The June 6 2026 LCBO Vintages Release heralds summer with some good value Rosés. Your BBQ steak will be looking good with some great red values. And a Super Tuscan lands under $40.
Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Use my (free!) recommendations to get the best wine for your money!
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If you try a recommended wine - this is your chance to be a critic! Leave your comment below to let us know how you liked it. If you find another gem you would like people to know about add that too!
Best Rosé Wines Under $20:
EL GORU ROSADO GARNACHA TINTA 2025 DO Jumilla, Spain Vintages #49815 $14.95
This gets a 90 from Natalie Maclean. This is a silky, lively wine offering raspberry, blackberry and red currant. Clean and bright, enjoy, well-chilled, with strawberries and Brie. At this price.... stock up! (D - 0 g/L)
PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARD CABERNET ROSÉ 2024 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON, Canada Vintages #177840 $16.95 This is scoring low 90s across the board with a 91 from John Szabo, MS, of winealign.com, who describes it as substantial, well-rounded with very good flavour intensity and a long finish. The palate has vibrant red fruit, ripe cherry, raspberry, red currant and an undertone of bell pepper. Enjoy with Spicy Spanish Shrimp. (XD - 4 g/L)
Best White Wines Under $20:
F'OZ ESCOLHA VINHO VERDE 2023, Vinho Verde, Portugal Vintages #51024 $14.95 Summer is when we really appreciate the light, liveliness of Vinho Verde. Look for apple and kiwi notes in this delightful sipper. Drink now. Score - 90 (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast) (XD - 0 g/L)
MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 WO Western Cape, South Africa Vintages #933424 $16.95 South Africa does a good job on Sauvignon Blanc and this is a good example. It is scoring in the 92 range consistently. Look for tropical fruit, gooseberry, some of the requisite grassy notes, along with herbs and mineral hints. Enjoy with Argentinian Grilled Shrimp Tacos. (XD - 2 g/L)
KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY RIESLING 2024 Clare Valley, South Australia
49836 This is scoring mid-90s among respected critics. Part of the fruit went through a cool ferment in stainless steel, with the second portion placed in barrel for fermentation, which also sees a portion of skin contact. Result- a delicious (but different style of Riesling). Look for lifted lemon and jasmine aromas, with spices and hints of kumquats. The palate is juicy and fruity with a clean, long finish. Score - 95 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz) (XD - 0 g/L)
Best Red Wines Under $20:
MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2023
Vintages #37937 $16.95
DO Aconcagua Costa
TASTING NOTE: Orange peel and dried lavender notes lead in this elegant and savory version, with an essence of
sage running through the raspberry coulis center. Picks up a loamy mineral detail as this finishes around perky
tannins, with notes of cedar and spices. Drink now through 2032. (XD - 3 g/L)
Score - 90 (Aaron Romano, winespectator.com, May
31, 2025)
MONSARAZ RESERVA 2023 DOC Alentejo, Portugal Vintages #20711 $17.95 My soft spot for Alentejo wines will show here! This is scoring low 90s among critics with a high of 94 from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025. (The 2020 vintage of this won Best in Show in the 2020 World Wine Awards.) Look for rich mulberry, chocolate, spice and black pum with a touch of spice and wood. This is a big wine, so put it away and enjoy it with Beef Stew when the weather gets cold. (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines Under $40
KRONE BOREALIS VINTAGE CUVÉE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT SPARKLING 2023 WO Tulbagh, South Africa, traditional method Vintages #556654 $22.95 This is scoring low 90s. From Sparkling wine specialists with 300 years of experience behind them, look for floral notes with peach and melon. Biscuit and spice add interest while saline minerality adds gravitas. Great on its own or with appetizers like Balsamic Pear Tarts. (XD - 7 g/L)
JUVE & CAMPS PINOT NOIR BRUT ROSÉ CAVA DO, Spain Vintages #385088 $26.95
Traditional method. This is scoring low 90s consistently. 100% Pinot Noir, look for raspberry and strawberry notes. The palate is creamy and dry with terrific fruit, depth and length. Pair with Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites. Score - 91 (John Szabo, MS, winealign.com) (D - 10 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines Under $40
ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP APPLE BETTY CHARDONNAY 2025 Adelaide Hills, South Australia Vintages # 49835 $22.95 This is scoring low 90s consistently. Reviews say the name tells it all! Look for generous apple and pie crust in the profile along with creamy citrus, peach, and honey. Complex and balanced. Serve with Brandied Chicken Pot Pie. (XD - 0 g/L)
HUIA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Marlborough, South Island Vintages #659979 $21.95
Look for a core of white peach, citrus and gooseberry along with some flinty notes. Honeysuckle and spice add complexity. Good acidity contrasts the fruit nicely. Excellent. Score - 94 (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com) (XD - 0 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines Under $40
ROBERTO SAROTTO BARBERA D'ASTI SUPERIORE 2023
49290 $20.95 I will be stocking up on this one for some easy, patio sipping. It was vinified in a mix of oak and temperature-controlled stainless steel, resulting in a satiny-smooth, lively palate with fresh fruit and spicy notes. Pair with Baking Steel Pizza. (XD - 5 g/L)
KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2021 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #50849 $21.95 You can't go wrong with Kaiken, and especially Kaiken Ultra for quality.
