Top Values at the LCBO (October 2021)

Delists at LCBO Create Values That Will Soon Disappear

by Steve Thurlow

At this time of the year, the LCBO often delists wines that have not been selling well enough, so as to make way for new listings in its stores. Every wine has a sales quota, which if not met, leads to its removal as a stock item and it’s put into clearance with its price significantly reduced. Sadly, among those going right now are 5 of my favourite whites.

As I prepared this report, by first updating the Top 50 List and then choosing 12 wines off the list to highlight, I found 9 wines discounted. Five due to delist, and another four being on LTO (Limited Time Offer). I added three more that I had tasted last week that had all jumped on to the Top50 list.

So, I assure you that you will drink great wine and will save money by reading on.

All 12 of these wines joined the Top50 Best Values List this month. So venture out to visit an LCBO store and pick up some of the twelve wines below that are on my current Top50 Best Value List.

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Though I have only chosen below 12 wines, 8 whites and 4 reds, I do encourage you to consult my entire Top50 Best Values List since there are some more wines new to the list this month not highlighted below.

Among the wines in today’s report about the Top50:

Eleven wines less than $14.
Nine are discounted; some by $3 or more.
Five delisted wines.
One Vintages Essential.
All wines below scored 87 or more.

The current promotional period runs until November 7th. Thanks to WineAlign’s inventory tracking, I can assure you that there were stocks available, when we published, of every wine that I highlight. However, the delists will soon be gone, so don’t hesitate if you have these in your sights!

Editors Note: You can find our complete critic reviews by clicking on any of the wine names, bottle images or links highlighted.

Reds

E R A Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo 2019, Abruzzo, Italy ($9.75)
New to Top50
This is a great value for a midweight, nicely structured, organic red from Abruzzo in the south of Italy. It is a ruby red with aromas of red cherry and cranberry fruit with some mineral and sweet herbal tones. It is very approachable on the palate with ripe fruit; well balanced by soft tannin and juicy acidity. A well balanced, fruity red with some elegance to enjoy on its own or with a wide variety of meat and cheese dishes. Very good length.

Casillero Del Diablo Devil’s Collection Red 2018, Rapel Valley, Chile ($13.95 was $15.95)
New to Top50
This is a structured red blend of cabernet, carmenere and syrah with aromas of red and black cherry fruit with smokey woodsy tones and mineral freshness. It is full bodied and vibrant with soft mature tannin giving a fine structure and the promise of more complexity. It is still quite youthful and will improve with another year, or two of bottle age. There is some elegance and it is well balanced for food.

Cesari Essere Valpolicella 2019, Veneto, Italy ($13.95)
New to Top50
This new arrival at the LCBO, a typical Valpolicella, is great value. The nose is classic with dried cherry and cranberry fruit with well integrated, delicate oak spice with some herbal and earthy tones. It is light to midweight and quite dry with lively acidity and firm tannin giving grip to the finish. An ideal wine for the table with Italian food like pizza, meaty pasta sauces and parmigiano cheese. Very good length.

Porta 6 Red 2019, Lisboa, Portugal ($13.95)
New to Top50
2019 is probably the best vintage yet of this popular, bright, lively, clean red blend of several indigenous Portuguese red grapes. The nose shows perfumed blackberry and blueberry fruit with cherry jam and mild spice. It is midweight, creamy smooth and well balanced with the fruit lasting well on the finish. Pleasant and easy drinking with very good length. Chill a little and enjoy with a wide variety of meats and cheese, or sip on its own. Quite classy for such an inexpensive wine.

Sparkling

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava, Spain ($13.80 was $15.80)
New to Top50
This lovely bubbly is great for receptions as an aperitif. Expect a fresh nose of grapefruit, mineral and pear with an elegant delicate soft mousse and a long lingering finish of apple pear fruit. Lots of flavour and super creamy texture. Very good length.

