Cono Sur 2010 Viognier
$10 | Colchagua Valley, Chile | 89 points Cono Sur makes the world’s best $10 viognier. There are classic aromas of star fruit, lychee, spearmint and pepper with orange marmalade and spice. It’s mid-weight and a touch sweet, yet lively. It’s a great aperitif white. LCBO 64287
$10 | Colchagua Valley, Chile | 89 points Cono Sur makes the world’s best $10 viognier. There are classic aromas of star fruit, lychee, spearmint and pepper with orange marmalade and spice. It’s mid-weight and a touch sweet, yet lively. It’s a great aperitif white. LCBO 64287
Goats Do Roam 2010 White
$11.95 | South Africa | 88 points Exotic and complex, this blend of several white grapes offers a generous nose of pineapple, star fruit, licorice and spice. It’s mid-weight and fleshy, yet fresh with a slightly hot finish. Very good length for $12. Chill well. LCBO 237313
$11.95 | South Africa | 88 points Exotic and complex, this blend of several white grapes offers a generous nose of pineapple, star fruit, licorice and spice. It’s mid-weight and fleshy, yet fresh with a slightly hot finish. Very good length for $12. Chill well. LCBO 237313
Marqués de Riscal 2010 Rueda
$11.25 | Rueda, Spain | 88 points A vibrant verdejo from northeast of Madrid. The nose is a veritable citrus salad: grapefruit, star fruit and lemon grass. It’s mid-weight, fresh but still rich with quenching acidity, spritz and warmth. Ideal for sauvignon blanc fans. LCBO 36822
$11.25 | Rueda, Spain | 88 points A vibrant verdejo from northeast of Madrid. The nose is a veritable citrus salad: grapefruit, star fruit and lemon grass. It’s mid-weight, fresh but still rich with quenching acidity, spritz and warmth. Ideal for sauvignon blanc fans. LCBO 36822
Big House White
$12.95 | California, U.S.| 88 points Four aromatic grapes—malvasia blanca, viognier, muscat canelli and rousanne—give this blend a nose of fennel, lavender, star fruit and musk. It’s medium-full bodied, smooth, a touch sweet and very flavourful. Serve cold. LCBO 173286
$12.95 | California, U.S.| 88 points Four aromatic grapes—malvasia blanca, viognier, muscat canelli and rousanne—give this blend a nose of fennel, lavender, star fruit and musk. It’s medium-full bodied, smooth, a touch sweet and very flavourful. Serve cold. LCBO 173286
Concha y Toro 2010 Xplorador Carmenère
$9.95 | Central Valley, Chile | 88 Points Chile’s signature grape brings complexity and depth. This is a great buy, with notes of blackberry, chocolate, mocha and cedar. It’s medium- to full-bodied, smooth and well-balanced. LCBO 177816
$9.95 | Central Valley, Chile | 88 Points Chile’s signature grape brings complexity and depth. This is a great buy, with notes of blackberry, chocolate, mocha and cedar. It’s medium- to full-bodied, smooth and well-balanced. LCBO 177816
Castaño 2009 la Casona De Castaño Monastrell
$8.75 | Yecla, Spain | 87 Points Southeastern Spain’s monastrell grape makes dark, thick and juicy reds. This is a full-bodied, soft edition with blueberry pie, pepper and lavender notes. It’s juicy and rich with firm tannin. LCBO 143743
$8.75 | Yecla, Spain | 87 Points Southeastern Spain’s monastrell grape makes dark, thick and juicy reds. This is a full-bodied, soft edition with blueberry pie, pepper and lavender notes. It’s juicy and rich with firm tannin. LCBO 143743
Farnese 20009 Casele Vecchio Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
$9.85 | Abruzzi, Italy | 88 Points Fragrant, ripe plum–blackberry fruit is well meshed with cedar, leather, licorice and chocolate. It’s smooth, dense and not too tannic, with generous, focused fruit. Decant for 30 minutes. LCBO 612788
$9.85 | Abruzzi, Italy | 88 Points Fragrant, ripe plum–blackberry fruit is well meshed with cedar, leather, licorice and chocolate. It’s smooth, dense and not too tannic, with generous, focused fruit. Decant for 30 minutes. LCBO 612788
Trapiche 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
$8.95 | Mendoza, Argentina | 89 points Instead of shelling out $25 on a California cabernet, spend half that on this sturdy cab sauv. It offers considerable oak resin, cedar and cocoa around ripe plum fruit. It’s dense with soft tannin. LCBO 614699
$8.95 | Mendoza, Argentina | 89 points Instead of shelling out $25 on a California cabernet, spend half that on this sturdy cab sauv. It offers considerable oak resin, cedar and cocoa around ripe plum fruit. It’s dense with soft tannin. LCBO 614699
Scores: David Lawrason assigns scores on a 100-point scale. They reflect a wine’s overall quality. A rating of 95 to 100 is outstanding; 90 to 94 excellent; 85 to 89 very good; 80 to 84 good.
Here are a few outstanding wines:
- LCBO 97121 Barefoot Chardonnay $9.95 – best chardonnay under $15
- LCBO 145292 Trivento Tribu Syrah $7.60 (discontinued) – outstanding Syrah!
- LCBO 145284 Trivento Tribu Malbec $8.95 – big & bold for a Malbec under 10 bucks!
- LCBO 178632 Big House Red $11.95 (on sale) – huge fruit, easy drinking wine
- LCBO 184069 Hob Nob Pinot Noir $12.95 – huge wine! My personal favourite
- LCBO 222299 The Pavillion Shiraz Cab $11.95 – drinks like a good Bordeaux – a must buy! Another keeper
Cheers!
December 20, 2011 at 8:34 am | by MDPExcellent selection of wines and fantastic price points.
December 22, 2011 at 9:21 am | by Joe MancinelliGreat section of Toronto Life.
Joe Mancinelli
Barefoot Chardonnay, best Chard under $ 15.00. You gotta be kidding. Its not even Vintage Dated!
March 13, 2012 at 10:19 am | by Jim Cassidy