Canadian Wine Guy » American

2010 Smoking Loon Cab

John Galea — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:46:55 +0000

I last reviewed the 2008 vintage of this wine and was impressed. This wine is dark in color with a lovely albeit mild nose of red fruits and some oak. On the mid pallet this wine is VERY disappointing. There was almost no fruit to match the nose. There’s some oak present and some tannins on the finish. It’s on the lighter side of medium. All in all there is next to nothing going on, very bland. I would give this an 87 or so. This one comes off my favorites list.

From the LCBO web site:
SMOKING LOON CABERNET SAUVIGNON LCBO 55517 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95

Wine, Red Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Region Not Specified, USA by: Don Sebastiani & Sons

Tasting Note
clear ruby red colour; chocolate cherry and ripe berry aromas; dry, medium body; ripe berry flavour and a touch of spice.

Check LCBO stock

2009 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY

John Galea — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:10:04 +0000

I’ve had this one a couple of times and enjoyed it. It is golden in color with a mild nose, nothing particularly jumping out at me. On the mid pallet this wine is a smooth elegant varietal chard, with some lovely vanilla building nicely in the mouth. The finish is on the medium side with the vanilla and oak flavors dominating and lingering. I would give this wine a solid 89-90. This isn’t the most boisterous of chards and isn’t particularly creamy, but is quite good, and very food friendly. I quite enjoy this one and recommend it. And for $17.95 it’s not a bad deal at all.

Check LCBO stock

Shafer One Point Five 2005 Stag’s Leap Cab

John Galea — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:17:27 +0000

Another wine from the Society for American Wines annual cab event. This was my third favorite of the evening. Dark in color with ripe cherries coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine has some bold cherries to go with the nose. Another big bold wine in the mouth. On the finish are some firm tannins, slightly tart with some acidity backing up the fruit. This is a nice big California style Cab Sauv. I would give it a solid 90. Now given my number 1 and number 2 choice of the evening were less money and rated higher (by me) this one would likely get passed over.

From the LCBO web site for a different year:
SHAFER ONE POINT FIVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 VINTAGES 45476 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 79.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California, USA By: Shafer Vineyards

Release Date: Oct 15, 2011

Tasting Note
The beautiful 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five … exhibits a dense purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of boysenberries, black currants, subtle toast and spice and a slight floral component. The wine is medium to full-bodied with good acidity, a voluptuous texture and impressive purity and length. Drink this stunning Cabernet over the next 15 years. Score – 93. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Dec. 2010)

Check LCBO stock

2009 ET CETERA SAUVIGNON BLANC

John Galea — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:49:04 +0000

On behalf of Brett (Mr CWG) and myself I would like to extend a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all. I hope your holidays are filled with family, good friends and of course a great bottle (or two) of wine! Enjoy!

Pale in color, mild on the nose. On the mid pallet this is a smooth, elegant light sauv blanc dominated by some citrus flavors and some acidity on the lighter side of medium as a finish. This is not a bad sauv blanc and is extremely food friendly. The wine has some nice mouth grip that builds. I would give it an 88 or so. For the price I think there are better more distinctive wines.

From the LCBO web site:
ET CETERA SAUVIGNON BLANC VINTAGES 264812 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, White Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: California, USA By: Via Pacifica Us, Inc.

Check LCBO stock

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2009

John Galea — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:54:59 +0000

I’ve had this one before and it is consistently yummy. Pale to golden in color, mild on the nose. On the mid pallet this is a smooth well balanced California style chard with some lovely vanilla coming through. On the finish the wine when first opened had a bit of tart acidity but that faded quickly. Don’t serve this one too cold or you will miss the best parts of this wine. It is medium in length with some buttery notes coming through. I really enjoyed this wine. It is VERY food friendly. We paired it with pan fried cod and it was a delightful match. I would give this wine a 90. It’s tough to find cheap, good chards, and while this one isn’t cheap, it’s a fair price for what your getting! Enjoy!

