Eight wines join Steve’s Top 50 at LCBO for May 2013

Steve Thurlow

Frequent readers of my reports on the Top 50 wines by value know already that wines from the south of Italy, Chile, South Africa and Argentina make up the bulk of the list. However it is rare for an inexpensive wine of quality from Greece to appear, but the 2012 vintage of Boutari Moschofilero deserves to be there.

The Top 50 list changes all the time. Prices go up and down, new vintages of current listings arrive, over 200 new products are launched each year and as a consequence around the same number of wines are discontinued. All these cause changes to the list.

This month there are eight wines that are new to the list. So let’s look at the arrivals in detail, but please also check out all the rest of the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value. So read beyond the new entrants to find more values, and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

New to the Top 50

Eight wines arrived on the Top 50 this month.

Less than $17

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Aconcagua Valley, Chile $16.45 (on sale until May 26 was $18.95)

A classic Chilean cabernet with a degree of elegance not often seen for less than $20. The complex lifted nose shows cassis fruit with cocoa, menthol, pine and mineral notes plus some black cherry jam hints. The palate is juicy with the dense fruit elegantly balanced by fine tannin and lemony acidity. Very good to excellent length. Try with a rare steak or lamb cutlets. Best 2013 to 2017.

Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Aconcagua Valley, Chile $15.95

This is the best vintage yet for this excellent sauvignon from cool coastal part of the Aconcagua Valley in Chile. The nose shows complex aromas of pea pod, gooseberry and lime with floral and mineral tones and fresh cut grass. The palate is very smooth with just enough fruit sweetness to cover over the lime acidity. It is very fresh and juicy with very good length. Try with pasta or risotto with a pesto base or herbed lemon chicken.

Less than $12

Boutari Moschofilero 2012
Mantinia, Greece $11.95

Moschofilero is an aromatic white grape from Greece used here to make a great value wine with apricot, peach and pear fruit aromas plus baked lemon, ginger and orange blossom. The palate is midweight and very fruity and it is well balanced with vibrant lemony acidity plus a nice touch of bitterness on the finish. Very good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine or intense hard cheese like Gruyere.

Less than $10

Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2010
Mendoza, Argentina $9.95

The 2010 vintage of this 100% malbec delivers a lot of structure and depth off flavour for a wine under $10. Expect lifted currant fruit with tea and herbal notes, mild oak spice and a hint of prune. It is elegant and quite rich, medium-full bodied with good to very good length.

Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
South Africa $8.45 (on sale until May 26 was $9.45)

A youthful bright cherry red with delicate berry aromas and lots of flavour. Expect mild aromas of earthy black cherry with jam and leathery tones. The palate is juicy with soft red fruit and fine tannin and there is good length. It finishes dry and needs a juicy hamburger or maybe some sausages. Best 2013 to 2014.

Fuzion Chenin Chardonnay 2012
Mendoza, Argentina $7.95

A very tasty white with baked fruit aromatics of orange and peach with some honeysuckle notes. The palate is rich with a good depth of flavour and very good length. Great for drinking on its own or as an aperitif with pastry nibbles.

Citra Sangiovese Terre Di Chieti 2011
Abruzzo, Italy $7.25

Excellent value red with a savoury herbal nose. It’s midweight with juicy fruit balanced by firm tannin and soft acidity. The finish is firm and dry and very long. Its delicate and savoury so try with mildly flavoured red meat dishes or mild cheddar. Best 2013 to 2015.

Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2011
Abruzzo, Italy $7.25

Great value for a well balanced food red that will work with a wide variety of dishes. Expect aromas of red cherry and pomegranate fruit with dried herbs, mushroom and tobacco tones. It is midweight and well balanced with just enough acidity and soft tannin to give it the structure for food. Try with meaty pasta sauces or mildly spicy sausages. Very good length. Best 2013 to 2015.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so VINTAGES Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and VINTAGES Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find all of my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database. Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

Once you have tried a wine, you can use the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down’ to agree or disagree with our reviews. Or better yet, you can add your own review and join our growing community of user reviewers. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf, or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

We invite our Premium Subscription members to use this link to find all of Steve Thurlow’s reviews of the Top 50 Value Wines. Paid membership to WineAlign has its privileges – this is one of them. Enjoy!

Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials Wines

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Ten wines join Steve’s Top 50 at LCBO

Steve Thurlow

The Top 50 list changes all the time. Prices go up and down, new vintages of current listings arrive, over 200 new products are launched each year and as a consequence around the same number of wines are discontinued. All of these factors cause changes to the Value list.

This month there are ten wines that are new to the list. So let’s look at the arrivals in detail, but please also check out all the rest of the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value. So read beyond the new entrants to find more values, and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

New to the Top 50

Ten wines arrived on the Top 50 this month. I’ve highlighted them below in various price categories.

Less than $17

Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Maipo Valley, Chile, ON $16.05

Cousino Macul has been making Antiguas Reservas for decades and it keeps getting better. Still very youthful, this is a cellar candidate that’s fine now but even better if you decant for an hour or so before serving. It is very classy with a degree of elegance rarely found in such an inexpensive wine. The nose is youthful with the cassis fruit aromas complicated by tobacco, dark chocolate, menthol and herb notes. It is medium to full-bodied and very smooth with the ripe fruit balanced by soft acidity with a little dry tannin giving some grip to the finish. Very good length. Will develop more complexity with a few years in the cellar. For now, decant for an hour and enjoy with a steak. Best 2014 to 2020.

Masi Serego Alighieri Possessioni Rosso 2010
Veneto, Italy, ON $15.00

This is a very classy elegant Italian red for a great price. It comes from the hills that rise behind Verona and is made from corvina and sangiovese grapes matured in large cherry wood barrels. Expect fragrant aromas of blackberry fruit with tobacco, vanilla and jammy notes. It is ripe, full-bodied with just enough tannin and acidity in support. Very good length. Best 2013 to 2018. Try with roast duck or hard mature cheeses.

Less than $13

Paul Mas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010 Nicole Vineyard
Pezenas, France $12.95 on sale until April 28 was ON $14.95

This is great value for a Bordeaux blend from the south of France. There is a lot of complexity on nose and palate with aromas of earthy baked cassis fruit with dark chocolate. It is well-balanced with the juicy fruit supported by vibrant acidity and soft tannin. Focus is well maintained onto the finish with a nice dry cranberry jelly flavour persisting well. Try with a beef casserole or rack of lamb. Very good length. Best 2013 to 2017.

Argento Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010
Mendoza, Argentina, ON $12.95

An elegant approachable fruity cabernet that’s available for an amazing price. The nose shows lifted aromas of black cherry and blueberry fruit with fragrant oak spice, vanilla, tobacco and leather. It full-bodied and finely balanced with a long lingering finish, on which the fruit persists well. Excellent length. Try with roast game or a grilled steak. Best 2013 to 2016.

Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2011
Mendoza, Argentina, ON $11.95

This is a very well made wine at a great price. It’s a juicy syrah with aromas of blueberry and blackberry fruit plus oak spice with cocoa and vanilla notes. It is midweight and creamy smooth with the fruit flavours balanced by soft acidity and soft tannin. Good to very good length. Try with bbq meats or mature cheddar. Best 2013 to 2016.

Bodegas Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2009
Yecla, Spain, ON $11.80

The monastrell grape in southern Spain makes many delicious juicy dark, full-bodied reds like this wine. It is wonderfully smooth with vibrant acidity that gives it a degree of elegance that will cost you over $20 normally. Expect aromas of blackberry with fragrant lavender, vanilla and cocoa plus some raspberry jam notes. The palate is rich yet not heavy and it finishes dry with some meaty notes and fine tannin for grip. Very good length. Try with roast meats. Best 2013 to 2017.

Castello Del Poggio Moscato
Asti, Piedmont, Italy, ON $11.10

A delicate well priced Moscato with lively acidity to balance the fruit and the sweetness. Expect lifted floral lemon, melon and honey aromas. The palate is fresh and pure with very good length. Enjoy on its own or with delicate pastries. I have found that this is a wine that almost everyone will like, even if they say don’t like wine!

Less than $9

Puglia, also known as Apulia, is at the southeastern foot of Italy forming the “heel” on the map. Negroamaro, a local grape, is ideally suited to its hot dry climate. Try these two sun-drenched value wines to warm up your winter. I know it’s spring, but it still feels like winter to me!

Mezzomondo Negroamaro 2011
Salento, Puglia, Italy, ON $9.00

This has been one of the best value reds at the LCBO for years; you always get a lot for the money. I don’t know how they can make such a bright, tasty wine for this price. The nose is black cherry fruit with some earthy spicy tones and a hint of pine. It is medium bodied, juicy and well-balanced with good to very good length and enough tannin for balance. Chill slightly and enjoy with strongly flavoured cheese, pizza or bbq meats. Best 2013 to 2015.

Farnese Negroamaro 2011
Puglia, Italy, ON $8.25

A new classier label has arrived mid-vintage on the 2011 bottles of this generous southern Italian red. It’s full-bodied and ripe with the fruit well-balanced by lemony acidity. Expect aromas of prune and blackberry fruit to lead to a soft juicy palate. Good to very good length. Try slightly chilled with ribs or enjoy on its own. Best 2013 to 2015.

Abruzzo, a wine region known for its reds from local grape montepulciano, is on the eastern Adriatic coast of Italy just across the Apennine mountains from Rome. This red is one of the best values in structured Italian wine at the LCBO.

Eclipse Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo 2011
Abruzzo, Italy, ON $7.60

Lovers of Italian wine should be buying this by the armful. It is such an amazing price for a well-balanced structured red; don’t pass it by because you think it’s too cheap. However it’s not for sipping on its own; with some red meat or hard mature cheese it’s quite delicious. It is medium cherry red in colour with a fairly complex nose of raspberry and cherry fruit plus some earthy notes and a hint of forest floor. The palate is midweight with the fruit supported by good gentle acidity and modest tannin. The flavours linger for a long time on the finish. Best 2013 to 2016.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so VINTAGES Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and VINTAGES Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time. 

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find all of my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database. Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

Once you have tried a wine, you can use the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down’ to agree or disagree with our reviews. Or better yet, you can add your own review and join our growing community of user reviewers. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf, or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials Wines

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10 Great New Values join Steve’s Top 50 at LCBO

Steve Thurlow

The Top 50 list changes all the time. Prices go up and down, new vintages of current listings arrive, over 200 new products are launched each year and as a consequence around the same number of wines are discontinued.  All these cause changes to the list.

This month there are ten wines that are new to the list since December 2012. So let’s look at the arrivals in detail, but please also check out all the rest of the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value. So read beyond the new entrants to find more values, and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

New to the Top 50

Ten wines arrived on the Top 50 this month.

Less than $17

Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2006, Spain
$16.55 on sale until Feb. 3 was $18.55

The is a classic Rioja reserva from Montecillo with a sophisticated blue label to describe a very classy wine. It shows fine lifted aromas of raspberry and cherry fruit with sandalwood spice, and hints of mocha and prune. The palate is midweight finely balanced with very good length. Try with roast lamb. Best 2013 to 2016.

Less than $11

Bolla Valpolicella 2011, Veneto, Italy
$10.95 on sale until Feb 3 was $12.95

This is a beautiful lightweight Valpolicella, that should appeal to pinot lovers with its pale ruby colour, firm dry finish and soft fruity palate. Expect aromas of dry cherry with raspberry tones and a hint of warm spice and cranberry jelly. It is lightweight with soft dry fruit, well balanced with good to very good length. Try with pizza or tomato based sauces. Best 2013 to 2014.

Jackson Triggs Black Series Chardonnay 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula
$10.95 on sale until Feb 3 was $11.95

There is a lot going on here for a chardonnay at this price with lifted aromas of ripe apple pineapple fruit with mild oak spice honey and vanilla tones. It is full bodied, rich and creamy with a powerfully flavoured dry palate. Very good length. The finish is maybe a bit green, but it persists well. Try with strongly flavoured white meat dishes or strong mature cheese. It will gain in complexity and integration with another year or two of bottle age. Best 2013 to 2016.

Less than $9

Sicily

Sicily is one of my favourite wine places to visit. I been there many times and am looking forward, as snow falls here in Canada, to bathing in its warm sunshine again this fall. Try these two value sun-drenched wines to warm up your winter.

Montalto Nero d’Avola Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
$8.95

This is a juicy full bodied red with a nose that shows red berry fruit with herbal and spicy notes. It is very fruity and well structured with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Very good length. Well balanced except it is just a bit hot on the finish from alcohol. Ideal with pizza and meaty pasta sauces. Best 2013 to 2015.

Montalto Pinot Grigio 2011
$8.95

A ripe fruity rich pinot grigio from sunny Sicilian vineyards. It is awesome value when compared to some more expensive dull examples on the LCBO shelves. Expect simple fruity aromas of ripe apple and melon with some floral and mineral tones. The palate is medium bodied and dry with decent length. Try with creamy pasta dishes or bbq chicken.

Chile

Chile is delivering fine wines at all price points. Santa Carolina is a major player in Chile and you get a lot for your money across their entire range of wines. These two reds are excellent everyday wines for enjoying with pizza, meaty pasta sauces, grilled meats or strongly flavoured cheese or simply sipping on their own while enjoying the company of friends and family.

Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
$8.95

This is a fresh, pure and clean cabernet with a good depth of flavour, decent structure and very good length. There is a lot going on for the money, with mild aromas of black cherry and cassis fruit with spicy and earthy tones. It is midweight, juicy and very drinkable. Try with bbq meats. Best 2013 to 2014.

