The Feb 1 2025 LCBO Vintages Release has more than a dozen wines scoring 90+ well under $20, thanks in part to the HST waiver that extends to mid February. Some truly amazing values in this release!
Good 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!
Cheap And Cheerful
Cheap and Cheerful White Wine Winners:
ESPORÃO BICO AMARELO 2023 DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal Vintages #41877 $11.30 Best Buy Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast gives this a 90 and describes 'Swathes of ripe lemon and a flavor that is rich and textured ....' A Loureiro dominant blend that is lively and 'drinkable'. It will be a perfect dock or deck sipper in the summer or a fine choice now to accompany a light lunch with Salmon with Citrus Cream. (XD - 2 g/L)
CHÂTEAU MARIE PLAISANCE LE BRIN 2022 AC Bergerac Sec, France Vintages #38155 $13.25 Score - 92 Decanter World Wine Awards, 2023. This is rich with a long finish in the style of a white Bordeaux. Look for tropical aromas with grassy hints along with lime and wet stones. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon. Enjoy with Lemon Zucchini Risotto.
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
BIRD'S EYE VIEW CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 McLaren Vale, South Australia Vintages #41308 $14.75 Ray Jordan of winepilot.com gives this a 91 and describes generous, full fruit with spicy dark chocolate. Medium-bodied packed with character. Enjoy with Brisket with Leeks and Onions. (XD - 5 g/L)
ROC DES TEMPLIERS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 AC Terranea, Rhone, France Vintages #539916 $14.25 And blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre with generous plum cherry, cassis and vanilla. Score - Gold Concours International de Lyon, 2023. Enjoy with Lamb Ragu. (XD - 3 g/L)
HERDADE PESO TRINCA BOLOTAS TINTO 2022 DOC Alentejo, Portugal Vintages #431064 $17.35 I have a soft spot for Alicante Bouschet blends and this was my house wine in Portugal for years. Look for lots of juicy, black fruit with delicate spice and a gentle tannic structure. Enjoy with Dirty Roman Pasta. (XD - 5 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
PATERNOSTER VULCANICO FALANGHINA 2022 IGT Basilicata, Italy Vintages #19691 $17.60 This gets a Best Buy designation and Score of 91 from Danielle Callegari of Wine Enthusiast. She describes seaside aromas of salty air, sea weed, wet rocks and sand. The palate is bright with citrus zest and almonds with a saline finish. Plan to enjoy this with calamari or Chicken Piccata and pretend you are dining seaside! (XD - 4 g/L)
Gewürztraminer fans have 2 to choose from this release.
EASTDELL BLACK LABEL GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2022 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada Vintages #42628 $16.80 This is a classic Niagara Gewürztraminer. Fans will appreciate its floral aromatics with citrus, lychee, ginger, and ripe tropical fruit tones. Off-dry with zesty acidity. Enjoy with Thai Shrimp Bisque. (D - 17 g/L)
JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER 2023 AC Alsace, France Vintages #224626 $17.10 Alsace sets the gold standard for Gewürztraminer. Again classic lychee, rosewater, nutmeg and floral aromas; it is rich with fresh acidity. Score - Gold Concours International de Lyon, 2024 (D - 17 g/L)
KEN FORRESTER SWARTLAND TERRE NOIR CHENIN BLANC 2022 WO Swartland, South Africa Vintages #15716 $20.20 Ken Forrester is a master of Chenin Blanc. His Old Vines Reserve is also in this release (#231282 $16.80) and is always recognized as good value but this Terre Noire nudges beyond it in ratings and acceptance. The Terre Noir gets a 93 from Tim Atkins who describes passion fruit and lemon zest flavours and a stony, slightly salty finish. Enjoy with Creamy Seafood Pasta. (XD - 3 g/L)
GIESEN MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #36902 $17.30 This gets a 92 from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2023. Look for lemon and fresh herbs with crisp acidity and an herbal finish. Enjoy with Fettuccine Lemoncello. (XD - 4 g/L)
JEAN PABIOT ET FILS DOMAINE DES FINES CAILLOTTES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2022 Loire, France Vintages #695908 $29.55 This gets a 91 from Natalie Maclean and scores better then the much more expensive Sancerre also in this release. She describes it as fresh with melon, stone fruit, citrus zest, wild herbs and flinty mineral flavours on the palate. Enjoy with Duck Risotto. (XD - 2 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines
GÉRARD BERTRAND AN 990 FITOU GRENACHE/CARIGNAN 2021 Midi, France Vintages #403683 $15.85 I have a soft spot for the blends of Fitou region. This is a Grenache/Carignan blend that is 'exceptionally accessible' according to Vintages notes. Look for dark, ripe fruit, currant and coffee tones along with spices and chocolate. For a real treat enjoy with the region's traditional Cassoulet. (XD - 3 )
EMILIANA NOVAS STELLAR SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON/SYRAH/ CARIGNAN 2022 DO Valle del Maule, Chile Vintages#35672 $15.90 This 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah and 19% Carignan blend promises to be an easy drinking pour. It gets a 94 from Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com who describes it as rich with black and red berries. Hints of herbs and violets, 'excellent tension and freshness' round out the pour. A long and complex finish completes the picture. This would seem to be amazing value at this price so stock up! (XD - 3 g/L)
ANDRÉ BRUNEL CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 Rhone , France Vintages #538496 $16.25 If you are in the mood for a nice Rhone GSM then this one should fit the bill. It gets a 92 from James Suckling who describes it as round an creamy with generous juicy fruit and chocolate notes. Enjoy with Goulash with Egg Noodles.
