Garnet in color with a nice varietal nose displays soft red berries and rustic notes. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice varietal notes to match the nose, soft red berries, raspberries and some nice rustic notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice dryness, and firm tannins. A lovely pinot displaying nice fruit! I would give it an 88+, one of the stars of the recent Chilean wine fest in Toronto. Sadly not yet in the LCBO $22.95 a bottle.
Pale in color with a nice grassy nose. On the mid palate the wine displays grassy notes to match the nose along with some nice acidity. On the medium length finish the citrus notes linger nicey displaying some nice mouth grip. I would give it an 88 or so.
From the LCBO web site for a different year:
Montes Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc 2015 — VINTAGES#: 389643
STYLE – Aromatic & Flavourful
A very tangy and bright white with lots of sliced lemon and grass character on the nose and palate. Intense and lively. Energetic. Drink now. Score – 90. (James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Oct. 29, 2015) $16.25
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:April 30, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 12.5% Made in:Aconcagua Valley, Chile By: Montes S.A.Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor : XD – Extra Dry Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Golden in color with a nice apple and pear nose, spot on for a chard. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some lovely chard fruit coming through, apple and pear. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice butterscotch and vanilla. A spot on California chard. We paired it with pan seared scallops, yum it went well and complemented the meal. I would give it an 88-89.
From the LCBO web site:
Sterling Vintner’s Chardonnay — LCBO#: 669242
STYLE – Full-bodied & Rich Medium deep yellow straw colour; aromas and flavours of apple, pear and oaky vanilla; dry, medium to full bodied, well balanced with good length. $16.00
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:January 1, 2001
750 mL bottle Alcohol/Vol 13.5%Made in:USA By:Sterling Vineyards Sugar Content:4 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Rich Varietal:Chardonnay
Dark in color with a mild red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some red berries along with some strong herbal notes, maybe even green pepper. There’s noticeable sweetness. On the lighter side of medium in length the fine is definitely more fruit forward with minimal tannins and acidity. This is not a great cab, I would give it an 87-88. In some ways it reminded me of a Zinf. Not bad enough to return the bottle but if I had more I would take them back.
From the LCBO web site:
The Show Cabernet Sauvignon — LCBO#: 383885
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Medium ruby in colour; aromas of plum, raspberry, black currant, white pepper and vanilla; the palate is dry and full body with flavours of rich black fruit, spice and a touch of vanilla. $18.95 QUANTITY
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:October 21, 2014
Alcohol/Vol 13.9% Made in:California, USA By:Sutter Home Winery Sugar Content:11 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style:Full-bodied & Smooth Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon
Nice garnet in color with a rustic and soft red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some lovely soft red fruits coming through, raspberries and the like along with some nice rustic over tones. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice smooth tannins and acidity. This is a lovely varietal pinot. We paired it with bbq salmon and it went very well. I would give it an 88-89. This wine is made by Magnotta.
From the LCBO web site:
G. Marquis The Silver Line Pinot Noir — VINTAGES#: 258673
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Fruity
The G. Marquis vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to carefully tended 25-year-old Pinot vines. This wine offers complex notes of red cherry, raspberry, mineral and smoke. Elegant and structured, it’s a good match for mushroom risotto. $19.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:April 1, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 12.5% Made in:Ontario, Canada By: Magnotta Winery Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity Varietal:Pinot Noir This is a VQA wine
Golden in color with a nice apple/pear nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some rich apple and pear coming through, lovely chard fruit . On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice butterscotch and creamy notes. The wine is definitely a little thicker in texture than some. It is a well made not over top oaked California style chard. Very nice and right up my alley. I would give it an 89 or so … This wine has been consistent in price and quality for quite while now, no easy feat in the wine industry! We paired it with some nice pan fried lake perch and the richness of the wine complemented the simplicity of the perch. Yumm!