Santa Carolina Merlot 2011
$8.95

A nice vibrant fruity merlot from Chile. Expect pure aromas of raspberry and red cherry fruit with some jammy tones and herbal hints. The palate is brimming with lively bright fruit with enough tannin for balance and good to very good length. Enjoy on its own lightly chilled or with a wide range of meat and cheese dishes.  Best 2013 to 2014.

France

Its time to take another look at French table wine. Those ordinary big bottles with their boring contents have been replaced in recent years by more exciting, vintage dated, varietally labelled wines like this one from the south of France.

Partager Reserve Merlot 2010, Pays d’Oc
$8.95

The Partager label has been in our market for decades so it was due for a makeover. This wine is labelled merlot and vintage dated 2010 and comes from Pays d’Oc in the south of France and is a great buy. Expect a deep purple red with mild aromas of black and red berry fruit. It is full bodied and flavourful with a long dry finish. It needs some juicy grilled meat or rich cheese for best enjoyment. Decant for an hour before serving. Best 2013 to 2015.

Australia

Australia has long made wines, fortified by brandy, in the style of both Sherry from Spain and Port from Portugal. In fact until 30 years ago such wines formed a major part of  Aussie wine production. This is a medium dry wine, not at all like the sweet cream Sherry that is favoured by my aged aunts.

Emu Amontillado Medium Dry Sherry
$8.95

A delightful light slightly sweet sherry with aromas of candied orange peel, honeysuckle and baked apricot. It is lightweight with good acidity and finishes dry so would work well with cold creamy sweet red pepper and tomato soup, or enjoy well chilled on its own or with biscotti while watching tv.  I tried it with Chinese sweet and sour pork and it was just perfect. Very good length.

Argentina

There are many great value reds on the Top 50 list from Argentina. Look out for malbec, cabernet sauvignon and blends of the two.

Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec 2011, Mendoza
$8.95

This is a simple, fruity wine which with a slight chill is very drinkable. Expect prune and blackberry fruit with spicy and jammy nuances, there is not much tannin and its a bit flabby so it will benefit from modest chilling before serving. It is clean pure and quite quaffable with decent length considering the price. Best 2013. Try with pizza or a ham and cheese sandwich.

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find all of my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database. Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

Once you have tried a wine, you can use the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down’ to agree or disagree with our reviews. Or better yet, you can add your own review and join our growing community of user reviewers. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf, or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials Wines

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Steve’s Go-To Six from the LCBO Top 50 Value Wines – Dec 2012

Steve Thurlow

Like most wine writers I am often asked “what is your favourite wine?”. Usually I reply that I have many and refer the curious to the thousands of wines I have reviewed on WineAlign. However I do have a few “go-to” wines that I often drink at home. So as a Holiday special I have picked six of my favourites that you too can enjoy in the days and weeks ahead – a pair for your Holiday turkey, another pair of party wines, and finally a duo for those hearty winter meals.

Please also check out all the rest of the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value. There are four wines that are new to the list since last month. Read beyond my go-to’s to find more values, and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

Roast Turkey Dinner

A red and a white that are both delicious and will be perfect with a roast turkey dinner.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir 2011, Central Valley, Chile $10.95

This wine is consistently one of the best values in inexpensive pinot each vintage. The 2011 is an excellent straight forward pinot noir that does what a pinot noir should do: put a happy smile on your face. It is ruby-red in colour with complex (for this price) aromas of red cherry and raspberry fruit with some spice, smoke and herbal notes. The palate is mid-weight with the fruit supported by acidity and mild tannin. It is fresh, pure, fruity and very yummy. Match with roast turkey, cold roast beef or baked salmon. Very good length.

Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley, Chile $11.95

A delicious, hardly oaked, chardonnay with a beautiful creamy lively palate. Expect a lifted nose of complex aromas of peach, melon and grapefruit with honey and toffee notes and a hint of oak spice. It is rich and creamy on the palate with lovely soft lemony acidity which keeps it feeling light. It finishes dry with very good to excellent length. Try with white meats, creamy cheeses and seafood. Don’t overchill.

Party Wines

We all need to have wines in stock at this time of the year for when guests drop in for a drink and a nibble, or for planned parties where we need lots of wine to supplement what is brought as gifts. You can never have enough of these two in stock in my opinion.

Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2010, Mendoza, Argentina $11.95

A soft juicy syrah with aromas of blueberry and blackberry fruit plus dark chocolate and vanilla notes. It is midweight and creamy smooth with the fruit flavours balanced by soft lemony acidity and gentle fine tannin. Good to very good length. A very classy wine at a great price. Sip on its own or try with grilled meats or strongly flavoured cheese. Best 2013 to 2015.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier 2011, Colchagua Valley, Chile $9.95

Lifted tropical fruit aromas give a great start to this wine with orange blossom, baked apple, ginger and nutty complexity. It is medium to full bodied and very rich with the fruit well balanced by vibrant acidity. Very good to excellent length. It’s terrific value. Enjoy on its own lightly chilled with party nibbles or at the table with rich poultry dishes or sautéed seafood.

Stews, Casseroles, Steaks and Roasts

As it gets colder, we tend to eat more hearty red meat dishes; so some reds for the table will be needed over the Holidays.

Farnese Casale Vecchio Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2010, Abruzzo, Italy $9.95

There is a lot going on in this Italian red for under $10. The complex nose shows black berry fruit, toffee, plum jam with mild oak spice, hints of vanilla and a touch of mocha. It is very smooth on the palate with the clean bright fruit well balanced by soft acidity and soft tannin. Very good length. This is stunning value for such a complex and elegant wine. Try with roast game, stewed lamb or beef or roast lamb. Best 2013 top 2016.

Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Maipo Valley, Chile $15.95

This small Chilean winery makes some very classy wines at a great price. Rarely do you find such a degree of elegance in such an inexpensive wine. It is youthful with a tightly wound nose of cassis fruit with tobacco, dark chocolate, menthol and sage notes. It is medium to full bodied and sexy smooth with the ample ripe fruit balanced by soft acidity with a little dry tannin giving some grip to the finish. Very good length. Will develop more complexity with a few years in the cellar. For now, decant for an hour and enjoy with a steak, beef casserole or roast beef. Best 2013 to 2018.

December Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

Four wines arrived on the Top 50 this month. I wrote about the Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir above, and here are the other three:

La Posta Cocina Tinto Blend 2010, Mendoza, Argentina $12.85

This red blend of malbec with syrah and bonarda is an opaque purple wine with aromas of blackberry jello, blueberry and prune fruit with herbal and floral tones. It is full bodied, flavourful and well structured with some firm tannin giving grip and acidity for vibrancy. Very good length. Try with a steak. Will gain in complexity with a year or two of bottle age, but fine now. Best 2013 to 2016. The 2011 vintage of the wine below is just as good as the last four vintages so it keeps its place on the Top 50 this month.

