Category Archives: Best Buys

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

TERRES SECRÈTES LES PRÉLUDES 2018, AC Saint-Véran, France

23 Tuesday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Saint-Véran,
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terres Secrètes
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Delicious, balanced, complex & you get a Pouilly-Fuissé style wine at a better price point. Score: 92 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold with a light green tinge in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, Fuji apple, pear, peach, honeydew melon, tangerine, ginger, dill, toasted almonds, honey, limestone & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Saint-Véran AC is adjacent to Pouilly-Fuissé

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: February 21, 2021

LCBO: 16725

BRICKLAYER’S REWARD 20 BARRELS CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

21 Sunday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Lakeshore
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Colio Estate Wines
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This nicely balanced cool climate style Chard should please those that like oak & those that don’t all at a good price point. Score: 90 /100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, green apples, pear, peach, pineapple, oak spice, dill, honey & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The wine has been blended from 20 different oak barrels, mostly new, for 10 months

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster sautéed in ginger & scallions (especially from Ma Chinese Restaurant in St. Catharines).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 20, 2021

LCBO: 644609

FATTORIA LE PUPILLE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO 2018, DOCG Morellino di Scansano, Tuscany, Italy

20 Saturday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Alicante, 5% Ciliegiolo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Morellino di Scansano, Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fattoria Le Pupille
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth with lush fruits. Score: 92 /100

Tasting Note: Bright medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: plum, black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, cinnamon, milk chocolate, vanilla & sage.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 years & pair it with Tuscan crostini with liver pate, Maremma ravioli, acquacotta.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: February 18, 2021

LCBO: 455659

TRIUS CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Friday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $14.95 (Sale price until Feb 28, 2021: $13.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol:  12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit forward Chard with a touch of oak all at a nice price. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with high acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. This wine features: lemon, green & yellow apples, pink grapefruit, pear, peach, honeydew melon, oak spice & ginger.      

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO list this wine as “Full-Body & Rich”. More like medium body & crisp.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 years & pair it with Oysters with the Shallot Ginger Vinaigrette.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 17, 2021

LCBO: 497248

CELENE CUVÉE ROYALE ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX NV, Traditional Method, AOC Bordeaux, France

14 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc & Merlot
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Celene de Bordeaux
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A true representation of both Cab Franc & Merlot in a sparkling rosé. Nice, dry, light & tasteful. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright copper to salmon in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features redcurrant, black cherry, raspberry, mulberry, tamarind, blackberry & cassis.      

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO list the grapes used as Cabernet Franc & Muscadelle, however on the winery’s website, it Cab Franc & Merlot. And I confess, I bought this wine because I loved the bottle. Happy that the taste matched the elegance of the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Seafood Stew with Fennel & tomatoes

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 14, 2021

LCBO: 16604

FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

12 Friday Feb 2021

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

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price $17.95 until Feb 28, 2021)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Bright, buttery & balanced. Consistently one of the best Chards for under $20. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features buttered toast, lemon, lemon meringue, peach, pear, golden apple, pineapple, ginger, dill, oak spice & marzipan.     

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO list this wine as “Light & Crisp”. Should be listed as full body & rich.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 12, 2021

LCBO: 286278

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE ROSÉ 2019, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

10 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality at a great price for this Pinot Noir rosé. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Light rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features sour cherry, strawberry, McIntosh apples, dragon fruit & roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with Alabama smoked ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 9, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY CIDER 101 CAMPUS BUZZ, SEAN & TOMMY’S MEAD ADVENTURE, Canada

25 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $15.15
Grape: Honey
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

And now for something completely different. This mead is recommended for those who like white wine that is dry, crisp, clean with sweet & sour notes; this is a great alternative. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Straw to gold in colour with good acidity, an intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features grapefruit, pear, kumquat, lychee, orange zest, honey & Acacia flowers on the nose.

Negatives: The aromatic nose maybe be too pungent for some.

Interesting Point: “Made using honey produced at the Niagara College’s Daniel J Patterson (NOTL) campus. This honey farm (apiary) is managed by the Commercial Beekeeping Program staff and students. The mead is produced by students of the Winery and Viticulture Technician Program under supervision of our Head Winemaker at Niagara College Teaching Winery.” NC

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with sweet & sour pork.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 24, 2021

GÉRARD BERTRAND RÉSERVE SPÉCIALE VIOGNIER 2018, IGP Pays D’Oc, France

23 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Pays D’Oc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gérard Bertrand
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistent vintage to vintage & under $15, this Viognier has complexity with lots of stone fruits. Just delicious to drink; just what you need when you’re staying at home due to COVID. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, orange, apricot, peach, ripe pear, ginger, honey & orange blossom on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years & pair it with Red Snapper Poached in Coconut Milk with Tomatoes, Ginger and Scotch Bonnet.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 22, 2021

LCBO: 147975

MARQUÉS DE RISCAL VERDEJO 2019, DO Rueda, Spain

14 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $14.14 (Clearance price: $11.35)
Grape: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Marqués de Riscal
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice crisp white with lots of citric notes & a little tartness on the finish, which is known for the Verdejo grape. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, clementine, dragon fruit, grapefruit, fennel, dry sage & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 2019 label in the store is different than what the LCBO has on their site. The change is from having Rueda to Verdejo.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years & pair it with Fish tacos with blackened mahi-mahi, escabeche, and mojo aioli.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 14, 2021

LCBO: 36822