No Fuss Wine Reviews. Always Under $20
Baron Pilippe de Rothschild Chardonnay
Baron Pilippe de Rothschild Chardonnay Baron Pilippe de Rothschild Chardonnay
Baron Pilippe de Rothschild Chardonnay
Price: $14.15
Tastes Like:
Honeysuckle, Honeydew, Melons
Serve With:
Tandoori Chicken, Spinach Pie, Lobster Rolls
Sean’s Take
CLASSIC French white table wine. Very drinkable, no one flavour/aroma stands out. Well made, the acid makes for a clean finish, very balanced.
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Fuzion Chenin Blanc Chardonnay
Fuzion Chenin Blanc Chardonnay Fuzion Chenin Blanc Chardonnay
Fuzion Chenin Blanc Chardonnay
Price: $8.80
Tastes Like:
Bosc Pear, Yellow Apple, Tangerine
Serve With:
Broccoli Quiche, Baked Brie, Chicken Fried Rice
Sean’s Take
Chenin Blanc is one of my favourite grapes but I don’t talk about it much because it can be hard to find. Here it’s mixed with Chardonnay resulting in a light and bright thirst-quenching white wine. Almost won the 5th star, but it misses a bit of depth. For under $10, it’s a terrific find.
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The Pavillion Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
The Pavillion Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 The Pavillion Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
The Pavillion Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Price: $12.05
Tastes Like:
Plum, Vanilla, Smoke
Serve With:
Smoked Salmon, BBQ Ribs, Fallafel
Sean’s Take
There is some raspberry, plum, and even some dark cherry. The oak, which translates to smoke and vanilla is a bit heavy-handed. I think there was a really nice wine under there that got covered up. That being said, some folks really like a smokey, oaky, vanilla bean. If that’s you, enjoy!
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Cupcake Light Hearted Chardonnay
Cupcake Light Hearted Chardonnay Cupcake Light Hearted Chardonnay
Cupcake Light Hearted Chardonnay
Price: $15.95
Tastes Like:
Tropical Fruit, Melon, Tangerine Peel
Sean’s Take
A typical glass of white wine has around 120 calories in it. This wines labels boldly boasts 100 calories (per 188 ml). 188 ml? A standard glass of wine is 5 oz or 147 ml (appx. 5 glasses). So a hundred calories is a bit more than a glass, not a bad thing. However, if you divide 188 ml into a standard bottle of 750 ml you get 3.98 glasses. I suspect marketing just wanted “100 Calories” on the label.
Tropical Fruit, Melon, and Tangerine Peel sound delicious but they landed as flat and uninteresting followed by an intensely sour finish. Not sure if it’s the low alcohol volume (8%) or something else, but at the end of the day, this doesn’t really taste like Chardonnay. I’ll take the extra ~20 calories or whatever it is converted to a 5 oz. glass of wine.
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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Fuzion Alta Pinot Grigio 2021
Fuzion Alta Pinot Grigio 2021 Fuzion Alta Pinot Grigio 2021
Fuzion Alta Pinot Grigio 2021
Price: $12.55
Tastes Like:
Pear, White Peach, Rhubarb
Serve With:
Frittata, Jumbalya Rice, Smoked Sausage
Sean’s Take
Great flavours, bright and clean all around. I really enjoyed it after it warmed up a little. Solid 3/5 stars. An excellent wine to serve at an event with a lot of people to please.
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Fresco Di Masi Bianco Organic Vegan White Blend
Fresco Di Masi Bianco Organic Vegan White Blend Fresco Di Masi Bianco Organic Vegan White Blend
Fresco Di Masi Bianco Organic Vegan White Blend
Price: $18.95
Tastes Like:
Green Apples, Pineapple, Golden Pear
Serve With:
Seafood, Paella, Onion & Goat Cheese Tart
Sean’s Take
Like its red counterpart, this wine is Vegan and Organic. Also, the bottle weight has been minimized to reduce its carbon footprint. All great things, but I’m here for what is in the bottle…
I took two sips and immediately texted Chuck “6/5 stars”. Yup, if I could give it a sixth star I would. One of the hallmarks of well-made wine is balance. When the flavours, acid, alcohol, sweetness, and body are perfectly balanced you have a winner.
Everything in this bottle just works. The pineapple, apple, and golden pear flavours are perfectly integrated. The nose is sweet and inviting. There is a slight grassy/green note and splash of floral that rounds everything out. Exceptional white wine under $20. This will be my “Official White Wine of Summer 2022”. I dare you to find someone who doesn’t like it.
