. It has a broad, generous versatility with food and will work alongside brie, charcuterie dishes, sushi, tabbouleh salad or pork.
Inky dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays varietal black fruits, along with some mild dark chocolate and mocha notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays lively acidity and tannins. Not a bad wine, and if you prefer your wines more smooth, then aging or breathing is needed, it’s definitely got more of an edgy sharp finish to it, nice and dry. Not bitter, but not wimpy either. Somewhere in between. I would give it a -88. We paired it it with rack of lamb and honestly, the lamb kinda out did the wine … From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$21.95 VINTAGES#: 38234
Product Details
Situated close to the Gironde estuary, this 24-acre vineyard has produced a ripe, impressively structured wine. With dark tannins and juicy blackberry flavors, the wine is generous and has potential. Drink from 2025 [until 2034]. Best Buy. Score – 93. (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, July 1, 2022)
For a while now the formerly Vin de Pay’s has been replaced by Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) which is the quality level one below the well known AOC. This particular wine is labeled both ways and in uncharacteristic form also identifies clearly the varietal, Pinot Noir. Garnet in color with a bright red cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice lively fruit forward notes, red cherries to match the nose. On the medium length finish the wine delivers some nice lively tannins and acidity. I have to say, for the price, this is a surprisingly good, albeit fruit forward wine. It’s half way in between a serious pinot with bite and fruit forward wine. I would give this a -88 … From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$19.95 VINTAGES#: 37921
Product Details
Sourced from vines grown in limestone and clay soils, Les Turitelles is named for the marine fossils that are common in the vineyard. This generously styled wine has plenty of cherry fruit character alongside nutmeg, cinnamon, mocha and earth. Pair it with sautéed mushrooms, swordfish or turkey.
Dark in color with a nice dark berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays firm black berry notes along with some nice dark chocolate notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays firm tannins and acidity, super dry. Agliancos are never smooth or elegant wines, but this one is one of the smoother I’ve had. It’s a perfect pair for pizza or red sauce pastas … We quite enjoyed it and I went back and got more. I would give it an 88 or so … From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$18.95 VINTAGES#: 575225
Product Details
A fragrant nose of cherries, blackcurrants, chocolate, black dates and tar. Pretty full-bodied with chalky tannins, juicy blueberries and some tart, dark cherries. Firm, flavorful and vivid in finish. Drink or hold [until 2028]. Score – 92. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 6, 2022)
Inky dark in color with a vibrant black berry nose … On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely black plum flavors, quite rich … On the medium length finish the wine displays some lovely vibrant acidity and tannins that slightly overwhelm the fruit, and some noticeable pepper. Depending on how you prefer your wines, it may need some breathing/aging. Nice and dry. This is definitely leaning more towards a more serious rather than a fruit forward merlot. Be careful what you serve it with, it’s got some peppery bite. I would give this an -88 I’ll probably go back and get some more. From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$20.95 VINTAGES#: 36984
Product Details
The 2018 Merlot captivates with a mix of black cherries and plums complemented by exotic spices and dusty rose. This is a vibrant and round expression, lifted by juicy acids, and with cocoa and clovetinged red berries that give way to balsam herbs toward the close. There are so many layers here, and yet the 2018 comes across as accessible and pleasurable already. Nuanced tannins linger, as the 2018 finishes long and perfumed with blue and purple-tinged florals. Drinking window: 2023-2028. Score – 91. (Eric Guido, vinous.com, April 21, 2022)
Golden in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays varietal apple and pear notes along with some nice vanilla, it’s nice and creamy. On the medium length finish the wine is nice and dry with vibrant acidity. If you like a chard with generous oak, but not too over the top, this may be just the ticket. It’s our new fav chard, and a bargain for the price. I went back and grabbed 6. Yumm … From the LCBO web site, check stock:
Product Details
Showing a lot of oak in the aromas and flavors, this broad and toasty wine is full-bodied, rich in texture and soft in acidity, with Bartlett pear and vanilla notes accented by heady cloves and vanilla bean. Drink now. Score – 89. (jamessuckling.com, May 30, 2024)
