Best Wines LCBO Vintages Release April 27 2024

Highlights of the April 27 LCBO Vintages Release include a Bordeaux that won Value Best in Show from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022 and two Rioja Reservas.

My picks for the best wines <$40 in this release are below.

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• Cheap and Cheerful Wines
• Best Buy Sparkling Wines
• Best Buy White Wines
• Premium White Wine
• Best Buy Rosé Wines
• Best Buy Red Wines
• Premium Red Wine
• Frequently Asked Questions

Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Get better value for your wine dollars with the recommendations below - and they're free!

If you try a recommended wine - this is your chance to be a critic! If you find another gem you would like people to know about add that too!

Please leave a comment below so others can benefit!

The Red wine winners in the 'cheap and cheerful' category this release:

3 RINGS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #36237 $15.95 This is scoring consistently above 90 with Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz giving it a 93. Look for a floral nose with blackcurrant and thyme. The palate is 'succulent and supple' with good weight and excellent balance. Finish is 'flavoursome'. Enjoy now to 2032. (XD - 3 g/L)

CHÂTEAU LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2021, Rhone, France Vintages #224592 $16.95 James Suckling gives this a 90 and describes a 'lovely' nose of cherries and spices. The palate is crisp and juicy with 'vivid character'. A true GSM blend. Enjoy with Smoked Duck Breast Salad. (XD - 4 g/L)

NERO CARBONE BASILICATA ROSSO 2019 Basilicata, Italy Vintages #36477 $16.95
If you are fan of bold Cab Sauvs then you might like this one. John Szabo of winealign.com gives it a 91. He describes it as fragrant with herbs, spice, leather and dried black fruit....and 'complexity off the charts' at this price. Tannins are refined but grippy so perhaps enjoyed best with charcuterie or a meal like Red Wine Braised Beef. He suggests it will drink 2027 or so. (XD - 4 g/L)

Best Buy Sparkling Wines

CELENE AMÉTHYSTE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX France Traditional method, Vintages #19031 $17.95 This Sparkling is well received every year and typically scores low 90s. It's a creamy Blanc de Noirs showing good fruit and acidity balance with good depth and richness. Drink noo or hold until 2026. Editors' Choice. Score - 90 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (D - 10 g/L)

Best Buy White Wines

WALDSCHÜTZ RIED HASEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2021 DAC Kamptal, Austria Vintages #34245 $18.95 This is a single vineyard crisp, clean wine with apple, delicate orange and a hint of minerality. Juicy but delicate so pair it with light fare such as seafood or Chicken Salad With Champagne Vinegar Aioli. Score - 90 Peter Moser, falstaff.com (XD - 0 g/L)

WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #919514 $19.95 This is always a solid choice for the quality to price ratio. Racy acidity with lime, gooseberries and grapefruit. Enjoy with asparagus quiche. (XD - 4 g/L)

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2022 Columbia Valley, Washington, USA Vintages #232439 $21.95. This is another perennial favourite. This well crafted Chardonnay has tropical fruit with oaky hints and some pastry notes from the lees. Pair it with Corn Quiche. (XD - 4 g/L)

BERTANI ORIGINAL VINTAGE EDITION SOAVE 2022 Veneto, Italy Vintages #36341 $24.95 Old vines, volcanic soils and careful grape selection result in a fresh wine showing peach, pear and apricot notes. Perfect for creamy pasta or Roasted Pear Salad.
(XD - 4 g/L)

Premium White Wine

DAOU CHARDONNAY 2022 Paso Robles, California, USA Vintages #17579 $33.95 Score - 94 Erin Brooks of robertparker.com. Erin Brooks says 'It has youthful but classy new oak aromas of toast, vanilla and spice over a core of yellow apple, quince and honeyed tones.' The palate is 'luxuriously satin', concentrated with modest fruit and fresh acidity. Enjoy it with Chicken in Mushroom Brandy Cream Sauce. Drink date: 2025-2035. (XD - 4 g/L)

