New Zealand Wine Tasting - Marlborough - Day 1 (Mar. 2020)

After a fine afternoon of wine tasting on Waiheke Island, I caught a late-morning flight the day after, a Monday, to New Zealand's largest and most famous wine region - Marlborough. Located on the South Island, this was the first of two days of wine tasting in Marlborough. My first stop of the day was Greywacke, the Marlborough label of one of New Zealand's finest winemakers,...

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2013 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely GSM blend from Languedoc that I purchased from the February 6th LCBO VINTAGES Release back in 2016.It is produced by Cave de Roquebrun with grapes from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. The blend consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on...

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Mike Weir Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review takes me back to 6 years ago when I first tasted this lovely Icewine at Mike Weir Winery in January 2016 while attending the annual Icewine Festival.Unfortunately, their wines are no longer available as the winery closed its doors sometime in Spring 2018, and I still have their 2010 Meritage that I should crack open soon. On the bright side, the winery...

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Tournon Shays Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2013 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Australian Shiraz that came to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the November 28th LCBO VINTAGES Release.The Chapoutier family have been working the vineyards and winegrowing in the Rhône Valley since 1808. Michel Chapoutier is the seventh generation of the family to work in the wine business. Michel is a legend in the world of wine...

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Rioja Bordón Reserva 2013 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a nice, consistently well-made Rioja from Spain that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 30th. I have tasted quite a few vintages of this wine and have enjoyed them all, including the 2012 Rioja Bordón Reserva late last year. Rioja Bordón wines are produced by Bodegas Franco-Españolas, a winery that was founded in 1890 by Frenchman Frederick...

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Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Vertical Wine Tasting at EVOO Ristorante

Last year, I had the pleasure of tasting a fine vertical of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva wines from Carpineto. The tasting was led by the owner of Carpineto, Antonio Mario Zaccheo and hosted by Univins & Spirits at EVOO Ristorante in Toronto. Carpineto was founded in 1967 by Antonio and his business partner Giovanni Carlo Sacchet, setting out to produce internationally...

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13th Street Grande Cuvée Blanc de Noir 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I venture into the VINTAGES Classics Collection - a selection of fine wine (and spirits) that are some of the best, most iconic, and most collectible wines from top producers around the world. The VINTAGES Classics program releases new wines on a monthly basis, specifically on the first Thursday of every month. 13th Street Winery produces this lovely...

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Southbrook Estate Grown Small Lot Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

I first enjoyed the organic, biodynamic and vegan-friendly 2013 Southbrook Estate Grown Small Lot Wild Ferment Chardonnay back in 2015 and mentioned at the time that it should improve in a couple of years, so tonight I am opening the 2nd bottle, 4 years later, to see how it has evolved. Southbrook Vineyards, a family-owned winery based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, is a leader...

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Copain Wines Tasting (California) 2019

I recently had the pleasure of tasting some of the latest fine wines from California's Copain Wines. Founded in 1999, Copain, meaning ‘friend’ or ‘buddy’ in French, embodies their philosophy that wine enhances life’s most joyous occasions, and is an experience best shared with friends and family. The winery is perched on a hillside overlooking the Russian River Valley and...

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Pillitteri 25th Anniversary Select Late Harvest Cabernet 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I picked up tonight's sweet dessert wine while visiting the winery last month during the annual Days of Wine & Chocolate Event in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With this wine, Pillitteri Estates Winery is celebrating 25 years of family, quality and tradition. This family winery opened its doors in June of 1993. Pillitteri has successfully grown with 3 generations working in the...

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Rockway Vineyards Riesling Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Icewine that I picked up while visiting the winery in Niagara last month during the Icewine Festival. This wine continues the string of wines I've enjoyed recently from Rockway Vineyards. This delicious Icewine is produced by Rockway Vineyards and is a wine I've tasted (and enjoyed) on a number of occasions, including back in January 2017....

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Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

On Sunday night, I opened up this lovely red wine that was recently featured as an Illustrious Italian wine and released into LCBO VINTAGES on October 27. It is produced by Palazzo estate, a winery located on the picturesque south-eastern slope of Montalcino at an altitude of 320 metres above sea level that was purchased by the Loia/Palazzo family in 1983. Soon after the...

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Nativ Bicento 2013 (Campania) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely new wine that arrived as part of the October 27 LCBO VINTAGES Release that featured some illustrious Italian wines in its main theme. It is produced by Nativ and was founded in 2008 in the heart of Irpinia, in Paternopoli, Campania (the shin of Italy's boot), by Dr. Mario Ercolino, an internationally renowned oenologist, and Dr. Roberta Pirone,...

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