"Good cooks are not born…they learn by doing" Julia Child
This flavourful Mushroom Balsamic Vinegar Sauce is ready in 10 minutes. It is so versatile it is a great sauce for pasta or chicken or beef. If you are in a hurry for something quick that tastes good with easy ingredients look no further!
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Here are the highlights of the wines that I sampled at the media tasting for this LCBO Vintages Release. This is based on the sub-set of wines Vintages put on offer for review. The Best are the highest scoring based on my tasting experience. The Rest are the remaining wines I happened to review and include wines of interest and value.
Nov 9th, 2019 LCBO Vintages Release
As the holidays approach the LCBO tends to stock premium wines and the prices go on an upward trajectory until the wine gods take pity on us and feature value wines in January. All this makes for a lot of ‘The Best’ and only a few of ‘The Rest’! There is outstanding value in Roche de Bellene Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2015 from Burgundy for $20.95 and in Palacios Remondo La Montesa Crianza 2016 Rioja, Spain at $25.95
Bacalhôa Moscatel de Setúbal 2016
Setubal, Portugal 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 996181 $14.95
An interesting sweet wine offering up cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and in a lightly perfumed package. Good acidity gives it some zest. A real treat at this prices. Enjoy with chocolate covered almonds or fruit cake. Excellent value. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 90
Kopke Colheita Port 1999 Douro, Portugal
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 10903 $64.95
This 20 year old Tawny Port is a delight from start to its long, ,lingering finish. Nutty aromas of caramel and marzipan greet you on the nose and those notes carry to the palate where they mingle with some dried apricot and fig. Delightful on its own it could also star alongside your Christmas pudding with toffee sauce. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 91
Giulio Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino
Piedmont, Italy 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 461913 $29.95
This Vermouth offers a lot to curl up with on a cold winter evening. Tons of personality here with nuts and dried orange peel and toffee floating on a savoury, slightly herbal base. The finish just keeps on delivering too. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 90
Roche de Bellene Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2015
Burgundy, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 648485 $20.95
An outstanding value here in this Chardonnay. Citrusy notes of lemon and orange float above toasty, nutty and smoky notes. It has a silky, smooth mouthfeel with lots of lemon and orange toasty notes. Well balanced and elegant. Savour with herbed Cornish hen. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 93
Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2017
California, USA 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 26682 $64.95
This full-bodied, complex Chardonnay has a generous nose of toasty lemon, smoky mushroom topped with hints of ginger. Lemony toasty notes on the palate offset by a hint of earthiness. There is a lot going on in this glass all crowned with a deliciously long finish. Chardonnay like you dream about….Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 92
Donatien Bahuaud Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray 2018
Loire, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 140889 $21.95
This off-dry Vouvray is full of fruity melon and apple tones, along with some balancing citrus and floral blossom notes. Slightly waxy on the palate with a medium plus finish. Serve with scallops or shrimp. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 90
Masi Mazzano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012
Veneto, Italy 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 597476 $129.95
This Amarone will haunt you with its silky, smooth offering of raisins, figs and cinnamon. Beautifully balanced, it is elegant and remarkably fresh. A delight from start to finish. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 93
Palacios Remondo La Montesa Crianza 2016 Rioja, Spain
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 674572 $25.95
This wine is testament to the attention to detail that is Alvaro Palacios is famous for. Beautiful aromas of fresh raspberry and violets eventually give way to hints of chocolate. Red plum, red cherry and violets play on the palate of this Grenache dominated blend. Tannins are a bit grippy -this wine is no wimp. Overall well balanced with a long, delicious finish. Excellent value. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 93
Stags’ Leap Winery The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
California, USA 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 142844 $119.95
Coming to you from the iconic Stag’s Leap Winery this Cabernet Sauvignon is full of peppery black fruit and toasty notes along with wet leave and stones. Tannins are fine and chalky. Serve with pepper steaks. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com. 93
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017
Rhône, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 711317 $93.95
You will have to be patient for about 5 years before you can truly enjoy this concentrated Chateauneuf-Du-Pape full of red cherry and raspberry, spicy notes and light smoke. Silky and smooth, beautifully balanced. Enjoy (eventually) with Chateaubriand. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 92
Luce 2016 Tuscany, Italy
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 685263 $119.95
