Le Clos Jordanne Chardonnay, Versado Reserva Malbec, Delaforce Port: Best LCBO Wines March 30

    Here are my top wine picks from the March 30 Vintages Release. You can also get all 66 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. I’ve also already posted my wine reviews for the April 13 Vintages Release. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the […]

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Creekside Laura’s White, Tenuta Di Ghizzano Veneroso, Fonseca LBV Port: Best LCBO Wines March 16

  Here are my top wine picks from the March 16 Vintages Release. You can also get all 65 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews. Here are several of my reviews quoted in the LCBO Vintages Catalogue: Muga […]

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Gift Wines to Please Many Palates

Which wine to buy as a gift when you want to impress someone, but don’t know their tastes? With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and weddings coming up this spring and summer, you’ll want to have some ideas in mind before you go to the liquor store. Here are three terrific bottles guaranteed to garner a big thank-you.   Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir Niagara, Twenty Mile Bench This is my favourite wine from this winery, year after year. Its exuberant energy and power come from a complex weave of nuances: truffles, black cherry, violets, cedar box and dark […]

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Stratus Gewurztraminer, Tarima Monastrell, Le Ferme Du Mont: Best LCBO Wines March 2

Here are my top wine picks from the March 2 Vintages Release. You can also get all 75 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Winesfor red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews.   Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2011, W.O., Western Cape, South Africa Herbal and […]

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The Little Grape That Could: Wine to Toast the Good Life

  In our second conversation with Brett Preston and Matt MacPherson, creators of The Little Grape That Could, we talk about the inspiring stories that people have sent in to the web site, including everything from a kind taxi driver and a brave shelter dog to newly weds and a couple married 80 years who celebrated with the wine at their receptions.     You discovered some interesting research about how the act of giving can make wine taste better? Why have you had such success with this concept? Let’s taste the wines … what would they pair best with? […]

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Which Wine Pairs with Kindness, Idealism & a Big Heart?

Last year, Brett Preston and Matt MacPherson launched The Little Grape That Could. The twist? All profits from the wine sales go to charities, from the Heart & Stroke Association to Toronto Cat Rescue. In the video below, they talk about how they came up with the idea and how wine lovers can do good by drinking well.     What was your motivation for this project? Why did you pick wines from Argentina? How much of the wine’s price goes toward charity and what sales have you achieved? How does it work? I buy the wine, then what? How […]

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Good Wine & Laughs for Girlfriend Get-Togethers

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to three women who blend friendship and fun in their approach to wine: Lynne Everatt, Deb Mangolt and Julie Smethurst. The three met when they worked at the same multinational company in Canada years ago, and all decided to pursue their passions instead. In the meantime, they’ve written a book together that has lots of ideas for girlfriend get-togethers, always of course, involving wine. You can buy their book  in print or the the electronic edition on their web site Drink Wine and Giggle or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Indigo/Chapters. Here are […]

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Wine Scores and Ontario Wines Videos

Which wine at the LCBO today? Do I follow the reviews? vine.co/v/b6wmE1Ag6Z5 — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 20, 2013   I’m having a blast with the hottest new Twitter Video app called Vine. Here’s my tongue-in-cheek shopping trip based on wine scores, and below my favourite Ontario wines. Ontario wines Video of favs in stores now vine.co/v/brVDKYXJw1Q — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 17, 2013   Here are my first videos with the Vine Twitter App, plus video picks for Family Day wines.

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Family Day Wine: Video Pick

Which of these 3 wines (all appropriately named) do you think pairs best with Family Day dinner? Video: which of these wines pairs best with Family Day? vine.co/v/b6z3OItKpAi — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 18, 2013 Family Tree White Henry Of Pelham, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario   Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina   Famiglia Bianchi Malbec, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina   Roux Père & Fils, A.C., Côte De Nuits-Villages, Burgundy, France   More picks from shopping at the LCBO Vintages Release for February 16 … Ontario wines Video of favs in stores now vine.co/v/brVDKYXJw1Q — NatalieMacLean (@NatalieMacLean) February 17, […]

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