LAN Crianza Rioja 2010

The LAN Crianza is a Spanish wine made with Tempranillo grapes.  This fruit is black, native to Spain and known to create full-bodied wines.

This wine was aged in French and American Oak in order to produce a balanced, flavorful wine.

Wine: LAN Crianza Rioja
Location: Spain
Sugar content: 5g/L
Price: $15.95
Vintages number: 166538

This wine is a dark ruby colour.  The odour is a mild spiced plum.  The flavour is much the same although I would describe it as spiced cherry as opposed to the plum bouquet. The flavours are nice but possibly over-powered slightly by the astringency.  This does not linger however and it has a mild, pleasant finish.

While this wine does not contain the full fruit flavours I prefer, and despite the slight astringency, it is a pleasant wine. It will not make my regular rotation but it's not bad.

Recommendation:  Uncork
Rating:  7.5 out of 10

Ezimit Merlot

Our latest tasting is the Ezimit Merlot from Macedonia. In the communist era, Macedonia produced a lot of wine and was responsible for about 67% of wine production in the former Yugoslavia. Post-communism, wine production decreased by about 75%.

Macedonia largely produces red wines (Accounting for 80% of production) and includes numerous varieties including the Vranac, Kratosija, Cabernet and Merlot.  It also has a domestic variety called Stanušina Crna which is relatively unknown outside of Macedonia.

Wine: Ezimit Merlot

Location: Macedonia

Sugar content: 10g/L

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $7.95

Vintages number: 261560

This Macedonian Merlot is a ruby red colour. It has an aroma of currants and slight vanilla. The flavours are mild plum and cherry.  It is smooth and balanced with a nice finish. There is no bitter or unpleasant aftertaste. Although the flavours are mild, this is a very refreshing young wine that is quite enjoyable. At only $7.95 a bottle, it is a wine I expect to enjoy with meals all summer long.  It is probably the best bargain brand I have tried.  I will gladly drink this wine again.

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:  8 out of 10

Domaine Boyar Cabernet Sauvignon

The Domaine Boyar Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine from the Thracian lowlands of southern Bulgaria. This Eastern European country was the world's second largest producer of wine in the 1980's but the industry collapsed after the fall of communism.  It is now starting to grow again at about 5% annually.

Wine:  Domaine Boyar, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Location:  Bulgaria
Sugar Content:  7g/L
Alcohol:  13%
Price: $7.95
Vintages number: 340851

This deep purple wine smells of plum and spice.  I describe it as a young, medium-bodied wine with flavours including mild plum and slight spice. It is smooth with a slight astringency on the finish.

This wine is not going to win any awards.  It is young and simple but as the least expensive wine I have been able to purchase at the LCBO it is pleasant and quite drinkable. For cost conscious consumers who simply want an inexpensive wine with a steak at home, you could do worse.

Recommendation:  Uncork
Rating:  7 out of 10

Angels Gate Gamay Noir 2013

The Angels Gate Gamay Noir is a wine from the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.  This is the largest wine region in Canada. It is at the same latitude as southern France and has a unique micro-climate created by Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment which makes it a good region for growing tender fruit.

Wine:  Angels Gate Gamay Noir 2013
Location:  Beamsville, Ontario Canada
Sugar content: 4g/L
Alcohol:  13%
Price: $13.95
Vintages number: 107714

This a clear pale red wine with an aroma of sweet cherry.  The first taste is a mild, sweet berry, a flavor I enjoy in Gamay/Beaujolais wines.  Unfortunately it finishes with a slight, bitter astringency. It is similar to the finish of some of the ultra dry wines I have reviewed previously.

Apparently the astringency is caused by the tannins in the grape skins.  Some astringency is better than others and this astringency does not work for me.  Keep in mind, I am not a connoisseur and you may like it.  For more information about astringency and bitterness I will refer you to The Wine Guy blog.

Overall, I find this to be a pleasant, enjoyable wine with a slightly unsatisfactory finish. While I will probably not buy this wine again, I would drink it again if you are buying.

Recommendation:  Uncork
Rating:  7.5 out of 10