ESCONDIDO TEMPRANILLO 2020 DO Ribera del Duero, Spain Vintages #132597 $16.80 This gets a 92 from James Suckling who describes vanilla and mocha notes along with blackberry and dark plum. Medium-bodied with a spicy, fruity palate and along finish. Enjoy with Sherried Spanish Meatballs. (XD - 3 g/L)
SIDEWOOD SHIRAZ 2021 Adelaide Hills, South Australia Vintages # 446146 $17.50 Sidewood is always a reliable choice, usually scoring low 90s. Look for rich black fruit, pepper and spice with earthy hints of dark chocolate. James Halliday of winecompanion.com.au gives it a 96 and describes the balance as 'flawless'calling it 'Special Value'. Enjoy now through 2043 with Spicy Black Pepper Beef. (XD - 2 g/L)
MANOS NEGRAS STONE SOIL MALBEC 2021 Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #482109 $17.75 This gets an impressive 95 from the Decanter tasting panel (not to be confused with the World Wine Awards that rate wines according to their price range). From a 'lieu dite' paraje, noted for its stony minerality, attention to detail in the winemaking, in the form of whole berry fermentation and 12 months in 20% new oak, has paid off. I have reproduced the comments from the 3 Decanter judges panel below. Enjoy with Marinated Flank Steak. (XD - 3 g/L)
Amanda Barnes: Nice floral notes opening on the palate, good brightness andapproachability. Lots of energy and tension, lovely for the price.
Madeleine Stenwreth, MW: Vibrant, with intense ripeforest fruit, floral notes and spice. Alive and full of fruit, it requires a bit of time to open up in the glass.
Dirceu ViannaJunior, MW: Gorgeous fruit, and a modern reductive character, youthful but with great energy. Fresh and just lovely.
CAVE DU CHÂTEAU DES LOGES LES 3 MADONES BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2022 Beaujolais, France Vintages #38266 $17.60 A Beaujolais can be a beautiful thing when you are in the mood! This one has dried violets on the nose along with black raspberry, black cherry and black tea that carry to the palate. The palate is focused with good acidity. Score - 90 Reggie Solomon, Wine Enthusiast, Enjoy with Crispy Duck with Cherry Port Sauce. (XD - 3 g/L)
ECHEVERRÍA FAMILY RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 Valle de Curicó, Chile Vintages #737 $19.40 This gets a 94 from Patricio Tapia of guiadescorchados.cl. He says, having tasted many, many vintages of this one, this is one of the best. Look for bright, juicy fruit with delicate aromas and flavours. Red fruit, tea and herbs define the palate. It is elegant and balanced with soft tannins. (XD - 3 g/L)
COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT 2021 Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA Vintages #209874 $20.30 Merlot is one of the most versatile varietals; great for pairing or on its own. Natalie Maclean gives this a 92 and describes it as a velvety, concentrated wine with dark and red berries, cherry and earthy chocolate on the finish.
KLOOF STREET 2022 WO Swartland, South Africa Vintages #460964 $21.75 Tim Atkins has lots of superlatives for this wine, including Best Red Wine Value of the Year, saying it is 'almost impossible to beat for the price' and 'it massively over-delivers at this price'. It is a Syrah dominant blend that includes Grenache, Tinta Barocca and Cinsault. Look for fresh notes of bramble, red berries and white pepper along with grippy tannins. Plan to enjoy with charcuterie or Pepper Steak. (XD - 4 g/L)
Cellar Selection
CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 DOCG Tuscany, Italy Vintages #643205 $21.95 This gets a 94 from Bruce Sanderson of winespectator.com who describes it as exuding ripe cherry, currat, mineral and wild herbs on the palate. Terrific energy, vivid acidity with a long mineral, fruity finish. Drink 2026 -2040. Enjoy with Red Wine Braised Beef. (XD - 3 g/L)
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-$30ish 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 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 then $40 routinely on a bottle of wine then you are probably a wine enthusiast doing your own research.
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