The Sept 7 2024 LCBO Vintages Release will please Sauvignon Blanc lovers and fans of
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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 Penedès, Spain Vintages # 515254 $16.95 Cava is always good value for 'everyday' Sparkling (if there is such a thing!). Look for ripe yellow apple and classic bread-y notes with a hint of jasmine. Score - Double Gold. (Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards, 2022)
Cheap and Cheerful White Wine Winners:
LaCheteau Les Cimes Haut-Poitou Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Loire, France Vintages # 10632 $14.95 I have a soft spot in my heart for the last Haut-Poitou that was available! This is a 'baby' Sancerre so look for fresh minerality with green apple and gooseberry and whiffs of wet stone. I will be stocking up on this one to serve with Lemon Zucchini Risotto .
Ormarine Carte Noire Picpoul de Pinet 2023 Picpoul, France Vintages # 38396 $14.95 My 'work horse' Muscadet Sevre et Maine might have to move over in favour of Picpoul. Picpou de Pinet was only recently awarded AP status but wine travellers have known about it for a long time. Look for a fresh 'zippy' white to complement Smoky Scallop Chowder.
Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Marlborough, New Zealand Vintages # 12638 $16.98 This gets a 92 from Cam Douglas. I can honestly say I have never had a bad SB from New Zealand but the price made me wonder what was up. I was reassured after finding Cam Douglas' review. Look for the signature lemon and passion fruit under aromas of fresh nettle. Enjoy with Pork Scaloppini With Prosciutto Sage and Caramelized Lemon. (START THE CAR!!)
'Indeed, the New Zealand wine industry, with Marlborough at the spearhead, has the highest average price per liter of any country exporting wine.'
Wine-Searcher editorial Aug 2024
(Why? Because there are no bulk wines produced in NZ. They are all considered to be 'premium' wines.)
Huber Vision Organic Grüner Veltliner 2022 Niederösterreich, Austria Vintages # 37420 $16.95 I had the pleasure of meeting Markus Huber during a tour of Traisental Valley a few years ago. I am looking forward to trying this wine because not any Markus Huber wines that have reached our shores have scored below 90 (in my perhaps limited experience!). All this to say he is a very respected 10th generation vintner. Look for green apple and slightly sour citrus notes with the signature hint of spciy, white pepper.
Cheap and Cheerful Rosé Wine Winner:
L'Ostal Rosé 2023 Languedoc, France Vintages # 450809 $16.95 This dry Syrah, Grenache blend has been highly regarded in previous vintages. Look for red fruit with some grapefruit and herbal notes. Enjoy with Poached Salmon With Dill Sauce
Cheap and Cheerful Red Wine Winners:
Piedra Negra Alta Coleccion Organic Malbec 2023 Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #36311 $15.95 This is a satisfying pour according to Rod Phillips who gives it a 91. Look for red and dark fruit but it is the fresh acidity, generous texture and balance that gives this a leg up. Drink now.
José Maria da Fonseca Domini 2019 Douro, Portgual Vintges # 452730 $15.95 Portugal is rarely left out of the good value equation. This one gets a 90 from Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast who describes it as a ripe wine with blackberry fruit, dense tannins and concentration. Enjoy now through the next few years with food, perhaps Pork Osso Buco.
The Southerly Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2021 South Australia Vintages # 36280 $16.95 This gets a 93 from Tony Love of winepilot.com. He describes it as highly drinkable. No rough edges on this one! Lots of dark purple fruit, subtle tannins, medium weight with good length. A hint of French oak spice adds a bit of complexity. Seems to be pretty well balanced easy drinking so enjoy on its own, with charcurterie or burgers.
Château Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2021 Rhone, France Vintages # 224592 $16.95 This GSM blend gets a 90 from James Suckling who describes cherries and berrries on the nose with a juicy palate. Medium-bodied with 'vivid character'. Enjoy with Dirty Roman Pasta.
Fortified Wine
Croft Reserve Tawny Port Portgual Vintages #538983 $19.95 Those of you who know me may get tired of hearing - Port is one of the biggest bangs for your buck you can get! This gets a 91 from John Szabo, MS, winealign.com who describes it as fragrant, nutty 'indeed quite a mature and complex tawny without age designation...' The palate has a balance of sweet/pleasant bitterness. Very good length. I still have some of the stock I picked up at Christmas (surprise, surprise!). If you are thinking ahead to your gift list - any Port lover would be happy to be the recipient of a bottle of this!
If you like - learn more about Port and How to Serve It.
Best Buy Sparkling Wines
Louis Bouillot Perle Rare Brut Crémant de Bourgogne 2020 Burgundy France Vintages # 178137 $23.95 You would arguably be hard pressed to find anything that rivals true Champagne outside of the region than this. From a renowned producer, look for rich notes of apple pear hovering under floral notes with a lovely airy mousse. Enjoy with Apple Cheddar Tarts.
Best Buy White Wines
NZ winemaking never takes short cuts so I am open to any varietal they choose to make. This ME by Matahiwi Chardonnay 2022 Vintages # 36869 $17.95 gets a 91 from Cam Douglas who describes stone fruits with some grapefruit and baking spices. 'Satin-smooth' with a good contrast betwween fruit and acidity. A bit of zesty lemon finishes it off.
Fans of Pinot Grigio will want to know that Kellerei Bozen Pinot Grigio 2023 Sudtirol Alto Adige, Italy Vintages # 249466 $20.95 is back in stock. Vintages notes describe light lemon with green almond and pear followed by a stony mineral-driven finish. Enjoy with Lemon Pistachio Rice.
Any of the NZ Sauvignon Blancs in the release are a good bet. Soho Stella Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Vintages # 554311 $20.95 Score 95 Sam Kim - has a geen apple/stone fruit profile with good acidity and an superbly long finish. If you can't find that Urlar Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Vintages # 22852 $22.95 gets a 96 from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2023 and has a similar apple/stone fruit profile but with some noticeable smoky minerality.
