Category Archives: Best Buys

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

BAR DOG CHARDONNAY 2018, California, United States of America

14 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance Price: $14.35
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Our Cellars
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nice to see a California Chard under $18 that is not: A) above 14% alcohol, B) sweet, C) overtly oaky. This balanced Chard offers a lot for the buck. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, green & yellow apples, pear, peach, kumquat, yellow plum, vanilla & oak spice.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: From the winery: “My Best Friend… Bar Dog Companion, partner, bone-vivant. Always by my side. In my kitchen or at my dog-friendly bar until it is time to go. Like Bar Dog, we love this wine unconditionally. So will you.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Devilled stuffed crab.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 14, 2020

LCBO: 10886

CHÂTEAU MAISON NOBILE SAINT MARTIN 2018, AC Bordeaux, France

13 Sunday Sep 2020

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

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Cost: $14.95
Grape: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: St. Martin, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Maison Noble
Alcohol:  14% Alcohol/Vol.

For a young red Bordeaux wine, it’s drinking well now, but will improve with some aging. It’s a great bargain at this price point, as others with this quality would cost more than double. Score: 95/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, tamarind, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, blackcurrants, pencil shavings, anise, leather, anise, pipe tobacco, Allspice & violets.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 yrs. on its own or pair it with ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: September 12, 2020

LCBO: 14785

CLARENDELLE ROUGE 2015, AC Bordeaux, France

10 Thursday Sep 2020

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

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: 83% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Clarence Dillion Wines
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive: If you want a $50 Bordeaux wine, but pay half the price, then this wine is it. Score: 95/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, blackcurrants, anise, licorice, leather, anise, pipe tobacco, Allspice & sandalwood.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Love the bottle: elegant & classic.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 yrs. on its own or pair it with Beef bourguignon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: September 10, 2020

LCBO: 28837

RIVERA IL FALCONE CASTEL DEL MONTE ROSSO RISERVA 2014, DOCG Castel del Monte, Apulia, Italy

06 Sunday Sep 2020

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $20.00)
Grape: 70% Nero di Troia – 30% Other local varieties
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Castel del Monte, Apulia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rivera
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mix of berries, spice & leather. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, redcurrants, leather, anise, tobacco leaves & Allspice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged in French oak for at least 14 months and for a further year in bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7- 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with marinated venison steak.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 5, 2020

LCBO: 177295

LEEUWENKUIL RESERVE WHITE 2017, Swartland, South Africa

05 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% blend of: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Leeuwenkuil Family Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An interesting wine with good complexity & full of array of taste. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon pith, pineapple, peach, green apples, mandarin, white pepper, limestone, white blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Cayman style conch ceviche.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 27, 2020 LCBO: 14937

MAESTRAL ROSÉ 2109, IGP Gard, Southern France

17 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Grenache blend
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gard, Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Sinnae
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A fresh, delicious, elegant rosé. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pink grapefruit, watermelon, peach, wet stone & roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Soupe au Pistou (Pistou Soup).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 17, 2020

LCBO: 15135

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