Chuck’s Take
Pineapple, Papaya, Pomello. Fresh, tropical and nicely balanced. Highly Recommended
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Waterdog Red
Waterdog Red Waterdog Red
Waterdog Red
Price: $12.80
Tastes Like:
Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants
Serve With:
Strawberry Shortcake, Chicken Burgers, Pan Seared Scallops
Sean’s Take
In the mood to try something new? Here we have 80% Castelāo and 20% Touriga Nacional, two very popular Portuguese wine grapes. Very drinkable, refreshing, and juicy. I would easily serve this at a lunch party as it’s so fresh and lively with a medium body and almost no aftertaste. A nice touch of sweetness with vibrant fruit, a slight hint of licorice and mild spice. Extremely versatile!
Chuck’s Take
A great find by Sean that I wouldn’t have pulled myself. I get notes of toasted oak, blackberry, cranberry and black grape skin. Full body, extra dry and very flavourful.
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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LCBO | Wine Searcher
Gnarled Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Gnarled Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Gnarled Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Gnarled Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Price: $17.00
Tastes Like:
Vanilla, Black Cherry, Cassis
Serve With:
Roasted Fennel, Goat Cheese, Pesto Pasta
Sean’s Take
This one was a ride. I tasted it right after opening and I was not impressed. The alcohol was hot and in your face. The flavours were unclear with very angular tannins. Fast forward an hour and a couple of carne asada tacos, this wine bloomed and became a force. A bold blend of ripe fruit, oak, vanilla and firm tannins that fade nicely.
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Bask Pinot Noir
Bask Pinot Noir Bask Pinot Noir
Bask Pinot Noir
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Strawberry, Alcohol
Sean’s Take
Pros: Bright, clean, and dry. Cons: Strong alcohol flavour despite low alcohol level.
We labelled this as a Canadian wine, but the label makes that claim murky. It reads “International blend from imported and domestic wines“. Not grapes, not juice…wines. Suggests this is a blend of wines made in different places at different times then mixed together. Nothing wrong with that, but very difficult to make a compelling product.
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LCBO | Wine Searcher
Fuzion Organic Chardonnay 2020
Fuzion Organic Chardonnay 2020 Fuzion Organic Chardonnay 2020
Fuzion Organic Chardonnay 2020
Price: $12.20
Tastes Like:
Honeysuckle, Cantaloup, Unripe Peach
Serve With:
Veggie Pizza, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Spinach Salad
Sean’s Take
Fresh, bright, and lively, What’s not to like about that. Despite coming from a warmer climate (Argentina), this wine shares many characteristics with a French-style Chardonnay. At 13.5% alcohol, it has a nice bit of heat and a slightly tart finish that leaves you wanting another sip. I really liked it and will absolutely be buying it again. Perfect pizza wine if you prefer white.
This wine was featured on Ep 010 Find Your Whites Part 1 of the No Snob Wine Podcast.
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Tour de Sarrail Bordeaux 2010
Tour de Sarrail Bordeaux 2010 Tour de Sarrail Bordeaux 2010
Tour de Sarrail Bordeaux 2010
Price: $19.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Raspberry, Violet
Serve With:
Stuffed Mushrooms, Beef Stew, Peppercorn Steak
Sean’s Take
I was instantly transported back to my last trip to Paris. Sampling tasty small perfectly executed dishes and sipping wine while people watching along crowded cobblestone streets. You won’t find 12-year-old bottles of wine for under $20 very often. Very french. Very much old world. The primary grape is Merlot (80%), followed up with Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. A shining example of the possibilities of Merlot. I know many people who are simultaneously curious and unsure about French wine. This is a great introduction to the world of GOOD French table wine.
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Verum Malbec 2019
Verum Malbec 2019 Verum Malbec 2019
Verum Malbec 2019
Price: $16.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Plum, Violet
Serve With:
Chicken Meatballs, Spare Ribs, Beef Fried Rice
Sean’s Take
Malbec is a medium to full-bodied wine which can be austere or fruit-forward. This bottle leans to the austere (think Old World) side of things. Despite my New World leanings, I really enjoyed this wine, especially with food. The tannins are firm, it’s dry, but has a clean finish and nicely balanced fruit against violet flowers. Very nice.
This wine is featured in Episode 009 Find Your Reds Part 1 – Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel of The Wine Podcast for Everyone.