October Wine Deals #20

Great bargains on Autumn wines

Hello and welcome back.

There are a great many wines on sale in October. There are 63 great value wines in all, including 6 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 October.

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 October, the wines chosen are in these styles:

Ripe Fruit Forward Reds (24 wines, 3 new) | Savoury Fruit Reds (12 wines, 1 new, 1 Rarer) | Lighter Fruit Reds (4 wines) | Medium Bodied Smooth Whites (9 wines, 1 new, 2 Rarer) | Bigger, Oak Influenced Whites (3 wines, 1 new, 1 Rarer) | Crisp Dry Whites (4 wines) | Aromatic Whites (2 wines) |Rosé (3 wines) | Sparkling (2 wines)

For detailed descriptions of the wine styles see An Illustrated Guide To Wine Styles

TOP 6 VALUE-FOR-PLEASURE WINE PICKS FOR OCTOBER

Rosé Style (crisp, fresh flavours & nuances from citrus to tart red fruit to herbal depending on grape(s) used)

#6 COMMANDERIE DE LA BARGEMONE 2021 - COTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE $29.99 reduced to 19.99 On sale until Oct. 28 - 750 ml.

Quite subtle on the nose with watermelon, rose hip and rose petal. On the flavour, very delicate and elegant, lighter than most Provence rosés. As with many whites and rosés, when it warmed up a little from ice bucket temperature the aromas and flavours bloomed, with rose hip and melon flavours increasing. It gained length as well and was very smooth. Tasted ✓  88 Points

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 63391

Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)

#5 RAVENSWOOD OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2021 LODI, CALIFORNIA, USA

$25.99 reduced to $19.99 until Oct. 28 - 750 ml.

The extra richness and depth of flavour from old vines is very evident here. The aromas and flavours here include ripe black plums, baking spices, ripe berries or jam and the typical smoky and cigar box notes of Zinfandel. If you like big California Cabernets you will probably like this too. Tasted ✓ 90 Points

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 599381

#4 MONTES LA FINCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - COLCHAGUA, CHILE

$17.99 reduced to $14.99 until Oct 28 - 750 ml. 

Good berry intensity here with currants, some cedar, blackcurrant and some asphalt and tobacco on the nose that fall follows through on the flavour. Rich though not too complex, biggish alcohol helps provide a long dense cabernet finish but there’s a good balancing acidity here and clean flavours. If you like a plush, jammy cabernet, this is a bargain compared to something like a California cab costing almost twice the price. Very softened tannins. Tasted ✓ 88 Points

Find Store Nearest You  SKU: 166342

Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak, easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)

#3. T & V CAREME TERRE BRULEE CHENIN BLANC 2021 -  SOUTH AFRICA

$23.99 reduced to 17.99 until Oct. 28 - 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 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 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 ✓ 90 Points

Find Store Nearest You    SKU: 182934

Lighter Fruity Reds Style (light to medium bodied, savoury or ripe fruit)

#2 DIORA LA PETITE GRACE PINOT NOIR 2020 - MONTEREY, CA., USA

$28.99 reduced to 23.99 until Oct. 28 - 750 ml.  

For pinot lovers, an intriguing combination of savoury fruit elements, dusty clay and more showing here. Baking spices of nutmeg and cinnamon with savoury cherry, an elegant touch of pomegranate molasses and that dusty clay harmonize and complement each other.

Monterey is South of the Bay area and the sunshine hours show in its fruit emphasis but the ventilated valleys and proximity to the ocean also provide some clarifying acidity. The finish is long and echoes with savoury cherry and clay dust. A very interesting, distinct pinot noir now on great sale. Tasted ✓ 89 Points

Find Store Nearest You SKU: 24599

Savoury Fruit Reds Style (plenty of fruit - but think fruit tea, cranberry, tomato sauce or fruit leather)

# 1 GRAO VASCO - DAO, PORTUGAL

$10.99 reduced to 8.99 until Oct. 28 - 750 ml.

With wines under $12.00 or so, wine drinkers have to be realistic. You are very unlikely to find something grand, complex or fascinating under the cork at that price level.

When assessing very economically priced wines, I find it more realistic and useful to look for what’s NOT there. No factory wine taste, no medicinal tang, no candied fruit flavours, no watered down taste, no mouth puckering tannins or savage acidity. Each to their own but any smug satisfaction I may enjoy drinking a wine costing as little as three figures is wholly eradicated for me if the wine tastes like bear repellent.

It’s ultimately about value for money not just price, so as the list of absentee negatives (medicinal tang, candied fruit…) grows, I think, so does the wine’s relative worth.

Viewed with that lens, here is a great value wine. Grao Vasco has the advantage of being based mainly on a couple of indigenous grapes - touriga nacional and tinto roriz that are flavourful and rich. The wine also seems to be non-vintage so they are able to blend multiple vintages to create a consistent wine.

The wine is very simple with cherry, wood and a touch of tar as well as tobacco on the nose. Likewise on the flavour, dry and savoury with some plum as well. For under $10.00, you have enjoyable, cheap and cheerful, complementary irrigation for pizza or lasagna. Save money and enjoy. Tasted ✓ 86 Points

Find Store Nearest You  SKU: 14977

Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)

New Wine Picks

MONTES LA FINCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - COLCHAGUA, CHILE

$17.99 reduced to $14.99 until Oct 28 - 750 ml. 

Good berry intensity here with currants, some cedar, blackcurrant and some asphalt and tobacco on the nose that fall follows through on the flavour. Rich though not too complex, biggish alcohol helps provide a long dense cabernet finish but there’s a good balancing acidity here and clean flavours. If you like a plush, jammy cabernet, this is a bargain compared to something like a California cab costing almost twice the price. Very softened tannins. Tasted ✓ 88 Points

Find Store Nearest You  SKU: 166342

Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale

LOS VASCOS CROMAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - CHILE

$29.99 reduced to $25.99 until Oct 28 - 750 ml. 

Los Vascos is a property in the Colchagua Valley area of Chile owned by the Lafite Rothschild group of the Medoc. Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Syrah in the mix here. Some silkiness, good concentration and definite Cabernet Sauvignon character. Tasted ✓ 90 Points

Find Store Nearest You  SKU: 182055