August Wines

Hello and welcome to the Wine Bargains BC newsletter, August edition.

Pro Tips & Wine Bargains in B.C. is a reader-supported publication focusing only on the very best bargains and the very best quality wines under $30.00, available in BCL liquor stores. This monthly newsletter is now available to both free and paid subscribers but there are also special features for paid subscribers.

The wine bargain reviews are independently and originally written by me (no AI ever) and the wines are widely available (50 stores or more at the time of publication) from B.C. government liquor stores. There is no advertising, sponsorship or clickbait in BC Wine Bargains and with a few exceptions the wines reviewed are purchased by me.

For paid subscribers this month’s feature is two new great wine bargains with full reviews.

Here are the best picks for August by category. Scroll down further for full reviews and the paid subscriber feature.

Best Value Wine Picks For The Month

White SECRET CELLAR PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - SOUTH AFRICA $13.99 reduced 28% to $9.99

THE ICON ROCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $24.99 reduced 28% to $17.99

Red CASA SANTOS LIMA TRADITIONAL LISBOA RED BLEND 2021 - PORTUGAL $17.99 reduced 33% to $11.99

Best Flavour Wine Picks For The Month

White SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - TOSCANA, ITALY $24.99 reduced to $19.99

PACO DE TEIXEIRO GRANITO VINHO VERDE - PORTUGAL $17.99 reduced to 13.99

Red MALBADO MALBEC 2022 - LUJÁN DE CUYO, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 22.99 reduced to 17.99

Good Enough Weekday Wines, Under $13.00

White UKO ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2025 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $17.99 reduced to 12.99

MCGUIGAN THE PICK CHARDONNAY 2022 - AUSTRALIA $14.99 Reduced to $10.99

SOGRAPE GAZELA VINHO VERDE - PORTUGAL $12.99 reduced to 11.99

SECRET CELLAR PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - SOUTH AFRICA $13.99 reduced to $9.99

LA VILLA REAL LA MANCHA MACABEO JOVEN 2024 $16.99 reduced to $12.99

Red ANGELO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2019 - ITALY $12.99 reduced to $10.99 CANTINA TOLLO PIETRAME LTD. EDITION MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2020 - ITALY $14.99 reduced to 12.99

CASA SANTOS LIMA TRADITIONAL LISBOA RED BLEND 2021 - PORTUGAL $17.99 reduced to 11.99

MULA VELHA 2021 - LISBOA, PORTUGAL $14.99 reduced to 11.99

SECRET CELLAR SHIRAZ GRENACHE - SOUTH AFRICA 2022 $13.99 reduced to $9.99

ANCIANO NO.3 - RIOJA, SPAIN Non-vintage $14.99 reduced to $12.99

Wines to Just Crack Open and Relax With

Red CASA SANTOS LIMA TRADITIONAL LISBOA RED BLEND 2021 - PORTUGAL $17.99 reduced to 11.99

ANGELO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2019 - ITALY $12.99 reduced to $10.99

White SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - TOSCANA, ITALY $24.99 reduced to $19.99

THE ICON ROCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $24.99 reduced 28% to $17.99

Sunday, Family/Friends, BBQ

White THE ICON ROCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $24.99 reduced to $17.99

PACO DE TEIXEIRO GRANITO VINHO VERDE - PORTUGAL $17.99 reduced to 13.99

Red SANTA CAROLINA El PACTO LOS LINGUES CARMENERE 2022 - CHILE $19.99 reduced to 14.99

SEE YA LATER RANCH PING MERITAGE 2022 - OKANAGAN VLY. , CANADA $24.99 reduced to $20.99

Dinner Party

White SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - TOSCANA, ITALY $24.99 reduced to $19.99

Red ERA COSTANA RIOJA RESERVA 2018 - RIOJA, SPAIN $29.99 reduced to 22.99

Bigger, Fruit Forward Reds

MALBADO MALBEC 2022 - LUJÁN DE CUYO, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $22.99 reduced to 17.99

SUNROCK VINEYARDS SHIRAZ 2022 - OKANAGAN VALLEY, B.C. $34.99 reduced to $25.99

Easy Reds for Pizza & Pasta

SANTA CAROLINA El PACTO LOS LINGUES CARMENERE 2022 - CHILE $19.99 reduced to 14.99

ANGELO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2019 - ITALY $12.99 reduced to $10.99

