Steve Thurlow « WineAlign

February 14, 2012 • 10:25 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – February 2012 – Four New Reds that Over-Deliver

Attention bargain hunters! Four new red wines recently arrived on the LCBO shelves have caught my attention and jumped straight into my Top 50 Value Wines list. Overall there are 17 wines that are new to the Top 50 list since last month. Read beyond these four great buys to find even more bargains, and then discover how these wines are systematically selected.

Vidal Fleury 2009, Cotes Du Rhone, France $14.95
An elegant soft Cotes du Rhone with a very appealing nose of blackberry fruit with tobacco, fig and floral complexity. It is midweight and very smooth with some finely divided tannin giving nice mouthfeel. Well balanced with very good length. Will develop more complexity with a year or two in the cellar. Best 2013 to 2016. Try with roast meats or brie cheese.

Veedha Red 2008, Douro, Portugal $12.95
This is an elegant, fresh, clean red from the Douro Valley in Portugal made with the same grapes used to make Port. The nose is very fragrant with ripe blackberry fruit, vanilla, honeysuckle and dark chocolate aromas. It is medium bodied, well balanced and quite charming with very good length. Try with roast meats or hard mature cheese. Best 2012 to 2015.

Caldora Sangiovese 2010, Terre Di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy $9.95
A fruity, very pleasant sangiovese from the south of Italy. It shows correct aromas of raspberry fruit, with some spice and earthy tones. It is midweight juicy and very fresh with good to very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Will work with a wide range of meats and cheeses.

Curious Fruit Carignan Grenache 2009, Vin De France $9.95
A nice well balanced red made from Carignan and Grenache, grapes that are the basis for many wines from the south of France. Expect mild aromas of blackcurrant jello with some oak spice tones. It is midweight with good depth of flavour. Well balanced with fine tannin and nice vibrant acidity. Very good length. Try with grilled lamb cutlets. Best 2012 to 2016.

February Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time. An unprecedented 17 wines joined my Top 50 list this month. Go herefor all the reviews and a searchable list.

Less than $9

Pasqua Sangiovese 2010, Puglia, Italy (1500ml) $12.85
For less than $6.45 for a bottle (750ml) this is a fine Italian red that will work well with tomato based sauces. The nose shows cherry fruit with some herbal and spice tones. It is very juicy with a lot of flavour for such an inexpensive wine. It is fairly simple but is well balanced with good length. Best 2011 to 2014.

Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, South Africa $8.95
A youthful bright cherry red with delicate berry aromas and lots of flavour. Expect mild aromas of earthy black cherry with jam and leathery tones. The palate is juicy with soft red fruit and fine tannin and there is good length. It finishes dry and needs a juicy hamburger or maybe some sausages. Best 2012 to 2014.

Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec 2011, Mendoza, Argentina $8.25
This is a simple, fruity wine which with a slight chill is quite drinkable. Expect prune and blackberry fruit with spicy and jammy nuances, there is not much tannin and its a bit flabby so that is why it will benefit from modest chilling before serving. It is clean pure and quite quaffable with decent length considering the price. Best 2012. Try with pizza or a ham and cheese sandwich.

Less than $16

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand $15.95
This is consistently the best value in sauvignon blanc from Marlborough at LCBO. It is classic Marlborough sauvignon and delivers on many levels for a wine at this price. Aromas of lemon and ripe green apple, with some dry hay, ginger and mint notes are very appealing. The palate is elegant with lively mouthwatering grapefruit acidity and midweight richness. It finishes as it starts, fresh and clean with very good to excellent length.

Sterling Vintner’s Collection Merlot 2009, Central Coast, California, $15.00
A vibrant juicy merlot with very subtle oak treatment that’s a step up from the 2007. It is fresh and pure with aromas of blackberry and blueberry fruit with chocolate and floral hints. It is medium to full bodied and well balanced with lively acidity and just enough firm tannin to give some grip to the finish. Very good length and focus. Try with a steak.
Best 2012 to 2015.

Less than $18

Lenswood Hills Pinot Noir 2010, Adelaide Hills, South Australia $17.35
A fruity juicy pinot with a degree of elegance not often seen at this price point. Expect aromas of red cherry with raspberry plus some subtle oak spice and a touch of pine. It is midweight and very fruity with the ripe fruit well balanced by acid and tannin. It finishes with a little spicy heat so would be best served slightly chilled. Very good length. Try with smoky duck breast. Best 2012 to 2015.

Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer 2009, Alsace, France $17.00
Another excellent vintage for this classic gewurz from Alasce. Expect aromas of lychee and orange blossom with a sage herbal tone plus lemon marmalade with floral complexity. The palate is rich with the fruit well balanced by firm acidity. Very good to excellent length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine.

Why does the Top 50 change so often?

The LCBO is constantly renewing the list of wines available in their stores. Often as many as five new wines arrive each week and as a consequence as many as five are discontinued. They have become much better in the last couple of years at this task of bringing in better new wines and retiring lesser quality ones. So that is one reason why so many wines keep getting added to my Top 50.

Another reason for changes to the Top 50 is that new vintages of existing listings arrive refreshing the stock of wines on the shelf. Since so much wine gets sold in November and December, it is at this time of the year that many new vintages appear. In some cases there is little change when the 2010 replaces the 2009, especially with wines from warmer climates where vintage variation is less noticeable. Wines from cooler regions like northern France, Ontario and northern Italy are much more susceptible.

When a new version of a wine arrives that is better the wine may join the Top 50. The reverse is also true. So when the new vintage or batch that arrives is not as good a wine can fall out the Top 50.

This is a trait that the buyers at the LCBO and LCBO customers are well aware of, since it applies to many products and services. A winery may have an exceptionally good vintage or decide to put higher quality wine into a particular batch. They are delighted when that wine is bought by the LCBO and launched as a new product. Furthermore when reviewers like me praise the wine and customers buy it enthusiastically they are very content. However the next vintage may not be as good or subsequent batches when blended do not receive so much of the best wine leading to a decline in quality. Sales should be affected, my new review should not be as favourable and the LCBO buyers and quality assurance team should notice and take action; but all this takes time. Meanwhile lots of the inferior wine is bought.

So I encourage you to pay attention to the vintage you are buying and consult the Top 50 since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews tell us please why we got it wrong and also if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since we all like to hear when we are doing a good job.

There’s an easy way to do this at the bottom of any WineAlign page:

Suggestions and Feedback

Click on Suggestions & Feedback or send an email to feedback@winealign.com .

How I Chose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine =>Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Filed under: News, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

January 11, 2012 • 11:25 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – January 2011 – Winter Warming Red Values

Steve Thurlow

Now that the holidays are over, our wine buying shifts to winter warming reds and, with budgets tight, inexpensive wines are in vogue. Not to worry, there are many inexpensive wines on the shelves that offer good quality, thus great value. So follow my advice and you will save a few bucks per bottle and get just what you need.

