Pro Tips & Wine Bargains B.C. Part 1 - Wine Picks #11
New Great Value Wine Picks for December
Hello and welcome back
As you may have noticed, the newsletter is now published in two parts. The first half will contain just the new wine picks and the previous wine picks that are on sale. The second half will be the monthly Pro Wine Tip.
Publishing this way will mean that you will see the new Wine Picks available at B.C. Liquor Stores sooner. You may also have noticed that very new wine picks are now placed at the top of each flavour profile category with previous picks that re now on sale listed below them.
This month also begins a new feature for the Wine Picks. At the top will be my best 5 value-for-pleasure wine picks for the month. The top 5 are chosen due to the combination of wine quality and 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.
There are a great number of good wine buys this month, the largest selection thus far. This is undoubtedly because of the Christmas season, with 49 wines in all, including 7 new Wine Picks. For this newsletter the wines chosen are in these styles:
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds (13 wines) | Savoury Fruit Reds (15 wines) | Lighter Fruit Reds (2 wines) | Medium Bodied Smooth Whites (6 wines) | Bigger, Oak Influenced Whites (8 wines) | Crisp Dry Whites (3 wines) | Aromatic Whites (1 wine) | Sparkling Wines (1 wine)
For detailed descriptions of the styles see An Illustrated Guide To Wine Styles
Top 5 Value-For-Pleasure Wine Picks For December
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)
MALBADO MALBEC - LUJÁN DE CUYO, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
$23.99 reduced to $17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
On straight quality, this wine should be priced in the high twenties. I would attribute the favorable price to it being from an unfamiliar winery as well as a lesser known area. Instead it starts out in the mid-twenties and has a five dollar price drop making it a great bargain.
Wines from the Luján du Cuyo area are a little different than the majority of Argentinian malbecs and this wine demonstrates that difference. Luján de Cuyo is a sub-region of Mendoza in Argentina. In 1993 it became Argentina’s first official wine appellation and it’s wines were responsible for putting Argentinian malbecs on the world wine map. The vineyards are at especially high altitudes of 700m – 1100m producing large day and night-time temperature variations like the Okanagan Valley. Malbec from this area usually shows more black fruits like blueberry, blackberry and dark plums as it does in this wine.
In the glass the wine shows plums, prunes, wet wood, and plum jam both on the aroma and the flavour. A good extra intensity of silky focused fruit sets it apart and the finish is long and fades slowly. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 495601
SANTA JULIA RESERVA MALBEC - UCO VALLEY, ARGENTINA
$17.99 reduced to $14.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
A multiple award winner at the Decanter Wine Awards (usually reliable) and a consistent bargain. Dense in colour and fuller flavoured with aromas of plum, blackcurrant and a touch of briarwood. Tastes of baked plum, black cherry, touch of liqorice with soft sculpted tannins and a silky texture. This is certainly the best value-for-flavour malbec in this price range available in B.C. government liquor stores at the moment. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 488791
Savoury Fruit Reds Style (plenty of fruit - but think fruit tea, cranberry, tomato sauce)
CHATEAU DAVIAUD- BORDEAUX, FRANCE
$19.99 reduced to 17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
You want affordable Bordeaux? This is it.
Simple, rounded, balanced with “dusty” fruit and a touch of floral cherry wood on the nose and flavour, with approachable tannins. Not grand, but a good honest example of Bordeaux’s charms. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 401073
CHATEAU STE MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - COLUMBIA VLY, U.S.A.
$24.99 reduced to $19.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Oregon is known for its excellent pinot noirs but Washington State is known for cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties (merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot). Generally, Washington state versions differ from California Cabs which tend to be very much fruit forward, dense and have concentrated berry flavours. Washington cabs tend to the savoury side with a kind of dusty tasting, lighter intensity fruit and for me are much closer to the Bordeaux style. This is a chance to taste good quality, classic, cabernet sauvignon at a giveaway price. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 232793
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak,easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
KRIS PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE, ITALY
$19.99 reduced to 15.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Again, this wine should be priced two to five dollars more to begin with. To get this for mid-teens is a great deal.
