Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau Cissac
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

An elegant wine from Bordeaux that you would expect to pay $50 for.

Positives: The wine features cedar, dark cherry, blackcurrant, star anise, pencil shavings, turmeric, sage, plum, arugula and cigar box. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 8-10 years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 25 Oct 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 324665

Cost: $15.75
Grape Variety: Agiorgitiko
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Greece
Region: Nemea
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Lykos Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A unique wine that’s a mix of Sambuca, a well aged rum and port.

Positives: This easy drinking wine features lots of pine, sandalwood, anise, sugar cane, dark cherry, dates, raisins, Rosemary and basil. Medium+ body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with white chocolate.

Tasted: 17 Oct 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 61473

Cost: $29.95 (Clearance Price: $22.25)
Grape Variety: Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan & Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domain Jardin
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby in colour with a slight cloudiness and a medium+ intense nose.

Full flavour wine that is truly enjoyable. Best Buy at the clearance price.

Positives: The wine is complex featuring cedar, plums, white & red peppers, strawberry, raspberry, cassis, cloves, cinnamon, basil, sage, dried leaves and mushrooms. Medium body and medium tannins with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tenderloin grilled steak.

Tasted: 4 Oct 2013

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 285205

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beronia
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Easy drinking, full of flavour and in a word, marvellous.

Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, licorice stick, candied caramel apple, cola, Montreal smoked meat and all the aromas of burning Autumn leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Don’t get this confused with the entry level Beronia Tempranillo in General List for $11.90. It’s night and day, and frankly; pay the extra $7 as it’s well worth it.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with sautéed lamb chops with herbs de Provence.

Tasted: 2 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 723643

Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: St. Jean
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a slight garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A simple yet flavourable Pinot

Positives: This wine features cedar, cloves, cinnamon, cranberry, BBQ lit coals and autumn forest leaves. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or have it with Thanksgiving dinner.

Tasted: 29 Sept 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance Price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 308221

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Sagrantino
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Umbria
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Villa Mora
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A wonderful & complex wine for under $20. Simply beautiful.

Positives: The wine features spiced oak, plum, dark cherry, fig, raspberry, blackberry, mulberry, leather, walnut, tobacco, cigar box, anise, cloves and cinnamon. Full body with dry tannins, good acidity, very long length and the alcohol is well intergraded and surprising since it’s 15.5%.

Negatives: At first you may experience some bitterness on the mid palate, but if you decant for 30 minutes to an hour it should dissipate.

Interesting Point: I describe this wine as a cross between a Napa Valley Cab and a very good Portuguese Douro Red.

Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with aged steak.

Tasted: 28 Sept 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 342394