January 4, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

Happy New Year! Here's my top wine picks from the first release of the year, which is always the annual Smart Buys Release, where most of the wines are priced at under $20. In this release, 52 of the 74 wines are less than $20. Interestingly, the average price of a bottle is just north of $21, including HST. All the wines in this release should be available for purchase by...

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Palmer Brut Réserve Champagne (France) - Wine Review

Just in time for year-end celebrations, tonight's sparkling wine review is a beautiful, non-vintage Champagne that is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving as part of the recent December 14th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as an Online & Flagship Exclusive.It is produced by Palmer & Co., a prestigious Champagne house that was established in 1947 by seven families who...

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Blu Giovello Prosecco (Italy) - Wine Review (Dec. 2024)

For Christmas day celebrations, I opened up this delicious, crowd-pleasing Prosecco DOC from Italy that is readily available at the LCBO and currently on promotion at $2 off until the beginning of January.Blu Giovello is a wine brand that was created many years ago and is now produced by Gruppo Martellozzo Srl, a wine producer with a long history dating back to the end of...

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Vallepicciola Chianti Classico 2021 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

On Christmas Eve, tonight's red wine review is an excellent Sangiovese from the Chianti Classico wine region that is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO and landed on shelves (and online) as part of the recent December 14th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Vallepicciola, a family-run winery that was born from the love of Chianti Classico and brought to life...

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Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Blanc de Noirs 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Kew Vineyards Marsanne a few months ago (and still widely available in stores today), tonight's sparkling wine reviews a pair of wonderful bubblies from the same producer in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Bubbles in the December 14 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Both of these fantastic bubblies are produced...

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2022 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of an always terrific Australian Shiraz that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent November 30th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.It is produced by Wakefield Wines, which is known as Taylors Wines in Australia. This family estate winery was established near the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley in 1969...

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Artemivske Victory White Brut Sparkling and Red Semi-Sweet Sparkling (Ukraine) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's sparkling wine reviews are a pair of brand-new arrivals that landed at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the November 30 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.Both of these wines are produced by Artwinery, a sparkling wine producer in Ukraine that was established in 1950, but whose history goes back to the 19th century.Ukranian history in the production of traditional...

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