Cost: $18.95 (Clearance price: $14.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vavasour
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

One of the best Pinots for under $20, and can’t think of one that’s better at the clearance price

Positives: Not a complex wine but full of flavour. This wine features cherry, strawberry, raspberry, light cranberry, rubbed sage & lilac. Medium to light body and with light tannins, good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with smoked oysters.

Tasted: 10 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance Price 10/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 326041

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Santa Barbara County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Jekel Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A simple fruit driven Pinot that is deserving at its price

Positives: This wine features a light smoky note, cranberry, cherry, rhubarb & strawberry. Medium body, mild tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14.1% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna sashimi.

Tasted: 12 February 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 27268

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $19.75)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lawson’s Dry Hills
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

So delightful, it’s easy to be on your 2nd bottle before realizing it

Positives: This wine features smoked cedar, cherry, cola, beets, raspberry, peat moss & violets. Medium minus body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Ahi Tuna.

Interesting Point: Reminder to chill it to about 15C

Tasted: 4 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 34827

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley/Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: MacMurray Ranch
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

A nice balance between new and old world Pinot

Positives: This wine features pine, rhubarb, cranberry, purple lilacs, strawberry, cherry, autumn leaves, smoldering ambers & forest underbrush. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seared Ahi Tuna.

Tasted: 19 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 48207

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

I can easily drink 2 bottles of this, as I just love it!

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plum, Black Forest cake, dark chocolate, espresso, bramble fruit, coconut & vanilla. Medium+ body & with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or with beef tenderloin.

Tasted: 18 January 2014

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 497933

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon & Canaiolo
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Carmignano, Tuscany
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

My new favourite wine to pair with pizza

Positives: This wine features cedar, sour cherry, Bing cherry, oregano, sage, rosemary, raspberry, leather, graphite & fresh cut carnations. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with pizza.

Interesting Point: Tasted the wine from the smaller Chianti/Zinfandel wine glass & the larger Cabernet Sauvignon glass; in the Cab glass it was dull & muted, while shined in the Chianti glass.

Tasted: 17 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 508531

Cost: $18.55
Grape Variety: Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Category: Red wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa & McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wolf Blass
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good balance between the Rhone & Ausy style SGMs

Positives: This wine features integrated oak, vanilla, plums, tamarinds, blackcurrants, mint, sage, oregano, peppers (red, black & white), blueberry pie, shitake mushrooms, burnt rubber & leather on the finish. Full body with round tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted rack of lamb & mint sauce.

Interesting Point: Wolf Blass special edition Yellow Label is celebrating 30yrs in Canada.

Tasted: 11 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 340166