From the LCBO web site:

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2009 VINTAGES 369686 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California, USA By: Jackson Wine Estates International

Release Date: Oct 1, 2011

Tasting Note
There are several million cases of the 2009 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay (100% estate grown Chardonnay that is, remarkably, 100% barrel fermented), which comes primarily from Jess Jackson’s coastal properties in Monterey and Santa Barbara. Winemaker Randy Ullom told me he manages to stir the lees on all the barrels once a month, which is astonishing. Abundant aromas of white peach, honeysuckle, green apple skins and a hint of tropical fruits jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, crisp, dry, fruity, well-made Chardonnay. It is a sensational bargain. Kendall-Jackson enjoys a well-deserved reputation for over-delivering quality vis a vis price for its wines. , , Score – 89. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Feb. 2011)

Check LCBO stock

2010 J. Lohr Painter Bridge Chardonnay

John Galea — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:45:20 +0000

Pale in color with a nice varietal chard on the nose. On the mid pallet when first taken out of the fridge displays mostly a fruit forward light chard, more reminiscent of a chablis. Once the wine warms up the California style comes out displaying some lovely vanilla, and caramel. The wine is medium in length with some lovely vanilla and complexity living on as well as a little bit of tart acidity gripping the tongue. This wine is a bit too young right now and the complexity this wine has to offer will come out in a year or so. For the price $13.20 this wine is a good deal as a lot of the J. Lohr’s are. I would give this a solid 89-90. Check LCBO stock.

If your looking for an inexpensive chard for every day consumption this is a good choice!

Patricia Green Estate Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Oregon 2008

John Galea — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:58:53 +0000

Recently Trialto held a try and buy event at the Fine Wine Reserve. I tasted this one at the event it was the highlight of the evening for me. The wine is deep ruby in color with a slightly earthy nose typical of a pinot noir. On the mid pallet the wine displays the usual rustic notes with strawberry coming through nicely. The wine is medium in length on the finish with some lovely smooth tannins and a bit of dryness coming through. I would give this wine a solid 90. Wine Advocate gave it a 92. The wine is $39.95 available on consignment from Trialto by the case.

Ben Hodson is the ” Liquid Art Specialist Ontario” on this wine. Feel free to contact him for more information on how to purchase this yummy wine!

From Trialto:
THE STORY:
Patricia Green Cellars is located in the Ribbon Ridge district of Yamhill County on the 52 acre estate purchased in 2000 by Patty Green and Jim Anderson. The winery, and thus the two friends, are noted for producing a tremendously broad selection of Pinot Noirs from far flung vineyards representing some of the better sites in the Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, and the Eola Hills growing regions.

They produce Pinot Noirs that show the distinctions of the sites that they work with. All of the vineyards (whether estate or sourced) are extremely well-tended sites that seek to grow the best fruit possible through rigorous attention to detail on every single vine. To ensure that our sites truly show the characteristics of the soil, micro-climate and clonal material none of them use irrigation.

Oregon has shown itself to be one of the few truly great wine growing regions in the world. Patty strives to work within small sub-sections of this vast growing region to find areas particularly suited to growing great fruit. The wines are made in a very traditional fashion that emphasizes the quality of the raw materials with which we begin, the experience we have with making wine and the intuitive decisions we make during each harvest to produce top quality wine.

With only 10,000 cases in total production, Patricia Green’s wines are some of the most boutique in Oregon. Only three wines were made from their estate fruit in 2008, with a tiny production for all three.

2005 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

John Galea — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:10:26 +0000

Another wine from the Society for American Wines annual cab event. This was my second favorite of the evening. Dark in color with bold nose of red berries coming through. On the mid pallet this wine is big, bold, round, California style cab with lots of red fruits, cherries and the like coming through nicely. On the finish the wine has some lovely smooth tannins that build nicely as you sip. I would give this a solid 90-91. The current offering in the LCBO is $34.95.

