Category Archives: Best Buys

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

MAGNOTTA EQUUS SERIES TRIONFO 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

22 Friday Aug 2014

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

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Trionfo

Cost: $8.55 (On sale if you buy a case it comes out to $7.55/bottle)
Grape Variety: Baco Noir, Maréchal Foch, Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Well this is a really pleasant surprise. An easy drinking, vibrant, red fruit wine with no negatives and under $9!

Description: Medium to light ruby in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features red currants, wild raspberry, mild Christmas cake, smoke ambers and dried herbs. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: – Chill the wine to 15 C and use a Pinot Noir glass
                         – I like the saying on the back label: ” I see the horse not just as a thing of beauty but also a soul mate” 

Drink now or in the next year on its own or pair it with Speck, Brie and Arugula pizza. (FYI Ragazzi at Grand Cayman makes the best)

Tasted: 20 Aug 2014

Amazing and Best Buy

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

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

E. GUIGAL CÔTE DU RHÔNE 2011, Ac Côtes Du Rhône, France

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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E. Guigal Rhone

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 5% Mouvèdre
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking quality Rhône wine for under $20

Description: Bright medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, black cherry, blackberry, plum, white & black peppers, black olives, licorice, shitake mushrooms and smoked earth. Medium body with mild tannins, good acidity and a long length

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: E. Guigal consistently produces excellent wines from entry level to high end.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with steak sandwich from Vincentina Meats .

Tasted: 12 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 259721

MATCH BOOK OLD HEAD CHARDONNAY 2011, Dunnigan Hills, California, United States

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Matchbook

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jl Giguiere
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like eating dill chips you’ll love this Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium to light toasted oak, lots of dill, Easter Lilly, lemon meringue pie, orange marmalade and peach. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: I love dill chips, so I really like this Chard.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with pan seared trout in butter and wine caper sauce.

Tasted: 12 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 205492

SACRED HILL PINOT NOIR 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Sacred Hill

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sacred Hill
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Value to quality you can’t beat it for a good Pinot Noir

Description: Light garnet with a slight cloudiness in colour, which may be a result of the wine being unfiltered, with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light pine and smoke, fresh carnations, beets, wild strawberry, sweet cherry, plums, barnyard and mushrooms. Light body and tannins with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 12 Aug 2014

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 277665

LOAN WINES SPECIAL RESERVE SEMILLON 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia

08 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Semillon

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Semillon
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tanuda Creek
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A good alternative to a Chard, but it will only please the discerning

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This unoaked wine features bees wax, tangerine, orange rind, lemon tart, golden apple and grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity and a very long length (The flavour was still in my mouth after 5 min).

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Found it was best in the Viognier glassware.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 7 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 301127

MONTEBUENA CUVÉE KPF RIOJA 2012, Doc, Rioja, Spain

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Montebuena

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Montebuena
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

The nose won’t please a lot, but the taste will

Description: Deep ruby to purple in colour with a medium intense nose. The wine shows smoked spiced oak, bitter cherry, bramble fruit, licorice, umami and Portobello mushrooms. Medium body with low but dry tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: My mom really liked it (Insert shocked face)

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 31 July 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 211029

DON JACOBO ROSÉ 2013, DOCa Rioja, Spain

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Don Jacobo

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo and Garnacha
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Don Jacobo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Lots of juicy flavour

Description: Bright salmon colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cherry, raspberry, plum and apples. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Using the Tempranillo glassware makes this wine even smoother

Drink now or in the next year on its own or and pair it with pork skewers.

Tasted: 1 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 374850

MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, Valle de Aconcagua, Chile

06 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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wine_25106_web

Cost: $18.95 (Sale $15.95 until 17 Aug 2014)
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.

“Danger Will Robinson!” So smooth & delicious that’s it’s easy to drink 2 bottles

Description: Medium+ ruby with a hint of garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine for under $20 wine features cedar, violets, black and red currants, cherry, blueberry, plum, cassis, turmeric, mocha, light graphite and leather. Medium+ body with smooth tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Always a solid wine for under $20, but this is the best vintage that I have tried to date.

Drink now or in the next 5 year on its own or pair it with oxtail stew.

Tasted: 3 Aug 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 335174

MAGNOTTA LIMITED EDITION SHIRAZ 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

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

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l_leshiraz10

Cost: $18.15
Grape Variety: Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Magnotta
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

A solid well balanced Canadian Rhône style wine

Description: Deep bright ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features cedar, violets, black & white peppers, plums, loganberry, arugula, ash and sage. Full body with soft tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Naming the wine Shiraz instead of Syrah

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or and pair it with peppercorn steak.

Tasted: 26 July 2014

Best Buy

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

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

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2013, AC Côtes Du Rhône, France

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Guigal 2013

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Grenache, Cinsaut, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes Du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. Guigal
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Giving my standard warning: “DANGER WILL ROBINSON” This is so smooth you can drink 2 bottles easily. Perfect summer party wine.

Description: Beautiful bright salmon in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This wine features watermelon, MacIntosh apple, wild strawberry and cherry. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: E. Guigal is one of my favourite French winemakers/producers. Usually a safe bet to get their wines from entry level to high end.

Drink now or in the next year on its own or and pair it with Caprese salad.

Tasted: 27 July 2014

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

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

LCBO: 225003