The Feb 21 2026 LCBO Vintages Release has 2 Langhe Nebbiolos worth a look, as well as some Riesling collectibles.
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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Best White Wines Under $20:
COLOMÉ ESTATE TORRONTÉS 2024 Valles Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina Vintages #357913 $15.95 You might be interested in this just from the talking point perspective that Bodega Colomé is, for all intents and purposes, the highest altitude vineyard in the world. (There is one higher in Tibet, but has anyone ever seen any wine from there?) Torrontés is a very aromatic wine, interesting when it's dry and rather cloying when it's not. This one is only 2 grams of sugar/L, so if you are curious - give it a chance. Look for lime, jasmine, and herbal notes. It is dry, taut, and refreshing, and 'beautifully crafted'. Pair with Herb Crusted Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce. Score - 92 (Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, Oct. 31, 2024) (XD - 2 g/L)
LANDLUST ORGANIC RIESLING 2023 Qualitätswein Mosel, Germany Vintages #37520 $15.95 This is an off-dry Riesling from slate-rich hillside vineyards in the Mosel. Is balanced and lively with apple, peach, pear, and honeysuckle notes. Intense and refreshing, this will pair well with Asian dishes, such as Sticky Chicken Drumsticks. (D - 15 g/L)
KASTEELBERG CHENIN BLANC 2025 WO Swartland, South Africa Vintages #48110 $16.95 If you are looking for a medium-bodied alternative to a Chardonnay, consider A Chenin Blanc. Look for lemon, apple, peach notes with baking spices and smoke. Oak ageing has added complexity and a textured mouthfeel. Previous vintages score consistently inthe low 90s. (XD - 0 g/L)
CASAS DEL BOSQUE LA CANTERA BOTANIC SERIES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Valle de Casablanca, Chile Vintages #28583 $19.95 This is an energetic light-bodied sipper with generous herbal and fruity notes. Recognized as a crowd pleaser and good value at this price point. Score - 92 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2025) (XD - 2 g/L)
J. DE VILLEBOIS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 IGP Val de Loire, France Vintages #15774 $19.95 Look for elderflower, cut grass and passion fruit here with underlying minerality and lemon acidity. Salinity on the finish. Sounds classic Loire, although it is not quite as dry as some. Pair with Spicy Asparagus Soup. Score - 95 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025) (XD - 7 g/L)
Best Red Wines Under $20:
VALLE LAS ACEQUIAS BONARDA 2022 Mendoza. Argentina Vintages #668731 $17.95 Bonarda is the 2nd most-planted grape in Argentina after Malbec. This one is from 30 year-old-vines. Look for dark berries, raspberry, gentle oak spice, and smoke. Well structured, it is generous and 'easy to enjoy' according to Vintage notes. (XD - 3 g/L)
SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ 2022 McLaren Vale, South Australia Vintages #269464 $17.95 Sister's Run is always a reliable bet for value. This gets a 94 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz, who describes it as 'opulent and gorgeously complex'. There are aromas of cake spice, oak, and dark chocolate. The palate is concentrated with polished tannins. Enjoy with Lasagne with Mushroom Ragu. (XD - 3 g/L)
DOÑA PAULA EL ALTO SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2023 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages # 46404 $19.95 A classic Malbec here with aromas of violets and black cherries. The palate is approachable with sweet, round tannins. Pair with Duck Breast with Cherry Port Sauce. Score - 92 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2025)
(XD - 2 g/L)
JOHNNY Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 South Australia Vintages #530121 $19.95 This gets a 92 from James Suckling, who calls it a 'balanced and flavorful' Cab Sauv. Look for dark berries, baking spices and bell pepper. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, and the enjoyment endures through the finish. (XD - 6 g/L)
TORRES ALTOS IBÉRICOS CRIANZA 2021 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #18767 $19.95 This gets a 92 from Elaine Chukan Brown of Wine Enthusiast, who describes generous aromas of ripe berries and herbs. The palate is juicy and velvety with good length. (XD - 3 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines Under $40
DE CHANCENY BRUT CRÉMANT DE LOIRE
Loire, France Traditional method Vintages #515262 $22.95
This is getting 89- low 90 scores. It will serve you well for any upcoming celebrations or brunches. It is energetic and well-made with a fine mousse. Red berries, smoke, and minerals float on the palate, leading to a persistent citrus finish. (D - 10 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines Under $40
CAYTHORPE MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #47917 $20,95 A classic NZ Sauvignon Blanc here that gets a 94 from Cameron Douglas, MS, of camdouglasms.com. Look for a very expressive nose of citrus, peach, and tropical fruit, along with mineral and herbal notes. A racy, citrus core leads to a fresh, lengthy finish. Drink now through 2027. Enjoy with Chicken in Vinegar Sauce. (XD - 6 g/L)
BESTHEIM DES CHASSEURS DE LUNE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2021 AOC Alsace, France Vintages #28742 $20.95 Another one I will be adding to my stable for those Chinese food nights! Off-dry with floral honeysuckle, acadia, and lychee notes on the nose and palate. Pair with Curry Singapore Noodles. Score - 91 (Claire Nesbitt, Jamessuckling.com, Nov. 22, 2024) (M - 25 g/L)
MARIETA ALBARIÑO 2024 DO Rías Baixas, Spain Vintages #22498 $21.95 From one of the finest producers in the region, renowned for its Albariño, this is a bright, floral, off-dry wine with apple, pear, stone fruits and orange citrus notes. Perfect for welcoming spring sunshine with Salmon in Citrus Cream. (D - 12 g/L)
ERADUS PINOT GRIS 2024 Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #439000 $21.95 A dry, refreshing Pinot Gris here showcasing melon, pear and citrus notes with a hint of ginger. Generous fruit on the palate that is juicy and textured with a long, refreshing finish. Pair with Clay Pot Pork. Score - 93 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, June 2024) (D - 2 g/L)
ORGANIZED CRIME LIMESTONE BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2023 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON, Canada Vintages #11951 $24.95 Jeremy Bonia of winealign.com calls this a 'stellar Chardonnay'. Look for pear and yellow apple, lemon cream with a clean, fresh palate. Enjoy with Chicken Pot Pie. Score - 92 (XD - 2 g/L)
Collectibles
Ontario does an admirable job with Riesling. If you are a fan of aged Riesling, here are 2 candidates for your cellar.
THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING 2021
Vintages #25031 $28.95
VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON, Canada
(D - 12 g/L) 750mL
TASTING NOTE: I would call the Triangle Vineyard Riesling a classic Niagara "cru" among a handful in all of Niagara. It comes from grapes planted in 1981 to the 21b clone and dazzles from vintage to vintage and has the stuffing to cellar well for a decade or more. The nose is gorgeous with pure wet stone and seashells followed by lime, floral notes, crisp apple, peach and lemon tart. It's quite concentrated and juicy on the palate with notes of white peach, zesty lime, bergamot, ripe apple, nectarine, waves of fresh minerality, honeycomb, a touch of ginger and a long, lifted and finessed finish. Just gorgeous Riesling here that will improve through 2035.
Score - 94 (Rick VanSickle,vwinesinniagara.com)
CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021
Vintages # 241182 $39.95
(M - 20 g/L) 750mL
VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada
TASTING NOTE: The word "tannic" does not often first (second or third) come to mind when riesling is the subject but '21 and Picone from Charles Baker strikes that way from the first sip. This after a most unique aromatic begin[ning], dried herbals for one thing and exotic spicing in a cumin-coriander masala way. Even more so fenugreek leaf and wait for it…maple syrup. Hard to say why '21 emits this way but when these scents give way to the riesling's body politic the effect is both exotic and promising. Baker himself says that the "2021 CB from Picone is true to form and represents the vintage properly. Elegant, refined, absorbs the richness with fine acidity. Long floral green toned finish. Will age beyond me." Indeed this may just turn out to be Charles Baker's longest lived of the Picones, right up there with the '06, '11 and '16. Drink 2024-2036. Tasted October 2024.
Score - 94 (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
Best Buy Red Wines Under $40
CELLIER DES SAINT-ETIENNE CÔTE DE BROUILLY 2024 Beaujolais, France Vintages #48326 $20.95 This won Gold at Concours des Vins Macon, 2025. It is concentrated with hints of wild herb, dark plum, and berries with some smoky minerality. (XD - 3 g/L)
AURENT BELLION SEGURET CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 Rhone, France Vintages #47573 $20.95 This GSM blend gets a 91 from James Suckling, who describes cherries, blackberries, chocolate, and licorice. Fruity and juicy with fine tannins and a supple texture. Enjoy with Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff.(XD - 3 g/L)
MOUNT RILEY PINOT NOIR 2023 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #60137 $21.95 Generous bright plum and sweet cherry notes here with some floral and spice. The palate is silky and intensely fruited with mellow tannins. 'Delightfully appealing.' Score - 91 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2024) (XD - 3 g/L)
KAIKEN ULTRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #135202 $22.95 Kaiken is always a reliable quality choice, and Kaiken 'Ultra' is not an idle enhancement. 2022 was a cool vintage, and this one has turned out beautifully, according to Joaquín Hidalgo of vinous.com, who gives it a 94. It is rich, concentrated, and spicy with sandalwood and cedar under the fruit. Drinking window: 2025-2035 (XD - 3 g/L)
Many of the wine regions of Piedmont produce Nebbiolo wines. While Barolo is the most famous, Alba and Langhe make Nebbiolos that they pride themselves on, and many are approachable much earlier than the (in)famous Barolos, and they are a fraction of the price. There are 2 Nebbiolos on offer this release. Nebbiolo is arguably always high in tannins, so plan to serve it with charcuterie or food.
PATRIZI NEBBIOLO D'ALBA 2023 Alba, Italy Vintages #25523 $22.95 This is a lighter version than a Barolo, and Alba's claim to fame is that their Nebbiolo is approachable earlier. Look for wild cherry, blue fruit, cassis, along with spice and some earthy notes. Well structured, you can drink this now or through 2030. (XD - 2 g/L)
ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2022 Lange, Italy Vintages #22793 $24.95 This example is slightly more robust than the Patrizi above. It won Gold at the Berliner Wein Trophy, 2024, and is being well-received by consumers. It is showing red and black fruit with vanilla, tar, and sweet spice. The tannins are grippy but not overwhelming. Drink through 2030. This is a perfect chance to serve Red Wine Braised Beef (Beef in Barolo).(XD - 4 g/L)
SONS OF EDEN KENNEDY GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2023 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #558692 $23.95 This gets a 94 from Sam Kim, who describes an impressive nose of dark berries with floral and spicy notes. The palate is polished, fruity, and well-structured. The finish is persistent. (XD - 2 g/L)
CHÂTEAU GUITIGNAN 2019 AOC Moulis-en-Médoc, Bordeaux, France Cintages #26304 $33.95 This gets a 91 from Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast, who describes rich, black fruit, dusky tannins, and spice. The palate is textured and dense. Drink now through mid-2030s with Spicy Black Pepper Beef. (XD - 2 g/L)
SCHILD ESTATE BEN SCHILD SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #58727 $29.95 This getsa 95 from Sam Kim, who describes complex aromas of blackberry, vanilla-ed oak, spice, and chocolate. The palate is opulent and textured with silky tannins. The finish is robust and 'seductive'. (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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