Barrel Heist Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Price: $6.99
Made in: Lodi, California
By: Barrel Heist Wines
ABV: 14.8%
Year: 2017

Found at Trader Joe’s in Burlington. Aged 4 months in Bourbon barrels, this Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful nose of dark fruits with plums, dried prunes, hints of cherries, vanilla, smokey wood and leather. Lots of tannins in the mouthfeel with some nice dryness. The taste shows a little caramel notes and the finish is very short. Some yeast lingers on the tongue. Some bitterness does appear with time, which helps a little. Other than that, smells nicely, but expecting much more from this aging.

Rating: 3.4/5

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2009

LCBO#: 69831
Price: $97.95
Made in: Champagne, France
By: Agave LVMH
Year: 2009
ABV: 12%

Celebrating the end of 2018 with this Rosé, thanks to friends sharing this one. Clean pink colour with strawberry nose and hints of cherries and mild alcohol. The mouthfeel is pretty dry. Very mild taste of strawberries and yeast lingering. Some well-blended bitterness. Quite easy to drink with everything nicely balanced.

Rating: 4.2/5

Krone Borealis Vintage Cuvée Brut

LCBO#: 556654
Price: $18.95
Made in: Tulbagh, South Africa
By: Twee Jonge Gezellen
Year: 2016

This South African bubbly gives out freshly crushed apple aromas and hints of honey. After breathing, raisin notes come out with hints of brown sugar and yeast. The dried raisins really show in the taste, over the apple notes. The yeast is well-hidden, and the mouthfeel a little dry, a slight wet. Does not linger too, too long. Nothing offensive, but if you are not into the raisin butter tarts, you might not like this one. If you are into something different, this is for you.

Rating: 3.7/5

KWV Cathedral Cellar Brut

LCBO#: 296426
Price: $16.95
Made in: Western Cape, South Africa
By: KWV
Year: 2010

When we had the 2009 edition last year, it was full of oranges. It was good, but not great. This 2010 edition does not have the loads of oranges and seems better balanced. Citrus and honey in both aromas and taste. The nose also has sweet yeast, probably sugars and nice dry grapes, hints of apples. The mouth has a nice blend of sweet, sour and a dry bite. Much better balanced for sure than the last edition. Nothing too complex, but well worth the price.

Rating: 3.7/5

Rib Shack Red Vintage Blend

LCBO#: 392761
Price: $12.85
Made in: Western Cape, South Africa
By: DGB Wines
Year: 2014

Holy Moly this smells like candy ! Not complaining, but smells like those good bonbon that have a swirl of vanilla and berries. With time, this fake smell disappears and a blend of aromas of the wood chips, vanilla, burnt wood, berries and leather. The taste is mild at first, but gets stronger after breathing a while. A little dry and small tannins. Not as vanilla, not as fake. Lots of berries, lots of grapes. Seemed like an Australian wine at first, but finishes like a decent South African wine that is always good for the price. Just does not have a label like one.

Rating: 3.3/5

KWV Cathedral Cellar Brut

LCBO#: 296426
Price: $16.95
Made in: Paarl, South Africa
By: KWV
Year: 2010

Reviewed this one last year, but this is the 2010 edition and seems to be better rated. Also, we are KWB fans, so why not ? Looks like the oranges are better blended this year with the yeast that gives out hints of vanilla and some dry grapes sweetness. A little sourness in the flavours with the grapes, a dry middle and some light yeast lingering adding some nuttiness. We would have to say that this is better balanced than last year’s version. Good for the price !

Rating: 3.7/5

Schlumberger Sparkling Brut

LCBO#: 284596
Price: $16.95
Made in: Vienna, Austria
By: Schlumberger GMBH

Might be one of our first Austrian Sparkling. Nice presentation… clean and classy. Mild aromas of pear, apples and yeast. The taste is slightly fruity at first, but falls short quite quickly only leaving very light yeast lingering. So, not much here. Pretty dull overall, but nothing offensive. Mild dry mouthfeel with a little sourness after breathing. Very light hints of oranges and honey appear when it warms up. One that we will enjoy with Chambord raspberry liqueur, as this will add some flavour.

Rating: 2.2/5

Trius Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage 2012

LCBO#: 587956
Price: $12.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Andres Wines Ltd.

Beautiful candy nose with loads of berries, alcohol, hints of leather balanced with oak, giving this one some vanilla. Eventually, cherries come out, and later, plums. Unfortunately, that’s where it stops. The taste is very watered down, and the finish cuts short. It does get a little better with time and food, but nothing close to saving this Cabernet Sauvignon (which we expected a little more bite). One of our favourite wine a few years back was a Trius. Not this one.

Rating: 2.3/5

Krone Vintage Rosé Cuvée Brut

LCBO#: 130047
Price: $22.95
Made in: Tulbagh, South Africa
By: House of Krone

This South African bubbly Rosé has a creamy head. You can smell the strawberries and when you approach it, the yeast. Eventually, hints of cherry come out. The sourness in the taste helps this. Berries and yeast balance everything. Overall, nothing offensive but a little mild and a little too sour, over the berry flavours. If you like the sourness, you will love this one.

Rating: 3.3/5

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche

LCBO#: 315200
Price: $44.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Vintage 2008

This Vintage Canadian Sparkling comes in a box and pours a creamier white head than most. Beautiful aromas of apples and grape with just enough yeast to balance things. The taste starts off kind of mild with some sourness, but this one gets quite sour in the middle to linger a bit. So, if you like a sour sparkling, this one is definitely for you. Pretty good for the rest, but not sure about the pricing and marketing behind this one.

Rating: 3.7/5