Sàniger Brut Nature Reserva

LCBO#: 348813
Price: $15.95
Made in: Penedès, Spain
By: Loxarel

This Spanish Sparkling is imported by Laxorel in Ontario. Yeast nose at first but it does not take much for green apples and lemon sourness to blend in. The taste is watery at first, but does get stronger. Same decent flavours found in the aromas (apples, lemon, sour) followed by very light yeast in the finish. This one is short resulting in mild aftertaste. Real easy-drinking and not offensive at all, for those who like a nice sourness.

Rating: 3.2/5

Legends Diva Merlot-Malbec

LCBO#: 179135
Price: $14.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Legends Estate Winery
Varietal: Merlot, Malbec

This blended red is a mix of Merlot and Malbec. Aromas of berries with some good cherry notes. Earthy taste with some nice sweetness, very light sourness and decent mild tannins and yeast. Even plums and prunes come out to balance things. An easy drinking sweeter red wine.

Rating: 3.7/5

Montes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

LCBO#: 157883
Price: $12.90
Made in: Chile
By: Montes S.A.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

At first pour, this wine does not smell good and the taste is quite watery. After breathing a while, it does get better. Normal Cab nose with mild notes of berries, leather and tobacco. Even hints of burnt wood and vanilla. The watery flavours become kind of bitter, sharp with some dryness. Tannins seem to appear. Still, the mouth is not the greatest. Weird that there is sticker marking 90 point from the Wine Advocate.

Rating: 2.8/5

Cono Sur Tocornal Sauvignon Blanc

LCBO#: 306472
Price: $13.95 (1500 ml)
Made in: Chile
By: Vina Tocornal

Cono Sur is always a sure thing for us, price/quality and Sauvignon Blanc is one of the whites we like to enjoy with grilled chicken. This one has a nice sweet grape nose with hints of pears. The mouthfeel is pretty wet and refreshing with a slight dryness in the finish. It is nicely mixed between the sweetness, the mild bitterness and some very light sourness for the taste with notes of citrus (especially grapefruit). Good fruitiness all-over, but this 2011 version seems a little watered-down compared to the previous years we have had (gets much better as it warms up a bit). Still, a great buy for when many people come over (bigger bottle for cheap).

Rating: 2.8/5

Graham Beck Brut Rosé

LCBO#: 175588
Price: $19.95
Made in: Western Cape, South Africa
By: Graham Beck Wines

This Sparkling Rosé is a blend of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir. It also contains sulphites, milk, eggs and fish. Mild yeast aromas with some slight sweetness of strawberries and raspberries. Nicely balanced with a sweet start, but leading into a little sourness. A wet mouthfeel going into a mild dryness. Small yeast lingering. Everything is pretty well-blended, but everything is on the light side of things. Nice to try, but would not buy again for the price and where it comes from.

Rating: 3.4/5

KWV Roodeberg

LCBO#: 7187
Price: $12.45
Made in: South Africa
By: KWV
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
2009

Beautiful aroma of mixed berries with hints of leather. Medium-bodied with hints of tannins. Again, great berry notes in the taste with a light touch of caramel and slight nuts (almonds) in the aftertaste. As always, we really enjoy the wines of KWV. They are great inexpensive wines that are above average.

Rating: 3.6/5

Stormy Bay Cabernet Sauvignon

LCBO#: 665299
Price: $10.30
Made in: Stellenbosch, South Africa
By: Spier Wines
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

At first pour, this South African Cabernet Sauvignon smells a little too sweet. Notes of caramel and butterscotch. After breathing a while, the leather which we are used to appears with the fruity berries. Same for the taste, but this one stays again, too sweet. A little too wet as well, as tannins are very low. Not one to have again. KWV are much better for this region and price.

Rating: 2.2/5

Zardetto Prosecco Doc Treviso Brut

LCBO#: 290130
Price: $13.95
Made in: Veneto, Italy
By: Zardetto Spumanti SRL

This Italian Sparkling has a big white soapy head, almost creamy. At first, yeast in the nose, but eventually lots of citrus appear, especially oranges with hints of honey. Expecting sweet in the mouth, but no. Balanced between a wet mouthfeel and mild dry finish with some tartiness from the yeast lingering, with hints of nuts. Again, quite citrusy in the taste with some light sourness and sweetness. The oranges seems to fade away as the bubbly breathes. Honey and very light apple flavours. Overall, goes down easy as well-balanced, but lacking a bit character and wish the yeast was a little less present in the aftertaste.

Rating: 3.7/5

Ménage à Trois California Red

LCBO#: 308007
Price: $17.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Folie à Deux
Varietal: Zinfandel, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon

This Californian red wine does remind us a lot of Apothic Red. Loads of berries in the nose with the vanilla notes covering the leather. The taste is pretty sweet with berry jams and the vanilla calms things down. Not much tannins but more stickiness from the sugars. So, overall a nice blended red wine that is easy to drink. Recommended for a house wine when a bunch of friends come over for snack and wine. A little too sweet to be a great wine, but if you like Apothic Red and find the vanilla a little too strong, you should prefer this one.

Rating: 3.7/5

McGuigan Black Label Shiraz

LCBO#: 325787
Price: $10.95
Made in: Australia
By: McGuigan Wines
Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah

Written International Winemaker of the year and Australian Producer of the year for the IWSC in 2009 and 2011. Big berry aromas with mild vanilla, cherries and very light leather. Some nice bitter sharp taste with a bit of sourness to balance things. Flavours of cherries, plums with hints of molasses. Very nice sweet berry taste to blend everything. Quite a nice inexpensive Shiraz that goes down beautifully.

Rating: 3.8/5