Top Values at the LCBO (April 2017)

Your Guide to Best Values, Limited Time Offers & Bonus Air Miles selections at the LCBO
by Steve Thurlow

Steve Thurlow

My focus this month is as always on value at the LCBO with twelve wines joining my Top50 Best Values List , most due to deep discounts of as much as $5 . You have just under 4 weeks to take advantage of these prices. Don’t hesitate, since some of the delisted wines will sell out, no doubt, in the next couple of weeks.

I have updated my Top50 list and have selected twelve wines to highlight for you off the new list, ten of which joined the list this month.

Among the wines in today’s report about the new Top50 there are:

Nine wines heavily discounted; some by as much as $5
Eight wines scoring 88 or more points
One VINTAGES Essentials and
Seven wines for less than $10

The current promotional period runs until May 21st, so don’t hesitate. Thanks to WineAlign’s inventory tracking, I can assure you that there were stocks available, when we published, of every wine that I highlight. However there are three delisted wines that will soon be all gone.

Top Value Reds

Beso de Vino Old Vine Garnacha 2014, Carinena, Spain ($8.20 was $9.95) New to Top50 – Delisted – A fresh vibrant red from Spain with a pure red berry nose that is full bodied with ripe fruit and nice balancing acidity. Very good length. Try with BBQ meats. Over 1100 bottles left.

Eclipse Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015 Abruzzo, Italy ($8.40) New to Top50 – The 2015 vintage is one of the best I can recall of this great value, well balanced, structured southern Italian red. It’s not really for sipping on its own, so try but with some red meat or hard mature cheese. The palate is midweight with the fruit supported by nice gentle acidity and modest tannin.

Casillero Del Diablo Shiraz 2015, Central Valley, Chile ($8.95 was $14.00) New to Top50 – Delisted – Fairly complex with a dry palate that is midweight and well balanced with soft acidity and mild tannin. Very good length. Best 2017 to 2019. Try with hard mature cheese or BBQ meats. Over 2000 bottles left.

Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Chile ($8.95 was $12.95) – New to Top50 – Delisted – This is a well balanced pure red with aromas of blackberry and blueberry fruit with a hints of dark chocolate and licorice spice. It is midweight, juicy and fruity with a fine structure and very good length. Try with a steak. Over 1300 bottles left.

Gran Feudo Reserva 2010 Navarra, Spain ($17.95) New to Top50 – VINTAGES Essentials – The 2010 vintage is one of the best I can recall of this classy Spanish red that is elegant, midweight and structured with soft lemony acidity and firm tannin. Very good length. Try with roast meats. Best 2017 to 2019.

Top Value Whites

Gato Negro 9 Lives Chardonnay Semillon 2015 Chile ($7.95 was $11.00) Delisted – A clean flavourful rich dry white with a good depth of flavour. Focus is well maintained onto a long lingering finish. Very good length. Chill lightly and enjoy with creamy pasta sauces, roast chicken or veal. Over 6000 bottles left.

Domaine Jean Bousquet White Blend 2015 Argentina ($8.95 was $12.00) Delisted – This is a very rich smooth white blend that is probably mostly chardonnay maybe with a splash of viognier. It is midweight with lots of flavour and very good length. Try with roast white meats like pork or veal or rich mature cheddar cheese. Over 2300 bottles left.

Durbanville Hills Atlantic View Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Durbanville, South Africa ($8.95 was $11.95) Delisted – There are good varietal characteristics to both nose and palate which is soft and smooth, and sweetish with ripe fruit flavours and good length. Try with herbed or vegetable pasta dishes. Over 3200 bottles left.

Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2016 Casablanca Valley, Chile ($11.10) New to Top50 – There is a lot going on for the money with this juicy ripe sauvignon. It is fragrant with a lively fruity palate with the rich fruit flavours finely balanced by soft lemony acidity. Very good length. Try with seafood or a fresh goats cheese salad.

Pelee Island Winery Lighthouse Riesling 2015, VQA Ontario ($11.60 was $12.60) New to Top50 – This is just off-dry with a fragrant nose. The palate is very smooth and rich with fruit that is balanced by soft lemony acidity. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Enjoy lightly chilled as an aperitif or match with seafood or cheesy sauces.

Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand ($13.95 was $15.95) New to Top50 – 2016 is a great vintage for this crisp very juicy kiwi sauvignon with its classic Marlborough nose of passion-fruit and lime, hay and minty oregano. It is midweight and well balanced with very good length. Try with grilled calamari or creamy goats cheese.

Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand ($14.15 was $16.15) New to Top50 – This is a classic Marlborough sauvignon with aromas of melon, passion fruit with peppermint, rosemary and lemon citrus notes. It is midweight and creamy with a fresh mineral tone to the fruit flavours. Very good length. Try with seafood dishes.

How does a wine get selected for the Top Value Report:

Today’s report pulls best buys from Steve’s Top 50 which is a standing WineAlign list based on quality/price ratio of the 1600 or so wines in LCBO Wines and the VINTAGES Essentials Collection.

There are three ways that a wine gets into this monthly report of wines that are always in the stores either on the LCBO “General List” or the VINTAGES Essential Collection. (You can access these lists under the Wine tab on WineAlign.)

• On Sale (LTO’s or Limited Time Offers): Every four weeks the LCBO discounts around 200 wines I have looked through the current batch and have highlighted some of my favourites that offer better value at present…. so stock up now.

• Bonus Air Miles (BAM’s): If you collect Air Miles then you will be getting Bonus Air Miles on another 150 or so wines…a few of these have a special appeal for a while.

• Steve’s Top 50: Wines that have moved onto my Top 50 Best Values this month. This is on an-on going WineAlign selection that mathematically calculates value by comparing the price and rating of all the wines on the LCBO General 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

Top 50 Value Wines
Wines on Limited Time Offer
Wines with Bonus Air Miles

Editors Note: You can find our complete critic reviews by clicking on any of the wine names, bottle images or links highlighted. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critic reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great value wines!