Holiday Wine Suggestions December 2014

Posted on December 20, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

‘Tis the season to drink wine (as if we needed any reason). As always, John and I will get asked “what wines should I bring to dinner” or “can you suggest a few bottles of wines for over the holidays”. So to preempt this, here are five wines we each suggest (so 10 total) that are in the LCBO currently, and will not make you stand out when you present it at the front door. Have a safe holiday and here is to some good wine!!

Canadian Wine Guy suggests:

2011 Tawse Robyn’s Block Chardonnay, $45.95. We reviewed it here.
2012 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve, $24.95. Review coming!
2012 Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir, $29.95. Review Coming!
N.V. Château des Charmes Brut Methode Traditionelle, $22.95. A great value traditional methode bubbly, review coming soon!
2012 Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir, $29.95. 2011 review here.

John Galea suggests:

2011 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.95. Review can be found here.
2013 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, $18.95, 2014 is about to hit the shelfs, 2013 reviewed here.
2012 Sterling Vintners Chardonnay, $15.95. Review can be found here.
2012 Fielding Estates Cabernet Franc, $21.95. Reviewed here.
2009 Castello di Neive Barbaresco DOCG, $19.90. An older review of the 2005 here.

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Bordón Gran Reserva 2005

Posted on December 19, 2014 by John Galea

Dark in color with a nice nose of black berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays some lovely dark berries, and some chocolate notes along with some oak. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice firm tannins, some dryness all backed by some acidity. The tannins coat the pallet nicely. This is a nicely complex wine. Not the biggest tempranillo I’ve ever had but quite nice. I would give it an 89 or so. And when you look at how long this wine should keep, 2020, this wine is definitely worth your attention. Accoding to the back of the bottle the wine is 80% tempranillo 16% Garnacha, 2% Mazuelo, and 2% Graciano and spent 3 years aging in American White oak (doesn’t say if there were new or old barrels).

From the LCBO web site:
Bordón Gran Reserva 2005
Tempranillo Blend — VINTAGES#: 114454
Bordón Gran Reserva 2005
This plump red offers juicy flavors of cherry, berry and orange peel, with tobacco and vanilla notes that float in a silky texture over light tannins. Delicate and elegant. Drink now through 2020. Score – 92. (Thomas Matthews, winespectator.com, June 30, 2014) $22.95
Release Date:October 25, 2014 Alcohol/Vol 13.0% Made in: Rioja, Spain By: Bodegas Franco-Españolas Sugar Content:5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra D

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2012 Fielding Red Conception

Posted on December 17, 2014 by John Galea

Niagara makes some great Cab Francs, and Fielding is one of my favorite wineries doing consistent stuff in the bench. This wine is 68% cab Franc 18% cab Sauv 8% Syrah 6% Petit-Verdot. The back of the bottle says the concept behind this wine was to create a unique blend of premium varietals that integrated together harmoniously. The wine was aged in oak barrels and results in an approachable blend with soft tannins and rich flavors.

Dark in color with a mild varietal cab franc nose. On the mid pallet the wine screams cab franc with lovely cherry coming through. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice tannins along with some acidity, and a hint of pepper. This is a lovely cab franc, approachable now. It will hold up well to red meats and the like. Fielding have done a great job of making what I would refer to as an everyday red, or an entry level cab franc. I would give it an 88-89. Very nice.

From the LCBO web site:
Fielding Red Conception VQA Blend — LCBO#: 189183
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Fruity
Garnet with brick edges; cassis and cherry aromas with coffee and smoky notes; light cherry and plum fruit with lively acidity and smooth tannins Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, rodphillipsonwine.com, June 22, 2010) $18.95

Release Date:May 28, 2011 Alcohol/Vol 13.0% Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Fielding Estate Winery Sugar Content:5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity This is a VQA wine

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Leira Albariño 2013

Posted on December 15, 2014 by John Galea

I last reviewed the 2010 vintage of this wine and enjoyed it. Pale in color with a slightly crisp, slightly sweet nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some crisp citrus notes along with a hint of sugar. On the medium length finish the wine displays a hint of honeysuckle (think Riesling). But just a hint. It’s a reasonably food friendly wine. 88-89. A nice Alvarinho. I did notice the wine was sweeter when served cold and got crisper and more complex as it warmed up.