If you continue reading past my wine picks, I share one of my best moments in 2011 and some wishes for 2012.
The three reds below really over-deliver, but all the wines on my Top 50 Value Wines list are safe bets.

Castillo De Monseran Garnacha 2010, Carinena, Spain $7.95

A delicious un-oaked, simple yet exuberantly fruity red with aromas of plum and raspberry fruit plus a hint of white pepper and cranberry jelly. The palate is full and juicy with some sweetness and soft tannin, which is most noticeable on the dry finish. Chill lightly and enjoy with burgers, sausages and ribs. Very good length. It is on sale until Jan. 29 so stock up for the coming months. It has been on the Top 50 list for months but is even better value right now.

Alvar 2008 Cabernet Merlot 2008, Ontario VQA $12.45

This is a delicious, flavourful, structured wine made from 60% cabernet franc, 30% merlot, 10% zweigelt. The nose shows delicate aromas of red berry fruit with a hint of tobacco and some beet notes. The mid-weight palate is velvety smooth and very fruity with crab-apple jelly and raspberry tea flavours and nice balancing acidity and grippy tannins and a notion of elegance. Very good length. Try with roast or grilled red meat. It is also on sale until Jan 29 so save $1.50 and buy some now.

Ogier Heritages 2009 Cotes Du Rhone, France $12.95

The price has just been permanently reduced on this wine by $2, making it even better value since there are many $30+ Chateaneuf-du-Pape that this will best. It is mid-weight juicy, fresh and fruity. Expect aromas of red cherry with some floral and nutty complexity and a touch of white pepper. Soft fruity palate with enough tannin and acidity for structure and some nice white pepper spice for excitement. Very good to excellent length. Try with roast pork or poultry.

January Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time. There are six new wines on my Top 50 list this month. I describe three above. Here are the other three.

Pelee Island Cabernet Franc 2009, VQA Ontario $10.45

An excellent well priced Ontario cabernet franc, mid-weight and lively with the bright fruit well balanced by mature tannin and lemony acidity. The nose shows some delicate raspberry and cherry fruit aromas with some earthy and jammy tones. It is very vibrant on the palate; it almost has an Italian feel, with the berry fruit persisting well on the finish. Try with rack of lamb or juicy sausages. Very good length. Sale price lasts until Jan. 29.

Montgras Carmenere Reserva 2010, Colchagua Valley, Chile $10.95

This is a full bodied juicy red wine with ripe fruit aromas of blackberry with blackcurrant, dark chocolate and fresh spearmint tones. There is excellent lemony acidity to keep it light with soft tannin evident on the finish, which is quite minty. Very good length. Best 2012 to 2015. Try with grilled red meats or hard mature cheese. On sale until Jan 29.

La Puerta Syrah 2010, Famatina Valley, Argentina $7.90

This is fresh lively and juicy red with the fruit well balanced by soft tannin and good acidity. The nose shows aromas of black cherry fruit with smoke and black pepper spice. It is full bodied but not heavy with the ripe fruit toned by some earthy character. Try with bbq meats. Best 2012 to 2014. It has unfortunately been discontinued at LCBO hence the price reduction. As I write, about 1000 bottles remain, so don’t hesitate on picking up a few before it’s all gone.

Great moments in 2011 and wishes for 2012
Best wine related experience in 2011

Graham Beck Winery I am often asked to name my favourite wine. That’s an impossible question to answer since I have so many favourites, however when asked recently by friends what my best wine experience was in 2011, I was able to think of one.

I travelled frequently last year to many parts of the wine world, so selecting just one experience was difficult. However one evening in November was especially memorable when I visited the Graham Beck Estate in South Africa with 24 Canadian friends.

We started the evening at the winery with a structured tasting of their wines, led by cellar master Peter Ferreira, that included their Cap Classique sparkling wines plus several whites and reds. After this somewhat formal event, we departed the winery in 4X4 vehicles to traverse the Graham Beck Game Reserve, glimpsing zebra and antelope through the twilight, on our way to the next venue. This was a hut deep on the reserve, close-by a small lake, where we were to enjoy an open-pit fire braii (barbecue) under the stars accompanied by more wine.

As the oil lamps flickered, it was easy to imagine how people in the Cape in centuries past, had enjoyed simple well prepared food and wine, without electricity, in the outdoors. We were miles from the nearest road so the night sky was brilliantly lit by more stars than many had seen in a long time. Conversation was animated and you could tell that everyone there was enjoying an unforgettable evening.

The wines served would all sell for less than $20 in Canada, if they were available here, yet they were perfect for the food, the mood of the group and the venue. None could be described as awesome, but the evening was not about evaluation and worshipping the wine, it was about the simple pleasure of enjoying wine in great company with good food. Every one of the Graham Beck Game Reserve range of wines served that night was enjoyable.

I will return to South Africa in November 2012 with some more Canadian friends and am already dreaming of another unforgettable experience. Maybe some of you would like to come along? Go to SteveThurlow.com for info.

My wine wish for 2012

I have been hoping for a long time that Ontario’s antiquated alcohol retail system will change. The current government knows that the LCBO is not the best financial model for the people of Ontario; it could collect more money from alcohol sales without the LCBO. However I don’t think much is likely to happen in 2012 because there is no will to take on the public sector unions and I am told that few votes hang on the issue; but we might see some tiny moves toward privatization, who knows. So here is a more realistic wish.

I wish in 2012 that the wines of South Africa will become more popular in Ontario. There will be an increasing selection of wines in the $12-$20 price range available from the Cape at the LCBO; so let’s hope that wine lovers buy these, thus encouraging the LCBO to offer a greater selection in the future. South Africa produces very good shiraz and sauvignon blanc with cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in support. What you can get for $15 is frequently better than similarly priced wines from the northern hemisphere. Watch the reviews at WineAlign.com for guidance and experiment a little. You will not be disappointed.

How I Chose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

January 3, 2012 • 8:53 am 0

Highlights from 2011, Hopes for 2012 – WineAlign’s Critics Weigh In

Margaret Swaine’s Big Night in St. Emilion

The Ban des Vendanges in Saint Émilion celebrates the grape harvest and everyone’s invited to partake in at least parts of it. Eight years ago when I was inducted into this vinous brotherhood the ceremony was quite modest, held in the old town square. This year it was held outside the church on the upper plateau of the village where tourists could gather to watch from the periphery of the area roped off for inductees, press and officials. The day had started with the Jurade of Saint Émilion parading through the streets in their vermillion robes with white fur trim. It was a grand ceremony as was the Sunday Mass which followed, drawing standing room only crowds. Lunch for the Jurade members and invited guests (650 of us) began with champagne in the City Hall courtyard and continued in an ancient Clos with twelve Saint Émilion wines matched to multiple courses. In the midst a woman fainted and upon the call for a doctor, many people rushed forward. “There are always doctors near wine,” quipped the winemaker from Chateau Fourney sitting at my table. That night a mob of revellers packed the streets of this delightful medieval village in the heart of the famous Bordeaux vineyards. Just a few hundred people live here but thousands jammed the cobblestoned streets to watch the sound and light show, the fireworks and catch the outdoor entertainment.

