Canadian Wine Guy

Ever wondered what the LCBO do at the end of a vintages listing with the one or two bottles that have been hanging around? Well they sell them through their web site in what they call “Bin Ends”. You buy them online and then they ship them to your local LCBO for you to pickup. Very handy. And you can get some bargains. This one was worth $60 and I picked it up for $45. I had previously tasted it at The Society for American Wines annual cab event. California cabs are by far one of my favorite wines! I cracked this one as part of New Years Eve celebration and paired it with a rack of lamb. It went exquisitely!

Dark in color with rich nose of cherries that invites you in! The mid palle matches the nose with deep rich cherries and jammy notes. It’s got some lovely dryness on the medium length finish along with some supple tannins. This is a lovely wine. I would give it a solid 91. Yummy. I still have one more of these! Yay!

From the LCBO web site (from when I bought it. Keeping detailed records of what’s in your cellar is paramount to proper cellar management!):
CHAPPELLET SIGNATURE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 VINTAGES 704254 | 750 mL n/a Price: $ 45.00 reg $60 N/A, , 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Release Date: Jan 28, 2009 Tasting Note Young, deep, direct and promising, this cassis-scented bottling offers aromas that are still in the nascent phase of development. Not surprisingly, the wine is tight and tannic on the palate, but it is also well-focused and awaits some patient cellaring to open up and reveal its full, layered personality. Three or four years of patient cellaring would seem to be a minimum with a decade not being that much out of order. Score – 90. (Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines, Aug. 2008) BOUGHT 2/14/2009 BIN ENDS SALE

Here’s the LCBO listing (for a different year)
CHAPPELLET SIGNATURE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 VINTAGES 704254 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 68.95
Made in: California, USA By: Chappellet Vineyard
Release Date: Feb 2, 2013 14.9% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content: 4 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Tasting Note
Another terrific Signature Cabernet from Chappellet. This has primary blackberry and cherry-jam flavors, with an additional note of toasty oak. The tannins and acids are excellent, lending structure to the richness. The result is a wonderfully-complex Napa Cabernet that should develop over the next six years. Score – 93. (Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, July 2012)

Pale to golden in color with a mild nose with some vanilla coming through. On the mid pallet this is a lovely varietal California style chard with vanilla and some citrus coming through. The wine has a slightly creamy mouth feel to to. On the medium length finish the vanilla lives on nicely. This is a smooth well made chard. We paired it with sea scallops and it went well. This is by no means a big chard, more of a subtle one. I would give it an 88-89, but at $28.95 this is no bargain. For half the price I think I would go with the Sterling Vintner’s chard.

From the LCBO web site:
LA CREMA CHARDONNAY 2012 VINTAGES 962886 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 28.95
Made in: California, USA By: Jackson Wine Estates International
Release Date: Dec 7, 2013
13.9% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Full-bodied & Rich
Sugar Content: 3 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Description
The Sonoma Coast region has become recognized as one of the premiere appellations for Chardonnay. Cooling ocean breezes and morning fogs provide the conditions necessary for the development of ripe grapes while maintaining bright acidity. This classically styled Californian Chardonnay consistently delivers notes of toast, citrus and ripe fruits with a crisp acidity. A perfect match for roasted chicken or pork with a creamy lemon sauce.

I’ve reviewed this one a couple times now, the last was the 2010. I find these wines can vary year to year so it’s worth doing it for different vintages. Pale to golden in color with a lovely varietal California albeit milder nose with some vanilla coming through. On the mid pallet the wine matches the nose with vanilla and some citrus notes. The wine lingers nicely in the mouth with a medium length finish. It is a smooth well made, not over baked, California style Chard! Yumm. I would give it a 89. We paired it with a seafood quiche and it went well!

From the LCBO web site:
KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2012 VINTAGES 369686 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 19.95
Made in: California, USA By: Jackson Wine Estates International
Release Date: Oct 12, 2013
13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Full-bodied & Rich Sugar Content: 8 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry

Tasting Note
Rich notes of buttered toast, cantaloupe, mango, and banana cream pie. Creamy and round in the mouth, with plenty of sunny fruit tempered by impressive brightness and nicely restrained oak accents. A good choice for turkey burgers or crab cakes. (VINTAGES panel, Aug. 2013)

I tasted this one at the LCBO tasting bar. Mini reviews are done on a small sampling. Pale in color with a lovely nose of vanilla coming through. On the mid pallet the wine displays some nice vanilla to match the nose backed by some acidity, some and spicy notes. In the medium length finish the acidity lingers for a bit. All in all this was not a bad chard but not a fabulous one either. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
FIRST PRESS CHARDONNAY 2011 VINTAGES 199810 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 19.95
Made in: California, USA By: Delicato Family Vineyards
Release Date: Jan 4, 2014
14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Full-bodied & Rich Sugar Content: 6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Tasting Note
Lovely depth of aromas – look for apricot, nectarine, banana cream pie and white peach, with hints of vanilla and woodsmoke. Bright, juicy and harmonious. A very nice fruit-driven Chardonnay displaying a deft use of oak. Pair with roasted turkey with a tangerine glaze. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2013)

Pale in color with a mild nose with some vanilla coming through. On the mid pallet the wine displays vanilla to match the nose along with some subtle pear. This is a smooth, on the lighter side, California style chard. On the finish the wine is on the lighter side of medium in length with some vanilla lingering. This is a very food friendly wine or can easily be sipped on it’s own. I would give it an 88-89. Nice! And what’s to complain at this price!