Check LCBO stock

2005 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cab

John Galea — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:32:13 +0000

I love well aged cabs. They become so smooth, so elegant, a beautiful glass of yummy in a glass! I belong to Society for American Wines and one of the reasons is because their tastings draw from their extensive cellar of aged wines. The Cab event is one of my favorites. Brett (Mr CWG) and I attended together and this wine was by far our favorite of the night. Dark in color with lots of red fruits, cherries and the like on the nose. On the mid pallet you get some lovely deep rich, round cherries, well integrated. They fill the mouth. The wine is smooth on the medium finish with tannins, alcohol and oak all well under control. The years have been very good to this wine. I would give it a solid 91!

From the LCBO web site for this wine but for a different year:
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 VINTAGES 718452 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 54.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: California, USA By: Chateau Montelena

Release Date: Apr 2, 2011

Tasting Note
This is one for the cellar. Firm tannins are wrapped all around the fruit. Leave this in a cellar for 5-10 years (though, it may be enjoyed, decanted, with a rare steak or roast beef). Cedar, blueberry, cassis, pipe tobacco, mineral and dried cherry are the prime aromas here. Dry, tannic, and fairly tight at this stage, with fruit and a mineral tone in behind. Medium-full bodied with a long, firm finish. A promising wine that will deliver great pleasure over years to come. (VINTAGES panel, Feb. 2011)

Check LCBO stock

2008 Wagner Dry Riesling Finger Lakes

John Galea — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:55:20 +0000

Another reception wine from the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Pale in color with some petrol coming through on the nose. I also got some sulfur but others did not. On the mid pallet this is a slightly sweet varietal Riesling, well made, smooth food friendly wine. The wine was on the lighter side of medium in length. This is not a bad wine, but given how many terrific Rieslings come out of Niagara for less money I’m afraid I would be passing this one over. I would give it an 87-88. Worth around $20, not in the LCBO.

FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008

John Galea — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:34:35 +0000

I previously had this one at a Society for American Wines event so when it came upon this recent release I jumped at it. Dark in color with a lovely nose of red berries. On the mid pallet this is a fruit forward traditional California style Cab. Lots of ripe cherries coming through. There are lots of layers to this wine! On the finish this wine has some lovely dryness coupled with some smooth tannins. The wine continues to build in the mouth. I would give this a solid 90. Yum! And to top it off this one is a keeper with 10 years left in it! Woohoo!

From the LCBO web site:
FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 VINTAGES 38075 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 23.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: California, USA By: E. & J. Gallo Winery

Release Date: Oct 29, 2011

Tasting Note
Another outstanding effort as well as a sleeper of the vintage is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and the rest Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color, deep, medium to full-bodied flavors, lots of black currant, underbrush and loamy soil notes intertwined with a hint of oak, and a robust, extroverted, impressive finish. This wine should drink well for at least a decade. Score – 90. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Feb. 2011

2009 Fog Head Chardonnay

John Galea — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:06:59 +0000

Another reception wine from the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Golden in color with some nice vanilla coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the vanilla and oak are there with some tart green apple flavors. The wine is quite light on the finish with not a lot going on. This is a light summer sipper for sure. I would give it an 87-88. Not available at the LCBO, $20 or so …

2009 J. Lohr Riverstone Arroyo Chard

John Galea — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:31:49 +0000

We had this as a reception wine at the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Brett and I attended this one together. This wine is quite golden in color with a mild nose with some citrus and minerality coming through. On the mid pallet this wine is dominated by some strong acidity, tart grapefruit flavors that grip the tongue. The acidity over powers an underlying fruity chard that displays some toasty notes. The wine is medium in length again dominated by acidity. The wine improved as it warmed up, it was served way too cold. I find a number of chards really don’t do well when they are served too cold. I would give this wine an 87 or so. This wine is about $20, but for my money there are much better chards out there. I also don’t think this would be a very food friendly wine. Too tart. A better chard to my tastes for example, from Niagara the Inniskillin Three Vineyards Chard has become one of my regular wines. Goes amazingly with scallops!

