Category Archives: Best Buys

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

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

MUGA RESERVA 2012, DOC Rioja, Spain

11 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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muga

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

BRAMPTON OLD VINE RED BLEND 2013, Western Cape, South Africa

11 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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brampton

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

FOWLES STONE DWELLERS CHARDONNAY PINOT NOIR SPARKLING WINE, NV, Victoria, Australia

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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stone-dwellers

Cost: $11.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Victorian
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fowles Wine
Alcohol: 12.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex, very dry, stone fruit character sparkler at a great price

Description: Deep straw with rose hue in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features pastry, lemon, peach pit, strawberry, green apples and Easter Lily on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Instead of a cork, Fowles uses bottle cap to cap this sparkling wine

Drink now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad.

Tasted: 16 October 2016

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18/20

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

LCBO: 430074

OGIER VENTOUX ROSÉ 2015, Ac Ventoux, Rhône Valley, France

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Rosés

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ventoux

Cost: $13.95 (Sale price until Nov 6, 2016: $11.95)
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Ventoux, Rhône Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ogier
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple, delicious & at a great price

Description: Pale salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pink grapefruit, strawberry, Spy apples and basil. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in 2 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Salmon.

Tasted: 17 October 2016

Amazing & 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+

LCBO: 134916

WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY 2015, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California, United States

03 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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wente

Cost: $18.95 (Sale price until Nov 6, 2016: $16.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wente Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Balanced tropical fruit with oak in this well priced California Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light buttered toast, lemon, green and red apples, peach, pineapple, mango, coconut, dill, ginger, vanilla and Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Drink from the larger Montrachet glassware

Drink now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Halibut Primavera.

Tasted: 18 October 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: 175430