Bodacious Smooth Red
Bodacious Smooth Red Bodacious Smooth Red
Bodacious Smooth Red
Price: $3.95
Tastes Like:
Plum, Blackberry, Black Cherry
Serve With:
Asian cuisine, Baked Brie, BBQ Ribs
Sean’s Take
Wine in a can? It can’t be good. Well, much to my surprise it is good. Medium sweet, bursting with ripe dark berry flavours this wine is very easy to drink. The wine is what I like to call “polite” because it has no unusual flavours, nice sweetness, and lower alcohol. This is a 250ml can which is a third of a regular size bottle. The full-size 750ml bottle goes for around $10.00. I was introduced to this wine by my good friend Joanna who assured me she had found a good boxed wine – and she was right.
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Château de Ribebon 2017
Château de Ribebon 2017 Château de Ribebon 2017
Château de Ribebon 2017
Price: $15.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Oak, Plum, Violet, Earthy
Serve With:
Charcuterie
Chuck’s Take
Light to medium body that’s extra dry on the palate with medium firm tannins. The wine review on the LCBO (wine store page) by James Suckling was written Jan-2020 (almost 2 years ago). I’d consider it out of date, so disregard it and (only) listen to what I say.
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La Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
La Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 La Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
La Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Price: $13.95
Tastes Like:
Cherry, Alcohol
Sean’s Take
We don’t come across many wines from Mexico, and there might be a good reason for that. This wine features cherry as the predominant flavour and that’s about it. The tannins are hard and the alcohol is hot making for a “not great” mouth feel. This kind of wine certainly appeals to some people but I can point you towards more pleasing wines for $13.95 or less.
Pro tip: The label talks about Cabernet Sauvignon in general but says nothing about this particular bottle of wine. Red flag.
This wine was featured on Episode 2 of The Wine Podcast for Everyone
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El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020 El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
El Abuelo Organic Tempranillo Monastrell 2020
Price: $10.45
Tastes Like:
Blackberry, Leather, Cedar, Light Smoke
Serve With:
Red Meat
Chuck’s Take
Extra dry with a full to medium body. The flavours are a bit muted and muddled. On the finish your tongue will be left bone-dry from the oak tannins. Not bad overall, but also not seeking it out again terribly soon.
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Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot 2019
Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot 2019 Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot 2019
Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot 2019
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.
This wine was featured on Episode 1 of The Wine Podcast for Everyone
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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
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
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 2020
Luccarelli Primitivo 2020 Luccarelli Primitivo 2020
Luccarelli Primitivo 2020
Price: $12.05
Tastes Like:
Black Cherry, Blackberry, Oak, Warm Spice
Serve With:
Italian Foods, 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 and a full body.
Leans more New World style than Old World for an Italian with the fruit forward nose and palate. Tastes off dry but it really is dry (likely due to how fruit forward it is)
If you liked this one, you’ll love my similar top value Italian Red.
Tip: Luccarelli has a wine with a very, very similar label. Watch for the word Primitivo
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)