From the LCBO web site:
Leira Albariño 2013 Alvarinho/Albariño — VINTAGES#: 115816
STYLE – Light & Crisp
Bright, juicy, and fresh with vivacious aromas of spring meadow, apple orchard, and fresh hay, plus flavours of apple, white peach, and citrus. A good choice for herbed chicken breast or seafood. (VINTAGES panel, Aug. 2014)
$17.95

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2011 Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir

Posted on December 11, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

What can $30 bucks buy you that will stand out a bit from the crowd? Honestly, when it comes to wine, $30 can get you (at last count) 237 good bottles of wine (note: that figure was entirely made up). I think thirty is the figure where anyone walking into a wine store should walk out with a good bottle of wine. If you don’t, you’ve been robbed. This review will be short, however John has covered, in the past, a review on Flat Rock Cellars estate Pinot Noir. This review is for their bottle of Gravity, one of 4 higher end pinots that the vineyard produces. The winemaker calls this their “Best of the Best”, where the other 3 are all single vineyard pinots, designed to show off wine-making skills and terroir.

A vibrant red colour and a sharp berries hit your nose as you decant it. The nose stays on the berries, primarily raspberries and blackberries. The 18 months in French oak are present with vanilla and cinnamon flavours with hints of earthiness. While the winemaking is considered to be on the gentle side, this is still a medium body red that is consistent with a good finish length. The alcohol content is lower than what you would expect (12.5%) and the wine drinks older than it is. This is a very solid wine that displays everything you want in a “drink now” wine for the holiday season. Enjoy!

The CWG Subjective Rating is 89 out of 100.

2011_Gravity_Pinot

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2011 Tawse Robyn’s Block Chardonnay

Posted on December 9, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

In advance of our 10 wines for the holidays article, I thought I’d cover a few must drink wines. Tawse still remains the one Chardonnay producer from Niagara that I compare the rest of their competitors to. The oldest of the single vineyard chards to come out of this top-tier vineyard, yearly this is their benchmark wine. As a flagship wine it carries a higher price ($45.95) if you think solely locally, however this wine is relatively cheap compared to its Burgundy and Napa peers. To get into this quality you are likely to shell out 20 to 100% more money buying its global counterparts, something that still remains lost on many Canadian buyers. I can think of at least ten producers in Canada that can bring their top Chardonnays and compete with the best, yet I often still hear people complain about the price for those same Canadian wines. I am not sure when, if ever, this mindset will change, but the large U.S.A. wine publications are doing our producers no favours either by basically ignoring them entirely. If you want to truly impress your wine snob friends, this is one of the wines I recommend bringing to them. I live that moto as the last time I met Bill Phelps (of Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Insignia fame) I brought him one of the 2009 vintages of this wine as a gift. Enough of my soap-box chatter, let us get on to the wine itself. This wine spends the first 12 months of its life in French oak before being transferred to steel for 6 more months. Despite the pictures on Tawse website, this wine is in fact sealed with a traditional cork and not a twist top, maybe a fact that would only concern me. On to the tasting!

This light straw yellow coloured wine splashed into the glass with hints of citrus fruit and vanilla. The nose gives way to lime on the front and caramel on the back, a long way back in the mouth. Acidity is much like the rest of this wine, solid. The wine goes back to front evenly, the fruit is consistent and oaking has given this excellent toasty notes. Add in some good minerality and you have a very well-rounded and polished wine. One of the nicest things I get out of this is how exciting this wine should evolve with some cellaring. Despite being a big complete wine now, it should mellow to change just enough to add different character and maybe even unleash something more complex. This wine is one of the reasons Niagara is getting more and more recognition at international competitions. Between this and the recent Hidden Bench Felseck Chardonnay, I have been fortunate to have two brilliant wines to enjoy. Hopefully you get a chance as well.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 92 out of 100.

2011_Robyns_chard

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2011 Hidden Bench Felseck Chardonnay

Posted on December 8, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

I know that at www.canadianwineguy.com we laud the Chardonnays that come out of the Niagara region, but truly, enough cannot be said about them. As the region continues to mature the Burgundy varietals get stronger and grander. Hidden Bench is a vineyard I usually speak highly of for their Pinots and often times I tend to exclude them (by accident) when talking about some of Ontario’s great Chardonnay producers. This is such a huge error as the vineyard has been producing great to world-class Chardonnays for many years and if you have not had a chance to visit the property you need to remedy that. While I am sure the winemaker does not want to see their wines silo’d off, they do produce three distinctive Chards: an estate blend on their lowest end (which year to year is very good); the single vineyard we are about to review; and their flagship Tête de Cuvée which borders on amazing every year. This vineyards wine club is still the best way to get your hands on their wines as often times the production volume is quite low and very few Hidden Bench wines ever see the light of day in the LCBO, with almost nothing leaving the province. The Felseck vineyard, planted in 1992, sits on the Beamsville Bench and remains a very impressive demonstration of new world terroir. For today’s review the 2011 vintage will be reviewed, but I will make a promise to pop some older vintages over the holidays and do some comparisons.

