Cost: $18.95 (on sale $16.95 until 16 Sept 12)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Valley of Aconcagua
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Errazuriz S.A.
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The Max Reserva Cab is a fairly complex wine and unusual for such complexity at under $20, and even better when the LCBO puts it on sale a couple of times throughout the year. The 2010 vintage  features cedar, cassis, menthol, cloves, dark cherry, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves, red & black currants. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 6 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO# 335174

Cost: $7.25
Grape Variety: Tinta Roriz, Touruga Nacionale & Tinta Barroca
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Portugal
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves Alianca Vinicola De Sangalhos
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring plums, raisins, blueberry jam & some cedar. Medium body with low tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch sweet.

Interesting Point: This best buy comes by the recommendation from my brother Andrew.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ Chinese ribs.

Tasted: 3 Sep 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO#: 590364

Cost: $11.95 (on sale $10.95 until 12 Sept 12)
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Almansa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Piqueras
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge and medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex wine but it’s a great wine for BBQs. Wine features cedar, sandalwood, cherry, licorice, plums & bramble fruit pie. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a medium length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Not as good as the 2006 I reviewed last year but for the price, especially the sales price, which the LCBO does a couple of times a year, is a really great buy.

Drink now on its own or have it with BBQ spare ribs.

Tasted: 29 Aug 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 270363

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Graves
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dourthe Freres
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Although I found the nose better than the taste, in saying that the taste is very good. This wine features cedar, blackberries, ripe tamarinds, leather, pencil shavings, tobacco leaves, mushrooms, mesquite, peppercorns & graphite. Medium body with medium+ tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Needs to decant for 30-60 min to soften it up.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on it its own but with taste better with high protein foods like steak.

Tasted: 25 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 243246

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: 45% Shiraz, 30% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Finca Flichman
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Description: Dark ruby with a touch of garnet in colour & a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Notes of cedar, plum, blueberry pie, boysenberry, cherry, peppers, caraway seeds, leather, red currants & tobacco leaves. Full body with medium+ tannins & acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: You get some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now, but decant first, or cellar for the next 5-7 years. Drink on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 23 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

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

LCBO:# 17129