Cost: $24.95 (on sale $21.95 until 1 April 2013)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Buena Vista Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium minus intense nose.

An elegant Pinot that is now available at the LCBO General List.

Positives: Light cedar, strawberry, cherry and sour cherry, cranberry, rosemary, basil and a nice earthy finish. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rosemary & mustard encrusted lamb.

Tasted: 27 Mar 13

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Description: Medium bright ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

A nice inexpensive bottle to have on hand when you don’t want to open something more expensive, yet something that’s easy to drink and tasteful.

Positives: Bright bramble fruit notes with expresso, light oak, tobacco leaf, red pepper, asparagus and pepperettes. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with spagetti Bolognese.

Tasted: 12 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5

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

LCBO#:494492

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

It’s so nice, nay great to find a quality California Cab for under $20 in the LCBO general list. And what makes this even better, for a short time its $2 off. Can’t go wrong with this wine.

Positives: This Cab features cedar, cassis, blackberry, ripe tamarinds, boysenberry, dill, chocolate, turmeric, plums, graphite, peppercorn, cinnamon, arugula and some leather on the finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch of heat on the finish from the 14% alcohol, which makes me think it may be higher.

Interesting Point: Like the classy label.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 9 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5+/10 (10/10 sale price), Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 292128

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

How nice is it to find an Aussie wine under $20 that is under 14% alcohol and doesn’t taste like I just ate toasted bread with grape jelly.

Positives: There’s a lot going on in this easy drinking wine. Light cedar, boysenberry, blueberry, blackberry, cassis, cinnamon, cloves, raspberry, cherry and speck, just to name a few. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with venison

Tasted: 7 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5+/10, Total: 19/20

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

LCBO#: 281410

Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackberry, plum, thyme, rosemary, white and black peppers and bay leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length. The 14.5% alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Muted nose

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 4 March 2013

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO#: 17400