This wine pours out in an aureolin shade of yellow with a very toasty nose. The bold colour is a good indicator of what is to follow. Initial sips open up crisp apple flavours with more hints of that toast flavour from the barreling. First thing you will notice is the acidity, while it is not overwhleming it is distinctively there and it lingers in your mouth. The wine starts early on your palate and lingers long after it has been drunk. Vanilla and apples will be your largest take-aways, but mostly you will be enjoying a bold, crisp Chardonnay. I sat a long time whirling and sipping, each time something a tad different came out. I have to say I probably spent more time analyzing this then I should have, and more than anything I came back with “I love this wine but I cannot put my finger on why.” Great balance, firm acidity, subtle hints of malolactic fermentation with a long finish are something you get out of a well-crafted wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 91 out of 100.

Some additional notes:
– This wine was featured this summer in the Cool Climate Chardonnay release from LCBO Vintages
– This wine won a Silver medal at this year NWAC awards.

2011_Felseck_Chardonnay

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Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Posted on December 7, 2014 by John Galea

Dark in color with a lovely nose of red berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays some deep lovely red cherry and cassis flavors. Quite intense. There’s even a little black berries coming through likely from the Malbec. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice tannins, dryness and acidity that linger nicely in the mouth. I would give this a solid 89-90 and for the $$s this is a good deal!

From the LCBO web site:
Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend — VINTAGES#: 384305
Smooth, dark, and generous Cabernet (with 12% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot in support) gushing with cassis, smoky oak, and spice. Big-boned and packed with flavour, it’s got the stuff to stand up to pepper steaks or bison burgers. (VINTAGES panel, Oct. 2013) $15.95
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Errázuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2012

Posted on December 5, 2014 by John Galea

I tasted this one at the Chilean wine festival and decided to do a more thorough review so bought a bottle. Pale in color with a lovely varietal chard nose with some nice fruit and vanilla coming through. On the mid pallet this is a lovely smooth well made chard with the chard fruit in the forefront backed by some lovely vanilla notes. On the medium length finish the wine has some very nice vanilla along with some acidity lingering nicely in the mouth. I would give this an 88-89. Quite a nice chard. $22.95.

In case you wanted to know, often a wine maker will add yeast to the grapes to start the fermentation process (fermentation in wine making is the process of converting natural sugars in the grapes into alcohol). The type of yeast added can impart flavors into the wine. Wild ferment means they did not use any (or very little) yeast. There are natural yeasts on the outside of the grapes and if they are very careful during the handling process, especially during the washing process, there will be enough natural yeast for the fermentation to start on it’s own. Thus the name Wild ferment. Inquiring minds wanna know 🙂 My public service is done for the day …

From the LCBO web site:
Errázuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2012 — VINTAGES#: 738393
STYLE – Full-bodied & Rich
Shows the toasty, caramel and honeyed notes of barrel aging. But underneath, there is some fresh fruit – ripe lime, peach and pear. Subtle white chalk note on the finish. Serve at 10-12 C. Drink now-2016. Food-pairing idea: Apéritif, roast chicken, richer soft cheeses. (Bill Zacharkiw, montrealgazette.com, March 28, 2014)

Release Date:September 27, 2014
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in: Casablanca Valley, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A. Sugar Content:3 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry Style: Full-bodied & Rich Varietal: Chardonnay
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Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Posted on December 3, 2014 by John Galea

Dark in color with a lovely rich dark berry nose. It wofts out as your pouring … On the mid pallet the wine displays lovely rich black cherries to match the nose along with some chocolate. The wine is medium in length the wine displays some fine tannins and acidity with the black cherries lingering beautifully in the mouth along with a hint of pepper. I would give it a 90, which for the price is an excellent deal!

