Category Archives: Best Buys

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

ESSER CHARDONNAY 2012, Monterey County, California, United States

08 Monday Jun 2015

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chardonnay-large

Cost: $18.99 CI (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Tortuga, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Esser
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Monterey County Chard for under $20

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon rind, pineapple, peach, oak spice, ginger, pink grapefruit, passion fruit and limestone. Medium+ body body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the finish

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Pineapple Chicken with Ginger and Bok Choy.

Tasted: 8 June 2015

Best Buy

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

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

ESSER PINOT NOIR 2012, Monterey County, California, United States

07 Sunday Jun 2015

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pinot-noir-large

Cost: $20.99 CI (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Tortuga, Cayman Islands
Country: United States
Region: Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Esser
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality Monterey County Pinot for under $25

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This smoky Pinot features light cedar, hickory, cherry, strawberry, thyme, pimento, cardamom, cranberry, beets, tobacco & cola. Medium to light body body with mild tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Texas style slow smoked brisket.

Tasted: 7 June 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CITRA CERASUOLO ROSÉ D’ABRUZZO 2014, Doc Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy

31 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Citra

Cost: $8.45
Grape Variety: Montepulciano
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Citra

Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

For $8.45 you get a lot for the money

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features sour cherry, strawberry, mulberry, peach pit, and rhubarb. Medium to light body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Has bitter notes

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared pork chops served with ginger and rhubarb chutney.

Tasted: 27 May 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 404541

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday May 2015

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Featherstone

Cost: $21.95 (Clearance price: $15.40)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Featherstone Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is for those that like oaked chard, and a unique perspective that the entire process is from Ontario

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features toasted butter, spiced oaked, lemon, ripe pineapple, peach, walnuts, butterscotch, toasted marshmallows, vanilla and coconut. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Truly a Canadian Chard with oak barrels from trees that grew near by, wild airborne yeast and estate grown grapes

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Linguine and Lobster Scampi.

Tasted: 26 May 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 149302

BURNING KILN CAB FRANK 2012, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Burning Kiln

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Burning Kiln
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Unique Cab Franc in an appassimento style leaving a nice sweetness & no green bell pepper

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features dark plums, cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, cassis, anise, tobacco, chocolate and Christmas cake. Full body with medium to low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat at the end from the 14.3% alcohol

Interesting Note: The grapes dried for 10-14 days, and the wine is named after the wine maker; Frank DeLeebeck.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and rosemary fingerling potatoes.

Tasted: 21 May 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 310268

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE SHIRAZ 2013, Ontario, Canada

22 Friday May 2015

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l_srshiraz09

Cost: $13.10 (Sale until 18 May 2015: $11.70)
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Smooth, good flavours with a little spice

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light oak, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plums, cassis, anise and peppercorn. Medium body with medium to light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Unlike some of their other Special Reserve wines from Ontario, this one isn’t VQA. Styled in the French Syrah way rather than the Aussie Shiraz way.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seared pork glazed with sweet and tangy plum sauce.

Tasted: 18 May 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+

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2014, DOC Rioja, Spain

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Rosés

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Rose

Cost: $11.80
Grape Variety: Tempranillo Rosé
Category: Rosé Wine
Location LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Can’t beat the quality & price for this Rosé which is dry but smooth as silk

Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry candy, peach, strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb and Spy apple. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Consistently a great Rosé, but I think this is so far my favourite vintage.

Drink now or in the next couple years on its own or pair it with spicy deep fried chicken

Tasted: 16 May 2015

Amazing Value & Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 175620

MAGNOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

16 Saturday May 2015

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

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Cab and Franc

Cost: $14.15 (Sale: $13.15 until 18 May 2105)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently a good quality Cab Franc for under $15

Positives: This wine features cedar, blackberry, raspberry, grilled green peppers, white pepper, Kalamata olives, dark chocolate, mocha and tomato leaf. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This vintage is slightly better than the previous 2011 vintage, that I reviewed last year so I up it to be an Amazing Value.

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or and pair it with lamb chops glazed with spicy tomato leaf infused mint sauce.

Tasted: 14 May 2015

Best Buy

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

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

MICHEL HAURY GRENACH PETITE EDITION 2013, Vin de France

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Grenache

Cost: $12.20
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michel Haury
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Well isn’t this a pleasant surprise for a French table wine for under $13 & 100% Grenache. It’s delicate, easy drinking yet brimming with flavour

Description: Medium light ruby to garnet in colour with a medium to low intense nose. What the nose doesn’t show, the taste certainly does. This wine features cherry, strawberry, cinnamon, pomegranate, orange peel, cloves and some leather on the finish. Medium to light body and tannins with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Works best in a smaller wine glasses such as Chianti or Zinfandel, and have it cellar temperature or even slightly below.

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with nachos supreme

Tasted: 18 April 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO: 361709

MAURO CHARDONNAY 2014, DOC Puglia, Italy

17 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Mauro

Cost: $11.70
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Puglia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mare Magnium
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Good entry level Chard with minimum oak and good fruit all for under $12

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features apple, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pear and lemon on the finish. Medium body with average acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My preference was to use the larger Chardonnay style glass

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Prosciutto and Pear Pizza.

Tasted: 16 April 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: 404491