Category Archives: Best Buys

Recommended wines considering the price, usually under $25, where it’s from, the winery and the varietal.

KEW VINEYARDS OLD VINE CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Thursday Jun 2022

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

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kew Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Creamy style Chard with both citric & tropical notes. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, pear, pineapple, mango ginger, limestone, vanilla & oak spice

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 7, 2022

LCBO: 43874

DRUMHELLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America

05 Sunday Jun 2022

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Drumheller Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made with a nice blend of fruits & spice without one overpowering the other, which all leads to a silky-smooth finish. Score: 95/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Crème de Cassis, ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, plums, tamarind, cola, turmeric, cassis, Allspice & graphite.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with braised wild boar shanks with sweet soy sauce & Star Anise.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: June 4, 2022

LCBO: 551473

FLEUR CHARDONNAY CARNEROS SELECT 2018, Carneros, Sonoma Valley, California, United States of America

31 Tuesday May 2022

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Carneros, Sonoma Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fleur de California
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Nicely balance between lightly oaked, citric, creaminess & under 14% alcohol with a price that makes this a really great value for the quality. Score: 94/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, Granny Smith apples, pear, pineapple, clementine, dill, ginger, meringue, honeycomb & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: A blend Chardonnays from the estate vineyards with fruit from two other Sonoma Carneros sites. Whole-cluster press, followed by cool fermentation, and six months aging in French oak barrels. Prolonged yeast contact in oak and lees stirring (batonnage) added texture. (Winery notes)

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with Greek chicken kabobs marinated in olive oil, lemon and tarragon served with Tzatziki and warm pita bread.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: May 30, 2022

LCBO: 311522

VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN CHARDONNAY 2020, East Coast, New Zealand

30 Monday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $18.05 (Sale price until June 19, 2022: $16.05)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: East Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: William Maria
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A crispness of citric fruit followed by some creaminess on the finish. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, pineapple, yellow pitahaya, ginger, vanilla & some smoke on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 29, 2022

LCBO: 13293

JOSÉ MARIA DE FONSECA DOMINI 2018, DOC Douro, Portugal

25 Wednesday May 2022

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

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Touriga Francesa
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: José Maria da Fonseca
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Juicy, spicy with earthy notes. Quality wine at a great price. 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, blackberry, mulberry, red currants, black & red peppers, Shitake mushrooms, basil, cassis, licorice & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is the entry level Domini to José Maria’s premium wine Domini Plus, which is one of my favourite red wines.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Chanfana

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: May 23, 2022

LCBO: 452730

CAVE DE BEBLENHEIM CRÉMANT D’ALSACE BRUT BLANC DE NOIRS NV, Traditional Method, AC Alsace, France

23 Monday May 2022

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

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave de Beblenheim
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Subtle flavours with elegance. 94/100.

Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche & yeast, strawberry, cherry, Fuji apples, clementine & vanilla custard.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Strawberry, Tomato & Fennel Gazpacho.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: May 22, 2022

LCBO: 25070

QUADRUS RED 2015, DOC Douro, Portugal

21 Saturday May 2022

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: 55% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 15% Sousão
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quadrus
Alcohol: 14.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made with bramble fruit & spiciness. 91/100.

Tasting Note: Medium+ ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, loganberry, blackberry, licorice, nutmeg, black peppercorn & cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with smoked brisket

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 18, 2022

LCBO: 15663

COELHO ATRAÇÃO PINOT NOIR 2019, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States of America

19 Thursday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $25.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coelho Winery
Alcohol: 13.3 % Alcohol/Vol.

Typical Willamette Valley Pinot, tart, barnyard, graceful all to which I enjoyed: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with some cloudiness good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, pomegranate, redcurrants, pickle beets, rhubarb, cloves, cinnamon, mushrooms, peatmoss & smoked cedar.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with smoked brisket

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 18, 2022

LCBO: 15663

CHÂTEAU HYOT RÉSERVE 2018, AC Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux, France

18 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Hyot
Alcohol: 14.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit forward Bordeaux blend that ready to drink now: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, blackcurrant, nutmeg, vanilla, turmeric, pencil shavings & leather.

Negatives: Heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Pork Loin seasoned and seared with light rub of cinnamon and pepper and sliced and served in thyme and shallot au jus.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 17, 2022

LCBO: 14667

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ÉCSSON BRUT SPARKLING NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

16 Monday May 2022

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Noir.
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol: 13.8 % Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but easy drinking & delicious: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, light brioche, green apples, pear, limestone

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with salt and vinegar chips.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 15, 2022

LCBO: 970970