Category Archives: Amazing Buys

Wines under $13

SACRED HILL PINOT NOIR 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Sacred Hill

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sacred Hill
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Value to quality you can’t beat it for a good Pinot Noir

Description: Light garnet with a slight cloudiness in colour, which may be a result of the wine being unfiltered, with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light pine and smoke, fresh carnations, beets, wild strawberry, sweet cherry, plums, barnyard and mushrooms. Light body and tannins with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 12 Aug 2014

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 277665

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

22 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


rose_eq_pinotnoirrose

 

Cost: $9.15 (on sale for June 2014: $8.65)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé wine ROSÉ
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple wine that’s delicious, dry yet smooth. Best under $10 rosé this year.

Positives: This wine features cherry, cranberry, strawberry with a light smoked note. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I found the best glassware to showcase this wine was a traditional Pinot glass.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 21 June 2014

Amazing & Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

 

VENETO VILLA ALMADI CHARDONNAY 2012, IGT Veneto, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


almadi

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Two styles of Chard depending on the glass you use. Outstanding for $14.

Positives: When used in Chablis glassware this wine features Honeysuckle, lemon, melon, green apples, flint & volcanic ash. The Montrachet glassware brings out dates, figs, Rapsflower Blossom honey & apple pie.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops.

Thank you Mario from the Tasting Room for this recommendation.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RIONDO SPAGO NERO PROSECCO NV, DOC Veneto, Italy

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


prosecco-spago-nero-shadowed

Cost: $9.99 US
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Total Wines & Costco, Florida
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Riondo
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Can’t beat the price with the quality that you get

Positives: This wine features pear, peach, coconut, key lime, & white blossoms on the nose. Light to medium body with medium good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with creamy butternut squash soup.

Tasted: 10 January 2014

Amazing Buy & Top Pick

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

05 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


cloud break

Cost: $8.99 US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Total Wines, Florida
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cloudy Break Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Not a complex Chard, but oh so good & at under $10 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, butter, lemon meringue, pineapple, coconut, flan, peach & golden apple. Medium to full body with good acidity & fairly long length.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with classic potato chips to custard desert.

Interesting Point: Nice to see a well balanced, in-expensive & creamy California Chard that is under $13

Tasted: 5 January 2014

Amazing Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

MARQUIS DE LATOUR BRUT NV, Loire Valley, France

12 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


3258316030229_web

Cost: $16.99 CI (On sale $12.99 for the month of Dec 2013)
Grape Variety: Ugni Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Remy Pennier
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and plentiful mousse.

Well this was a nice surprise. Crisp, clean & easy to drink & at $13 it’s an amazing buy.

Positives: This sparkling features honeydew melon, lime, green apples, peach, pear & lemon grass. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula and cherry tomato salad with lemon and chili olive oil vinaigrette.

Tasted: 12 Dec 2013

Amazing Buy when it’s under $13, and Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HUNGARIA GRAND CUVÉE BRUT NV, Traditional Method, Hungary

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Hungaria_Grande_Cuv_e_Kanada_web

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Hungary
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hungaria Sparkling Wine Cellars
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw with a light yellow in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

Originally tested Aug 2011 and still the best traditional method sparkling wine for under $13

Positives: This wine features green and yellow apples, lemon/lime, peach, pear and light yeast. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Chris De La Rosa’s, via Go Cooking, Caribbean coconut shrimp bisque.

Tasted: 26 Nov 2013

Amazing & Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 619288

MUGA ROSÉ 2012, DOCA Rioja, Spain

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


 

muga-rose

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Garnacha, Tempranillo & Viura
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muga
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale salmon in colour with a medium+ nose.

WARNING: Easy to consume more than 1 bottle in a sitting. One of the best light style rosé I’ve ever had.

Positives: This easy drinking rosé features lavender, sweet strawberry, watermelon, juicy apple and pink grapefruit on the finish. Lighter+ body with good acidity a very length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I compared this wine in different style glasses and the Tempranillo style came way out ahead of the others.

Drink now on its own and it paired excellently with sweet & spicy BBQ pork chops.

Tasted: 1 June 13

Amazing Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19+20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 603795

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2012, DO Rioja, Spain

25 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Rose

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Please note I love Tempranillo rosés so my review may be skewed.

Positives: Full flavoured wine featuring juicy peach, watermelon  strawberry, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, pink grapefruit & roses on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Tapas.

Tasted: 20 May 13

Best Buy & Amazing Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 175620

OBIKWA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Bottle

Cost: $9.45
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Distillers Corporation Limited
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pretty medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: There’s a lot going on for a Cab that’s priced at under $10. Cedar, lots of peppers (red, black & white), black currants, cinnamon spiced apples, nutmeg, blueberry pie, plums & oregano. Medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Item: New Eco-friendly lightweight bottle. This is a great bottle to have as a second bottle to open during the day, evening, or to bring a couple (heck for $9.95 you can bring several bottles) over to a friends place for BBQ.

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything on the BBQ. I would even try it with fish on the BBQ due to its lower tannin level.

Tasted: 12 Sept 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 665323