2009 Blackstone Winemakers select Chardonnay

John Galea — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:12:33 +0000

Pale in color with a mild chard varietal nose. Nothing immediately jumping out at me. On the mid pallet the wine on first drinking is a very mild chard. Some nice vanilla, some oak, some caramel. The mildness of these flavors allows you to appreciate the crisp fruits of the chardonnay grape. As the wine warmed up the finish got longer and it gripped the tongue. Especially true without food. The vanilla and caramel came through very nicely to a medium finish. If you are looking for a big bold chard, this isn’t the wine for you. If a subtle, well made, smooth chard is too your tastes then this might be a nice choice. It would be quite food friendly. I would give it an 88-89. Unfortunately not in the LCBO. I suspect it’s around $15.

I paired it with Oysters, and it went ok with them. Not overly complementary to the oysters, but didn’t fight either.

From the winery’s web site:
2008 CHARDONNAY Blackstone Chardonnay shows aromas of pineapple, peach and lemon citrus with a touch of mineral notes and pleasing oak followed by luscious tropical fruit flavors and a touch of toasted vanilla on the palate This bright, well-balanced wine has a long, lingering finish. A fantastic food wine, it will complement herb-baked chicken, grilled fish or vegetarian entrees and light aged cheeses.
Varietal: 95% Chardonnay 3% Gewürztraminer 2% Semillon
Total Acidity: 7.0 g/l pH: 3.34 Alcohol: 13.5%

Winery’s web site

2007 Stags Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay

CanadianWineGuy — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:22:05 +0000

October 8 2011 was a gorgeous day in Toronto: 24 and sunny, almost no wind, not a cloud in the sky. On a Saturday such as this there was no excuse to not sit on the terrace and have some wine. So into the cellar I went and out came this Californian Chardonnay. I bought this wine in early 2010 on one of many trips through San Francisco, at the time it was more or less a ‘let’s give it a try we need more chardonnay.”

Little did I know at that time what an apostrophe’s placement could mean. Stags Leap AVA is considered one of the top appellations in the Americas and with that, competition for the name has occurred. There are two vineyards named after the region: one with Stag’s Leap and the other is Stags’ Leap. For those following alone, that ‘ means a great deal, otherwise I guess there is no confusion at all. Carl Doumani and Warren Winiarski, two of the original owners in the early 70s, both called their vineyards Stags Leap, litigation ensued and with a settlement in the courts the glorious apostrophe settled the issue and we got Stags’ and Stag’s. Silly history but still great to know.

If you are unaware of the region, the Napa Valley has some great little pockets but Stags Leap may stand out for several reasons. First would be that the region had vines planted in the late 1800′s, which makes it one of the oldest wine regions in the ‘New World’. Second would be the international acclaim it has received, starting with the first Californian first place medal in Europe (1976 for a Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon). Since that time some of the best houses in the Californian wine game have come from the appellation. Of note are both the aforementioned wineries but if you were to ask me personally which is the most outstanding I’d say Hartwell Estate Vineyards which will be reviewed in the months coming. Enough blather, what was this wine like?

The colour is a light yellow, almost the colour of an apple cider. Green apple with hints of floral hit your nose as you swirl the glass. First few drops yield apple and vanilla on the tongue, while melon all make appearances with a few more sips. The wine is easy on the mouth with low acidity and a nice long finish. This is a complex Chardonnay with fruit that balances out with good dryness and feel. Very enjoyable, I am glad it stuck around till now even though it still has potential for cellaring, think 3-5 years. For those wanting to know, price was roughly $28 a bottle.

CWG Subjective Rating is 87 out of 100.

ALDERBROOK OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2002 Dry Creek Valley

John Galea — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:12:08 +0000

I’ve had this one in the cellar since 2008 so figured it was time to give it a try. On the nose are some nice dark berries and a hint of alcohol. On the mid pallet are some lovely dark berries to match the bouquet. Additional bottle aging has smoothed this wine into an elegant well made zinf. Some of the pronounced blueberry flavors have faded but the wine still has the dusty tannins that build very nicely in the mouth (you only experience this if you are sipping the wine without food). The finish is on the milder side of medium with some acidity to round out the experience. Alcohol is still noticeable, mostly on the finish and there are still some nice oak flavors to be had as well. I would give this a 90.

