The Nov 8 2025 LCBO Vintages Release has some interesting Sparklings, a premium 20-year-old Tawny and a 'poor man's Brunello' of interest.
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Cheap And Cheerful
Cheap and Cheerful Sparkling Wine Winners:
AVELEDA BRUT SPARKLING DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal Vintages #45813 $16.95 This gets a 90 from Wine Enthusiast. It is a 50-50 blend of Arinto and Loureiro, which are lively enough on their own, so the Sparkling version is a no-brainer. Although it is tank method, part of the blend was aged in wooden barrels to add some rich toasty notes. It is vibrant, and youthful with juicy white fruit and brioche notes. Will be perfect for holiday parties and toasting. (D - 0 g/L)
VILLA TERESA ORGANIC PROSECCO DOC, Italy Vintages #544056 $17.95 This gets a 93 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co,nz, who describes nectarine, melon and citrus with some floral notes. The palate is silky with excellent fruit and persistence. Serve this at your next Brunch with Eggs Benedict. (D - 13 g/L)
Cheap and Cheerful White Wine Winners:
LE BOURGEAIS MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2023 Loire, France Vintages #42737 $16.95 This is my work-horse luncheon wine. If you have a crowd for a holiday dinner, this will play a supporting role. Look for grapefruit and citrus with bright acidity. Pair with this Creamy Shrimp Tarte. Score - 90 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2024) (XD - 2 g/L)
GÉRARD BERTRAND RÉSERVE SPÉCIALE VIOGNIER 2024 Languedoc, France Vintages #147975 $16.95 This gets a 90 from Natalie Maclean. Look for peach, pear and hazelnut notes with a touch of chamomile and minerality on the finish. Pair with Ginger Chicken en Papillote. (XD - 2 g/L)
WAPISA PATAGONIA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina Vintages #36181 $17.95 This spent 8 months in used oak. It is showing lime and grassy notes with hints of grapefruit. The palate is long and intense. Score 91 (Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, Nov. 2023) (XD - 4 g/L)
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
CICCHITTI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #24849 $16.95 Look for blackcurrant and kirsh with herbs and cedar aromas. The palate is succulent, med-full-bodied with a long, flavourful finish. Score - 92 (jamessuckling.com, Feb. 21, 2024) (XD - 3 g/L)
TERRES DELS ALFORNIS MEGALA TEMPRANILLO/MONASTRELL/MARSELAN BLEND 2021 DO Valencia, Spain Vintages #44755 $17.95 This gets a 95 from Tim Atkin. It is an unusual blend of 60% Tempranillo, 20% Monastrell and 20% Marselan and has a
Mediterranean character with black olive tapenade, herbal notes and a meaty, iodine palate. The oak influence is subtle. A perfect choice to pair with Cassoulet. (XD - 5 g/L)
Best Buy Fortified Wines
GRAHAM'S 20-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT DOP, Portugal, unfiltered Vintages #620641 $39.95 Port lovers are in luck. This respected Tawny gets a whopping 96 points from Andy Howard, MW, decanter.com. It is unfiltered, so it will continue to evolve in the bottle, properly stored. Look for toffee and caramel with orange raisin and plum notes. Hazelnuts and hints of mushroom round out the picture. Enjoy with a charcuterie board with dried apricots, Brie, roasted almonds and caramel-filled chocolates.(S - 114 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
LABOURÉ-GONTARD BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE Burgundy, France Vintages
#401018 $23.95
Traditional method This gets a 90 from Anna Lee C. Iijima of Wine Enthusiast. Look for creamy, yeast and lemon aromas with a lively palate showing delightful bready, autolytics. Dry and refreshing. Best Buy. Serve with pastry appetizers.(D - 6 g/L)
TALTARNI TACHÉ BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2016, Australia Vintages #967398 $26.95
Traditional method. This traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier is showing rose petal and strawberry notes with red berry, cassis and pasty on the palate. A versatile blend that will pair with appetizers, salmon or turkey. (D - 9 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
OTU MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #17549 $19.95 This is an energetic, herbaceous wine with tropical fruit, apple and grapefruit on the palate. The finish is dry with crisp stone minerality.
Score - 92 (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com, Dec. 23, 2024) (XD - 5 g/L)
If you can't find that one, look for TIRAKI SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023
Vintages #41802 $24.95 (XD - 4 g/L) Pair with Salmon with Citrus Cream.