From the LCBO web site:
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2012—VINTAGES#: 240093
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Washington has really established itself as a home for Cabernet Sauvignon and is moving from strength to strength with the varietal. This has intense dark fruit, baking chocolate and wood smoke notes that are picked up on the palate and then some! This will be ideal with smoked meats or steaks. (VINTAGES panel, Dec. 2013) $17.95

Release Date:October 25, 2014 Alcohol/Vol 13.9% Made in: Washington State, USA By: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Fob Sugar Content: 10 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:D – Dry Style: Full-bodied & Smooth

Description: Since opening its doors in 1983, Columbia Crest has been a leading voice in Washington’s emergence as a go-to region for reliability, value, and, above all, quality Bordeaux varietals. Their Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards situated on south- and southeast-facing slopes of the Cascade Mountains. This will be a wine of great fruit intensity, balance, and structure that will be ideal with steak or smoked ribs.
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2013 Emiliana Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on December 1, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

Summer is over, and for us Canadians the cold hard truth of winter is settling in. Thankfully 2014 is coming to a much softer and gentler end than 2013 did. Despite mother nature taking her usual turn for the worst, there is no need to shelve your more traditional summer white wines just yet. Remember, with another monstrous turkey dinner staring most people in the eyes in 3 weeks, nothing says pairing like crisp white wine and roasted bird! This sauvignon blanc from Chile was recently consumed with a roasted chicken so some of the comparisons will be relevant. Emiliana vineyards is a midsize producer that produces wines from five different vineyards in Chile. This white comes from a valley called Casablanca which resides close to the Pacific ocean directly west of the capital of Santiago. So what do we have in this inexpensive, ocean wind swept, white wine? Read on.

Sauvignon blanc and grass notes are synonymous and this pale straw coloured wine plays to that norm. The nose is distinctive of the varietal with hints of Florida fruit (think oranges, grapefruits) hiding in the grass. The first few sips show a wine that hits the front of the mouth instantly and keeps the grass and citrus fruit notes present. The more you get into this wine the more it changes from the abrupt start of the first few sips. It does not truly soften, but remains crisp and a tad acidic while mellowing throughout a good glass or two. The balance is there, it just takes a bit to show itself. This is a decisive white wine for $13.05, not a pure home run but definitely a good solid double to the gap (baseball term there for our foreign readers) and the value is tremendous. If you are looking for a good clean white wine, the price point and quality merits a purchase.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 86 out of 100.

Note: For those that wish to read the winemakers notes, link is here.

2013 Emiliana Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc

2013 Emiliana Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc

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Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Sparkling

Posted on November 30, 2014 by John Galea

Every now and then I enjoy some bubbles with my meal. I often reach for a prosecco but decided this time to try a Cava. Cavas like prosecco are inexpensive fine bubble sparkling wines. This one is pale in color with a lovely minerally nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some lovely minerality along with some nice citrus notes, think lime. The bubbles are nice and fine make this a very food friendly wine. On the medium length finish lime lingers nicely. I would give this an 88-89. A very nice wine indeed. There is no year on the bottle so I would guess this is a non-vintage product meaning there are likely grapes from more than one year.

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Sparkling — LCBO#: 216960
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Flavourful
Straw yellow colour; toasty, yeasty nose with nutty/cooked apple notes; dry, rich, medium-full bodied, with flavours of nuts and biscuits; long and creamy finish on palate. $14.25

Alcohol/Vol 11.8% Made in: Spain By: Heredad Segura Viudas Sugar Content: 10 g/L Style: Medium-bodied & Flavourful

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2012 Fielding Fireside red

Posted on November 27, 2014 by John Galea

Fielding and Kacaba are two of my favorite wineries down in Niagara. They have been making some consistent quality wines at reasonable prices for a while now. This one, is just another example of that. It’s 52% merlot 48% pinot noir blend. A little darker in color with pinot noir dominating the nose. Some nice softer red berries along with some rustic notes. On the mid pallet the wine matches the nose with some lovely varietal pinot noir notes coming through. Soft red berries, strawberries maybe even a little raspberry along with some nice rustic notes. And that’s were the merlot takes over. The finish is medium in length with some typical Niagara Merlot earthy notes coming through along with some darker berries. There’s some tannins, spice and acidity on the finish that linger nicely. This is a very nice wine especially given the everday price of $15.95. I would give it an 88-89. Not in the LCBO so you will have to take a trip out to the winery. Gee darn 🙂

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Forty Creek Cream Liquor mini review

Posted on November 24, 2014 by John Galea

I don’t drink a lot of liquors but one of my weaknesses is Baileys. A friend pointed this one out to me and I had a chance to try it at the Gourmet Food and wine show. I was shocked how good it is. Creamy, smooth, and VERY similar to Baileys, one might even say better. Baileys is $17.95 for 375 ml so the Forty creek is even cheaper. I do wish they sold it in a smaller bottle, but none the less. If you like Baileys and like supporting Niagara, give this one a try!

