Category Archives: Best Buys

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

PATRIARCHE BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE, NV, Crémant de Bourgogne, France

05 Monday Sep 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Crémant de Bourgogne
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mason Patriarche
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant dry sparkling rosé. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Cooper in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, sour dough, wild strawberry, red currants & light ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan, Vegetarian

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict Royale.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 3, 2022

LCBO: 16598

LA FLEUR DE FRANÇOIS BLANC BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AC Bordeaux, France

28 Sunday Aug 2022

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Semillon Blend
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: La Fleur de François
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Food friendly dry sparkling wine at a good price. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, low intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche, yeast, lemon, grapefruit, bruised apple, pear, wet stone & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Ackee & Saltfish.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 28, 2022

LCBO: 648170

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Método Tradicional, DO Cava, Spain

26 Friday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $17.00 (Sale price until Sept 11/22: $15.00)
Grape: 40% Trepat, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Garnacha
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made, very appreciable full of fruit with some spice at a great price. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry, peach, grenadine, redcurrants, cinnamon, cloves & roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Ageing time on the lees is less for this rosado than for the rest of our Cavas, since our objective is to retain the primary aromas of the fruit. A minimum of 12 months in contact with the lees will give the Rosado a perfect balance between fruit aromas and complexity. The fruit, naturally, comes from
the grapes, and the complexity from the process of autolysis of the yeasts during the secondary fermentation in bottle, where the personality of the yeasts is transferred to the wine, enriching it in flavours and nuances.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Mini quiche Lorraine with asparagus and bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 25, 2022

LCBO: 16306

SPIER SIGNATURE CHARDONNAY 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

25 Thursday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $13.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Spier
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, balanced medium body Chard at a great price for the quality Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, pink grapefruit, Golden Delicious apples, pear, pineapple, dill, light caramel & baking spices.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established in 1692, Spier is among the oldest of South African wineries.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with pan-fried salmon

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Amazing & Best Buy

Tasted: August 24, 2022

LCBO: 487181

PALACIO DEL BURGO CRIANZA 2018, DOC Rioja, Spain

24 Wednesday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas de Familia Burgo Viejo, S.L Alfaro
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Outstanding value for this delicious Crianza. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, low to medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, mulberry, vanilla & sandalwood.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Combination of stainless-steel vats & American oak barrels for 12 months

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Catalan Coca.

Best Buy

Tasted: August 22, 2022

LCBO: 18939

PIERRE SPARR BRUT RÉSERVE CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV, Methode Traditionnelle, AOC Alsace, France

22 Monday Aug 2022

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Pinot Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pierre Sparr
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple clean, fruity with minerality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & brioche, lemon, green apples, pear, peach cobbler & wet flint rocks.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1st review of this sparkling wine was in 2015, and the price was a dollar less, so great for the consumer that in 7 years it’s almost the same price.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Gyoza

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 21, 2022

LCBO: 388603

ROCHES NOIRES MACÉRATION 2019, AOC Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun, France

19 Friday Aug 2022

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.25)
Grape: 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This complex wine has everything: fruit, spice & earthiness. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dusty tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, plum, black olives, Allspice, portobello mushrooms cocoa, white pepper, shale & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Roast Fillet of Beef with Sage and Mushroom stuffing.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 17, 2022

LCBO: 251637

WOLFBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV Méthode Traditionnelle, AOC Alsace, France

16 Tuesday Aug 2022

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Wolfberger
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Not your typical brut made in the traditional method as it’s less yeasty & more creamier, all at a great price. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Biscuit, lemon zest, peach, ripe pear, honeydew melon & shale.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Dragon Roll sushi

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 11, 2022

LCBO: 460832

BRAMÌTO DELLA SALA CHARDONNAY 2021, IGP Umbria, Italy

13 Saturday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Umbria
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Antinori
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A clean, fresh, mineral driven Chard. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, yellow plum, green & yellow apples, toasted almonds, oak spice, ginger, Ciabatta, light vanilla & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Lobster Ravioli

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 12, 2022

LCBO: 176792

BONTERRA ROSÉ 2021, California, United States of America

11 Thursday Aug 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $17.60)
Grape: Grenache based
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bonterra Organic Estates
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & refreshing with a zesty, food-friendly acidity. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rainier cherries, strawberries, watermelon, Blood Orange, cotton candy

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Organic Winery

Pairings: Drink this now in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with hot & sour soup

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 10, 2022

LCBO: 25116