Cost: $12.00
Grape Variety: Barbera
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Barbera d’Asti
Country: Italy
Region: Piemont
Format: Red Wine
Producer: Bersano-Antico Podere
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Med ruby color with med+ intensity. Sour cherry, smokey, cherry licorice mixed with earth tones on the nose. On the palate true Italian notes of sour cherry, red apple, some cherry licorice, red currants & pomegranate. Med body with a long finish. Med tannins, med+ acidity, balanced. Medium complexity. Drink now, on it’s own or with a veal sandwich. 

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 348680

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treasury Wine Estates
Alcohol: 15.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: This is a typical Barossa wine, big & powerful. Visually it’s inky, opaque & purple to arterial red in colour. Med intensity on the nose that shows cedar, turmeric, anise, cassis, dark chocolate, plums, blackberry, pencil shavings, raspberry, cigar box. Complex nose. On the palate it’s dry, med+ acidity, med+ tannins, full body, long length, there’s heat from the 15.5% alcohol. Complexity on the taste. In addition to the notes on the nose, there’s dark cherry, leather, tar & spinach. This wine needs to be matched with something just as powerful, try porterhouse on the grill. This will be even better with 3-4 yrs cellaring, even though it’s a screw cap. If you drink now I suggest you decant first.

Tasted 29 April 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 48579

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety:
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: KWV
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby colour, with med+ intensity. True cab Sauvignon notes of cedar, turmeric, blackberry, plum, smokey notes, earth tones, high complexity on nose. Truly a beautiful nose. Taste is medium tannins with medium acid. Full body, easy to drink with or without food. Taste shows anise, blueberry, cassis, raspberry, plums, bacon & some earth tones like leather. Med+ length. KWV consistently produced excellent value wines & this doesn’t disappoint.

Score: 9.5, Value: 10, total: 19.5

Best Buy

Tasted: April 2011

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Switzerland
Region: Swiss Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Provins
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light garnet in colour. High intensity on nose. Love the aromas of cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, light milk chocolate mousse, earth tones with roses. On taste med- body, med+ length, low tannins & med acidity leads to a well balanced & excellent priced Pinot. Flavours as with the nose with addition of pomegranates & juicy red apples. I like the fact that this wine is not high in alcohol. Very food friendly, pairs well with Quail, lamb, pork & tuna. Also very pleasant on it’s own. Bought it on sale for $13.35, but even regular price still a Best Buy. Drink now.

Score: 9+/10 Value: 10/10, Total: 19+/20. One of the best light Pinot’s I’ve tried for under $20.

Tasted 17 April 2011.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#160697