In 2012…

I hope to see even more lightly oaked to non-oaked chardonnays with good acidity and modest alcohol. Also, Less jammy pinot noirs- instead more earthy, sour cherry versions with layered complexity. Balance, poise and judicious use of oak in reds instead of big flavour bombs that taste of jam, wood chips and inner staves. More unique, indigenous grape varietals in the spotlight from whatever country.

Steve Thurlow’s Magical Meal in Paarl

I travelled frequently in 2011 to many parts of the wine world so selecting just one experience is difficult. However one evening in November was memorable; dinner with 24 Canadian friends in the C17th Laborie Manor House in Paarl, South Africa. It was a beautiful magical evening with exquisite service, great food and superb wines. As the candles flickered, it was easy to imagine dinners over centuries passed that had been held in the amazing banquet hall. Conversation at the table was animated and you could tell that everyone there was enjoying an unforgettable evening. Many fine wines were served, each well matched to the course in question, but it was the Jean Taillefert 2009 Shiraz that was the highlight of the evening for me. It is Laborie’s flagship Shiraz full-bodied, with raspberry, blackcurrant & plum fruit aromas and flavours with dark chocolate, black pepper, soft vanilla, toffee & toast complexity. It is velvety smooth and well balanced with excellent length. I will return in November 2012 and dream of another unforgettable experience.

In 2012…

I hope that the wines of South Africa will become more popular in Ontario. There will be an increasing selection of wines in the $12-$20 price range available from the Cape; so let’s hope that wine lovers buy these, thus encouraging the LCBO to offer a greater selection in the future. South Africa produces very good shiraz and sauvignon blanc with cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in support. What you can get for $15 is frequently better than similarly priced wines from the northern hemisphere. Watch the reviews at WineAlign.com for guidance and experiment a little. You will not be disappointed.

David Lawrason Goes to Ground

My most important wine moment of 2011 occurred in Australia’s McLaren Vale where I spent a fascinating morning sifting through the amazing complexities of soil science with Rosemount viticulturalist Kim Ayliffe. It was one of several ah-ha moments that saw me become re-grounded through travel and become even more convinced that soil (not just the more holistic concept of terroir) is the key to wine quality. Not the type of soil per se,( ie limestone versus clay versus shale) but how well viticulturalists understand the soil they have, how it affects vine vigour, and how they adjust grape growing. I met many people whose passion was rooted deep the soil they owned, and cared deeply about how they were expressing that soil, while preserving the environment around it. In a verdant corner of northwest Spain called Bierzo I met a most remarkable was young winemaker named Ricardo Perez of Descendientes de José Palacio, who is who is making wine biodynamically and in the process re-introducing his neighbours to an agrarian way of life they abandoned generations ago. In Patagonia, Argentina, a very wordly European couple – Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano and Danish winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers – have found solace and challenge at Bodega Noemia in the other-wordly remoteness of the desert of the Rio Negro, where they too farm biodynamically. They have made some of the best wines I tasted in 2011. And I predict they will be, and perhaps already are, the models of future generations.

In 2012…

I would love to predict that Ontario wine will finally be unshackled from its government’s outdated policies around wine retailing – and that we will finally see independent stores selling 100% Ontario-made wines – not just VQA wines. (I believe VQA needs to be a pure appellation structure that is not tied to financial incentives or disincentives for the producers). At the same time I would also like to see an equal number of private stores selling imported wines – again in a truly democratic fashion. There is mounting political pressure for Ontario’s outmoded alcohol retailing system to change, and it has been proven by Premier McGuinty’s own hand-picked review panel that the LCBO is not the best financial model for generating alcohol revenue or getting the best deal for the people of Ontario. Change will not likely come in the next 12 months because the current regime lacks the will to take on the unionized public service. But pressure to cut provincial spending and reduce the deficit will make the LCBO a very tempting and increasingly controversial target.

Sara d’Amato Stays Home

This past year has been a string of wonderful wine-related memories including tasting century-year-old wines from some of the world’s most prestigious Chateaux, a most enlightening revisit to Prince Edward County where Pinot Noir now reigns supreme, along with a brilliant, record breaking year with my esteemed WineAlign colleagues. The most significant event of 2011 for me, however, was the birth of my second son, Morgan, who, perhaps to his benefit, narrowly escaped being named Pinot or Nebbiolo. Before Morgan’s birth we gave considerable thought to what we would crack open in the delivery room to toast to his arrival into the world. Indecision regarding this seemingly most important choice resulted in our hurriedly grabbing a bottle of 1997 Laurent Perrier Brut Millésimé out of the cellar in our dash to the hospital; a fine bottle, but not too esoteric of a choice for exhausted, new parents to appreciate. In other words: despite our haste we stumbled onto the perfect wine for the occasion. It is always worth a reminder that context is so important to experiencing wine - wine is at its best when enjoyed along with friends, fine foods and paired with the most exceptional of events.

In 2012…

I predict it is going to be a most interesting year for local wine production. In Ontario, we continue to master certain key varietals and focus more of our energies on their production. The unpredictable and highly variable growing seasons here in Ontario make for exciting, cutting edge and expressive wines. This fringe climate with such variable outcomes puts us in the company of the most coveted and successful wine regions of the world. Like Burgundy and Oregon, we also seem to have a knack for the most illusive of varietals, Pinot Noir. Producers such as Norman Hardie and Keint-He in Prince Edward County, and Le Clos Jordanne and Tawse in Niagara, have made efforts to reduce yields and put forth surprisingly ripe, distinctive and complex models of Pinot, which has begun to shine the international spotlight on our small but proud region. Riesling also continues to have great success, and although some believe it will never achieve the mainstream success of Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, certain examples by key producers are starting to turn heads. Impressive achievements from Château des Charmes and Cave Spring this past year continue to pave the way for what I hope to be the year of Riesling for Niagara.

For my part, I have been fortunate to have stayed close to home this year (for the aforementioned reason) and have had the opportunity to rediscover our local wine producing regions. In 2012 I am looking forward to spending more time abroad discovering bourgeoning wine regions and forging new connections with wine producers around the world.

