4 MUST-TRY WINES TO TRY THIS MONTH!
I’m keeping it short and sweet this week. There are quite a few amazing wines available in Ontario this month, as the LCBO (our provincial retailer) gears up for the holiday season and consumer needs for wine and other liquor during this time.
So, I could put a huge list of recommendations together but I believe in the power of brevity, especially when it comes to wine recommendations! Maybe a second list will be forthcoming this month, but for now, here are four wines I would recommend checking out and why.
In a nutshell, these are good! :) More broadly, they also represent good value for money, even though they are across a range of price points. I hope you find something to enjoy or share with someone else below.
Cheers!
NOTE - If you’re located in Ontario and shopping at the LCBO, I’ve provided links to help you out below. Just remember that product availability will vary from location to location, and not all products last very long. Click the links below to check availability at your preferred store, or online. These wines recommendations are based on the October 16, 2021 LCBO Vintages release.
All images of wine bottles below are taken from the LCBO website.
4 DELICIOUS WINES TO ADD TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST RIGHT NOW!
2020 La Posta Estela Armando Bonarda $15.95 Product #261586
The La Posta brand is backed by the Argentinian wine powerhouse, Catena. This is in fact one of Laura Catena’s babies (and if you know wine, you’ll for sure know Laura Catena as she is a bona fide star in the industry!).
I also happen to love Bonarda. It’s Argentina’s hidden gem in my view. These are beautiful wines, available at a very reasonable price. And here, you get the best of both worlds with a bonarda that is backed by a producer that is known for high quality.
Expect this wine to be dark, deep, full bodied and smooth. A very nice pairing for ribs, beef burgers and lamb biryani!
92 points - James Suckling
2020 Loveblock Gewurztraminer $29.95 Product #19764
This wine is made by the original founders of the world famous Kim Crawford brand out of New Zealand. Loveblock is their passion project, where they’ve gotten away from the big name brand that they built and are now focusing their energy and resources on honest, terroir driven, sustainably made wines.
Gewurztraminer may be a grape that you are already familiar with, especially if you like spicy food since it is often recommended as a pairing for spicy dishes. However, a Gewurztraminer from the South Island of New Zealand is certainly not typical, which makes this wine even more interesting.
Expect this wine to be very aromatic and slightly sweet, with solid acidity and beautiful aromas and flavours of roses, lychees, tropical fruits and faint chai latte spices. The perfect pairing for….you guessed it….spicy asian or caribbean cuisine! ;-)
P.S. - this wine is vegan too. Another bonus if you or someone you know is interested in vegan wines! And it’s enclosed with a screw cap - heaven!!
2018 Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo $36.95 Product #15087
Made from the Nebbiolo grape, in the Langhe region of Piedmont, which is in the northern part of Italy, this is a gorgeous wine that is very well priced considering what Nebbiolo in the form of Barbaresco and Barolo can cost, especially when made by a quality producer.
Though this is not the most affordable option when it comes to wines from the Langhe region by far, it is one of the tastier ones I’ve had in a while. There is a richness in this wine that goes beyond typical Langhe.
You can also buy and hold this wine for a while. I think it could easily drink well for another 3-4 years. So - the perfect cellar stocker purchase, if you ask me!
Pair this wine with lighter fare such as pizza or pasta, roast chicken with root vegetables, steak tacos or a hearty cumin-spiced chickpea stew.
94 points - decanter.com
92 points - decanter.com
2018 Volver Single Vineyard $23.95 Product #142752
I has this wine whilst on vacation earlier this year, and fell in love with it. Made from Tempranillo, this is a very flavourful, dense, layered and sophisticated wine at a very good price point. Enjoy this wine with grilled meat and you won’t be disappointed. You can also hold this one for several years - it’ll only get better with some age.
92 points - vinous.com
And there you have it - my top picks this time around! I hope you find something to enjoy!
Wishing you good health and treasured memories…..Cheers!
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