Category Archives: Best Buys

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

SMOKE & GAMBLE RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT 2010, VQA Ontario, Canada

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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

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Smoke & Gamble Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 49.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc & 13.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dover Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: The nose is divine and the taste is not far behind showing sizzling bacon, cedar, blackberry, cassis, leather, cloves, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and black currants. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points:

  • This was the best red that I tasted at the Taste Ontario that was held on 28 Sept 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I had a great time talking with the wine maker; Robert Gill and their distributor; Douglas Russell.

I love the copper label. 

  • The winery is located near Port Dover, Fort Erie

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 28 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 9+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO:332825

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington State

29 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2010, Columbia Valley Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chat Ste Michelle
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Chard featuring light toasted oak, lemon, lemon custard, peach, pear, green and yellow apples, limestone and spice. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass.

Tasted: 27 Sept 12

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon seared scallops

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#232439

ASTROLABE VOYAGE PINOT NOIR 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

29 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, South Island Bottle

Cost: $24.95 (sale $17.30)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Astrolabe
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium light ruby and garnet with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of juicy fruit featuring cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, Macintosh apple rhubarb, pipe tobacco, pine needles and forest leaves. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity, and  a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5 alcohol.

Interesting Point: I’m somewhat surprised that a cool climate Pinot reached 14.5% alcohol. Remember to slightly chill Pinot.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted: 25 Sept 12

Best Buy (Especially at the sale price!)

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (10/10 sale price), Total: 18+/20

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

LCBO#: 179200

MCMANIS FAMILY VINEYARDS VIOGNIER 2011, California

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Mcmanis Family Vineyards Viognier 2011, California Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mcmanis Family Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium gold colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: A nice smooth somewhat creamy Viognier featuring lemon, orange zest, apricot, peach, white pepper and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with scallops.

Tasted: 20 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 658112

STERLING VINTER”S CHARDONNAY 2010, Central Coast, California

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay 2010, Central Coast, California Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sterling Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour a medium intense nose.

Positives: A well made inexpensive Chard from California, a goal that I try to search out because I do favour their well made Chards. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon zest, juicy apple, cinnamon, pineapple, peach, lemon custard, guava, apricot & limestone. Medium bodily with good acidity & length.

Negatives: Slightly sour on the taste.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass & look for LCBO to have specials on this wine throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with garlic buttered escargot.

Tasted: 19 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 669242

QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Alexander Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quails’ Gate Vyds. Estate Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an improvement over the 2008 vintage that I reviewed awhile ago. This is a nice balanced Chard that features medium toasted oak, butter popcorn, lemon meringue, clementines, spiced apple cider, guava, pineapple & peach. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting point: Use the larger Chard glasses. I have put my review of the 2008 vintage below so you can compare.

Drink now or over the next 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 18 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 377770

PREVIOUS 2008 VINTAGE REVIEW

Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Beautiful Chard nose with lemon meringue, apples, medium oak & toast. This Chard has a long taste with a medium body.

Negatives: Although it has a nice long finish, part of it is bitter.

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

Score: 8.5, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20.

RUTHERFORD RANCH ZINFANDEL 2008, Napa Valley, California

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rutherford Wine Company
Alcohol: 16.0 %
Description: Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is an intense Zinn without any jammy qualities. Cedar, pine nuts, vanilla bean, menthol, smoked hickory, cassis, cloves, blueberry, nectarines, boysenberry, dark chocolate, cherry cola & mocha. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Holy 16% alcohol Batman! Lots of heat coming from it. Good medicine. If it wasn’t for the high alcohol this would be an exceptional Zinn.

Interesting Point: Rutherford Ranch is a consistent producer of good wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs based in an Italian tomato style sauce.

Tasted: 15 Sept 12

Best Buy, Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO#: 279828

OBIKWA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Bottle

Cost: $9.45
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Distillers Corporation Limited
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pretty medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: There’s a lot going on for a Cab that’s priced at under $10. Cedar, lots of peppers (red, black & white), black currants, cinnamon spiced apples, nutmeg, blueberry pie, plums & oregano. Medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Item: New Eco-friendly lightweight bottle. This is a great bottle to have as a second bottle to open during the day, evening, or to bring a couple (heck for $9.95 you can bring several bottles) over to a friends place for BBQ.

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything on the BBQ. I would even try it with fish on the BBQ due to its lower tannin level.

Tasted: 12 Sept 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 665323

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Valley of Aconcagua, Chile

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Aconcagua Valley Bottle

Cost: $18.95 (on sale $16.95 until 16 Sept 12)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valley of Aconcagua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The Max Reserva Cab is a fairly complex wine and unusual for such complexity at under $20, and even better when the LCBO puts it on sale a couple of times throughout the year. The 2010 vintage  features cedar, cassis, menthol, cloves, dark cherry, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves, red & black currants. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 6 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO# 335174

PERRIN RÉSERVE ROSÉ 2011, AC Côtes du Rhône, France

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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Perrin Réserve Rosé 2011, Côtes Du Rhône Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Perrin & Fils
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: “From the family behind Château de Beaucastel comes this very popular rosé. Sourced from the Perrin Brothers’ southern Rhône vineyards, this versatile cherry- and strawberry-scented rosé is an excellent companion for cucumber sandwiches, seafood appetizers or other light garden-party fare.” LCBO

Watermelon in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Although the nose might be mute, the taste isn’t, featuring strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, lime & Macintosh apple. Medium minus in body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I found drinking from a Riesling glass was the best option as other grape style glasses showed more tartness.

Drink now on its own or bring to a BBQ party, just bring several bottles as people are going to drink it down like water.

Tasted: 5 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total; 18.5/20

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

LCBO#: 719062