TRINITY HILL HAWKE'S BAY PINOT GRIS 2022 Hawke's Bay, North Island, NZ Vintages #41801 $20.95 It has been a while since a good Pinot Gris hit our shelves so I am looking forward to this one. Look for apple and pear tones with hints of ginger and spice on the nose and palate. It is balanced and well-made. Score - 91 (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com, Dec. 21, 2022) (XD - 5 g/L)
ORGANIZED CRIME SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON Canada Vintages #396275 $22.95 This gets a 90 from Rhys Pender, MW, winealign.com. Look for crisp lemon, lime and green herbal notes with refreshing acidity. (XD - 2 g/L)
BROKENWOOD SEMILLON 2024 Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia Vintages #657726 $24.95 If you are a fan of a white Bordeaux blend you might enjoy this one. It is getting rave reviews for its purity of lemon/lime citrus fruit, freshness and length. Expect some toasty and flint to emerge with age. Match with Chicken Fricasée. Drink from: 2025- 2030. Score - 95 (Toni Paterson, MW, winecompanion.com.au, Feb. 24, 2025) (XD - 4 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines
MISTER UKO MALBEC 2022 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #46405 $20.95 While any of the Malbecs in the listing are good bets, this one wins the value award with a Score of 94 from decanter.com. Look for dark fruit, cherry, blackberry, along with violets and spice. Some meaty and chocolate notes add character. Fresh with a long finish. (XD - 3 g/L)
KILIKANOON GOLDEN HILLSIDE SHIRAZ 2020 Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia Vintages #45346 $18.95 Kilikanoon is always a get choice for value. This one gets a 94 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz, who describes blackberry and cake spices with hazelnut. The palate is silky with a lengthy finish. Pair with Ribs with Spicy Blackberry Sauce. (XD - 0 g/L)
CARPINETO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2022 Tuscany, Italy Vintages #45805 $21.95
This is a 'poor man's Brunello' at a very reasonable price. Carpineto is also a highly respected Tuscan producer. This gets a 91 from Danielle Callegari of Wine Enthusiast, who describes it as crisp and invigorating with black pepper, sour cherry, strawberry notes and some earthy tones. Tannins are firm, so plan to enjoy with food and/or cellar for a few years. Pair with Sausage and Fennel Pasta. (XD - 3 g/L)
SUTHERLAND CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 WO Elgin, South Africa Vintages #548503 $21.95 This is a cool-weather 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Look for blueberry, violets and gravelly aromas. The palate is fruity and succulent with well-integrated oak and good length. Serve with Steak with Pepper Sauce. (Score 92 Decanter World Wine Awards, 2024) (XD - 2 g/L)
LA LUNA E I FALÒ BARBERA D'ASTI SUPERIORE 2022 Piedmont, Italy Vintages #627901 $23.95 This 100% Barbera is rich and velvety with intense red plum, black cherry and herbal notes. The finish is long and spicy. I gravitate toward a Barbera when I want a medium tannin, approachable yet well-structured red, so I will be stocking up on this one! Enjoy it with Meatloaf with Italian Sausage. Score - 92 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2024) (XD - 6 g/L)
2027 CELLARS WISMER VINEYARD-FOXCROFT BLOCK CABERNET FRANC 2021
VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, ON, Canada Vintages #47929 $24.95 I have never had a wine from Kevin Panagapka's 2027 Cellars that wasn't markedly well-made. So I am looking forward to his take on Ontario's 'new darling' Cab Franc. Look for savoury and generous red and dark berries with hints of forest floor and spice. Acidity suggests enjoying it with charcuterie or a meal. (XD - 2 g/L)
SCHILD GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #45496 $24.95 Schild is another reliable choice for quality, and as I often say, how can you go wrong with Barossa Valley? Look for cherry, plum and spice on the nose with some nutty notes. The palate is silky with intense fruit and a 'long and flavoursome' finish. Score - 95 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, July 2024) (XD - 3 g/L)
SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2023 Barossa, South Australia Vintages #346510 $18.95 is another excellent choice if you are in the mood for an Aussie GSM. Score - 96 (Melbourne International Wine Competition, 2025) (XD - 3 g/L)
THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE QUARTAGE RED BLEND 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintages #24091 $21.95 Australia is making a good showing in the value category this release. This Bordeaux-style blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc) gets a 94 from Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz. Look for savoury cassis, dried herbs and cedar aromas that carry to the palate. The palate is layered with fine tanins and well-structured. The finish is persistent. If you do roast beef for Christmas or New Year's ... stock up! Pair with Brandied Beef Bourguignon. (XD - 3 g/L)
MONTES DE LEZA EDICION LIMITADA 2019 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #44884 $21.95 Here is a Rioja where the aging has been done for you! Look for cranberry, olive and roses on the nose with bright raspberry, pomegranate, cocoa butter, eucalyptus and Turkish delight on the palate. 'Plush' tannins and baking spice carry in to the finish. Sign me up! Serve with Sherry Tapas Meatballs. Score - 93 (Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast, July 1, 2023) (XD - 3 g/L)
INVIVO X, SJP MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2023 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintage #39492 $27.95 Invivo makes it on to many Top 100 lists so this should be a reliable bet. Look for dark cherry and spice on the nose with a silky, complex, supple palate. Serve with Duck Breast with Cherry Port Sauce. Score - 94 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Aug. 2024)
(XD - 3 g/L)
Premium Reds
CAMPO VIEJO GRAN RESERVA 2016
Vintages # 586701
$34.95
DOCa Rioja, Spain
TASTING NOTE: 2016 was a heralded vintage in Rioja, and rightly so, judging by this fine example. Bright, rich, red
and black fruit notes ride a carpet of cool vintage acidity that gives all the fruit and spice components real lift and
length. I find I want to keep returning to this, and that's always a good sign. This is a terrific value worth seeking out.
Contains 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Score - 94 (Rich Cook, winereviewonline.com, March 5,
2025)
(XD - 3 g/L) 750mL
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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 than $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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