Cost: $14.95 (Sale price until March 29, 2026: $12.95) Grape: Baco Noir Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Canada Region: Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Pelee Island Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A juicy & spicy Baco that’s nicely priced for the quality. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackcurrants, sour cherry, rhubarb, plum, clove, Allspice & peat moss on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable & Vegan
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.
Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Rhubarb, sour cherries, strawberries, cranberries, pickled beets, oyster mushrooms, peat moss & smoked ambers on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Lightly chill to 15C and use a balloon style glassware.
Winemaker’s Note: “Fruit was cold soaked for 3 days, followed by small batch fermentation & 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels & puncheons.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with escargot.
Cost: $43.95 (Sale Price until March 1, 2026: $40.95) Grape: Mostly Grenache with Syrah Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Côte du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Format: 750 ml Producer: Famille Perrin Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A less expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but you don’t lose the quality found in more expensive ones. Eloquent with a silky finish. Score: 97/100.
Tasting Note: Dark garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherries, wild strawberries, plums, brambleberry, cocoa, arugula, wild mushrooms, leather, vanilla & violets with light amber smoked notes on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “Les Sinards is made from young vines (under 20 years old) at Beaucastel and two neighbouring vineyards.”
Winemaker’s Note: “From the month of August onwards we carry out maturity checks and taste the berries regularly to determine the optimum harvest date. Each grape variety is harvested separately. On arrival at the cellar the berries are sorted. Part of the Syrah is vinified in whole clusters and the remainder, plus the Grenache, is destemmed. Vinification is in wooden and stainless-steel vats using the same methods as for the Château de Beaucastel wines. The wines are then tasted to determine the blend, and finally aged in foudres for 2 years.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Spiced Duck Breast.
An elegant, juicy Pinot that pairs well with food or on its own. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, fine tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic & vegan
Winemaker’s Note: “Hand-harvested clusters were destemmed prior to undergoing a wild ferment in open-top oak fermenter. After pressing, the wine was transferred to second-fill and neutral French oak barrels to preserve freshness and then aged eight months before bottling.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with duck breast.
Cost: $11.95 (On sale until Nov 9/25: $10.95) Grape: Tempranillo Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Spain Region: Castilla – La Mancha Format: 750 ml Producer: Hammeken Cellars Alcohol: 14.00% Alcohol/Vol.
A great alternative to U.S. Cabs that are around $20 mark, but this one is half the price & has better structure. Score: 87/100.
Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Blueberry jam, dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, cherry cola, cloves, milk chocolate, cooked spinach & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Vegan Friendly
Winemaker’s Note:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Hungarian Goulash.
Cost: $69.95 Grape: 39.6% Syrah, 30.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30.2% Cabernet Franc Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Kacaba Alcohol: 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.
High end Ontario red that will show its true caliber in years to come. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raspberry, mulberry, plum, cassis, Star Anise, white pepper, Radicchio & arugula.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Aged 16 months in French & American oak.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 6 – 8 years on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.
Cost: $24.95 Grape: Tempranillo Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Portugal Region: Rioja Format: 750 ml Producer: Baron De Ley Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Classic Rioja reserva with nice fruits & spice. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense+ nose, grainy tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, black currants, mulberry, blackberries, raspberry, Allspice, cassis & cinnamon.
Negatives: 14.5% alcohol
Winemaker’s Note: “Aged for a minimum of 20 months in oak casks & then matured in bottle to complete its evolution.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.
Quality made Gamay with tart fruit & spice. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry, black pepper, cloves & cassis.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with panzerotti.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, firm tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, plum, raspberry, dark chocolate, cassis, anise, pencil shavings & baby spinach leaves.
Negatives: None
Winemaker’s Note: “Aged in French & American oak for 16 months.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with flank steak.
Cost: $13.95 (on sale until June 22, 2025: $11.95) Grape: Baco Noir & Cabernet Sauvignon Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Canada Region: Ontario Format: 750 ml Producer: Red House Wine Co. Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Score a big wine for the Speck brothers and for Ontario, for making an inexpensive red wine that has substance, easy to drink & delicious Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Medium bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry pie, plum, mulberry, blackberry, ripe tamarind, white pepper, cassis & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Can’t beat this wine at the price, especially at the sale price.
Winemaker’s Note:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 2 – 4 years on its own or pair it with BBQ hamburgers
Twilight Wines 