Category Archives: Best Buys

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

CAVE SPRING ROSÉ 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Rosés

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Cave_Spring_Rose_web

(Old label, new label not yet available)

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave Spring
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light cranberry in colour with a medium intense nose.

Yummy

Positives: This easy drinking wine features strawberry, cranberry & tangerine. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with Hungarian Salami

Tasted: 8 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 295006

MUGA RESERVA 2008, DOC Rioja, Spain

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Muga

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

ZUCCARDI CUVÉE SPECIAL BLANC DE BLANC NV, Champenoise Method, Tupungato Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Zuccardi Blanc de Blanc

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance $17.30)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Argentina
Region: Tupungato, Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Zuccardi Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with fine mousse and medium+ intense nose.

Classic Blanc de Blanc Champagne style

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling (ok it’s really yummy) featuring toasted bread, baked apple, brioche, quince, pear, orange peel and a kiss of honey. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long, long, long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: 58 months on the yeast. This is what I describe as a 2-bottle wine, i.e. easy to drink 2 bottles in one sitting. I found this gem at the Crossroad LCBO (HWY 401 at Weston Rd). Luckily I bought all 3 bottles that they had. Buy it if you find it! I also really like the bottle shape and the classic label.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with wild mushrooms, rosemary infused cream fresh mozzarella, arugula, and truffle oil shaved Parmesan pizza. If you go to Grand Cayman, visit The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Periwinkle Restaurant where you’ll find this gem of a pizza.

Tasted: 28 April 13

Top Pick and Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (10/10 Clearance price) Total: 19+/20

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

LCBO: 227447

MARQUES DE RISCAL RESERVA 2007, DOC Rioja, Spain

27 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Riscal

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vinos De Los Herederos Del
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Consistently reliable good taste.

Positives: Cedar, sandalwood, plums, cherry, a touch of vanilla bean, leather, cinnamon, all spice, red peppers, black olives & raspberry. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Check out my review 25 June 2012 for the 2006 vintage. You’ll notice that it’s $2 more for the 2007. One of my favourite labels; very classic looking.

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

Tasted: 24 April 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 32656

TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Tawse Chard

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tawse Winery
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour and medium intense nose.

Always nice to have a good quality Ontario Chardonnay that’s under $20.

Positives: This is a delicate Chard which has several layers featuring light oak, lemon, grapefruit, peat, green apple, wood smoke, limestone and hints of caramel. Medium body, with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops wrapped in bacon served on a bed of wilted spinach with candy tomatoes (my wife’s great recipe).

Tasted: 19 April 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 89037

HESS SELECT CHARDONNAY 2010, Monterey County, California

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Hess Chard

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Monterey
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light bright gold in colour and medium+ intense nose.

A nice easy drinking California Chard that’s not overly oaked has some minerality and is under 14% alcohol.

Positives: Medium oak, lightly toasted, buttery with cream corn, golden apples, dill, mangos, pineapples and a touch of limestone. Medium body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie Cornish Hens.

Tasted: 15 April 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 270074

SMOKING LOON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2011, California

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Smoking Loon

Cost: $14.90 (On sale for $13.90 until April 1st 2013)
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Smoking Loon Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A perfect second bottle to have on hand.

Positives: A light style Zin featuring cedar, raisins, figs, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, prunes, black cherry, Dr. Pepper and chocolate. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity, average length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with honey BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 31 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 272393

MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

01 Monday Apr 2013

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Mission Hill Sauv Bl

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose

Positives: Classic and not overpowering notes of Sauvignon Blanc, featuring guava, lantana, gooseberry, hay, cucumber and dill. Light body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 145086

DE LOACH HERITAGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011, California

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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DL Pinot

Cost: $14.95 (on sale $12.95 until 1 April 2013)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Loach Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet to ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose.

A very pleasant drinking pinot and at under $15 you really can’t go wrong. Nice to drink with someone special sitting before a fire.

Positives: Light cedar, cloves, violets, cherry Dr. Pepper, raspberry, forest underbrush, cinnamon and Allspice. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 220434

BUENA VISTA PINOT NOIR 2009, Carneros, California

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Buena_Vista_Pinot_Noir_web

Cost: $24.95 (on sale $21.95 until 1 April 2013)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buena Vista Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium minus intense nose.

An elegant Pinot that is now available at the LCBO General List.

Positives: Light cedar, strawberry, cherry and sour cherry, cranberry, rosemary, basil and a nice earthy finish. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rosemary & mustard encrusted lamb.

Tasted: 27 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5