John Szabo: The Year of Natural Wines

You’ve heard about sustainable, unfiltered, organic and maybe even biodynamic wines. And in 2011 yet another category started to slip into the mainstream: natural wines. Judging by the startling amount of press to date (especially given their microscopic share of the wine market), I’d prepare to hear a lot more about them. That’s not to say that other wines are somehow ‘unnatural’, as the term implies (vinegar is the only truly ‘natural’ outcome of fermenting fruit), but there are degrees of more and less manipulated wine. Though the fine details vary, most adherents to the natural wine movement can agree on the broad strokes: grapes should be grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides (like organic or biodynamic wines), and then treated with minimal intervention in the winery. See the charter on the website of the Associations des Vins Naturels for a definition. While some of the so-called natural wines I’ve tasted are downright faulty, by and large these are intriguing, sometimes extraordinary expressions with a real sense of place. It’s a backlash against, even the antithesis of industrially made, formulaic commercial products. I for one welcome the resurgence in diversity, which can only be good for humanity.

In 2012…

I would like to see the emergence of other great regions of Europe. A few countries made their first big impression on the Ontario market in 2011, most notably Georgia and Croatia. Judging by the quality I’ve seen so far, they are definitely on my radar for this year. Other obscure, but potential great regions such as Hungary and the giant Island of Crete (Greece) have really yet to hit their commercial stride. Will 2012 be their year to emerge from the shadows?

Filed under: Wine, David Lawrason, John Szabo, Margaret Swaine, Sara d'Amato, Steve Thurlow

December 13, 2011 • 11:31 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – December 2011 - Great Holiday Value Wines

Steve Thurlow

More wine is purchased in the last three weeks of December than at any other time of the year. If you are like me you will be buying extra wine for entertaining at home. One needs plenty of inexpensive wine on hand at this time of the year as well as some prized bottles for the special moments. Trust me, there are many inexpensive wines on the shelves that will not impress your most discerning guests. However there is absolutely no reason why cheap wine cannot be great. If you follow my advice, your guests will be impressed, and you will save a few bucks per bottle. The six below, plus all my Top 50 Value Wines, are safe bets.

Holiday Entertaining Hot Picks – Six wines to stock-up on for the Holidays
Less than $7.50

Casal Thaulero Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Abruzzo, Italy $6.95
A well balanced dry red with a lot going on for the money. It is midweight with earthy black cherry aromas with some herbal and floral hints. The palate is smooth with the fruit well balanced by soft tannin and vibrant acidity. Best enjoyed with food like meaty pasta sauces or grilled meats. Good to very good length. Best 2011 to 2013.

Trapiche Astica Sauvignon/Semillon 2010, Argentina $7.45

This white packs quite a punch with its depth of flavour, palate length and complexity for a wine at less than $8. The two grapes that form the blend are the basis for white Bordeaux wine. Expect aromas of green apple, grapefruit and melon with celery and some hay notes. The palate is rich and creamy well balanced with good length. Perfect for cheesy pasta sauces, sauteed seafood or turkey. Don’t overchill, it is quite rich and you might miss the good stuff. .

Less than $9

P K N T Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Chile $8.95
This is an excellent cabernet with cassis fruit, clove and earthy tones on the nose. The palate is full bodied well extracted with lots of fruit balanced by good acidity and soft tannin. Very good length. There is a degree of elegance and focus is well maintained from nose through to finish. Best 2011 to 2016. Try with a steak or juicy lamb cutlets.

Hardys Stamp Series Riesling Gewurztraminer 2010, Southeastern Australia $8.95
This is an off-dry aromatic white that shows well gewürztraminer’s characteristics of honeysuckle, lychee, orange and mild spice on nose and palate The riesling in the blend delivers acidity to keep it in balance. It is midweight with good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine or roast turkey.

Less than $13

Chateau De Gourgazaud 2009, Minervois France $12.95
This is quite a treat for less than $13 with its elegant palate from syrah dominated fruit. The nose shows black cherry fruit with prune and herbal tones and oak spice notes. The palate feels light and vibrant though it is full bodied and delicately balanced with excellent length and purity. Try with lamb cutlets, sausages or hard mature cheese. Best 2011 to 2015.

Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva 2010, Chile $11.95
Savour this wine’s complex aromas of peach, melon, grapefruit with honey and toffee notes and a hint of oak spice. It is rich and creamy on the palate yet there is some lovely lemony acidity which keeps it feeling light and, unlike many chardonnays these days, it is only a little sweet and finishes dry with very good length. Try with white meats, roast turkey, creamy cheeses and seafood. Don’t overchill.

December Additions to Top 50 Values List

There are about 1,500 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time. There are an unprecedented 10 new wines on my Top 50 list this month.

Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Chile $15.50
2009 is the best vintage for a while from this excellent Chilean winery. It is very classy with a degree of elegance. It is still youthful with a tightly wound nose of cassis fruit with tobacco, dark chocolate, menthol and sage notes. It is medium to full bodied and sexy smooth with the ample ripe fruit balanced by soft acidity with a little dry tannin giving some grip to the finish. Very good length. Will develop more complexity with a few years in the cellar. For now, decant for an hour and enjoy with a steak. Best 2013 to 2018.

Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2008, Argentina $11.95
This is a wine that is tough not to love with its complex nose of black cherry, cassis fruit with well integrated oak spice, floral violet and black pepper with hints of chocolate. The elegant palate is super smooth with the fruit buoyed in a creamy soft vibrant juice with very good to excellent length. The finish shows some finely divided tannin which will melt nicely into the wine with a few years of bottle age, adding to complexity, but it is very drinkable now. Try with roast duck or beef. Best 2011 to 2016.

Montes Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Chile $12.95
The is an excellent sauvignon at a great price. The nose shows gooseberry, lemon, white peach and hay aromas with some mineral, dill and celery notes. The palate is racy, rich, thick with fruit yet well balanced and finishes firmly with a nice touch of celery. Very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces or herbed chicken.

Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2008, Southeastern Australia $13.55.
A well structured balanced shiraz with its earthy smoky black cherry fruit and well integrated oak spice. The palate is full bodied juicy with firm tannin though it remains juicy to the finish. Very good length. Best 2010 to 2015. Try with a roast or bbq meats. This is on sale until Dec 31, 2011.

Cono Sur Carmenere Rose Reserva 2010, Chile $9.90
One can drink rose anytime of the year; especially one as rich as this. It is deep Sockeye salmon pink with delicate berry fruit aromas that lead to a rich palate with ripe raspberry and cherry fruit nicely balanced by vibrant acidity. Good to very good length. Best 2011 to 2013.

Boutari Moschofilero 2010, Greece $10.95
Moschofilero is deservedly becoming Greece’s signature aromatic white grape and this is a great value ambassador with its orange blossom, apricot, peach and pear aromas. The palate is rich and creamy, yet it is soft well balanced and flavourful with the orangey acidity becoming more evident on the finish. Very good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine or roast turkey. Sale price ends on Dec 31, 2011.

