Category Archives: Best Buys

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

BUENA VISTA CHARDONNAY 2011, Carneros, California, United States

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Buena Vista

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Carneros, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buena Vista
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

An excellent Carneros Chard under $24 that’s not flabby or high in alcohol

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak with light butter, lemon, pineapple, peach, Allspice, ginger, turn mangos and green apple. Full body with light tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: This wine has some tannin, and they have revamped the labels to make the bottle more appealing.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 11 June 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 67405

MEANDRO DO VALE MEÃO 2011, DOC Douro, Portugal

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Meandro

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 27% Tinta Roriz, 3% Sousão, 3% Tinta Barroca, and 2% Tinta Cão
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: F. Olazabal & Filhos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Danger Will Robinson, this is so good that it’s a 2 bottle night

Positives: This complex smooth wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, mulberry, nectarine, licorice, thyme, raisins, mocha, dates and leather. Medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14%

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with Portuguese beef Cacoila.

Tasted: 10 June 2014

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO: 244731

BV BEAUROUGE 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


BV

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Touriga National, Tempranillo & Charbono (Bonarda)
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beaulieu Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Smooth as silk with a plethora of flavours

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, bramble fruit, licorice, anise, cassis, sage, dates, fennel, coffee, figs and leather. Medium+ body with smooth tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: Despite the high alcohol this wine is not jammy

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with coffee crusted pork tenderloin.

Tasted: 7 June 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 363531

FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2009, Napa Valley, California, United States

26 Monday May 2014

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

≈ Leave a comment


Folie a deux

Cost: $18.99 Cayman ($10.99 Sale until end of May 2014)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Folie à Deux
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice non aggressive Napa Chard and for $11 you can’t lose

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green apple, dill and toffee. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: 1. This wine is better after decanting as it brings out more of the tertiary aromas such as toffee. 2. Last year Folie à Deux made Napa Valley Chard. Their 2010 comes from Sonoma with a new label.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with sweet and sour cucumber salad.

Tasted: 26 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

 

CATTAIL CREEK CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cattail Creek

Cost: $20.25
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cattail Creek Family Estate Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An easy drinking and quality Chard from a small Ontario winery

Positives: This wine features light buttered toasted oak, pineapple, lemon, dill, mandarin and peach pit. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Interesting Point: I like their new labels

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

Tasted: 20 May 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: 348987

BORGO BELLO 2010, DOC Bolgheri, Italy

26 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Borgo Bello

Cost: $18.80 (Clearance price: $15.10)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Bolgheri
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Borgo Bello
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Smooth, easy drinking and delicious

Positives: This wine features light oak, cherry, plum, champagne mushrooms, umami, rosemary and cappuccino. Medium body and tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: Decant for 30 minutes

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with stuffed red peppers.

Tasted: 22 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 341123

CINQUEPASSI VENETO ROSSO 2010, IGT Veneto, Italy

26 Monday May 2014

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

≈ 1 Comment


CinquePassi-500x500 (1)

Cost: $16.00 Cayman
Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 30% Ancillota, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Almadi
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Retasted 4 June 2015, and there are some different notes now but the score is the same. This wine features plums, prune pit, flan, espresso, bramble, rhubarb and tobacco leaf.

An easy drinking everyday wine that has good quality

Positives: This wine features dark cherry, plum, blackberry, oyster mushrooms and some leather. Medium to medium+ body with soft tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: No producer.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with pasta with beef and tomato pasta.

Tasted: 25 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

TORRESELLA PROSECCO NV, DOC Veneto, Italy

25 Sunday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Torresella

Cost: $19.99 Cayman
Grape Variety: Prosecco (Glera)
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto, Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torresella
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

This Prosecco has depth and character

Positives: This wine features a creamy texture with pear, lavender, honeycomb, white raspberry and almonds. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with raspberry parfait.

Tasted: 25 May 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RODNEY STRONG PINOT NOIR 2011, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


 
Rodney Strong
 
Cost: $24.95 (On sale $22.95 until May 25, 2014
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.A surprisingly mellow Pinot considering the 14.5% alcoholPositives: This wine features pine, cherry, beets, strawberry & Christmas cake. Medium body with mild tannins, fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a little heat from the 14.5%

Interesting Point: Rodney Strong wines are consistently good to excellent quality

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Ahi Tuna.

Tasted: 7 May 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 954834

CAMPO VIEJO TEMPRANILLO ROSÉ 2013, DO Rioja, Spain

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Rose

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Campo Viejo
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Still one of my favourite rosés

Positives: This wine features raspberry, watermelon, sweet cherry tomatoes, pink grapefruit, kumquat & roses on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although I really like this vintage, the 2012 was better. Please see my earlier review of the 2012 vintage.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Porchetta.

Tasted: 1 May 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 175620