Cheap Shots
The LCBO has a discount store with real deals on good bottles. No kidding By David Lawrason
Image credit: Brian Rea
It’s not as frenzied as Future Shop on Boxing Day, but the LCBO’s Clearance Centre in the Crossroads Centre (2625D Weston Rd., 416-243-3320) at Weston Road and the 401 should be on every wine adventurer’s now-and-again list. Prices are reduced 20 to 40 per cent at this dumping ground for discontinued LCBO general listings, Vintages sale items and private-order wines not sold to restaurants before their allotted time in the warehouse expired. Opened in 2000 next to a conventional LCBO/Vintages, the place is big and basic, with towering steel shelves and clumps of boxes. Wine-savvy Carl Salmon, the man in charge, tastes many of the products in order to provide advice. This matters, as quite a few of the wines (and most spirits) are obscure, perhaps explaining why they never sold. Some were also overpriced or overstocked, neither necessarily meaning lesser quality. I have unearthed gems, including a fabulous Alana Estate 2001 pinot noir from New Zealand for under $30, delisted Woodbridge 2003 syrah from California at $11.85 a bottle and a clutch of handy $6 half-bottles of Osborne Fino Quinta sherry. There are usually about 100 brands available, stock turning over every two weeks. Good deals vanish quickly, so make snap decisions—even buy a bottle and taste on the spot. Except for defective bottles, all sales are final.
TEST Originally published April 2006
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Cheap Shots
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