Inky dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice elegant black cherries, black plums and dark chocolate notes. on the medium length finish the wine displays some lovely tannins and acidity. This is a lovely varietal cab (although I can’t tell you the blend, in spite of checking), quite a smooth well made wine. It should easily age a couple years but it’s drinking nicely now. We enjoyed it … I’d give it an 88+, quite nice, a gift, thanks Jamie … I even went back and got more, not cheap, but well worth the price! From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$29.95 VINTAGES#: 38037
Product Details
This is deeply coloured, substantial and ripe, with generous aromas of almost candied black plum and cherry, liberally anointed with oak resin, vanillin and spice. It is full bodied, soft, warm and quite plush with fine tannin. A touch sweet but contextually appropriate. It lacks varietal personality but it is California to its boot straps. Very good to excellent length. Tasted Feb 2024. Score – 89. (David Lawrason, winealign.com)
I noticed this Grillo in the general list and thought I’d give it a whirl … Pale straw in color with a mild citrus nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some apricot notes along with some citrus … On the lighter side of medium in length the citrus notes come through. This wine is noticeably sweet, too much so for my tastes. I would give it an 87 or so … Won’t be rushing back to get more in spite of the price … Check stock
$13.55 LCBO#: 30947
Product Details
Made from 100% Grillo grapes this juicy Sicilian beauty reveals aromas of apricot and peach complemented by sun-ripened citrus notes. Fresh, with intense fruit and light acidity this fuller-bodied wine is well-balanced with an elegant finish. Enjoy paired with seafood, vegetables and pasta dishes.
Pale straw in color with a nice citrus nose. On the mid palate the wine displays nice soft, milder citrus notes, this is NOT a sharp wine like some New Zealand Sauv blanc can be, and no green notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays lovely vibrant acidity that dance on the tongue … I would give it a solid 88 … A friend recommended this wine, and I’ll go back and grab more! Thanks Semion! Check LCBO stock.
$20.95 VINTAGES#: 554311
Product Details
Fabulously fruited and instantly appealing, the wine shows feijoa, Granny Smith apple, nectarine and jasmine aromas, followed by a concentrated palate displaying outstanding fruit purity combined with vibrant acidity, finishing superbly long and satisfying. At its best: now to 2028. Score – 95. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Aug. 2023)
Pale salmon in color with a nice citrus nose … On the mid palate the wine displays some lively citrus and some mild strawberry notes. On the mid palate the citrus notes linger nicely gripping the tongue. If this was only a pinot grigio it would be a lively complex one, but they left it in contact with the skins to give it the light salmon color. Nice and crisp and dry … I enjoyed it. I would give it an -88. A nice wine, but to my tastes it leans more to a white than a rose perse … From the LCBO web site, check stock: If you want to read more about Ramato wines … check out this article.
$19.95 VINTAGES#: 11173
Product Details
Your eyes do not deceive you; this is in fact a pink Pinot Grigio. ‘Ramato’ wines are made by leaving the pinkish skins of this Pinot clone to soak with the juice. Striking a balance between a rosé and an orange wine, this 2023 shows flavours of peach and strawberry, with aromas of freshly picked iris and a hint of beeswax. Served slightly chilled.
Dark in color with a nice dark cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays lovely black cherries along with some mocha and dark chocolate notes. On the medium length finish the wine display some nice dry tannins and not a hint of herbal or minty notes … yay! I would give this an -88, quite nice. Check stock
$20.95 VINTAGES#: 36419
Product Details
Estate blend (planted 1975-2009) of 87/8/3/2% cabernet sauvignon/ruby cabernet/cabernet franc/shiraz. Selectiv’-machine harvested, 10 days on skins, and matured in French hogsheads (16% new). An unexpectedly fragrant and fresh wine; red berry and blackberry flavours shape the medium-bodied palate. Drink by: 2035. Special Value. Score – 94. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, June 22, 2023)
Dark in color with a red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some softer fruit notes, pretty much immediately overwhelmed by the finish … On the finish the wine displays some dark chocolate notes, firm tannins and acidity. This might be a little young, but all in all the fruit it quite subdued. I would give it an 87 or so … There was next to no information on the LCBO site, I bought it largely because I generally enjoy Montepulciano’s. If I had more I’d probably return them … Disappointing would be the best adjective I can come up with … I expect more. Check stock on the LCBO web site.
