Price: $8.30
Tastes Like:
Licorice, Raspberry, Oak, Plum
Serve With:
Chocolate, Mexican, Tapas
Chuck’s Take
Here’s a good value pickup to have around when you need a weekday wine. It’s a balanced blend of tempranillo and merlot where the best of both come through. The spicy/earthy side of tempranillo against the round/juicy side of merlot. The price is pretty much the lowest you can find a bottle of red for in my area. Overall I’d say that for the price this wine does punch above it’s weight. It also just so happens to go well with a box of chocolates!
The label is not only full of useless knowledge of bulls (and things of bull related nature), but Sean and I also noticed that his bottle had a “sticker score” of 94 and mine had one saying 90. Shady? What’s in a sticker anyways? Listen to me us. Online strangers have mentioned theirs didn’t live up to the rating of 96. Do I again need to say the bottle is under $9?
Sean’s Take
This wine gets a lot of hype, especially after being featured in a major newspaper. Medium bodied, easy to drink with or without food. I think the Merlot is there to round the edges off the Tempranillo and it worked perfectly. Raspberry, red berries, and a bit of spice. A very well made wine at a great price. Will become a house staple.
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Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Spier Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $12.95
Tastes Like:
Chocolate, Raspberry Jam, Vanilla
Serve With:
Chicken Pot Pie, Spiced Hummus, Sangria
Sean’s Take
For around $13 there are many other bottles that can compete for your hard earn cash. The fruit and oak were hard to pick out and I didn’t find myself going back for a second glass.
For the same price, I suggest one of my top picks Fuzion Organic Malbec Cabernet
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Primus The Blend 2018
Primus The Blend 2018 Primus The Blend 2018
Primus The Blend 2018
Price: $19.95
Tastes Like:
Raspberry, Black Cherry, Blueberry
Serve With:
Smoked Turkey, Souvlaki, Goat Cheese Frittata
Sean’s Take
This red blend is a really well made medium bodied wine. Great choice if you’re looking for something a little more subtle and less in your face bold like a Zinfandel and most Cabs. It just makes the No Snob Wine price cutoff but it easily competes with its peers. It is very easy to sip on its own and will easily pair with a wide variety of foods.
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Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2018
Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2018 Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2018
Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2018
Price: $17.95
Tastes Like:
Leather, Smoke, Oak, Spice, Black Currant
Serve With:
BBQ Ribs, Charcuterie Board
Chuck’s Take
A big, round and juicy California Zinfandel. Extra dry with an oaky finish. If you could imagine what 50% California Cabernet and 50% Aussie Shiraz tastes like, you just virtually tasted this wine.
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Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2019
Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2019 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2019
Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2019
Price: $14.95
Tastes Like:
Sour Cherry, Red Plum, Violet
Serve With:
Tapas
Chuck’s Take
Medium-light body with a dry finish and medium tannins that hit the middle of your tongue (not so much on the gums).
Today I learned that Rioja style is to Spain what Bordeaux style is to France. Tempranillo being the main grape.
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Casa Todelano Tempranillo 2018
Casa Todelano Tempranillo 2018 Casa Todelano Tempranillo 2018
Casa Todelano Tempranillo 2018
Price: $8.30
Tastes Like:
Strawberry Jam, Raspberry Jam, Light Oak
Serve With:
BBQ, Tapas
Chuck’s Take
My impression was that it smelled artificial and manufactured. A one dimensional juicy, jammy red upfront, with an oak driven tannic finish. Not the value find I thought it might have been. However, if you love-love-love value reds, I’ve had waaaaay worse, roll the dice on a cheap-de-la-cheap weekday pizza wine if that’s your game.
