Category Archives: Best Buys

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

KANONKOP KADETTE CAPE BLEND 2014, Stellenbosch, South Africa

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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

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k

Cost: $18.99 CI (Sale price Feb 2017: $13.99 CI)
Grape: 44% Pinotage, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kanonkop
Alcohol: 14 % Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, smoky & easy drinking

Description: Bright dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak, cherry, plum, mocha, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, caramel, coke, spinach and peat moss on the nose. Medium+ body, light tannin with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Kanonkop means “Cannon Hill” and is derived from the days when cannons were fired to signal the arrival of Danish trade ships into Cape Town harbour.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Cherry-Smoked Duck.

Tasted: 12 February 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5+/20

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

DRY CREEK VINEYARD DRY CHENIN BLANC 2015, Clarksburg, California, United States

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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dry-creek

Cost: $20.95
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Clarksburg, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dry Creek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Good balance between oak, fruit & acidity

Description: Bright straw in colour with an intense nose. This wine features orange, sugar snaps, pineapple, honeydew, kiwi, limestone and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Nice detail on the front label

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Crispy Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Tasted: 20 February 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Best Buy

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

LCBO: 994442

NOVELLUM CHARDONNAY 2014, IGP Pays d’Orc Roussillon, France

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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novellum

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Novellum
Alcohol: 13 % Alcohol/Vol.

Unoaked but has subtle nuances that make it smooth with some complexity

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features orange, lemon meringue, pineapple, Spy and Golden apples, coconut cream pie, macadamia nuts and white flowers on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: No wood was used; instead the wine was aged on Viognier lees to give it more substance.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Broiled Chicken stuffed with macadamia and camembert.

Tasted: 24 February 2017

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18/20

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 390781

CHARLES and CHARLES CABERNET and SYRAH 2014, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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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

OYSTER BAY BRUT SPARKLING CUVÉE CHARMAT METHOD NV, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

24 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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oyster-bay

Cost: $17.75
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oyster Bay
Alcohol: 12 % Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking delicious sparkler

Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features tangerine, pineapple, kiwi, cucumber, honey, limestone and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My wife’s new favourite sparkling wine

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped seared scallops

Tasted: 24 February 2017

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18+/20

Best Buy

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 163634

FREIXENT BLANC DE BLANC CAVA BRUT TRADITIONAL METHOD NV, Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Spain

13 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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freixenet-blanc-de-blancs-brut-cava-catalonia-spain-10713841

Cost: $16.99 (CI)
Grape: White grapes
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Spain
Region: Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking, delicious, creamy yet refreshing & inexpensive

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense and fine mousse nose. This complex wine features light toast, biscuit, pineapple, Bosc pear, white chocolate, lemon tart, apple pie and orange blossom the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Freixenet web site doesn’t list this wine.

Drink now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with pineapple dipped in white chocolate fondue.

Tasted: 2 January 2017

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: /10 Total: /20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS VIEILLES VIGNES SIGNARGUES 2013, Ac Côtes du Rhône, France

03 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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signargues

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

WYNN COONAWARRA ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2015, Coonawarra, Australia

02 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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wynn

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wynn
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Impressive Pouilly-Fuissé style from down under at a good price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, green apple, honeydew melon, white peach and flint both on the taste and the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Might want to decanter as the wine expresses itself when it opens up.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Chicken Fricassee.

Tasted: 28 December 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 468728

FLAT ROCK PINK TWISTED ROSÉ 2015, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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twisted-pink

Cost: $16.95
Grape: Gamay, Cabernet France & touch of Riesling
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Canada’s Tavel

Description: Pomegranate in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cherry, strawberry, cranberry, pink grapefruit, basil and lilacs on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the balloon style glassware and chill it to 15C

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Pork Chops Stuffed with Arugula, Pear & Brie

Tasted: 20 December 2016

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 39974

LES MARMITONS GASTRONOMY CHARDONNAY 2014, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

27 Friday Jan 2017

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

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gastronomy-chard-1

Cost: $19.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Niagara Teaching Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

I love finding unique treasures, especially in Canadian wines, and this wine is one of them

Description: Bright straw to gold to in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple, clementine, clove, butterscotch, honey & apple blossoms on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this wine was aged sur lie in barrel oaks 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 4 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Lemon Sole.

Tasted: 16 January 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4