Here are my top picks from the December 8 Vintages Release. You can also get all 94 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions.
You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews.
Alamos Viognier 2011, Mendoza, Argentina
Lovely and aromatic with rose petal, lily and baking spices. Medium-bodied and delicious. Perfect for Asian and curries. Pair with: Thai red-curry chicken, grilled shrimp. Drink: 2012-2015. 507830 13.5% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 89/100. Best Value White Wine
Bachelder Oregon Chardonnay 2010, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Gorgeous depth and concentration yet great finesse. Lovely length on the finish. The work of a master. Pair with: crab cakes, pork chops, chicken thighs in a light cream sauce. Drink: 2012-2016. 273334 13% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 92/100. Top Rated White Wine
Terra Noble Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Love the nose! Aromatic, lifted black plum and wild violets blowing in a spring rain. Don’t ask, just drink. Full-bodied and meaty with layers of flavour. Terrific price. Drink: 2012-2016. 46268 14% XD 750 mL $16.95 Score: 90/100. Best Value Red Wine
Jackson-Triggs Delaine Syrah 2010, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Stunning and intriguing nose of dark spices and pepper with exotic black fruit. Rich, full-bodied and quite unlike anything I’ve tried from Canada. Some ghostly reminisces of Rhone in there but purely Ontario at the same time. Drink: 2012-2018. 86553 12.5% D 750 mL $32.95 Score: 93/100. Top Rated Red Wine
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia
Luscious and rich with cassis, fleshy blackberry and blackcurrant. Absolutely classic with a long finish. Tremendous quality for the price. Pair with: meaty chili, game meats featuring a side of scalloped potatoes with asiago and sage. Drink: 2012-2016. 84996 14% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 94/100. Top Rated Red Wine
Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose 2011, VQA, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario
Field-fresh strawberries and barefoot happiness. Dry, refreshing and medium-bodied. This organic wine has just 21 mg/l of free sulphur. Drink: 2012-2014. 279117 12% 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. Top Rated Rosé.
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Gold Label Brut, VQA, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
A zesty, refreshing bubbly with vibrant green apple notes. Clean finish. Great price. Drink: 2012-2015. 206326 12.5% 750 mL $28.45 Score: 92/100. Top Rated Sparkling Wine
Masottina Brut Treviso Prosecco, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy
Terrific price for this toasty refreshing bubbly. Serve at large parties: they’ll love it and you won’t blow the budget. Drink: 2012-2014. 297838 11% XD 750 mL $16.95 Score: 88/100. Best Value Sparkling Wine
Ruhlmann Signature Jean-Charles Brut Crémant D’alsace, A.C., Alsace, France
Toasty and refreshing at an awesome price. Loaded with green apple and fresh baked bread goodness. Great for parties. Pair with: oysters, steamed clams, grilled portobello mushrooms, ratatouille. Drink: 2012-2015. 297853 12% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. Best Value Sparkling Wine
Bonnaire Brut Grand Cru Récoltant-Manipulant Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2004, A.C., Champagne, France
Classic champagne, very aromatic, fantastic, mind-blowing price! Toasty, robust, refreshing… Toast the great life! Drink: 2012-2016. 721035 12% XD 750 mL $62.95 Score: 92/100. Top Rated Sparkling Wine
Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, D.O.C., Douro, Portugal
Toffee richness with a great zing on the finish. Rich dessert wine. Pair with: nuts, aged and smoked cheeses. Drink: 2012-2018. 223958 20% S 750 mL $24.95 Score: 89/100. Best Value Dessert Wine
De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2008, New South Wales, Australia
This dessert wine rules! Want visions of sugarplums in your head this holiday… Bring it, with this wine! A lusciously layered dessert wine with rick aromas and flavours of honeyed apricot and peach preserves. Triple yum! Drink: 2010-2017. 917252 13% S 375 mL $29.95 Score: 95/100.Top Rated Dessert Wine.
Posted with permission of the LCBO.
