Hello and welcome back.
There are a great many wines on sale in August including nineteen 90-92 point wines. This month’s sale goes until September 2. There are 58 great value wines in all, including 8 new Wine Picks.
As always, new wine picks are placed at the top of each flavour profile category, previous picks now on sale are next and the Rarer Bird category are listed below that.
This month, at the top of the newsletter are my best 6 value-for-pleasure wine picks for August. For the sake of simplicity, I limited it to just 6 wines but there were almost three times as many contenders for the six spots.
It’s often a money saving strategy to shop out of season e.g. clothing, BBQs, toboggans and patio furniture and so with red wine in August. There are a large number of big red, winter weight wines, both fruit forward and savoury on sale this month, many at big discounts, including 4 of the top 6 Wine Picks. These top 6 are chosen for a combination of their quality and the time limited discounted pricing currently available for them.
Wine Bargains - Let's Get Started
The wine bargains below are independently reviewed by me and are widely available from B.C. government stores.
For August, the wines chosen are in these styles:
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds (29 wines, 3 new, 3 Rarer) | Savoury Fruit Reds (7 wines, 1 new) | Lighter Fruit Reds (4 wines, 1 Rarer) | Medium Bodied Smooth Whites (5 wines, 2 new) | Bigger, Oak Influenced Whites (6 wines, 1 new, 1 rarer) | Crisp Dry Whites (4 wines) | Rosé (2 wines, 1 new) | Sparkling (1 wine)
For detailed descriptions of the wine styles see An Illustrated Guide To Wine Styles
TOP 6 VALUE-FOR-PLEASURE WINE PICKS FOR AUGUST
Rosé Style (crisp, fresh flavours & nuances from citrus to tart red fruit to herbal depending on grape(s) used)
#6 COTE MAS AURORE ROSÉ - PAYS D'OC, FRANCE $16.99 reduced to 13.99 until September 2 - 1 L
A pale salmon colour in the glass with aromas of pink candy floss, bubblegum, watermelon, pink grapefruit and citrus peel. The flavours are quite similar, led by watermelon and watermelon seed with good acidity and restrained alcohol. Dry, smooth and on the light side as you would expect for a decent rosé. This 1 liter price works out to just over $10.00 per regular bottle so a great buy. Tasted ✓ 87 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 401711
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak, easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
#5 BLASTED CHURCH - HATFIELD'S FUSE 2021 CANADA $19.99 reduced to 14.99 until September 2 - 750 ml.
An aromatic medley here of ginger, lemon peel, canary melon, light white florals, quince skin and more. This continues on into rounded, golden flavours of yellow plum, quince (a small rounded tree fruit that looks like an apple or pear, but must be cooked to be eaten - but the smell of the skin is ambrosia) plum skin, golden delicious apples, yellow plum marmalade. The wine is slightly, nicely tart on the finish that contains a touch of citrus and again quince. A very lovely wine that is very summery and delightful. Made from a blend of nine different grapes. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 734475
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)
#4 BARON PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD ESCUDO ROJO CARMENERE 2021 - CHILE $18.99 reduced to 15.99 until September 2 - 750 ml.
The carmenere grape may not be as familiar to you as cabernet sauvignon or malebec but if you like a fruit forward red, you will enjoy this. There’s a lot going on with this one from Baron Philippe de Rothchild of Bordeaux fame.
The scents here are of slightly floral red raspberry/red currant/red plum jam. The fruit flavours are similar led by red plum with a smooth silky texture that slides into the soft tannins producing an elegant finish. Well balanced with a little dusty burr of carmenere character at the very end. It has elevated fruit intensity and is medium bodied but there’s also an overall refinement to the wine that might have something to do with the Bordeaux influence? Could be my imagination. Anyway, outstanding value at this sale price. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 746321
#3. QUID PRO QUO - CASA SANTOS LIMA 2019 - ALENTEJANO, PORTUGAL $15.99 reduced to 12.99 until September 2 - 750 ml.
If you like bigger but soft edged fruit forward reds with some complexity, this blend or Portuguese red grapes has the whole package including dried plums and fruit leather. The wine has good deep, red fruit intensity, rounded tannins, excellent balance and some real interest. The value for money and value for pleasure here is amazing and it is very consistent vintage to vintage. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 62235
Savoury Fruit Reds Style (plenty of fruit - but think fruit tea, cranberry, tomato sauce or fruit leather)
#2 UMANI RONCHI MEDORO SANGIOVESE - MARCHE, ITALY $14.99 reduced to 11.99 until September 2 - 750 ml.
Pale in colour, this is textbook sangiovese, the grape best known as the main component in Chianti. Simple but delightful, with aromas of light plum and cherry, leather, hard red candy, vanilla and sarsaparilla. In its flavours, you can find cherry, cherry pit, tobacco, softer tannins, good acidity and savouryn herbs. Small scale but flavourful, balanced, organically grown, and unmanipulated. This is not overly complex or lengthy or elaborate but earthy and honest with a clean crisp finish. This is an authentic wine that would match with pizza, red sauce pasta and grilled meats. A great introduction to sangiovese and an amazing deal this month. Drinks like it should cost $20.00. Highly recommended. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 113592
#1 SALTRAM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - S1 SOUTH AUSTRALIA $19.99 reduced to 12.99 until September 2 - 750 ml.
It’s back, one of the best red wine deals in government stores ever. Though only a few years old, the wine is fairly well developed and so shows complex, balanced aromas and flavours usually found in older wines, i.e. more on the savoury fruit side and less on the fresh fruit side. On the nose, ripe blackberry and raspberry, hope chest cedar, barnyard, and other savoury notes.
On the taste very similar to the aromas, with cross currents of ripe savoury fruit and aromatic wood. The wine is bigger bodied and silky all well balanced. Softened tannins and slightly lower acidity contribute to how easy drinking this is at a relatively young age.
Overall, an interesting harmonious savoury cabernet sauvignon. It drinks like it should be $20.00 - $25.00 at least, maybe a lot more. If this is your style, you might want to load up on this one. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 466944
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