Category Archives: Best Buys

Recommended wines considering the price, usually under $26, where it’s from, the winery and the varietal.

BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2018, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

13 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Mainly Grenache
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brotte
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

It starts with roundness & elegance in the mouth & finishes with a nice clean crispness. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features yellow plum, pear, white peach, apricot, green apple, wet stone & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Crawfish Gumbo.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 13, 2020

LCBO: 644385

YALUMBA ORGANIC SHIRAZ 2018, South Australia, Australia

12 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Even though there’s a lot of spice, which is to be expected from Shiraz, this wine is very smooth & nice to see that it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby with some purple in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose, mild tannins & a good length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, peppercorn, Allspice & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Shiraz & Syrah are the same grape, but generally Australia’s Shiraz is different from the Rhône style Syrah. This is very noticeable if you compare these grape styles with their appreciate glassware. I tried this wine in both style stemware & found that when I had it in the Syrah style, it should more roughness, so I chose the Shiraz style. Other interesting point is that the wine is Vegan friendly and organic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Duck Breasts with spiced blackberry Au Jus.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 12, 2020

LCBO: 280883

CAMPILLO BLANCO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA 2018, DOC Rioja, Spain

10 Monday Aug 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 75% Viura (Macabeo), 25% Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This reminds me of sitting outside at a restaurant on the waterfront in the Cayman Islands feeling the Caribbean saltwater breeze on my face & having some calamari with some Scotch Bonnet sauce. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Straw with a green ting in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, pear, mango, white peach, vanilla, eucalyptus & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: August 9, 2020

LCBO: 657478

MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAND RESERVA 2013, DOP Ariñena, Spain

06 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Ariñena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Grandes Vinos
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nicely aged wine full of  flavour & elegance while all under $19. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features Bing cherries, red currants, bramble fruits, plum, ripe tamarind, tobacco, cedar, eucalyptus & aged balsamic.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged 2 years in oak barrels with a further 3 years in bottle before being released.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Brazilian skirt steak with golden garlic butter.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 5, 2020

LCBO: 82024

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CABERNET FRANC 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

It infrequently happens when I give a wine under $19 with a Top Pick, (Price Not Withstanding), & this Cab Franc gets into that category as the wine exudes elegance with mouth-watering fruits, spice & beautiful fragrant violets on the nose.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features bramble fruit, red currants, plum, white pepper, arugula & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Have it slightly chilled to 17-18 C in order to bring out even more of the freshness of the fruit.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto wood oven pizza.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 29, 2020

ANTHONIJI RUPERT L’OMARINS BLANC DE BLANCS 2013, Méthode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa

27 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Anthonij Rupert Wyne
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A delightful vintage Blanc de Blancs that is lip-smacking taut, zesty & crisp with fresh fruits & some stone minerality. If this was made in Champagne the cost would be 3 times as high.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon zest, pink grapefruit, pear, green apple, peach, orange & sandstone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Love the classic label & bottle etching.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with seared pork chops with spicy peach sauce.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 26, 2020

LCBO: 15681

COLLIER CREEK BIG ROOSTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Lodi, California, United States of America

22 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Lodi, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Collier Creek Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s always a nice surprise to me when I try a California Cab that is under $20 that has substance & not sweet or high alcohol

Tasting Note: Medium light ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, moderate tannins & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarind, cedar, vanilla bean & espresso.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine is Certified Green & Sustainable.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with marha pörkölt – Hungarian beef paprika stew.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 21, 2020

LCBO: 14428

BARKAN CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Galilee, Israel

17 Friday Jul 2020

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Cost: $20.30 (Clearance Price: $16.30)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Israel
Region: Galilee
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Barkan Vineyards
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant young Cab Sauv without the harsh tannin that has nice juicy black fruits

Tasting Note: Purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherry, tamarind & cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with braised beef ribs with blackberry glaze.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 17, 2020

LCBO: 637785

ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

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

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Welcome Angels Gate to the Ontario wineries having excellent Chards & this one is complex, elegant with creamy buttery notes, not overtly oaky, good acidity & tropical fruit to balance it out

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features buttered toast, lemon, clementine, Fuji apple, peach, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak spice, flint minerality & Easter Lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Thanks to my friend, Mike who recommended this wine.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: July 15, 2020

LCBO: 116384

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol:  14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Ontario is consistently making great Chards at reasonable prices, & this one is a gem for $20. Full body, full of elegance, creaminess, tropical fruit, good acidity & balanced

Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, clementine, green & golden apples, pear, peach, pineapple, lemon meringue pie, caramel, vanilla, oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4of years on its own or pair it with steamed snow crab legs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 13, 2020

LCBO: 438374