Best Buy Rosé Wines

MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2023 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON, Canada Vintages #498535 $19.95 This scored 90 when blind tasted at the National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC). 100% Pinot Noir, it's floral and fruity with good acidity. Look for watermelon and grapefruit notes as well. Enjoy with Brie and strawberries or a Spicy Strawberry Salad. (XD - 2 g/L)  

HAMPTON WATER ROSÉ 2023 Languedoc, France Vintages #667337 $27.95 This Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre blend is lively with noticeable minerality. Look for fresh melon, cherry and peach fruit with herbs and spice and a long finish. 'Everything you want in a Rosé.' Wine Spectator has rated this wine 90 for 4 years in a row. (XD - 2 g/L)

 An amazing rosé created by partners Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse, along with winemaker Gerard Bertand.  

Stirling Fine Wines

Best Buy Red Wines

CLAYHOUSE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 Paso Robles, California, USA Vintages #57869 19.95 This 'approachable wine...that will have broad appeal' is full-bodied and smooth. It is rich with oak, coffee, black fruit, vanilla and herbs. Pretty much all you can ask of a Cab, no? Note- this win has scored 88-91 so I am guessing it is a fun? and satisfying pour but don't look for inherent complexities. (XD - 3 g/L)

J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Paso Robles, California, USA Vintages #656561 $24.95 According to Vintages Essentials, this is the most popular red wine in their Collection. Look for smoky oak, prune and vanilla. It seems to be an easy pour, full-bodied and smooth and fits the profile you think of for a California Cab. (XD - 3 g/L)

A note on the Feature focus of Paso Robles. I was excited to see this feature because I have fond memories of many outstanding Paso Robles wines. The 2 recommended as Best Buys are the low end of the price and complexity scale. When I researched the others in the release there was a theme that they were too sweet, confected and sometimes stewed or jammy. The high scores listed are outliers with most other reviewers in the high 80s so they don't make for a value proposition. Grant Burge Paso Ink Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Vintages 37289 $29.95 - I couldn't find any independent wine notes or reviews. It sounds good but I would be taking a flier to recommend it.. I am guessing that I would enjoy a glass of any one of them if offered as a textbook California Cab but I won't be allocating my wine dollars there. So - on to some of the actual enticing value propositions .....

PIATTELLI LUJÁN DE CUYO RESERVE MALBEC 2021 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #452029 $17.95 Tim Atkin of timatkin.com gives this a 92. He says this is a smooth and intense Malbec with 'nuanced oak'. It's a powerful wine with tannins and fruit to take it to 2029. (XD - 3 g/L)

MARQUÉS DE LA CONCORDIA RIOJA-SANTIAGO RESERVA 2018 Rioja, Spain Vintages #37272 $17.95 This is being lauded as 'amazing value' among critics. Mike DeSimone of Wine Enthusiast gives it 92 and describes leathery aromas leading to bramble berries, chocolate and violet on the palate. The aging has been done for you here! Enjoy with old Manchego cheeses and Sherried Chicken Thighs.  (XD - 2 g/L)

ARNAUD DE VILLENEUVE NO. 153 2022, Rousillon, France Vintages #35967 $18.95
AP Côtes du Roussillon This Grenache/Syrah blend represents good value. Medium-bodied and fruity, look for 'dark fruit, liquorice and spice' according to Michael Godel of winealign.com. He gives it a 91 and praises its 'smooth and refined tannic structure.'2023. (XD - 0 g/L)

CHÂTEAU LE CONTE MARQUEY 2018, Bordeaux, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, France Vintages #35375 $18.95 Bordeaux lovers are in luck here with a Saint-Émilion Village under $20! It gets a 92 from Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast who describes generous black fruit. There is good concentration in a full structure with tannins evolving. (D-4/ g/L)