Catena Appellation Chardonnay 2022 Tupungato, Mendoza Argentina Vintages # 10964 $19.95 This gets a 92 from Zekun Shuai of jamessuckling.com who describes an enticing lemon curd and bread crust aspect on a creamy palate. A 'generous' wine that would pair well with the classic French Chicken in Vinegar Sauce.
If you are in the mood for a classic California Chard then consider Meiomi Chardonnay 2021 California USA Vintages # 410712 $23.95. Expect the buttery, creamy aspect with pine nuts and lemon zest. Score 91 The Tasting Panel Magazine.
J. Lohr Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Monterey County, Calif, USA Vintages #418228 $24.95 Lots going on in this one from wet concrete with lime zest, green pepper and bell pepper. It earns a 91 and Best Buy designation from Matt Kettman of Wine Enthusiast. Pair this with Lime Jasmine Rice.
Best Buy Rosé Wines
Château la Tour de l'Évêque Rosé 2023 Provence, France Vintages # 319392 $19.95 This is a bright, zesty Rosé made in the Provencal style. Look for bright berries and citrus. Enjoy with Salmon and Shrimp Sandwich Cake.
Best Buy Red Wines
Château Maison Noble Saint Martin 2019 Bordeaux Supérieure, France Vintages # 24495 $17.95 This one wins the good value award in Bordeaux this release with a Score 94 from Decanter World Wine Awards, 2020. There is an 'abundance' of blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of vanilla, cacao and spice. Enjoy with Tuscan Ribs with Balsamic Glaze.
Errázuriz Max Carmenère 2021 Aconcagua Valley, Chile Vintages # 37797 $18.00 If you have ever been curious about Carmenère - this is a good time to try it. This scores 94 from Tim Atkin. Oddly, part of his high praise comes from the lack or vegetal, green notes that are hallmarks of Carmenère. It may be a sign that the trend toward a fruitier profile is gaining momentum. Look for a smooth, elegant wine with licorice and black cherry notes. Tannins are finely woven. Enjoy with Grilled Pork Chops.
Château Saint-Roch Chimères Grenache/Carignan/Syrah 2021 Midi, France Vintages # 119354 $19.95 This is always a great choice for value and quality. James Sucklng gives this a 92 and describes cassis, cherries and spicy olvies on the nose. A rich, creamy core of berries is followed by a fruity finish with 'excellent length'. Enjoy with Bar-B-Barn Copy Cat Ribs.
Best's Bin No. 1 Great Western Shiraz 2021 Victoria, Australia Vintages #222323 $19.95. Again- any of the Australian offerings are good value but the winner in the value category is Best's Bin (IMHO). It gets a 94 from Campbell Mattinson of winecompanion.com.au who describes (wth great flourish) generous black pepper with cherry and plum. Lively, with depth it is 'charming throughout' with fine-grained tannins. Special Value, enjoy with Spicy Black Pepper Beef.
SevenHill Inigo Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 South Australia Vintages #36419 $20.95 This powerful wine is getting high praise among respected critics. The generous fresh aromatics are often mentioned as well as the balance and commendable finish. Drink now through 2035. Enjoy with Red Wine Braised Beef.
Roaming Dog Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Washington, USA Vintages #39100 $22.95 This gets a 93 from Michael Alberty of Wine Enthusiast finds enticing aromas of black cherries, coffee and peppery sage. The cherry and spice carry to the palate and are followed by coffee/mocha traces. Good acidity, balance and a velvety texture make this a welcome pour. Enjoy with melt-in-your-mouth Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff.
Premium Wines
Quercecchio Brunello di Montalcino 2018 Tuscany, Italy Vintages # 438580 $38.95 2018 was a challenging year and many reports suggests it came down to the winemaker's skills whether you had a hit or not. This one gets a 92 from Natalie Maclean. Look for classic Sangiovese cherry wnd savoury notes. Tannins are still firm so if you want to enjoy now, decant for an hour or so and serve with Braciole. Or you may choose to cellar for a decade or so and let those tannins soften and integrate some more. It isn't often we see a Brunello below $40 so this is your chance to peak into the snack bracket above!
A challenge for growers, 2018 was cool with rain persisting into June and August, followed by a mild September. ‘At first, I was complaining because I didn’t like the vintage,’ explains San Felice winemaker Leonardo Bellaccini, awarded a Bronze for his Campogiovanni 2018. ‘But in the end I was so pleased. 2018 is the story of the black swan.’
Leonardo Bellaccin
Cellar Suggestions
Domaine Autrand Vinsobres 2022 Rhone, France Vintages #15451 $18.95 Vinsobres' star has been steadliy rising. It was a named a Côtes du Rhône Villages in 1967 and its red wines gained full appellation status as AOC Vinsobres in 2005. These are the lesser known regions still gaining their status that produce excellent quality without the 'star' quality price tags. This is a classic GSM blend (same blend as Chateauneuf du Pape BTW) with bold cherries and raspberries on the nose. The palate is full-bodied, expansive and 'creamy-textured'. The finish is 'long, concentrated and tannic'. Plan to enjoy with food such as Beef Bourguignon. Score 93 Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com Drink date is 2025-2035. At this price it is a great chance to buy a few and see how it evolves in the bottle over time.
Henry of Pelham The School House Cabernet/Merlot 2020 Niagara Escarpment, ON Canada Vintages #395855 $27.95 This is scoring low 90s among critics and won Silver at the National Wine Awards of Canada 2024. Look for supple cherry and black fruit notes with herbs, pepper and oak spice. You can serve it now, decanted for an hour or cellar another 8-10 years.
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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