Category Archives: Best Buys

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

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Valle De Aconcagua, Chile

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Max

Cost: $18.95 (Sale $14.95 until 16 Sept 2015)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Aconcagua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Errazuriz
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

A sold Cab that is full of flavour and easy to drink now but will improve with aging

Description: Medium deep ruby  in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, violets, blackcurrants, cherry, blueberry, plum, raspberry, cassis, turmeric, mocha and leather. Medium+ body and tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Always a solid wine for under $20

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Java Crusted Steak with peppery plum glaze.

Tasted: 29 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale: 9.5+/10) Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 335174

COYOTE’S RUN PINOT NOIR 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Coyote

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A smooth & vibrant entry Pinot from a winery that specializes in Pinots

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, violets, cherry, raspberry, portabella mushrooms, basil, thyme, forest greens and smouldering autumn leaves. Medium body and tannin with a mouthful of acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lightly chill and serve in a balloon glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Crispy Duck with spicy plum sauce.

Tasted: 28 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance: 9.5/10) Total: 18.5+/20

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

LCBO: 53090

INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Inniskillin_Estate_Chardonnay_web

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $12.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A top Ontario Chard at this price that is well balanced & has some complexity

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, Spy apple, oak spice, almonds, ginger, dill and vanilla. Medium+ body with some tannin, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I enjoyed their 2010 vintage, but this one is a grade higher. Use the larger Chardonnay glasses

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with poached Salmon with Cucumber Dill Raita.

Tasted: 22 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317768

TRIUS CHARDONNAY 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Trius

Cost: $13.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trius Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean refreshing with mild oak which adds a bit of substance.

Description: Medium light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features a light oak, lemon, pear, green apples, melon & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with Crab cakes with horseradish cream.

Tasted: 25 Aug 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 497248

PELEE ISLAND BACO NOIR RESERVE 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Pelee

Cost: $14.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.45)
Grape: Baco Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

A juicy, lighter style Baco Reserve, but has all the essence of a quality baco for a good price

Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, sour cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, clementine and tobacco smoke. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My benchmark for a great if not the best Baco Noir Reserve is Henry Pelham’s. In comparing this one to that, at $10 cheaper, Pelee Island has done a nice job.

Lightly chill and serve in a Pinot glass (Balloon style)

Drink now or in the next 3 of years on its own or pair it with slow roasted brisket glazed with pomegranate molasses.

Tasted: 21 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 414508

CHARLES AND CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Charles

Cost: $15.95 (Sale until 13 Sept 2015: $13.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles & Charles
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice simple Chard, priced right, even better at the sale price

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light oak, lemon, peach, Granny apples, vanilla, oak spice and chalk. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 13.9% alcohol

Interesting Point:

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with chicken thighs seared and sauteed in an olive oil, butter white wine sauce with basil and shallot remoulade.

Tasted: 19 Aug 2015

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: 394734

STONELEIGH PINOT NOIR 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

17 Monday Aug 2015

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Stoneleigh

Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Stoneleigh Vineyards
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Explosive flavours with a nice mix of sweet & sour fruits

Description: Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, cherry, cranberry, raspberry, oak spice, nutmeg and autumn leaves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13% alcohol

Interesting Point: Slightly chill and serve in a Balloon style glass

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with my wife’s roasted rack of lamb with sour cherry sauce.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 54353

LOUIS M. MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013, Sonoma County, California, United States

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Louis Martini
 
Cost: $18.95 (On sale: $15.95 until 16 Aug 2015)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
 

I challenge anyone to find at the LCBO a Sonoma Cab of this quality for under $16 sale price

Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ nose. An easy drinking wine featuring cedar, boysenberry, bramble fruit, mocha, roasted red peppers, peppercorns, tobacco, turmeric and leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidy and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I found the 2013 better quality than 2009 that I had reviewed.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Grilled Fillet Mignon with Peppercorn Butter Sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (9.5/10 sale price), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 292151

OGGI PRIMITIVO ROSATO 2014, IGT Puglia, Italy

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Oggi

Cost: $9.95
Grape: Primitivo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oggi
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

This wine will quickly grow on you, and at under $10 can’t ask for more

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This dry rosé features strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, roses and oregano. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unusual to find a Primitivo rosé at LCBO. Chill well

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with pepperoni calzone.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 125773

TORO DE PIEDRA GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

14 Friday Aug 2015

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Toro

Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Maule Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Toro De Piedra
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Big, bold & beautiful, but you need to like oaked Chards

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium+ toast, Easter Lily, lemon tarts, pineapple, mango, peaches & cream corn, buttered popcorn, roasted marshmallows, oak spice, almonds, caramel, dill, ginger and vanilla. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This may not be a critically acclaimed Chard, but I really like it because it’s an oaked Chard that’s different from the usual oaked Chards you get for under $25, and this is almost half that price. Don’t over chill and use the large Chard glass.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Cornish Game Hen with cornbread stuffing.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5+/20

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

LCBO: 417493