The Oct 5 2024 LCBO Vintages Release is the last one before the Canadian Thanksgiving so I will be pointing out a good selection of turkey-complementary wines, among other gems. There are some notable premium red wines that will add some allure to your wine cabinet or cellar.
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 White Wine Winners:
ADEGA PONTE DA BARCA LOUREIRO/ALVARINHO 2023 DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal Vintages #37785 $12.95 I personally tend to match the weight of the wine with the weather so I would chill this for a sunny, fall afternoon at this point. It is a 50/50 blend of Lourerio and Alvarinho so it will have a bit more body than a straight Alvarinho. Look for tropical fruit, minerality and a touch of mint. Serve with a brunch with Eggs Benedict with Béarnaise Sauce. (XD - 5 g/L)
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2020 DOC Dão, Portugal Vintages #247973 $13.95 This is scoring 89-91 and considered great value. It is robust, with peppery aromas along with cherry and citrus hints. It is medium-bodied and well-balanced with fruit and spice. Drink now with charcuterie or Spaghetti and Meatballs. (D - 8 g/L)
TRAPICHE TESORO MALBEC 2022 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #36316 $15.95 This is scoring consistently in the low 90s folks and end consumer reviews are enthusiastic! Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com gives it a 92 and describes juicy red and blue berries, spices, wet earth and cocoa. It is still firm with chalky tannins and an expressive finish. Plan to enjoy with charcuterie or Sirloin Steak. (XD - 0 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
JOSEPH CATTIN BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE AC, Alsace, France, traditional method Vintages #281329 $19.95 This gets a 91 from Anne Krebiehl, MW of Wine Enthusiast. She describes ripe apple and shortbread aromas. The palate is juicy with subtle ripe plum. The mousse is fine and fresh and adds enjoyment. A good Crémant, to me, is always good value. Made in the traditional method with French finesse... what's not to like? This Sparkling could take you right through your Thanksgiving dinner. (D - 9 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines
FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 VQA Niagara Peninsula, ON Canada Vintages #89011 $17.95 This gets a 90 from David Lawrason of winealign.com who describes it as falling in between the assertiveness of NZ and Bordeaux Sauvignon Blancs. It is showing pear and melon fruit with light mint, herbs and citrus. A touch of bitterness appears on the finish but the length is very good. (XD - 5 g/L)
EMILIANA NOVAS GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2022 DO Valle de Casablanca. Chile Vintages #37755 $17.95 Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com gives this a 92 and describes this as fresh with minerality, creaminess and a 'hint of lemon pastry'. A touch of light oak and good acidity and you now have another good choice to pair with your Thanksgiving turkey! (XD - 2 g/L)
MATAHIWI ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Wairarapa, North Island NZ Vintages #402677 $17.95 This gets a 93 from camdouglasms.com. It has a fruity red apple/grapefruit and fresh herb profile. Hints of floral and wet stone minerality add interest. Crisp with 'salivating textures'. Enjoy with calamari. (XD - 2 g/L)
BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES BLANC 2022, Rhone, France Vintages #644385 $18.98 This white Grenache is rich and full-bodied and would make an excellent turkey wine. James Suckling gives this a 90 and describes a 'seductive' floral nose with stone fruits and a hint of honey. The palate is mellow with a clean finish. This would go well with this Brioche Stuffing with Honey Garlic Sausage. (XD - 2 g/L)
PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2023 DOC Alto Adige, Italy Vintages #95802 $18.95 James Suckling gives this a 91 and describes pears, apples and almonds on the nose. The palate is fresh with some minerality. Another possible turkey wine. (XD - 2 g/L)
GRAHAM NORTON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Marlborough/Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Vintages #560284 $19.95 This represents good value and consistently scores in the low 90s year after year. Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz gives it a 94 and describes it as 'instantly appealing' with fruity, lime aromas leading to a fruity palate with a 'lengthy, vibrant finish'. Think about this one if you are serving Lime Jasmine Rice. (XD - 6 g/L)
HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 Nelson, South Island, New Zealand Vintages #36901 $19.95
Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz gives this a 93 and describes an inviting nose with pear, and floral notes. The palate is 'beautifully rounded' with 'succulent' fruit. It is well-balanced with a lingering finish. If your turkey stuffing has fruit in it or has sweet notes like this Brioche Stuffing this would be an ideal accompaniment. (XD - 6 g/L)
CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2022 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #
918805 $20.95 This medium to full-bodied Chardonnay is richly textured with good acidity. There are tropical fruits on the nose and creamy almond and vanilla notes on the palate. This would be an excellent choice to go with turkey dinner and all the trimmings. This is scoring mid 90s consisently. (XD - 2 g/L)
Natalie's Score: 94/100
Natalie Maclean
Catena High Mountain Vines 2022 Chardonnay was produced from sustainably grown grapes sourced from four vineyards that are 950 to 1,450 metres above sea level. Dry, medium-plus-bodied and zesty, look for ripe peach, pineapple, lemon zest, nutty almond and vanilla flavours creamy and textured on the palate. About 60% of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months while the remainder was brought up in stainless-steel tanks. Drink through 2025.
