Cost: $23.95 (Sale price $19.20)
Grape Variety: 75% Carmenere, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Chile
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Santa Ema Vineyards
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby in colour with an intense nose.

I feel the sale price is the proper price for this wine.

Positives: An intense wine featuring cedar, black currants, peppercorn, cherry, tamarind, leather, tomato leaf, sage & eucalyptus. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Notes: Santa Ema is a sustainable winery. Amplus is Latin meaning: important, honourable, eminent, & distinguished.

Drink now on its own or pair it with mustard crusted lamb chops with mint sauce.

Tasted: 1 May 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5 Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO: 169987

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Wahluke Slope, Washington St
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Constellation Brands Inc
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A lighter style of Cab showing medium oak, mushrooms, black currants, spinach, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, sage and an undertone of plums and cherry. Medium body with tight tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat on the finish from the 14.3% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Beef Stroganoff with Shitake mushrooms.

Tasted: 23 April 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17+/20

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

LCBO: 301358

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Lodi
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michael David Vineyards
Alcohol: 15% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Either you’re going to love this or hate this. For me the first glass was great, but then the alcohol and sweetness got to me.

Positives: The dominant note is Hubba Bubba grape chewing gum, followed by Maltesers, raisins and plums. Full body, mild tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: The heat from the 15% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 15 April 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO: 59311

Cost: $12.15
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bonnet-Gapenne
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

I usually find low-end French wines in Ontario of low quality and not even deserving of their low price. However, this one is an exception, and I thank my brother’s finance Liz for bringing it to dinner.

Positives: A simple Pinot featuring cedar, strawberry, cherry, black tealeaf, light underbrush and oyster mushrooms. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity and average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal tenderloin.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5/20

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

LCBO#: 265991

Cost: $31.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Santa Maria Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cambria Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium to light garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A typical California Pinot, in a good way, featuring pine, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, pomegranate and an underlying note of smoke reminiscent of autumn leaves on an open fire. Medium to medium minus body, light tannins, medium+ acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Remember to slightly chill a Pinot.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn glazed pork pâte.

Tasted: 13 April 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 489889