Mezzomondo Negroamaro 2011, Salento, Puglia, Italy $7.95

This has been one of the best value reds at LCBO for years. It’s less than $8 and you get a lot for the money. The nose is black cherry fruit with some earthy spicy tones and a hint of pine. It is medium bodied, juicy and well balanced with good to very good length and enough tannin for balance. Try with strongly flavoured cheese, pizza or bbq meats. Best 2013 to 2015. The next wine is on sale for a month and so jumps into the Top50 for a while.

Pezoules Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Peloponnese, Greece $10.60

This is great value for a clean lightweight cabernet. Expect mild aromas of cassis fruit with red currant and tobacco tones. It is midweight dry and well balanced with some chewey tannin showing up on the finish. Very good length. Try with bbq meats or creamy Brie cheese. Best 2012 to 2015. ($10.60 until Jan 6th; was $11.60).

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find all of my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list. To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database. Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

Once you have tried a wine, you can use the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down’ to agree or disagree with our reviews. Or better yet, you can add your own review and join our growing community of user reviewers. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf, or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Nouveau Wines & Steve’s Top 50 Values from the LCBO – Nov 2012

Steve Thurlow

On the third Thursday of November every year the Beaujolais Nouveau wines arrive in stores all over the world. This year only three wines from Beaujolais in France were part of the LCBO’s special 2012 Nouveau release. Seven wines from Italy, France and Ontario also arrived at the same time and one of these joins the Top 50 Value List. There is a review of the Nouveau wines below, which will be in stores for the next few weeks until stocks run out.

There are five wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the Nouveau wines to find more bargains and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected. Check out all the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value.

Nouveau (French) and Novello (Italian) Wines

These are the first wines of the 2012 harvest to reach us. They are made in a special way that speeds up the winemaking and maturation process to get them to customers quickly. They are very fruity, lively reds that are not designed to last more than a few months while we wait for the rest of the vintage’s more age worthy reds to appear. Often dismissed by serious wine drinkers, the batch this year was one of the best I can remember and one wine actually made it onto the  Top 50 Value Wines list. Here are my best four in order of value.

Giocale Novello Rosso 2012, Terre Di Chieti Abruzzo Italy $8.95

New to the Top 50, this Novello from the south of Italy with 75% montepulciano  is quite different from the rest of the release with its nose of prune and blackberry fruit with olde English toffee notes and a hint of coffee. It is very fruity and almost full bodied but is well balanced by fresh acidity. Youthfully exuberant. Very good length. It finishes dry. Enjoy on its own, lightly chilled or with burgers or pizza.

Primeur Catalan Syrah Merlot 2012, Pays d’Oc, France $9.95

I like this wine a lot. It captured the spirit of new wine and it’s well priced, though not in the Top 50 for Value. Expect aromas of black cherry with cassis to grab your attention. They are fresh pure aromas that encourage you to taste the wine which is fairly rich for a nouveau with nice mouthfeel. The fruit is well balanced by vibrant acidity and there is good to very good length. Try with grilled sausages.

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2012, Burgundy, France $14.95

This is a very good Beaujolais Nouveau. It’s aromatic with herbal tones to the cherry blossom, raspberry fruit aromas. It is well balanced with some complexity and good concentration. It is medium-bodied with a degree of elegance but it is quite expensive compared to others in this Nouveau release. Try with roast turkey with cranberry sauce

Negrar Novello Del Veneto 2012, Valpolicella, Italy $9.95

This is a lightweight simple fruity red which does not have a great depth of flavour. Expect a nose of dry cherry and cranberry fruit, with bubble gum notes, to lead to a gentle dry palate with enough acidity and tannin for balance. Good length. Try with mildly flavoured cheese pizza.

Use this link to see all ten Nouveau 2012 wines 

November Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

Five wines arrived on the Top 50 this month, including the Giocale Novello Rosso that I wrote about above.

Oggi Primitivo 2011, Puglia, Italy $8.95

The 2011 vintage of this wine is a step up from the 2010 such that it joins the Top 50 this month. A new label and a name change accompanies a quality upgrade. It’s a medium to full bodied red with a lot of aroma and depth of flavour for such an inexpensive wine. Great value. The nose shows red cherry fruit with cranberry jelly, tobacco, smoke and chocolate notes. The palate is juicy with the fruit well balanced by acidity. Good to very good length. Try with pizza or meaty pasta sauces.

Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Malbec Corvina 2010, Mendoza, Argentina $11.95 until Dec 2 was $13.95.

This wine is on sale for a month and so jumps into the Top50 for a while. A malbec from Argentina with Italian styling from the Verona house of Masi. Its vibrant acidity and structure are not typical of Argentine malbec at this price; so don’t expect gobs of soft jammy fruit. It is midweight with velvety fruit and mild tannin. Expect aromas of blackberry and prune fruit with cedar, smoke, grapefruit and mushroom notes. It is juicy with a solid structure from firm yet smooth tannin. Good to very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Needs food so try with roast beef or strongly flavoured mature cheese.

Both the wines below join the Top 50 because they have been discontinued at the LCBO. Clearance prices should move them out quickly but there are today many bottles of each remaining but don’t delay.

The Insider White By Knappstein 2010, Clare Valley, South Australia $8.95, was $11.95

A fresh dry white with lemon mineral aromas plus some spicy apple and a floral hint. It is light to mid weight with the minerally fruit well balanced by some firm acidity. It is a bit austere on the finish but there is very good length. This wine is built to last; it’s fine now but could be cellared for a year or two. Try with salty shellfish.

Barwick White Label Pinot Noir 2010, Pemberton, Western Australia $11.95, was $15.95

This is a fruity vibrant pale red pinot from Western Australia with aromas of cherry, raspberry and plum fruit plus some earthy tones and a hint of tobacco. It is midweight, well balanced with a solid yet gentle acid and tannin structure. It finishes well with the focus well maintained. Very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Try with roast beef or seared tuna.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

Before value wine shopping remember to consult the Top50, since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews, tell us please why we got it wrong and if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since it’s good to hear that you agree with us.

It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Filed under: News, Wine, Beaujolais Nouveau, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – October 2012

Steve Thurlow

Three great reds from Chile and Six new wines to my Top 50 

Carmenère is probably the most improved red grape in the last 5 years. Until recently, this grape mostly made green tasting wines with strange aromas that even armfuls of oak chips could not cover up. However Chile’s talented grape growers and winemakers have now discovered how to make great wine from it; in some cases these days it’s the best wine of the winery.

