Placido - Pinot Grigio - 2.5/5

Placido - Pinot Grigio - Italy 2011

Kelsey V. - The Female Perspective -

Placido is a wine that goes down smoothly, however the reason for this is that it lacks distinctive flavour.  This pinot grigio is neither fruity nor flavour, in fact there is not much to critique here.  I feel as though we might be missing something, because I honestly don't taste much.  Although I enjoy the essence that IS there, I can't quite put my finger on what is missing.  Maybe somebody is playing a joke on me.  I am lost for words, I like this wine for what it does present, but the lack of an individual personality hinders it's overall value.  For the reasons stated above, I rate this wine a 3 out of 5.  Have a good night everyone!

Kris - The Male Perspective -

 

With a story of valor on the bottle, I expected a little more from this wine.  The story regales us of an honourable soldier who helped end a war, and for his bravery, he was rewarded a manor, which soon turned to vineyard.   For someone who has been in a war, and has shown acts of courage, this wine was awfully boring.  As Kelsey V. said, this wine went down easily, but only because there was literally no flavour to it.  It tasted sort of like an alcoholic soda water.  I was disappointed by my choice this week, for a wine originally crafted by a hero, this pinot grigio was subpar in flavour and depth.  I rate this wine 2/5 for it was not horrible, but there was not much to judge.  Drink on party people.

For appearance, this bottle receives a point for allure because of the dude riding the horse, but in terms of colour scheme it lacks overall presentation.  Another point is rewarded for the creativity, as the bottle tells a story of a hero of war.  2/3 in total!

Lucky Penny - White Wine Mix - 5/5

Lucky Penny - Mix of Chardonnay, Viognier, & Pinot Grigio - Australia 2011

Kris - The Male's Perspective -

"See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck".  This line from grease emanates from Lucky Penney as the title suggests luck is just around the corner.  To be honest, originally I thought this was going to be a cheap wine, as it seemed kind of gimmicky, but I was humbled by the flavour as it hit my mouth.  With hints of apricot, this white blend is very subtle in it's wine personality;  That being said, this subtly does not detract the taste, in fact quite the opposite.  This refined taste was pleasant on the pallet, leaving an impression of pear on the tongue.  This white blend was great, and if you refer to our first post, I rate this wine 5 glasses out of 5 in the sense that if you see it, buy it!  Happy hump day everyone!

Kelsey V.  - The Female Perspective -

For the first time since we started this blog, I was able to pick out a wine that my male counterpart actually enjoyed.  Up until now, the previous wines I had selected were not to Kris' liking. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this! :) As for the wine itself, I found it to be bursting with fruity flavours, something which I was quite smitten by.  Notes of pear splashed my taste buds at first, leaving me surprised when the addition of honey joined the mix. Being one of my favorites so fa,r I rate this wine 5/5 wine glasses!

Kelsey really likes this bottle, but I think it's not bad, not great either.  As for allure, it caught Kelsey's eye with its bold words and design.  The colour scheme could be a little more vibrant, which would in turn, up the allure factor as well.  In terms of creativity, the location of the bold words and the difference of colours between them allocates a point.  Receiving a final score of 2/3 for it's lack of vibrant colours.  Happy drinking!

Dunavar - Muscat Ottonel - 5/5!

Dunavar - Muscat Ottonel - Hungary 2011

Kelsey V. - The Female Perspective - 

Instantly, both Kris and I agreed upon the delectability of this muscat wine, despite not being familiar with muscat as a family of white wines, it was to our pleasure to discover this specific vino. This wine of medium body was easy on the pallet providing distinct floral notes which ended on a warm note.  Despite being best served well chilled, this muscat left me enveloped with warmth.  I would recommend that this wine be purchased if you happen upon it, as I rate it 5 wine glasses out of 5.  Monday night cheers!

Kris Sadek - The Male Perspective - 

As I stumbled into the LCBO 3 minutes before closing time, I realized I hadn't much time to do my usually search for tonights wine.  I made my way through the aisles and grabbed the first bottle that caught my eye.  When I brought it to the register I was surprised that it was only $9 (a little less actually).  This was disheartening as I concluded that this wine was going to be cheap (not in price, but in stature).  To my surprise, it was not;  Far from it. I had never heard of the Muscat family of wine, but it left me with a great impression;  Dunavar Muscat Ottonel was well enjoyed as a flavourful, light mix, proving that cost =/= quality.  I would recommend you grab this bottle if you ever see it, and enjoy a nice night accompanied with chicken cooked with a fruity glaze (such as orange chicken).  I would give this bottle a 5/5 as well! Daaaaaamn. Das Gud.  Cheers!


As for appearance, this bottle wasn't over the top by any means.  Dunavar Muscat scored a 2/3 for the nice colour matchup of gold and green, and the intriguing stamp of a female (who is it and why isn't she smiling!?).  What it lost in allure, this wine made up for in taste!

Monday Night Parties everybody!