MULA VELHA 2021 - LISBOA, PORTUGAL $14.99 reduced to 11.99

ANCIANO NO.3 - RIOJA, SPAIN Non-vintage $14.99 reduced to $12.99

Whites for Chicken & Fish

UKO ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2025 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $17.99 reduced to 12.99

SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - TOSCANA, ITALY $24.99 reduced to $19.99

Rosé

CHATEAU BARBEBELLE FLEURI ROSÉ 2022 - AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE $22.99 reduced to 20.99

MIRAVAL JOLIE PITT AND PERRIN ROSE 2024 - PROVENCE, FRANCE $34.99 reduced to 26.99

August Wine Reviews

Argentina

UKO ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2025 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

$17.99 reduced to 12.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Here is a good entry level chardonnay, fresh and rounded with a touch of pear on the nose and taste with good acidity. It’s definitely a leaner chardonnay and generally lighter in all its elements but overall a nice little package that’s balanced and appealing. Well worth it at this month’s sale price. 87 Points Richer, Oak Influenced White

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 276715

THE ICON ROCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

$24.99 reduced to $17.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Light and chalky on the nose with lime/lemon notes and a touch of tinned pear juice. Also light bodied in structure on the taste but has very clean, persistent flavours of lime lemon, dairy, that tinned pear juice element, lees texture in the mid-palate and some nuttiness. The flavours open slightly as it warms a little but the clean balance holds into the lingering finish. 88 Points Medium Smooth Bodied White

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 284891

MALBADO MALBEC 2022 - LUJÁN DE CUYO, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

$22.99 reduced to 17.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

The 2022 Malbado malbec is the best vintage for this wine yet though they have all been very good. It shows dark, floral, blackberry, raspberry, plum fruit, and a touch of minerality with some contributing tannins on the nose. The floral note of lilac here is so prominent that it almost upstages the fruit. It’s gorgeous in the glass, has an intense silky ribbon of lush plum and very ripe blackberry, good complexity, and a long long finish. This wine really dances on the palate. 91 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU 495601

Australia

MCGUIGAN THE PICK CHARDONNAY 2022 - AUSTRALIA

$14.99 Reduced to $10.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Pale with a touch of gold. It begins with a touch of yeast and oak along with apple and pear. The flavours show dried pear and golden delicious apple and then sweeter, tropical fruit salad notes including pineapple and mango. Though a dry wine, it has a touch of honey/caramel in the ending. A slightly soft acidity makes it very easy drinking and approachable. It would pair with a wide range of dishes. Amazing value. Tasted ✓ 87 Points Richer, Oak Influenced Whites

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 282817

Canada: British Columbia

SEE YA LATER RANCH PING MERITAGE 2022 - OKANAGAN VLY. , CANADA

$24.99 reduced to $20.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Meritage, pronounced like heritage is a name created by a group of American vintners as a name for new world wines blends containing some or all of the standard Bordeaux grape varieties i.e. cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. A number of B.C. wineries have opted to use this term for some of their red blends. The word was selected from more than 6,000 contest entries. The term combines “merit” with “heritage”.

The wine is well balanced with approachable tannins has a lovely complexity and structure. Priced at a fraction of what an equivalent Bordeaux would cost. British Columbia wineries have been very successful with Bordeaux style blends and this is a great example. 89 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 220145

SUNROCK VINEYARDS SHIRAZ 2022 - OKANAGAN VALLEY, B.C.

$34.99 reduced to $25.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Begins almost port-like, with dense syrah fruit, some floral notes, lifted, subtle, bramble and briar. The aroma is much more Rhone Valley, France than Australian shiraz with blue fruit, black fruit and white pepper. This follows through on the palate with classy complex, not too jammy fruit profile with reasonable tannins and moderate alcohol. It shows graceful, savoury, flavour changes, and it lingers a while. Overall, more about subtlety than, big bodied impact. You could hold for an additional 2 to 5 years to see how it developed. Drinks like a Rhone syrah costing half again as much. This nine dollar discount makes it a perfect time to try it. 90 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU:365635

Chile

VINA LEYDA RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2023 - LEYDA VALLEY, CHILE