“Back in the day” Billy’s best bottles use to go through the general list at the LCBO to find the hidden gems … I have been less than successful at finding good, general list, repeatable reds … until … Dark in color with a nice mild red berry nose. On the mid palate this is a spot on varietal Chianti classico, lots of tomato notes, cherries and the like. On the medium length finish the wine packs a nice punch with lovely crisp tannins and acidity … nice and dry. Yum … A great deal for the price …
$18.15 LCBO#: 31752
Product Details
The Sangiovese grape is the cornerstone of winemaking in Tuscany. This Chianti Classico, made from 100% Sangiovese, is vibrant and food-friendly. The aromas of mocha, red cherry, and savoury herbs are reiterated on the palate. The medium-bodied structure and balanced acidity allow for diverse food pairing options.
Mental biases can get in the way … and sometimes you don’t even know where they came from … Ya this is one of those … Cannonau is Italy’s name for Grenache (also known as Garanacha in Spain), and for whatever reason I have this mental memory of a fruity, jammy fruit bomb, and I have no clue where it came from … But I bought this one anyway … Dark in color with a nice cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine delivers big bold black fruits, black cherries and the like along with some mocha. On the medium length finish it delivers with a nice bit of tannins and acidity … nice and dry! Hopefully this is me on the way to retraining my brain 😉 I would give this an -88 or so. Quite nice. From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$19.95 VINTAGES#: 425488
Product Details
Cannonau is the Sardinian name for that darling Mediterranean grape, Grenache. This traditional version has complex flavours of plum, wild berries, leather and spice. Enjoy with grilled lamb or beef kebabs, or osso buco.
Cannonau is the Sardinian name for that darling Mediterranean grape, Grenache. This traditional version has complex notes of flowers, red fruit, blood orange, tobacco and leather. Enjoy with grilled lamb or beef kebabs, or osso buco.
Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with nice firm back fruits, along with some nice mocha and coffee notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice firm tannins and acidity … nice and dry! For the price, this wine is shockingly good. So much so I went back and grabbed a case! I would give it a -88. Not as complex as some, but yum none the less! From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$16.95 VINTAGES#: 487868
Product Details
The Jonck family’s wine is dense and still young with firm tannins. It has excellent potential because the ripe berry fruits are right there to give richness and flesh out the tannins. Spice and acidity fill the background. Drink this fine wine from 2019. Score – 90. (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 1, 2016)
We were down in the area birding and decided to stop in here for a tasting … Was so not disappointed. Staff were excellent and the wines were enlightening … This Sauv blanc is pale straw in color with a nice grassy nose. On the mid palate the wine displays nice grassy notes along with some nice citrus, lime notes. On the medium length finish the citrus notes and acidity dance on the tongue. This wine is towards a New Zealand style Sauv blanc with none of the sharp edgyness … Maybe not as elegant as say a Touraine but good none the less, especially given the price, I would give it a -88 and we bought two! Available at the winery … from the winery’s web site:
2022 Sauvignon Blanc
C$19.95
Our 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, crisp and juicy. The nose has pronounced gooseberry and passionfruit and is complimented by flavours of grapefuit, lime and a hint of herbaceousness.
