Category Archives: Best Buys

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

BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2012, Napa Valley, California, United States

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Beringer

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

For us in Canada, when I see a Napa Chard from a well known producer for under $20, I think “to good to be true”. This wine is good & true.

Positives: This wine features mild toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon drops, pineapple, nutmeg, peach, baked apple and light Easter Lily on the nose. Full body with fairly good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: There’s a lot of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pork chops with apple cider glaze.

Tasted: 30 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 84988

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLÈNE RULLY LES CLOUX PREMIER CRU 2011, AOC Rully Les Cloux, France

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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MAISON_ROCHE_DE_BELL_NE_RULLY_LES_CLOUS_1ER_CRU_web

Cost: $24.75
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Rully Les Cloux, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Roche De Bellene
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you want to impress at a dinner party, but not break the bank, this wine will do it

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, mandarin, pineapple, peach, apple, caramel, ginger, nutmeg and orange rind on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

Tasted: 29 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 339226

BEN MARCO MALBC 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Malbec

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: 95% Malbec, 5% Bonarda
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ben Marco
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby to purple in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

The taste is full, juicy, delicious & all for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, blackberry, prunes, dates, licorice, mocha and mesquite. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: The nose is somewhat mute and watery

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

Tasted: 28 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 657601

THYMIOPOULOS VINEYARDS YN KAI OUPAVÓ XINOMAVRO 2010 UNFILTERED, Naoussa, Greece

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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

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Greek

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Xinomavro
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Naoussa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Thymiopoulos
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A smooth wine with good quality & the nose is to die for

Positives: This complex wine features pine, roses, blackberry, Bing cherry, raspberry, Star anise, Allspice, cinnamon & turn tamarind. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The name ‘Earth and Sky’ appears on the label in Greek, German, French, Japanese, English, and what appears to be a pictograph.

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Ruth Chris steak.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Top Pick, Best Buy

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

LCBO: 360750

CHÃTEAU LA COURANÇONNE SEGURET ROSÉ 2012, AOC Côte Du Rhône Villages, France

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Rosés

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Seguret

Cost: $18.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Cincault, 25% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Category: Rosé wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: France
Region: Côte Du Rhône Villages
Format: 750 mL
Producer: La Courançonne
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good quality Rosé wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, pomegranate, cucumber and flint. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 22 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

VENETO VILLA ALMADI CHARDONNAY 2012, IGT Veneto, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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almadi

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: The Tasting Room, Grand Cayman
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Almadi
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Two styles of Chard depending on the glass you use. Outstanding for $14.

Positives: When used in Chablis glassware this wine features Honeysuckle, lemon, melon, green apples, flint & volcanic ash. The Montrachet glassware brings out dates, figs, Rapsflower Blossom honey & apple pie.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops.

Thank you Mario from the Tasting Room for this recommendation.

Tasted: 20 April 2014

Amazing Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

ALI 2012, IGT Tuscany, Italy

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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Ali

Cost: $14.00 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: Tasting Room, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Donna Laura
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

An easy going wine that is exceptional for being under $15

Positives: This wine features light cedar with sour cherry, basil, thyme, cherry tomatoes, strawberry and Turkish delight. Medium body & tannins with good acidity & an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The classic bottle and great taste create quite a sophisticated presentation.

Thanks to Mario from the new wine store, The Tasting Room in Grand Cayman for recommending this wine.

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

Tasted: 19 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

CUVÉE 2010, Dalmatia, Croatia

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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croatia

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Syrah
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Croatia
Region: North Dalmatia’s Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Benkovac
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Three reasons to buy this wine: 1. Taste’s good, 2. Dalmatia is an ancient wine growing area that is coming back to form after the Soviet Union reign & 3. It’s only $15.95, can’t loose

Positives: This wine features a beautiful nose and an old world rustic taste. It shows cedar, blackberry, blueberry, oyster mushrooms, leather, graphite, sage, thyme, dark cherry & plum. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

Tasted: 12 April 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 359901

JEAN MARC BROCARD CHABLIS 2011, AC Chablis, France

19 Saturday Apr 2014

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

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Chablis

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jean-Marc Brocard
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Hard to find a great Chablis is for under $20

Positives: This complex wine features Easter lily, lemon/lime, pink grapefruit, Brie rind, Spy apple, honey, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: From single vineyard “Sainte-Claire” 30 year old vines on Kimmeridgian Limestone fermented with indigenous yeast.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Beausoleil oysters in honey, ginger & shallot vinaigrette.

Tasted: 14 April 2014

Best Buy and Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 356634

THE HERMIT CRAB, VIOGNIER MARSANNE 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Hermit Crab

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 68% Viognier, 32% Marsanne
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A full flavoured delicious wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, jasmine, apricot, peach, lemon, mandarin, thyme and peach pit. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine with two different Riedel glassware: one Viognier and the other Sauvignon Blanc style. The Viognier glass presented a more smooth wine with an unexpected peach pit on the finish. Meanwhile, the Cab Sauv glass was more vibrant and crisp with a less noticeable peach pit finish. Both equally good, just depends on what you’re looking for.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare in lemongrass marinade.

Tasted: 2 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 662775