Pelee Island Lighthouse Riesling 2009, VQA Ontario $10.95
This riesling is just off dry with a perfumed nose of rose with orange and white peach notes. The palate is very smooth and rich with fruit and it is balanced by soft lemony acidity. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Enjoy lightly chilled as an aperitif or match with seafood, creamy pasta sauces, roast poultry or braised veal. Sale price ends on Dec 31, 2011.

Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010, Chile $8.95
This is amazing cab for less than $9 with its complex nose ripe blackberry fruit with dark chocolate, subtle oak spice plus herbal notes. The palate is very juicy full-bodied and well balanced with good length. Try with a steak. Best 2011 to 2015.

In addition Chateau De Gourgazaud 2009 ($12.95) and Casal Thaulero Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 ($6.95) both mentioned at the top are also new to the list making 10 new wines in total.

How I Chose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Wine, Holiday wines, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

November 15, 2011 • 10:26 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – November 2011

Steve Thurlow

When you enter the LCBO’s largest stores you are faced with walls of wine. In fact there are about 1,600 wines listed at the LCBO that are always available, plus another 100 or so Vintages’ Essentials. So which bottle should you buy?

At WineAlign I maintain a list of the Top 50 LCBO and Vintages Essentials wines selected by price and value – in other words, the best least expensive wines. The selection process is explained in more detail below, but I review the list every month to include newly listed wines and monitor the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

November Additions to Top 50

There are five new wines on my Top 50 list this month. The LCBO selection changes all the time with five or so new wines every week. One of these jumped straight on to the Top 50 list when it arrived on the shelves last week.

C D A Old Vine Garnacha 2009, Carinena, Spain $11.95 is a very classy wine for the money that should appeal to pinot lovers with its harmonious nose of raspberry cranberry jelly fruit aromas mixed with tobacco and subtle oak spice. It is made from grenache (called garnacha in Spain). The palate is midweight, elegant and well balanced with the fruit floating in soft acidity and finely divided ripe tannin. Focus is well maintained on the finish. Very good length. Try with roast meats or hard mature cheese. Best 2011 to 2015.

Another recent arrival at the LCBO has joined the list because it is on sale for next few weeks. Parducci Sustainable Red 2006, Mendocino County, California $13.95 is an easy drinking red blend of zinfandel, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and carignan from grapes that are grown using sustainable farming practices. The nose is nicely lifted and harmonious with ripe red cherry and strawberry fruit plus some gentle oak spice and a hint of lavender. It is midweight juicy with a degree of elegance. Finely balanced with very good length. Best 2011 to 2014. Try with roast or grilled meats. The sale price ends on November 27th.

Another new wine to the system this year is also on sale and gains a place in the Top 50. Stlto Merlot Malbec 2009, Abruzzo, Italy $10.95 is in very elegant fashionista package and a quite elegant wine, and its surprisingly good. Expect mild berry aromas with a hint of vanilla and oak spice. It is full bodied and very juicy with a long pure fruit finish. Well balanced with fine tannin and gentle acidity. Try with roast meats. Best 2011 to 2014. The sale price again ends on November 27th

The 2011 vintages of white wines from the Southern Hemisphere are now arriving. In many cases those from Chile are better than the 2010 version. Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2011, Casablanca Valley, Chile $8.95 joins the Top 50 for this reason. It’s remarkable that Caliterra can produce such a good wine for $8.95. There is lot of sauvignon here for the money with its nose of guava, lemon and melon fruit with herbal and mineral tones. The palate is mid-weight, well balanced with good definition and fresh lemony acidity and a degree of elegance. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Try with grilled chicken or pork.

As I write this piece I am in Stellenbosch in South African, so it is fitting that a wine from here also made it into the Top 50 when it went on sale. Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Western Cape, South Africa $8.95 is a little more polished than previous vintages and is great wine for the money. The nose shows aromas of ripe red cherry with some floral and earthy tones plus subtle oak spice and smoke. It is mid-weight fruity with good length and fine balance. Try with roast beef. Best 2011 to 2014. The sale price also ends on November 27th.

How I Chose the Top 50

I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep the Top 50 list up to date. You can easily find my all Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

October 18, 2011 • 9:28 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – October 2011

Steve Thurlow

There are five new wines on the Top 50 this month as a result of recently tasted wines, price changes, new additions to the LCBO’s selection and new vintages of existing listings. The Top 50 list features the wines commonly referred to as General List and Vintages Essentials. I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep this report up to date. You can easily find my Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. We use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database.

Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.In addition to the great value wines below, please check out the preview for season two of our video series. We’ll be releasing new episodes from season two: “The Tournament” through-out the fall.

Additions to My Top 50

I have recently tasted some new vintages of wines which resulted in four wines joining my Top 50 list. Most of the wines on this list come from just a few regions of the world that are today supplying the stores in Ontario with the best value wines.
Portugal is the origin of three of the Top 50 wines. Known for centuries as the source of fortified sweet red wines known as Port, it also produces many excellent dry red wines from the same blend of grapes that are used for port.Vila Regia 2009, Douro Valley $7.95 is a pure well structured red with a nose of blueberry and black cherry fruit. It is midweight with bright berry fruit and fresh acidity with a smooth texture leading to a finish where some firm tannin shows through, though the fruit persists well. Very good length. Try with a steak.

Ten of the wines on the list come from Argentina, which is a major world producer of wines, mainly red, and is renowned for the malbec grape. Most of Argentina’s wines come from the Mendoza region which is the other side of the Andes from the vineyards in Chile and around 1000km from the Atlantic Ocean and the capital Buenos Aires. The Argentine vineyards are established in a desert area in the Andean foothills and depend upon irrigation water from the Andes. San Juan is about 2 hours drive across the desert north of Mendoza. Another new entrant to the list comes from here.

Callia Alta Malbec 2010, San Juan $9.95 is a very drinkable malbec that is finely balanced with ample ripe fruit and is thankfully not as jammy as are many in the genre. Expect aromas of blackberry, with subtle oak spice plus some herbal and dark chocolate notes. Mid-weight smooth and juicy with spicy fruit and good length. Try with grilled meats.

Though best known for malbec, Argentina is also producing excellent wines from cabernet sauvignon and syrah, like the third new entrant to the list. Trivento Tribu Syrah 2010, Mendoza $7.60 has a lot of flavour for a wine at this price. It shows ripe fruit yet is balanced by soft tannin and juicy acidity and has very good length with the fruit persisting well. The nose is a bit slender with some blackberry fruit with tobacco notes. Try with meaty pasta sauces, pizza or roast meats. This wine has unfortunately been discontinued at LCBO hence its excellent price. Over 4000 bottles remain, so take advantage while inventory lasts.

Southern Italy is the source of 11 wines in the Top 50. They come from three regions Sicily, Puglia and Abruzzo. Five of them, including the fourth entrant to the list come from one winery, Farnese; a remarkable achievement for this producer from Abruzzo.

