Category Archives: Best Buys

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

CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2011, Wo Western Cape Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking & balanced Chard that features light toasted oak, melon, pineapple, lemon, all-spice, green apple, lemon drops & limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length, unusual for a white wine under $15.

Interesting Point: Drink from the larger Chard glass as this will bring out the tropical fruits.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon pepper haddock.

Tasted: 3 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 328559

ESTATE HATZIMICHALIS CHARDONNAY 2011, Atalanti Valley, California

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Estate Hatzimichalis Chardonnay Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Greece
Region: Atalanti Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Farma Atalantis Agr S.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium gold with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon/lime, lemon curd, dill, green & yellow apples and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A tad sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon pepper catfish.

Tasted: 19 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 269654

COOPERS CREEK VIOGNIER 2008, Gisborne, New Zealand

17 Monday Dec 2012

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Coopers Creek Viognier 2008, Gisborne, North Island Bottle

Cost: $17.95 (clearance price $12.65)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Gisborne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cooper’S Creek Vineyard Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good news, bad news. Good news: This is the best Viognier for under $20 & it’s on clearance at LCBO for $12.65. Bad news: I bought the last bottles, so you’ll have to wait until LCBO restock it stores, hopefully next year.

This wine features peach, pear, apricot, jasmine on the nose, white pepper, orange rind, mandarin & ginger. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: All sold out at LCBO.

Drink now on its own or pair it with wahoo ceviche.

Tasted: 15 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 61416

PIRRAMIMMA PETIT VERDOT 2010, McLaren Vale, Australia

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2010, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $26.95
Grape Variety: Petit verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: MacLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malesco Wine Broker
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
“Over a century ago, winery founder and McLaren Vale pioneer Alexander Campbell Johnson chose the name ‘pirramimma,’ an aboriginal word meaning ‘the moon and the stars.'” LCBO

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of good stuff happening here. Cedar, blackberries, Kirsch cherries, violets, pomegranate, cranberry, raspberries, roasted red peppers & musk. Medium+ body, medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Pirramimma consistently has Best Buy wines in their lines.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or this will pair with a variety of different food groups from game fowl to steak.

Tasted: 14 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 986752

ROEDERER ESTATE BRUT SPARKLING NV, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California

10 Monday Dec 2012

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

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Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California, Usa Bottle

Cost: $24.90 Clearance Price (Reg: $28.95)
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Anderson Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Roederer U.S. Marketing Inc.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with fine mousse and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I just love this sparkler, which is one of my top 10 in this category. The clearance price even makes it more attractive. This easy drinking creamy sparkling wine serves up lemon, apple, biscotti, lemon curd, pink grapefruit, yeast, limestone and a touch of rosemary.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything, but if you need something, I paired it with Beausoleil cocktail oysters and it was heavenly.

Tasted: 9 Dec 12

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

LCBO#: 294181

DOPFF & IRION VORBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009, Grand Cru Vorbourg, Alsace, France

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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

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Dopff & Irion Vorbourg Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Grand Cru Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Pinot gris
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Vorbourg, Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dopff & Irion S.A.
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Golden honey in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: It’s been a long time since I tasted a really good Pinot Gris. This features white birch, honey, apricot, white peach, lychee, sweet potato with butter, cinnamon & nutmeg. Off-dry with medium acidity, fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Danger Will Robinson! This wine is so good it’s hard not to drink 2 bottles in one sitting, but the real danger is that’s its 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: On a blind taste I would have guessed this as a Viognier or Gewürztraminer. Use the Viognier style glass if you have one. Unusual for a Pinot Gris to have 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 8-12 years on its own or pair it with a spicy dish.

Tasted: 22 Nov 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:# 292227

CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

02 Friday Nov 2012

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

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Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $19.90
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Russian River Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines U S
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn’t disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 479527

LAROCHE CHABLIS SAINT MARTIN 2011, AC Chablis, France

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Chablis
Format: 750 mL
Producer: S & D Adams, Prop.
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Any easy drinking Chablis that’s not overly steely and a nice balance of fruit and minerality. The wine features lemon, dill, green apples, white peach, quince apple, limestone and chalk. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)

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

Tasted: 27 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 289124

REYES D’ARAGON BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2009, Spain

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Reyes D'aragon Brut Reserva Cava 2009, Spain Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: 70% Macabeo, 30% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Langa Hnos
Alcohol: 11.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Yellow colour with fine mousse and a highly intense nose.

Positives: You get a lot for your money in this easy drinking Cava. This sparkler features brioche, baked apples, clementines, macadamia nuts, melon, & lemon. Medium body with a nice creamy feel, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight oxidative nose with slight wateriness on the taste.

Drink on its own as an aperitif or pair it with a variety of olives and Spanish prosciutto.

Tasted: 26 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 194803

BODEGAS CAMPILLO FERMENTADO EN BARRICA BLANCO 2010, DOC Rioja, Spain

13 Saturday Oct 2012

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Bodegas Campillo Fermentado En Barrica Blanco 2010, Doca Rioja Bottle

Cost: $16.95 (clearance $11.70)
Grape Variety: Viura & Malvasia
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Campillo
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale straw in colour with high intense nose.

Positives: This smokey and oxygenated wine features medium toasted oak with lemon candy, orange rind, pine needles, tarragon and truffles, . Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: If you don’t like oxygenated style wines, this wine is not for you.

Interesting Point: Use the Viognier style glass if you have it as it brings out the most in this wine. Don’t over chill it for it will dull the wine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red snapper ceviché.

Tasted: 12 Oct 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 657478