Top Values at the LCBO (September 2017)

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

Steve Thurlow

Since I last wrote three wines have been delisted and, though there is plenty of stock of all three at present, these should be pursued without delay. This is a great time for value shopping at LCBO since there are many wines on the TOP50 that are discounted for the next 4 weeks or so. I write below about twelve wines that have just joined my Top50 Best Values List .

Among the wines in today’s report about the Top50 :

All 12 wines joined the Top50 this month.
All 12 wines score 87 or more points
Seven wines for less than $9.
One VINTAGES Essential
One Ontario VQA wine

The current promotional period runs until October 8th, 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.

Top Value Reds

Yellow Tail Shiraz/Grenache 2015 Australia ($7.95 was $12.00) Delist – Nice vibrant acidity and mild tannin giving some structure to the palate. Expect aromas of blackberry and pomegranate fruit with some floral tones and warm oak spice. It is full bodied but lively. Try with grilled sausages or mild cheddar cheese. Over 6000 bottles remain.

Luccarelli Negroamaro 2016, Puglia, Italy ($8.95) – This is a juicy lively red with mild aromas of black cherry fruit with prune and sweet basil notes. It is midweight with the ripe fruit nicely toned by lemony acidity giving it a freshness. Very good length. Try with grilled meats or strongly flavoured cheese.

João Portugal Ramos Loios Red 2016, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal ($9.00) – The 2016 red is a ripe, fleshy, clean, easy-drinking wine with soft tannins and fresh red berry fruit flavours. It would be a good bistro wine by the glass. Very versatile. There is some complexity with herbal and spicy notes and it is finely balanced. Good depth of flavour and good length.

Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2015 Colchagua Valley Chile ($9.45 was $10.95) – Always excellent value the 2015 does not disappoint. Expect aromas of red cherry and plum fruit with some herbal notes and a hint of black olive. It is midweight clean and well balanced with a long lingering finish. Very good length. Try with grilled meats.

The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvedre Viognier 2016, Western Cape, South Africa ($13.95) – 2016 is another good vintage of this elegant inexpensive wine. It is a deeply coloured blend of syrah, mourvedre and viognier that is medium to full bodied with firm tannin which gives nice firmness to the finish. Very good length.

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Region De Aconcagua, Chile ($16.95 was $19.95) – An elegant cabernet that is full bodied and solid with mouthwatering acidity and soft tannin. Very good length, with the dry, dark chocolate toned fruit persisting well. Try with a rare steak or lamb cutlets.

Montecillo Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain ($17.95) – I love the blue label on the 2011 Reserva from Montecillo: Classic like the wine. The elegant palate is midweight finely balanced and lively with very good length. Try with grilled lamb cutlets.

Whites

Periquita White 2016, Peninsula De Setubal, Portugal ($7.95) – This is a blend of viognier, verdelho and viosinho (an indigenous grape) with lovely aromas and a very smooth palate that also has a good depth of flavour and is well balanced. It finishes dry with good to very good length. Enjoy with mildly flavoured seafood.

Thr3 Monkeys White 2015 Hungary ($8.05 was $9.95) Delist – This is a rich sweetish white with an aromatic nose of peach, tangerine and melon fruit. It is midweight and very flavourful with the sweetness balanced by lemony acidity. Very good length. Chill well and enjoy on its own or with pastry nibbles. Over 1100 bottles remain.

Errazuriz Estate Chardonnay 2015, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($8.45 was $13.00) Delist – A simple fresh tangy chardonnay with hints of oak. It is very smooth with decent length. The nose shows pure lemon and melon fruit with a mineral tone. Good length. Try with fresh seafood, Over 1600 bottles remain.

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Spain ($14.00 was $15.50) -This is my favourite LCBO bubbly under $15, great for receptions as an aperitif; essentially anywhere you would consider Champagne. Expect a fresh nose of grapefruit, mineral and pear with an elegant delicate soft mousse and a long lingering finish of apple pear fruit.

Thirty Bench Riesling 2015, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($18.85 was $20.85) VINTAGES Essential – The 2015 is the best vintage I can remember for this elegant Niagara riesling with its fragrant and flavourful palate. Very good focus and very good to excellent length. A great food wine with a wide range of mildly flavoured cheese, salad, meat and 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!