Pinot Grigio is the same grape as Pinot Gris. Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the grape and the style is generally leaner and more savoury than the versions from the New World (North/South America, Australia/NZ/South Africa). Wines made in the New World featuring Pinot Grigio on the label indicate that the wine will lean toward the Old World style. Most Italian Pinot Grigios available here costing $20.00 and under are good enough but tend to taste similar. This one has something a little different to say. Shy on the nose, with lean but good fruit flavours of lemon, cantaloupe, melon rind with silkiness in the mouth feel. Clean, crisp and well balanced. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 151860
Wine Picks For December
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)
New Wine Picks
ANCIANO OLD VINES GARNACHA - CALATAYUD, SPAIN
$21.99 reduced to 18.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
"Old Vines" has no real official definition but usually means wines over 30 years old. The vines here are 35 years old. Garnacha (known in France as Grenache) is lighter bodied like pinot noir but generally has a greater flavour intensity. This old vines version of the grape is even richer, packed with fruit, so much so that it fits comfortably in the ripe fruit red style. Amazing value here. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 167740
LUIGI BOSCA MALBEC - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
$25.99 reduced to 23.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Plenty of good things going on here with rich baked black plum and cherry and a touch of tar. On the taste plush black plum with soft tannins. It also contains some floral lilac notes, light berry fruit and really lingers on the finish. A real standout malbec. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 418038
TOMMASI POGGIO AL TUFO ROMPICOLLO TOSCANA - TUSCANY, ITALY
$26.99 reduced to 23.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This wine is what could be called an inexpensive “Super Tuscan.” “Super Tuscan” is a term that can be used for red wines from Tuscany that include non-traditional (indigenous) grapes. Super Tuscan wines began in the 70s as a reaction by some Tuscan winemakers to change-resistant Italian wine laws. The grapes typically added to a Super Tuscan style are merlot, cabernet sauvignon or syrah. It has proven to be a very successful category containing a number of great and expensive wines.
The Rompicollo is an interesting, opulent blend of the main Chianti grape sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon. The blending is crucial as the different varieties in a red blend can often fall into an undistinguished “muddled middle”. Here, the two varieties retain their own flavour profiles very well and sing harmony to create something delicious and different.
Medium bodied, it shows both savoury and ripe fruit notes, good balancing acidity, berry fruit, some cocoa and savoury herbs. The tannins are rounded and soft. A good Italian wine for those who don’t like the dryer tannins found in many Italian reds. Well priced this month. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 780585
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
FREI BROTHERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE ALEXANDER VLY. - USA
$29.99 reduced to 26.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
If you typically drink $20 -$30 cabernet sauvignon from California and find that despite individual differences, they seem to be from the same playbook, here is a cabernet that is both very good and a little different. Wine Spectator magazine (one of the biggies) rated it as one of their top ten wine values.
Good intensity with classic blackcurrant and Tennessee cedar, blackberry, vanilla, briarwood, chocolate and cherry notes. Classy with juicy acidity, soft tannins and focused flavours. Well balanced, a lovely glass of cabernet. Now a little more affordable. Tasted ✓ 90+ Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 367037
KWV CATHEDRAL CELLAR - CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SOUTH AFRICA $19.99 reduced to 17.49 until December 31 - 750 ml.
South African wines available in B.C. are generally great value but tend to clustered at very low prices and entry level quality. This is a little higher up the scale and at an excellent price point. Intense, distinct cabernet character, focused, with some real elegance. Cedar, black currant, plum. This one actually straddles the line between the ripe fruit red style and the savoury fruit red style. Amazing value. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 328567
LOS VASCOS CROMAS - CABERNET SAUVIGNON - CHILE
$27.99 reduced to $23.99 until December 31 - 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 heightened cabernet sauvignon character. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 182055
MALBADO MALBEC - LUJÁN DE CUYO, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
$23.99 reduced to $17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
On straight quality, this wine should be priced in the high twenties. I would attribute the favorable price to it being from an unfamiliar winery as well as a lesser known area. Instead it starts out in the mid-twenties and has a five dollar price drop making it a great bargain.