From the LCBO web site:
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay — VINTAGES#: 369686
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Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay
STYLE – Full-bodied & Rich
One hundred percent barrel-fermented Chardonnay with the richness one wants from California. Plenty of sunny fruit and lively freshness. Creamy and round with notes of buttered toast and tropical fruits. Try with char-grilled corn on the cob, or with grilled chicken. $19.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:April 1, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in:California, USA By: Jackson Wine Estates International Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style:Full-bodied & Rich Varietal: Chardonnay Description: One hundred percent barrel-fermented Chardonnay with the richness one wants from California. Plenty of sunny fruit and lively freshness. Creamy and round with notes of buttered toast and tropical fruits. Try with char-grilled corn on the cob, or with grilled chicken.
Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice black fruit typical of a Shiraz. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice dryness along with some mild tannins. Not a bad deal for the price. I would give it an 88 or so.
Fairview Shiraz 2014 — VINTAGES#: 626358
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Wine has been produced on the Fairview land since 1699, but the first Fairview-labelled wine did not come into being until 1974. Their 2014 Shiraz offers aromas of blackberry, blueberry, spice and mocha. There is a lovely lushness to the palate, which maintains balance in the face of quite forward ripe fruit. Soft and silky with a long, spicy finish. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2015) $17.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:August 6, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 14.5% Made in: Coastal Region, South Africa By:Fairview Trust Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Smooth
As an IGT this Tuscan is allowed to be made with 100% Merlot. Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate straight out of the bottle the wine displays some subtle plummy notes overwhelmed almost immediately by the 15% alcohol. Allow a bit of breathing and you will be rewarded with a rich dark plum, smokey, oakey rich Merlot. On the medium length finish the wine displays some smooth tannins along with acidity and still some noticeable alcohol. This is a lovely wine. I was afraid I might have left it too long being a 2008 but there was still lots of lovely fruit left. I would give this wine a solid 90+. Probably one of the best Merlots I’ve had from Italy and one of the better Merlots I’ve had in a while. But it’s big for a Merlot! I believe it was $63 a bottle when bought in 2012, it was a gift.
I bought this at the winery back in 2012. When is wine ready to drink? Well when you can’t wait any longer of course 🙂 Peninsula Ridge have really been kicking up a notch in recent years. A statement of how Niagara continue to move the quality of their wines forward, and this is one small example of that. Garnet in color with a little browning around the edges. I was getting a little concerned … A mild light red berry nose. On the mid palate the fruit on this wine is still holding it’s own nicely displays lovely soft red berries, raspberries and the like along with some nice rustic and earthy notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some mild acidity and tannins. This is a super food friendly wine. We paried it with duck tournedos and it went very well I would give the wine an 88-89. Very nice. $24.95 when I bought it.
Dark in color with a nice cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dark cherries to match the nose. Definitely a fruit forward wine. On the medium length finish the wine displays some firm acidity and tannins. It’s quite tart and there are some herbal/green pepper notes present. For the price it’s not a bad deal. I would give it an 88+.
Helderberg Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — LCBO#: 461509
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Favouable climatic conditions and hand harvesting produced this plush, full-bodied, ruby red wine; on the palate it is extra-dry with full and concentrated aromas and flavours of dark berries, plum, currant and spice that are balanced by bright acidity; the finish is complemented by structured tannins and silky texture. $14.95
Release Date:September 7, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 14.5% Made in: Stellenbosch, South Africa By:Vinimark Trading Sugar Content:4 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Smooth
Garnet in color with a nice rustic varietal nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice soft red berries as well as some rustic varietal notes to match the nose. The fruit is lovely and expressive. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice acidity, some dryness and some tannins. It’s a softer gentler pinot. I would give it an 88 or so.