From the LCBO web site:
COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2010 VINTAGES 366542 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 16.95
Made in: Washington State, USA By: Chat Ste Michelle
Release Date: Jun 22, 2013
13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Aromatic & Flavourful Sugar Content: 6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry

Tasting Note
Polished, lively and refined, with pretty white peach, floral and oatmeal notes that come together smoothly and linger on the finish. Drink now through 2015. Special Designation: Best Value. Score – 89. (Harvey Steiman, winespectator.com, June 30, 2012)

I like a lot of the wines coming out of J. Lohr. Great value for money. This wine is dark in color with a mild nose of dark berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays some black cherries to match the nose. On the finish the wine has some firm tannins, some alcohol, and even some acidity right out of the bottle. A little bit of breathing or ageing helped to ease this allow you to enjoy the fruit more. This is a lovely cab. I would give it an 89 or so. This wine is on a number of restaurant’s menus so if you can’t think of anything else to order this is not a bad choice.

From the LCBO web site:
J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V) VINTAGES 656561 | 750 mL bottle
Price $ 21.95
Made in: California, USA By: J Lohr Winery
Release Date: Apr 18, 2013
13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Full-bodied & Smooth Sugar Content: 7 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry

Description
There’s a reason this Cab is the most popular red in the VINTAGES Essentials Collection. It’s full-bodied and packed with black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla and spice. Equally at home with a Philly cheese steak sandwich or a thick rib-eye steak.

Garnet in color with a nose of red berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays strawberries and some rustic notes. On the lighter side of medium in length on the finish there are some tannins to round out the wine. This is definitely more of a fruit forward wine. The style the LCBO label it as is Medium bodied and fruity. I’d say that is accurate. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
RODNEY STRONG ESTATE PINOT NOIR (V) VINTAGES 954834 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 24.95

Made in: California, USA By: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Release Date: Apr 18, 2013
13.9% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity Sugar Content: 6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Description
Russian River Valley is among the world’s finest areas outside Burgundy for growing Pinot Noir. This one is beautifully intense with plum, cherry, beet, smoke and spice flavours. Pair with thick grilled pork chops, rotisserie chicken or grilled tuna steaks with mild salsa.

I enjoy Washington State wines. Dark in color with a nice nose of black berries. On the mid pallet the wine displays dark cherries to match the nose, backed immediately by some harsh notes. I’m not even sure what I would say, mint maybe, or menthol. I was about to give up on the wine since I had a dinner guest showing up but I decided to break out my handy dandy decanter. 20 minutes in the decanter and the hard notes were absolutely gone. Leaving the rich fruit along with some nice tannins on a medium finish. In the end this is a lovely wine as long as you breath it. I would give it a solid 90 (once decanted). Some aging would also do the trick.

From the LCBO web site:
SEVEN FALLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 VINTAGES 360222 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 18.95
Made in: Washington State, USA By: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Fob
Release Date: Jan 4, 2014
14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Full-bodied & Smooth Sugar Content: 8 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Tasting Note
Supple, silky and generous, with refreshing blackberry and plum fruit, lingering easily on the polished, dark chocolate-tinged finish. Drink now through 2017. Smart Buy. Score – 90. (Harvey Steiman, winespectator.com, June 30, 2013)

Dark in color with a lovely nose of plum. On the mid pallet this is a lovely fruit forward Merlot with lots of plum coming through to match the nose. The wine is on the lighter side of medium in length. This is a lovely varietal Merlot. I would give it an 89.

From the LCBO web site from a different year:
IRONSTONE MERLOT 2011 VINTAGES 704353 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 18.95
Made in: California, USA By: Ironstone Vineyards
Release Date: Sep 14, 2013
14.0% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity Varietal: Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
Sugar Content: 5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry

Tasting Note
Cherry, cocoa powder and a touch of bramble on the nose. Brimming with cherry and fig notes accented by gorgeous chocolate touches. A nice brightness to the acidity and a grippy finish. Enjoy this with ribs or burgers hot off the grill. (VINTAGES panel, July 2013)

Stopped by Spice Route last night for dinner and had this wine. Dark in color with a mild nose of plum. On the mid pallet the wine displays plum to match the nose along with some red cherries. There’s some tannins on the medium length finish. It’s a little bit sweet. I would give it an 88-89. Not a bad wine at all. Not in the LCBO and there’s no mention of price on the web site but at $9 a glass at a restaurant it couldn’t be all that expensive.

From the Winery’s web site:
The warm, sunny days and cool nights during the growing season create ideal conditions for producing grapes with intense aromas and flavors. Washington state is famed for its flavorful, award winning Merlots. The Stimson Estate Cellars Merlot exhibits classic raspberry and cherry characters with a
touch of vanilla and toast on the smooth finish. This lush, pleasurable Merlot pairs perfectly with grilled
salmon or a flavorful pasta.

TOTAL ACIDITY: 0.50 g/100 ml, pH: 3.72, Alcohol: 13.5%