$17.99 reduced to $13.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Look for typical pinot noir notes of pomegranate, dusty cardboard and light strawberry with a touch of blueberry and blackberry skin. The flavours are quite similar. It’s well balanced, classic pinot noir grape expression with a clean finish that lingers a little. It delivers the pinot noir goods quite nicely with no negatives for a price way under $20.00 this month. From the same Leyda brand who produce an excellent inexpensive sauvignon blanc. Great, great value. 88 Points Lighter Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 138982

SANTA CAROLINA El PACTO LOS LINGUES CARMENERE 2022 - CHILE

$19.99 reduced to 14.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Starts with dark, rich berry fruit aromas that include blackberry, boysenberry, loganberry and mulberry as well as touch of cedar, tree bark and charcoal briquette. Straight forward, fruit forward and fairly jammy for a carmenere with a lick of dustiness or charcoal in the finish. The tannins help keep things fairly well balanced. You can’t deny the fruit intensity for the money here. If you are looking for a stand-in for your missing sub-$20 California cabernet sauvignon, this should work well. Tasted ✓ 88 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 476802

France

CHATEAU BARBEBELLE FLEURI ROSÉ 2022 - AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE

$22.99 reduced to 20.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

This is a rosé I remembered enjoying previously and especially liked. I was pleased to taste it again recently and find that it still impressed.

Very pale in the glass, it begins with a very light whiff of grapefruit, rose hip, fresh ginger skin and citrus pith. The flavours are very similar with the citrus being more prominent some additional floral notes, suppleness and a crisp balanced acidity. The grapes here are 50% grenache, 35% cinsault and 15% syrah with a restrained 12.5% alcohol.

A step up Provence rosé, light, supple, balanced and delightful. Summer elegance at a true bargain price. 90 Points Rosé

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 150519

MIRAVAL JOLIE PITT AND PERRIN ROSE 2024 - PROVENCE, FRANCE

$34.99 reduced to 26.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

What distinguishes, higher end Provence rosés from the others? In part, the aim is to see how light a rosé can be in body, intensity and texture and yet also demonstrate elegance and length. So generally, this type of wine delivers flavour elements that are highly refined, elegant, subtle and complex yet are very light in body and intensity. Because it is heavily discounted this month, here is a chance for you to taste a Provence rosé in that style for under $30.00.

The aromas here are subtle but show crabapple, chokecherry, light Spring fruit flowers and a touch of melon. It’s light, on entry, gentle but not faint, showing a meld of light citrus, crab apple, choke cherry and some saline minerality. The magic here is how it can be so light and airy yet have such lingering elaborate and defined flavours.

For food pairings, it could accompany all kinds of Summer fare but you might want to stick with something equally light and elegant such as simple cold prawns, crab, Atlantic salmon or even saffroned pistachios. 90 Points Rosé

Italy

ANGELO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2019 - ITALY

$12.99 reduced to $10.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

This is very much in the Italian savoury fruit end of things. The red fruit flavors here are of dried herbs, sour cherry, cranberry and dark plum. The dry, and earthy finish here is still very well balanced. The perfect pizza wine at a very affordable price. Tasted ✓ 87 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 226098

CANTINA TOLLO PIETRAME LTD. EDITION MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2020 - ITALY

$14.99 reduced to 12.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

On the nose plummy, ripe cherry and a touch of tar. The flavours are similar. Relatively simple overall but a restrained alcohol level combined with lower acidity, vinification in stainless steel only and good intensity makes this a winner. Great, great deal. 87 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red Find Store Nearest You SKU: 480205

SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - TOSCANA, ITALY

$24.99 reduced to $19.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Initially offers light, crisp, drifts of lime, grapefruit, citrus peel and melon rind. Delicate but finessed, with lemony melon, grapefruit peel and seashell. Much like Chablis in terms of a having a lighter, elegant, restrained intensity. The tapering, balanced finish is airy, with citrus peel and grapefruit married to melon and that lingering touch of seashell. Excellent value. Tasted ✓ 89 Points Crisp Dry White Find Store Nearest You SKU: 225359