Carmenère originates in Bordeaux, but since it is so late ripening, it has virtually disappeared from its home, where it never made good wine I am told. Plants mostly arrived in Chile labelled as merlot and many vineyards were planted with a mix of the two, which was disastrous for the wines sold as merlot. Today the two varieties have largely been separated in the vineyards, making the merlots better and often great carmenerès.

The French pronounce the grape car-men-ur but recently I have heard some Chileans pronounce it car-men-er-ay. They say it’s now their grape so we should say it the Chilean way and write it without the French accent. Take your pick.

There are three Carmenères on the Top 50 List. If you like cabernet sauvignon or merlot then you should like these. But check out the other 47 wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value.

There are six wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the next three wines to find more bargains and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

Carmen Carmenère Reserva 2011, Colchagua Valley, Chile $10.95

A fruity aromatic wine with pure blackberry and black currant fruit aromas and flavours. It is great value with a degree of elegance not common for such an inexpensive wine. There is some complexity to the fruit with cedar, tobacco and white pepper spice in the mix. Well balanced and juicy with good to very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Try with grilled meats.

P K N T Carmenère 2010, Central Valley, Chile $10.95

This is a vibrant well balanced red with good varietal character. Expect earthy black cherry fruit with some warm spicy and tobacco notes. The palate is super smooth and full bodied with supple juicy fruit not at all spicy as might be suggested by the label. It is clean and fresh with very good length. Best 2012 to 2014. Try with mildly spicy bbq meats

Casillero Del Diablo Carmenère 2010, Chile $12.95

Carmenère is consistently the best value among the many Casillero reds. It is quite complex for a wine at this price point. The nose is very harmonious with red cherry, plum and raspberry fruit plus well integrated oak spice with dark chocolate, cranberry jelly and mocha notes. The palate is well balanced midweight and quite elegant with good focus and very good length. Try with roast lamb or beef. Best 2012 to 2014.

October Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

Six new wines arrived on the Top 50 list this month, including the Carmen Carmenère Reserva that I mentioned above.

I am just back from two weeks in Sicily and was again impressed by the white wines; pity there are so few on the LCBO shelves. Ideal ripening conditions produce bold yet fresh white wines with oak rarely necessary.

Montalto Pinot Grigio 2011, Sicily $8.95

A ripe fruity rich pinot grigio from sunny Sicilian vineyards. It is awesome value when compared to other more expensive dull examples on the LCBO shelves. Expect simple fruity aromas of ripe apple and melon with some floral and mineral tones. The palate is medium bodied and dry with decent length. Try with creamy pasta dishes or bbq chicken.

It seems only a few months ago I was heralding the arrival of the next wine so I was dismayed to see that it is already been discontinued. It is tough to survive on the LCBO shelves but the sale price gives a great buying opportunity while stocks last. There are around 2800 bottles at present.

Parducci Sustainable Red 2006, Mendocino County, California $11.95 was $15.45

An easy drinking red blend of zinfandel, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and carignan from grapes that are grown using sustainable farming practices. The nose is nicely lifted and harmonious with ripe red cherry and strawberry fruit plus some gentle oak spice and a hint of lavender. It is midweight juicy with a degree of elegance. Finely balanced with very good length. Best 2011 to 2014. Try with roast or grilled meats.

The next wine is another recent listing that has also been discontinued. Nelson is next door to Marlborough at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. It is getting a reputation for riesling and this one is especially good. It’s now at a great price and there are over 1300 bottles in stock.

Trout Valley Riesling 2009, Nelson, New Zealand $9.95 was $11.95

Expect aromas of ripe pear and melon fruit with some mild spice and lemon citrus plus a hint of petrol quite common in riesling. It is off-dry midweight to full bodied with the fruit well balanced by acidity. Very good length. It finishes dry. Try with grilled shrimps.

Western Australia is known for producing fresh, cool climate, lightly oaked wines and again it is disappointing to this relatively recent new listing below also be discontinued. It was a great buy at $14.95 so grab a few at this price. Around 1800 bottles are in stock.

Xanadu Next Of Kin Chardonnay 2009, Margaret River, Western Australia $10.95 was $14.95

A cool climate oaked chardonnay that delivers a lot for the money. The nose shows baked apple with butterscotch peach and oak spice. The palate is quite heavy with the oak becoming very evident on the finish. Very good length. Try with deep fried tempura.

My last highlight is a brand new listing at a great price that I sincerely hope will survive at the LCBO. Argentina is not renowned for chardonnay but there are a few special high altitude sites in the Uco Valley to the south of Mendoza that are well suited.

Finca El Origen Chardonnay 2010, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina $10.95

An elegant gently oaked chardonnay that is one of the best values on the LCBO shelves. It is refined with mineral tones to the simple nose and palate aromas and flavours of melon and apple fruit. It is very smooth with the lightweight palate well balanced by vibrant acidity. Good length. Try with roast pork or mildly flavoured chicken dishes.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

Before value wine shopping remember to consult the Top50, since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews, tell us please why we got it wrong and if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since it’s good to hear that you agree with us.

It is very easy to do this. Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Filed under: News, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – September 2012

Steve Thurlow

Five Fresh Pure Whites from Chile; WineAlign’s Winemaker Series 

Summer is drawing to a close but there is still time to enjoy some delicious whites before the cold of a Canadian winter drives us more towards big reds. There are five whites from Chile that all offer excellent value from three different grapes.

The amazing improvement in the quality of whites from Chile in last few years is mostly due to the sourcing of grapes from cooler coastal vineyards. Little if no oak is now used in the maturation so that we are seeing many lively fresh whites mostly closed with screwtops. The five below are the current best values for Chilean white wines at the LCBO but you should check out the other 45 wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list, since all offer great value.

There are two wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the next five wines to find more bargains and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

If you haven’t already done so, you should check out the upcoming events in our winemaker series.  We’ve got three events happening in the next two weeks, two are already sold out and  over 70% of the tickets are sold for the third one.  See below for details on our third event.

Chilean Whites

Viognier

Cono Sur Bicycle Viognier 2011, Colchagua Valley Chile $9.95

Viognier is an aromatic grape originally from the South of France. You should expect lifted tropical fruit aromas which gives great appeal to this wine with orange blossom, baked apple and nutty complexity. It is full bodied and rich with the fruit well balanced by vibrant acidity. Try with sautéed seafood or strongly flavoured cheese.

Sauvignon Blanc

Errazuriz Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Aconcagua Valley Chile $11.95

This has nicely lifted sauvignon aromatics of hay, lemon, gooseberry and melon. It is elegant creamy and well balanced with very good length with some vibrant passion fruit flavour. Try with sautéed scallops with a lemongrass dressing.

Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley Chile $8.95

A lot of sauvignon here for the money with its nose of guava, lemon and melon fruit with herbal and mineral tones. The palate is midweight well balanced with good definition and fresh lemony acidity and a degree of elegance. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Try with grilled chicken or pork.

