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- Antinori Solaia 2006, this is a classic Super Tuscan, not only in varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangionvese and Cabernet Franc, but also in price $244.95. This wine was rated 97 by James Suckling from Wine Spectator and should be best drunk after 2014. LCBO #987586
- Concha Y Toro Trio Reserva Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio/Pinot Blanc 2008, Chile: This wine was rated 90 and is an excellent example of a good wine at an inexpensive price, $12.95. LCBO #433938
- Concha Y Toro Trio Reserva Merlot/Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Chile: This red Trio also received a rating of 90 and is also a great price $14.95 LCBO #433920
- Wynns Coonawarra Estate Vintage Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Australia: This Ausie Cab is rated high at 95 points and should be good to drink for the next 4 years. $24.95 LCBO #084996
- Small Gully Wines The Formula Robert’s Shiraz 2005, Australia: This 90 point shiraz should pair well with steak and can be enjoyed until 2015. $16.95 LCBO #142935
- Delas Freres Saint-Esprit Cotes Du Rhone 2007, France: This Syrah and Grenache blend received a rating of 90 points and is a very economical $14.95 LCBO #729962
- Reinhold Haart Riesling Kabinett 2007, Germany: This riesling is medium in sweetness and scored 91 points. It will pair wonderfully with sushi and spicy foods. $19.95 LCBO #727461
- Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2005, Italy: This rich barolo comes highly recommended at 96 points and is also very affordable at $49.95. This is also an excellent wine if you are wanting to start a wine cellar and will show best after 2013. LCBO #713479
- Chocalan Gran Reserva Malbec 2006, Chile: This malbec rated 91 points and while it is great to drink now, should do nicely with a little cellaring for the next 10 years or so. $24.95 LCBO #144394
- Alta Vista Atemporal Assemblage 2007, Argentina: This wine received a rating of 90 points and is a delicious blend of malbec, cab sauv, syrah and petit verdot. $19.95 LCBO #144352
- Piemonte Cantina San Pancrazio Brachetto 2008, Italy: At $16.95 this medium sweet red sparkler is perfect for Valentine’s Day to be paired with any dessert, but most especially strawberries. LCBO #159566
- Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Sparkling, Spain: This full bodied sparkler has a sugar code of 1 and should go great with anything you have planned for Valentine’s Day or any other day. $14.95 LCBO #158493
- Chateau Des Charmes Brut Methode Traditionelle, VQA Ontario Canada: This general list sparkling Ontario wine is a little more pricey than the other sparkling wines at $22.95, but considering it is made using the traditional champagne method it is an increadible value to make any event special. LCBO #145409
- Sherry, Alvear’s Amontillado, Spain: This off-dry sherry pair wonderfully with fruit desserts and nuts. $10.95 LCBO #112789
- Taylor Fladgate 10-Year-Old Tawny Port/20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal: I have listed both the 10 and 20 year old ports here with the major difference between them being that the 20 year old port has deeper and richer flavours. This is a time when you can let either your wallet or your pallet do the talking. Either way, both of these ports will pair perfectly with nuts and rich, dark, chocolate. $35.95 LCBO #121749, $67.95 LCBO #149047
Posts Tagged ‘valentines day’
Wine Ratings 101
Wine ratings can be very confusing given there are so many different ways that reviewers rate wines. There is what is considered the “classic” 100 point system, the 25 point system, 5 stars and so on. What it all breaks down to is one question: Does the wine show all of its attributes perfectly and thus receive a perfect score?
Since most wine is not perfect, we then must decide how close to perfection it is. The higher the score, the closer to perfection the wine is and the lower the score the worse the wine is. We all get these basic ideas, but, where the trouble comes is in just how these rating scales are used. The classic 100 point scale is really more of a 25 point scale in that anything rated below 75 is considered undrinkable. This is where many sommeliers clash as some think this rating system is excellent and others think it just doesn’t work.
I believe that the rating system doesn’t really matter so much as an accurate description of the wine. It’s all fine and dandy to say that a wine is rated above 90, but, if it doesn’t fit the description of what I like, then it could be rated 100, and I still wouldn’t like it. That having been said, the ratings can lead me in a different direction and inspire me to try something new. The idea is that a wine rated 90+ is close to perfection and we always want to achieve perfection, or at the very least, taste it.
This brings me to essence of this article, the LCBO’s Vintages release for this Saturday, the 6th of February, is featuring affordable 90+ wines. It’s an exciting opportunity to taste wine that is close to perfection, without spending an arm and a leg to do it. There are at least 33 wines being made available that range in rating from 90 to 97 and priced from as low as $12.95 and as high as
$244.95. The average price is in the $20 to $50 range. I’m going to list my top 10 picks that I would go out of my way to purchase. Remember that these are MY picks and not neccessarily yours, but as you try these wines and compare your notes to mine, you’ll get a better idea of how close your opinions are to mine. I will also give some suggestions for Valentine’s Day. I have picked out some very delicious and romantic wines.
So, here are the wines that I plan to go out and buy, and a few that I wish I could buy!
Here are a few suggestions for sparkling and dessert wines to share with the one you love on Valentine’s day. Keep in mind that while true French Champagnes are good, they are also expensive and very dry.
I also want to include my favourite wine and food pairing rule here, anything you would eat with beer, you can eat with champagne/sparkling wine! While I would not pair potato chips or hotdogs with a $200 Dom Perignon, both would taste great with an inexspensive Italian Proseco or Spanish Cava.
Photo by Bob.Fornal on Flickr