Wines from the Luján du Cuyo area are a little different than the majority of Argentinian malbecs and this wine demonstrates that difference. Luján de Cuyo is a sub-region of Mendoza in Argentina. In 1993 it became Argentina’s first official wine appellation and it’s wines were responsible for putting Argentinian malbecs on the world wine map. The vineyards are at especially high altitudes of 700m – 1100m producing large day and night-time temperature variations like the Okanagan Valley. Malbec from this area usually shows more black fruits like blueberry, blackberry and dark plums as it does in this wine.
In the glass the wine shows plums, prunes, wet wood, and plum jam both on the aroma and the flavour. A good extra intensity of silky focused fruit sets it apart and the finish is long and fades slowly. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 495601
VIGNETTI ZABU IL PASSO NERELLO MASCALESE - SICILY, ITALY
$24.99 reduced to $20.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Lighter bodied, less intense than syrah or cabernet but delivers plenty of rounded fruit flavours with soft tannins, and no bitterness, Think a richer version of Beaujolais. More fruit forward and closer to a North American style reds than most Italian wines. The grape is nerello mascalese (nair-rello mask-ah-lay-zay). Like a good Merlot? You will be very comfortable here - savoury fruit with spice and mineral notes. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 699835
MATCHBOOK RED GRAVEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON - DUNNIGAN HILLS USA
$21.99 reduced to $19.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This wine is from the Dunnigan Hills area that is North, East and one valley over from Napa. I think that its being from a lesser known area helps keep the price down here. The blend is 77% cabernet sauvignon, 13% petit verdot, 8% malbec and 2% petite syrah. Rounded with silky soft tannins and some savoury fruit too, so not a fruit bomb. Drinks a little like a syrah but with lighter berry notes, dusty fruit, and great clarity of flavours. Well balanced. The best value California cabernet wine I have seen in B.C.. #28 in the top 100 Best wine buys for Wine Enthusiast magazine - a reliable source. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 187438
TOM GORE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - USA
$21.99 reduced to 18.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
In the “around $20.00” CA cabernet sauvignon department, Tom stands out as having more true cabernet flavour than many others clustered around the mark. Try and see what you think. Well priced this month. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 541094
AMALAYA MALBEC - CALCHAQUI VALLEY, SALTA, ARGENTINA
$23.99 reduced to $21.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Malbec has become a fairly well known grape thanks to cheap and cheerful versions coming out of Argentina. There are over 50 malbecs available at B.C. government stores starting at $8.99 a bottle and you pretty much get what you pay for. Under $20 they range from the basic and blunt to “OK value”. Once you get over $20.00 the flavours can get more elaborate, interesting and delicious. This one is a stand out, with big, full, dark fruited malbec character showing black plum and cherry but it is also complex and somewhat silky. This wine scored 97 points and and won a platinum medal at the Decanter Awards (usually quite reliable) in 2020. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 168294
GRANT BURGE BAROSSA INK SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA
$19.99 reduced to 16.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Pure, focused syrah fruit with a touch of pepper on the nose. On the tasted beautiful syrah fruit. Fairly simple with minimal tannins like syrah crossed with a lighter gamay beaujolis. Enormously appealing, very soft, short but silky ending. Pretty and easy drinking Syrah. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 219168
WINDSTORM ZINFANDEL OLD VINE - LODI, CALIFORNIA USA
$18.99 reduced to 15.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
A mid-weight, balanced zinfandel with some very nice complexity. Currently the best value-for-pleasure zinfandel at this price point. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 220635
Savoury Fruit Reds Style (plenty of fruit - but think fruit tea, cranberry, tomato sauce)
New Wine Picks
CHATEAU DAVIAUD- BORDEAUX, FRANCE
$19.99 reduced to 17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
You want affordable Bordeaux? This is it.
