Category Archives: Best Buys

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

LENSWOOD HILLS, PINOT NOIR, 2010, Adelaide Hills, Australia

05 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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215095_web

Cost: $17.15
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: Adelaide Hills
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pikes Vintners Wines
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet with Ruby tones. Medium + intensity showing classic Burgundian notes of rhubarb, violets, oyster mushrooms, cranberry, cherry, strawberries & earth tones. Lets add a classic Pine needles from Oregon style Pinots too. The taste is dry, med- tannins, med acidity, long length, med- body & well balanced. The taste is wonderful. The red berry notes from the nose are rich on the taste, and there is some spiciness on the finish that gives the wine some more complexity on the taste. The 14% alcohol is well integrated. This Pinot taste more like a $40 bottle of wine, not the usual Australian Pinot. Lightly chill this & enjoy with roasted duck.

Best Buy

Tasted 4 June 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 215095

BOTTEGA ILL VINO DEI POETI PROSECCO, 2010, Treviso, Italy

05 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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897702_web

Cost: $13.35 (on sale $12.35 until 19 June 2011)
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: General List
Country: Italy
Region: Treviso
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bottega
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light straw in colour with fine mousse. The nose has high intensity with bright green apple, pear, lemon and honeydew melon. The taste is dry to medium dry as there is a light sweetness from the honeydew melon, good acidy, med length, balanced and medium- weight. The palate shows as the nose. This sparkling is not complex but as such it’s easy to drink on its own, especially on a hot summer day on the patio or by the lake, or pair it with grilled pork chops. Best Buy.

Tasted: 3 June 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#897702

LA ROSA LA CAPITANA, CARMÉNÈRE, 2009, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

01 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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169896_web

Cost: $15.80
Grape Variety: Carmenere
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina La Rosa
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description:Opaque ruby in colour medium intensity. On the nose there’s cedar, raspberry, mulberry, plum, light coconut & cappuccino. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity with med+ length, med+ body & balanced. The wine shows cedar, raspberry, cherry, plum & cassis. The taste is more expressive than the nose & there’s heat from the 14.5% alcohol. Normally I’m not a fan of Carménère as they tend to be linear; however, this is one of the better ones I tasted & if you’re a fan of this varietal it’s definitely a best buy. Decant it & let it stand for an hour will mellow out the tannins. Goes well with pizza.

Tasted 31 May 2011.

Score: 8.5+, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 169896

PAUL DELANE CREMANT DE BOURGOGNE, NV, FRANCE

29 Sunday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Pauldelanecrmantrserve_p1_web

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay & Aligoté
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: France
Region: Northern Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Caves De Bailly
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium straw in colour with medium+ intensity and fine mousse. This sparkling shows toasty yeast, brioche, apple, lemon, pear and limestone. The taste is dry, with good acidity, balanced, medium body with a long length. True crémant (traditional method) flavours which are as shown on the nose. This sparkling is easy to drink and very refreshing. Drink on it’s own after a hard days work or pair it with rotisserie hens.

Best Buy

Tasted: 28 May 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#214981



FOG HEAD HIGHLANDS, Highland Series, CHARDONNAY, 2009, Monterey County

20 Friday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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158568_web

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Delicato Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium minus gold in colour with medium+ intensity. On the nose there’s medium minus oak and toast, lemon tart, meringue, apricot, apple, peaches & cream corn, wet stone and light nutmeg. The taste is dry, med+ acidity, med to full body, med+ length and balanced. The taste is similar to the nose. The alcohol is well hidden considering it’s 14.5%.  This chard is smooth, with no bitter after taste.  Drink on it’s own or with snow crab with drawn butter.

This is a Best Buy wine.

Tasted: 19 May 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

LCBO#158568

CASTILLO DE ALMANSA RESERVA, 2006, Spain

11 Wednesday May 2011

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

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270363_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Monastrell & Grenache
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Spain         
Region: Almansa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Piqueras
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description:Med+ intensity of purple to ruby in colour. Highly aromatic showing purple lilacs, dark cherry, vanilla, Christmas cake, Bramble fruit pie, cloves & pine, sambuca & sandalwood . On the palate; medium minus tannins, med acidity, med to full body, balanced with a med+ length. Similar to the nose, there‘s Bramble fruit, Christmas cake, pine, vanilla, dark cherry, fig and plums. I simply love this wine as it’s easy to drink, very pleasant too on the nose and the taste, you can drink on its own or pair with grilled pork chop with sautéed shallots and oyster mushrooms, and it’s only $11.95! (LCBO has it often on sale for $10.95).  

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 10 May 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#270363

XANADU NEXT OF KIN, SHIRAZ, 2008, Margaret River

08 Sunday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Red Wines

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212662_web

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: Margaret River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Xanadu Wines Pty Ltd.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med+ deep of ruby to purple. Med+ intensity showing lots of berries, such raspberry, blueberry & mulberry. Sweet notes of vanilla bean, raisins,mocha & caramel apple candy, but no jammy over ripe fruit here. The taste is dry, med+ acidity, med tannins, med+ length, balanced & full body. As the nose, lots of berries & shows some white & red pepper. This is a med complex wine that’s easy to drink on it’s own or with food. I paired it with a veal sandwich that had both hot & sweet peppers & it was good. This Ausie Shiraz is part of the new re:invention of wine making happening in Australia, which is going away from flat, sweet, jammy & high alcohol wines. Thank goodness.

Best Buy

Tasted 7 May 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 212662

PELEE ISLAND CHARDONNAY VQA 2009, Ontario

05 Thursday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

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Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Not a complexed chard, and it’s non-oaked. It has good flavors of peach, melon, lemon, slight grapefruit & green apples. Non-oak, good acidity & well balanced. Food friendly & easy to drink. Crisp & clean. Went well with escargot & crab Alfredo. You can find this in non-vintage.

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 136044

BERSANO COSTALUNGA BARBERA D’ASTI 2008, Italy

05 Thursday May 2011

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

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348680_web

Cost: $12.00
Grape Variety: Barbera
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Barbera d’Asti
Country: Italy
Region: Piemont
Format: Red Wine
Producer: Bersano-Antico Podere
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med ruby color with med+ intensity. Sour cherry, smokey, cherry licorice mixed with earth tones on the nose. On the palate true Italian notes of sour cherry, red apple, some cherry licorice, red currants & pomegranate. Med body with a long finish. Med tannins, med+ acidity, balanced. Medium complexity. Drink now, on it’s own or with a veal sandwich. 

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 348680

SANTA CAROLINA, CHARDONNAY, RESERVA, 2010, Chile

02 Monday May 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, White Wines

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Santa_carolina_reserva_chardonnay_screwcap_web

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Chile
Region: D.O. Valle de Casablanca
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Santa Carolina
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with med+ intensity. The nose is clean & crisp showing lemon, guava, limestone, green apple & pear. The taste is dry, slight creaminess, med+ acidity, med+ length. Notes are like the nose with guava being the end note. Med complex wine, easy drinking on it’s own or with BBQ shrimp.

Best buy

Tasted 1 May 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 304022