Top Values at the LCBO (March 2019)

Big Discounts and Delists at the LCBO; updated Top 50
Your Guide to Best Values, Limited Time Offers & Bonus Air Miles selections at the LCBO
– by Steve Thurlow

Steve Thurlow

Sixteen wines joined the Top50 Best Values List this month; some with big discounts due to delisting by LCBO.

I have chosen twelve wines to highlight from the list for you. Check out the entire list here.

I leave in a few hours on a trip to Chile and Argentina. Twenty-one wine lovers will join me as we explore the wines, cuisine and culture there. It was only after I finished writing this piece, that I saw coincidentally that I had selected 5 Chilean wines, so you will also have the opportunity to enjoy some great value Chilean wine over the next 3 weeks.

Among the 12 wines in today’s report are :

Nine wines discounted for next 4 weeks at the LCBO
Discounts up to $6.00!
Six wines under $12 for an economical March 2019
All 12 wines score 87 or more points.
A lovely VQA cabernet franc
A Vintages Essential

The current promotional period runs until March 30th. Thanks to WineAlign’s inventory tracking, I can assure you that there were stocks available, when we published, of every wine that I highlight. The delisted wines will disappear quickly so don’t hesitate.

Editor’s Note: You can find our complete critic reviews and inventory by clicking on any of the bottle images or links. 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!

Top Value Reds

Mezzomondo Negroamaro 2016, Salento, Puglia, Italy ($7.95 was $9.95) New to Top 50
This is a flavourful, fragrant red from Puglia made from the indigenous negroamaro grape. Blackberry fruit with smoke and spicy notes can be expected. It is midweight with the fruit well supported by some ripe finely divide tannin. It finished dry with very good length. Try with BBQ meats or pizza.

Montes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Colchagua Valley ($10.85 was $12.85) New to Top 50
This is a medium to full bodied red with an appealing nose, plus a clean lively palate with juicy fruit flavours. It shows good cabernet character with a peppermint tone to the ripeness and balanced by vibrant acidity. Drink on its own or with meat and cheese dishes. Good length.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Shiraz 2018, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($11.45) New to Top 50
This is an opaque purple red with a perfumed nose. It is full bodied and well balanced by lively acidity with some soft tannin that emerges on the finish to give a little grip. Very good length. Try with a steak.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Maipo Valley, Chile ($11.95 was $17.90) New to Top 50, Delisted
This is a classic Chilean cabernet, which though drinking well now, will deliver more complexity after a year or two in the cellar. Expect fragrant pure aromas of cassis with sweet herbs plus blackberry jam and nicely integrated oak spice notes. It’s full bodied, very juicy with soft lemony acidity plus some dry tannin, more evident on the finish. Well balanced with very good length. Over 1600 bottles remain.

Thorn Clarke Grenache Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, Australia ($11.95 was $17.95) New to Top 50, Delisted
This is a lovely, finely balanced, fullbodied red with a fragrant nose. The palate is thick with dark plum and blackberry fruit but it is finely balanced by soft lemony acidity and mild tannin. Very good length. Try with a steak. Over 1600 bottles remain.

Root: 1 Carmenère 2017, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($13.65) New to Top 50
The Root: 1 wines are made by Ventisquero in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. This is a ripe, pure carmenere with cassis, dark chocolate and basil aromas with lemon and dried kelp notes. It is very smooth with fine chalky tannin on the finish. I think that it will gain in complexity with a year or two of bottle age. Try with juicy lamb cutlets.

Casillero Del Diablo Devil’s Collection Red 2017, Rapel Valley, Chile ($13.95 was $15.95) New to Top 50
This is a structured red blend of cabernet, carmenere and syrah with aromas of red and black cherry fruit with jammy notes and smokey, mild oak spice tones and mineral freshness. It is full bodied and vibrant with soft mature tannin and some elegance. Very good length.

Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($13.95 was $14.95) New to Top 50
This is a delicately flavoured cabernet franc which shows good varietal character and reminded me much of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley. Expect aromas of raspberry fruit with tea and other herbal tones. It is midweight and juicy with a fine balance and very good length with a nice vibrant acidic structure and fine tannin. Decant for an hour or so and try with roast meats.

Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2017, Swartland, South Africa ($15.95) New to Top 50, Vintages Essential
This is the best vintage I can recall of this lovely, elegant, midweight syrah. Aromas and flavours are very typical and complex with a smooth palate and fine tannin. Very good length. For fine dining with meats or cheese.

Top Value Whites

Mionetto Il Prosecco Frizzante, Veneto, Italy ($11.05 was $13.05) New to Top 50
l like the lemon pear fruit with a mineral tone on the nose. The palate is slightly sweet with an explosive mousse and apple melon fruit lingering on the finish. The crown cap closure makes it easy to open. Try as an aperitif with seafood nibbles.

Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2018, Leyda Valley, Chile ($12.95) New to Top 50
This is a creamy, smooth sauvignon with aromas of white peach, lemongrass and passion fruit plus a hint of white pepper. It is rich yet lively on the palate with good depth of flavour. Very good length. Try with sautéed chicken or rich seafoods.

The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand ($16.95) New to Top 50
This is a delicately flavoured sauvignon with typical Marlborough aromas and flavours. I like the sweet herbal and dry hay complexity to the nose, moreover the mouthwatering acidity is well balanced with just enough sweetness. The finish is graceful with very good length. Try with sautéed seafood or creamy cheese.

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 1,600 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

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

Editor’s Note: You can find our complete critic reviews by clicking on any of the wine 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!