Category Archives: Amazing Buys

Wines under $13

MARQUÉS DE TORO FINCA LA MOURA MENCÍA 2015, CEO Castilla y León, Spain

23 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Mencía & other Spanish Reds
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla y León
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Alvares de Toro
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Undervalued wine that’s well-made, complex & featuring juicy fruit notes & spiciness. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Opaque purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: black cherry, plum, ripe tamarind, mulberry, blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, black peppers, cassis, anise, tomato leaves, leather & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I believe you could bring this bottle to a dinner party & people will think it’s a $30+ bottle of wine.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Seafood Paella

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing & Best Buys

Tasted: March 22, 2021

LCBO: 545939

ROBERTSON WINERY CHENIN BLANC 2020, South Africa

22 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $9.45
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Roberston, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robertson Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Mon Dieu: An amazing, brilliant, beautiful & gorgeous white wine & all for under $10?! I must be dreaming, but I’m not.  Score: 94/100. This is my highest rating wine so far for anything under $20.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, Fuji apples, Granny Smith apples, peach, pear, pink grapefruit, beeswax, lanolin & Jasmin on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My thanks Carolyn Evans Hammond the contributing columnist for the Toronto Star in her review of this wine on December 17, 2020, that drew me to try it and review for you.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with conch ceviche, especially from the George Town Yacht Club on Grand Cayman & add their famous Fritters to this pairing.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Pick, Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: December 18, 2020

LCBO: 495507

PAUL MAS RÉSERVE MARSANNE 2018, Pays D’Oc, France

15 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: Marsanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Mas Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

ABC (Anything But Chardonnay), well look no further as this Marsanne is undervalued, under appreciated and underpriced, which for the consumer to find is truly a treasure. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, pineapple, yellow plum, yellow apples and apple blossoms on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Love the bottle: elegant & classic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with pan seared Chilean Sea Bass – glitter and graze.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

Tasted: September 15, 2020

LCBO: 462457

GRAN FEUDO ROSÉ 2018, Navarra, Spain

07 Thursday May 2020

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $12.85 (Sale price until May 24: $11.35)
Grape: 38% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gran Feudo
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably one of the best Rosé you can find for under $13

Tasting Note: Rich pomegranate colour with good acidity, a light to medium intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features strawberry, Dragon Fruit, orange.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: On the label it list Syrah but not Granache as one of the grapes used. However, on the Gran Feudo’s website it’s the opposite.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with BBQ spare ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

Tasted: May 7, 2020

LCBO: 165845

CANYON ROAD CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

10 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $9.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General Listing
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Canyon Road
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

An entry Chard that has character, and I really like its creamy texture, but it’s not fat, tropical fruit yet has acidity as backbone and it’s only 13% alcohol. May I stress that it only has 13% alcohol for a California Chard!

Positives: Bright gold in colour featuring pineapple, mango, lemon meringue, yellow plums, yellow apples, crème brûlée, butterscotch, cinnamon and dill.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Canyon Road Winery is located in Alexander Valley, which is one of my favourite AVAs.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with triple cream Brie.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing Buy

Tasted: November 9, 2019

LCBO: 552513

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY COLLEGE ROSÉ 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $14.15
Grape: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Gamay
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Full flavoured, crisp Rosé with a great price & quality that makes this a top Canadian Rosé

Positives: Pomegranate in colour this wine features Bing cherries, strawberries, Fuji apples, cranberries with roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick, Best Buy & Amazing Pick

Tasted: May 27, 2019

MAGNOTTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CALIFORNIA, California, United States

17 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $10.50 (sale price: $9.50 until April 30, 2019)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & red blends
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably one of the best generic inexpensive California Cab Sauv on the market, as it’s smooth but not sweet, not high in alcohol, fruit forward yet has some complexity to it, and it’s pleasant to drink

Positives: Medium to full body with light tannin featuring black currants, cherry, raspberry, sage, tomato leaves, vanilla and a touch of leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1) I usually abhor these generic reds especially ones that Magnotta has from outside Canada, but I like this one for BBQs, or opening a 2nd, 3rd wine? 2) There is no vintage on the label, 3) 75% of this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon from California with the rest are red grapes from Niagara, 4) New label, which is a lot nicer than the old one.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with anything from the BBQ.

My Opinion: Recommended

Amazing Buy

Tasted: April 11, 2019

CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2014, DOC Doã, Portugal

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Roriz Ink, 20% National Touriga
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Dão
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cabriz
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

There are quality inexpensive wines vs sweet red inexpensive wines, and this is the former. If this were a Canadian or American wine you would have it priced $20 to $25

Positives: A nice array of black cherries, plums, raspberries, spices & dark chocolates. Nicely balanced between the oak, fruit and acidity.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Amazing and Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 19, 2018

LCBO: 247973

CHÂTEAU DE VAUGELAS CORBIÈRES LE PRIEURÉ 2016, AOC, Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

08 Thursday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $14.05
Grape: Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, Corbières
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vignobles Bonfils
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

My new favourite inexpensive, well made, great quality red.

Positives: Smooth with fine tannis that is full body having lush flavour and balanced. Features dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, sage and vanilla.

Negatives: None

Challenge: Put this wine in a blind tasting with high end red blends, and see where it finishes in regards to peoples favourites. I would be surprised if it doesn’t finish at one of the top favourites. And this is only $14.05!

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing Buy, Top Picks

Tasted: November 8, 2018

LCBO: 361691

JEAN CLAUDE MAS ORIGINES MARTINOLLES 2015, Pays D’oc Saint Hilaire, France

12 Saturday Aug 2017

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95 (Clearance price: $11.20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Saint Hilaire, France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Les Demaines Paul Mas
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive Chard, even more impressive that’s it’s inexpensive

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features mild oak, lemon/lime, mango, pineapple, Spy apples, white peach, coconut crème pie, vanilla and Ylang Ylang on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Try using the Montrachet style glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with Quail Roasted with Honey, Cumin and Orange Juice.

Tasted: 4 Aug 2017

Best & Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 469999