From the LCBO web site:
Hahn Pinot Noir Monterey — LCBO#: 226555t
Hahn Pinot Noir Monterey
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Fruity
Ruby/garnet colour with aromas of red berries including cranberries and strawberries, earth and spice notes; medium body, fruit and spice flavours $19.20
Release Date:December 30, 2011
Alcohol/Vol 14.5% Made in: California, USA By:Hahn Family Wines Sugar Content:10 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style:Medium-bodied & Fruity
Inky dark in color with a dark berry nose. On the mid palate this wine displays dark berries along with a hint of plum. On the medium length finish the wine displays some firm acidity, noticeable alcohol and a touch of pepper. If you like your Merlots fruit forward and plummy … ehhhh this isn’t the wine for you. Honestly this wine reminds me of a young mild shiraz. Be sure and decant or let age to allow the hot alcohol to tone down. I would give this wine an 87 or so. Not great, but not pour down the drain horrible either. If I had more, I’d return them all.
From the LCBO web site:
Mollydooker The Scooter Merlot 2014 — VINTAGES#: 462275
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Mollydooker (which means ‘left-handed’ in Aussie) is a winery in Southern Australia that produces this monster of a wine … a Merlot that could almost double as a port. Rich, chewy, jammy and spicy are just some of the descriptors that flew around the table. (Holly Howell, democratandchronicle.com, Dec. 8, 2015) $24.95
Release Date:September 17, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 14.5% Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Mollydooker International Llc Sugar Content: 6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – DryStyle:Full-bodied & Smooth
Dark in color with a mild black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some nice black berry notes along with some noticeable oak. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice dryness and fine tannins along with a hint of pepper. The fruit on this wine is on the milder side but its a nice elegant wine. It will pair well with milder foods. We paired it with bbq filet mignon and it went well. I would give it an 88 or so …
From the LCBO web site:
Best’s Bin No. 1 Shiraz 2013 — VINTAGES#: 222323 Best’s Bin No. 1 Shiraz 2013
STYLE – Full-bodied & Firm
Deep, dense crimson-purple; savoury/foresty nuances provide the backdrop for the black fruits and licorice aromas and flavours; maturation in large-format French oak has kept the wine fresh and firm, with a minimum 25-year future. Drink By: 2038. Score – 94. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, July 27, 2015) $19.95
Release Date:August 6, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 14.5% Made in: Victoria, Australia By:Best’s Wines Pty Ltd Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry Style: Full-bodied & Firm Varietal:Shiraz/Syrah Description: 2016 marks the 150th anniversary since Henry Best purchased the property and began clearing the land and planting grape vines.
Pale in color with a nice grassy nose. On the mid paalte the wine displays some nice grassy notes to match the nose. On the medium length finish there’s some nice citrus and grapefruit notes with crisp acidity. This is a softer gentler sauv blanc. Very food friendly. I would give it an 88 or so …
from the LCBO web site:
Evans & Tate Breathing Space Sauvignon Blanc — LCBO#: 447078
STYLE – Aromatic & Flavourful
Pale lemon colour; delicate aromas of citrus, mineral, passion fruit and honeydew melon fill the nose; the palate is dry, medium-bodied with balanced acidity and filled with citrus, grapefruit, herbal and snow pea flavours; clean finish with good length. $15.95
Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays black berries to match the nose. On the medium length finish there’s some nice smooth tannins along with some nice dryness. I would give it an 88 or so. An easy sipping wine, and food friendly too … Quite nice.
From the LCBO web site:
Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2013 — VINTAGES#: 590356
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Stags’ Leap has always had a great reputation for its Petite Sirahs. The 2013 Petite Sirah from Napa is 78% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 8% Grenache and the rest Mixed Blacks, aged 12 months in 100% American oak. Blackberry and blueberry fruit, floral notes, licorice and camphor are all present in this medium to full-bodied, but excruciatingly tannic wine that needs at least 7-8 years of cellaring. If the tannins don’t subside, my rating will look excessive. Drink: 2024-2034. Score – 88+. (Robert Parker Jr., robertparker.com, March 2016) $39.95
Release Date:September 3, 2016
Alcohol/Vo l14.3% Made in: California, USA By:Treasury Wine Estates Sugar Content:2 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style:Full-bodied & Smooth
Pale rose in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine is a nice crisp dry bubbly with nice fine bubbles. I was surprisingly impressed. I don’t often go for Roses and only bubbly some times. The wine would be super food friendly. I would give it an 88 or so.