Farnese Daunia Sangiovese 2010, Abruzzo $7.40 is very similar to previous vintages. It is fruity, clean and is a great buy to enjoy with everyday meals. The nose shows mild black and red berry fruit with a spicy note and some earthy complexity. It is medium to full bodied and fairly simple on the palate with the balanced ripe fruit flowing though to the finish. Very good length with a dry finish.

Limited Time Offers (LTO)

Every month about 100 products at the LCBO go on sale for four weeks. As a consequence of this temporary price reduction, one wine has joined the Top 50.

Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009, Mendoza $8.95 is made 100% from malbec. It is a structured, tannin balanced wine with a good depth of flavour at a great price. Expect blackberry fruit with dark chocolate notes mild oak spice and a hint of prune. Medium-full bodied with good length. You have until November 6, 2011 to take advantage of this price reduction, though at $9.95 it will still be a good deal.

Please click here for a complete list of the Top 50 Value Wines at your local LCBO. The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Featured Articles, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

October 6, 2011 • 10:17 am 0

WineAlign’s Picks for Thanksgiving

We asked our critics to select a few wines they’d enjoy with their Thanksgiving dinner. Below are picks from David, John, Sara and Steve.

John – A Shotgun Affair

My approach to drinking over long thanksgiving meals is very simple: forget the straightjacket of specific wines with specific courses, and take the ‘shotgun’ approach instead. My analogy refers to the scattergun variety, un-rifled for less accuracy but greater coverage: lay out a bunch of different bottles on the table at the same time, and let family and guests taste whatever, and in whichever order they wish. If your shotgun is well loaded with buckshot and the spray wide enough, you’ll hit at least a bulls-eye or two. No matter if some innocent dishes or wines get hurt along the way – this is convivial family dining, not a matter of life or death. This works for me because at my place, a myriad of dishes are thrown onto to the table at the same time and my plate fills up with dozens of disparate and distinct flavours, making a single sniper shot tougher than picking off a wild turkey at 200 yards. I like to include a wide range of flavours and textures, while at the same time selecting wines that are versatile enough to play nice with most of the dishes. This means generally bright, fresh, palate-cleansing acidity, minimal oak (except in the fireplace, where it belongs), light tannins that won’t dry out that over-cooked bird any further, and occasionally a pinch of sweetness to take on that sweet potato or pumpkin pie.

Here are a four reasonably priced but respectable, versatile, virtually fail-safe Ontario wines that cover a wide range of styles. I’d be happy to have them on my table this thanksgiving:

13th Street Premier Cuvée, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Traditional Method $29.95
Cave Spring Riesling 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, $14.95
Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Niagara $30.00
Château Des Charmes Late Harvest Riesling 2007, VQA Niagara On The Lake $21.95

Sara

Although there are many possible variations on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner most of them involve a bird of some sort and are certainly rich and filling. Full-bodied whites and lighter reds are therefore often the best choices to accompany this festive feast.

My white recommendation is a great value local wine from the highly acclaimed Tawse Winery. The Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, $19.95 is both rich and elegant. Unlike many bloated, oaky new world style Chardonnays, this example is clean, savory, exhibits beautiful minerality and has just the right amount of acidity to balance the wine leaving you feeling less full.

For a red, I choose a highly aromatic, silky red from the Beaujolais Cru appellation of Morgon. The Château De Bellevue Morgon 2009, Ac Beaujolais, France, $19.95 is fleshy, juicy, slightly floral and is intensely satisfying despite its mid-weight character. A modern-inspired style which features clove spice, lavender, mixed berries and black cherries is sure to compliment stuffed turkey or roasted duck.

Steve

When I think of Thanksgiving I think of moist, juicy, roast turkey with roast potatoes and root vegetables. For this we need rich whites and soft fruity mid-weight reds. As I write this I am in Greece and so would like to recommend a delicious white made from the moschofilero grape that is great value in the LCBO at present. Boutari Moschofilero 2010, Mantinia Greece $11.95 is deservedly becoming Greece’s signature aromatic white and this is a great value ambassador with its orange blossom, apricot, peach and pear aromas. The palate is rich and creamy, yet it is soft, dry, well balanced and flavourful with the orangey acidity becoming more evident on the finish. Very good length.

It is mostly too hot for Pinot Noir in Australia but in the southern part of Western Australia in Pemberton it is cool enough due to southerly ocean breezes from the Antarctic. Thinking moist turkey again we need high acidity and mild berry flavour which Barwick White Label Pinot Noir 2010, Pemberton $15.95 delivers at a great price. It is a fruity vibrant pinot that is currently my household value pick. It is a pale red with aromas of cherry, raspberry and plum fruit plus some earthy tones and a hint of tobacco. It is midweight, well balanced with a solid yet gentle acid and tannin structure. It finishes well with the focus well maintained. Very good length.

For my third pick I am choosing a great value red from Ontario that is mostly cabernet franc blended with merlot. Pelee Island seems to be on a roll with its cabernet based reds. Their Alvar 2008 Cabernet Merlot 2008, Ontario VQA $12.45 is a delicious flavourful structured wine made from 60% cabernet franc, 30% merlot, 10% zweigelt. The nose shows delicate aromas of red berry fruit with a hint of tobacco and some beet notes. The midweight palate is velvety smooth and very fruity with crab-apple jelly and raspberry tea flavours and nice balancing acidity and grippy tannins and a notion of elegance. Very good length. This is way better than the price would indicate.

So invite many friends and family to join you for a Thanksgiving feast and impress them with these three value choices available at most LCBO stores. There is a wine here for most tastes and all three will be great with juicy turkey.

David – Go Big and Go Home

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the great family occasions of the year, a celebration of all that is close and personal. For that reason I always serve local wines. Here in Ontario we are reminded constantly by our government agencies to “Go local”, to “Taste the Good” and that “Good things Grow….”. I drink Ontario wines because many are now excellent and it is my way of saying thanks to those who have put so much time, effort and money to achieve that success.

But which Ontario wines? First of all, do not limit yourself to one wine. Have at least one white and one red open so people can choose one, or both. The hubbub of a Thanksgiving dinner is not really the place to be submersed in the subtleties and dialogues of pairing. That very funny Molson Canadian commercial about the anxiety of “whether the honeysuckle aroma of pinot noir goes with Aunt Mary’s maple candied yams” makes a good point (but I would serve something more characterful than Canadian).

Indeed I would serve Ontario wine that is very characterful. Thanksgiving dinner is after all a monumentally complex meal. So go more expensive in order to find wine of structure and complexity. Personally I have always loved pinot noir with turkey, for the same reason I like cranberry with turkey. Look for as generous a pinot as you can find – perhaps Norman Hardie from Prince Edward County, or Tawse or Flat Rock from Niagara. For white, try a bold, full on barrel fermented Ontario chardonnay, of which there are dozens that might work. Personally I would look to Tawse again, or Closson Chase, Hidden Bench, Ravine, Malivoire or Southbrook.