Chardonnay

Cono Sur Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley Chile $12.95

This is a very classy well extracted chardonnay for a wine at this price. Expect aromas of white peach with lime citrus and white flowers and hint of honey. The palate is lively and midweight though rich and creamy with green apple and melon fruit flavour. Very pure with racy citrus acidity and a hint of oak. Very good length. Try with sautéed seafood or cheesy pasta sauces.

Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley Chile $11.95

This has a lifted nose of complex aromas of peach, melon and grapefruit with honey and toffee notes and a hint of oak spice. It is rich and creamy on the palate with lovely soft lemony acidity which keeps it feeling light. It finishes dry with very good to excellent length. Try with white meats, creamy cheeses and seafood. Don’t overchill.

September Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

August was a quiet month at LCBO and only two new wines arrived on the Top 50; the pace of change will soon pick up with many new wines arriving in next few weeks and the fall aggressive discounting programs kick in.

Lenswood Hills Pinot Noir 2010, Adelaide Hills, Australia $13.95

This wine was $17.35 last month. Such a dramatic price reduction usually indicates that it is being discontinued but there are 1096 bottles in the stores and it does not show as a discontinued item on the LCBO website. Anyway it is a fruity juicy pinot with a degree of elegance not often seen at this price point. Expect aromas of red cherry with raspberry plus some subtle oak spice and a touch of pine. It is midweight and very fruity with the ripe fruit well balanced by acid and tannin. It finishes with a little spicy heat so would be best served slightly chilled. Very good length. Try with smoky duck breast. Best 2012 to 2015.

Villa Sandi Pinot Grigio 2010, Veneto Italy $11.05

The 2010 vintage has been in stores for a while so the 2011 must arrive soon, but this is an excellent pinot grigio for a great price, lots of flavour and well structured for food with no oak. The nose shows melon pear fruit with mineral and herbal complexity. It`s midweight and quite fat with very good length. Don`t overchill or you might miss the good stuff. Try with seafood veal or poultry.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

Before value wine shopping remember to consult the Top50, since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews, tell us please why we got it wrong and if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since it’s good to hear that you agree with us.

It is very easy to do this.  Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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WineAlign is pleased to present our Winemaker Series 

These intimate and exclusive events allow our members the opportunity to enjoy great wines with some of the most famous winemakers in the world.

Sept 18th – Paired Tasting Dinner with winemaker Marc Kent

Founded in 1776, Boekenhoutskloof Winery experienced a re-birth in 1993 when Marc Kent took over. Marc’s skill as winemaker soon shone bright and he started to catch the eyes of wine lovers and writers around the world, garnering the only FIVE star rating for a South African winery from the esteemed Robert Parker. In addition, Boekenhoutskloof was recently awarded “2012 Winery of the Year” by Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

Join Marc and WineAlign’s Zoltan Szabo on September 18th for an exquisitely paired tasting experience at Barque (one of Toronto’s best new restaurants – Toronto Life) with a lineup of eight of his wines that will quickly convert those new to South Africa. Event details

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Filed under: Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

Last Chance at Four Great Wines; Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines – August 2012

Steve Thurlow

The Ins and Outs of General List

The LCBO is constantly adding new wines to its general list selection; often as many as five new wines can arrive in one week. As a consequence wines are also being discontinued at the same pace, usually with a 25% reduction in price to move inventory out of the system quickly.

This week four discontinued wines are on the Top 50 list. There are still at least 1000 bottles of each but don’t delay since all will probably be gone by September. You may have to shop around since your local store might not have any left.

The WineAlign ‘Find this Wine’ feature on the review page makes it easy for you to find the closest store that still has inventory.

There are five wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the next four wines to find more bargains and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

Last Chance at Four Great Top 50s

These wines are all discontinued and discounted to clear inventory, but all four are great value, as is every wine on my Top 50 Value Wines list.

Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2008, Southeastern Australia $11.95

A well structured balanced shiraz which is a step up from the 2007 vintage with its earthy smoky black cherry fruit and well integrated oak spice. The palate is full bodied juicy with firm tannin though it remains juicy to the finish. Very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Try with a roast or bbq meats.

Xanadu Next Of Kin Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009, Margaret River, Australia $11.95

A delicate soft white with great varietal characteristics. Expect aromas of hay, lemon, and gooseberry fruit with a touch of sweet herbs and mild spice. It is very creamy with a long fresh finish. Try with sautéed seafood.

Little Yering Chardonnay 2009, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia $10.95

A lean lively chardonnay with lots of juicy fruit and gentle oak treatment. This is not what you would expect in an Aussie chardonnay of old. Aromas of lemon, ripe apple and white peach lead to the juicy yet taught palate. Very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces.

Montes Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Curico Valley, Chile $10.45

The 2010 is another excellent sauvignon at a great price. The nose shows gooseberry, lemon, white peach and hay aromas with some mineral, dill and celery notes. The palate is racy, rich, thick with fruit yet well balanced and finishes firmly with a nice touch of celery. Very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces or herbed chicken. Best 2012 to 2013.

August Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

Less than $12

Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley, Chile $11.95

The 2011 is very similar to the 2010 that spent the last year on the Top 50 list. It has a lifted nose of complex aromas of peach, melon and grapefruit with honey and toffee notes and a hint of oak spice. It is rich and creamy on the palate with lovely soft lemony acidity which keeps it feeling light. It finishes dry with very good to excellent length. Try with white meats, creamy cheeses and seafood. Don’t overchill.

Amalaya Torrontes Riesling 2011, Salta, Argentina $10.95

This is a brand new listing at LCBO which jumps straight onto the Top 50 list since it is such excellent value for a complex aromatic white. It comes from the Salta region in northern Argentina, which is the indigenous home to the aromatic torrontes grape. It is a blend of 85% of that grape with 15% riesling that gives some zip to the mid palate and finish. Expect floral aromas of daffodil with ripe melon, white peach and ginger spice. The palate is rich and creamy with very good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine.

Less than $9

Montalto Nero D’Avola Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Sicily, Italy $8.95

This is a juicy full bodied red made from the nero d’avola grape a native of Sicily with a nose that shows red berry fruit with herbal and spicy notes. It is very fruity and well structured with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Very good length. Well balanced except it is just a bit hot on the finish from alcohol. Ideal with pizza and meaty pasta sauces. Best 2012 to 2015.

Santa Carolina Merlot 2011, Chile $8.95

Amazing value for a vibrant fruity merlot. Expect pure aromas of raspberry and red cherry fruit with some jammy tones and herbal hints. The palate is brimming with lively bright fruit with enough tannin for balance and good to very good length. Enjoy on its own lightly chilled or with a wide range of meat and cheese dishes. Would make a great restaurant wine-by-glass pour. Best 2012 to 2014.

