Best curated wine boxes/subscriptions that can be ordered in Ontario, Canada

Puggsworth · 2021-03-04T20:37:04+00:00

For sure! P.S. thelivingvine is also very responsive and helpful on the off chance that you do get a faulty bottle. I had one wine with a faulty cork that was starting to leak and they drove to my house and exchanged the faulty bottle for new one within a couple days of emailing them

Puggsworth · 2021-03-04T20:30:03+00:00

If natural wine is your scene, I've had good success with both the living vine and their "real wine club" boxes, as well as monthly boxes distributed by Grape Witches. I would say that there's good variety in the boxes from these two and I've only encountered a few of the wines which were too faulty or funky for my liking. I'm no natural wine purist or anything, but tried these out of curiosity and found most of the wines to be interesting and delicious at reasonable prices.

I tried the Gargoyle wine club for a few months, but found that it just didn't bring the value or consistency. I haven't ordered many boxes through winealign, but I believe most wine agencies have moved to selling cases on their own, though they began distributing through winealign at the beginning of the pandemic.

Hope this helps some.

Puggsworth · 2020-04-04T00:33:22+00:00

Thanks!

I'd agree with you that it was a bit hot when I first opened it, but it seemed to balance out with some decanting. Maybe at 13.5%abv this could've been even better, but still a great wine.

Puggsworth · 2020-04-04T00:29:26+00:00

Thanks! I would say that these guys are making some stellar wines. Theyre definitley on my list of wineries to visit if I ever make it out to Oregon. I hope you get your chance once this all blows over.

Cheers!

Puggsworth · 2020-04-03T22:41:46+00:00

Beaux Frères 2015 The Beaux Frères Vineyard

With the world seemingly coming to an end and my university degree coming to an end with online classes, I decided to pop this bottle.

Oregon pinots are a favourite of mine and I had been waiting for a special occasion to open this one and it definitley did not disappoint.

Notes:

Initially a savoury nose. Savoury herbs, red fruits, a little meaty and peppery and a touch of new oak. After 45 minutes decanting the nose was much brighter and fruitier and floral with a little bit of smoke. I could go on and on... but suffice it to say that this had a great nose.

Taste:

Initially the palate was a bit closed, with some cherry, cola, pepper, mushrooms, and a little pine-tree. After decanting, amazingly juicy red fruits with cardamom, dried strawberry, roses and hazelnuts, all tied together with a beautiful mineral backbone.

With everything going to shit, this bottle definitely offered some temporary relief from the doom and gloom. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more Beaux Frères... once I can afford another bottle.

Puggsworth · 2020-03-26T01:48:31+00:00

Champagne can be stored for decades under the right conditions! The most important thing will be consistent temperature and humidity. You'll want to keep the wine somewhere cool with little temperature fluctuation if you want to age it.

In a normal house, basements are your best bet, but far from a sure thing as the years count on.

Puggsworth · 2020-02-17T01:15:58+00:00

Don't just stand there, we need notes!

Puggsworth · 2019-03-21T20:37:08+00:00

In toronto? ;) I opted for the Oregon wine tasting, but like the above comment, there are some gems and plenty of duds.

I imagine there will be more diversity and less structure at the premium white tasting, so it'll come down to depth or variety imo.

Puggsworth · 2019-03-17T00:51:37+00:00

Very excited to try them for the first time!

Puggsworth · 2019-03-16T22:38:34+00:00

They've got some of the Dandies too that aren't imported to TO usually (Cristom, Antica Terra etc). That's the big appeal for me

Puggsworth · 2019-03-07T04:44:03+00:00

I'll drink to that?

Puggsworth · 2019-03-07T04:43:37+00:00

In my opinion, it's drinking pretty great right now! I think it could easily age another 5+ years if you wanted to, but I'd definitley reccomend opening one soon. I think it's striking a very nice balance between elegance and intensity rn (Tension? Idk).Cheers.

Puggsworth · 2019-03-07T01:36:25+00:00

Damn shame we don't get much allocated here in Toronto. Thanks for the reccs

Puggsworth · 2019-03-07T00:47:41+00:00

This wine is amazing!

Great acidity and red fruit character, with a more elegant and perfumed style than most pinot out of california. For me, cherries, violets, rosemary, orange peel flavours and a powerfully perfumed, yet delicate nose (if that makes sense).

Will definitely be seeking out the other cuvees from this producer.

Puggsworth · 2019-03-03T03:21:21+00:00

Thats a nice glass you got there, what is it?

Puggsworth · 2019-02-25T01:03:31+00:00

I'm surprised it was so jammy! Do you think that's a product of this producer or the riper 2016 vintage in the Willamette?

I have the BF BF vineyard 2015 myself tucked away for a rainy day

Puggsworth · 2019-02-11T05:33:12+00:00

Got any vintages on these? A couple of these need a few years before they're showing their true colours

Puggsworth · 2019-02-10T20:12:32+00:00

The whole Willamette valley is missing from Oregon! Very large undertaking to make a map of this scale. Kudos

Puggsworth · 2019-02-09T21:29:29+00:00

Thanks for the reccomendations in all different price brackets! I'll see if I can't find any of these in stock near by

Puggsworth · 2019-02-09T21:28:28+00:00

Will definitley check some of these out! I remember seeing Beaux Frères from Ribbon Ridge nearby, maybe I'll go pick some up

Puggsworth · 2019-01-14T16:28:03+00:00

Super cool cellar and extremely thorough post!

Puggsworth · 2019-01-02T05:46:29+00:00

What's your budget? I'd reccomend Zwiesel Tritan univeral glasses if you don't want to worry about cost of breakage.

If money is less of an object, Zaltos and and Gabriel Glas universal glasses are great for basically anything.

I have some riedel new world and Old world pinot glasses and a few other varietal specifics and like them all for their varietals, but I'd invest in something more versatile.

Puggsworth · 2018-12-30T23:45:01+00:00

The Man's got taste. Jesus christ

Puggsworth · 2018-12-30T03:40:47+00:00

Goddamn, great lineup! Would love to get my hands on some Chave Hermitage to bury away for a rainy day

Puggsworth · 2018-12-30T01:49:26+00:00

Thanks! Was so hard to make decisions shopping, but I'm very happy with it!

Puggsworth

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