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Top 5 Carmenere at the LCBO
Maipo Valley, Chile
57513
Colchagua Valley, Chile
42098
Central Valley, Chile
42107
If I Could Buy Only One – December 6th Vintages Release
We asked our writers,“If you could buy only one wine from the December 6th release, which one would it be and why?” Black Hills Brut Sparkling, BC VQA Okanagan Valley$55.00, Andrew Peller LimitedSara d’Amato – If John’s fizz guide didn’t already satisfy your sparkling cravings, here’s one more worth popping. This is Black Hills’ second […] More
Buyer’s Guide to Vintages December 6th Release
John Szabo’s Vintages Buyers Guide December 6: 2025 Beverage Trends and Breaking Bread & Drinking Pinot with the Mapuche By John Szabo MS, with notes from David Lawrason, Michael Godel and Sara d’Amato “In 2025 Ontarians embraced the opportunity to discover something new amidst restrictions on U.S.-produced products, new points of sale, and innovative new […] More
John Szabo’s Annual Fizz Guide 2025
By John Szabo, MS, with notes from David Lawrason, Sara d’Amato and Michael Godel Fewer Bubbles, Better Quality Welcome to our timely annual Fizz Guide! What’s in store for you this year? A parade of premium bubbles, featuring top Canadian sparkling, a category which remains hard to beat for quality and price. It’s easily our […] More
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The Carmenère grape is a red variety originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it was used for blending purposes in the same manner as Petit Verdot. Now rarely found in France, the world's largest area planted with this variety is in Chile in South America. Chilean plantings, brought from France in the 19th Century, were originally thought to be Merlot, before being correctly identified in 1994 and, since then, used as a distinctive signature by the country's producers. Carmenère wine has a deep red color and aromas found in red fruits, spices and berries, with tannins that are gentler and softer than those in Cabernet Sauvignon. Although mostly used as a blending grape, wineries do bottle a pure varietal Carmenère which. Its taste might also be reminiscent of dark chocolate, tobacco, and leather. The wine is best drunk young.