To find the best choices at an LCBO near you, register on WineAlign.com and go to Find Wine. Select pinot noir then chardonnay, select Ontario, and select a price of under $40. You will get a list with Ontario’s best at the top! Enjoy!

Click here to find Ontario Pinot Noir under $40.

Click here to find Ontario Chardonnay under $40.

Filed under: Featured Articles, Wine, David Lawrason, John Szabo, LCBO, Sara d'Amato, Steve Thurlow, Thanksgiving

September 27, 2011 • 1:29 pm 0

Steve Thurlow’s Top 50 value picks: Sept. 2011

By Steve Thurlow

There are seven new wines on the Top 50 this month as a result of recently tasted wines, price changes, new additions to the LCBO’s selection and new vintages of existing listings. The Top 50 list features the wines commonly referred to as General List and Vintages Essentials. I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep this report up to date. You can easily find my Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine > Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

In addition to the great value wines below, please check out the season finale of our video series. We just finished recording season two and we’ll be releasing new episodes from season two: “The Tournament” through-out the fall. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Wine, Steve Thurlow, value picks, WineAlign

September 21, 2011 • 9:14 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – September 2011

Steve Thurlow

There are seven new wines on the Top 50 this month as a result of recently tasted wines, price changes, new additions to the LCBO’s selection and new vintages of existing listings. The Top 50 list features the wines commonly referred to as General List and Vintages Essentials. I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep this report up to date. You can easily find my Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

Additions to the Top 50

When I started this report more than a year ago VQA wines from Ontario were not a major feature in the list. This month I am pleased to report that four of the seven new wines on the list are VQA from Ontario, which is a notable achievement.

Limited Time Offers (LTO)

Every month about 100 products at the LCBO go on sale for four weeks. As a consequence of this temporary price reduction, three wines have joined the Top 50. All are VQA wines from Ontario.

Alvar 2008 Cabernet Merlot 2008, Ontario VQA $12.45 is a cabernet franc dominated wine from Pelee Island. This winery seems to be on a roll with this variety. It is a delicious flavourful structured wine made from 60% cabernet franc, 30% merlot, 10% zweigelt. The nose shows delicate aromas of red berry fruit with a hint of tobacco and some beet notes. The midweight palate is velvety smooth and very fruity with crab-apple jelly and raspberry tea flavours and nice balancing acidity and grippy tannins and a notion of elegance. Very good length.

Angels Gate Riesling Sussreserve 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 is made using a technique often used in Germany. Unfermented grape juice is added just before bottling to boost sweetness and fruit. This is a nicely balanced fresh pure wine that is dry and lively with some nice racy acidity. Expect aromas of green apple with a touch of ginger. It is mid-weight, nicely rounded and well balanced with lemon and pear on the finish. Good aperitif style.

Pelee Island Lighthouse Riesling 2009, VQA Ontario $10.95 is just off dry with a perfumed nose of rose with orange and white peach notes. The palate is very smooth and rich with fruit and it is balanced by soft lemony acidity. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Enjoy lightly chilled as an aperitif or match with seafood, creamy pasta sauces, roast poultry or braised veal.

You have until October 9th to take advantage of the lower prices.

New Arrival on the Top 50 List

Four wines join the Top 50 this month.
Inniskillin Varietal Series Pinot Noir 2009 Rigal Les Terraces Malbec 2009, Cahors, France $12.95 has just arrived on shelf at LCBO and jumps straight on to the Top 50 list. It is only $1 more than the Original Rigal malbec; well worth it. Expect aromas of blackberry, with cassis jam and floral notes with a hint of oak spice. It is medium bodied well structured with lovely mouthwatering fresh acidity and soft tannin. There is a degree of elegance and it is very well balanced with the fruit persisting well on the finish. Very good length. Try with a steak.

Inniskillin Varietal Series Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 is one of the best values in pinot noir at the LCBO. It shows good pinot noir character with a nose of delicate cherry cranberry fruit with some beet and spice notes. It is fresh clean and fruity with good balance and good to very good length.

Bodegas Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2008, Yecla Spain $13.95 joins the list but will soon depart since it is just lost its Vintages Essential status. About 500 bottles remain in stores in Ontario. It is a well structured fruity wine with elegant aromas and flavours. The nose shows blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with chocolate, floral violet with some mineral tones. The palate is graceful, very smooth with the fruit well supported by acid and tannin.

Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Malbec Corvina 2009, Mendoza Argentina $13.95 seems more Tuscan than Argentine. Which is perhaps not surprising given Masi’s Italian heritage. It is vibrant and midweight with dry berry fruit flavours soft grapefruit acidity and is balanced by velvety dry tannin; so don’t buy this is you are looking for big fruit. The nose shows blackberry and prune fruit with cedar, smoke, forest floor and mushroom notes. Good to very good length. Best 2011 to 2015. Try with roast beef.

Cheers!
Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Featured Articles, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

August 23, 2011 • 11:14 am 0

Steve’s Top 50 Value Wines from the LCBO – August 2011

Steve Thurlow

There are nine new wines on the Top 50 this month as a result of recently tasted wines, new additions to the LCBO’s selection and new vintages of existing listings. The Top 50 list features the wines commonly referred to as General List and Vintages Essentials. I constantly taste the wines at the LCBO to keep this report up to date. You can easily find my Top 50 Value Wines from the WineAlign main menu. Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list.

Every wine is linked to WineAlign where you can read more, discover pricing discounts, check out inventory and compile lists for shopping at your favourite store. Never again should you be faced with a store full of wine with little idea of what to pick for best value.In addition to the great value wines below, please check out the links to our new video series. I’m excited to be part of this series and we’ll be releasing new episodes through-out the summer.

Recent additions to the Top 50
I have recently tasted many new vintages of wines and some new listings which resulted in nine wines joining my Top 50 list.

Limited Time Offers (LTO)
Every month about 100 products at the LCBO go on sale for four weeks. As a consequence of this temporary price reduction, five wines have joined the Top 50.

I am pleased that, for the first time ever, a wine from Greece is in the Top 50. Boutari 2010 Moschofilero from Mantinia in the Peloponnese. I will be leading a group of wine lovers from Ontario there in a few weeks time and I look forward to congratulating the winemaker on this achievement in Ontario. Moschofilero is deservedly becoming Greece’s signature aromatic white and this is a great value ambassador with its orange blossom, apricot, peach and pear aromas. The palate is rich and creamy, yet it is soft well balanced and flavourful with the orangey acidity becoming more evident on the finish. Very good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine.

