Category Archives: Best Buys

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

40 CASTAS RESERVA TINTO 2021, DOC Dona Doroteia Valley, Douro Valley, Portugal

26 Saturday Apr 2025

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.76
Grape: 40 wine varieties, manly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca & Tinta Roriz
Category: Red Wine
Location:
Country: Portugal
Region: Dona Doroteia Valley, Douro Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Nuno de Oliveira
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Vibrant & juicy wine, but with a lot of heat from the high alcohol. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, blueberry pie, plum & cherry cola.

Negatives: High alcohol

Interesting Point: 40 Castas depicts that there are 40 different varietals that this wine is made of.

Winemaker’s Point: Wine made in traditional Lagares with a small aging in oak barrels.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Cozido à Portuguesa (Mixed Meat Boil).

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 21, 2025

TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2024, D.O. Valle Del Maipo, Chile

28 Friday Feb 2025

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

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Cost: $20.80 (Clearance price: $20.25
Grape: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, and 2% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Valle Del Maipo
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vina Tarapacá
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Full body, elegant, lots of flavour with fruits & spices all a great price point. Score: 95/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, mulberry, raspberry, black currents, white pepper, tobacco leaves, anise, cloves, leather, granite & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with ribeye tacos.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: February 26, 2025

LCBO: 37868

KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

20 Thursday Feb 2025

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

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Cost: $17.40 (Clearance price: $13.95)
Grape: Marsanne
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.

Not a complex wine, but it’s full body, silky smooth & something different from the regular Ontario white wines. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: deep straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, peach pit, pear and apples,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with shrimp tempura

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 16, 2025

LCBO: 485334

BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIGIO 2022, Barboursville, Virginia, United States of America

19 Sunday Jan 2025

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

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Cost: $17.00 US
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: United States of America
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Barboursville Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Light, crisp & elegant. One of the best Pinot Grigio’s I had the pleasure of tasting. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a nice length on the finish. This wine features: Green apples, pear, pineapple & fig.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: “Thomas Jefferson, a great lover of fine wine, assisted by Italian viticulturist Filippo Mazzei, attempted to establish a vineyard in Virginia. Finally, in 1976, vitis vinifera vines were successfully established at Barboursville Vineyards on the former plantation of Governor James Barbour, whose mansion was designed by Jefferson, his close friend. This mansion, destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1884, now preserved as ruins, is a Virginia historic landmark.”

Winemaker’s Note: “In stainless steel for 10 days at 55ºF. On the lees in stainless steel for 9 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Steamed mussels with saffron, white wine, and fresh tomatoes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: January 19, 2025

CLOSSON CHASE, THE BROCK CHARDONNAY 2021, VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada

11 Saturday Jan 2025

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Cost: $22.10
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Closson Chase
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced Chard between oak & steel tank. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, peach, pear, golden apples, yellow plums, kiwi, marzipan, oak spice & Gorse flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 7, 2025

LCBO: 20899

FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Monday Dec 2024

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Cost: $22.10 (Sale price until Jan 5, 2025: $20.10)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Burgundian style at a great price for Ontario Pinot Noir. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherries, cranberries, black currants, oyster mushrooms, forest floor, light smoke amber on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chill to 15C

Winemaker’s Note: “Hand-picked, hand-sorted, small batch ferment, French oak barrels.”

Pairings: Drink this now or 4 to 6 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Duck with Honey, Soy, and Ginger.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 22, 2024

LCBO: 1545

TERRA MADRE PLAVAC MALI BARRIQUE 2018, Croatia

20 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $23.40
Grape: Plavac Mali
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Croatia
Region:
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Terra Madre
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant lighter style Plavac Mali featuring juicy fruit & spiciness. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherries, plum, mocha, blackberries, figs, sage, peppers, vanilla, tomato leaves & wet stone.

Negatives: Heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Organic

Winemaker’s Note:

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Asiago cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 19, 2024

LCBO: 41288

DELPHINE ROSÉ, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

30 Saturday Nov 2024

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Cost: $22.00
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Cab Franc rosé bursting with red fruits & some herbaceous notes. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, MacIntosh apple, dried herbs, eucalyptus & white peppers.

Negatives: None

Winemaker’s Note: “6-hour skin maceration, fermented using select yeast. Complete malolactic fermentation.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with pork souvlaki.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 29, 2024

TERRA TANGRA BLACK LABEL RUBIN, 2019, Sakar Mountain Vineyards, Bulgaria

28 Thursday Nov 2024

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

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $17.95)
Grape: Rubin
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Bulgaria
Region: Sakar Mountain Vineyards
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Terra Tangra
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant wine showing fruits & spiciness. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Dark ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, dry tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, plum, blackcurrants, blackberry, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, white & black pepper, arugula & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting: Bulgaria’s early-ripening Rubin: a cross between Nebbiolo and Syrah that was officially registered in Europe in 1944.

Winemaker’s Note: “The Black Label series highlights single-varietal wines that have been aged in 20% new oak.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 2 to 4 years on its own or pair it with wooden oven pizza.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 27, 2024

LCBO: 37744

HENRY OF PELHAM BACO NOIR OLD VINES 2023, VQA Ontario, Canada

27 Wednesday Nov 2024

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Dec 1/24: $17.95)
Grape: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Exceptional value in quality for a premium winemaker of Baco Noir. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, silky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, blackcurrants, blackberry, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, peppercorn & leather.

Negatives: None

Interesting:

Winemaker’s Note: “From old vines shovel-planted as far back as 1984 by the Speck Bros., Ontario’s Baco Noir pioneers.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or 3 to 4 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Nov 26, 2024

LCBO: 459966