The March 29 2025 LCBO Vintages Release has some Sparklings to celebrate Spring with. Check out an outstanding Mencía and a Nebbiolo for your cellar!
Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Get better value for your wine dollars with the recommendations below - 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
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
SANTOS LIMA TAVERNA DA ALDEIA 2021 DOC Dão, Portgual Vintages #41902 $13.95 Portuguese red blends are often in the best value category! This one gets a 91 from Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast who describes fresh black fruit with some minerality and tannins. Portuguese reds tend to be robust so plan to enjoy with charcuterie, pasta or pizza. (XD - 5 g/L)
BARATHYM DE LA GARRIGUE D'AUMELAS 2022 AP Languedoc, France Vintages #41283 $15.95 No reviews available for this one so I am going on the blend and the fact that Languedoc is known for good value. The Vintage notes say it is 'nicely balanced' and that is why it made the cut here. Look for ripe red fruit and herbal notes. Try it with Double Bourbon Bacon Burgers. (XD - 3 g/L)
Best Buy Fortified Wines
NOVAL BLACK RESERVE PORT DOP, Portugal Vintages #235689 $24.95 Followers know I am a big fan of Port wine and this one is inspiring a lot of enthusiasm in Jeb Dunnock who gives it a 91. He describes 'tons of character for a great price.' Lok for spicy red and blue fruit, some cigar and tobacco notes with a bit of mint. He notes an elegant mouthfeel and a 'great finish'. You can enjoy it today or over the next 5 or 6 years. (S - 88 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
TENUTA CIVRANETTA BRUT PROSECCO DOC, Italy Vintages #41259 $19.95 This is scoring consistently in the low 90s. It gets a 91 from Othmar Kiem & Simon Staffler of falstaff.com who describes floral notes along with fresh apple. The palate is concentrated with pear and some saline notes. Enjoy this with pastry appetizers like Balsamic Pear Tarts. (D - 7 g/L)
HENRI D'AUGAN BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX ROSÉ SPARKLING AC, Bordeaux, France Vintages #42003 $22.95 Crémants are pretty reliably good values. This is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Vintage notes say it is lively and fragrant with ripe berry notes. Pair with Cherry Cheese Sandwiches or Smoked Duck Breast Salad With Pomegranate Molasses Vinaigrette. (D - 9 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
DOMAINE QUINTIN FRÈRES COTEAUX DU GIENNOIS RIVE DROITE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 AC Coteaux du Giennois, Loire, France Vintages #41982 $19.95 If you are a fan of the elegance of a Loire Sauvignon Blanc - this one's for you! Look for green apple, gooseberry, green bell pepper and chives. Enjoy with Warm Goat Cheese Salad.
INVIVO X, BY SARAH JESSICA PARKER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Marlborough, South Island NZ Vintages #14278 $21.95 Invivo Sauvignon Blanc appears quite regularly in prestigious Top 100 lists so it is still a good bet in years it doesn't make the list. This vintage gets a 94 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz. He describes intense aromas of passionfruit, melon and lime. The palate has 'excellent weight and persistency'. The palate shows juicy fruit with 'refreshing' acidity' and 'loads of delicious flavours.' Pair with Lemon Zucchini Risotto. (XD - 7 g/L)
DOMAINE CHAUVEAU LA CHARMETTE POUILLY-FUMÉ 2023 AC Loire, France Vintages #274357 $27.95 If you are feeling particularly elegant consider this SB. Pair with Chicken Piccata. (XD - 2 g/L)
Racy nose combining citrus fruit, greengage, white flowers and a hint
Score - 92 gilbertgaillard.com, 2024
of chalk. Silky, ripe and harmonious mouthfeel. Superb intensity, a precise wine that limits itself to the essentials, with
great finesse. Excellent!
