Jackson-Triggs Reserve Sparkling

LCBO#: 217679
Price: $15.95
Made in: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
By: Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines
Year: 2017

5 years ago, we reviewed this sparkling under the name “Jackson-Triggs Méthode Cuve Close 2012”, and this is still a favourite for the price. As consistent as usual. Great bubbles, sparkling away, zapping in the mouth. A beautiful blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Loads of well-balanced green apples all over. Just a nice dryness that is not over the top, making this very easy to drink. Again, the yeast is very well taken care of – as in not too tarty.

Rating: 4.3/5

Beringer Founder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

LCBO#: 534263
Price: $16.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Beringer Vineyards

Reviewed this Cabernet Sauvignon about three years ago, and was not super pleased – yet, loved Beringer wines I had tried before. Let’s give it another go. Nice blackberry nose with some cherries and more fruitiness, than sugar sweetness like the Jackson Triggs cheaper version (a go-to wine here). Wet mouthfeel with a little dryness in the finish. Not much stays on the tongue. Maybe a little tart, but missing the tannins. Listening to Run DMC’s Tougher than Leather right now… and that is what is missing as well – leather.

Rating: 3.4/5

Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Fizz

LCBO#: 645960
Price: $29.95
Made in: Marlborough, New Zealand
By: Kim Crawford Wines
Year: 2013

After having Kim Crawford a few times before, and really liking their products, thought this would be the same. Unfortunately, it was not. This sparkling had too much yeast in it. In the nose, in the taste. The rest is fine. Mild apple scent. Flavours are a little more on the sourness side of things. Still, apples and the yeast lingers. Because of this, some tartiness. Much preferred the other Fizz wine we tried from Kim Crawford. And this one was part of the Vintages. Disappointing for the price.

Rating: 3.6/5

Masi Levarie Soave Classico

LCBO#: 204288
Price: $14.00
Made in: Veneto, Italy
By: Masi Agricola Spa
Varietal: Garganega/Trebbiano
Year: 2016

Was part of a gift pack a Christmas ago with two other Masi wines. This white one gives out fresh sand pear apples in the aromas with the white grape sweetness under this. Citrus bright taste with the Trebbiano and Garganega grapes, but nothing that lasts too long. So, short finish, making this one an easy-drinking, sipping white wine that is fine for chatting it up. Very light all-around, but drinkable.

Rating: 3.8/5

Carolans Salted Caramel cream liquor

LCBO#: 11439
Price: $27.00
Made in: Ireland
By: TJ Carolan & Son Ltd
ABV: 17%

Carolans is the Irish Cream we get here that competes with Baileys. It is pretty close, and you save a few bucks. Some people even prefer it… and now they have a Salted Caramel version to compete even more. Lots of butterscotch and caramel sweetness in the nose. Creamy mouthfeel and slick. The caramel pulls out in the flavours with some light saltiness lingering on the tongue. Hints of coconut in the background. The cream feels better in this one and all-around, I think I prefer this one over the Baileys version.

Masi Bonacosta Valpolicella Classico 2016

LCBO#: 285585
Price: $17.00
Made in: Veneto, Italy
By: Masi Agricola S.P.A.

Was part of a box of three wines from this winery a few Christmas’ ago. This Italian red wine gives out amazing cherry and black cherry aromas. The mouthfeel is not too thick and the finish is dry enough to enjoy. Flavours are quite mild alone though. Cherries again, mild berries, plums, hints of sourness, molasses and soft tannins. Very easy to drink with nothing offensive. Thought this one would be better with food, but was not. One to enjoy at the start of an evening, when one does not want a heavy red wine. Goes down smoothly.

Rating: 3.8/5

Trapiche Reserve Malbec 2018

LCBO#: 614651
Price: $12.95
Made in: Mendoza, Argentina
By: Bodegas Trapiche

Another inexpensive Argentinian red wine, which we purchased the 1500ml bottle for $10 more than the 750ml bottle. Still, a nice classy label. The aromas of this one is where this one shines. Woodsy at first, but the cherry notes and hints of plums do come out. Even vanilla is felt with time. The mouthfeel is lightly dry with just a touch of tannins. Seems to get dryer with every sip though. Black cherry notes are tasted, but the flavours are milder. Does seem to taste better alone, than with food. Well done overall – a not pricy, lower sugar content Malbec (13.5% ABV).

Rating: 3.6/5

Tanqueray Malacca Gin

LCBO#: 570093
Price: $34.95
Made in: United Kingdom
By: Diageo PLC
ABV: 41.3%

Nice! An old recipe from 1830s by Charles Tanqueray. You can definitely smell the peppercorns over beautiful citrus base. Some nice spices to balance things, which are felt more in taste. Quite nice and different, with the pepper and clove notes. Almost a little soapy, but yes – being a peppercorn fan and spiciness, quite like this one.

Rating: 4/5

Château Saint-Germain Bordeaux Supérieure 2016

LCBO#: 152587
Price: $16.95
Made in: Bordeaux, France
By: J. Calvet & Cie
ABV: 14%

The name was why we chose this red wine, as it means something special to us. A beautiful Bordeaux that gives out plum aromas with some notes of leather, and a touch of warming alcohol. A decent dryness appears in the mouthfeel with light tart on the tongue. Decent tannins and bite, but does not stay as long as wanted. Plum taste as well blended with hints of cherries in the background. It does well all-around, but seems to lack something in the mouth. Maybe wish it would linger for a while.

Rating: 3.6/5

Toso Brut Chardonnay

LCBO#: 570390
Price: $15.75
Made in: Mendoza, Argentina
By: Pascual Toso
ABV: 12%

A Argentina Brut Sparkling found in the Vintages at the LCBO. Fruity aromas of mostly apples with some hints of pears and yeast. This yeast is what stays on the tongue in the finish. Light tart. Milder fruitiness with the apples giving some nicely blended sourness. This also linger a little. Slightly crisp, but the fact that the yeast is just a little too strong, and the fruity notes not. This does not make this one a good one, but just above average.

Rating: 2.8/5