Top Values at the LCBO (November 2017)

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

Steve Thurlow

I have updated my Top50 list and have selected twelve wines to highlight for you off the new list, nine of which joined the list this month. Five of these wines have been heavily discounted.

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

Five wines heavily discounted; one by $3.00
One Vintages Essential
Eight wines for less than $12
Many wines with Bonus Air Miles

The current promotional period runs until November 26th, so don’t hesitate. You have just under three weeks to take advantage of these prices. 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

Brindisi Rosso 2014 (2000ml) Puglia, Italy ($16.95 was $19.45 [i.e. now $6.35 for 750ml]) NewtoTop50 – This is very inexpensive red in a large bottle that is made from ripe not overripe fruit. The palate is well balanced and almost dry with some fine tannin and soft acidity. Simple but clean and well balanced with decent length. Very quaffable. …

J P Azeitao Red 2015, Peninsula De Setubal, Portugal ($9.00 + 5BAMs) – This is a popular Portuguese red that is fresh and lively with a decent structure. It is a vibrant medium bodied red that is fine for casual dining; maybe just a little chilled. The palate is fresh with mild tannin, midweight and lively and there is decent length.

Piqueras Black Label Old Vines Garnacha 2014, Almansa, Spain ($10.95 was $11.95) NewtoTop50 – A stately fullbodied youthful Spanish red with lifted aromas of ripe blackberry fruit with white pepper, sweet basil and hints of oak spice. It is very juicy and seems light due to the vibrant acidity. It finishes dry with very good length. Try with a steak.

Trapiche Pure Malbec Unoaked 2015 Mendoza, Argentina ($13.50 was $16.00) NewtoTop50 – This is a pristine unoaked malbec that is a pure unstructured complex red that is dry and did not need oak to be complete. It is very juicy, exuberantly youthful and fresh. Try with roast meats; would be great with a sauteed duck breast.

Santa Carolina Reserva De Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Maipo Valley, Chile ($16.95 was $19.95) Vintages Essential – A lovely elegant opaque purple red with an appealing complex nose. It is tightly wound and needs to be in a decanter for an hour before consumption at present or cellared for a year or two. Best 2018 to 2025. Try with roast red meats or mature cheddar.

Montecillo Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain ($17.95 + 10BAMs) NewtoTop50 – Classic packaging for a classic wine with an elegant palate that is midweight, finely balanced and lively with very good length. It is mature and dry with some savoury notes to the dried fruit flavours. Try with grilled lamb cutlets.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Maipo Valley, Chile ($17.95) NewtoTop50 – This is a dense fleshy typical Maipo cabernet with an a appealing mature nose. It is full bodied with very good length and quite fruit forward but will be best after an hour in a decanter. It is an elegant complex wine with fine tannin. Try with a steak.

Whites

Mascota Vineyards O P I Chardonnay 2016, Argentina ($10.95 + 7BAMs) – This is an elegant rich flavourful chardonnay with just a touch of oak which adds to the complexity and structure. The palate is midweight and smooth with a mineral tone. Very good to excellent length with a fine dry finish. Try with seafood or creamy pasta sauces.

Casillero Del Diablo Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($11.00 was $13.00) NewtoTop50 – A juicy flavourful sauvignon from Chile with good varietal character. The palate apple melon flavours are driven by racy lemony acidity. It is lively juicy and strongly flavoured with very good length.

Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2016, Leyda Valley, Chile ($11.95 + 6BAMs) NewtoTop50 – This is a complex ripe sauvignon with a palate that is rich and creamy on the palate with good depth of flavour. Very good length. Try with sautéed chicken.

Spier Signature Chardonnay 2017, Western Cape, South Africa ($11.95) NewtoTop50 – This is lovely lightly oaked fresh pure chardonnay with a creamy rich palate. It is finely balanced with very good length. Enjoy with roast poultry or rich seafood dishes.

Trapiche Reserve Pinot Grigio 2016, Argentina ($11.95) NewtoTop50 – This is a lovely, very drinkable, pure white wine with delicate aromas with a palate that has a good depth of flavour and is quite creamy with some fruit sweetness and richness though it finishes dry with very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces.

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!