Best Buy Red Wines
XAVIER VIGNON VENTOUX 2021 Rhone, France Vintages # 413211 $18.95 Xavier wines are always reliable choices. This one gets a 90 from James Suckling who describes a fruity nose with dark fruits, lavender and wet stones. A fruity medium-bodied has fine tannins and a velvety texture. This could be a turkey wine for red aficionados. (XD - 3 g/L)
SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2022 Barossa, South Australia Vintages #346510 $18.95 According to Vintages notes this is a big wine with generous dark berries and pepper, along with earthy and oaky notes. Silky with a long finish. Enjoy this one with Oxtail Stew. (XD - 3 g/L)
ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2022 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #167619 $18.95 Luis Gutiérrez, robertparker.com gives this a 92 and describes it as a relatively straightforward wine that exemplifies the red fruit and freshness expected of Uco Valle Malbec. Juicy and fine-boned, enjoy with Sour Cherry Glazed Ribs. (XD - 3 g/L)
PARDON & FILS CUVÉE P BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2023 Beaujolais, France Vintages #38054 $20.95 This is a light and fruity wine with red berry and hints of violet over some earthy characteristics. This would be a good turkey wine if there will be savoury notes in the dressing. (XD - 3 g/L)
PARDON & FILS CUVÉE P BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2023
Reggie Solomon, Wine Enthusiast
This is an open-and-enjoy Beaujolais Villages. An energetic liveliness greets you on the nose of the wine along with aromas of raspberry puree, black plum slice, black cherry, nectarine and rose petal. Ripe fruit asserts itself on the palate with additional nuances of red currant and black tea. — Reggie Solomon
STONELEIGH LATITUDE PINOT NOIR 2020 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #325654 $21.95 This is scoring consistently in the mid 90s. Buy a few since it is cellar-worthy. Michael Cooper, Winestate gives it a 95 and describes concentrated plum flavours with spice and oak complexity. Finish is fairly firm. Drink now or over next 3 years +. (XD - 3 g/L)
VERSADO MALBEC 2018 Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #317008 $21.95 This is getting low 90s consistently and is well-received by reviewers. Look for rich blackcurrant and red berries with some hints of violet and savoury herbs and spices. Enjoy with Ribs with Spicy Blackberry Sauce.
MATILDA NIEVES MENCIA 2020 DO Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain Vintages #26322 $21.95 Mencia is a lesser-known grape that is only grown in Spain and Portugal. If you have never tried it before, now is time because this won Platinum, Best in Show at Decanter World Wine Awards, 2021; score 97. That means it is an almost perfect example of a Mencia wine. Mencia is known for its floral, fruity aromas (cherry, pomegranate, raspberry) and flavours of peppery sour cherry, red currant with a touch of bitter pit.
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Platinum. Best in Show. Score - 97 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2021)
MATILDA NIEVES MENCIA 2020
...here it is, dark, fresh and thrillingly aromatic from first sniff to last swallow. This limpid, unoaked wine is made from the Mencia grape variety (known as Jaen in Portugal) plus a little Garnacha and Souson, and the emphasis is on its sloe, bramble and damson fruits in all their primary glory, almost as if it had been run from the vats just a week or two earlier. The palate is soft-textured, mouth-filling, exuberant and comely, structured more prominently by acidity than tannin, though that acidity is sweet and juicy in its own right. There is nothing at all sharp or hard about this tender, almost lipsmacking red… yet the variety itself, and the legacy of its austere, granite-soiled origins, somehow contrive to stop the wine tasting simple.
CHÂTEAU PEY LA TOUR RÉSERVE DU CHÂTEAU 2019 AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France Vintages# 349308 $22.95 This gets a 92 from Antonio Galloni of vinous.com. He calls it elegant and polished with lots of red fruit, forest floor, herbs, cedar and tobacco. Everything is in good balance. Drink now through 2034 with Sirloin Roast with Bordeliase Sauce. (XD - 3 g/L)
MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020, Tuscany, Italy Vintages #288530 $24.95 This was in the May 11 release this year as well. It always stands out as the best value against other Chiantis. So if you didn't get some then, you have another chance. Look for aromas of cherry and raspberry with hints of violet and red licorice. The palate is medium-full-bodied with rich fruit and firm but polished tannins. Score 94 James Suckling. Enjoy now through 2030 with Red Wine Braised Beef. (XD - 3 g/L)
Premium Wines
SERNA IMPERIAL RESERVA 2010
adapted from Vintages notes
DOCa Rioja, Spain
Vintages # 19047 $33.95
The aging has been done for you here. 2010 was an outstanding vintage for Rioja and this one exemplifies a mature Rioja. It is scoring 90-91 across various critics. Look for dried fig, tobacco and leather along with cigar and coffee. Enjoy with a hearty stew. (XD - 4 g/L)
WOLF BLASS GREY LABEL SHIRAZ 2021 McLaren Vale, South Australia Vintages # 390872 $34.95 This gets a 95 from Ken Gargett of winepilot.com who says 'This is undoubtedly the best buy from the Luxury Collection' and a stunning value. Rich and generous with aromas of chocolate, cigar box, fruitcake and plums. The palate has plush black fruits with fennel and clove notes. The tannins are silky and he uses a lot of superlatives to describe the texture and overall experience. Drink now through 2031. (XD - 3 g/L)
M PASO ROBLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Paso Robles, California, USA Vintages #38032 $39.95 This is getting 94-95 among several respected critics. Erin Brooks of
robertparker.com gives it a 95 and describes many 'alluring aromas' including blackcurrant, lavender and leather, herbs and well managed oak. The palate is powerful and concentrated. Tannins are grainy, acidity is refreshing and the finish is long. She differentiates this from the 'average' California Cab as in, not being over the top. Enjoy this easy drinking and elegant 100% Cabernet Sauvignon now through the next 5 years. (XD - 0 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.
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