Category Archives: Best Buys

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

Collalbrigo Extra Dry Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, NV, DOCG Conegliano and Valdobbiadene

07 Sunday May 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Tenuta di Collalbrigo Winery
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic DOCG Prosecco being dry, crisp, clean with nice fruit flavours. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, green apples, pear & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan friendly

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 7, 2023

LCBO: 30579

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA, NV, Penedès, Spain

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance Price: $21.95)
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Penedès
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Freixenet Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Higher end of the Freixenet Cavas with Chardonnay being the dominant grape and styled like Champagne but at half the price. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sourdough bread, pineapple, peach, Reineta apple, roasted almonds, honey and acacia flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum 10 months ageing in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Iberian Ham.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: April 23, 2023

LCBO: 392548

MON FRÈRE PINOT NOIR 2020, United States of America, California

20 Thursday Apr 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mon Frére Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice Cali Pinot without the standard high alcohol. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, light tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raspberry, plum, ripe tamarind, clove, cinnamon, vanilla & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “Grapes are harvested in early September. All of the fruit is hand-sorted and fully destemmed with no crushing. Cold soaks (4-5 days), warm fermentations (85-90 degree range), and minimal punch downs. Total skin contact ranges from 11-18 days, with wine put to barrel on the lees for malolactic fermentation. Racking is minimal, with only one base blend to allow the new wine to “marry” in the barrel before bottling. Native yeast is used on small lots using cultured burgundy isolates. Aged 10 months in 100% French oak (25% new oak).” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Gruyère cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 19, 2023

LCBO: 30819

VERGELEGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

08 Saturday Apr 2023

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

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Cost: $20.99 KY (April 2023 sale: $13.99)
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 14%, Malbec 2%
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Vergelegen Winery
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A complex Bordeaux style wine from South Africa at a great price. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, chalky tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, cassis, pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco leaves, coffee & Freesia on the nose.

Negatives: None

VINIFICATION: “At Vergelegen the grapes are handpicked followed by storage in a refrigerated container at -10°C for 24 hours. The cool grapes (8-10°C) are then carefully sorted on combinations of vibrating tables and slow movingconveyors, where between 1,5-3 tons are sorted per hour. The grapes are de-stemmed but not crushed and the grapes/must cold soaked for 7 days followed by a feral fermentation lasting 96 hours. Eventually, cultured yeast is addedand the juice fermented dry. The young red wine is now macerated on the skins for a further 32 days before going to barrel. The wine was bottled on 17 December 2019.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 -7 years on its own or pair it with baby back ribs

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 6, 2023

PEDRONCELLI MERLOT 2019, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States of America

31 Friday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $23.99 KY
Grape: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Grand Cayman
Country: United States of America
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pedroncelli
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A rich, juicy Merlot with some spiciness. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, crème de cassis, raspberry, plum, black tea, mocha, Star Anise, cloves, oak spice, tobacco, vanilla, leather & arugula.

Negatives: The heat from the high alcohol of 14.5%

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with ribeye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 30, 2023

RICKETY BRIDGE CHARDONNAY 2020, Franschhoek, South Africa

27 Monday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $20.99 KY
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Rickety Bridge Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice balance of oak, fruit, acidity & spice. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, peach, pear, light caramel, honey, light oak spice & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

WINE MAKING: “This wine was fermented in 500l French oak barrels and Austrian foudres. (10% new and 90% older) The must was fermented at 14° – 17° C and lees was stirred up daily. The wine was matured for 10 months.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with seared shrimp in garlic butter sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: March 27, 2023

BERONIA ROSÉ 2021, DOC Rioja, Spain

09 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $13.95 (Clearance Price: $9.80)
Grape: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Beronia
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

An earthlier style rosé. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light pink in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, strawberry, thyme, Kalamata olives & Champagne mushrooms.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “On arrival at the winery both the Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes underwent cold pre-fermentation maceration for several hours, which extracted as much as possible of their primary aromas. Next, they underwent static debourbage at 5ºC, then alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature below 22ºC immediately afterwards. Finally, the wine was bottled in January 2022 and rested in bottle at least 2 months before being released to the market.”
‘WINEMAKER´

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Paella Valenciana.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: March 8, 2023

LCBO: 323519

ZENATO SOAVE CLASSICO COLOMBRA 2021, DOC Soave, Veneto, Italy

08 Wednesday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $17.99 KY (March 2023 sale: $12.99 KY)
Grape: 70% Garganega, 30% Trebbiano
Category: White Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: Soave, Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Zenato
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Probably one of the best Soave’s I’ve had tasted as it has a lot of complexity. Clean & crisp with a beautiful white flower nose. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, lemon meringue, green apples, pear, honeydew melon, white peace, limestone & elderflower on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years, on its own or pair it with Focaccia

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Amazing Buy at the sale price

Tasted: March 4, 2023

ARIENZO DE MARQUES DE RISCAL RIOJA 2016 CRIANZA, DO CA Rioja, Spain

02 Thursday Mar 2023

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

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Cost: $16.99 KY
Grape: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano
Category: Red Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodegas Herederos del Marqués de Riscal
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Rioja Crianza with nice fruits & spices all at a good price point. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, nutmeg, cloves, coconut, vanilla & sandalwood on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 18 months aged in American oak barrels followed more aging in the bottle.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years, on its own or pair it with Paella.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: March 1, 2023

VILLA AIX EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2021, AOP Coteaux D’Aix en Provence, France

19 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $20.95 (Clearance price: $16.75)
Grape: 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 5% Syrah
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Coteaux D’Aix en Provence
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Le Vins Bréban
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant, generous, very dry and delicious. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Light salmon in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cranberry, honeydew melon, clementines, Fuji Apples, white peach, clay minerality & red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The vineyards of the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence are the most westerly of the wines of Provence.

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with Charcuterie.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: February 14, 2023

LCBO: 668426