Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Blanc de Noirs 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Kew Vineyards Marsanne a few months ago (and still widely available in stores today), tonight's sparkling wine reviews a pair of wonderful bubblies from the same producer in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Bubbles in the December 14 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Both of these fantastic bubblies are produced...

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Kacaba Reserve Riesling 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To celebrate Mother's Day, tonight's white wine review is a lovely Niagara Riesling that I purchased at the winery while visiting Niagara during the Icewine Festival back in January 2020. Of course, this vintage has long sold out, while newer vintages are currently available for purchase from the winery.Tasting Note:KACABA RESERVE RIESLING 2017 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario,...

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Babich Winemakers' Reserve Syrah 2017 (Hawke's Bay) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Hawke's Bay Syrah that arrived at the LCBO last month as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the March 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - with bottles now available at quite a few stores across Ontario.It is produced by Babich Wines, one of New Zealand's most prominent and oldest family-owned wineries. It was founded in 1916...

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Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages 2017 (Sonoma) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine reviews is an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Sonoma County that arrived at the LCBO as part of the August LCBO VINTAGES Cellar Collection Release and is now available at several stores across Ontario. It will make a fine gift for the holidays or a nice addition to your cellar.It is produced by Chateau St. Jean, an iconic Chateau that dates back...

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Rodney Strong Symmetry 2017 (Sonoma) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent red blend from Sonoma County that I was first introduced to back in 2017 during a very interesting Rodney Strong Blending Seminar with Winemaker Rick Sayre. The latest vintage of Symmetry arrived at the LCBO last month, as part of the August 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by the pioneering and well-respected...

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Springs Road Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Shiraz from Kangaroo Island in Australia. It is a brand new wine to the LCBO, landing in Ontario over the weekend as part of the June 10th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Springs Road Wines is owned and operated by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith, owners of Battle of Bosworth Wines in McLaren Vale. Joch and Louise acquired...

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Pittacum Val de la Osa Mencía 2017 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Mencía from DO Bierzo in Spain that is brand new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across the province today as part the April 29th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Viñedos y Bodegas Pittacum, one of four member wineries that make up Grupo Terras Gauda. Present in four of Spain's principal wine regions, Terras Gauda...

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Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon white wine a couple of years ago, tonight's wine review is an older vintage of the same wine and it arrived in LCBO outlets across the province last weekend as part of the March 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Margan Wines, a family-owned winery that was established by Lisa and...

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge 2017 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO last weekend. It was featured as part of the theme on wines from France's top wine regions in the February 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is available online at lcbo.com and at Flagship Exclusive locations in Ontario.It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite Loire wine producers....

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Queenston Mile Pinot Noir 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I first tasted this lovely 2017 Queenston Mile Pinot Noir back in June 2019 and for tonight's red wine review I'm delighted to see it return to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release as an Online and Flagship Exclusive.It is produced by Queenston Mile Vineyard, a 50-acre vineyard and winery that launched as a brand in early 2019. Queenston...

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Delheim Grand Reserve 2017 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Bordeaux variety blend from South Africa that newly arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the January 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.Delheim Wines is a family business that was established in 1938 when Hans Otto Hoheisen purchased the farm, which had various owners over the years, as a retirement home for himself and his wife...

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Tenuta Iuzzolini Cirò Rosso Classico 2021 (Calabria) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious red wine from Calabria crafted with the indigenous Gaglioppo variety that arrived at the LCBO just over a week ago as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES Release on January 7th.Tenuta Iuzzolini was founded in 2004 by Fortunato Iuzzolini and his wife Giovanna Colicchio, and the couple transferred their love and passion for the land to their...

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Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo 2017 (Piedmont) - Wine Review

After enjoying the beautiful 2018 Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco back in November, tonight's red wine review is a lovely Barolo that landed at the LCBO a couple of weekends ago as part of the January 7 VINTAGES Release.Even though Michele Chiarlo was only established in the 1950s, its story begins in 1898 with the birth of Pietro Chiarlo who was born into a farming family...

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Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2019 Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine last month, tonight's Icewine review is another lovely Icewine from the same producer. This lovely red Icewine returned to the LCBO today as part of the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.Lakeview Cellars was established in Vineland in 1991 by Eddy Gurinskas. Today, Lakeview Cellars is the oldest of several...

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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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