Mezzomondo Negroamaro 2010 Salento, Puglia, Italy $7.95

The 2010 is another good vintage and this wine remains one of the best red values at LCBO. It is a flavourful, fragrant red from Puglia made from the indigenous negroamaro grape. Blackberry fruit with plum jam aromas are enhanced by herbal and warm spice notes and a hint of dark chocolate. It is midweight with the fruit well supported by some mature tannin. Very good length. Very drinkable now but best 2013 – 2016.

Top 50 Value Wines at LCBO

Before value wine shopping remember to consult the Top50, since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews, tell us please why we got it wrong and if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since it’s good to hear that you agree with us.

It is very easy to do this.  Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find all of my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database.

Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Filed under: News, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

Ten new wines in Top 50; Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – July 2012

Steve Thurlow

There are hundreds of wine agents in Ontario representing thousands of wineries from all over the world. However most of the wines at the LCBO are the responsibility of the 30 biggest agencies. It’s difficult for small new agencies, often with a team of one, to get a listing and then moreover to keep that wine listed. These budding entrepreneurs realize that value helps a lot so it is maybe not surprising to find that three of the wines in the Top 50 are from small agencies. So the three great reds below deserve special attention since by buying these you can help some new Ontario companies grow and maybe afford to hire others.  All three are at the LCBO and all are great value, as is every wine on my Top 50 Value Wines list.

There are ten wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the next three reds to find more bargains and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected. At WineAlign, we make it easy for you to find out who represents every wine in Ontario, by adding a link to the Agent for each wine on our site.

Three Great Value Reds brought to Ontario by three new entrepreneurs.

Eclipse Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo 2009, Italy $7.65

The 2009 vintage is similar but not quite as good as the 2008. It is still amazing value and of the best inexpensive Italian reds at LCBO. The nose shows mild red berry aromas with some tobacco notes. It is lightweight and well balanced with the lively fruit balanced by firm tannin that makes the finish very dry. This is not a patio sipper but a well balanced wine for food like grilled meats or tomato based sauces with cheese. It was perfect with cheese stuffed cannelloni in a rich tomato sauce. Best 2012 to 2015. Agent: Margaret D’Ugo, Mavirosa Import & Export

P K N T Carmenere 2010, Chile $10.95

A newcomer to the LCBO this is a vibrant well balanced red with good varietal character. Expect earthy black cherry fruit with some warm spicy and tobacco notes. The palate is super smooth and full bodied with supple juicy fruit not at all spicy as might be suggested by the label. It is clean and fresh with very good length. Best 2011 to 2014. Try with mildly spicy bbq meats. Agent: Michael Kingma, Michael Andrew Brands.

Curious Fruit Carignan Grenache 2009, France $9.95

A nice well balanced red for a great price. Expect mild aromas of blackcurrant jello with some oak spice tones. It is midweight with good depth of flavour. Well balanced with fine tannin and nice vibrant acidity. Very good length. Try with grilled lamb cutlets. Best 2012 to 2016. Agent: Shelley Saxena, Sax Wine Agency.

July Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50 - Less than $13

Chateau De Gourgazaud 2010, France $12.95

The 2010 is another excellent vintage for this syrah based red blend from the South of France. Expect complex aromas of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruit with thyme, dark chocolate, floral and spice tones. The palate is very smooth, and fruity with fine balancing tannin. Very good to excellent length. The finish is black pepper spicy and fruity. Try with a steak. Best 2012 to 2016.

Cono Sur Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Chile $12.95

This is a very classy chardonnay for a wine at this price. Expect aromas of white peach with lime citrus and white flowers. The palate is lively and midweight with an elegant structure. Very pure with racy acidity and a hint of oak. Very good length. Try with sauteed seafood or cheesy pasta sauces.

Lurton Les Fumées Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2011, France, $11.95

The 2011 is a step up from the 2010 with a beautiful intense nose of green apple and lemon with dill, thyme and oregano herbal complexity. It is full and creamy, well balanced with very good length. Try with roast pork or sautéed seafood.

Less than $9.50

Castillo De Monseran Garnacha 2011, Spain $9.25

The 2011 is another fine vintage for this great value red from Spain. It is a delicious unoaked, fruity red with aromas of red cherry and raspberry fruit plus cranberry jelly with some mild spice. It is medium to full-bodied, juicy with some sweetness and soft tannin, which is most noticeable on the dry finish. Chill lightly and enjoy with burgers, sausages and ribs. Very good length. Best 2012 to 2013.

Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Chile $8.95

An excellent cabernet at an amazing price. It is fresh, pure and clean with a good depth of flavour, decent structure and very good length. There is not much complexity with mild aromas of black cherry and cassis fruit with spicy and earthy tones. It is midweight, juicy and very drinkable. Try with bbq meats. Best 2012 to 2014.

Partager Reserve Merlot 2010, Vin De Pays D’ Oc, France $8.95

The Partager label has been in our market for decades so it was due for a makeover. This wine is varietally labelled as merlot and vintage dated 2010 and comes from Pays d’Oc in the south of France and is a great buy. Expect a deep purple red with mild aromas of black and red berry fruit. It is full bodied and flavourful with a long dry finish. It needs some juicy grilled meat or rich cheese for best enjoyment. Decant for an hour before serving. Best 2012 to 2015.

Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2011, Chile $8.95

The 2011 vintage is another amazing cab from Caliterra for less than $9. It has a nose ripe blackberry fruit with dark chocolate, subtle oak spice plus earthy notes. The palate is very juicy full-bodied with lots of ripe fruit flavour and just enough acid and soft tannin for balance. Very good length. Try with a steak. Best 2012 to 2015

Less than $8.50

Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011, Chile $8.45

The 2011 vintage of this Bordeaux style blend is another great value wine with clean black cherry fruit with spice, jam and leathery tones. It is midweight very smooth and dry with soft acidity and fine ripe tannin. Good to very good length. Try with roast meats. Best 2012 to 2015.

Casal Thaulero Pinot Grigio 2011, Italy $7.95

You get a lot of pinot grigio for your money with this wine which has more flavour than most of its Italian cousins that sell for twice the price. Expect mild aromas of pear lemon fruit with nutty and mineral tones. The palate is very fruity and creamy with lively acidity well balanced by the fruit. It is dry and clean with very good length. It finishes well with a nice touch of bitter almond. Don’t overchill and enjoy with seafood, white meats and mild cheese

Casal Thaulero Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Italy $6.95

A well balanced dry red with a lot going on for the money. It is midweight with mild earthy black cherry aromas with some herbal and floral hints. The palate is smooth with the fruit well balanced by soft tannin and vibrant acidity. It finishes very dry with tough tannin so best enjoyed with food like meaty pasta sauces or grilled meats. Good to very good length. Best 2012 to 2014.