From the LCBO web site:
De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Rose Brut
Cabernet Franc — LCBO#: 211466
STYLE – Light & Fruity
Pale salmon colour with fine bubbles; supple aromas of pink grapefruit, strawberry and fresh bread dough; dry, light bodied, with zesty flavours of crisp red apple, red berries, mineral and a hint of toast. $18.75
Release Date:September 5, 2014
Alcohol/Vol12.5% Made in: Loire, France By: Alliance Loire Sugar Content:12 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – DryStyle:Light & Fruity Varietal:Cabernet Franc
Dark in color with a nice varietal nose. On the mid palate the wine’s lovely fruit is expressive and varietal. Cab franc done right! On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice firmness without being aggressive. A beautiful well made wine. I would give it an 88-89. $24.95 at the winery.
Dark color nice red cherry nose. On the mid palate you get some nice red cherries to match the nose. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice lively acidity along with some mild pepper and tannins. There’s some noticable alcohol upon first opening, surprising because it’s only 13%. It’s a touch young but approachable now. I would give it an 88+. $24.95 at the winery. One the better cab sauv’s out of Niagara! As always, great job Kacaba!
From the winery’s web site:
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013
Details
Cabernet Sauvignon has a tendency to be vigorous and therefore we hard prune these vines in order to reduce the yield and increase the colour and flavours. The bunches were also hand thinned in order to retain only premium quality fruit. The 2013 vintage fruit was hand picked in the cool of the early morning to retain the primary fruit flavours. The grapes were crushed and transferred to open fermenters then fermented to dryness which took a period of 21 days. Each day, the Cabernet Sauvignon was hand plunged 3 times to ensure maximum colour and flavour extraction. The resulting wine was then pressed and transferred to a mixture of French and American oak barrels in readiness for malolactic fermentation and consequent barrel ageing. After the 21 months, the barrels were racked and blended into stainless steel tanks. Prior to bottling the wine underwent light filtration to ensure freshness of flavours and brightness of colour.
Dark color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dark berries. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice tannins and some noticeably hot acidity. I would give it an 88 or so.
From the LCBO web site:
Sivas-Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 — VINTAGES#: 451377
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
An almost minty nose and definite fruit-filled aromas. Rich and chocolaty, with plenty of nice sweet fruit. Good varietal character, with a tannin backbone to support the long finish. Did we mention the fruit? Plenty of it here on display. As suggested by the producer, pair with mouth-watering lamb chops, pepper-crusted filet mignon with mushroom-wine sauce or fusilli with roasted eggplant and goat cheese. (VINTAGES panel, Oct. 2015) $24.95
Release Date: July 9, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in:California, USA By: Don Sebastiani & Sons Sugar Content:5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Smooth
This wine scored 94 points and was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2015 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
Dark in color with a nice red cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice juicy red cherries to match the nose. On the medium length finish the wine displays some firm tannins and lively acidity. It’s a nice fruit forward cab with a nice finish. I would give it an 88 or so.
From the LCBO web site:
Ca’ Momi Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 — VINTAGES#: 315002
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Intense red cherry, cranberry, tobacco and tea aromas with a touch of dark tar earth. Full bodied with elegant tannins. Black fruit, leather and tobacco on the long finish. Great balance. Will improve two to three years. Drink 2015-2027. Score – 17 (out of 20). (Maureen Downey, jancisrobinson.com, May 5, 2015) $26.95
Pale in color with a nice citrus nose. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice smooth citrus notes. It’s a softer gentler sauv blanc. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice food friendly acidity and the citrus notes linger nicely in the mouth. I would give it an 88 or so. A nice pairing for seafood.
From the LCBOs web site:
Trius Sauvignon Blanc VQA — LCBO#: 221804
STYLE – Light & Crisp
pale straw colour; lemon and grapefruit with mineral, gooseberry and grass aromas; dry, medium body; fresh lemon flavour with a long crisp finish
$14.95
From the winery’s web site:
Our refreshing Sauvignon Blanc is a summer favourite and the most popular white wine at Trius!
