The March 15 2025 LCBO Vintages Release has a half dozen 90+ scoring reds under $20 along with a very economical Sparkling for upcoming occasions.
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!
Cheap And Cheerful
Cheap and Cheerful Sparkling Wine Winner:
VILARNAU BARCELONA RESERVA BRUT ORGANIC CAVA DO, Penedès, Spain Vintages #515254 $16.95 This scores 90 consistently among critics on a regular basis. Look for yellow apple, yeasty and floral notes. Lively with lots of layers. Enjoy at brunch with Monte Cristo Sandwiches. Double Gold Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards (D - 9 g/L)
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
MORANDE SELECCIÓN DE VIÑEDOS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 DO Valle del Maipo, Chile Vintages #42112 This gets a 91 from Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com. Look for lots of red fruit (strawberry, redcurrant) along with eucalyptus and mint. A juicy palate with fine grained silky tannins. Enjoy with Beer Can Stuffed Burgers. (XD - 5 g/L)
FARMER'S LEAP PILLAR BOX RED 2021 Limestone Coast, South Australia Vintages #685941 This Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon blend will make an easy sipper with lots of blackberry and plum. Look for hints of chocolate and mint as well. It is elegant with a soft texture and a lingering finish. Enjoy with Ribs with Spicy Blackberry Sauce. Score - 95 (Royal Adelaide Wine Show, 2023) (XD - 0 g/L)
GAÏA DE CHÂTEAU PUYBARBE 2019 AC Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France Vintages # 22945 $16.95 This is scoring solid low 90s among critics. A Merlot dominant blend it has savoury and plummy notes. Opulent on the palate. Enjoy with Red Wine Braised Beef. Score - 91 Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022 (XD - 3 g/L)
ARESCA LA ROSSA BARBERA D'ASTI SUPERIORE 2021 Piedmont, Italy Vintages #39284 $16.95 A medium-bodied Barbera is always welcome beside a nice plate of Spaghetti. Look for dried strawberry, spices and chocolate aromas. The palate is firm but creamy with a spicy finish. Score - 90 jamessuckling.com (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2020 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, On, Canada Vintages #183491 $24.95 This gets a 92 from David Lawrason of winealign.com and a Gold from the National Wine Awards of Canada 2023. Lawrason describes 'wonderful' lift and precision. Full Riesling aromas range from pear, melon to petrol and spice. Medium weight and just off-dry look for lime, mineral and typical Niagara acidity. 'Excellent length.' This could star nicely at a Spring dinner with Salmon in Puff Pastry with Lime Cream. (XD - 19 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2022 Adelaide Hills, South Australia Vintages #186346 $18.95 This gets a 95 from Panel, Wine Showcase Magazine who describe attractive nutty aromas and a palate featuring lemon and melon. Enjoy with Chicken Picatta. (XD - 2 g/L)
PA ROAD MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2024 Marlborough, South Island, N.Z. Vintages #41804 $18.95 I enjoy a NZ Pinot Gris and this one has pear, melon and lemon aromas with a 'succulent palate that is beautiful weight and texture. Juicy acidity and a 'delicious' lingering finish round out the picture. Score - 94 Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines
VALDELACIERVA CRIANZA 2019 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #438713 $17.95 This gets a 92 from Mike DeSimone of Wine Enthusiast who describes aromas of black currant, caramel and cloves. The palate is fruity with a touch of oak, dark chocolate and butterscotch. The tannins are silky. Enjoy now with Clay Pot Pork. (XD - 2 g/L)
DOMAINE GOURON CHINON 2023 Loire, France Vintages # 470963 $18.95 This Cab Franc has a real fan following among critics and it scores consistently low 90s. Louise Boutin of winecurrent.com describes cherry pie filling and red pepper with an herbal hint on the nose and palate. Tannins have a gentle grip and the finish has 'crunchy' red fruit and peppery notes. Enjoy with Spicy Black Pepper Beef. Exceptional Value! (XD - 3 g/L)
KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY SHIRAZ 2021 Clare Valley, South Australia Vintages #24980 $19.95 This gets a 93 from Ken Gargett of winepilot.com. Look for plum, cigar box spices and dried herbs. The palate is fresh with generous blackfruit. Tannins are fine and the finish is long. (XD - 3 g/L)
KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY SHIRAZ 2021
Ken Gargett, winepilot.com
Surely a contender for value buy of the year. '.... this is utterly delicious and
should remain so for at least the next six to eight years.'
GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION SYRAH 2021 WO Stellenbosch, South Africa Vintages #493841 $19.95 This gets a 93 from Tim Atkins who calls it 'remarkable value for the money.' Look for spicy notes that lead to an intense palate with red cherry and blackberry. Enjoy with Lamb Shanks in Guinness. (XD - 2 g/L)
CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES GRENACHE/CARIGNAN/SYRAH CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2022 Midi, France Vintages #119354 $19.95 This is scoring 91-93 among critics and is always reliable value. Vintage notes call it a rich and harmonious blend of Grenache/Syrah/Carignan. Look for ripe red and black fruit with licorice and leather notes. Tannins are plush and velvety. (XD - 3 g/L)
TRULLO DI PEZZA MEZZAPEZZA PRIMITIVO 2021 IGP Salento, Puglia, Italy Vintages #39220 $19.95 Look for dark fruit and chocolate notes with dried herbs and spices. The palate has a juicy freshness. Tannins are firm so plan to enjoy with food, such as Fennel and Sausage Pasta. Score - 91 jamessuckling.com (XD - 10 g/L)
ALKOOMI COLLECTION SHIRAZ 2022 Frankland River, Western Australia Vintages #41348 $22.95 Ray Jordan of winepilot.com gives this a 94 and describes it as perfectly integrated with fine chalky tannins. Look for plum and mulberry notes and a long finish. (XD - 2 g/L)
THE ORGANIZED CRIME BREAK-IN PINOT NOIR 2021 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, On, Canada Vintages #396267 $24.95 This is scoring 90 consistently. A great example of Ontario Pinot Noir, look for ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry with earthy, herbal notes. Cranberry and dried herbs creep in on the palate. Enjoy with Chateaubriand with Mushroom Sauce. (XD - 2 g/L)
RICASOLI BROLIO BETTINO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 Chianti, Italy Vintages #630939 $27.95 This gets a 93 from Bruce Sanderson of winespectator.com who describes cherry and pomegranate with earthy and iron notes. The richness is cut by vibrant acidity and polished tannins. 'Shows terrific balance and length'. Enjoy now - 2043 with Tuscan Ribs. (XD - 2 g/L)
Premium
FAMILLE PERRIN LA GILLE GIGONDAS 2021 Rhone, France Vintages #906073 $32.95 This premium GSM blend gets a 93 from James Suckling. Look for wild strawberries, currants, raspberries, herbs and baking spice on the nose. It is harmonious with lively peppery notes. Drink now through the next 10 years. (XD - 2 g/L)
THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT PINOT NOIR 2021 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, On, Canada Vintages #44041 $40.00 John Szabo, MS of winealign.com gives this a 92 and describes 'a riot of red fruit' and fresh, juicy acidity. The palate is balanced with hints of salinity and a lingering finish. Enjoy now or over the next 4 years with Crispy Duck with Cherry Port Sauce. (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.
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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