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Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Price: $16.95
Tastes Like:
Blueberry, Plum, Cocoa
Serve With:
Wood Fired Pizza, Beef Stroganoff, Roasted Whole Chicken
Sean’s Take
This is a truly remarkable wine that costs less than $20. If this bottle was coming out of California they would charge double. It has loads of fruit flavour but is somehow balanced and bold simultaneously. As table wines go, it is technically very dry (2g sugar per litre) but has a surprising level of implied sweetness. The acid and tannins are matched perfectly to the sweetness for that Goldilocks just right glass.
It’s a perfect blend of three Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. You can learn more about them on our About Wine Grapes page.
In the early 2000’s a version of this wine launched my search for the best inexpensive wines. I purchased more bottles than I care to admit (and have done so again). I have not seen this wine in 15 years and have never forgotten about it.
If you live in Ontario, Canada this wine is a limited release and is going fast, as in run don’t walk, fast. Click the shop link below to find it near you.
Please let us know if you love it as much as we do.
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Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT
Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT
Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia IGT
Price: $11.90
Tastes Like:
Dark red fruit, plum, spice, chocolate
Serve With:
Italian Food, Tomato Sauce, Pizza
Chuck’s Take
An easy drinking Italian red that’s great with dinner but also holds up to having a glass on its own. Dry, rich, round with medium tannins.
If you liked this one, you’ll love my similar top value Italian Red.
Sean’s Take
Some words and terms really get people going. For instance “moist” and “mouth feel” make my brain skip a beat. This wine has a really great mouth feel from start to finish. Very lush! (add “lush” to the above list)
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Adesso Merlot 2020
Adesso Merlot 2020 Adesso Merlot 2020
Adesso Merlot 2020
Price: $8.30
Tastes Like:
Red Berry, Red Plum, Light Oak, Light Vanilla
Serve With:
Pizza, Burgers, Hot Dogs
Chuck’s Take
This is a real non-descript middle of the road merlot. I do like merlot from time to time when it has some structure. Merlot isn’t in Italy’s wheelhouse. That’s fine, they have better things growing.
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LCBO | Wine Searcher
Bouchard AF Heritage Du Conseiller Pinot Noir 2020
Bouchard AF Heritage Du Conseiller Pinot Noir 2020 Bouchard AF Heritage Du Conseiller Pinot Noir 2020
Bouchard AF Heritage Du Conseiller Pinot Noir 2020
Price: $13.80
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Rhubarb, Floral
Serve With:
Turkey, Grilled Vegetables, Couscous
Sean’s Take
If you love Cherry Pie you’re going to love this wine. It’s interesting when an old school wine region (France) makes a new world style wine. You often end up with a one note wonder, like this cherry blaster. It did earn 3 stars because it’s a very well made wine that is fresh and juicy.
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Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Price: $18.95
Tastes Like:
Black Cherry, Chocolate, Raspberry
Serve With:
Grilled Meats, Lasagna, Stews
Chuck’s Take
Incoming…
Sean’s Take
Need a recommendation on bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party? Look no further, this is the one.
If you want to taste the a nearly perfect text book definition of Cabernet Sauvignon get a bottle of this wine. I’m going throw out some traditional wine language then translate it. The wine is clean, correct, and integrated. Terrific mouth feel. Translated, no unexpected or unusual flavours. All the smells and tastes are working together. No lingering heat or flavours in the mouth.
I had to dock it a star because I found it a bit light in terms of weight. But, to the people who find Cabs overwhelming, this is a feature, not a bug.
Our earlier Bread & Butter Pinot Noir review was also a strong 4/5. We’re keeping our eye on this winery.
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Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Price: $19.95
Tastes Like:
Currant, Black Cherry, Violet
Serve With:
Roast Beef, Collard Greens, Roast Vegetable Pasta
Sean’s Take
Expectations were high going in to this one. It’s a well known label from a wine growing super power, Columbia Valley in Washington State. The initial tasting has me wanting more. A bit thin, a bit simple, a bit tannic. Fast forward a couple of hours and the wine changed, a lot. Nice subtle flavours, smooth, great with the meat pasta I served it with. A great wine, just didn’t totally deliver it’s potential.