Top Values at the LCBO (March 2018)

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

Steve Thurlow

Many new delists have been implemented this month at the LCBO resulting in some mega discounts, the largest of which is a reduction of $13.85. Among them there are ten on the Top50. Though there is stock of all ten at present, sadly, all of these favourites will soon all be gone. These bargains should be pursued without delay.

This month there are also many wines heavily discounted as an LTO (Limited Time Offer), two are $3 off. So March will be a great time for value shopping at LCBO. The current promotional period runs until April 1st so don’t hesitate.

Among the wines in today’s report are:

• All 12 wines joined the Top50 this month.
• All 12 wines score 87 or more points
• Many major discounts, the biggest is $13.85

For the LTOs you have until April 1st, but for the delists they will all be gone soon so get there within next few days.

Thanks to WineAlign’s inventory tracking, I can assure you that there were stocks available, when we published, of every wine that I highlight.

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Top Value Reds

Valpantena Valpolicella 2016 Veneto, Italy ($7.25 was $13.00) Delist – This is lightweight traditional Valpolicella with aromas of red cherry and strawberry fruit with lemon and mineral tones. It is light to midweight and well balanced with a long firm dry finish. Very good length. Enjoy with roast or grilled meats. Around 4500 bottles remain.…

Miguel Torres Coronas Tempranillo 2014 Catalunya, Spain ($7.25 was $11.20) Delist – This is a modern styled Spanish red with is soft lively palate that’s a little chewy with lots of fruit well balanced with fine tannin. Very good length. Try with pizza or meaty pasta sauces. Over 900 bottles remain.

Tenuta Sant’antonio Monti Garbi Ripasso 2014, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy ($8.05 was $18.90) Delist – This is a lovely midweight to full bodied ripasso with a good depth of flavour and soft balancing acidity keeping it fresh and lively. Very good length. Try with a juicy duck breast. Over 1500 bottles remain.

Fassati Pasiteo Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2012 Tuscany Italy ($8.15 was $19.95) Delist – This is a traditionally styled Vino Nobilo made mostly from sangiovese. It is fruity with savoury dusty tones to nose and palate. Expect red berry fruit with some soft leather notes and floral hints. The tannins are mature and the balance is good. Quite classy and very food friendly try with grilled meats. Very good length. Around 1200 bottle remain.

Santa Rita 120 Merlot 2016 Central Valley, Chile ($9.00 was $12.00) A juicy full bodied merlot with an appealing nose of blackberry and mulberry fruit with dusty and jammy tones and soft oak spice. The structured palate is well balanced with a long dry finish. Try with BBQ meats.

Trapiche Pure Malbec Unoaked 2016 Mendoza, Argentina ($15.95) 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.

Top Value Whites

Wolfberger W3 Riesling Muscat Pinot Gris 2016 Alsace France ($7.25 was $15.95) Delist – This is a beautiful elegant fragrant white blend that is off-dry with plenty of vibrant acidity for balance. Expect aromas of peach and apricot fruit with floral tangerine. The juicy palate has very good length with a fine focus. Try with rich poultry dishes. Around 2200 bottles remain.

Uber Riesling Kabinett 2015, Pflaz, Germany ($7.25 was $12.90) Delist – This riesling has a clean nose of dried apple and pear fruit with a lemon tone and a hint of honey. It is quite full and creamy and well balanced with nice racy acidity. Good to very good length. Try with mildly spicy Asian cuisine. Around 1400 bottles remain.

Black Tower Classic Riesling 2015 Germany ($7.25 was $11.95) Delist – The Black Tower bottled confused me. I was expecting a soft sweet white but instead there is a serious well made riesling inside. It is lightweight and finely balanced with the rich fruit palate kept firm by acidity. Very good length. Chill lightly and enjoy with rich seafood or white meat dishes. Over 700 bottles remain.

Jean Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2014, Burgundy, France ($8.60 was $15.30) Delist – This is a fine white Burgundy with harmonious pure aromas of ripe apple fruit with white peach, vanilla, oak spice and toffee notes. It is midweight and very creamy with a great mouthfeel. It is dry with very good length. Around 1900 bottles remain.

Remy Pannier Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Touraine, Loire Valley, France ($9.20 was $12.55) Delist – This sauvignon has a nose of gooseberry and apple fruit with a lemon tone. The palate is well balanced and smooth with nice soft acidity. Very good length. Try with rich lemony seafood dishes or roast chicken. Around 700 bottles remain.

Domaine Chatelain Les Vignes De Saint Laurent L’abbaye Pouilly Fumé 2015 Loire Valley, France ($11.05 was $24.90) Delist – This is a very classy dry white that is crisp and elegant with a mineral core to nose and palate. It is the character of the acids which is outstanding since it is fresh and also ripe with lovely green apple and pear fruit with a wet stone tone. Try with sauteed seafood. Very good to excellent length. Around 800 bottles remain.

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!