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from all of the wines in the WineAlign database.  Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Filed under: News, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

Three Great Reds from France; Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – June 2012

Steve Thurlow

Thirty years or more ago, if you wanted great wine, then it was to the shelves of French wine that you went. France was pre-eminent in the world of wine, so it was the native French grapes, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, etc. that were selected by New World wineries for their new vineyards. Since then we have witnessed the steady decline of a French wine industry, that has been slow to respond to new competition from every other wine making region. However it seems that they have woken up and are now rising to the challenge. Three French reds caught my eye this month for offering value with modern styling added to old world class. They are all at the LCBO and all are great value, as is every wine on my Top 50 Value Wines list.

There are nine wines that are new to the list since last month. Read past the next three reds to find more bargains and then continue to hear about the renaissance of French wine and to discover how the Top 50 is systematically selected.

Three Great Value French Reds

Vidal Fleury 2009, Cotes Du Rhone, France $14.60

An elegant soft fresh Cotes du Rhone with a very appealing nose of blackberry fruit with tobacco, fig and floral complexity. It is mid-weight and very smooth with some finely divided tannin giving nice mouth-feel. Well balanced with very good length. It will develop more complexity with a year or two in the cellar. Best 2013 to 2016. Try with roast meats or brie cheese.

Rigal Les Terrasses Malbec 2009, Cahors, France $12.95

A modern styled malbec from its ancestral home in Cahors. Expect aromas of blackberry, with cassis jam and floral notes with a hint of oak spice. It is medium bodied well-structured with lovely mouth-watering fresh acidity and soft tannin. There is a degree of elegance and it is very well balanced with the fruit persisting well on the finish. Very good length. Try with a steak. Best 2011 to 2014.

Curious Fruit Carignan Grenache 2009, Vin De France $9.95

A nice well balanced red for a great price. Expect mild aromas of blackcurrant jello with some oak spice tones. It is mid-weight with good depth of flavour. Well balanced with fine tannin and nice vibrant acidity. Very good length. Try with grilled lamb cutlets. Best 2012 to 2016.

June Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

New to the Top 50

Less than $17

Montecillo Reserva 2006, Rioja, Spain $16.45 (was $18.45)

The 2006 is a classic vintage for Rioja reserva from Montecillo with its sexy blue label. It shows fine lifted aromas of raspberry and cherry fruit with sandalwood spice, and hints of mocha and prune. The palate is mid-weight finely balanced with very good length. Try with roast lamb. Best 2012 to 2016. On sale until June 24^th.

Less than $14

Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Malbec Corvina 2010, Mendoza, Argentina $13.95

A malbec from Argentina with Italian styling from the Verona house of Masi. Its vibrant acidity and structure are not typical of Argentine malbec at this price; so don’t expect gobs of soft jammy fruit. It is mid-weight with velvety fruit and mild tannin. Still very youthful, the nose is quite tight so give it plenty of air in the glass, better still decant for an hour to give it a chance to open up. Expect aromas of blackberry and prune fruit with cedar, smoke, grapefruit and mushroom notes. It is juicy with a solid structure from firm yet smooth tannin. Good to very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Try with roast beef.

Pierre Andre Bourgogne Pinot Noir Reserve Vielles Vignes 2009, Burgundy, France $13.05

A well priced fresh clean red Burgundy with all the classic lines one should expect and for which you usually have to pay a lot more. Expect aromas of raspberry, plum and red cherry fruit with some forest floor accents and a hint of pine. The palate is mid-weight and juicy with soft tannin and vibrant acidity. Very good length. Try with roast lamb.

Nederburg Shiraz 2010, Western Cape, South Africa $11.45

This is such excellent value for a structured and very drinkable shiraz. Expect intense aromas of black cherry fruit with black pepper, mild oak spice and plum jam. It is full bodied yet feels fresh and light on the palate due to the minerality and a seam of lemony acidity. Very good length. Try with a steak. Best 2012 to 2015.

Xanadu Next Of Kin Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009, Margaret River, Australia $11.95 (was $14.95)

A delicate soft white with great varietal characteristics. Expect aromas of hay, lemon, and gooseberry fruit with a touch of sweet herbs and mild spice. It is very creamy with a long fresh finish. Try with sautéed seafood. It has unfortunately been discontinued by LCBO; hence the sale price. Almost 1200 bottles remain in stores, so grab a few before it is all gone.

Less than $9

Emu Amontillado Medium Dry Sherry, Australia $8.95

A delightful light slightly sweet sherry with aromas of candied orange peel, honeysuckle and baked apricot. It is lightweight with good acidity and finishes dry so would work well with cold creamy sweet red pepper and tomato soup, or enjoy well chilled on its own or with biscotti while watching TV. I tried it with Chinese sweet and sour pork and it was just perfect. Very good length.

K W V Chenin Blanc Chardonnay 2011, Western Cape, South Africa $6.75

A lot of wine here for the money with lifted apple citrus aromas and a very flavourful palate. Expect a mid-weight vibrant palate with a nose of lemon melon and fresh cur grass. Good length. Try with mildly flavoured chicken or veal.

Cono Sur Tocornal Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2011, Chile (1500ml) $14.45

The 2011 is another good vintage for this great value red blend. The harmonious nose shows ripe black cherry and plum fruit with tobacco, raspberry jam and smoky complexity. It is mid-weight very juicy with the fruit nicely balanced. Good length and focus. Try with roast meats or mature cheese. Best 2012 to 2015.

Farnese Daunia Sangiovese 2010, Abruzzo, Italy $7.50

This is a fruity clean and a great buy to enjoy with everyday meals. The nose shows mild black and red berry fruit with a spicy note and some earthy complexity. It is medium to full bodied fairly simple on the palate with the balanced ripe fruit flowing though to the finish. Very good length with a dry finish. Best 2011 to 2013.

Renaissance in French wine?

There are four wines from France in the Top50 this month; which is four more than were on that list a year ago. In the Top 50, as elsewhere there is a gradual resurgence of wines from France. French wines went out of fashion because we found we could buy the same grape varieties from elsewhere for less money and moreover the replacements were cleaner and fresher. Today’s wine drinkers don’t appreciate unclean, dull, lifeless wines with hidden fruit, no matter how great a reputation the appellation claims. We have become used to fruit forward clean wines. After many years, seemingly with their heads buried in the sand, French winemakers have started to respond by making better wines for less money.

Those 1.5L big bottles of non-vintage soulless blends are gradually being replaced by varietally labelled, vintage dated pure, fresh, clean, lively wines that are easy to drink. Moreover wines from the traditional French appellations are getting better without losing the class than comes from great vineyard sites and centuries of tradition. We are at the early stages of this renaissance so let’s hope this new fashion for better wine continues while the weak Euro helps keep prices down.

How I Choose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from all of the wines in the WineAlign database.  Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

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Filed under: Wine, France, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines