Category Archives: Best Buys

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

OBIKWA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2011, Western Cape, South Africa

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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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

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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

ALIANCA TERRA BOA TINTO 2010, Portugal

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Alianca Terra Boa Tinto 2010 Bottle

Cost: $7.25
Grape Variety: Tinta Roriz, Touruga Nacionale & Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves Alianca Vinicola De Sangalhos
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring plums, raisins, blueberry jam & some cedar. Medium body with low tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch sweet.

Interesting Point: This best buy comes by the recommendation from my brother Andrew.

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

Tasted: 3 Sep 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO#: 590364

BONTERRA VIOGNIER 2010, Mendocino, California

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Bonterra Viognier 2010, Mendocino County Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.7 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: Here’s another winner from Bonterra & a very pleasant surprise for producing a quality Viognier for under $20. Featuring peaches, apricots, mangoes, clementines, lemongrass & lemon custard. Medium light to medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This Viognier is more citric & less oily & complex than Condrieu (the benchmark for Viogniers), but still very good for its price. Bonterra produces organic wines.

Drink now & pair it with lemon pepper grilled catfish.

Tasted: 4 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 128900

ARTESA CHARDONNAY 2010, Carneros, California

02 Sunday Sep 2012

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

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Artesa Chardonnay 2010, Carneros Bottle

Cost: $23.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay with a small blend of Sauvignon Blanc, albariño & pinot blanc
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Artesa Winery
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big blockbuster California Chard, but there’s a lot to it, rich, creamy & one of the longest tasting in length for a Chardonnay I’ve tasted. Lightly toasted oak featuring lemon, green apples, mangos, pineapple, peach, marshmallow, custard, limestone, orange, crème brûlée & a slight peppery note. Medium to full body, good acidity & a very long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: One of the best Chards that I tasted that should appease those that like big Chards & those that like Chablis style.

Drink now or over the next 5 years. Can be drank on its own, but this was one of the best Chards I’ve tasted for pairing with crustaceans and drawn butter.

Tasted: 31 Aug 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 657585

CASTILLO DE ALMANSA RESERVA 2008, Almansa, Spain

02 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Castillo De Almansa Reserva 2008 Bottle

Cost: $11.95 (on sale $10.95 until 12 Sept 12)
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Almansa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Piqueras
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge and medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex wine but it’s a great wine for BBQs. Wine features cedar, sandalwood, cherry, licorice, plums & bramble fruit pie. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a medium length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Not as good as the 2006 I reviewed last year but for the price, especially the sales price, which the LCBO does a couple of times a year, is a really great buy.

Drink now on its own or have it with BBQ spare ribs.

Tasted: 29 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 270363

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES MONTAGUE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

28 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

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Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Sweet & tart, just like I like my Pinots: (and you thought I was going to say something else?) This Pinot features smoked cedar, cranberry, strawberry, rhubarb, cherry pie, sweet basil, cinnamon & a light earthy taste. Medium minus in body with low tannins, high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch too high in acidity, but still yummy.

Interesting Point: I lucked out getting this wine on sale at an LCBO store for $17.55 , and remember to lightly chill it.

Drink now on its own, however due to the higher acidity this wine will show better paired food such as duck.

Tasted: 28 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO #: 997354

CHÂTEAU HAURA 2008, AC Graves, France

26 Sunday Aug 2012

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Château Haura 2008, Ac Graves Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dourthe Freres
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Although I found the nose better than the taste, in saying that the taste is very good. This wine features cedar, blackberries, ripe tamarinds, leather, pencil shavings, tobacco leaves, mushrooms, mesquite, peppercorns & graphite. Medium body with medium+ tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Needs to decant for 30-60 min to soften it up.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on it its own but with taste better with high protein foods like steak.

Tasted: 25 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 243246

FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO FALANGHINA 2010, DOC Campania, Italy

25 Saturday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $24.99 (Cayman)
Grape Variety: Falanghina
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacque Scott)
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Feudi Di San Gregorio
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
Positives: Feudi Di San Gregorio makes my favourite Falanghina. A nicely crisp wine featuring notes of peach, lemon/lime, tangerines, a touch of mango, pink grapefruit and limestone. Medium minus body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Feudi Di San Gregorio is one of my favourite Italian wineries. Their labels feature mosaics that are very beautiful. Lastly, the Falanghina grape is one of Italy’s oldest grape brought from Greece and used by the Romans.

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

Tasted: 24 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4