Category Archives: Amazing Buys

Wines under $13

FRESITA NV, Patagonia, Chile

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Fresita Sparkling Wine, Chile Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.95 until 27 May 12)
Grape Variety: Strawberry
Category: Flavoured Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Patagonia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Casal De Gorschs
Alcohol: 8.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Beautiful rich strawberry colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Always a favourite of mine featuring the flavour of freshly picked sweet strawberry with soft creamy mousse. Medium body, off-dry, with good acidity, long length & low alcohol.

Negatives: If you don’t like strawberries you won’t like this.

Interesting Points: Fresita means strawberry in Spanish & Patagonia is where strawberries were discovered.  In 1714 it was introduced to the world. LCBO usually has this sparkling on sale several times a year. It also comes in the smaller 200 ml bottles.

Nice to drink anytime. Drink now on its own, great for parties, or pair it with spicy food.

Tasted: 18 May 12

Amazing Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value:10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 56697

GRAND SUD MERLOT, 2010 Vin de Pays d’Oc, France

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Grand Sud Merlot 1000ml 2010, Vin De Pays D'oc Bottle

Cost: $9.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: France
Region: Languedoc Roussillon (Midi)
Format: 1000 mL
Producer: Les Grands Chais De France Sa
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark blood ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: What a beautiful nose with notes of cigar box, tobacco, cloves, plums, cherry, pine cones, red candy & a touch of vanilla. The taste isn’t as sweet as the nose, which is a good thing. The taste shows blackberry, mulberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, nutmeg, anise, dark cherry, cocoa bean & cloves. Medium to full body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: I love the elliptical shape of the bottle & the bevelled coat of arms. Lastly, my mom loves it. Oh & last to the lastly, it’s under $10!

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal cutlet.

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 171314

BODEGAS CALLIA MAGNA SHIRAZ 2008, Valle de Tulum, Argentina

07 Wednesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Bodegas Callia Magna Shiraz 2008, Valle De Tulum, San Juan Bottle

Cost: $15.95 (Sale price: $11.25)
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Valle de Tulum, San Juan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Salentein, S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Dark to almost opaque ruby in colour with a medium nose. A very pleasant nose indeed showing spruce, carnations, cloves, cinnamon, smoked bacon, plums, cherry pie, coconut & vanilla. Very surprised that the nose isn’t bigger, but that’s not a negative for this wine. The taste is as good as the nose with similar notes. It’s dry, medium tannins, medium+ acidity, medium+ length, medium+ body & balanced. This is a nice alternative to Australian Shiraz as it’s a little more restraint than most Australian Shiraz under $20.

This wine taste more like a wine around the $30, so I make it a Best Buy. I bought this on sale at the LCBO for $11.25, which I would classify this as an Amazing Buy. Drink now with Prime Rib or by itself. This wine will can be cellared for another 2-3 years.

Tasted: 7 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 218818

HUNGARIA GRAND CUVEE BRUT, NV, Hungary

01 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Hungaria Grande Cuvée Brut, Hungary Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay blended with native grapes
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listings
Country: Hungary      
Region:  
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torley Pezsgopinceszet Kft
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Let me start by stating that because of this wine I started a new category; Amazing Buy. Why not just put it in Best Buys? The price range for Best Buys is broad, and goes up to $25. Amazing price are those that are $12 and under. So why is this Amazing Buy? It has some light characteristics of Champagne or higher end Sparkling Wines, but for a fraction of the cost, and most importantly, it taste good. The wine was fermented in a bottle for a year and shows some complexity, which is unusual at this price.

Straw in colour with a medium intensity on the nose and good amount of mousse. The nose shows pear, peach, some yeast, apples and lemon. The taste is dry but refreshing with good acidity, medium length and medium body. The sparkling is easy to drink on its own or pair it with a cheese omelet, or French fries.  If you ever wanted to take a bath in Champagne but couldn’t afford the amount of Champagne to use, try this one as it’s only $11.95.

Amazing Pick

Tasted: 30 Aug 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#270363