Simple, rounded, balanced with “dusty” fruit and a touch of floral cherry wood on the nose and flavour, with approachable tannins. Not grand, but a good straight example of Bordeaux’s charms. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 401073
ORTAS LA DOMELIERE - RASTEAU, FRANCE
$25.99 reduced to 21.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Rasteau is a wine region in Southeastern France adjacent to the Rhone Valley that produces similar wines. A red blend of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre it shows typical fuller, peppery fruit flavours of the area such as dried cherry/plum. The rounded softer tannins here make it very easy to drink and like. Fair at the regular price, great value on sale. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 645655
EL PETIT BONHOMME TINTO - JUMILLA, SPAIN
$17.99 reduced to 15.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
On the pale side but full of rich dark flavours such as black cherry, brambly blackberry and a liquorice tang. These flavours are typical of the grape here called monastrell (In France called mourvèdre). It’s well balanced with tempered tannins, some silkiness, length and good acidity. Tasted ✓ 87 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 169383
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
BOUTINOT LES COTEAUX - CÔTES-DU-RHONE VILLAGES, FRANCE
$21.99 reduced to 20.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Another interesting and well priced wine from the Côtes du Rhone, an area that consistently provides great value in reds and whites alike. Your nose should find much going on here including cherry, bramble fruit, dry Mediterranean spices, tar/liquorice, black plum, wood ash and raspberries. On the flavour, it is biggish bodied with good length, balancing acidity, not too grippy tannins and black plum on the finish. Shows good Côtes du Rhone character. A little harder to find but worth it. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 48934
CORTE OTTONE RISERVA - BRINDISI, ITALY
$21.99 reduced to 18.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
The grape here is negroamaro, one of the many Italian grapes you have likely never heard of. This unfamiliarity is not very surprising since astonishingly, Italy currently makes commercially available wines from over 800 different grapes. The vast majority we have never heard of of course but I wouldn’t like to work for the Negroamaro Marketing Board if there is one. The name in reference to an ancient wine style for negroamaro means “dark, bitter”, so it might be a bit of a tough marketing sell.
Fortunately, the more modern styles of negroamaro are delicious and often great value. You will find a few other Italian wines on B.C. Liquor Store shelves labeled “negroamaro” and it is the main grape in Salice Salentino wines. This one from Brindisi is a cut above. The fruit is savoury but on the rich and ripe side, slightly smoky with sweet spices, chocolate, tobacco and cherry notes and all done with only 13% alcohol. Lovely and interesting. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 475988
MONASTERIO DE LAS VINAS CARINENA RESERVA - SPAIN
$14.99 reduced to $13.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Dry, savoury fruit, medium-bodied, nicely balanced, fairly smooth with plum, dried herbs leathery and smoky flavours on the palate. Incredible value year in and year out and often goes on sale. Note there are two other levels to the Monasterio wines available on the shelves - this “Reserva” wine, a junior level labeled “Crianza” and a senior level labeled “Gran Reserva” Don’t confuse and I feel that this one is overall the best value . Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 642785
CHAPOUTIER BELLERUCHE CÔTES-DU-RHONE, FRANCE
$22.99 reduced to $18.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
The main grapes here are grenache and syrah. Rich liquorice notes with preserved red plums and some white pepper on the aroma and the taste. The wine shows good Côtes-du-Rhone character. The intensity and body here are both medium. The finish is long and stays focused, riding on soft approachable tannins. This wine is fairly robust. So if you enjoy a bigger California cabernet, you might want to see what the same style tastes like using different grapes. Good value and very consistent. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 0476846
GUIGAL - COTES DU RHONE, FRANCE
$25.99 reduced to $23.49 until December 31 - 750 ml. 89
From one of the top Rhone producers, mainly syrah in the blend with savoury herbs and dried berry notes. Well balanced, consistent and interesting. Tasted ✓ Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 259721
CHAPOUTIER MEYSONNIERS - CROZES-HERMITAGE, FRANCE
$29.99 reduced to 25.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Crozes-Hermitage is a small shoulder area next to the great Hermitage area of the Northern Rhone. This organic wine is very elegant, containing 100% syrah grapes here with cherry and blackberry flavors and fine, supple tannins. A step up from typical Cotes du Rhone reds . Decant to open it up fully. This will give you a good idea of what Rhone Valley reds can be at the next level up. Amazing value. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 131078
A Step Out Savoury Red Wine
GIOVANNI ROSSO NEBBIOLO - LANGHE, ITALY
$29.99 reduced to $27.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Sometimes called “baby Barolo”, Langhe Nebbiolo is meant to be consumed shortly after release. Nebbiolo is the same grape used in it’s more serious and long lived cousin wines Barolo and Barbaresco. So, when it is good it gives you a great idea of why the senior wines are so well regarded.
