Top Values at the LCBO (April 2016)

Your Guide to the Best Values, Limited Time Offers & Bonus Air Miles selections
by Steve Thurlow

Steve Thurlow

Spring has arrived in Ontario, believe it or not, despite the recent visit by a polar vortex. And there are many new vintages of wines appearing on the shelves at the LCBO. Some are better than last time and sadly some not quite as good. There are also some brand new listings that are fine buys. As a consequence wines have been joining the Top 50 Best Values list and others have fallen off over the last four weeks.

Those of you who follow me know I really enjoy discovering inexpensive gems. So for you bargain lovers – I have some great news. There are ten new wines on my list this month plus I also found other wines, that were already on the list, that are discounted or have Bonus Air Miles that apply, making these wines even more attractive and your spring drinking even more affordable. The discount period runs until April 23rd. So don’t hesitate. Thanks to WineAlign’s inventory tracking, I can assure you that there were stocks available, when we published, of every wine that I highlight.

Steve’s Top Values are best buys among the 1600 or so wines in LCBO Wines and the VINTAGES Essentials collection which I select from wines on Steve’s Top 50, a standing WineAlign list based on quality/price ratio. You can read below in detail how the Top 50 works, but it does fluctuate as new wines arrive and as discounts show up through Limited Time Offers (LTOs).

Editors Note: You can find our complete critic reviews by clicking on any of the wine names, bottle images or links highlighted. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critic reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 60 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great value wines!

Reds

Astica 2015 Merlot Malbec, Argentina ($7.95) New to Top 50 – A juicy well structured red with appealing aromas. Not much complexity but for the money it’s a good everyday red for pizza and pasta.

Trapiche 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina ($9.95) New to Top 50 – Pretty amazing cabernet from Argentina at this price. It is midweight very juicy with very good length and nice structural tannin for balance. Try with bbq meats.

Casillero del Diablo 2014 Devil’s Collection Red, Rapel Valley, Chile ($11.90 was $14.90) New to Top 50 – This delicious red blend is full bodied and vibrant with soft mature tannin. It is quite new to the LCBO and at $3 off it’s a great buy at present.

Trapiche 2014 Malbec Reserve, Mendoza Argentina ($11.95) New to Top 50 – This inexpensive red would not be out of place in fine dining. Medium bodied and dry with soft mature tannin and well integrated acidity plus a gentle velvety smooth palate. Try with roast beef.

Les Jamelles 2014 Merlot, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($11.95 was $13.95) New to Top 50 – A juicy pure merlot brimming with red berry fruit. Enjoy on its own lightly chilled or with mildly spicy gourmet sausages.

Vila Regia 2013 Reserva, Douro Valley, Portugal ($11.95 +6 BAMs) – Excellent value for a fragrant elegant red that is an opaque purple with a soft nose of berry fruit and a midweight palate. Very good length. Try with roast beef or creamy soft cheese.

Montecillo 2010 Crianza, Rioja, Spain ($12.95 was $14.95) New to Top 50 – With its gorgeous classy packaging this is consistently a great, easy-to-drink, food-balanced red that is traditionally styled. Very good length. Try with a lamb or pork casserole.

Goats do Roam 2014 Red, Western Cape, South Africa ($12.95 + 5BAMs) – The 2014 vintage continues a long line of consistently great value reds that are close stylistically to a French Cotes du Rhone. Try with burgers.

Château de Vaugelas 2013 Le Prieuré Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($13.95 + 5BAMS) – The 2013 is a big improvement for this syrah grenache blend. Well balanced nicely structured with very good length. Quite classy for such an inexpensive wine. Try with a steak.

The Wolftrap 2014 Syrah Mourvedre Viognier, Western Cape, South Africa ($13.95 + 5BAMs) – Deeply coloured, fairly elegant red, with a fine balance and very good length. Try with grilled red meat.

Whites

Cono Sur 2015 Organic Chardonnay, San Antonio Valley, Chile ($11.05 was $14.05) New to Top 50 – At $3 off this is a great buy for a rich, fresh chardonnay that will be great with roast chicken or pork.

Domaine Jean Bousquet 2015 White Blend, Argentina ($11.90) New to Top 50 – This new LCBO listing jumps straight onto my Top50. It’s an aromatic white that’s midweight and deeply flavoured with the fruit well balanced by soft acidity. Try with roast veal or pork.

Santa Rita 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($11.95 was $13.95) – A juicy nicely structured sauvignon with just enough sweetness to balance the acidity and not too much greenness. Try with sautéed seafood.

Goats do Roam 2015 White, Coastal Region, South Africa ($11.95 + 5 BAMS) New to Top 50 – The Goats white is a blend of three whites grapes, all of which originate in the Rhone Valley in France. It is an aromatic white with a good depth of flavour; quite classy considering its price. Enjoy as an aperitif with pastry nibbles.

Villa Wolf 2013 Riesling, Pfalz, Germany ($12.95) New to Top 50 – The price of this versatile food white has been reduced by $2. It’s racy and fragrant. Try with seafood pastry and white meats.

How does a wine get selected for the Top Value Report:

There are three ways that a wine gets into this monthly report of wines that are always in the stores either on the LCBO “General List” or the VINTAGES Essential Collection.

– On Sale (LTO’s or Limited Time Offers): Every four weeks the LCBO discounts around 200 wines I have looked through the current batch and have highlighted some of my favourites that offer better value at present…. so stock up now.

– Bonus Air Miles (BAM’s): If you collect Air Miles then you will be getting Bonus Air Miles on another 150 or so wines…a few of these have a special appeal for a while.

– Steve’s Top 50: Wines that have moved onto my Top 50 Best Values this month. This is on an-on going WineAlign selection that mathematically calculates value by comparing the price and rating of all the wines on the LCBO General List. You can access the report any time and read more about it now.

The Rest of Steve’s Top 50

In addition to the wines mentioned above, there are another 35 wines on the Top 50 list this month. So if you didn’t find all you need in this report, dip into the Top 50 LCBO and VINTAGES Essentials wines. There will surely be something inexpensive that suits your taste.

To be included in the Top 50 for value a wine must be inexpensive while also having a high score, indicating high quality. I use a mathematical model to make the Top 50 selections from the wines in our database. I review the list every month to include newly listed and recently tasted vintages of current listings as well as monitoring the value of those put on sale for a limited time.

Before value wine shopping remember to consult the Top 50 (Click on Wine => Top 50 Value Wines to be taken directly to the list), since it is always changing. If you find that there is a new wine on the shelf or a new vintage that we have not reviewed, let us know. Moreover if you disagree with our reviews, tell us please. And if you think our reviews are accurate, send us some feedback since it’s good to hear that you agree with us.

The Top 50 changes all the time, so remember to check before shopping. I will be back next month with more news on value arrivals to Essentials and the LCBO.

Cheers!

Steve Thurlow

Top 50 Value Wines
Wines on Limited Time Offer
Wines with Bonus Air Miles