Top Values at the LCBO (May 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

Ten wines joined the Top 50 Best Values List this month; some with big discounts due to delist by LCBO.

I have highlighted below eleven from the list for you. Check out the entire list here.

The LCBO continuously monitors the sales of every wine. If those numbers fall below set quotas then the wine is delisted. This makes way for new wines to be added to the selection of approximately 1600 different wines always available from LCBO wines and Vintages Essentials.

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

Nine wines discounted for next few weeks at the LCBO
Large Discounts up to $4 !
Four 90 point wines
10 wines score 88 or more points
Three lovely well balanced Ontario VQA reds
A Vintages Essential

The current promotional period runs until May 26th. 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

Collavini Villa Canlungo Merlot 2015, Friuli, Italy $8.30 was $9.95 – New to Top50
This is a lightweight finely structured merlot from Friuli in northeast Italy, that is quite Beaujolais like. The palate is well balanced and soft but not flabby since there is plenty of lemony acidity for structure. Very good length with a touch of tannin on the finish for some grip. A versatile red for a wide range of mildly flavoured meats and cheese.

Charles Tort Old Vines 2015, Cotes Du Rhone, France ($11.30 was $14.40) New to Top50
This is a lovely fruity well balanced red blend from the Rhone Valley. 2015 was a very warm vintage and it shows with this wine that is ripe but has just enough acidity and fine tannin for balance. Very good length. Chill lightly and try with bbq meats. Over 900 bottles remain.

Sandeman Late Bottled Vintage Port 2014, Douro Valley, Portugal ($13.40 was $17.45) Top 50 May, Delisted
This full-bodied LBV port always has a delicate nose and palate despite the alcohol (20.5%). Expect a fragrant nose with a palate that is sweet and juicy with ripe black fruit. There is some elegance due to the vibrant acidity. Sip on its own with dark chocolates or with mixed nuts and hard mature cheese. The finish is very smooth. Good to very good length. Over 1100 bottles remain.

Henry Of Pelham Cabernet Merlot 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($13.95 was $15.95) New to Top50
This is a lovely Bordeaux style blend with a fragrant nose and a soft midweight palate; very smooth and well integrated. The fruit on the finish is well anchored by fine tannin. Try with roast beef or juicy lamb cutlets. Best 2020 to 2024. Will gain in complexity with some bottle age.

Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($13.95 was $14.95) New to Top50
This is a delicately flavoured cabernet franc which shows good varietal character and reminded me much of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley. 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.

Cave Spring Cabernet Franc 2016, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario ($17.95) New to Top50
The 2016 is lighter in weight and more fragrant than recent vintages. Very classy with aromas of red and black cherry fruit with mild oak spice and hints of tea and sweet herbal tones. It is midweight and juicy with a fruity yet firm dry finish. Very good to excellent length. Decant for an hour or two and try with juicy lamb cutlets or rich roast turkey. Best 2019 to 2022.

Monte Zovo Sa’ Solin Ripasso Valpolicella 2016, Veneto Italy ($16.95 was $18.95) New to Top50
This is a classy Valpolicella and not as big as many ripasso with fine aromas. The fruity flavourful palate is very juicy and smooth with lovely soft lemony acidity and fine tannin. Good focus with a fruity dry finish. Very good length. Try with grilled meats.

Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand ($16.95 was $19.95) New to Top50
This is a delicious well priced vibrant pinot with a beautiful nose of raspberry cherry fruit with earthy mushroom and cranberry jelly complexity and just a hint of oak. It is midweight on the palate with the ripe bright cherry fruit well balanced by lively acidity and gentle tannin. Very good length with the fruit persisting well. Try with seared tuna or roast pork or baked veal.

The Ultimate Longshot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California ($14.00 was $16.00) New to Top50
This is a fragrant typical California cabernet with a juicy velvety palate that is finely balanced with acidity and soft tongue-tickling tannin. Expect aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit with nicely integrated oak spice, dark chocolate and vanilla. It is full bodied and very smooth with very good length and some elegance. Try with a steak.

Top Value Whites

Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand ($13.95 was $16.45) New to Top50
This is lovely crisp, juicy sauvignon with its classic Marlborough nose of passion-fruit, lime, hay and minty lavender. It is midweight and well balanced with a flavorful palate and fresh dry mineral and herbal grapefruit finish. Very good length. Try with grilled calamari or creamy goats cheese.

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand ($17.95) New to Top50
This is light on the palate and complex in aroma. Expect fresh guava, hay and lime with herbal and celery tones and a hint of warm spice. It is very juicy with ripe fruit and fresh crisp acidity. Very well balanced with very good to excellent length. Try with seafood or lightly flavoured poultry.

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!