A Niagara red Bordeaux blend that rivals, if not surpasses, many of its French counterparts… This bold, juicy red blend from Stratus Winery in Niagara offers plenty of complexity and balance in an Old-World style. Dark jammy fruit, black pepper, leather, and savoury spice dominate the nose, although we enjoyed the semi-sweet chocolate notes and … Read more
A bold, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon from Joel Gott Wines… If you enjoy big, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon, look no further than this offering from Joel Gott Wines in Napa Valley, California. Well-balanced, complex, and well-made, this new world red offers plenty of aromas, most notably vanilla and cooked fruit, as well as an array of flavours, … Read more
A surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, good Cabernet blend from the well-known Amarone and Ripasso producer, Zenato… We thoroughly enjoyed this Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend, weighted on the Cabernet Sauvignon side, from Sansonina, the second label of the well-known Northern Italian producer, Zenato. A well-balanced, complex offering, and the tannins, although drying, did not … Read more
In the end, the Spanish red blend took the honours in this blind tasting… Wanting to hone Emilie’s tasting skills, Ryan surprised her with an impromptu blind tasting on a gorgeous summer night. It was a good way to see if the skills she developed during the WSET Level 2 course in Wines & Spirits … Read more
This Escudo Rojo blend could use more time in cellar… This Chilean red blend, a classy-looking offering bearing the heralded name of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, came across as bold, sharp, and a little aggressive, with green cedar notes and gritty tannins. And that was after having decanted it for a good hour. We’d recommend … Read more
A balanced, complex South African red blend at a tremendously good price… Name: Glenelly Grand Vin Vintage: 2010 Producer: Glenelly Estate Region/Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa Grape Varietal(s): Syrah (36%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Merlot (20%), Petit Verdot (10%) Consumed: At home Recommended By: The last chance bin at the LCBO (though other locations, especially in the … Read more
For once, we were delighted by a pink slip… Name: Pink Slip Vintage: 2015 Producer: Megalomaniac Region/Country: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon Consumed: At home Recommended By: Pick randomly off the Rosé shelf at the LCBO. Cost: $19.95 CAD Bottle Presentation: Distinctive, recognizable label, which fits with the philosophy of … Read more
An interesting Lalande-de-Pomerol given its strong flavours yet light body… Name: Château Vieux Chevrol Lalande-de-Pomerol Vintage: 2010 Producer: Château Vieux Chevrol Region/Country: Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux, France Grape Varietal(s): 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon Consumed: Brought with us to the Hotel Nelligan in Montreal to celebrate someone’s 40th birthday. Recommended By: Found at the … Read more
Surprisingly herbaceous, yet good with steak… Name: The Silver Line Epic Vintage: 2010 Producer: G. Marquis Vineyards Region/Country: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc Consumed: At home Recommended By: LCBO Cost: $29.75 Bottle Presentation: Classic, classy, clean, and distinctive Appearance: Medium ruby red Nose: Herbs, cedar, and leather Taste: Wood, … Read more
Big, bold, and complex… Name: Can Feixes Negre Tradició Penedès Vintage: 2008 Producer: Huguet de Can Feixes Region/Country: Penedès, Spain Grape Varietal(s): Trempanillo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot (proportions unknown) Consumed: At home with BBQ Filet Mignon on a Friday night (at the end of a long week) Recommended By: Found it at the SAQ … Read more