DOMAINE DE CAROBELLE 2021, AOP Vacqueyras, Côte du Rhône

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $27.95 (Clearance Price: $23.25 & $18.65 if you can get find it.)
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre, Cinsault)
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Vaqueyras, Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Domaine de Carobelle
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made showing bright fruits & spice. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blueberry, mulberry, strawberry jam, black & white pepper, and Champagne mushrooms & lavender on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Made with organic grapes.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 15, 2024

LCBO: 31966

HENRY OF PELHAM THREE HILLS CHARDONNAY 2022, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale Price until April 28, 2024: $17.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Henry of Pelham Estate
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

My new favourite Canadian Chard under $20. Excellent balance between oak, fruit & acidity. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, quince, dill, ginger, oak spice, vanilla, roasted almonds & jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I reviewed 2019 vintage, and was not too crazy about it, and it was selling for $21.95. Now, now only is it $2 less, but the quality is exceptional.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 11, 2024

LCBO: 268342

DECOY MERLOT 2021, California, United States of America

06 Saturday Apr 2024

Posted by in Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $27.80)
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Decoy
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A touch sweet, which is typical for a Cali Merlot, but it’s not jammy or thick with above 14.5% alcohol. Lots of expression in fruit & spice. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Plum, raspberries, tamarind, kirsch, Allspice, anise, cinnamon, sage & lavender on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Beef Wellington.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: March 28, 2024

LCBO: 460642

JOEL GOTT BARREL AGED CHARDONNAY 2021, California, United States of America

24 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by in Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $24.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Joel Gott
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Styled in the traditional Napa Valley Chard but keeping the alcohol below 14.4% alcohol & nicely balanced between the oak & fruit. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Bright in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, ginger, baking spice, dill & honeysuckle.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “After harvest, the fruit was fermented in 50% new French oak barrels and 50% one & two-year-old French oak barrels for 6–8 months to add complexity to the wine.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermador.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the Clearance Price

Tasted: March 22, 2024

LCBO: 32886

CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV, AC Alsace, France

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $22.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: 80% Pinot Blanc, 20% Auxerrois
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cave de Ribeauville
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Bone dry on the taste with citric fruit & minerality. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, high acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, green & yellow apples, pear, orange, limestone & acacia on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “The grapes are exclusively harvested by hand. This Crémant is produced in the purest respect of the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle, followed by aging for a minimum of 12 months on slats. A dosage of 8.5g/l during disgorging gives it its raw character.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it for Sunday Brunch.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 17, 2024

LCBO: 183624

COUTADA VELHA SIGNATURE 2022, IG Alentejano, Portugal

16 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Aragonex & Trincadeira
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Arrailos, Alentejano
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Ravasqueira
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Excellent value wine with depth & flavour. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, blackberry, cassis, anise, leather, tobacco leaves, fig & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Aged in oak barrels for 8 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with Espetada.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 15, 2024

LCBO: 11152

MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

03 Saturday Feb 2024

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $26.95 (Clearance Price: $21.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant Chard that is well balanced between fruit, acidity, minerality & oak. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, ginger, dill & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Maturation: Fermented and aged in barriques and puncheons (93%), 6% Foudre and 1% concrete egg

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with Fettuccine with creamy dill sauce with shrimp, bay scallops and sea leg crab.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at Clearance Price

Tasted: February 1, 2024

LCBO: 545004

CHÂTEAU LE BOURDIEU 2016, AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France

01 Thursday Feb 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Médoc, Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Le Bourdieu
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s an opportunity to buy a delicious, aged Médoc wine at a great price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby going to garner in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, mulberry, cinnamon, cloves, pencil shavings, turmeric, tobacco leaves, slate & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with Marinated Flank Steak Recipe.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 31, 2024

LCBO: 85084

CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2019, AC Bordeaux, France

23 Tuesday Jan 2024

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Cost: $17.00
Grape: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Château Dauphiné-Rondillon – Vignobles Darriet
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A good example of left bank Bordeaux at an inexpensive price point. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, tamarind, raspberry, pomegranate, cloves, pencil shavings, turmeric, clay & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Decant for at least 1 hour

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Moroccan Beef Stew

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 22, 2024

LCBO: 426247

FREIXENET ITALIAN ROSÉ 2021, IGT Veneto, Italy

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $18.95 (Clearance Price: $14.20)
Grape: Veneto Grape Varieties
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet nice easy dry drinking rosé. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light pink to salmon in colour with good acidity, a light intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry & tangerine.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Vegan & I love the look of the bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in a couple years on its own or pair it with Sweat & Spicey Shrimp

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 18, 2024

LCBO: 21623