Bachelder L’Ardoise Chardonnay 2023

Price: $25.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: BachelderCountry: CanadaRegion: NiagaraAppellation: Niagara Peninsula VQA Grapes: ChardonnayAlcohol by Volume: 13%Sugar Content: 3 grams per litre I’m not sure how he’s managed to do it, but Thomas Bachelder has slipped one of his celebrated boutique Niagara Chardonnays into the LCBO for under $30. The man is clearly a wino democrat, as the Ardoise is in direct competition wuth fancy local whites priced upwards of twice this… including some that he makes himself. More Montrachet…

La Ferme du Mont Première Côte Côtes du Rhône 2022

Price: $19.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: Les Domaines du MontCountry: FranceRegion: Southern Rhône ValleyAppellation: Côtes du Rhône Grapes: Grenache (60%), Syrah (30%), Mourvèdre (10%)Alcohol by Volume: 14.5%Sugar Content: 3 grams per litre Stéphane Vedeau makes some of the Southern Rhône Valley’s more prestigious wines, at Châteauneuf and Gigondas and the puts the same attention to detail, balance and finesse into his entry level Côtes du Rhône Première Côte wine. This must be one of the best value reds in Vintages…

Dogliani san Luigi

Pecchenino san Luigi Dogliani DOCG

Pecchenino san Luigi Dogliani DOCGPrice: $23.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: PeccheninoCountry: ItalyRegion: PiedmontAppellation: Dogliani DOCG Grapes: DolcettoAlcohol by Volume: 13.5%Sugar Content: 4 grams per litre If I live to be one hundred years old, and if I am served a glass of Dolgiani on my birthday, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn from one of my wine loving descendants that Dolcetto had taken over from Nebbiolo as Piedmont’s most sought after grape. “Ah well,” I will say, “this is probably…

Famille Perrin Signature Côtes du Rhône 2021

Famille Perrin Signature Côtes du Rhône 2021 Price: $19.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: Famille PerrinCountry: FranceRegion: Southern Rhône ValleyAppellation: Côtes du Rhône Grapes: Grenache, Syrah (% not disclosed)Alcohol by Volume: 13%Sugar Content: 3 grams per litre The Perrin family makes one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s most famous wines, Château de Beaucastel as well as one the world’s supermarkets’ most famous wines, La Vielle Ferme (a.k.a. the Chisken Wine). This easy drinking organic CdR falls somewhere in between with a straight forward juicy…

Gérard Bertrand Réserve Spéciale Viognier 2023

Gérard Bertrand Réserve Spéciale Viognier 2023 Price: $16.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: Gérard BertrandCountry: FranceRegion: LanguedocAppellation: Pays d’Oc IGP Grapes: ViognierAlcohol by Volume: 13%Sugar Content: 2 grams per litre Let this Viognier open up and air out by pouring a glass 15 or 20 minutes before consuming. Or just get into it and percieve how the fruit and florals become less shy as exposure to oxygen loosens it up. When it does, look for a racy, peach driven white with…

Font Sarade Les Terres Rouges Ventoux 2022

Font Sarade Les Terres Rouges Ventoux 2022 Price: $17.95Channel: LCBO Vintages Producer: Domaine Font SaradeCountry: FranceRegion: Provence (Rhône Valley)Appellation: Ventoux AOC Grapes: Grenache (50%), Syrah (25% ), Carignan (25% )Alcohol by Volume: 14.5%Sugar Content: 3 grams per litre I nearly put the Font Sarade Ventoux in last week’s Substack, and I regret I didn’t because stocks are diminishing. I think there’s a secret society (as in we don’t know we’re part of it) that is always looking good Rhône…