Category Archives: Best Buys

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

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA NV, Traditional Method, Do Spain

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent substitute for Champagne style wines but at substantial lower price.

Positives: Nice complexity from of the yeast, brioche, apples, pear, pineapple and almonds. Good acidity with a medium+ body.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 25, 2018

LCBO: 392548

WENTE SOUTHERN HILLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

From one of my favourite US wineries, this Cab offers quality taste for a good value.

Positives: A nice array of black fruits, spices, cocoa with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 26, 2018

ELYSSIA ROSÉ BRUT CAVA NV, Spain

06 Thursday Dec 2018

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Cost: $33.75 (Comes only in a gift box with Elyssia Brut Cava)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best rosé cava’s I’ve tried

Positives: Full flavoured with red berries that finishes dry.

Negatives: Unable to buy separately

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 517664

CHÂTEAU DES BERTRANDS RÉSERVE DES BERTRANDS ÉLEGANCE ROSÉ 2017, Ac Côtes de Provence, France

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Cinsault, Black Grenache
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Winery
Country: France
Region: Côtes de Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Côtes de Provence rosé showing elegance and class

Positives: A light onion coloured rosé, which is dry and having a long finish. The wine features apricots, orange zest, peach, strawberry, white pepper and wet stone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like the classic label and unique bottle.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: December 4, 2018

LCBO: 557371

WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, California, United States

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.75 (On sale until April 1, 2018: $11.75)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

For an inexpensive California Cab it has good flavour, but not on the sweet side. This one is a winner.

Positives: A nice array of wild berries, cassis with mild tannins.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 48611

CRÉMANT DE BOURGAGNE BAILLY-LAPIERRE CHARDONNAY BLANC DE BLANC BRUT, TRADITIONAL METHODE, NV, Burgundy, France

03 Monday Dec 2018

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves de Bailly
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Blanc de Blanc Champagne style at half the price.

Positives: Full flavoured with yeast, Anjou pear, lemon, biscotti, green apples, roasted almonds.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: April 8, 2018

LCBO: 369066

CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

29 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended

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Cost: $22.20 (Clearance price: $15.60)
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles Baker, Stratus Vineyards
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A nicely balanced between the fruit and minerals

Positives: Lime, peach, green apples, limestone and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-10 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 5, 2018

LCBO: 523845

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE NOIRE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT MÉTHODE TRADITIONNALLE NV, Bourgogne, France

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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Cost: $17.15
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir from Bordeaux made in the traditional method for under $18, hard to say no to this sparkler.

Positives: A lighter style Blanc de Noir featuring a fine mousse, baked apples, lemon, pear, limestone and spice.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 6, 2018

LCBO: 464776

YALUMBA COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016, Coonawarra, Australia

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking but solid Cab from Down Under that’s not sweet or overtly high in alcohol.

Positives: Dark cherry, plum, black currant, cassis, mint, turmeric, black olives and a light smokiness on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 8, 2018

LCBO: 460667

HMC MCWATTERS COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2014, BVA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $23.25
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Harry McWatters at Time Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Proof that you can make a beautiful, delicious, rich and elegant oak style chard at a reasonable price for the average consumer.

Positives: Medium buttered toast, lemon, pineapple, mango, fudge, dill, lemon meringue pie, ginger, almond, oak spice and white rose on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best buy and Top Pick

Tasted: June 14, 2018

LCBO: 488536