Look for a fresh, juicy palate showing layered fruit, tobacco, flint, minerals and spice. Tannins are dusty and fine-grained with a lengthy, focused finish. Score - 93 (Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com) (XD - 3 g/L)
WAPISA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 San Javier, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina Vintages #10970 $21.95 This is getting 90+ across the board. It is rich, medium-to-full-bodied with a cherry profile. Balanced and delicious. Score - 93 (Jacobo GarciaAndrade Llamas, jamessuckling.com, March 16, 2025)
(XD - 3 g/L)
RADFORD DALE VINUM PINOT NOIR 2023 WO Western Cape, South Africa Vintages #48201 $23.95 This is getting high praise and 92-93 point score. It is fruit-driven with raspberry and cherry, and a silky palate. Pair with Venetian Duck Ragu. Score - 93 (Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com) (XD - 2 g/L)
MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 Tuscany, Italy Vintages #977629 $24.95 This is getting high praise for being lively and succulent with berries, dried flowers, savoury herbs and spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a notable finish. Enjoy now or through 2030 with Eggplant Parmigiana. (Score - 93 jamessuckling.com) (XD - 2 g/L)
CHÂTEAU MITROTES SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU 2022 Bordeaux, France Vintages #50364 $25.95 Here is a Bordeaux with a pedigree from a superb vintage, scoring low 90s. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, look for black cherry, plum and cassis. Chocolate, spice and toasty oak notes add complexity. Plan to serve with your best steak. (XD - 3 g/L)
STONEHAVEN RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Coonawarra, South Australia Vintages #49433 $29.95 If you are missing your California Cabs, treat yourself to this one. 40-year-old vines and much attention to detail in the vinification have resulted in a silky wine with excellent structure, a good balance of fruit and oak and excellent length. Special Value. Score - 97 (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au) (XD - 0 g/L)
LA MASSA 2021 Tuscany, Italy Vintages #13688 $35.95
Critics are raving about this one and awarding 93-95 points. Antonio Galloni, vinous.com gives it a 94 and describes it as superb with cherry and plum, leather, tobacco and licorice. Cocoa and spice add layers of interest.
TASTING NOTE: Just bottled, the 2021 La Massa is superb. Dark cherry/plum fruit, new leather, tobacco, licorice. He calls it 'terrific value' given that many super Tuscans are easily in the 3-digit price range. Drinking window: 2024-2036. (XD - 3 g/L)
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FAQs
What Are LCBO Vintages Releases?
Twice a month, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) releases a selection of special wines they have chosen from around the world. They are not part of the regular stock that is replenished regularly. So if you see something that is good value, you need to order it or pick it up while you can.
I am WSET 3 Certified, and I use my experience as an LCBO-approved media taster to highlight good value wines. I also have the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world as showcased in industry Master Classes and wine tastings. See my About page for more details on my experience.
The Best Buy wines I recommend tend to be wines that score 90 or above and are in the $20-$30 ish range. I research the wines to see which are scoring consistently in the 90 + range. You can expect these wines to represent the characteristics of their varietal and region well; display some complexity, depth and length. I suggest food pairings for many of the recommendations because... that is what it's all about here at The Wine Lover's 
Kitchen.
Wines I call 'cheap and cheerful' wines are wines < $20 that are hovering around the high 80s to 90-point mark. They are not going to win gold medals in competition, but they should be a solid choice for weeknight sipping or dock or deck sitting. They also make for a good value choice if you are serving a crowd and your lively guests are too busy chatting to discuss the depth and length of their wine!
Premium Wine recommendations are edging up on my $40 limit. They may be 'entry' level wines of prestigious regions or producers. Often cellar-worthy and always wines that you want to pay attention to when you serve them to ensure you appreciate their complexities!
The $40 is a rather arbitrary level, but if you are spending more than $40 routinely on a bottle of wine, then you are probably a wine enthusiast doing your own research.
Decanter World Wine Awards taste and score wines according to their price bracket. So a 95 Score for a $20 bottle of wine means it is outstanding among wines 'in that price range'. Decanter scores from an individual or a panel are scored against the 'Gold standard' for that varietal.
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