Author Archives: John Galea

Liboreau Charentes Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Pale in color with nice mild citrus/mineral nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with nice citrus notes, no where near lemon zest along with some nice minerality. On the medium length finish the wine displays some … Continue reading

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2015 Masi Bonacosta Valpolicella Classico DOC

Dark in color with a mild cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine is quite fruit forward with cherries and some raspberries coming through. It actually took me a few sips to place the raspberries. On the medium length … Continue reading

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2016 Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni

Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some bold cherries and some nice mocha. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice velvety tannins and some nice acidity. It’s nice and … Continue reading

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Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc 2016

I love Cab Franc, and Niagara make some awesome ones … Recently I encountered the Alta Vista Cab Franc which was a new one for me, an Argentinian Cab Franc single varietal. So I grabbed this one … Dark in … Continue reading

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Navigating the LCBO biweekly vintage release

I thought I would take a bit of time and go through the biweekly LCBO vintage release … Every two weeks the LCBO release a catalog of wines that are featured. These wines may or may not come back to … Continue reading

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Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Reserve Merlot 2016

Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate there’s some mild cherry and plum notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some smooth tannins and acidity, nice and dry. This is a fruit forward, varietal … Continue reading

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2015 Tawse Growers blend Cab Franc

This is the second time I’ve had this wine and been impressed. The first time we were out for dinner at the Ancaster old mill and I chose it, this time around we were having guests over and I love … Continue reading

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2015 Chateau Breillan mini review

This wine was one of my favorites of a recent Sichel tasting held by Vinexx. Inky dark in color with a mild black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine delivers beautiful dark fruit to match the nose. ON … Continue reading

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2017 Emiliana Adobe Organic Merlot

Ok I know this isn’t a popular sentiment, but I like a good fruit forward merlot … Movies like Sideways where the lead character screams I’m not drinking Merlot, along with changing consumer tastes have left Merlot, nowhere near as … Continue reading

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Château Clos Mansio 2015

Dark in color with a nice back plum nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some bold rich black plum notes, the merlot is quite dominant. On the medium length finish the wine is nice and dry with some … Continue reading

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Henry of Pelham Family Tree Red 2017

I’ve had this wine in past vintages and been impressed, so I looked forward to this one with expectations. And you know what happens when you have expectations … Inky dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On … Continue reading

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Domaine du Bois-Malinge Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2016

I had only seen Sur lie as a process on Chard/champagne. Seems this can also be done on some Muscadets, as is this one. Pale to golden in color with a nice mild nose of minerality. On the mid palate … Continue reading

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13th Street Red Palette 2017

Wandering though the LCBO I saw this one at a price I couldn’t resist. Dark in color with a nice plummy nose, the merlot is definitely present. On the mid palate there’s some nice plum notes to match the nose. … Continue reading

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Johnny Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Inky dark in color with a dark berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with black cherries, a hint of blueberry, and some oaky notes, it’s definitely a fruit forward wine.. On the mid length finish … Continue reading

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Domaine Jacky Marteau Sauvignon Touraine 2017

Very pale in color with a mild citrus nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some nice citrus notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice crispness, minerality acidity. It’s vivid and bright … Continue reading

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2017 Thirty Bench winemakers blend Chard

I’ve been buying this for a couple of years now, and sadly it’s trending opposite to my tastes, becoming more fruit forward, less complex, less oaky. 2015 was the best of the years to date (to my tastes). Vinification notes … Continue reading

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Rock Point Pinot Noir 2015

The release before Christmas from the LCBO is always filled with lots of over priced wines they think you will buy to give as presents. The release just after Christmas (when everyone is broke) is always the bargain lists. Dark … Continue reading

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Trius Brut

I was walking out of Longos just before New Years eve and they were sampling this bubbly. And one must have a bubbly to bring in the new year. Pale in color with a nice apple/pear nose. On the mid … Continue reading

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Monte del Frà Lena di Mezzo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2015

Dark in color with a nice red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice juicy red berries. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice firm tannins and acidity. Quite a nice, varietal ripasso, … Continue reading

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2017 G. Marquis Chard

I’ve previously reviewed both the 2014 and 2016 vintages of this wine and been impressed. I was grabbing the pinot so grabbed the chard at the same time. Slightly golden in color with a nice apple/pear nose. On the mid … Continue reading

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2015 Buried Hope Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark in color with a mild cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some vibrant cherries to match the nose along with some mocha. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice smooth tannins and acidity … Continue reading

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Stadt Krems Grüner Veltliner 2016

Pale in color with a nice crisp minerally nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice crisp dry honeysuckle notes. This reminds me a lot of a crisp dry Riesling. On the medium length finish the wine displays … Continue reading

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Feudo Montoni Lagnusa Nero D’Avola 2015

I had this one recommended to me by a colleague … Thanks Semion! I don’t know the Nero D’Avola grape well so had no idea what to expect. Inky dark in color with a mild black berry nose. On the … Continue reading

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2016 G. Marquis Pinot Noir

I’ve had this wine for a couple of vintages now and been impressed with it, quite good, I last wrote up the 2014 vintage. It’s made by Magnotta and G. Marquis is a premium label for them. Garnet in color … Continue reading

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Sutherland Pinot Noir 2015

Garnet in color with a strawberry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays strawberries to match the nose. On the lighter side of medium length in finish the wine displays some gentle tannins and acidity along with some mocha … Continue reading

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