Cost: $17.95 (Sale Price until March 26, 2017: $15.95)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles Smith Wines
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Simple but nicely done

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light cedar, dark cherry, plum, cassis and anise. Medium body with mild tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with BBQ Pork Loin in Fresh Plum Sauce.

Tasted: 6 March 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale Price: 9/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 363838

Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40)
Grape: 40% Grenache, %40 Syrah, 20% Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Les Vignerons du Castelas
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking with lots of dark fruit & acidity to balance it all out

Description: Medium to dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, Kirsch cherry, cracked pepper and arugula. Medium+ body with dusty tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this wine was aged sur lie in oak barrels for 14 months and had malolactic fermentation, the wine tastes better in smaller Chablis style glass than the larger Montrachet larger glassware.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Shepherd’s Pie with Chorizo.

Tasted: 23 January 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 34116

Cost: $23.95 (Sale price until 1 Jan 2017: $19.95)
Grape: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muga
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant, lighter style of Rioja

Description: Deep, dark almost opaque ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sandalwood, plum, strawberry, blackberry, vanilla, leather and fresh cut carnations on the nose. Medium body with medium+ tannin, , good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Priced on the higher end, but well worth it.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Sage Cornish Game Hens with Pomegranate Molasses.

Tasted: 10 December 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 177345

Cost: $15.95 (Clearance price: $12.80)
Grape: Shiraz blend
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brampton Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Smokey sweetness on the nose, but substance on the taste

Description: Medium dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features sweet oak, plum, dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, tar, chocolate and the smoke of burning fall leaves on the nose. Medium+ body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Sage Rubbed Pork Chops.

Tasted: 4 December 2016

Best buy & Amazing buy at clearance price

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 455303