When you get food and wine pairing right it is a little peice of heaven. Think (the movie) Ratatouille! Unfortunately when you get it wrong they fight. Maltese baked macaroni was on the menu. This is a simple meal dominated by tomato sauce. Unfortunately the acidity in the wine and the acidity in the tomato sauce did not get along well leading to a bitterness in the mouth that was not there when sipping the wine. So in this case, I got the pairing wrong Oh well a lesson …

From the LCBO web site:
ALDERBROOK OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2002 Dry Creek Valley TASTING NOTE: This is great Zin filled with personality. Showcases the briary brambly wild blackberry and blueberry flavors spices and dusty tannins this appellation is famous for. Finishes dry and smooth. Beautiful and compelling now. Score – 91. (Steve Heimoff Wine Enthusiast March 2005) 603696 $26.95 Featured 11/10/2007

From Winecurrent.com:
14.5% alcohol Displaying understated elegance and finesse the subtle aromas are well-ripened forest fruit pepper and spice. Integrated tannins refined acidity and fine dark fruit flavours contribute to an overall sense of balance. Nuances of spice and dark chocolate garnish the long gentle finish. A treat for the senses. (Susan Desjardins) (603696) $23.95 Rating 4/5 from Winecurrent

NAPA CREEK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009

John Galea — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:51:16 +0000

When I hear Napa Cab my taste buds get started. Yum. This one is dark in color with a slightly sweet nose with some cherries and dark fruits coming through. On the mid pallet the wine starts out with varietal cherries coming through but ending quickly. The finish is on the lighter side of medium with not a lot of complexity. I was kind of disappointed in this wine, especially for the money. I found it thin and not terribly complex. I would give it an 88 or so. Not bad, but not fabulous either.

From the LCBO web site:
NAPA CREEK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 VINTAGES 643437 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California, USA By: Bronco Wine Company

Release Date: Jan 8, 2011

Tasting Note
A youthful and promising Napa Cab. Offers up a wallop of cassis, red and black plum, blueberry, raspberry, dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Dry, yet exuberantly flavourful, this wine is wonderfully plush and concentrated, sporting ripe tannins and a silky texture. Cellar 2-3 years or enjoy tonight with an herbed steak cooked rare. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2010)

Check LCBO Stock

2009 Beringers Founders Estate Chardonnay

John Galea — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:03:27 +0000

The wine is pale in color with a mild nose. On the mid pallet this wine is a smack on varietal California style chard. Some lovely vanilla, some caramel, some nice apple, and some oak coming through. On the medium length finish the wine is very well done with the taste lingering nicely. This is a very food friendly middle of the road chard. Not too buttery, not too creamy, just right for enjoying with food. We paired it with pan seared Ahi tuna with a peppercorn crust and it went ok. I think a Dry Riesling or a Sauv Blanc would have gone better. This is the first time we have done Ahi tuna so I went to Natalie’s food and wine pairing for guidance. I would give this wine a solid 90 and would buy it again. Yumm …

From the LCBO site:
BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE CHARDONNAY LCBO 534230 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 18.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1
Made in: , USA By: Beringer Vineyards

Tasting Note
Bright gold colour; spicy, toasty vanilla and tropical notes on the nose; full-bodied on the palate with forward apple citrus fruit and vanilla notes; well-balanced with a long finish.

Serving Suggestion
Roast pork loin, grilled salmon, roasted poultry, or cornish hen stuffed with wild rice.

Check LCBO stock

2009 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay

John Galea — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:01:09 +0000

I’ve written this one up before and they continue to be consistent with it. It is golden in color with a mild varietal chard nose. On the mid pallet this wine has vanilla, caramel, some creamyness and some butteryness. This is a very good chard. Not as intense or fruit forward as some but quite good. It doesn’t displace J. Lohr Riverstone as one of my favorites but it’s really quite good! I would give it an 89-90. We paired it with cod and it went quite well!

