Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, raisins, dried cranberries, thyme, dried sage, cloves, arugula, shale and fresh carnations on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: I like the label
Pairings: Drink this now or 8 – 10 years on its own or pair it with Korean BBQ ribs.
Tasting Note: Medium garnet to ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intensity on the nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, raspberry, rhubarb, oyster mushrooms, cinnamon, clove, thyme, oak spice & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable
Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes for this wine are picked at optimal ripeness before being transported back to the winery for processing. Once at the winery the fruit is gently destemmed and then lightly crushed using state of the art processing equipment. Batch fermented according to block and clone in small open top fermenters, the must undergoes a cold soak lasting around 7 days before being warmed and inoculated either with selected yeasts or left to undergo a ‘wild’ ferment using indigenous yeasts found naturally on the grapes. Once fermentation is complete the wine undergoes a short period of post-fermentation maturation on skins before being pressed directly to a combination old and new French barriques. These barrels are kept cool in a temperature-controlled cellar over the winter months, before being warmed in spring, allowing the wine to undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation. Barrels are carefully monitored over this period and once the malolactic fermentation is determined to be 100% complete the final blend is carefully put together before being filtered and bottled.”
Pairings: Drink this now or 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.
Cost: $32.95 Grape: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Okanagan Valley, BC Format: 750 ml Producer: Mission Hill Family Estate Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
The high alcohol overwhelms any fruit. Score: 85/100.
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ nose, mild tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, bramble fruit, spinach, Allspice, pencil shavings & wet stone.
Negatives: High alcohol
Interesting Point: If you leave your glass with the wine open for an hour, the fruit starts to come out.
Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with smoked pork back ribs.
Cost: $19.95 (sale price until April 26, 2026: $16.95) Grape: Sangiovese Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Italy Region: Romagna DOC Superiore Format: 750 ml Producer: Poderi dal Nespoli, Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A nice change to have a quality Sangiovese outside Tuscany. Wine shows nice spice & sour fruits. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with high acidity, medium+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, cranberry, blackberry, blackcurrants, arugula, cloves, black tea, leather & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Use Burgundy style glassware as it will soften the wine.
Pairings: Drink this now or 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with lasagna.
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.
Twilight Wines 