Category Archives: Best Buys

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

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

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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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

FINCA FLICHMAN PAISAJE DE BARRANCAS 2007, Mendoza, Argentina

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Finca Flichman Paisaje De Barrancas 2007, Mendoza Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: 45% Shiraz, 30% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Finca Flichman
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Dark ruby with a touch of garnet in colour & a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Notes of cedar, plum, blueberry pie, boysenberry, cherry, peppers, caraway seeds, leather, red currants & tobacco leaves. Full body with medium+ tannins & acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: You get some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now, but decant first, or cellar for the next 5-7 years. Drink on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 23 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO:# 17129

BERINGER NAPA VALLEY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2008, Napa Valley, California

23 Thursday Aug 2012

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

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Beringer Chardonnay 2008, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Jacques Scott)
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in the colour with a medium+ intensity.

Positives: Toasted oak, buttery, lemon zest, tangerines, light smokiness, roasted marshmallows, peach, cashews and limestone. Full body, good acidy and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: LCBO Vintage did carry this Chard.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 20 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

SANTA ANA SPARKLING EXTRA BRUT NV, Maipú, Argentina

11 Saturday Aug 2012

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

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Cost: $17.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: 80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Blackbeard’s)
Country: Argentina
Region: Cruz de Piedra, Maipú, Mendoza.
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Santa Ana
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Yellow in colour with fine mousse & a medium intense nose.

Positives: A delightful sparkling wine featuring lemon, apple, brioche, ginger, English cucumber and pineapple. Medium body, good acidity and a medium length.

Negatives: A slight wateriness is detected.

Interesting Things: A very good sparkling made in the Charmat method & 120 days under sur lie.

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheddar cheese flavoured sourdough hard pretzels.

Tasted: 11 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

RODNEY STRONG CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY 2010, Sonoma County, California

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Chalk Hill, Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rodney Strong
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium straw to light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour and good balance between tropical and citric fruit featuring medium+ toasted oak, lots of butter, lemon, butterscotch, mango, pineapple, cinnamon apple, marzipan and limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.

Interesting Things: Always nice to see a California Chard under 14% alcohol and not lose the creaminess. A day later the taste was equally good with less sourness on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork tenderloin with a peach & mango glaze.

Tasted: 3 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

LCBO #: 275552

CHATEAU D’AQUERIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2011, Tavel, France

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

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CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2011

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Grenache & Cinsaut
Category: Rosé Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Tavel
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Jean Olivier
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Deep pomegranate in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour going on here featuring strawberry, sour cherry, lavender on the nose, candy apple and pomegranate. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Things: One of my favourite rosés.

Drink now and although it’s fine to drink on its own, I would pair it with food such as pork chops with a spicy edge.

Tasted: 1 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

LCBO #: 319368