The Dec 20 2025 LCBO Vintages Release has a number of classics that would be welcome at any holiday gathering.
Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Use my recommendations to get the best wine for your money - and they're free!
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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!
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Cheap And Cheerful
Best Sparkling Wines Under $20:
CAMPO VIEJO BRUT CAVA DO, Spain, traditional method, Vintages #37268 $17.95 Look for an easy-drinking, crisp Sparkling here with layers of fruit. It is well-balanced and perfect for your holiday meal or toasting on its own. Score - 94 (New York International Wine Competition, 2023) (D - 12 g/L)
Best White Wines Under $20:
MOUNTADAM EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2024 Eden Valley, South Australia, Vintages #10411 $18.95 This is an elegant cool-climate Chardonnay with crunchy apple and underlying citrus. (XD - 2 g/L) If you are feeling flush, though, check out MOUNTADAM HIGH EDEN ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2023 Vintages #333211 $29.95 for added complexity. (Peach, lemon curd, minerality, and a respectable finish). Score Special Value. Score - 94 (Dave Brookes, winecompanion.com.au, Feb. 24, 2025) (XD - 2 g/L)
GRAHAM NORTON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 New Zealand Vintages #560284 $19.95 This gets a 94 from Sahttps://www.lcbo.com/en/invivo-graham-norton-s-own-sauvignon-blanc-2018-560284m Kim, who describes melon and kiwi with lively acidity and a persistent finish. (XD - 7 g/L)
Best Red Wines Under $20:
CONTESSA GIOVANNI MANCI PINOT GRIGIO 2024 DOC Trentino, Italy Vintages #46527 $19.95 This is an 'attractive' Pinot Grigio according to Rod Phillips, who gives it a 91. Look for fresh, stone fruit with good concentration and clean, bright acidity. (XD - 2 g/L)
MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2023 DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile Vintages #37937 $16.95 Look for citrus and lavender aromas with a savoury palate and underlying raspberry notes. Cedar and spice on the finish. Score - 90 (Aaron Romano, winespectator.com, May 31, 2025) (XD - 3 g/L) L
GOMERSAL GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2022 Barossa Valley, South Australia, Vintages #45631 $17.95 This gets a 93 from Sam Kim, who describes spicy, plum aromas. The palate has good weight and generous fruit with fine tannins. The finish is long and smooth. (XD - 4 g/L)
(XD - 0 g/L)
SISTER'S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 Coonawarra, South Australia Vintages #478271 $18.95 Always a good bet for value, look for black and red fruit with licorice and cedar and spice notes. It is rich with tangy acidity to offset powerful tannins. Plan to enjoy with charcuterie. Best Buy. Score - 91 (Christina Pickard, Wine
Enthusiast, Dec. 1, 2024) (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines Under $40
BAILLY-LAPIERRE PINOT NOIR BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE AOC, Burgundy, France, traditional method Vintages #420984 $25.95 Recognized as 'super' value, look for apple, citrus and berry tones with chalky minerality. (XD - 11 g/L)
LOUIS BOUILLOT FLASHBACK 1975 EXTRA BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE
Vintages #46346 $39.95
AOC, Burgundy, France, traditional method, anniversary edition
This is being released after 8 years+ resting on the lees, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Crémant
de Bourgogne AOC (est. 1975). This 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir blend is showing rich pear, apple, vanilla, caramel and cinammon after extensive ageing. Probably as close to Champagne, outside of Champagne that you will find.
.
(XD - 0 g/L
Best Buy White Wines Under $40
CAVE DE LUGNY MÂCON-CHARDONNAY 2023 Burgundy, France Vintages #45272 $23.95 This is a classic Burgundian Chardonnay from vines averaging 25-35 years of age. Look for white florals, well-defined fruit with citrus and hazelnut notes adding complexity. The finish is long and fresh. Score - Gold (Concours des Burgondia, 2024)
(XD - 2 g/L)
DOMÄNE WACHAU RIED LOIBENBERG FEDERSPIEL RIESLING 2023
Wachau, Austria Vintages #45352 $32.95
If you are a fan of a dry Riesling, you are in for treat. Riesling doesn't get much better than one from the Wachau Valley. Grown at 350-400 meters, it is round and ripe with citrus, apricot and pear all in juicy balance. Outstanding taut tension. Drinking window: 2028-2053.
(XD - 0 g/L)
Score - 94 (Anne Krebiehl, MW,
vinous.com, July 18, 2024)
DOMAINE FRANCK MILLET SANCERRE 2024 Loire, France Vintages #47908 $38.95 Check out this Sancerre for a holiday splurge. Classic elegance and minerality here. Five weeks on the lees lends texture and character to the classic herbal, mineral undertones. (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines Under $40
CHÂTEAU PEY LA TOUR RÉSERVE DU CHÂTEAU 2020 AOC Bordeaux Supérieur, France Vintages #349308 $23.95 This is a plump, juicy, appealing Bordeaux blend. Look for dark cherry, chocolate and licorice with spicy, herbal undertones. Score - 91 (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Feb. 23, 2023) (XD - 3 g/L)
MASSERIA LI VELI ORION SALENTO PRIMITIVO 2023 Puglia, Italy Vintages #46874 $22.95 Critics agree this silky, fruity Primitivo overdelivers. Look for blackcurrant and spic with licorice nuances. The finish is long and pleasant. Score - 92 (Eric Guido, vinous.com, March 27, 2025) (D - 9 g/L) 750mL
PLENO GRAN RESERVA 2015 DO Navarra, Spain Vintages #25537 $21.95 This Tempranillo blend is showing black cherry and espresso notes with butterscotch and violet tones. It is smooth with a pleasant herbal finish. Score - 94 (Mike DeSimone,
Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2023) (XD - 4 g/L)
CASTELLARE DI CASTELLINA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023, Tuscany, Italy Vintages #970095 $29.95 This gets a 91 from Michaela Morris of decanter.com, who describes pure dark raspberry notes with hints of violet and roses. It is concentrated with chalky tannins and 'admirable depth and length'. (XD - 3 g/L)
RAVINE MERITAGE 2021 VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, On, Canada Vintages #285627 $24.95 This gets a 90 from John Szabo, MS, winealign.com, who describes nice herbal, smoky aromatics and lively red and black fruit on the palate. Tannins are light, and it is overall fresh and juicy. (XD - 6 g/L)
KONZELMANN RESERVE SERIES BARREL AGED SYRAH 2022 VQA Niagara Peninsula, On, Canada 48387 $24.95 This got a 93 in the blind tasting at NWAC 2024. D.J. Kearney of winealign.com describes it as a 'full throttle' Syrah with generous black pepper and red and black berries. Pronounced violet on the nose and palate, which is silky with a 'posh gloss of oak.' Impressive, and it gets an extra point for value. (XD - 4 g/L)
FAMILLE PERRIN LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS 2022 Rhône, France Vintages #973453 $25.95This Châteauneuf-du-Pape wannabe from the iconic Perrin family is showing ripe, juicy dark fruit with cherry and spice. It is balanced and intense, and the finish is long. Drinking beautifully now, but will go into the early 2030s. (XD - 4 g/L)
MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE CUVÉE RÉSERVE BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR 2023
299859 $30.95 Here is a classic Burgundian Pinot Noir. Look for red and black cherry with mineral undertones. It is vibrant and impeccably balanced, according to Sara d'Amato of winealign.com, who gives it a 90. (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 tastes 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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