This wine is actually light bodied and with the same depth of flavour as a pinot noir but the fruit flavour profile is much different. Here the the fruit is savoury/earthy/liquorice, a little spicy though it shares pinot noir’s supple elegance. The finish is long and the ending has drifting notes of tobacco, rose petal and cured meats. A lovely wine, ready to drink at a fraction of the cost of Barolo or Barbaresco. Well worth a try. The winery emphasizes organic and biodynamic wine growing and winemaking practices. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 779702
HALOS DE JUPITER COTES DU RHONE, FRANCE
$26.99 reduced to $23.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Big and lush for a Cotes Du Rhone and straddles the line between ripe and savoury with cherries, touch of pepper, savoury herbs, soft tannins. A lot of wine for the money. A blend of 80% grenache and 20% syrah. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 254995
BILA HAUT - CHAPOUTIER CÔTES du ROUSSILLON VILLAGES, FRANCE
$19.99 reduced to $16.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This is a red blend from some of the better villages in the warm South of France. Plenty of appealing smoky fruit flavours of darker berry fruit, licorice and dried savoury herbs. A double decant (see Newsletter #1) would soften it nicely. Those bumps on the label are braille for the blind. Great value. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 40790
STAG'S HOLLOW - HERITAGE BLOCK OKANAGAN VALLEY, CANADA
$29.99 reduced to $27.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
A very consistent Bordeaux blend from a winery in Okanagan Falls that typically is better value than French Bordeaux at this price point. Although this wine has both ripe fruit and savoury fruit flavours it is a little more on the savoury side. A very tasty blend. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 115972
Lighter Fruity Reds Style (light to medium bodied, savoury or ripe fruit)
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
CAMBRIA JULIA'S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR - SANTA MARIA CA, USA
$41.99 reduced to 39.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This is outside the normal price range focused on in this newsletter I know but I include it because right now it is a slightly less expensive opportunity to find out what delicate, complex and delicious pinot noir is all about. This is from the Santa Maria Valley (my favourite California pinot noir AVA) in Southern California. Pinot Noir does not reach its heights in hot growing areas so why does pinot noir this good come from vineyards about 100 km. North of Los Angeles? The answer is wind and fog. Virtually all the best pinot noir in California and there are many, come from growing areas near the coast in areas with cooling winds or fog.
Very silky in texture, both the aromas and flavours show a balanced mixture of red berry fruit including raspberry, pomegranate molasses and very ripe strawberries as well as baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. A superb wine. Great value for flavour here. Tasted ✓ 91 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 232215
HAHN PINOT NOIR - MONTEREY, U.S.A.
$24.99 reduced to $21.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
California pinot noir from warm areas can be very big, rich, jammy and spicy, really heading towards syrah. But if the vineyards are near foggy parts of the coast or more wind swept areas, the wines can be much more expressive and elegant. This wine comes from the Arroyo Seco region in Monterey County just South of San Francisco. It shows good, typical pinot noir character and flavours such as cherry and strawberry It's well balanced, easy drinking and has soft tannins. Introductory but still classic pinot noir. I don’t know of a better pinot noir at this price on B.C. liquor store shelves. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 831099
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak,easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
New Wine Picks
MONTE DEL FRA CA DEL MAGRO - CUSTOZA, ITALY
$24.99 - 750 ml.
