The Nov 16 2024 LCBO Vintages Release has # 31 and # 86 from The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023 among other gems.
Good 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 White Wine Winners:
M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2022 Midi, France Vintages #485656 $16.95 Put this classic French blend to work at your next lunch or dinner. Dry, with some citrus and tropical notes and a Riesling-like minerality. It gets a 93 from Jeb Dunnock who describes it as beautifully balanced and integrated with a 'great finish'. Pair with Chicken Pot Pie. (XD - 2 g/L)
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
AGENDA RED 2021 Dão, Portugal Vintages #37786 $14.95 This will be a workhorse of a red, perfect for pairing with a stew or pasta on weeknights. Smooth and elegant with lots of red, plummy fruit notes. Pair with Guinness Irish Stew. Score - 95 (International Wine Challenge, 2023) (D - 8 g/L)
Best Buy Fortified Wines
MESSIAS 10-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT Portugal Vintages #87205 $29.95 This gets a 90 from Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast who describes it as rich with a good balance of spice, dried fruit and edgy tannins. (S - 93 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
THORN-CLARKE PINOT NOIR/CHARDONNAY SPARKLING Eden Valley, South Australia Vintages #37482 $22.95 This little gem was nestled among the other triple digit Sparklings in this release! It gets a 93 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz. He describes it as elegant and 'beautifully composed'. Look for white peach and citrus aromas with a fine mousse and bright acidity. This lovely Sparkling will take you through your holiday parties and toasts with ease. (D - 0 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2023 AC Alsace, France Vintages #196956 $17.95 This off-dry Pinot Gris is a fan favourite that goes well with appetizers or light lunches. It has excellent weight with honeyed tones as well as apricot and spice. Score Gold -Grand Concours des Vins d'Alsace, 2024 (D - 11 g/L)
VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #536201 $19.95 As usual, any of the NZ Sauvignon Blancs in this release would be reliable bets but this one wins the value award. Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz gives it a 95 and describes 'gorgeous' fruit intensity with tropical fruit and citrus zest aromas. The palate is concentrated with succulent fruit and perfect acidity. Serve with Goat Cheese Souffle. (XD - 6 g/L)
SUBMISSION CHARDONNAY 2021 California, USA Vintages #14973
$20.95 If you are in the mood for a big, buttery California Chard then this one's for you! It gets a 90 and 'Best Buy' designation from Tonya Pitts of Wine Enthusiast. Look for ripe apple, pear and creamy vanilla with not-too-overpowering-oak touches. Serve with Roasted Pear Salad. (XD - 4 g/L)
JOEL GOTT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 California, USA Vintages #191593 $21.95 Ranked 31 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023, this gets a 91 from MaryAnn Worobiec of winespectator.com. Look for lots of lime and citrus with green apple and ginger over a juicy frame. Finish is long and 'expressive'. Make it a special meal with Salmon in Puff Pastry. (XD - 3 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines
CHÂTEAU JÉRÉMIE 2021 AC Corbières, France Vintages #38838 $18.95 Ranked #86 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023 with a 92 from Kristen Bieler of winespectator.com. This is a 'delicious' red blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, with dense ripe fruit - cherry, plum and red currant. Hints of minerality violets and forest floor add complexity. Some graphite black pepper and smoke on the finish. Sound like a great pair for Wine Braised OxTail Stew. (XD - 3 g/L)
MENZATIA PRIMITIVO NEGROAMARO 2022 IGT Salento, Puglia, Italy Vintages #39120 $18.95 Negroamaro is a varietal we are seeing more of in our stores and Puglia region gains recognition for value. A robust, sometimes rustic red, this one is being well received by reviewers. Look for dried fruit, cherry, raspberry and plum notes with spices, cocoa and vanilla. Serve with old cheeses or Spaghetti and Meatballs. (D - 15 g/L)