From the LCBO web site:
Forty Creek Cream Liquor—LCBO#: 281378 | 750 mL bottle $29.50
Alcohol/Vol 17.0% Made in:Ontario, Canada By: Forty Creek Distiller
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2012 19 Crimes Shiraz mini review

Posted on November 22, 2014 by John Galea

Dark in color with a mild nose. Nice black Berry mid pallet backed by some nice pepper and spice along with some acidity on a medium length finish. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
19 Crimes Shiraz Durif — LCBO#: 369777 $18.95
Alcohol/Vol 14.0% Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Treasury Wine Estates Sugar Content: 8 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
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2013 Susan sauv blanc

Posted on November 20, 2014 by John Galea

My regular readers know I am a fan of Sauv blancs as well as a fan of Kacaba. 2012 was the first vintage of this wine. I was excited to see Kacaba doing it and bought a case. Sadly 2013 will be the last year for it, they were wiped out by our nasty winter. On our recent trip down to Niagara we tasted this one. This one is pale in color with a mild grassy nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some nice mild grassy notes along with some citrus, lemon. On the medium length finish the wine displays citrus notes along with some mild sweetness. It’s a lovely smooth albeit lighter sauv blanc. I would give it an 88 or so. Very food friendly.

From the winery’s web site:
SUSAN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013
Details: After hand harvesting our Sauvignon Blanc grapes were pressed immediately to minimize skin contact and juice deterioration. This gentle approach permitted the juice to clarify naturally and slowly. After settling, the juice was fermented using selected yeast in stainless steel at cool temperatures retaining fruit flavour and freshness.
Per bottle: $17.95

63_2013_Susans_Sauv_Blanc_website_large

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2013 Calcu Sauv blanc mini review

Posted on November 18, 2014 by John Galea

Another one from the Chilean wine festival. Pale in color with a lovely varietal sauv blanc nose displaying some milder citrus and lemon notes. On the mid pallet the wine displays some lovely citrus notes to match the nose. This is a smooth sauv blanc with a medium length finish with some lemon zest and some acidity lingering in the mouth. I would give it an 88+ Not in the LCBO right now, but priced at $12.95 according to the rep Don Ackerman Wine and Spirits.

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2012 Innocent bystander Pinot Noir

Posted on November 16, 2014 by John Galea

Lighter color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some nice soft red berries along with some rustic notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some spicy notes along with some acidity. This is very much a milder Pinot Noir. It builds in the mouth with the rustic notes most noticeable without food. 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2012 — VINTAGES#: 178897 | 750 mL bottle
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Fruity
Spring has sprung and wines like this young Yarra Valley pinot noir deserve to be enjoyed with gusto. It’s almost like an Oz translation of France’s beaujolais cru style, deliciously drinkable, uncomplicated and fresh at first meeting. The nose combines raspberry, plum and spice aromas in inviting sappy combination. The palate is succulent, intense and silky, yet with enough depth and backbone to lift it well above the simple crowd-pleaser category. Value: Good. Food ideas: Charcuterie; meaty sausages. Ageing? Drink over two years. Score – 92. (Ralph Kyte-Powell, goodfood.com.au, Oct. 15, 2013) $21.95 Release Date: August 30, 2014
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in: Victoria, Australia By: Innocent Bystander Pty Ltd Sugar Content: 4 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity

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2011 Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on November 14, 2014 by John Galea

Dark in color with a mild nose of dark cherries. On the mid pallet the wine has some lovely black cherries backed by some smooth tannins, some nice dryness, some acidity and some green notes. The wine is medium in length with some mild minty notes subtly there. I would give it an 88-89. Very nice, especially given the price!

