I'm always searching for wine bargains: wines that taste twice as expensive as they cost. Call it the thrill of the hunt, much like discovering a Versace designer dress marked down to 10% of its original price in a discount warehouse. (Though I'm not sure that I could afford the dress even at that price.) Here are 10 fabulous wines that deliver on value big time.
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Bone-dry Riesling that's simply delicious! High on the hedonistic scale. Aromas of white peach, lime, lemongrass and sunny days running through a field of white flowers. Medium-bodied and zesty. This is classic New Zealand style from a flagship producer. Try it clams, scallops, oysters and mussels. Riesling food pairings: Asian chicken salad, barbecued lobster, risotto, turkey, spicy pork dish. Alcohol: 11% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2017 Spectacular Spicy Wine Price: $19.95 Score: 92/100
LCBO: 626408
V.Q.A., Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Melon fresh not grassy with white and green melon emerging on the nose and palate. Light and refreshing with good acidity for food. Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: green salads, scallop ceviche. Alcohol: 12% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2013‐2014 Splendid Salad Wine Price: $18.95 Score: 88/100 LCBO: 131235
I.G.T., Venezia Giulia, Friuli, Italy
Juicy, crisp and mouth-watering with lovely lime, grapefruit and white melon aromas. Great aperitif or companion to many dishes. The Attems family has been making wine since 1106. Their pinot grigio is favourite of mine year after year. Perfect for the patio! Pinot Grigio food pairings: grilled chicken breast, summer salads, frittata, basil pesto, pork burgers, grilled lake fish. Alcohol: 12.5% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2015 Charming Chicken Wine Price: $19.95 Score: 88/100 LCBO: 707950
V.Q.A., Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
A solid chard with green apple and toasty oak. Good balance. Chardonnay food pairings: scallops in cream sauce, roast chicken. Alcohol: 13.5% Sweetness: Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2014 Charming Chicken Wine Price: $18.95 Score: 89/100 LCBO: 116384
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia
Blackberries, licorice, black and purple plum notes and lots of toasty oak on the nose. Full-bodied smooth, smoky and fantastic, especially for the price. This is perfect for parties and BBQs. A wine for campfire stories and seduction. Flip those burgers on the grill will you, and I'll top up your glass. Shiraz food pairings: lamb cutlets, beef, pork spareribs. Alcohol: 14.5% Sweetness: Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2015 Plush Pork Wine Price: $16.95 Score: 89/100 LCBO: 72975
Colchagua Valley, Chile
Superb! The best of New World power, energy and black fruit concentration in great balance, depth and length on the finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 10% Merlot and aged for 12 months in French oak. Perfect for hearty meat dishes. Amazing price for this quality. Alcohol: 14.5% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2013‐2017 Best Beef Wine Price: $19.95 Score: 93/100 LCBO: 322586
Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
Spectacular! Juicy, savoury and delicious with black fruit and cedar. Smooth and long and full-bodied. Loaded with gorgeous aromas and flavours of fleshy blackberry, cassis and smoke. Lovely persistence of flavours on the finish that wraps up with vanilla smoke. Perfect for BBQ or gardening parties without gloves! A cabernet blend that also has 10% merlot, 3% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: grilled steaks, Asian chicken salad, autumn hodge-podge, pork tenderloin, snap pea soup. Alcohol: 14.5% Sweetness: Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2015 Perfect Pasta Wine Price: $19.95 Score: 92/100 LCBO: 943456
A.C., Côtes Du Rhône, France
Juicy with purple plum aromas wrapped in cedar smoke. Full-bodied, rustic and meaty. This organic wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes made by the Perrin brothers of Château de Beaucastel renown. Accented blackberry flavours on the palate give way to corpulent blueberry spin and cedar brush on the finish. Mouth-filling, corpulent and hedonistic. Great for hearty meat dishes. Bring it! The half bottle size of this wine is also being released with this batch of wines. This organic wine has just 26 mg/l of free sulphur. This review was also published in the Vintages Catalogue. Food pairings: grilled Angus beef steak. Alcohol: 14% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2015 Outstanding Organic Wine Price: $16.95 Score: 91/100 LCBO: 948059
Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia
Juicy, round and tasty with rich aromas of fleshy black plums and blackberries and mint and toasty oak. The blend is of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon grapes. The shiraz contributes the juicy, fleshy dark fruit flavours, while the cabernet imparts structure and length. A terrific package together. Great value here. A knock your socks off wine. This wine is a blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon and 42% shiraz. Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: pork tenderloin, sharp cheddar, casseroles & stews. Alcohol: 14.5% Sweetness: Dry 750 ml Drink: 2012‐2015 Plush Pork Wine Price: $19.95 Score: 91/100 LCBO: 731893
Maipo Valley, Chile
Full-bodied, savoury, succulent and meaty. Absolutely stunning for the price. Layers of fleshy black fruit, smoke and toasty oak. Pair with a rare steak tonight. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: barbecued meats, grilled Portobello mushrooms with balsamic dressing. Alcohol: 14.5% Sweetness: Extra Dry 750 ml Drink: 2013‐2016 Best Beef Wine Price: $17.95 Score: 91/100 LCBO: 684597