Category Archives: Best Buys

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

GLORIA FERRER SONOMA BRUT SPARKLING WINE, Sonoma County, California

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

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Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County, California, Méthode Champenoise Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blush in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Simply delicious & easy drinking. Raspberry, lemon tart, pear, light yeast, flan, molasses & ginger. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Made in the traditional method. Drink now on its or or pair it with quail eggs & caviar. This wine was ranked #78 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2009.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 192898

GRAND SUD MERLOT, 2010 Vin de Pays d’Oc, France

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Red Wines

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Grand Sud Merlot 1000ml 2010, Vin De Pays D'oc Bottle

Cost: $9.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: France
Region: Languedoc Roussillon (Midi)
Format: 1000 mL
Producer: Les Grands Chais De France Sa
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark blood ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: What a beautiful nose with notes of cigar box, tobacco, cloves, plums, cherry, pine cones, red candy & a touch of vanilla. The taste isn’t as sweet as the nose, which is a good thing. The taste shows blackberry, mulberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, nutmeg, anise, dark cherry, cocoa bean & cloves. Medium to full body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: I love the elliptical shape of the bottle & the bevelled coat of arms. Lastly, my mom loves it. Oh & last to the lastly, it’s under $10!

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal cutlet.

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 171314

GRAHAM BECK CHARDONNAY – VIOGNIER 2009, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Graham Beck Chardonnay Viognier 2009 Bottle

Cost: $9.80
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Viognier
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750ml
Producer: Graham Beck Wines
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking wine featuring lemon meringue, peach, white flower, honeydew melon, pear & limestone. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity with medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Thing: Unfortunately this is product is discontinued, but you can still pick up some bottles now.

Drink now on its own or it with chicken dishes.

Tasted: 18 Feb 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+, Value:10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 140608 (Discontinued)

FOXGLOVE CHARDONNAY 2009, Central Coast, California

19 Sunday Feb 2012

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Foxglove Chardonnay 2009, Central Coast Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Park Wine Co.Inc. Dba Varner
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw colour with medium intensity nose.

Positives: This is an easy drinking unoaked Chard featuring peach, honeydew melon, honeysuckle, lemon, apple, chalk minerality & a light creamy finish. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

Tasted: 15 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 262022

TRIUS WHITE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $16.95 (Sale)
Grape Variety: White blend
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hillebrand Estates
Alcohol: 13.1 %
Description: Medium straw colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose showing spring flower blossoms, lychee, peach, apricot, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, lemon, golden apple & light oak. The taste is smooth & very easy to drink. Be careful because before you know it you’ll be in your second & third bottle. Actually that might be a good thing lol. The taste comes in waves showing lychee, peach, green & golden apples, honeydew melon, apricot, cantaloupe, light oak, lemon, limestone, mandarine & orange rind on the finish. Medium minus body, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: A complex wine for under $20.

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

Tasted: 9 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 54957

COYOTE’S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Ontario

06 Monday Feb 2012

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Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Four Mile Creek
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Coyote’S Run Estate Winery
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Light gold in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: What a nice, easy drinking Chard under $20 & it’s from Ontario. The nose is closed, but the palate brims with spiced oak, lemon, crisp apple, honeydew melon, pear, limestone, tangerine, medium minus toasted oak & a light creaminess on the finish. Nice Old World style Chard. Medium body with good acidity, a long length & moderate alcohol. Nowadays 12.5% alcohol for a Chard is low.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: You can use both the smaller glass Chard or the larger one, but I give the nod to the smaller Chard glassware.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Drinks well on its own or pair it with pasta in an Alfredo sauce.

Tasted: 5 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 49775

BONTERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, 90% Mendocino County, 10% Lake County, California

06 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon (V) 2009, Mendocino County Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: “This organically grown Cabernet rewards with pure and polished aromas and flavours of cassis, cherry, roasted herbs, licorice and ripe blackberry, all wrapped in silky tannins and culminating in a medium-long finish. Toast mother nature by serving this Cab with organic steaks and roasted potato wedges topped off with stir-fried portobello mushrooms.”LCBO

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with high intensity on the nose. Positives: Lots of black fruits to go with cedar, anise, ribena, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, arugula & a touch of spinach leaf on the finish. Medium body, medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The wine is organic.

Pleasant drinking wine that can be drank now or over the next 2 years on its own or paired prime rib.

Tasted: 31 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 342428

ASOLO SUPERIORE EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2010, DOCG Veneto Italy

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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Prevedello Asolo Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco 2010, Docg Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Prevedello
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with good mousse & medium intensity.

Positives: Notes of peach, wild flowers, honeydew melon, baked apples, lemon rind, tangerine & yeast taste on the finish. Overall one of the more complex Proseccos I’ve tasted. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Some might not like the yeastiness on the finish.

Interesting Thing: I wouldn’t use this Prosecco to make Bellinis due to the complexity of the wine. It would be a waste of this fine sparkling.

Drink now on its own or pair it with calamari.

Tasted: 28 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 262881

 

CAMPEDEL RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2008, DO Protetta Italy

28 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $13.90
Grape Variety: Corvina Blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Valpolicella-superiore
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Az. Agr. Gamba
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Very smooth albeit not complex Valpolicella but still delicious wine. You’ll find classic Valpolicella notes of cedar, dark chocolate, raisins, plums, dark cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon & leather. Medium body, medium to medium minus tannins, good acidity with long length.

Negatives: Be careful not to inhale the aromas too quickly as the high alcohol vapor may knock you out. I kid, but it is really strong.

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

Tasted 24 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 160242

CASTELLO DELLA SALA BRAMÌTO DEL CERVO CHARDONNAY 2010, IGT Umbria, Italy

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

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Castello Della Sala Bramìto Del Cervo Chardonnay 2010, Igt Umbria Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Umbria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Marchesi Antinori
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “The Umbria region in general, and Antinori’s Castello della Sala estate in particular, have shown a fine hand with Chardonnay. The 2009 Bramìto Chardonnay is no exception. Filled with aromas of peach, apricot, toast and a fine minerality, this well-made, fresh Chardonnay is an ideal partner for barbecued jumbo shrimp or even for the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner.” LCBO

Light gold in colour with a medium minus to medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: A Chablis style chard featuring lemon, apple, peach, limestone & wet stone. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use the smaller chard glass as it brings out more of the intensity of the notes. An excellent alternative to Chablis.

Drink now or within the next two years. Drink on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

Tasted: 23 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 176792