Hello and welcome back.
There are many wines on sale in September including six 90-92 point wines. This month’s sale goes until September 30. There are 41 great value wines in all, including 7 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 5 value-for-pleasure wine picks for September. These top 5 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 September, the wines chosen are in these styles:
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds (11 wines, 3 new, 1 Rarer) | Savoury Fruit Reds (8 wines, 2 Rarer | Lighter Fruit Reds (3 wines, 2 new, 1 Rarer) | Medium Bodied Smooth Whites (11 wines,) | Bigger, Oak Influenced Whites (1 wines) | Crisp Dry Whites (3 wines) | Aromatic Whites (2 wines, 1 new) | Rosé (2 wines)
For detailed descriptions of the wine styles see An Illustrated Guide To Wine Styles
TOP 5 VALUE-FOR-PLEASURE WINE PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER
Ripe Fruit Forward Reds Style (think ripe cherries)
#5 SANTA ANA LA MASCOTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $18.99 reduced to 14.49 until September 30 - 750 ml.
Opens with some intensity showing black mission figs, charcoal and blue fruits. The texture is silky and the figs and charcoal follow through on the flavour. Bigger bodied and really delivers on intensity of fruit along with a good supporting acidity. All mid-palate and a little short on the finish but good, almost syrupy, black and dark blue fruits of plums and blueberries. Improves with some air so that after half an hour, developed a longer finish. Definitely one to decant to bring the flavours out fully. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 641688
#4 ROSEMOUNT ESTATE SHIRAZ 2021 - AUSTRALIA $14.99 reduced to 11.99 until September 30 - 1 L
Straight forward medium bodied shiraz with soft tannins, slightly low acidity and good shiraz fruit character. Not a wine to ponder, just an easy drinking one to enjoy. Amazing value here. Tasted ✓ 87 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU 201234
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak, easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
#3. SPIER SIGNATURE CHENIN BLANC 2022 - SOUTH AFRICA $14.99 reduced to 11.99 until September 30 - 750 ml. 13.5%
Rounded, sappy scents of quince (a pearlike fruit whose skin has a truly enchanting aroma) pear and a touch of honey. On the flavour, again quince and pear with light ginger, nectarine, honey and more that keeps dancing long into the finish.
Very consistent year to year, this wine is one of the very best white wine values in B.C. Liquor Stores as it would be fair value at twice the sale price here. If you don’t like oak in your white wine, forget unwooded chardonnay and go for this. Food matching for this wine would include lighter Asian fare, chicken with stone fruit, apricot, pear, nectarine as well as lighter yellow fruit desserts. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 659037I
Savoury Fruit Reds Style (plenty of fruit - but think fruit tea, cranberry, tomato sauce or fruit leather)
#2 FONTANAFREDDA BARBERA BRICCOTONDO - ITALY $19.99 reduced to 15.99 until September 30 - 750 ml.
Drinks surprisingly like a decent merlot, very plummy, pretty silky and rounded with very soft tannins and just a light note of liquorice on the end. Although it is in the Savoury Fruit style here, it is oh-so-close to the Ripe Fruit Forward style. I could well mistake this for a merlot if I was tasting it blind. I can’t think of a better way to ease into appreciating Italian red wine. A lovely wine for the price. Tasted ✓ 88 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 898718
Medium Bodied, Smooth Whites Style (little/no oak, easy drinking, fresh or savoury fruit, various grapes)
# 1 RAPITALA ORGANIC GRILLO 2021 SICILIA, ITALY $17.99 reduced to $11.99 until September 30 - 750 ml.
Light-bodied, fresh and tangy with green olive and citrus zest notes. The wine is well balanced, unpretentious and enjoyable. Note the large price drop. Worth stocking up. Tasted ✓ 87 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 68516I
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