This is a complex, big wine showing raspberry and bramble, smoke and hints of savoury. Firm and tannic at this point but it will be stunning after a few years of cellaring. Enjoy it eventually with grilled steak. Tasted |October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 91
Pinino Brunello di Montalcino 2013
Tuscany, Italy 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 32508 $59.95
This Brunello will command your attention with its cherry notes floating over smoke and tar. It has a smooth mouthfeel even with the still firm tannins. Enjoy with lamb shanks. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 90
Belle Glos Eulenloch Pinot Noir 2015
California, USA 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 10095 $59.95
This silky smooth, highly quaffable Pinot Noir offers up ripe fruit flavours of black cherry and black plum along with some mushroom notes on the nose. On the heavier end of the Pinot Noir body scale it will pair nicely with short ribs or roast beef. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 90
Austria
Laurenz V. Friendly Grüner Veltliner 2016
Kamptal, Austria 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 66225 $19.95
Crisp, light and dry, this Gruner Veltliner offers up some blossom on the nose that gives way to hints of mint and fennel. The palate features gooseberry and pears. Well structured and racy this will liven up chicken dishes or your salad course. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 87
Croatia
Ilok Cellars Classic Grasevina 2017
Continental, Croatia 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 517474 $14.95
While blossom and honeysuckle dominate the nose of this Grasevina the palate is dry and savoury and with tangy lemon and grapefruit. There are light hints of kerosene floating around as well. Serve with Asian cuisine. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 88
France
Rhône, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 10508 $31.95
Lots of raspberry and an element of medicinal black cherry on the palate here. The tannins are fine but the alcohol dominates and challenges the finesse we have come to expect of a Gigondas. Serve with lamb or duck. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 89
Georges Duboeuf Château des Capitans Juliénas 2017
Beaujolais, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 11359 $21.95
This Juliénas Beaujolais has more structure and weight than many Beaujolais. Red fruit, black currant and wet stones offer up interest on the nose and palate. Nicely balanced. Serve with ribs. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 88
Cave de Lugny Brut Rosé Crémant de Bourgogne
Burgundy, France 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 297846 $22.95
Orchard apples, roses and blossom abound on the nose and palate of this lovely sparkling. Refreshing with some interesting flinty notes on the finish. This could be a party sparkling or brunch/lunch choice. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com
Germany
Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier Dom Spätlese Riesling 2011
Mosel, Germany 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 11651 $21.95
This Riesling eight years in is showing delicious notes of honey, petrol, ripe peach, apricot on the nose and the slightly waxy palate. On the sweeter end of the Spätlese spectrum you could enjoy this on its own. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 89
Italy
Alto Adige/Trentino, Italy 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 352153 $24.95
This opens with pastry and apple pie spices on the nose. The palate is juicy and citrusy and a touch of apricot on the finish. Lively with fine effervescence it would be a good choice for holiday parties or toasting. Tasted October 2019. www.thewineloverskitchen.com 89
Spain
Rioja, Spain 750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 145995 $14.95
This light and refreshing blend of Viura (aka Macabeo of Cava fame) offers up lemon, grapefruit with some underlying wet stone minerality. Oh to be sitting on a patio is Spain sipping this white Rioja with some calamari! Good value. Tasted October 2019.www.thewineloverskitchen.com 88
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Continue reading “The Best and The Rest – LCBO Vintages Release Nov 9th, 2019”
The LCBO Vintages release for Nov 9th, 2019 is gearing up for the holiday season with more and more premium wines on offer. Here are few good value gems you may not want to miss. Continue reading “Wine Picks LCBO Vintages Release Nov 9th, 2019”
No kidding! A few simple tricks can take your Spaghetti and Meatballs to a new level. Continue reading “The Best Ever Spaghetti & Meatballs”
Real, homemade spaghetti sauce from Casa Rugantino, a classic Italian restaurant. A Kitchener tradition! Continue reading “Casa Rugantino Spaghetti Sauce”
Now you can open ANY jar easily! NEVER struggle with opening a jar again with this simple trick. Continue reading “How to Open Any Jar Easily”
Here are the highlights of the wines that I sampled at the media tasting for this LCBO Vintages Release. This is based on the sub-set of wines Vintages put on offer for review. The Best are the highest scoring based on my tasting experience. The Rest are the remaining wines I happened to review and include wines of interest and value.
Oct 26th, 2019 LCBO Vintages Release Continue reading “The Best and The Rest – LCBO Vintages Release Oct 26th, 2019”
The LCBO Vintages release for Oct 26th, 2019 has a few gems including a high scoring Gigondas (Cru AOP in Burgundy) and a Carignan blend from Priorat, Spain that is outstanding in quality and value. Continue reading “Wine Picks LCBO Vintages Release Oct 26th, 2019”
This Grilled Onion Cream Sauce will be the star of your meal. You can make this flavourful sauce with only a few ingredients. Continue reading “Grilled Onion Cream Sauce”