Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: 65% Grenache, Tempranillo, Mazuelo & Monastrell
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Calatayud
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Bodega San Gregorio
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium+ dark ruby with a medium intense nose. This pleasant, and not overbearing nose, shows classic Grenache notes of medium oak tones, black currants, white pepper, spicy notes, raspberry, clove and liquorice. The taste is dry with medium tannins and medium acidity, long length, medium body and well balanced. The taste is similar to the nose having a juicy feel to it. Drink on its own or with lamb.  Drink now. Best Buy

Tasted: 1 July 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#15073

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz Sangiovese
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: South Austalia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Wines Australia
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby. Medium+ intensity on the nose displaying plums, cherry pie, med minus oak, bramble fruit, mocha, cigar box, red & white pepper & light smokey nose. Very pleasant. The taste is dry, med tannins & acidity, full body, balanced with a med+ length. The taste is similar to the nose with the addition of sour cherry. The high alcohol is well hidden & the usual jammy & cooked fruit typical of Australian Shiraz with high alcohol is not present due to the addition if Sangiovese, but still remember it’s 14.5% alcohol. Smart play by Hardy’s gives this wine a Best Buy rating. Good to drink on its own or pair it with roasted red peppers. This is drinkable now but will still age for another year or two.

Tasted 11 June 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 219139

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Shiraz/viognier
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yabby Lake International Pty.L
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to medium minus ruby in colour. The wine is less intense in colour than normally is seen in an Australian Shiraz/Viognier. The med+ intensity is governed by the flowery aromas from the Viognier. In addition, there’s plum, raisins, red & white pepper, fig, mocha, dark cherry, light oak, cassis & blackberry. Overall a complex nose for an inexpensive wine. Dry, medium minus tannins, med acidity, med length, balanced & med to med minus weight. The taste is smooth having similar notes as the nose, but with a little smokiness, some earth tones classic to it’s varietal & carmel apple. Pleasantly surprising having only 13.5% alcohol & not exhibiting the cooked fruit normally exhibited by inexpensive Shiraz from Australia. Easy to drink on its own & a good wine to bring to socials.

Best Buy

Tasted 7 June 2011. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 624494

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

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