Portugal

CASA SANTOS LIMA TRADITIONAL LISBOA RED BLEND 2021 - PORTUGAL

$17.99 reduced to 11.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Pale in colour with a purple rim, there’s a clear, focused red fruit nose with some intensity. In the glass, the fruit component shows a mix of red currant, blackberry and juicy berry fruit. Overall it’s steadily balanced with very soft tannins. It comes across as one beautiful, sustained piano note. So though not complex it’s very smooth with interesting, fairly intense fruit and a long ending. It’s similar to good gamay (Beaujolais) or mencia grape based wines out of Spain. The value is outstanding and I would bet this might be the lowest price we will see. Tasted ✓ 89 Points Lighter Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 364492

MULA VELHA 2021 - LISBOA, PORTUGAL

$14.99 reduced to 11.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Fresh and baked cherry here, some wood effects, fairly simple, lean and a little rustic but it did smooth out nicely with a one hour decant. An everyday cheap and cheerful red to irrigate the lasagna or accompany that pizza. 86 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 498978

SOGRAPE GAZELA VINHO VERDE - PORTUGAL

$12.99 reduced to 11.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

This Vinho Verde is a very different, interesting Summer white wine style. A Portuguese wine whose literal name means “green wine” but indicates a “young wine” as it is usually released three to six months after harvest. Vinho Verde shows a slight effervescence, that originally came from the tail end of malolactic fermentation but these days, the slight sparkle you taste is added via slight carbonation. Alcohol levels are also usually lower in Vinho Verde, typically 10-12% and this Gazela is 9% alcohol.

The result is a white wine that is slightly lighter or lightly slighter perhaps than the majority of white wines. In a way, the structure usually provided in wines with higher alcohol is replaced by the wine’s light spritz.

The aromas here are very light but include matcha, green apple and honeydew melon. In the glass it is lightly fizzy, just tickling your tongue, dry and evenly crisp with, apple, melon lemon/lime and pear skin. It has surprisingly good structure for a low alcohol wine. The body and intensity are light and it is delicately well balanced. The lemon/lime notes carry on nicely into the finish. Great value here for this non-vintage wine. 88 Points Crisp Dry Whites

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 141432

LAGO VINHO VERDE ROSE NON-VINTAGE - PORTUGAL

$14.99 reduced to $12.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Made from a single red varietal called Vinhao it is very light on the nose with pink candy floss and rose petal. The flavours are similar with watermelon on the finish. Good acidity and balance here. A great summer drink that is low in alcohol, a real featherweight with a slight spritz and good acidity. Just a tincture of flavour really but will work well if you are looking for a tasty low alcohol wine on the lighter side at an economical price. 87 Points Rosé (dry/off dry)

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 34411

PACO DE TEIXEIRO GRANITO VINHO VERDE - PORTUGAL

$17.99 reduced to 13.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

If you know vinho verde wines you might tend to think of them as all being white, simple, crisp, refreshing with a very light sparkle that just tickles the tongue and most are. But as is often the case with wine, there can be more to it than that. Known primarily for its white wines vinho verde also comes in red, or rosé. It is sourced from the cool Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal next to the area of Spain where albariño wines are made.

Pale gold runs through the colour and it begins with light but accommodating, rounded notes of peach skin, beeswax and pear with a touch of honey. As it warmed it added cardamom and tropical fruits as well. it’s a dry wine but the flavours mirror the aromas with peach and peach skin, cardamom, mango and beeswax. This is a blend of three white grapes: albariño, avesso and loureiro. The texture is smooth and the finish is long, waxy and tropical with a lingering minerality. It would be a natural match for apricot chicken, a light fruit tart or pork dishes. 89 Points Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites

‍Find Store Nearest You SKU: 243571

South Africa

SECRET CELLAR SHIRAZ GRENACHE - SOUTH AFRICA 2022

$13.99 reduced to $9.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Dark cherry notes on the aroma and flavours with a touch of pepper. It’s soft, smooth and a little bit off-dry-jammy on the ending. No negative flavours to spoil the party. Consistently solid value. 87 Points Ripe Fruit Forward Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 161629

SECRET CELLAR PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - SOUTH AFRICA

$13.99 reduced to $9.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Crisp, green, pinot grigio flavours, a little grassy with a touch of melon. A good patio wine and at this price, more than fair. 87 Points Medium Bodied, Smooth White

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 161632

Spain

ANCIANO NO.3 - RIOJA, SPAIN Non-vintage

$14.99 reduced to $12.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

There’s no finish line with wine. I had had Anciano wines in the distant past and remembered thinking of them as being a little below average in value. But wines and wineries never stand still. You have to keep an open mind and continue trying new things. I’m very glad I did.