Custoza is a cool climate wine region near Lake Garda in Northern Italy near Switzerland. The wines tend to be light and fresh with good acidity and intensity and this is a great example from the area. In the glass, almond, canteloupe and reggiano rind aromas. Same on the taste with bright lemon intensity and a silky texture, notes of lime and grapefruit peel. Delightful. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 216077
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
T & V CAREME TERRE BRULEE CHENIN BLANC - SOUTH AFRICA
$21.99 reduced to 19.99 until December 31 - 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. 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
MEFFRE COTES DU RHONE BLANC SAINT VINCENT - RHONE VALLEY FRANCE
$18.99 reduced to 16.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Lemon and light apricot notes, peach skin, lemon zest, juicy acidity, crisp balanced finish. A straight forward, clean, zesty affordable white to match with fish or chicken. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 888958
L'OLIVETTE VIOGNIER MARSANNE - ORGANIC PAYS D'OC, FRANCE
$18.99 reduced to 16.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
A very enjoyable white from the South of France. This wine is organic and the grape varieties here are viognier and marsanne. All on the light side, savoury lemon skin, touch of floral and green olive. Tasting it makes me imagine having it with grilled chicken or prawns. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 229045
FORT BERENS CHARDONNAY - LILLOOET B.C., CANADA
$21.99 reduced to 20.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Quality wine from Lillooet? Yes!
The warm days and cool nights in this area of British Columbia make for wines that ripen fully but retain a great balancing structure of acidity. The style here is leaner, and for me, more balanced and elegant than similar wines at this price point from California or Burgundy. The oak touch is light and you will pick up peach/pear/apple notes on the aroma and flavour. Refreshing and well balanced. Widely available. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 558171
Richer, Oak Influenced Whites Style (fuller, buttery, with citrus, vanilla, tropical fruit, more…)
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
CHATEAU STE MICHELLE CHARDONNAY - COLUMBIA VALLEY, WA, USA
$23.99 reduced to 20.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Lighter and leaner than many U.S. chardonnays because it was fermented in both oak and stainless steel. It has good intensity and the emphasis here is more on flowers and fruits like apple, pear and lemon rather than oak. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 232439
BOSCHENDAL CHARDONNAY - WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
$21.99 reduced to 19.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Compact, lean, elegant chardonnay with a touch of tropical fruit, some clean lemon citrus and subtle oak and some nice complexity. Very hard to dislike. Good price for chardonnay this well made. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 594804
CHATEAU ST JEAN CHARDONNAY - CALIFORNIA, USA
$20.99 Reduced to $17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Once more, a lovely wine at the regular price, now on sale this month. A well balanced little chardonnay package here of baked apple, honey, toasty vanilla oak and orange peel . Easy drinking and interesting from a very consistent producer. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 421644
CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY - SANTA MARIA, CA, USA
$31.99 Reduced to $29.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
From the same winery and cool climate area as the Julia’s Vineyard pinot noir above. Again, superb balance and nuanced flavours reign here. On the nose and flavours it contains citrus notes along with vanilla, tangerine and honeyed florals, all enlivened by a fresh, balancing acidity. I can’t think of a better quality chardonnay available in B.C. right now at this price point. Tasted ✓ 91 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 232231
MER SOLEIL CHARDONNAY RESERVE - SANTA LUCIA HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, USA
$32.99 Reduced to $29.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This chardonnay is from an area called the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey county, Southern California. The fog and wind in this ventilated valley counters and complements the heat and sunshine to produce a lean, intense chardonnay with great balanced acidity and a lot of complexity. If you think all California chards are big, fat and oaky, this will demonstrate that there is actually a wide range of styles. Great value at this price point, and a definite cut above. Tasted ✓ 91 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 453142
KENDALL JACKSON VINTNERS RESERVE CHARDONNAY CALIFORNIA, USA $23.99 Reduced to $21.49 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Very consistent, balanced mid-weight wine that ticks the boxes of California chardonnay - baked apple, lemon, citrus zest from the grape's own flavours and touches of vanilla, tropical fruits, coconuts and baking spices from its time in American oak. If you like this chardonnay style, always a sure thing. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 296566
CHARDONNAY - TOASTED HEAD - USA
$19.99 reduced to $17.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
If you ever wanted to know how oaky and buttery chardonnay can get, this is pretty much it. One whiff took me back nostalgically to California chardonnays of the 70s when this style was predominant. 'Toasted Head' refers to this winery's practice of toasting the barrel ends (as well as the rest of the inside of the barrel) with fire before barrel-fermentation. The result is a wine with aromas and flavours of toasted coconut, vanilla, smoke, bourbon and tropical fruit. Sounds like a jumble but it hangs together and is still a dry, balanced and very drinkable wine just...anything but subtle and kind of fun. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 594341
RODNEY STRONG CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY - SONOMA COUNTY, USA
$29.99 Reduced to $26.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Great value in chardonnay here. Well balanced, led by a fine oak touch that features creamy lemon and vanilla notes along with applepear, nectarine and some almond echoes, also from the oak treatment. A real cut above and well priced. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 275552
Crisp, Dry Whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet & Similar)
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
TOHU SAUVIGNON BLANC SINGLE VINEYARD - MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND
$24.99 reduced to 22.49 until December 31 - 750 ml.
