October 31st, 2009 Chuck Posted in Red Blend, USA 3 Comments »
| Everyone loves choices, with this wine you can choose to buy it in a: bottle, large format bottle, funny jug with a ring handle and even a box. America #$@% YEAH! |
| This wine conjures up memories of a previous review: Charles Shaw Merlot 2007 |
| Tip: price listed is for the 1.5L bottle, don’t buy what you can’t drink within 2 days. |
| Taste |
cherry, plum, vanilla |
| Smell |
vanilla, cherry, plum |
| Food |
cold cuts |
| Sweetness |
off dry |
| Price |
$13.45 |
| LCBO# |
00070813 |
| Score |
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May 3rd, 2009 Chuck Posted in Italy, Red Blend No Comments »
| At first glance this bottle looks like something shampoo would come it, but once on the table with the cap off, it feels kind of futuristic. Overall this is a pretty good wine, a little bit more than the lower end reds but it’s worth the extra 3.50. Overall it’s a dry, medium bodied wine with soft acidity and ripe tannins. |
| 4-Way Blend (quatto means four in Italian): Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Cabernet. Surprisingly, the pinot really does shine through. |
| Tip: tulip glass |
| Taste |
strawberry, spice, light oak |
| Smell |
red berry, raspberry, white pepper |
| Food |
veal marsala |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$13.95 |
| LCBO# |
78048 |
| Score |
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March 22nd, 2009 Chuck Posted in Canada, Red Blend 1 Comment »
| After seeing this bottle time and time again in the LCBO magazine I decided to give it a taste. It’s a fairly typical blend, nothing stands out too much. You’ll find it Medium-bodied with soft, drying tannins and moderate acidity. |
| A blend of three classic grape varieties: 52% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, which undergo traditional red wine making. |
| Tip: tulip glass |
| Taste |
ripe berry, leather, spice |
| Smell |
black cherry, strawberry, vanilla |
| Food |
pasta, bbq |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$12.95 |
| LCBO# |
56390 |
| Score |
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February 26th, 2009 Chuck Posted in France, Red Blend 2 Comments »
| Here is a nice example of an easy drinking French ‘Vin de Table’. It’s: non-vintage, very smooth, mild tannin, not complex, very drinkable and very affordable. |
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Blend consists of: Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah
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| Tip: comes in a 1L bottle |
| Taste |
soft berry, tart raspberry, light toasted oak |
| Smell |
soft berry, strawberry |
| Food |
red meat, medium cheese |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$9.95 |
| LCBO# |
130674 |
| Score |
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December 6th, 2008 Chuck Posted in Canada, Red Blend No Comments »
| This red VQA is pretty bold, the meritage has a big aroma that at first all I could smell was matchsticks, but after opening up it moved more towards a tobacco scent. |
| The blend used to create this vintage was: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. I wonder why the Franc didn’t get top billing over the Merlot? It’s presence is greater in the juice and palate. |
| Tip: decant this for a about 10 minutes |
| Taste |
smoky, violet, blackberry |
| Smell |
tobacco, leafy, plum |
| Food |
pasta with tomato sauce, cheddar |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$12.95 |
| LCBO# |
349191 |
| Score |
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October 12th, 2008 Chuck Posted in Canada, Red Blend 1 Comment »
| This VQA wine has a medium bodied palate with moderate fruit from the merlot, but leans toward the oak barrel with prominent notes of vanilla. The menthol is a nice addition from the cabernet side of the blend. |
| If you were wondering, the bird on the label is the American Goldfinch. |
| Tip: tulip glass, room temperature |
| Taste |
oak, vanilla, menthol |
| Smell |
vanilla, strawberry, violet |
| Food |
burgers, hot dogs |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$9.40 |
| LCBO# |
619411 |
| Score |
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September 12th, 2008 Chuck Posted in Canada, Red Blend 1 Comment »
| Probably the most interesting meritage I’ve ever tried, this VQA wine from Beamsville is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Baco Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. People taking notes will notice that the Merlot has been swapped out for the Baco Noir, which is no doubt what gives this wine it’s funky edge. |
| Medium bodied, oak aging and the baco give this wine a really interesting, almost sweet and sour taste that keeps you guessing. |
| Tip: tulip glass |
| Taste |
vanilla, oak, tart blackberry |
| Smell |
sweet blackberry, sweet cherry, smoky |
| Food |
stir fry |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$12.95 |
| LCBO# |
609875 |
| Score |
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May 9th, 2008 Sean Posted in France, Red Blend 1 Comment »
| O.k., this one was a little tricky. I feel like I’m walking on a sharp edge here. Just before being released this wine scored a VERY high mark from a well known wine critic. Sometimes when this happens our expectations for a sub $20 bottle of wine go through the roof. |
