Category Archives: Best Buys

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

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

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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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

PIANO DEL CERRO, AGLIANICO 2008, DOC, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

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

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Aglianico

Cost: $24.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Aglianico
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Basilicata
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vigneti Del Vulture
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s to suggest this wine, it was simply delicious.

Positives: The nose is amazing and the taste is just as good featuring cedar, naseberry, toffee, purple lilacs, bramble fruit, poppycock, coffee, mocha, peppercorn, red peppers and tar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Aglianico del Vulture is an Italian wine DOC created in 1971 in northern Basilicata, in southern Italy. In 2010, the region received its superiore variant when it was promoted to DOCG, the highest quality level in the Italian wine system.

Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with parmesan crusted flank steak.

Tasted: 14 Mar 13

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

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

CHARLES DE FÈRE, BLANC DE BLANC, BRUT RÉSERVE, MÉTHODE TRADITIONELLE, NV, Loire Valley, Charentes, and Gers, France

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Charles de fere

Cost: $19.85 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay, Uni Blanc, Chenin Blanc & Colombard
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley, Charentes, Gers
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Charles de Fère, Boisset Family Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

Can’t disagree with a French Blanc de Blanc made in the traditional way for under $20.

Positives: Very doughy on the nose and taste along with subtle notes of melon, nutmeg, green papaya, ginger, ripe apple and dill. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: About Charles de Fère

“Charles de Fère came to life in 1980 when an innovative sixth generation winemaker from Champagne, Jean-Louis, decided to start his own sparkling winery in a town called Fère-en-Tardois, just outside Champagne. He set out with a vision of crafting high-quality sparkling wines from grapes grown throughout France, strongly believing that a more diverse sourcing strategy would allow him access to the best possible grapes each year. Northern vineyards brought freshness and elegance, while southern vineyards provided beautifully ripe fruit, body and smoothness to the wines. In honor of his son Charles, he named his winery Charles de Fère, meaning “Charles from Fère.”

Today, Charles de Fère wines are crafted in Burgundy at the Boisset family’s
state-of-the-art sparkling wine facility. True to its roots, Charles de Fère’s grapes
continue to come from diverse terroirs throughout France, ensuring the best
possible fruit for consistently excellent sparkling wines at a great value.” Boisset Family Estate Winery

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese and tomato omelet spiced with red pepper flakes & shallots.

Tasted: 17 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

RAKA QUINARY 2003, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Saturday Mar 2013

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

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Raka

Cost: $24.95 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 6% Petite Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga Cayman Islands
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raka Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intense nose.

This 2003 vintage is still drinking well and still taste more like a $40-$50 wine.

Positives: Cedar and sandalwood, kalamata olives, black currents, figs, coffee, oregano, prunes and rye & pastrami. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairy long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Bruschetta and olive paste.

Tasted: 16 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

WOODBRDIGE MERLOT BY ROBERT MONDAVI 2010, California

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Woodbridge
 
Cost: $12.95 (on sale $11.95 until April 1, 2013
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Robert Mondavi Winery
Alcohol: 13.5 %

Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

A nice inexpensive bottle to have on hand when you don’t want to open something more expensive, yet something that’s easy to drink and tasteful.

Positives: Bright bramble fruit notes with expresso, light oak, tobacco leaf, red pepper, asparagus and pepperettes. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with spagetti Bolognese.

Tasted: 12 March 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#:494492

GHOST PINES CHARDONNAY WINEMAKER’S BLEND 2010, 61% Sonoma, 22% Napa County, 17% Monterey County, California

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Ghost Pines
 
Cost: $19.95 (on sale for $17.95 until April 1, 2013)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma Napa & Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis M. Martini Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity.

Really nice to drink, not too creamy, not too citric, and not too oaky, just right, and being under $20, priced just right. Actually better than just right as I would pick this as a $30-$40 Chard.

Positives: Medium toasted oak, with vanilla, lemon, green & MacIntosh apples, slight apple pie, pear, cashews, pineapple, cantaloupe, sweet corn & limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Louis P. Martin is the son of Napa pioneer Louis M. Martin.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 11 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (sale: 10/10), Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 308122