Fresh and lively flavours of citrus, fresh apple and green herbs on the palate. Zippy, refreshing flavours of grapefruit linger on the finish. Sip and enjoy!
Ok quizzie time … what’s the difference between a Syrah and a Shiraz … insert Vanna White tune … Answer … Style. The grape is the same. Dark in color with a nice earth tone on the nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely rich black berry notes not quite to the point of blueberry but close. There’s some noticeable oak. On the medium length finish the wine displays some super soft tannins and acidity. This is definitely more of a fruit forward wine. Without food the peppery notes are noticeable. We paired it with home made Mac and cheese and even this over powered the finish. Probably a good pairing would be salmon. There’s definitely some noticeable oak and earth tones on the finish. I would give the wine an 88 or so. Not aweful but not outstanding either.
From the LCBO web site:
Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah 2013
Shiraz/Syrah — VINTAGES#: 949651
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Notes of olive, herbs, flowers, orange peel, gravel, meat, coffee and light barrel spices leap up on a wine that shows a lot of aromatic complexity. The fruit and savory flavors are plush and full in feel followed by a lingering finish. There’s a whole lot of wine delivered for this price. Best Buy. Score – 90. (Sean P. Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast, March 2016) $21.95
Release Date:August 20, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 13.9% Made in: Washington, USA By: Chat Ste Michelle Sugar Content:5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry Style: Full-bodied & Smooth
This wine is non-vintage (meaning they blend grapes from different years to achieve a consistent flavor). It’s 50% chard, 30% pinot blanc, 10% Pinot noir and 10% Reisling. Pale color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine is nice and crisp, and dry. The bubbles are ncie and fine making this a food friendly wine. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice dryness. I would give it an 88+. Very nice !!
From the LCBO web site:
Bernard-Massard Brut Cuvée de L’Écusson — VINTAGES#: 970970
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Flavourful $18.95
Release Date:June 25, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 12.0% Made in: Luxembourg By: Bernard-Massard S.A.Sugar Content:12 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style:Medium-bodied & Flavourful Varietal:Sparkling – Dry
Description Luxembourg has a long history of producing sparkling wines; its cool climate is ideal for creating sparklers with a marked crispness. This fizz is a unique blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is crafted in a balanced, fresh style that will be perfect with seafood platters.
Dark in color with a nice red berry nose. On the mid palate this is a big rich juicy red cherry fruit forward cab. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice pepper and spice along with some lovely acidity. I would give it an 88-89
From the LCBO web site:
Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — VINTAGES#: 996405
STYLE – Full-bodied & Firm
Stags’ Leap Winery is more than a deer crossing. Layered and complex, this wine features aromas and flavours of cassis, black cherry, cinnamon and woodsmoke. Cellar this powerhouse for up to 5 years, or enjoy tonight with rare steaks, roast beef or lamb.
Release Date:April 1, 2016
Alcohol/Vol 13.9% Made in: California, USA By: Treasury Wine Estates Sugar Content: 9 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Firm
Pale in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some varietal apple/pear. On the medium length finish the wine displays some mild oak notes. This is a lightly oaked chard with some nice fruit. It’s not overly complex. I would give it an 88 or so. Depending on your tastes it’s not a bad chard. For me it’s a little on the milder side.
From the LCBO web site:
Saint Clair Family Estate Chardonnay Marlborough
Chardonnay — LCBO#: 417618
Saint Clair Family Estate Chardonnay Marlborough
STYLE – Light & Crisp
Clear pale lemon yellow colour; medium intensity aroma of ripe apple, citrus and melon, with a hint of spicy oak; very dry, with light body and lively acidity; flavours of ripe tree fruit and citrus, with nuances of sweet, spicy oak; medium length finish.
$16.85
Release Date:October 23, 2015
Alcohol/Vol 13.0% Made in: Marlborough, New Zealand By: Saint Clair Wines Sugar Content:2 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style: Light & Crisp