This wine was featured in a previous newsletter and was great value at the regular price but is now on additional discount. The $17.00 - $25.00 price range for New Zealand sauvignon blanc wines is a crowded one in B.C. . Most are fairly simple and all have that lovely sauvignon cutting edge. Only a few have something extra in terms of complexity, layered flavours and an extra long finish but this is one of them. Lovely stuff that should cost up in the high twenties. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 380998
LEFT FIELD SAUVIGNON BLANC - NELSON, NEW ZEALAND
$19.99 reduced to 15.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Blended from vineyards across New Zealand, but the usual sauvignon blanc gooseberry notes are milder here, along with a touch of melon rind and some light tropical fruit notes. Overall a gentler version of NZ sauvignon that is all persuasion. Amazing price right now. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 168498
LURTON LES FUMÉES BLANCHES SAUVIGNON BLANC, FRANCE
$16.49 reduced to $14.49 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Great value French sauvignon blanc here. Very aromatic, with slightly herbal citrus aromas. Then, crisp, fresh acidity with notes of grapefruit zest, kiwi, lemon but still restrained and in balance. It finishes very clean and lingers for a while.
Nose is on the lighter side of medium with gooseberry and distinct lemon, grapefruit, citrus peel. Palate, as on nose, great balance not too grassy at all with hay and wet wool, bright lemon acidity with some polish. Super clean flavours. Grapefruit citrus persists beautifully in the finish.
A word about two names for the same grape. The grape here is sauvignon blanc. Fumées Blanches is the French version of fumé blanc which is a marketing term that was actually invented by Robert Mondavi to distinguish his drier wines from the fruitier versions such as those from New Zealand. You may still see some California and other sauvignon blancs labeled this way but this distinction in styles and names is now fairly blurred. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 472555
Aromatic Whites (usually dry but smell sweeter than they taste - honey, peaches, fragrant floral notes, more…)
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
SANDHILL - SOVEREIGN OPAL, OKANAGAN VALLEY, B.C. , CANADA
$17.99 reduced to 16.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
Talk about rare and special. Sovereign Opal is a hybrid grape, A cross between a white grape called Golden Muscat and a red grape called Maréchal Foch. There is only one grower in the entire world: the Casorso family vineyard in Kelowna. The range of aromas and flavours in this grape is remarkable and include: grapefruit, lime, rose petals, orange blossom, lychee nuts and more. It is slightly off-dry and with a lower alcohol of 11% or so, makes a great easy drinking wine that would pair well with sushi or other Asian dishes. Explore B.C. wine! Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 23841
Sparkling Style (flavour range-citrus, toasty, peach, pear, tropical, more…)
Previous Wine Picks Now On Sale
STELLER’S JAY - BRUT OKANAGAN VALLEY, CANADA
$24.99 reduced to 22.99 until December 31 - 750 ml.
A very dependable great value sparkling wine made with chardonnay, pinot blanc, and pinot noir grapes. Made using the same traditional French “Methode Classique” used in Champagne, it is typically not released until three years after the vintage. Crisp and complex with a creamy, floral finish. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 264879
Thanks for reading. Until next time.