Soave Italia - Pinot Grigio - 3.5/5 Glasses

Soave Italia - Pinot Grigio - Italy

Kelsey V. - The Female Perspective - 

I found this white wine to be easy going, a drink good for all occasions. Retaining fresh and crisp properties, Soave Italia is rather refreshingly light, leaving the drinker wanting more. I admit this wine to be in between dry and sweet, slightly tilted towards the dry spectrum.  Without leaving a bitter aftertaste, this wine left me with the impression that it is drinkable from beginning to end (as I finished the bottle).  I would rate Soave Italia  4 wine glasses out of 5.  Keep an eye out for if you're a beginner trying to get into the world of wine, this may be the bottle for you.

Kris - The Male Perspective -

I will begin by saying how cool this bottle is, the bend in the glass definitely issues an appeal that most bottles lack.  As for taste, Soave Italia provides a subtle hint of honey, but overall left me with a bland impression.  There was nothing that swept my off my feet, however that being said, this wine was definitely not awful by any means;  like my female counterpart stated, it is a good wine for beginners as it is not overwhelming. It's only okay.  I would give this wine 3 glasses out of 5!  Cheers.

Kris and I both score this bottle 3/3.  The bend in the glass adds a much needed creative aspect, alluring the audience toward the bottle.  The colour scheme doesn't blow us away, however there is nothing about it that deducts from the overall appearance.  Till Next week!

Frisky ZebraS - Sauvignon Blanc - 2.5/5 wine glasses

                                     Frisky ZebraS - Sauvignon Blanc - South Africa

Kelsey V. - The Female Perspective - 

With a name like Frisky ZebraS I knew this wine had to be one of especial interest  Light in flavour with key notes which hinted toward exotic fruits particularly ones with citric elements. I really enjoyed the soft aftertaste of this sauvignon blanc as it did not overwhelm me with the distinct flavour of alcohol.  With a heart on the cap, this wine certainly left me feeling warm on the inside. I give this bottle a 3 wine glasses out of 5.

Kris - The Male Perspective -

With a silver medal in the Critique's Challenge International Wine Competition. I was expecting to be blown away, or at least amazed by the contents of this bottle.  Although this sauvginon blanc wasn't horrible in any sense of the word, I found nothing particularly satisfying about it.  It left me wondering what I was tasting, as I continually sipped on my glass, trying to enhance the very minute hints of what I perceived to be citrus, perhaps lime.  According to my pallet, this wine is "meh".  Not special, but not lousy, this wine was hard to decipher.  I would only recommend it if your female counterpart was keen on trying it, other than that, this wine is not worth your buck in my opinion. I would score this wine a 2/5 as I did not hate it, but there was nothing I loved about it, despite the heart on the cap.


Appearance wise Kris and I would rate this bottle 1.5/3 for the following reasons:

- the allure was present, with a zebra on a bottle, how could one not be enticed?

- the colour scheme was lacking due to its use of limited colours

- finally the creativity also lacked, with a name like frisky zebras, we expected a little more sensuality.  However, we'll hand out a .5 due to the fact that there's a zebra on the bottle.

Happy drinking! 

Toasted Head - Chardonnay - 4.25/5 wine glasses

Toasted Head - Chardonnay 2011 - California 

Kris - The male's perspective -

Let me begin by saying this bottle has a motherfuckin' fire-breathing-bear on it.  Yeah you heard me, a goddamn fire-breathing-bear.  This is the reason I decided to purchase this bottle and it didn't disappoint. At first sip a distinct citrus flavour engulfed my mouth, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.  I took a few more swigs and realized I was sippin' on pineapple.  When swallowed, a warm sensation captivates the back of your throat and nose, leaving yet another familiar flavour.  What is it? Swallow again without any wine and you'll realize you're savouring the pleasant essence of coconut.  For the reasons stated above, this wine receives 5/5 wine glasses from this humble young man.  If you see this wine, buy it!




Kelsey V.  - The Female -

The pop! a cork makes when pulled out of a bottle can leave a room silent with anticipation, couple that with the image of a fire breathing bear imprinted on said cork and you've got a winner!  Initially, a fruity flavor encompassed my taste buds which ultimately proved to be the motif of this chardonnay. The after-tones remained of alcohol, but this did not take away from the complexity of the multiple different flavours coconut being my favourite! I give this bottle a 3.5 wine glasses out of 5!


In terms of appearance, Kelsey V. and I both agree that this bottle should receive a perfect score of 3/3 for it's awesome use of a fire-breathing-bear!  This creative and hilarious approach lead us to buy this wine, which we both enjoyed!  Thanks and happy drinking.

The Beach House- Sauvignon Blanc - 3.5/5 Wine

The Beach House - Sauvignon Blanc 

Kelsey V. - the female perspective-

This wine literally tastes like the beach. There is a strong note of lemongrass, which brought forth a distinct unique flavor that I quite enjoyed. The Beach House is sweet with a subtle aftertaste that makes it easy to drink. I would recommend pairing it with any sea food especially crab or oysters. I give this wine 4 glasses out of 5!