Pale straw in color with a nice citrus nose … On the mid palate the wine displays some nice firm lime notes along with vibrant acidity. On the medium length finish the racy acidity and citrus notes stick nicely to the tongue. As you may know Touraine is the baby brother of Sancerre and a 100% sauv blanc. The price on this one is good, as Touraines often are. I would give it a solid 88 … Yum! From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$16.95 VINTAGES#: 38011
Product Details
The 2022 Valee Loire Sauvignon offers a lovely mix of citrus, melon, gooseberry and mineral nuances all taking shape and emerging from the glass. On the palate this is clean and bright with flavors of exotic tropical fruits and lime accents which burst onto the lively finish. Overall, this is a delicious Sauvignon, which will be ready to drink upon release. Drink: 2023-2024. Score – 91. (Joe D’Angelo, internationalwinereport.com, Feb. 2023)
Dark in color with a red berry nose. On the mid palate this is a big jammy wine with lots of strawberry notes coming through. The residual sugar at 12g/l is quite noticeable. On the medium length finish the wine displays balanced acidity and tannins. This is REALLY not a wine to my tastes at all. Frankly, if I had more I would take them back … and for the price, I expect a lot more complexity. This is quite simply a fruity, jammy wine … I would give it an 87 … According to the winemakers web site “created from dark red varietals including Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon”. From the LCBO web site, check stock:
$24.95 VINTAGES#: 294298
Product Details
Caymus (the minds behind this puzzle) won’t tip their hat as to what comprises this popular blend. The chocolate, prune, floral element, smoke and licorice notes are the perfect solution for your dinner conundrum. Enjoy with pulled pork or grilled short ribs.
We were in the Long Point area for birding and decided to stop by Burning Kiln … I haven’t been back since 2019 and it’s always nice to see what’s new! We previously tasted the 2016 Curemans Chard so I tried the 2021 vintage but it was a lot milder than I prefer. We’d previously tasted the 2016 M1 which is a merlot based Apassimento wine which I was impressed with so we tried the current vintage, 2020 which was positively delicious but the price has skyrocketed from $49.95 for the 2016, which was already pushing my price limit, to the 2020 at $69.95 … Sadly out of the reach for what I’m willing to pay. Quite disappointing …
The 2021 Broken Needle pinot noir is a pale strawberry color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays lovely vibrant rich red wine like notes, firm ripe strawberries, and lots of lovely complexity in the mouth. For a rose this is a very good one. On the medium length finish the wine displays nice acidity and citrus notes that dance nicely on the tongue especially noticeable without food. Nice and dry. I have to admit, I’m surprised they haven’t yet sold through the 2021 vintage, the 2022 is ready to be released and they are on the cusp of a switch over. I actually think this wine might have some life left in it, maybe even another year or two … not that Roses are made for storing … I would give this wine a solid 88, sadly only available from the winery for $21.95 …
From the winery’s web site:
Broken Needle | Pinot Noir Rosé
Dry rosé with notes of strawberry, raspberry, lime zest, pineapple, and freshly baked brioche.
Garnet in color with a mild red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with spot on varietal cherries and strawberries along with some nice rustic notes. On the medium in length finish the wine’s fruit forward notes and mild tannins live on for a bit. This is definitely a milder, gentler, varietal, fruit forward pinot. We paired it with venison and it was a perfect match with the softer tones complementing the gentler flavors of the meat. I would give it an -88 … From the LCBO web site:
$21.95 VINTAGES#: 590414
Product Details
Oyster Bay’s Pinot Noir is always a hit, delivering reliable quality at an easy-to-swallow price. It has a pretty, floral nose, with dark fruit and berries, portabello mushrooms, vanilla and cherry. Food-friendly and fresh, it will pair well with duck, salmon or grilled pork.
Dark in color with a mild black berry nose … it’s about the ONLY thing about this wine that is mild … On the mid palate the wine displays prominent oakey notes along with BIG vibrant black berries, black cherries, coffer and mocha. On the medium length finish the displays BIG tannins, firm acidity and the black berry notes stick to the tongue … super dry. If your looking for a well refined smooth wine … ya this is so not that, but if you like your wines big and bold like I do, then this might just well be the trick! But … be careful what you serve it with, we paired it with bacon and blue cheese hamburgers and it went well. I would give it a -88 or so … Yumm. For the price a good deal. This wine is made from the St George’s grape, also known as Agiorgitiko, from the LCBO web site, check stock:
$21.95 VINTAGES#: 295618
Product Details
This plush, inviting 100% Agiorgitiko comes from one of Greece’s highest mountain ranges. The elevation and the cooling winds allow grapes to retain acidity and balance amidst the sweltering heat the region frequently experiences. Spicy on the palate with black fruit and firm tannins, this wine will pair well with moussaka or rack of lamb.