From the LCBO web site:
WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY LCBO 175430 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 16.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Wente Brothers

Tasting Note
pale straw colour; tropical fruit and a touch of coconut aroma; tropical fruit and soft vanilla oak flavour

Check LCBO stock

RIDGE LYTTON SPRINGS 2007 Zinfandel

John Galea — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:46:50 +0000

We stopped by Lord Nelsons one of my favorite restaurants in Burlington for a special celebration and chose this wine to go with our veal cutlets. The wine is dark in color with lots of dark fruits coming through on the nose. The wine on the mid pallet is dominated by the same dark fruits, with Cherries, blackberries all screaming for attention. The sugar is nicely under control as are the alcohol and oak. This is a well made smooth Zinf. Not as edgy as some. There was not a lot of jammyness to this one. The finish is on the lighter side of medium and was not as dry as one would expect from the XD on the LCBO web site. The wine held up well to the veal and complimented it quite nicely. I would give it a 90. Yummy.

From the LCBO web site:
RIDGE LYTTON SPRINGS 2007 VINTAGES 982413 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 44.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Ridge Vineyards

Release Date: Oct 30, 2010

Description
Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine (Jan. 2010) awarded this wine a score of 91 points.

Tasting Note
The 2007 Lytton Springs Proprietary Red (71% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, and 7% Carignan) exhibits a similar dark ruby/purple hue [to Ridge's Monte Bello Proprietary Red] as well as more black fruits and spice in the impressive aromatics. It is a fuller-bodied, richer wine with beautiful texture, purity, and length. Enjoy it over the next 7-10 years. Score – 92. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2010)
Check LCBO stock

2008 Blackstone Winemakers Select Merlot

John Galea — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:32:09 +0000

This wine is dark in color with a nice plummy nose on it. A hint that this may well be a John Galea varietal Merlot. On the mid pallet are some plums, some cherries and dark berries. On the finish right out of the bottle was a hint of pepperyness and some Oak. With some breathing the pepperyness (which for me does not belong on a Merlot) gave way leaving a reasonably varietal Merlot. This wine is somewhere between a Merlot and a cab. The sweetness is under control as is the alcohol and oak. It is slightly fruit forward. I would give it an 89-90. Not a bad Merlot at all.

From the LCBO web site:

BLACKSTONE WINESMAKER’S SELECT MERLOT 2008 VINTAGES 606327 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Constellation Wines U S
Release Date: Jan 22, 2011

Tasting Note
Inky, almost opaque, rich and luscious, this will bowl you over with its deft balance and concentrated fruit flavours. Delectable aromas and flavours – black plum, dark, ripe cherry and spicy pomegranate – are consistent throughout gliding along on a bed of ripe tannin and wonderful moderating tang. It’s structured, medium bodied with a lengthy finish. This punches well above the price with the price-quality ratio skewed in your favour. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Vic Harradine, www.winecurrent.com, Nov. 11, 2010)
Check LCBO stock

2007 Ravenswood Old Vines Zinfandel

John Galea — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:59:13 +0000

If you’ve been wondering what’s been keeping me busy (and not posting so frequently), I’ve been working on one of my other hobbies. My hi tech gadgets. Check out my tech blog for reviews of Android phones, tablets, Amazon Kindle and much more. If your curious and wanna get your geek on check it out!

Dark in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is deep, rich, and slightly sweet with loads of black fruits coming through. On the finish its got strong firm tannins a slight pepper taste and is slightly tart. Thus is a big wine. I would give it an 89. We paired it with beef wellington which was delicious by the way and it held up well!

From the LCBO web site:

RAVENSWOOD OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2008 VINTAGES 942599 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Constellation Wines U S
Release Date: Jan 22, 2011

Tasting Note
Medium-deep ruby colour. Impressive array of aromas, including blackberry, sweet black cherry, bumbleberry pie, freshly turned earth, and masala spice. Dry and quite flavourful, and very nicely balanced by a racy freshness and velvety tannins. This hefty but vibrant wine is an ideal match for Korean-style ribs. It will also reward 1-3 years in a cellar. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2010)

Check LCBO stock

Beef Wellington

2007 Yorkville Cabernet Sauv

John Galea — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:08:37 +0000

I stopped by E11even last night (E11even on Yelp). They have an The Enomatic just like Corks that I blogged about previously. It is an interesting machine. They have 4 of them.

