Category Archives: Best Buys

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

PEDRO ESCUDERO FUENTE ELVIRA VERDEJO 2009, DO Rueda Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Verdejo
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pedro Escudero
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very refreshing wine. Pink grapefruit dominates with supporting roles from apples, orange rind, green tea, gooseberry & limestone. Medium minus body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: A yellow synthetic cork. I suggest drinking this wine from glassware used for cool climate Chardonnay or Viognier. I tried it in a Sauvignon Blanc glass & it turned the pink grapefruit to regular grapefruit that I would need sugar to cut through the tartness.

Drink now on its own or with Kung Pao chicken.

Best Buy

Tasted: 21 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 218313

SKN CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2007 Napa Valley, California

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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S K N Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley, California Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Don Sebastiani & Sons
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ purple to ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The nose shows sweet oak, cloves, strawberry, pepperoni, cinnamon, mocha, & cherry pipe tobacco. The taste is smooth having medium tannins & acidity, medium+ length, medium+ body and the alcohol is under 14% alcohol. The taste is like the nose with addition to plums & chocolate.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Firstly, I have to thank my wife, Kerri, for introducing this to me a couple years ago in the Cayman Islands. Well it’s finally arrived here in Ontario & at a bargain price for Napa. Now this isn’t comparable to the mid to higher end Napa, but should please the palate of the masses as well as those with acute taste, like my wife. Secondly, SKN stands for Screw Kappa Napa because it’s a screw top, finally, if you like Zinfandel without the high alcohol, you should like this as it has many of the same properties to it.

Drink on its own or pair it with beef stew.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 218834

AMITY VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR, 2008, Willamette Valley Oregon

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Amity Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Amity Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Light to medium garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big Pinot, but it’s also not from California. Very smooth & very easy to drink a bottle or two in one sitting. Low tannins, medium alcohol & medium acidity makes this wine really easy to drink on its own or pair it with duck. The notes show floral notes of violets, roses, cloves & pine. The earth notes are well integrated with cherry & raspberry. Light to medium body & medium+ length. Simply delicious.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Tasted: 19 Nov 11. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 124594

BERONIA TEMPRANILLO, 2007 DOC Rioja, Spain

18 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Beronia Tempranillo 2008, Rioja Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Beronia S.A.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Sandalwood, strawberry, bacon, basil & cherry notes on the nose & taste. The wine is dry, medium to low tannins, medium acidity, medium body & medium length.

Negatives: Slight wateriness detected on the taste.

Interesting Things: This is one of the best inexpensive & consistent year to year Tempranillo’s. Usually the LCBO will put this on sale for a $1 off.

Drink now on its own or with lamb chops.

Best Buy

Tasted: 17 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 243055

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Miapo Valley, Chile

17 Thursday Nov 2011

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

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Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Maipo Valley Bottle

Cost: $15.00
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Miapo Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Tarapacá’s Ex Zavala vineyards. Vinified in stainless steel and then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, the wine spends an additional year maturing in bottle before release. This intense wine displays cassis and ripe blackberry fruit aromas and flavours as well as notes of black pepper, chocolate and spices. Enjoy it with grilled spring lamb.” (LCBO)

Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I concur with the LCBO notes but in addition there’s cedar, coffee beans, mint, cassis, anise, pencil savings, leather, turmeric & sage. The taste is surprisingly smooth considering that this wine has medium+ tannins & acidity. The wine is also full body with a long length, and the alcohol is well managed.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: The notes are more old world style than the new world fruit forward style.

Drink now or cellar for another 5 years. Drink on it’s own or with a grilled T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 15 Nov 11

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 18721

CHALONE, CHARDONNAY 2009, Monterey County, California

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Chalone Monterey County Chardonnay 2009, Monterey County Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Monterey County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Diageo Canada Inc
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh nose showing lemon, sweet apples, nectarines, pineapples, light toast & oak, vanilla & limestone. The taste is smooth & creamy and yet has good acidity. Medium to full body with a long length & good complexity. The taste shows light to medium toast & oak, lemon, pineapples, mangos, nectarines, Macintosh apples & limestone. It is also nice that the alcohol is not on the high side.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Use the larger Chard glass vs the smaller cooler version as the cooler version glass will bring out more citric flavours as well as a bitterness on the taste while loosing the smoothness you get with the larger glass.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years. Drink on it’s own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 14 Nov 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 80226

ATREA OLD SOUL RED 2006, Mendocino County, California

05 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Cost: $22.50
Grape Variety: 39% Zinfandel, 36% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah and 10% Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Mendocino County, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sarasina Winery
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Violets, spruce, raisins, dates, bacon, red peppers, hickory, raspberry, milk chocolate & a forest in autumn with the leaves changing to their beautiful fall colours. As you can see I just love the nose. And now for the taste: like the nose but also blueberry pie. The wine is complex with medium tannins, good acidity, medium length & body. The high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: I detected a slight wateriness on the finish, which shortened the length.

Interesting Things:

  • If you ever had The Prisoner (highly recommended, but not sold in Ontario), this is the lighter version of it.
  • Best with a Zinfandel glass.
  • What caught my eye when I first saw this wine is the classy label & The Old Soul Red. It all reminds me of my wife so I had to get it. I wasn’t disappointed & I hope you won’t be either.

Drink now on its own or with a grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 4 Nov 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 214825

CROSSBARN CHARDONNAY 2008, Sonoma Mountain, California

05 Saturday Nov 2011

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Crossbarn Chardonnay 2008, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Valley Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Sonoma Mountain
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Paul Hobbs Imports Inc.
Alcohol: 14.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Well balanced Chard that is smooth & easy to drink. Paul Hobbs has done a wonderful job with his entry level Chard which exhibits classic Chardonnay notes of lemon, apples, nectarines, pineapple & limestone. In addition, you’ll find some creaminess from the butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn. This Chard is medium+ body & length, well balanced especially between the oak & the fruit.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs is one of the masters in producing excellent California Chardonnays & this one is half the price of his mid to higher end wines. The bottle has a cork screw so drink now or cellar for next 3 years.

Drink on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 3 Nov 11.

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 235945

GIAVI CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE, DOCG, Treviso, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Tenuta Giavi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore, Docg Bottle

Cost: $14.65
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta Giavi
Alcohol: 11.0 %
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Prosecco with pear, peach pit, lemon/lime & apple. This is a lighter style Prosecco with medium+ length & good acidity.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the after taste.

Interesting Things: Try this with Reese peanut butter cups, it’s delicious.

Tasted 30 Oct 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 209569

BARONE RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2007, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Doc Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casa Vinicola Barone Ricasoli Spa
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Classic Chianti with sour cherry, cedar, dried herbs, blackberry, Conifer spice, red & black pepper. This wine has medium+ tannins with good acidity, medium body & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Pair this wine with traditional Italian tomato based dishes.

Tasted: 29 Oct 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 943613