Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Petit Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Paso Robles
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foley Family Winery
Alcohol: 19.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ nose.

Lots of juicy fruit with a balance of wood.

Positives: An expressive wine featuring cedar, plum, mocha, blackberry, dark cherry, peach, wood smoke and a touch leathery on the finish. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 29 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 317677

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: France
Region: Médoc
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Famille Sallette
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

A nice mid level Boudreaux from Médoc at a moderate price.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackcurrants, turmeric, pencil shavings, cherry, arugula and leather. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

This is more of a food friendly wine than for drinking on its own so pair with prime rib. Drink now on or over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 27 May 13 (Happy Memorial Day to our American cousins)

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO: 307041

Cost: $19.95 (On sale for $17.95 until May 26, 2013
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peter Lehman
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blood venous in colour (vampires will love the colour, but it’s not blood yo!) with medium+ smoked mesquite on the nose.

This is a throw back to what started the “Oz” Shiraz craze many moons ago before they went overboard and decided to overplant & make their Shiraz’s into sweet pepper bramble jam.

Positives: Very smooth drinking and lots of flavor going on here with mild cedar, plums, roasted red peppers, white peppers, tar, dark cherry, bramble, chocolate, mocha, cinnamon & cloves.  Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with beef brisket or Cheetos.

Tasted: 17 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

LCBO: 572875

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodegas Chandon S.A
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

There are too many Malbec’s that are simple and just don’t meet the quality vs price ratio, however this one does.

Positives: Very tasty Malbec featuring oak, mulberry, plum, smoked Montreal meat, tobacco leaves and a touch of leather. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Notes: Thanks Carol Ann, from WineAlign, for the opportunity to taste this.

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

Tasted: 17 May 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:29280

Cost: $23.95 (Sale price $21.45 until 26 May 2013)
Grape Variety: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Oraciano & Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Muga
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid wine

Positives: This easy drinking wine features cedar, sour cherry, cigar box, tobacco leaf, pimientos, roasted red peppers with Radicchio & pomegranate on the finish. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Aged 24 months in French & American oak casks. Serve between 16°C and 18° C

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with meat stuffed red peppers – Pimientos Rellenos de Carne.

Tasted: 6 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

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: 177345