The best wines in January are priced under $20, the the smart buy value wines that help us tighten our belts and wallets. The LCBO often features bargain-priced wines at this time of the year, right after the holidays when we’ve blown our budget with champagne and expensive gift wines.
What is value when it comes to wine? That’s subjective, but many of these bottles hit above their price-point in quality. Even types of wines that are usually more expensive like pinot noir, chianti and port are represented well in this release.
Here’s a sampling of my best wine reviews for the January 4 Vintages Release. VIP Members can access all 46 wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores.
They can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one click and access that list on their smartphone. This is one of the benefits of becoming a VIP Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so.
From the Vintages Catalogue:
Coppi Peucetico Primitivo 2007
D.O.C., Gioia Del Colle, Puglia, Italy
Deep plushly ripe purple and black plum aromas on the nose with some blueberry jam on the palate. It’s full-bodied and dry with layers of voluptuous dark fruit. Perfect for meat lovers’ pizza and … Coppi Peucetico Primitivo Review and Rating
Sue-Ann Staff Loved By Lu Riesling 2012 V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Love it! Crisp and mouth-watering with melon notes that soften the acidity with some balancing sweetness. Perfect for seafood and mild curries. Great wine… Sue-Ann Staff Loved By Lu Riesling 2012 Review and Rating
Eradus Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, New Zealand Fantastic sauvignon blanc! Fresh and crisp, not too herbals with terrific lime and citrus brightness. Year after year, I love… Eradus Sauvignon Blanc Review and Rating
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2012 Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States This full-bodied white wine is so classically made at such a terrific price! Die-hard Chardonnay lovers will embrace this wine, but so too will other white wine drinkers because it’s not heavy in oak or alcohol. Lovely green apple and melon aromas… Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay Review and Rating
Malivoire Wine Company Guilty Men Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011
V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
A very supple and food-friendly red wine that’s based on a cabernet merlot blend. It offers lovely aromas and flavours of fleshy black plum notes, with no heavy oak. Try it tonight with… Malivoire Wine Company Guilty Men Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Review and Rating
Clifford Bay Pinot Noir 2011
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand has certified this wine as sustainable. This medium- to full-bodied red wine is loaded with tart cherry-berry flavours and aromas. Mouth-watering acidity and… Clifford Bay Pinot Noir Review and Rating
Campo Casalin I Castei Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2008
Veneto, Italy
Voluptuous rich red with aromas of cherry liqueur and blackcurrant preserves. This is a towering red that will go the distance in your cellar as well as muscle in beside the heartiest of meat dishes on your table. Superb… Campo Casalin I Castei Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico Review and Rating
Wakefield Wines Shiraz 2010
Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
Blackberry liqueur richness with a hint of mint. Full-bodied and ultra-smooth with excellent replays of dark fruit flavours across the palate. This is an incredible… Wakefield Wines Shiraz Review and Rating
Calem Special Reserve Tawny Port
Douro, Portugal
A gloriously rich port that makes a lovely after-dinner drink. Aromas of blackberry preserves and cassis. Great price for… Calem Special Reserve Tawny Port Review and Rating
Get my complete shopping list of the best wine ratings and reviews.
Posted with permission of the LCBO.
