Cost: $35.95 (clearance $25.25)
Grape Variety: 38% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec.
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Trinity Hill Winery
Alcohol: 14%
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nicely balanced, complex wine featuring medium oak, blackberry, blueberry, black & red pepper, pomegranate, mocha, tobacco leaves, arugula, anise, turmeric, tamarind, leather & graphite. Medium+ body with firm tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Well worth the clearance price.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 19 Dec 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (clearance price 9.5/10), Total: 18/20

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

LCBO#: 280263

Cost: $59 ($27.95 LCBO Price)
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Pie restaurant, Barrie, Ontario
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Fattoria Di Magliano
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Deep ruby with medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Interesting wine featuring medium oak, sour cherry, blackberry, spinach, arugula, artichoke, white pepper, sweet peppers & portobello mushrooms. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some people might get turned off by either the greens or the earthy mushroom flavours of this wine.

Interesting Point: Morellino is an appellation in the southern Tuscan zone of Maremma, where the sangiovese’s are a bit richer and softer than in Chianti.

Drink now on its own or pair it with tomato, basil, Mozzarella, prosciutto & arugula pizza. (Hind Leg Pie from Pie)

Tasted: 27 Dec 12

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

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

LCBO#:123596 (Sold out)

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caymus Vyds
Alcohol: 13.9 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Well this was a disappointment. Belle Glos makes some wonderful Pinot’s in their higher end wines, but this entry wine for them has very little Pinot qualities & a lot of jammy sweet notes, more reminiscent of cheap California Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Tasted: 14 Dec 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

LCBO#: 130138

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garanacha
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodega Pedro Martinez Alesanco
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of cedar, sandalwood, cherry covered with black dark chocolate, raspberry and rosemary. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its on or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 21 Nov 12

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

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

LCBO#: 170092

Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah & Carignan
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region: Priorat
Format: 750 mL bottle
Producer: Celler Joan Simo
Alcohol: 15.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Oak, cherry, blackberry, graphite, coffee, mesquite, and champagne oyster mushrooms. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol Batman! Would like to try the 2004 (pictured above) with only 14.6%.

Interesting Point: Bought this at the Crossroads LCBO (Weston Rd/401) at the clearance price of $20.35, which is what this wine is worth.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 20 Nov 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 16+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 35477

Cost: $29.05
Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Margaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ballande & Meneret Sas
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If you want an inexpensive Margaux try this one. A fine balanced and juicy wine featuring cedar, blackberries, raspberry, plums, coffee, graphite, blackcurrants, rubbed sage, and smoked hickory. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly, I get some heat from the 13% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak

Tasted: 16 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 24949

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Dry Creek Valley
Format: 750 ml
Producer: J Pedroncelli Winery
Alcohol: 15.2 %
Description: A beautiful medium ruby colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is a smooth, not jammy Zin, considering the 15.2% alcohol. The wine features cedar, plums, raisins, dark cherry, raspberry, Christmas cake, chili peppers, All-spice & black peppers. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 15.2% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I really like the rich looking label/bottling. Made more in an old world style wine, not a fruit bomb, and easy to pair with different styles of food.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 5 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 463026