April Wine Picks #14
55 Great value for pleasure wines (16 new) Independently reviewed, on sale until April 29
Getting More Wine Value For The Same Money
In one of my working-in-wine-retail eras, I was chatting with a customer about finding reasonably priced good wine. She quoted her father who said “anyone can drink better by spending more money. The trick is to drink better spending the same money”.
This is why Wine Bargains B.C. was created, to help you find better value for your wine dollar.
In the hunt for great value wines, I wish I was recommending wines that were all under $15.00 but that’s not the reality in this era of “premiumization” of wine. Happily there are still some out there. In this issue, you will find that 13 of the Wine Picks are under the $15.00 mark.
You will notice that I have now added scores on the 0 to 100 point scale to help you evaluate each wine. This scale is far from ideal but it is familiar to most wine drinkers, so I have added it to form part of the picture for each wine chosen, along with price, wine style, tasting notes and background information. Choosing a wine by its score alone can be misleading e.g. a 90 point oak influenced style chardonnay won’t be pleasing to you if you don’t like oaky chards.
New wine picks are placed at the top of each flavour profile category and previous picks now on sale are listed below that.
At the top of the newsletter are my best 5 value-for-pleasure wine picks for April. These top 5 are chosen for wine quality and the time limited discounted pricing currently available for them.
The Best Way to Shop With Wine Bargains in B.C. Is On Your Phone
Use your phone to view the latest Pro Tips & Wine Bargains B.C. edition to locate great value wines in the style you enjoy, at B.C. government liquor stores.
This can be done two ways, via your email or by using the Substack App for IOS or Android.
Email Method
Access the Pro Tips & Wine Bargains B.C. email on your smartphone by selecting the emailed edition that was sent to you as a subscriber
Get The App
Download the app for even easier access to the latest edition and the blog site where all the postings reside.
Either way, scroll down through the wine style categories to find great value selections, their current price, a wine note, label photo and a product page link. To locate store nearest you stocking the wine, just click “Where To Buy”.
By default, the store listings show alphabetically but if you let it use your location, available stores will reorder to show the store closest to you.
Wine Bargains - Let's Get Started
The wine bargains below are independently reviewed by me and are widely available from B.C. government stores.
There are a great many wines on sale in April but I have sifted them down to the very best value wines in terms of quality for money and the size of the discount. This month’s sale goes until April 29.
This month there are 55 wines in all, including 16 new Wine Picks. For paid subscribers, you will also find that the Master List of all the Wine Picks over the last year, has been updated to include this month’s new wine picks.
For this month, the wines chosen are in these styles:
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds (13 wines, 3 new) | Savoury Fruit Reds (14 wines, 5 new) | Lighter Fruit Reds (3 wines, 1 new) | Medium Bodied Smooth Whites (8 wines, 3 new) | Bigger, Oak Influenced Whites (5 wines, 1 new) | Crisp Dry Whites (6 wines) | Aromatic Whites 3 wines, 1 new | Rosé (1 wine, 1 new) | Sparkling (2 wines, 1 new)
For detailed descriptions of the wine styles see An Illustrated Guide To Wine Styles
TOP 5 VALUE-FOR-PLEASURE WINE PICKS FOR APRIL
Sparkling Style (flavour range-citrus, toasty, peach, pear, tropical, more…)
#5 VALDO - VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG EXTRA DRY - ITALY
$25.99 reduced to 23.99 until April 29 - 750 ml.
Prosecco is generally consumed casually at brunches or used to power mimosas. I confess that on its own I generally had found it pretty neutral and in the past would generally go for Spanish cava at the same price point though I had also tasted a few outstanding proseccos over the years. But as with many wines (and most subjects) there is more to understand when you drill down a little and I have come to better appreciate the differences.
There is much more to know about Prosecco. The “quality pyramid” of Prosecco has it’s various levels and complexities but for selections available in B.C. Liquor Stores, we can simplify a little. If you want to get an ideas of how good Prosecco can be, the the most important beginning guide is to look on the label for “DOC” versus “DOCG”.
DOC refers to “Denomination of Controlled Origin” while DOCG means “Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin.” DOC is the more common Prosecco and can be produced anywhere in a much wider area in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions.
DOCG Prosecco from smaller, more focused sub-regions is considered the higher quality designation of the two. There are certainly some very good DOC Proseccos available too and going forward, I will be looking out for these, especially as they are often more moderately priced and often go on sale. But it doesn’t hurt to taste some of the better Proseccos to give you an idea of the higher quality that is available.
This Valdo Prosecco is an example of a DOCG level wine. The sale price this month makes it the same price as many popular DOC Proseccos so here is a chance to taste a level up at the same price.
It is an extremely delicate and shy wine on the first sip but it does open up into a lovely wine. On the nose at first very light, almost nothing, a touch of melon lifted on a very fine mousse of bubbles.
The flavour is as on nose very light, and delicate but with flavour persistence, a drift of elegant lees (nutty or yeasty notes, think brioche). Well balanced and with good, crisp acidity, some elegance in the finish but very shy, showing apple and melon. Try letting it warm up just a little to release more flavours and further appreciate its charms. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 550111
Rosé Style (crisp, fresh flavours & nuances from citrus to tart red fruit to herbal depending on grape(s) used)
#4 FISH HOEK CINSAULT ROSE - SOUTH AFRICA $13.99 reduced to 11.99 On sale until April 29 - 750 ml.
Very light crisp aromas of orange and orange peel, pink grapefruit and grapefruit pith. Mostly orange notes on the palate with some grapefruit and orange peel. Overall, silky, delightful, clean flavours with good acidity, very smooth texture and lingers a while. Unbeatable price this month. Tasted ✓ 87 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 56633
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak, easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
#3 T & V CAREME TERRE BRULEE CHENIN BLANC - SOUTH AFRICA $22.99 reduced to 17.99 until April 29 - 750 ml.
The grape here is chenin blanc. It makes wines of great variety and complexity in the Loire Valley in France. It is also grown very successfully here in B.C. And if this is not a familiar grape to you, this would be a great introduction. Though a dry wine, it has rounded, lush, floral flavours of apricont, honey, lime peel and peach. Slightly tangy and perfectly balanced, the richness of the fruit is very appealing. Very well priced now on sale. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 182934