| This bottle of French wine was, well, obviously French. It held the characteristics of French wine from the medium structure tannins to earth notes and that rustic feeling that’s hard to describe. However, upon further sipping you’ll notice round fruit and implied sweetness breaking through. Then a marriage of tannins, fruit and alcohol suddenly come alive. While we throughly enjoyed this wine, perhaps our hopes were set a little too high? |
| Tip: In the bottle: Syrah and Grenache |
| Taste |
strawberry, plum, cedar |
| Smell |
plum, raspberry, vanilla |
| Food |
anything bbq |
| Sweetness |
extra dry |
| Price |
$14.95 |
| LCBO# |
652313 |
| Score |
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May 7th, 2008 Sean Posted in Chile, Red Blend No Comments »
| This bottle was picked up on a whim while looking for something cheap and cheerful while cruising through the liquor store on Tuesday evening after work. The blend of Syrah and Malbec was immediately interesting as both these grapes have some very specific characteristics. Syrah of course with it’s bold and mouth filling spice and Malbec with its tannins and forward fruit. A match made in heaven? |
| The first sniff of the glass told me I was in for a treat. Right away the earthy Malbec was apparent followed by the raspberry and dark cherry of the Syrah. For the price, this is a very pleasing, mouth filling, lip smacking bottle of wine under $15.00! |
| Tip: Try it on it’s own then with food, it softens so well. Going back to buy a few bottles. |
| Taste |
black cherry, raspberry, earth |
| Smell |
earth, cherry, plum |
| Food |
chicken souvlaki with tzatziki |
| Sweetness |
dry |
| Price |
$12.95 |
| LCBO# |
18630 |
| Score |
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April 12th, 2008 Sean Posted in Red Blend, Spain No Comments »
| Take note of this wine from Spain, unlike other wines with cutesy names and uniform taste this wine is playing a different tune. Spanish wines are often very dry, dense and sharp. Spain has been making wine for a long time, but like Chile and South Africa its profile is on the rise. |
| I believe the wine maker set out to produce something different that would be welcome by most palats. And he succeeded. With lots of dark fruit flavors, berries and soft tannins this is an easy drinking wine on any occasion. As a bonus you can discover two grapes you may not have had yet. |
| Tip: Garnacha is Spanish for Grenache. |
| Taste |
currant, raspberry, plum |
| Smell |
spice, berries |
| Food |
braised beef, mushrooms |
| Sweetness |
off dry |
| Price |
$12.65 |
| LCBO# |
54007 |
| Score |
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March 2nd, 2008 Chuck Posted in Canada, Red Blend No Comments »
| With this meritage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, Hillebrand has created an easy going, medium bodied and very very smooth red blend. Coming from some of Niagara’s warmest vineyards and aged in oak barrels for a year, this vintage is very compatible with a wide array of food. |
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| Tip: tulip glass |
| Taste |
strawberry, cherry, very mild oak |
| Smell |
strawberry, roasted red bell pepper, cherry |
| Food |
italian |
| Price |
$16.45 |
| LCBO# |
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| Score |
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January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Red Blend 1 Comment »
| From the winemaker masi.it |
Refosco, Raboso and a small percentage of other important local
grape varieties, are the basis for this unmistakably typical wine from
the Venetian territories, which is fruity, well-structured and quaffable.
Ideal with a variety of dishes, from soups to grilled meats; also
perfect with pasta dishes. |
Versatile enough to go with many dishes. Perfect with soups, pasta and risottos. Very good both with simple and more substantial dishes based on red meat, or with fresh cheeses.
Recommended drinking temperature 18° C (64° F). |
| $ 11.85 |
| This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com |
| Feel free to Rate It if you’ve had the chance to taste this wine |
January 13th, 2008 Archive Posted in Portugal, Red Blend No Comments »
| From the winemaker www.jmf.pt |
Grapes: Castelao, Trincadeira e Aragonez
Aroma: Strawberries, Blueberries, Black Currant, Violet |
Palate: Fruity, balanced with soft tannins
Serve with red meat or game |
| $ 9.40 |
| This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com |
| Feel free to Rate It if you’ve had the chance to taste this wine |
January 3rd, 2008 Archive Posted in Red Blend, Spain No Comments »
| From the wine maker www.marquesdecaceres.com |
| Pale strawberry red color. Charming, lively bouquet with pleasant notes of strawberries and bilberries and a slight depth of fragrant flowers in the background. Very balanced in the mouth, full yet refined, with rich fruit flavours that linger on the palate. An exquisite rose that will delight your tastebuds at any time of the day. |
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| This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com |
| Feel free to Rate It if you’ve had the chance to taste this wine |
