Category Archives: Best Buys

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

INNISKILLIN OAKED CHARDONNAY CORE SERIES VQA, 2010 Niagara Peninsula

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Inniskillin Oak Aged Chardonnay Core Series 2010, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $14.95 (On sale at some LCBO $10.90)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Inniskillin House Wines Inc
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose shows more citric & mineral notes than the taste. Aromas of apple, lemon, grapefruit, limestone &green banana. The taste is surprisingly better showing similar notes as the nose but having some creaminess associated to a mild buttery taste, mild toasted oak, plantain & a kiss of maple, just to add that Canadian touch. Medium+ body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little heat from the alcohol.

Interesting Note: Use the larger Chard glasses as that will bring out more of the creaminess of the wine.

Drink now or over the next to years on its own or match it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 Mar 12

Best Buy (amazing buy at the sale price).

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 (10/10 on sale price), Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 317768

D’ARENBERG THE STUMP JUMP GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOURVEDRE 2009, McLaren Vale, Australia

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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D'arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2009, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (sale: $12.95 till April 1)
Grape Variety: Grenache/shiraz/mourvedre
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Format: 750 mL
Producer: D’Arenberg Wines
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Lots of spice going on here along with violets, plums, maple, nectarines, blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco leaves, cigar box & champagne mushrooms. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A touch of heat from the alcohol & some tartness on the finish.

Interesting Note: This GSM is more in line with Cotê du Rhone as I didn’t detect the usual jammy notes associated to Australian wines. Use Shiraz/Syrah wine glass if you have them. Finally, from time to time LCBO has this wine on sale.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Chinese dish of beef, mushrooms & broccoli.

Tasted: 7 Mar 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 173294

WARRE’S OTIMA 10 YEAR OLD TAWNY, Duoro Valley, Portugal

11 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Fortified & Desert Wine

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Warre’s 10 Year Old Otima Port, Douro Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Blend
Category: Port
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Portugal
Region: Duoro
Format: 500 mL
Producer: Vintage And Fine Wine International
Alcohol: 20.0 %
Description: A beautiful amber in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of dried figs, dates, raisins, cedar, apricots, orange rind, pecan pie & almonds. Sweet, good acidity, a lot of heat from the high alcohol & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: Consistent year after year & easily accessible as its on LCBO general list. This tawny is in a 500 ml bottle.

Drink now with almonds & dark chocolate. You can lightly chill it or have it at room temperature of 18 degrees.

Tasted: 10 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 566174

JUST CHARDONNAY 2009, Pays D’Oc, France

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Just Chardonnay, Vin De Pays D'oc Bottle

Cost: $7.65
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Still Table Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Sapin Sa
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an unpretentious chard that, by its own label, is just Chardonnay. A delightful easy drinking wine that you can take to parties or open as an apéritif. Lightly oaked with lemon, pineapple, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, apple & some limestone. Medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Just a slight tartness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Good news bad news. Good news is that this wine for $7.65 is a best buy. Bad news is that it’s on sale for that price as the LCBO is discontinuing it, so get it where you can.

Tasted: 6 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 161232

CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH DE LAURENS FAUGÈRES, Faugères, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Syrah, Mourvèdre & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Faugères
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Terroirs D’Occitanie
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Classic Faugères notes of cassis, licorice & leather. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll also find tamarind, raspberry, plum, cherry, red currants & arugula. Medium+ body, tannins & acidity with a very long finish.

Negatives: Found it a little watery.

Interesting Note: Hard to find Faugères at the LCBO.

Drink now on its own or enjoy it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 5 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 223685

YALUMBA THE Y SERIES VIOGNIER 2011, Barossa Valley, Australia

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2011, Barossa Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice aromatic wine showing honeysuckle, apricot, peach, pear, lemon marmalade. orange rind. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Yalumba consistently produces good Viogniers.

Drink now on its own. Enjoy it with pork loin stuffed with sun dried tomatoes & mozzarella cheese.

Tasted: 4 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 624502

MASSUCCO BARBARESCO 2006, DOCG Langhe, Italy

04 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $23.10
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Langhe
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Az. Ag. Massucco
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Light garnet in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: An exquisite nose featuring cedar, sandalwood, Italian spices, all spice, cinnamon, orange rind, live carnations, sour cherry, cherry cola, mulberry & truffles. The taste is similar to the nose. Medium body wine with medium+ tannins, high acidity, alcohol well interested with a long finish.

Negatives: None.

Drink now but will age nicely for the next 4 years. Enjoy it with red tomato sauce dishes.

Tasted: 2 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 214528

DOMAINE TROTEREAU QUINCY 2009, AOC Quincy, France

04 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Domaine Troterau Quincy 2009, Ac Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Quincy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Troterau
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold with a slight green tinge in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Sauvignon Blanc with no notes over competing with one another. Notes of gooseberry, melon, cantaloupe, honey, wet stone, lemon/lime, pear, herbal tea & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Quincy is located in Loire Valley.

Drink now on its own or have it with regular potato chips.

Tasted: 28 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 225185

SALTRAM MAMRE BROOK SHIRAZ 2008, Barossa Valley, Australia

04 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Veinous in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: There’s a lot going here in this complex wine. Violets, cedar, spices, blackberries, coffee, plums, anise, dark chocolate, menthol, smoked bacon, roasted red peppers and sawdust. Full body, medium tannins, good acidity with long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

This wine is a meal on itself, but will also pair nicely with a medium rare T-bone steak. Drink now or cellar for another 5 years.

Tasted: 25 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 32227

DR. HERMANN RIESLING KABINETT 2008,Qmp, Erdener Treppchen, Mosel, Germany

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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Dr. Hermann Riesling Kabinett 2008, Qmp, Erdener Treppchen Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Weingut Dr. Hermann
Alcohol: 7.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Petrol nose featuring lime, peach, slate, pineapple, apple and honey.  Off dry with medium body, good acidity and medium+ length.

Negatives: None

This wine is starting to come of age but you will be rewarded for cellaring this wine for another 10 years. Drink on its own or it will pair nicely with BBQ pork ribs.

Tasted: 21 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 189647