Best Buy Red Wines
TRAPICHE TESORO MALBEC 2022 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #36316 $17.95 There are a few good Malbecs in this release but this one wins the 'bang for your buck award'. It gets a 92 from Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com. Look for juicy red and blue fruit with hints of spice and pepper. Medium-bodied with earthy tones and a hint of cocoa over firm tannins. Plan to enjoy with Spicy Black Pepper Beef. (XD - 3 g/L)
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE SHIRAZ 2021 Coonawarra, South Australia Vintages #433060 $18.95 Wynns and Coonawarra are both synonymous with quality and 2021 was a great vintage so it will be hard to go wrong with this one. Look for ripe fruit, firm tannins and generous aromas of blackcurrant and herbs. It is elegant and restrained with subtle oak and layering. 'This is top quality at the price, and, better still, the best drinking window may be yet to come. Drink by: 2022-2027.' - Jeni Port, winepilot.com Score - 92 (XD - 3 g/L)
GABA DO XIL MENCÍA 2020 DO Valdeorras , Spain Vintages #166199 $19.95 Wow! This gets a 95 from Decanter Panel, meaning 3 different reviewers have reviewed it and come to consensus on the score! Their comments are below. You may not be familiar with Mencía but it is a medium to full-bodied red with lots of red fruit and spicy pepper notes. I find it weightier than Pinot Noir leaning toward a Grenache. This is a great opportunity to experiment and expand your palate! Try it with charcuterie, Manchego cheese or Steak with Peppercorn Sauce. (XD - 2 g/L)
MEGABA DO XIL MENCÍA 2020
TASTING NOTES:
Sarah Jane Evans, MW: Forward, juicy aromas. Distinctly individual profile, with dense, succulent fruit and a long, ripe finish.
Beth Willard: Pretty nose with tomato vine, sour cherry, floral. Very crunchy, green freshness and just the right amount of grippy tannin. Highly drinkable.
David Williams: Lovely, pure, graceful and fragrant - full of violet and raspberry juice, racy and succulent with silky tannins and a twist of bergamot and blood orange tang, beetroot earthiness. Almost Pinot-esque. Drinking window: 2023-2028.
Score - 95 (Panel, decanter.com, March 3, 2023)
ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP BLACKBERRY PATCH CABERNET 2021 Fleurieu, South Australia, Vintages #353193 Ken Gargett of winepilot.com gives this a 95 and describes an 'exciting' nose with rich blackberry, coffee and cigar box notes. He calls it a 'brilliant' warm climate Cab with good intensity and a long finish with very fine tannins. Enjoy with Lasagne with Mushroom Ragu. (XD - 3 g/L)
TRIUS DISTINCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 VQA Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada Vintages #25366 $19.95 Vintage notes suggest this is classic Niagara. It is still youthful so decant for an hour if you plan to enjoy it now or cellar for the next several years. The nose is showing rich blackberry, cherry and vanilla with some smoky oak. The fruit on the palate is ripe with cocoa and sweet spices. The finish is lingering and drying so plan to enjoy with food. (XD - 5 g/L)
FAMILLE PERRIN SIGNATURE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 Rhone, France Vintages #948059 $19.95 From the Perrin family of Chateauneuf-du-pape fame, this is a vibrant Grenache/Syrah blend that is 'beautifully crafted' according to Natalie Maclean. Look for a smoky nose with dark berries, strawberries and herbs and spices on the palate. Enjoy with Chicken Shawarma Wraps. Score - 91 nataliemaclean.com (XD - 3 g/L)
PKNT PLATINUM 2020 Valle del Maule, Casa Terra, Chile Vintages #42104 $20.95 This is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with splashes of Syrah and Carmenère. It gets a 95 from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022. It is concentrated with dense, creamy oak, a core of juicy fruit and a peppery complexity. Tannins are 'lovely, fine.' (XD - 5 g/L)
BENMARCO SIN LÍMITES PEDERNAL MALBEC 2021 Valle de Pedernal, San Juan, Argentina Vintages #42700 $21.95 This is an outstanding Malbec example that gets a 95 from Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com. He describes a spicy nose with red berries and hints of stone. The palate is juicy with fine-grained tannins and a 'long, spicy finish.' As a matter of fact it is a 'long, long finish'. Savour with Sour Cherry Glazed Ribs. (XD - 0 g/L)
HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2020 VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON Canada Vintages #268391 $27.95 This is scoring 92-94 among critics. Vintages notes describe 'boldly expressed' raspberry, cherry, clove, tobacco and spicy notes. Enjoy with Crispy Duck with Cherry Port Sauce. (XD - 4 g/L)
Cellar Suggestions
TRAVAGLINI GATTINARA 2020 DOCG Piedmont Italy Vintages #713354 $39.95 James Suckling calls this a complex wine with violet and pomegranate aromas over smoky woods, licorice and cocoa. The palate is firm and full-bodied with dusty, ripe tannins and crisp acidity. Plan to enjoy in 5-10 years with Steak Diane! Score - 95 jamessuckling.com, July 9, 2024)
(XD - 2 g/L)
Appetizers For Your Sipping Pleasure
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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