DOMAINE LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2021 Côtes Catalanes, Spain
Vingates #494039 $19.95 Catalan is famous for its old vines so fans will be happy to see this one. It is scoring consistently in the low 90s among respected critics. James Suckling describes it as 'ripe and silky'. Look for a generous nose of strawberry, raspberry, licorice, nuts and dried flowers. The palate is rich and ripe with creamy tannins. Drink now or over next 5 years. Pair it with Zucchini Custards with Balsamic Vinegar Pearls. (XD - 3 g/L)

SISTER'S RUN CALVARY HILL SHIRAZ 2020 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #222018 $19.95 Sister's Run - need I say more? You can't go wrong with Barossa Valley and Sister's Run has well-made, good value wines down to a science. Look for aromas of plums, blackberry, some bramble and menthol. The palate is 'fleshy' with plum and dark, juicy fruit. Firm tannins and bright acidity create the framework. Drink now through 2032.(XD - 4 g/L)

ANCIANO NO. 10 GRAN RESERVA 2015 Rioja, Spain Vintages #37384 $20.95 Another one where the aging has been done for you. This is getting consistent low 90s from reviewers. Look for plum-aromas, black cherry and blackberries on the palate. Hints of chocolate, orange zest and herbs add complexity to a satisfying finish. (XD - 0 g/L)

MIGUEL TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Valle del Maipo, Chile Vintages #541169 $22.95 This is another consistently 90+ scoring wine. One third aged in foudres (concrete eggs) with the rest in oak and you have a juicy
'cabernet brimming with fruit and herbal tones'. Good tension and depth, it will age in the bottle for years to come. Score - 94 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl. (XD - 2 g/L)

SONS OF EDEN MARSCHALL SHIRAZ 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #33499 $23.95 From a highly respected producer, this scores in the low 90s consistently year after year. Sam Kim of wineorbitz.com. nz gives it a 96 while James Suckling gives this vintage a 95 and describes dark fruit with graphite notes. It is full-bodied with firm tannins. 'Offers gorgeous drinking' according to Sam Kim. (XD - 3 g/L)

CHÂTEAU BOURDIEU N°1 2018 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, France Vintages # 31412 $23.95 This gets a 97 and Value Best in Show from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022. It is scoring solidly 90-92 outside the wine awards realm. A Merlot dominant blend with vivacious, ripe aromas and plenty of plum on the palate. Deep and ample with supple acidity and good tannic structure. (XD - 4 g/L)

This sturdy Value Best in Show will
certainly continue to evolve for another half-decade yet, and would show convincingly among peers of loftier price.
(Best in Show. Score -97 )
(XD - 4 g/L)

Decanter World Wine Awards 2022

LUNA ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 Martinborough, North Island, NZ Vintages #17544 $26.95 Score - 94 Cameron Douglas, MS of camdouglasms.com. Look for a fragrant nose reflecting fresh red berries, dark cherry and underlying minerality. The palate is concentrated and lush with fresh fruit and acidity. Finish is lengthy and vibrant. (XD - 3 g/L)

WESTMOUNT PINOT NOIR 2021 Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA Vintages #10704 $33.95 Clive Pursehouse of decanter.com gives it a 91 and calls it a 'nicely made Pinot Noir that punches above its weight class'. Look for aromas of brambleberry, cola and cloves with some welcome undertones of forest floor. The palate is fresh with raspberry and cranberry complemented by more clove and cola notes. (XD - 3 g/L)

Premium Red Wine

CLOS DE CAVEAU FRUIT SAUVAGE VACQUEYRAS 2021. Rhone, France Vintages #277871 $33.95 This Grenache/Syrah blend is an 'exceptional wine' according to the Guide Hachette. Matt Walls of decanter.com gives it a 93 and describes purity and freshness on the bouquet. It is full-bodied with generous fruit, alcohol, acidity and tannins all in balance.
(XD - 2 g/L)

LA VITE LUCENTE 2021 Tuscany, Italy Vintages #747030 $33.95 This is an elegant wine that scores mid-90s among critics year after year. Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com gives it a 94 and describes juicy cherry and black currant with underlying olive and spice. Tannins are fine and the whole package, with excellent length, is framed in an elegant structure. (XD - 3 g/L)

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