No Fuss Wine Reviews. Always Under $20
Price: $10.00
Tastes Like:
Red Berry, Dark Plum, Black Cherry, Black Grape Skin
Serve With:
Apps
Chuck’s Take
This was a fun wine to drink that also turned out to be extra delicious. Very reminiscent of old-school wine and ginger ale spritzers. It’s sweet (55g/L) which is why it tastes ginger ale spritzer like to me. Lambrusco is slightly fizzy (frizzante) but not bubbly. This bottle is made from a blend of grapes and is non-vintage. It’s 8% and very drinkable (I’ve had beers stronger). Dark purple in colour. Try one out!
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Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020Price: $16.95
Tastes Like:
Dark Plum, Blackberry, Oak
Serve With:
Roasted Red Meat
Chuck’s Take
It’s not a bad cabernet at all especially on the scale that they make this stuff. It was hugely popular many years ago so it does have it’s following. It’s alright…but for $17 you can find something more interesting. I wouldn’t avoid it though.
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Piazzano Ventoso Sangiovese 2019
Piazzano Ventoso Sangiovese 2019Piazzano Ventoso Sangiovese 2019
Piazzano Ventoso Sangiovese 2019Price: $17.00
Tastes Like:
Barnyard, Earth, Black Cherry, Oak
Serve With:
Meaty Italian Dishes
Chuck’s Take
This one is different and if you love Brett / Farmhouse / Saison type beers you will love this wine. If you’re looking for fresh and fruity this won’t be your bag. Extra dry, grippy tannins, not fruity but more oak, funk, earth and black cherry. Very interesting and not for the faint of heart
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Amatore Rosso Verona IGT 2019
Amatore Rosso Verona IGT 2019Amatore Rosso Verona IGT 2019
Amatore Rosso Verona IGT 2019Price: $9.15
Tastes Like:
Oak, Red Berry, Red Cherry
Chuck’s Take
Medium-Light body and quite oaky which throws it a little off balance for me. Not sure I’d believe the 96 rating on the bottle or the ‘best seller’ tag from the LCBO website. I’d skip this one.
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Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019
Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019
Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019Price: $19.95
Tastes Like:
Black Grape, Blackberry, Warm Spices, Oak
Serve With:
Antipasto
Chuck’s Take
Let this wine breath in the glass or decanter while you make dinner and you’ll get a lovely, dry, old world but very juicy full bodied red similar to a California Zinfandel
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Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018
Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018
Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018Price: $17.95
Tastes Like:
Raspberry, Strawberry, Light Pepper, Light Oak.
Serve With:
Glazed Ham
Chuck’s Take
Firstly I thought Petite Sirah was akin to a baby shiraz but I was completely wrong, it’s it’s own grape variety that doesn’t get planted too much. This bottle could have fooled me if you told me it was a blend of Australian Shiraz and California Zinfandel (no surprise since it comes from Lodi Valley).
This wine was featured in Episode 013 How Much Sugar Is in a Glass of Wine? of the No Snob Wine Podcast.
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Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA
Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQAOpen Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA
Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQAPrice: $13.45
Tastes Like:
Pineapple, Golden Apple, Honey
Chuck’s Take
Low in acidity and somewhat sweet make this white blend a little off balance. While it goes down fast and easy there isn’t much to it. It could use a little backbone (read: acidity and structure). Also there is no year on the bottle so it’s non-vintage (made with new and older juices)
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Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013Price: $18.95
Tastes Like:
Raspberry, Oak, Licorice, Dark fruit
Serve With:
Tapas, Antipasto, Salami
Chuck’s Take
A good benchmark old world Spanish red. It’s the goldilocks of wine since its middle of the road on its oak, fruit, tannins, body and finish. If you don’t like it, you know to avoid most reds from Spain in your future shopping endeavours.
This wine is featured in Episode 11 Does the shape of your wine glass matter? of the No Snob Wine Podcast.
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Fantini Pinot Grigio 2021
Fantini Pinot Grigio 2021Fantini Pinot Grigio 2021
Fantini Pinot Grigio 2021Price: $10.00
Tastes Like:
Golden Pear, Honey, Melon
Serve With:
Appetizers or just on it’s own
Chuck’s Take
Fresh, light and crisp with lots of golden pear, honey and melon flavours. Light body with an extra dry sugar content, however, I wouldn’t have guessed because it’s very flavourful and the honey notes trick you into perceiving some sweetness. Good balance (leans acidic), easy drinking and a great price at ten dollars. From Sicily, Italy.
This wine was featured on Ep 010 Find Your Whites Part 1 of the No Snob Wine Podcast.
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Fantini Chardonnay 2020
Fantini Chardonnay 2020Fantini Chardonnay 2020
Fantini Chardonnay 2020Price: $9.05
Tastes Like:
Lime, Lemon, Mineral, Green Pear
Chuck’s Take
Medium acidity. Extra dry. No oak and quite inexpensive. Summer value white option. Box white drinkers – this has your name on it.
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Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel
Smoking Loon Old Vine ZinfandelSmoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel
Smoking Loon Old Vine ZinfandelPrice: $15.85
Tastes Like:
Blackberry, Charred Oak, Black Cherry, Espresso
Serve With:
BBQ Ribs or Beef
Chuck’s Take
Open this when you have some guests over for a BBQ who like full bodied reds with some flame grilled char on their food.
This wine is featured in Episode 009 Find Your Reds Part 1 – Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel of The Wine Podcast for Everyone.
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Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQA
Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQAHuff Estates All Day Rosé VQA
Huff Estates All Day Rosé VQAPrice: $4.90 / 250 mL can (750mL would be $14.70)
Tastes Like:
Papaya, Guava, Light Strawberry
Serve With:
Seafood
Chuck’s Take
The can makes it easy to travel with. I could see opening one pool side or any place you’re looking to sneak-drink inconspicuously. Maybe at the Sandbanks Dunes. Maybe not. If nobody saw, did it ever happen? Who’s to say.
Non-vintage (no year date on can). Light body and slightly sweet.