PUELLES RESERVA 2016 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #10720 $19.95 Wow... it is hard to believe an 8-year-old premium Rioja can sell for under $20! The 2014 hit the shelves last August and I can attest it was a delightful, smooth pour. So I am looking forward to this one as well! It gets a score of 93 from Rod Phillips who describes layers of dark fruit and spice flavours all well-balanced with good acidity and well-resolved tannins. Treat yourself to this on a cold winter night with Tapas Meatballs. (XD - 2 g/L)
CAP ROYAL ROUGE 2020 AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France Vintages #486761 $18.95 Bordeaux season is upon us! Nothing spells cozy like an aromatic glass of Cab Sauv beside a delicious beef stew! This one gets a 91 from James Suckling who describes dark fruit, sweet spice, walnut and and earthy tones. Medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Juicy and fruity with a lingering finish. (XD - 3 g/L)
LOS CLOP RESERVA MALBEC 2017 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #186650 $19.95 No surprise, any of the Malbecs in the release will be a reliable good choice but 'bang for your buck' goes to this one. It gets a 94 from James Suckling who describes it as complex and intense with ripe black and blue fruit, violets and licorice. 'Outstanding' ripe, polished tannins and welcome acidity. Beautifully drinkable. (D - 8 g/L)
MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 McLaren Vale, South Australia Vintages #43224 $21.95 This gets a 93 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz. Look for 'splendid' fruit and spicy thyme and cloves with some nutty notes on the nose. The palate is succulent with fine chalky tannins. It is structured and harmonious with a 'robust' finish. Pair with Goulash Soup. (XD - 2 g/L)
CHATEAU TANUNDA GRAND BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2022 Barossa, South Australia Vintages #20884 $22.95 This beautiful Aussie Shiraz gets a 93 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz. Blackberry, toasty oak, spice and vanilla define the nose. The silky palate is juicy, fruity and intense. Drink for another decade with Red Wine Braised Beef. (XD - 4 g/L)
FAMILLE PERRIN LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS 2021 AC, Rhône, France Vintages #973453 $25.95 This is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape wannabe at a fraction of the price, from one of C-d-P's best producers - what's not to like? It gets a 93 from James Suckling who describes currant, herbal and peppery aromas with a 'delicious' seam of wild berries and herbs. Full-bodied, fine tannins and a precise finish round out the picture. Enjoy with Beef Bourguignon. (XD - 4 g/L)
RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2020 Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand Vintages #32407 $27.95 A classic Otago Pinot Noir replete with aromas of freshly crushed dark cherries and plums with some dried herbs adding depth and complexity. Fresh and fruity with fine tannins and gentle oak. 'Great value with best drinking from 2023 through 2028. Pair with Duck with Cherry Port Sauce. Premium. Score - 92 (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com. ' (XD - 4 g/L)
ELÍAS MORA CRIANZA 2020 DO Toro, Spain Vintages #366815 $29.95 This clocks in at a 93 from Alison Napjus of winespectator.com. It is 'seamlessly knit' with juicy bitter cherry and black plum, dried flowers, spice and smoke. Satiny tannins lead to a lightly spiced finish. (XD - 3 g/L)
CHÂTEAU FONRÉAUD 2022
AC Listrac-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, Vintages # 20246 $34.95 Chances are if you have fond memories of a deeply aromatic red wine from a steak house, it was a Bordeaux. Recreate that magic at home with this classic Bordeaux that gets a 93 from Georgina Hindle of Decanter. (This is a 93 against the gold standard, not to be confused with the Decanter World Wine Awards.) She describes 'potent' aromatics, concentrated blackcurrant and bramble fruit with a supple, clean, direct palate. Chalky tannins are in play. Texture is rich, powerful and persistent with mouthwatering acidity providing a lift on the finish. Pair with Pistachio, Black Olive Crusted Steak. (XD - 2 g/L)
CHÂTEAU FONRÉAUD 2022
Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
Highly charged, bold and generous but still retains a certain charm and moreish quality. Drinking window: 2025-2045. Score - 93.
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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-$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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