Whites

Bolgare Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Bulgaria ($8.30 was $9.85)
New to Top50
Delisted
This is a simple, clean, fruity sauvignon with good varietal character which is well balanced. The nose shows green apple and lemon fruit with a mineral tone. The midweight palate shows lots of flavour and the palate length is good. It is dry and juicy. Enjoy on its own, or, with mildly flavoured seafood or cheese. Around 1000 bottles remain.

Periquita White 2018, Peninsula De Setubal, Portugal ($8.30 was $9.45)
New to Top50
Delisted
Sauvignon blanc has been added to this blend of viognier, verdelho and viosinho (an indigenous grape) in this vintage. The nose is fragrant with aromas of melon and green plum fruit with floral and sweet herbal tones and a hint lemon marmalade. The well balanced palate has lots of flavour and is creamy smooth with some fruit sweetness yet it finishes dry with very good length. Super value. Enjoy with mildly flavoured seafood. Don’t over chill. Around 900 bottles remain.

Zaphy Organic Chardonnay 2019, Mendoza, Argentina ($9.70 was $12.05)
New to Top50
Delisted
This is a lovely, rich, creamy, unoaked chardonnay with an appealing nose of white peach and mango fruit with lemon notes and mild warm spice. The smooth palate is well balanced with lots of flavour and very good length. Enjoy on its own lightly chilled, or, with a wide variety of seafood, veal or chicken dishes. It would be a great restaurant wine by the glass pour. Good focus. Don’t over chill or the acidity will dominate. Over 2500 bottles remain.

Rymill The Yearling Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Coonawarra, South Australia ($10.40 was $13.95)
New to Top50
Delisted
Coonawarra in South Australia is renowned for its cabernet sauvignon, so I am surprised by the quality of this sauvignon blanc, a grape which thrives in cooler climates. Expect aromas of ripe apple and pear fruit with hints of honey and white flowers. The palate is fully flavoured with a fine acid structure and very good length. Try with creamy pasta sauces. Over 700 bottles remain.

Novas Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc Organic 2019, San Antonio Valley, Chile ($12.45 was $15.95)
New to Top50
Delisted
This wine is grown organically in the cool coastal San Antonio Valley. Expect aromas of green plum, lavender, lemon, asparagus and nettles with some herbal tones. The palate is dry and firm with soft acidity and there is a green herbal tone. Good focus and very good length. Needs food. Try with mahi mahi with a lemon garlic sauce or BBQ pork cutlets. About 1500 bottles remain.

Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand ($13.95 was $15.95)
New to Top50
2020 is a good vintage for this consistently well made, crisp and juicy kiwi sauvignon. It shows classic Marlborough characteristics of guava and lime, with notes of hay and fresh sweet herbs. It is midweight and well balanced with a creamy palate and a dry, herbal, lemon finish with just enough fruit sweetness to balance the mouthwatering acidity. Very good length. Try with sautéed seafood, or creamy goats cheese.

Stoneleigh Latitude Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand ($18.95 was $21.95)
New to Top50
Vintages Essential
This is a classy, graceful and somewhat understated Marlborough sauvignon with a classic nose of passion fruit and nettles, plus lime and dry hay with some floral and ginger spice notes. The palate is very smooth with just enough fruit sweetness to balance the mouthwatering acidity. Complex, smooth and very drinkable. Enjoy with seafood, chicken, or creamy goat cheese. Excellent length and good focus.

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

Today’s report pulls best buys from Steve’s Top 50 which is a standing WineAlign list based on quality/price ratio of the 1600 or so wines in LCBO Wines and the VINTAGES Essentials Collection.

There are two 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. (You can access these wines under the Wine tab on WineAlign.)

On Sale (LTO’s or Limited Time Offers): Every four weeks the LCBO discounts around 130 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.
Steve’s Top 50: Wines that have moved onto my Top 50 Best Values this month. This is an on-going WineAlign selection that mathematically calculates value by comparing the price and rating of all the wines. 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

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.

Top 50 Value Wines
Top 20 Under $20
Wines on Limited Time Offer