This was a very pleasant surprise. The wine tastes the way Spanish wine tastes in Spain by which I mean there is immediacy and fresher details in the flavours that are often dampened by the time it arrives on a North American shelf. If you’ve had the very good fortune to taste wine in Europe, you will know what I mean.

This reminds me of a wine you would get from a local wine co-op that though simple and straight forward, is a wine with “somewhereness”, a sense of place. It also has an authentic set of flavours true to the grape it’s made from Tempranillo. It is one of the main constituent grapes of Rioja wines.

A well blended non-vintage wine can be very good if done properly. It depends on the juice you start with and how well you blend it.

So here is a well blended non-vintage wine that provides a decent, consistent everyday wine at a very affordable price. The wine smells immediately good and somehow honest with savoury cherry, some gaminess and tobacco. There’s smoothness in the texture and a light touch of oak in the background. The flavours linger and are well balanced with no contrary flavours to produce buyer’s remorse. Excellent value here. 88 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU:415623

LA VILLA REAL LA MANCHA MACABEO JOVEN 2024

$16.99 reduced to $12.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Macabeo is also known as viura and can be the main grape in white Rioja and part of the blend in Spain’s sparkling cava wines.
It opens with a subtle nose of light melon rind, celery leaf, seashell and a touch of pineapple and pear. The flavours are similar with a bit of lemon, pine and a smooth texture, with a briny finish and a very crisp acidity. Not a serious wine but a very enjoyable one. Reminds me a little of Picpoul de Pinet and like that wine would go perfectly with oysters, seafood, cucumber sushi and more. 87 Points Crisp Dry White

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 78513

MONTE ORY GARNACHA - NAVARRA, SPAIN

$18.99 reduced to 14.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

A non-vintage wine with breezy notes of fresh strawberry and raspberry plus a touch of wood are the main features here. It’s light, fruity and sappy with clean simple flavours and moderate alcohol. Easy drinking and refreshing. Would work wonderfully with Christmas dinner. 88 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 197275

REINO DE ALTUZARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - NAVARRA, SPAIN

$19.99 reduced to $14.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

Light, slightly confected raspberry fruit, plum and cherry pit on the nose. Well balanced and structured with light, rounded plum and cherry fruit. Tidy and easy drinking, nothing in excess but nothing too remarkable but still, very good value here at this month’s sale price. Give it some time to open up a little.
The Navarra area is in Northern Spain at the Western end of the Pyrenees where it meets the South West tip of France. Though not a well known Spanish wine region , it has traditionally been a source of rosés and tempranillo based red wines. Recently it has been getting a growing reputation for reasonably priced cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir. Tasted ✓ 88 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 326692

ERA COSTANA RIOJA RESERVA 2018 - RIOJA, SPAIN

$29.99 reduced to 22.99 until August 29 - 750 ml.

The style of Rioja reds has certainly fanned out from the classic and traditional that originally involved time in American oak and was a blend of grapes usually led by Tempranillo. The well made versions of those wines were light to medium bodied and though austere, could grow extremely elegant as they aged.

That classic style would now seem to be more in the minority. The emphasis on oak in general has been reduced and winemakers are also using a mixture of French and American oak. Most noticeably, the fruit component has changed to include fresher and/or more intense fruit in the mix. This has helped make Rioja reds more accessible to New World tastes.

Here is a great example of a modern Rioja. On the nose, light, fresh and savoury cherry fruit, with rich notes of chocolate, raisins and caramel. It’s a mid-weight wine with the flavours following the nose including cherries and some richer lovely berry fruits in the second half.

The flavours open out to include some velvety texture with loganberry mulberry and graphite. The silky rich, red fruit has above medium intensity with restrained alcohol and a cushioned acidity that matches the fruit. The finish lingers with juicy berry notes. A long way from classic but a really lovely wine. Well worth investigating. 90 Points Savoury Fruit Red

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 305902

Until next time.