Category Archives: Best Buys

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

ELDERTON SHIRAZ 2007, Barossa, Australia

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $32.95 (Sale price: $23.15)
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ashmead Family
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to purple in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots of red & black currents, mocha, spiciness, sweet plums & earth tones in both the nose & taste. There is a lot going on in this wine. Full body, medium tannin, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the high alcohol.

Interesting Points: This is a typical well made Shiraz from Barossa that’s a meal in itself. Drink now on its own or pair it with a rich spicy Italian dish.

Best Buy on the sale price.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11,

Score: 9+/10, 8/10 (sale price: 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 713024

PELEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MERLOT, 2009 VQA Ontario

14 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Pelee Island Merlot 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful nose full of bramble fruit pie, cherry & with a light touch pine & cloves. The nose reminds me of wine gummy berries. The taste is similar to the nose but without the sweet pie notes. Nicely balanced, medium tannins, medium body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None for the price.

Interesting things: This vintage label is a lot nicer than their old one.

Drink now on its own or pair it with ham & pineapple.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 11 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 612622

KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK SHIRAZ 2006, Coonawarra

10 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Katnook Founder's Block Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wingara Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby going towards garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lower alcohol than your average Australian Shiraz. The nose & taste show a lot of spiciness with white, black & red peppers, eucalyptus, pimento, cedar, plum, blackcurrants, raspberry, leather, tobacco leaves & some slate. There is a lot of complexity for a wine that is under $20. This wine is medium body with mild tannins, good acidity & a long finish.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: Screw cap

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 108167

STREWN CHARDONNAY BARREL-AGED, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula

10 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2009, Niagara On The Lake VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice Chard nose showing light oak & toast, buttery popcorn, lemon & golden apple. The taste is similar to the nose with a some added spice on the medium+ finish. The taste is smooth & creamy and still maintains good acidity. This medium body Chard is easy to drink on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use an old world or cool climate style Chard glass.

Best Buy.

Tasted 6 Oct 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 522730

13th STREET WINERY WHITE PALETTE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $14.95

Grape Variety: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay Musqué,
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. It reminds me of late spring with all the flowers in bloom and freshly cut grass. Not surprising as the 3 major grape varietals are all very aromatic. The taste is just as wonderful with a myriad of layers from lychee, to peach & pear to grassy. This wine has a nice long length.  

Negatives: Found a slight bitterness and heat like radicchio & radish on the finish. 

Interesting Things: This is a blend of 6 grapes and they all seem to come out in this wine one way or another, either through the nose or taste. The Chardonnay Musqué is an aromatic clone of Chardonnay also known as Wente. (Yes same as the California Winery. Rumour has it they are credited with the clone). The varietal are: 32.4% Riesling, 24.8% Gewurztraminer, 21.6% Musqué, 7.7% Semillon, 7.7% Pinot Gris & 5.8 % Sauvignon Blanc. 

Drink now on its own or pair it with angel hair with olive oil, cracked pepper and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#: 207340

13th STREET WINERY “ESTATE SERIES” MERLOT, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.95

Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Alluring floral notes of carnations followed by cherry & plum notes.   This is an easy drinking wine that has nice cherry, plum, red currants & red peppers on the taste. Good acidity makes this wine food friendly or drink on its own. Try pairing it with cooked ham. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: This wine is un-oaked  

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2009 Valle de Aconcagua, Chile

05 Wednesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


wine_25106_web

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valle de Aconcaqua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful ripe, but not cooked Cab aromas featuring cedar, cassis, menthol, nutmeg, cinnamon & cloves followed by some bramble fruit. The taste is just as wonderful. This is a medium to full body wine with a long finish and a good balance of tannis and acidity making the wine feel round and not linear or austere. As with the nose there is a lot going on. The taste is similar as the nose.

Negatives: none

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with classic grilled tenderloin steak. The wine is drinkable now, but can cellar for another 3-4 years.

Best Buy

Tasted: 4 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 335174

WARRE’S WARRIOR PORT RESERVE, NV, Portugal

24 Saturday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Fortified & Desert Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $15.15
Grape Variety: Red Blends from Portugal
Category: Fortified
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: W & J Graham & Company
Alcohol: 20.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour.

Positives: The nose shows a lot of complexity with chocolates, dates, figs, raisins, plums, red licorice, blackcurrants, mulberry & black cherry with a nice oak integration and spicy/mint finish. The nose reminds me of the Prisoner, which is a blend that’s dominated by Zinfandel. The taste is similar to the nose but with more traditional Port notes of prunes, nuts & caramel.

Negatives: none.

Interesting items: This port has steadily been a Best Buy year to year & you will not be disappointed. On sale now at LCBO. Drink now

Tasted: 23 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 197202

CHIVITE GRAN FEUDO ROSÉ, 2010, DO Navarra, Spain

18 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Rosés

≈ Leave a comment


Chivite Gran Feudo Rose 2010, Navarra Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Rosé Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Julian Chivite
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright watermelon in colour with a medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Very nice nose & taste of cranberry, strawberries & pomegranates. Very easy drinking wine. Good acidity & length to thus wine.

Negative: A little bit of bitterness on the aftertaste (grapefruit)

Interesting Things: Have it chilled to about 13-15 C & drink from an old world styled Chard glass. I compared it to the Riedel Grape series Chard & the Riedel Vinum Sauvignon Blanc & I found the Chard glass far better. The Sauvignon glass had way to much bitterness. Drink on its own or pair it with grilled Tuna with steak spice. Just make sure it medium rare. Drink now.

Remember that Rosé can be drunk year round, but drink those within 2 years maximum. Rosés are meant to be drank young. Many Rosés are best buys.

Best Buy

Tasted: 17 Sept 11 Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 165845

SELLA & MOSCA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA RISERVA, 2007, DOC, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

≈ 1 Comment


Sella & Mosca Cannonau Di Sardegna Riserva (V) 2007, Doc Sardinia Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Grenache
Category: Red ineW
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Sardinia
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Sella &  Mosca
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: “Cannonau (aka Grenache) di Sardegna is the Italian answer to France’s Côtes du Rhône. This pale-coloured red, typical to the variety, displays complex aromas of ripe plum, wild berries, spices, tobacco, dried flowers and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate is filled with plump, attractive fruit flavours.” (LCBO)

Positives: I love this wine. The aroma itself is intoxicating, maybe because it’s 14% alcohol! Luckily the taste is almost as good. Hey if it was as good I would have scored this wine as perfect. This is an easy drinking wine, with light tannin’s, good acidity, medium minus body and a medium+ length.  This is drinking well now, but you can cellar it for another 2 years. Drink on its own or pair it with hot or medium hot Italian sauces in a basil tomato sauce with pasta. It also went well pizza.

Negatives: The high alcohol of 14%, but surprisingly it still went well with hot food. The taste has a slight watery feel to it.

Interesting Item: The label makes this wine look an expensive Italy wine. Bring it to dinners or parties and it will impress people. The taste will back this up. People will think this is easily a $30-$40 wine.

Best Buy

Tasted: 15 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 425488