Barry McLarnon
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Reviews (165)
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Reviews
Leaning Post The Fifty Chardonnay 2020, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.95
I prefer my chardonnay to have a bit more of a "kiss of oak", but this one has plenty of leesy goodness to compensate for that shortcoming. Lots of interest in the nose, good body and a nice creamy mouthfeel, and refreshing acidity for food-friendliness. Think I'll pick up another bottle or two to see how it evolves. Tasted March 2023.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Malivoire Farmstead Gamay 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$21.95
Malivoire once again demonstrates its prowess with this entry level gamay. This vintage is zesty and compelling, with an attractive amalgam of fruit and savoury notes. Even the colour is outstanding, and it's clean, fresh, and very food-friendly.
4.0 Stars
(1000+)E
Thirty Bench Red 2007, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.00
Our last bottle of the 2007... still very deep color, with no signs of fading. Lots of fruit on the nose and palate, and the tannins have mellowed to the point where they are almost unnoticeable. Drinking well now, but my sense is that it will not improve further and is poised to start falling apart - indeed, it's probably a bit past its prime already. Ultimately, just a tad disappointing, as I wanted a bit more complexity and a longer finish for a 2007 Niagara red at this price point.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Tawse Cherry Avenue Pinot Noir 2009, Twenty Mile Bench VQA
Ontario, Canada$57.95
A lovely pinot, now in its prime, very Burgundian in nature. I tried the "entry level" 2009 Grower's Blend a couple of years ago, and it was quite disappointing - it seemed quite thin and acidic, so the pedigree of this premium bottling really shines through. It's well out of my normal price range, but I'm glad I splurged for a couple of bottles when I visited the winery back in 2011.
3.5 Stars
Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Les Trois Soeurs Côtes Du Rhône 2010, Ac
Rhône, France$16.95
I haven't had many bum steers from Mr. Szabo, but this wine struck a very strong discordant note with me. The name "Grands Bois" seems appropriate, as the wine is predominantly woody, astringent and redolent of iodine. Sure, there is some dark fruit in there, but the woody notes predominate. This heavy-handed wine may have "tremendous appeal" as JS says, but it sure doesn't appeal to me.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Loan Wines Special Reserve Semillon 2004, Unoaked, Barossa Valley, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$15.95
The range of descriptors used by the critics gives you an idea of the complexity of this wine. And all that with no oak! For me, new-mown hay, persimmon, and a touch of honey sum it up nicely. If you've ever had a late-harvest semillon "sticky", you'll have an idea of what to expect from the nose, but it's a bit of a shock to the palette when the wine arrives bone-dry. Definitely not for casual wine drinkers, but adventurous wine aficionados owe it to themselves to give it a go.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$39.95
I first encountered 'Leah' when I tasted the 2004 vintage at the winery in 2006. It was a standout then, and it remains a favorite of mine today. The 2009 is drinking beautifully (alas, this was my last bottle), with gorgeous fruit and a compelling smoky/spicy character. A slightly idiosyncratic pinot, but in the best possible way.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Saintsbury Pinot Noir 2009, Carneros
California, Usa$34.95
I've been a fan of this wine since I first encountered the 1985 vintage. Apparently I'm not alone in my admiration, as Jancis Robinson chose Saintsbury P.N. to illustrate the aging qualities of California P.N. in her 1989 book, Vintage Timecharts. It appears sporadically at the LCBO, and I usually pick up a bottle or two when a new vintage appears, though the price is now getting well outside my comfort level. The 2009 edition is true to form, warm and inviting, with lush fruit, a touch of smoke, and spice from the French oak. That said, the value equation is becoming questionable.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Thirty Bench Red 2012, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.00
I've been buying TB Red for many years, and it nearly always impresses, but this is the best yet. It would be an excellent wine to serve to a naysayer who claims that it's foolhardy to grow these Bordeaux grape varieties in Niagara. To be sure, vintage is all-important, and this was a warm one, but that's true in Bordeaux as well. Just now starting to enter its prime in 2018, the 2012 is rich and satisfying, and a bargain at the price.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Tawse Sketches Of Niagara Riesling 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$17.95
Year after year, this is a shining example of how well-suited riesling is to Ontario, and how quality can be delivered at a reasonable price. On the heels of a fine 2012 vintage, this one is another winner.
3.5 Stars
(0)V