Monthly Archives: February 2026

QUEEN BEE BLANC DE NOIRS, 2018, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Monday Feb 2026

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $34.95 LCBO, $32.98 Costco, $30.95 Winery
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages, Costco, Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Lakeview Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality dry, traditional method sparkling wine at a good price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, MacIntosh apples, white cranberry, blackberry, fennel, roasted almonds & orange zest.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Add a blackberry to your glass with the sparkling wine. You hopefully will enjoy how it taste.

Winemaker’s Note: “Gently whole bunch pressed to avoid colour and tannin extraction. Primary fermentation in stainless steel at relatively cool temperatures, and then triaged six months later for second fermentation in bottle. On lees for over 48 months before being disgorged.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Duck Risotto.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 22, 2026

LCBO: 45580

FAMILLE PERRIN LES SINARDS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2023, AOC Côte du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $43.95 (Sale Price until March 1, 2026: $40.95)
Grape: Mostly Grenache with Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côte du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Famille Perrin
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A less expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but you don’t lose the quality found in more expensive ones. Eloquent with a silky finish. Score: 97/100.

Tasting Note: Dark garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, wild strawberries, plums, brambleberry, cocoa, arugula, wild mushrooms, leather, vanilla & violets with light amber smoked notes on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Les Sinards is made from young vines (under 20 years old) at Beaucastel and two neighbouring vineyards.”

Winemaker’s Note: “From the month of August onwards we carry out maturity checks and taste the berries regularly to determine the optimum harvest date. Each grape variety is harvested separately. On arrival at the cellar the berries are sorted. Part of the Syrah is vinified in whole clusters and the remainder, plus the Grenache, is destemmed. Vinification is in wooden and stainless-steel vats using the same methods as for the Château de Beaucastel wines. The wines are then tasted to determine the blend, and finally aged in foudres for 2 years.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Spiced Duck Breast.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 17, 2026

LCBO:  926626

RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2023, Stellenbosch, South Africa

12 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Organic/Sustainability, Vegan Friendly, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: 16.00)
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Radford Dale
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice substitute for a subtle oaked Chard, featuring nice, crisp fruit, along with a creamy finish. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear, white peach, honeydew melon, honeycomb & Jasmine on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Sustainable & Vegan

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were picked by hand as well as manually sorted to ensure that we maintain the purity of varietal expression for which this wine
has become known. Gentle pressing in a pneumatic bag press, with the extracted juice moved to a combination of 2500L Foudre, 500L, 300L, and 228L barrels for alcoholic fermentation. The barrels used are predominantly 2nd to 5th fill French oak, of Burgundian cooperages. Whilst the Foudre is of tight-grain, Austrian origin. The usage of unintrusive oaking promotes optimal varietal expression.” (A foudre is a large wooden vat, typically holding 20 to 120+ hectoliters (2,000 to 12,000+ liters), used for aging wine with minimal oak influence.)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with roasted turkey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 9, 2026

LCBO:  13338

CONO SUR ORGANIC CHARDONNAY 2025, Chile

07 Saturday Feb 2026

Posted by in Best Buys, Organic/Sustainability, Recommended, Vegan Friendly, White Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Chile
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cono Sur
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

For a relatively inexpensive oaked Chard, which has more neutral oak, this Chard has good zesty fruit. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with high acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear, golden apple, yellow cranberry, Kumquat, honeydew melon &vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan and Organic

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with scallop ceviche.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 5, 2026

LCBO:  230565