Graham’s 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Port has a beautiful fragrant nose of blueberry jam, licorice, pine, and dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied velvety smooth, with a soft, creamy texture yet light on the palate despite the considerable alcohol. Very good to excellent length.

Shingleback 2009 Haycutters Sauvignon Blanc Semillon is a recent arrival at the LCBO. It is a classic Bordeaux white blend with subtle oak and fresh hay, apple, green olive and beeswax aromas. It is silky smooth with the lively fruit well supported by racy acidity. Very good to excellent length. A lot of complexity and a beautiful texture will make you come back for more. Try with roasted poultry or sauteed veal.

Pelee Island 2009 Cabernet Franc is an excellent well priced Ontario cabernet franc, midweight and lively with the bright fruit well balanced by mature tannin and lemony acidity. The nose shows some delicate raspberry and cherry fruit aromas with some earthy and jammy tones. It is very vibrant on the palate; it almost has an Italian feel, with the berry fruit persisting well on the finish. Try with rack of lamb or juicy sausages. Very good length.

Santa Carolina 2009 Merlot Reserva has lots of flavour and complexity for a wine at this price. It is a deep purple red with lifted plum and raspberry fruit aromas with mild oak spice vanilla and chocolate notes. It is full bodied with great balancing acidity which keeps the palate light and modest ripe tannin. Very good length. Try roast meats or game.

You have until September 11th to take advantage of the lower prices.

Chile and Argentina
I spent the last three weeks in Chile and Argentina visiting wineries and exploring the new regions that are being established to produce the many new high quality wines that are arriving in Ontario.

Chile
Great value wines first started arriving in our stores from Chile in the late 80s. The best were undoubtedly from cabernet sauvignon mostly from the Maipo Valley close to Santiago. This historical region was established in the 19th century. Other varieties came to us from the Central Valley, but the same quality was not evident, however they sold well because they were cheap. Recently vineyards have been established in new locations, quality and value have soared and other grape varieties are joining cabernet sauvignon in the top value category. Carmenere and sauvignon blanc are the two which seem to be doing the best but chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah and merlot are not far behind.

Carmenere
Carmenere is one of the red grapes that can be part of a Bordeaux blend, but very little is used in French wines these days. The grape is widely planted in Chile where until 10 years ago most vines were thought to be merlot, indeed it is only in the last 5 years or so that wineries have learnt how to make good wine from this late ripening variety. Amazingly several wineries top red is now made from carmenere. Quite a turn around for a grape that I once thought would never make good wine. There are three wines in my current Top 50 made from this grape.

P K N T Carmenere 2010 is a recent newcomer to the LCBO. It is a vibrant well balanced red with good varietal character. Expect earthy black cherry fruit with some warm spicy and tobacco notes. The palate is super smooth and full bodied with supple juicy fruit not at all spicy as might be suggested by the label. It is clean and fresh with very good length. Try with mildly spicy bbq meats.

Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere 2010 is the best value among the Casillero reds. It is quite complex for a wine at this price point. The nose is very harmonious with red cherry, plum and raspberry fruit plus well integrated oak spice with dark chocolate, cranberry jelly and mocha notes. The palate is well balanced midweight and quite elegant with good focus and very good length. Try with roast lamb or beef.

Santa Carolina 2009 Carmenere Reserva is a well made juicy carmenere. The greeness often associated with this grape is well tamed. The lifted nose is blackberry fruit with dark chocolate and soft spice with a nice touch of vanilla.. The palate is juicy midweight and lively and the finish shows modest tannin and lots of juicy fruit. Very good length. Try with bbq and roast red meats, casseroles or mature hard cheese.

Sauvignon Blanc
In the last five years we have started to see sauvignon blanc wines from Chile’s cooler coastal regions in our market. In the past most wines made from this grape came from the warmer Central Valley where sauvignon vert was also often included in the wine to detrimental effect. I have just spent a few days exploring the Leyda Valley and the San Antonio coastal wine region as well as Casablanca. Here you can smell the sea and sauvignon blanc is making great wines. Four of which are in the current Top 50.

The Errazuriz 2010 Sauvignon Blanc shows nicely lifted sauvignon aromatics of hay, lemon, green apple and melon. It is elegant creamy and well balanced with very good length. Try with sautéed scallops with a lemongrass dressing.

Santa Carolina 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from the cool Leyda valley is an improvement over previous vintages. It is a very well made sauvignon with aromas of gooseberry, green apple fruit with hay and dried herbs. The palate is firm and flavourful with lots of fruit well supported by acidity driving through to a long finish. Very good length.

J. Bouchon 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh ripe sauvignon that will work well with seafood and mild white meats. This is a very ripe style of sauvignon with aromas of lemon citrus and white peach fruit with hay notes. It is very rich on the palate with lots of peach, melon and pear flavour and some tangerine notes. The finish is dry and lingering with a lot of fruit sweetness.

Montes 2010 Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc has a nose that shows gooseberry, lemon, white peach and hay aromas with some mineral, dill and celery notes. The palate is racy, rich, thick with fruit yet well balanced and finishes firmly with a nice touch of celery. Very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces or herbed chicken.

Argentina
It was in 2006 that large numbers of wines from Argentina started appearing on LCBO shelves, mostly made from malbec; the current darling red grape. There are 21 malbecs for less than $15 at the LCBO and three make it onto the current Top 50. However Argentina is not just malbec and I sampled many good wines from other grapes during the last two weeks when I was travelling in Argentina. For me, the most exciting finds were cabernet sauvignon, unfortunately so few are available here. However syrah/shiraz is also doing well, especially from the San Juan wine region two hours drive to the north of Mendoza.

There are three wines from this grape in the current Top 50.

Syrah/Shiraz
Trivento Tribu Syrah 2010 offers a lot of flavour for a wine at its price. It shows ripe fruit yet is balanced by soft tannin and juicy acidity and has very good length with the fruit persisting well. The nose is a bit slender with someblackberry fruit with tobacco notes. Try with meaty pasta sauces, pizza or bbq meats.

Graffigna 2008 Centenario Shiraz Reserva shows fragrant aromas of blackberry fruit with dark chocolate and herbal and spicy complexity. It is understated with an elegant balanced palate and very good length. Still youthful with a long lingering finish. Try with duck breast with a savoury cassis sauce.

La Puerta 2010 Syrah has its name changed from shiraz in 2009 to syrah with this the 2010 vintage, yet the wine is very similar. It is fresh lively and juicy with the fruit well balanced by soft tannin and good acidity. The nose shows aromas of black cherry fruit with smoke and black pepper spice. It is full bodied but not heavy with the ripe fruit toned by some earthy character. Try with bbq meats.

Cheers!
Steve Thurlow

Filed under: Featured Articles, Wine, LCBO, Steve Thurlow, Top 50 Value Wines

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