Kris - The male's perspective -

This is going to sound strange but when I swirled and sniffed this wine, I was overwhelmed by the scent of burritos. Yes, burritos. Unfortunately, The Beach House didn't taste anything like burritos, however the engagingly sweet taste had me beggin' for more!  The aftertaste is a little strong on the tart side, but it doesn't take away from the overall presentation, giving this bottle a score of 3 wine glasses out of 5! Cheers (note to self: get some burritos)

Considering the appearance, Kelsey V and I scored this bottle a 1.5/3 for it's complimentary use of colours. The beach-y colour scheme fits well with the taste and presentation of the bottle, if only lacking a little creativity. Mmmm burritos.

Masi Masianco - Pinot Grigio - 3/5 Wine glasses

Masi Masianco - Pinot Grigio - Italy 2011

Kris - the men's perspective - 
From first glance this wine caught my eye, the label looks so classy and mystique.  Before I drank any of this fine wine, I took a nice whiff of it and the pleasant fragrance of green apples filled my nose.  With my first sip, I was surprised by the subtlety of this wine, almost tasting nothing until swallowed, which then produced a delightful citrus flavour with a hint of honey.  I would rate this bottle 3 wine glasses out of 5!

Kelsey V. - the female perspective - 
I enjoyed the subtlety of this wine, as it was not too tart nor bitter. I was surprised by the dichotomy of peaches and apricots, as I prefer a fruity wine. However, I would not recommend this wine to be consumed in big gulps as it is overpowering. (So when your boyfriend tells you to hurry up, don't listen)
I would rate this bottle 3 wine glasses out of 5 as well!

In terms of appearance Masi Masianco recieves a 3/3 for its classy appeal, and cohesive colour scheme.

Happy Drinking :)

Bear Flag - White Blend - 3/5 Wine

Bear Flag: Soft White Wine Blend - California

Kelsey V. - the ladies perspective -

I immediately enjoyed this wine from my first sip.  It was sweet and fruity, but not overdone. I enjoyed the taste when it first hit my pallet, however some flavour was lost when this chilled vino was swallowed, overall however the loss of flavour did not spoil the wine itself.  I would recommend to chill this soft white blend and enjoy it on a hot summer day. I would give this bottle a 4/5 wine glasses!

Kris - the men's perspective -

Unlike my female counterpart, I was not overly enthused about this chilled white blend.  I enjoyed the sweetness at first, but soon found it to be distracting as it overcompensated for the lack of richness that was expected.  I would recommend this wine to those who like sweet beverages, or are trying to ease their way into the wine world - this would be a nice place to start for you to get the distinct taste of wine, without being overwhelmed.  I would deem this bottle to be a 2/5 wine glasses!

For appearance, Kelsey V. and Kris both score this bottle a 3/3!  For it's attactive nature, it combines all three characteristics of creativity, allure and colour scheme.

Crush: First White - White Blend - 2/5 Wine

Crush: First White - Ontario

Kelsey V. - the ladies perspective -

This wine was notably tart, and slightly potent in that sense.  The bittersweet taste that remained on my pallet was unflavourful and often flavourless.  This is not a wine recommended for those trying to familiarize themselves with wine as it is somewhat acidic and unpleasant going down. Out of 5 wine glasses, I would give this bottle a 2.

Kris - the men's perspective -

With a name like Crush: First white, I was expecting a more potent first sip.  At first I was unsure if i was drinking water or wine, this wine was overly subtle in flavour, yet still remained acidic going down.  Leaving the wine in my mouth left it tasting like water, but when swallowed the tart properties would come out.  Not a bad wine, but not one for beginners either. I would dub this bottle 2/5 wine glasses as well! Happy drinking.

Appearance:  1 for the colour scheme, 1 for the allure and .5 for the creativity, though the bottle was not Andy Warhol's latest piece, there is something to be said about simplicity.

Please Read!

My lovely girlfriend Kelsey V. and I sat down while drinking some wine and decided to throw together a blog where we review different makes and give them a rating.  We will categorize each wine into it's appropriate type (ie chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, etc) and rate them according to our individual pallets.

We will be scoring the wine on taste and appearance.
- For taste, the best possible score a wine can receive is "5 wine glasses".
-5 being 'Go out and buy this wine!'
-1 being 'Avoid this wine, not worthy of your time or money!'
- For appearance, a bottle can receive a point for creativity, a point for colour scheme, and a point for allure, a total of three points in total.

If you care to recommend any wines for us to sip on and critique, please feel free to comment and recommend some of that delicious nectar.

I must stress that neither Kelsey nor I are wine connoisseurs, this will be a rating from your average Joe and Jane perspective, and all the critiques are based on our individual pallets. Cheers!

Kris & Kelsey V.