This wine is Deep in color lovely dark berries on the nose. On the mid pallet are some deep fruit forward classic California cab flavors cherries some oak, some chocolate. This is a rich wine for sure. On the finish are some mild tannins and a slightly sweet lingering flavor that grows is the mouth. This is definitely a smooth well made fruit forward California style cab. The oak is present but not overwhelming. Alcohol is also nicely under control. I would give this a 90. It is sadly not available in the LCBO. It is $28 at the Winery . Yum. Eleven charged $20 for the glass … ouch.

I was impressed with Aaron behind the bar who had a good level of knowledge of wine and has his level 2 sommelier. I’m always impressed when establishments commit to ensuring their staff are knowledgeable about wines.

Here was a review I found of the wine where they said “There are people that believe it takes Napa Valley heat to make a good Cabernet. If you are one of them, try Yorkville’s and judge for yourself. The nose wraps up your senses in raspberry, cherry, plum, and semi-sweet chocolate aromas. When sipped, the cherry, plum, and dark chocolate all return. Easy to drink now but with enough tannins to age for a few years, at under $30 a bottle, it’s a much better value than most Napa Cabs. FBWorld Panel Score: 91″. From Food and Beverage.

Hogue Cellars Cab Sauv

John Galea — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:37:15 +0000

I have been to a few tastings covering off the Washing State. They are doing some fabulous stuff down there with great results. So when I was at Milestones the other day and I saw a Washing State cab I had to give it a whirl. I unfortunately did not get the year of the wine I tasted. The wine is dark on color with lots of cherries on the nose. On the mid pallet is a big complex, not fruit forward cab with some oak, some leather coming through. Lots of cherries to match the bouquet. The write up on the web site for the winery mentions cinnamon and while that didn’t come immediately to mind it was there. On the finish the wine has nice smooth well balanced tannins in a medium finish. This is a lovely cab. I would give it a 90. Yummy. Unfortunately not available in the LCBO. Strangely I couldn’t find the price on the web site.

From the winery’s web site;
Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington

Eastern Washington’s warm days and cool nights provide the perfect conditions for producing Cabernet Sauvignon that is rich and complex, with excellent structure. Our 2008 vintage has big, bold flavors of dark plum, rich cassis and currant, with a touch of cinnamon, vanilla and persimmon. The wine is soft and smooth on the palate, and the well-integrated oak adds a pleasing spice note. Pair with bold beef dishes—teriyaki flank steak or marinated tri-tip roast with rosemary, garlic and mushrooms.

RECENT PRESS:
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: 89 pts Best Value, Wine Spectator. 3.09
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: 87 pts Best Buy, Wine Enthusiast. 5.09
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: Gold Medal, Tasting Panel. 5.09

The winery.

2009 Ironstone Symphony

John Galea — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:49:30 +0000

Christmas is almost upon us and soon to be New Years! On behalf of Brett and myself we wish to extend to you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. Hopefully there will be lots of lovely wine under the tree for you to share with your family and friends!

This is a mini review from the food and wine show. This wine is pale in color with a nose of honey suckle sweetness. Reminded me of a Riesling. On the mid pallet the wine matches the nose and it is dominated by sweetness. Not syrupy but sweet consistent with a medium dry wine which is what the LCBO calls it. I didn’t hate this wine, but it’s not to my tastes. I would give it an 87 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
IRONSTONE OBSESSION SYMPHONY 2009 VINTAGES 355784 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, White Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : MD

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Ironstone Vineyards
Release Date: Aug 7, 2010

Description
Symphony is not a brand name Ironstone gave this wine; it is actually the name of the grape. Developed at the University of California at Davis, Symphony is an aromatic variety that is a cross between Grenache Gris and Muscat of Alexandria. It creates wines that are aromatically complex and very pleasurable, such as this fine example. A must for spicy Asian dishes.
Check LCBO stock