Price: $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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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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Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019
Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019 Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019
Alchymia Duca di Saragnano Primitivo 2019
Price: $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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Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Price: $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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Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018
Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018 Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018
Ironstone Petite Sirah 2018
Price: $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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Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Price: $16.95
Tastes Like:
Blackberry, Oak, Warm Spice Vanilla
Serve With:
American Food
Chuck’s Take
Yup. Checks all the boxes to be a California Cab. Very soft and juicy. Any rounder and It’ll be getting close to flabby (lacking structure, where juicy and soft is all you get with no backbone to it). Finishes dry with a medium oak note to it.
I think there are more interesting and complex cabs in our 4 and 5 star categories at this price point. This wine is VERY available. They make a lot.
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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
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013 Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2013
Price: $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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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
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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Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel
Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel
Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel
Price: $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.