From the LCBO web site:
Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon — LCBO#: 358309
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
Deep red/violet colour; aromas of plum, blackcherry fruit, leather and mocha; dry, medium to full body, ripe cassis, blackberry & mint flavours, well balanced, with moderate tannins. $15.90
Release Date:January 11, 2003
Alcohol/Vol 14.0% Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Carmen Sugar Content: 6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry Style: Full-bodied & Smooth

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2009 TAWSE David’s Block Cabernet Merlot

Posted on November 11, 2014 by CanadianWineGuy

A small jaunt into the cellar for a wine to pair with lamb chops I decided on this wine. I’ll admit it was on the first shelf I went to and it hit what I was looking for: red, dominating and a bit younger. Lamb can so often be overwhelming on wines, as it is a bold meat that takes over meals. To avoid this I often pair it with younger full-bodied and complex wines. TAWSE consistently produces solid Cabernet Merlots blends from their David’s Block. Blends of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that match the above criteria as well as hold up to their value when compared to their lofty price.

This is a short review to say, if you can, go get a bottle or 10 of these, the technical term for the experience is “yummy”. In all seriousness the nose was bold, with black cherry and tobacco. The colour deep and red. Initial sips gave a wine with much to offer, prominent tannins, great stone fruit, and a hint of vanilla. The Wine continued along these lines with it not softening terribly over the course of the meal. The red cherry and tobacco returned and hints of vanilla stayed on the even finish. This wine is a great drink now and it may have 1-4 years left to change during cellaring, though, I am not sure a change will be for the better. This is a very good wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 91 out of 100.

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2012 In Situ Reserva Cab Sauv mini review

Posted on November 11, 2014 by John Galea

Another one from the Chilean wine event. Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some very nice red cherries. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice dryness and complexity. For a $13.95 wine this is quite nice. I would give it an 88-89. The rep Interesting Wines and Spirits said the wine was LCBO number 37952 but it’s not on the LCBO web site right now anyway.

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Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2012

Posted on November 10, 2014 by John Galea

Garnet in color with lovely ristic varietal pinot noir nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays lovely soft red berries, strawberries and the like to match the nose. The wine is medium in length with some lovely rustic notes lingering in the mouth along with some acidity, some tannins and a hint of pepper. Quite a nice pinot noir. I would give it an 88-89 which for the price, it’s a bargain. If you like pinots this is a good one!

From the LCBO web site:
Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2012
Pinot Noir—VINTAGES#: 389213
Queulat’s single-vineyard wines are grown in sites selected by winemaker Sergio Hormazabal and perfectly encapsulate the company’s unofficial motto: ‘We challenge the status quo, always searching for unique and different ways to accomplish our goal … to create Great Wines.’ Classic Pinot character with aromas and flavours of red cherry, beetroot, and earth, and the excellent Casablancan acidity. Try with applewood smoked chicken or cedar-planked salmon. (VINTAGES panel, March 2014) $15.95
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in: Casablanca Valley, Chile By: Vina Ventisquero Ltd Sugar Content:7 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry

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2012 Edicion Limitada Sangiovese mini review

Posted on November 7, 2014 by John Galea

Another one from the Chilean wine event. This one caught my attention in that Sangiovese is an Italian grape and I’ve never seen it in Chile before. Lovely dried red berry nose smack on varietal for a Sangiovese. In the mid pallet the wine displays some nice oak, red berries and dried notes again smack on varietal for a Sangiovese. The wine is medium length in finish backed by some lovely dryness. I really enjoyed this wine and was shocked how good it was. The wine is not in the LCBO but wine rep Majestic Wine Cellars says it’s ~$30 per bottle. I would give it a solid 89+ Yumm

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2008 Kacaba Wismer Vineyard Pinot Noir

Posted on November 5, 2014 by John Galea

Garnet in color with a lovely soft nose of red berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays some lovely strawberry and raspberry notes along with some rustic notes. The tannins and acid are well under control. This is largerly a fruit forward wine at this point. The wine is medium in length with the rustic notes lingering nicely in the mouth. We paired it with a lemon veal scallopinin and while it held it’s own it was not a match made in heaven. I would give the wine an 88-89. Very nice. I bought it at the winery for $22.95. Yumm

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2014 Puerto Viejo Sauv Blanc mini review

Posted on November 3, 2014 by John Galea

I tasted this one at the recent Chilean Wine event at the ROM and it is one of the wines that stood out. Pale in color with a lovely bold nose with lots of grassy and some citrus notes coming through. On the mid pallet the wine matches the nose with lovely New Zealand style grassy notes coming through. On the medium length finish the wine lingers nicely in the mouth with grassy and citrus zest along with some nice acidity. This is a big edgy sauv blanc. Very nice. I would give it an 88+. Not in the LCBO right now, hopefully soon. They said it was worth ~$15. Nice! The rep for the wine is United Stars Corp.

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