WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: 20 wines under & over $20 for the February 21, 2026 release.
By DEAN TUDOR, wine writer since 1968 and owner of Gothic Epicures Writing --- deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine news items and RSS feeds, plus references to individual wines, beers and spirits, has been at https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor since 1994. These notes (below) for TOP wines available through the LCBO Vintages New Releases (on a bi-weekly basis) can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca or at https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor -- no winery can buy their way into – or out of – my publications. Not all wines are available in every LCBO store.
What is a TOP wine? Terrific-Occasional-Personal--- A TOP wine can be expressed as 88+ points, or Silver/Gold Medal, or described as BETTER/BEST, or 4/5 ****/***** Stars (out of?) and other such categories [in the 1950s such categories were titled "dandy, so-so, punk and lousy"]. My evaluations are a combined MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Rhone wine should taste like Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace, above or below its price).
THEME • Southern Hemisphere aka Antipodean wines
TOP White Wines UNDER $20 in this release.
=========================================
357913 COLOMÉ TORRONTÉS ARGENTINA 2024 $15.95
28583 CASAS DEL BOSQUE LA CANTERA BOTANIC SERIES SAUVIGNON BLANC CHILE 2021 $19.95
462457 PAUL MAS SINGLE VINEYARD RÉSERVE MARSANNE LANGUEDOC
2024 $17.95
15774 J. DE VILLEBOIS SAUVIGNON BLANC LOIRE 2024 $19.95
48110 KASTEELBERG CHENIN BLANC SOUTH AFRICA 2025 $16.95
TOP Red Wines UNDER $20 for this release.
========================================
44779 TIERRA DE CUBAS DUX GRAN RESERVA SPAIN 2015 $16.95
46404 DONA PAULA EL ALTO SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC ARGENTINA 2023 $19.95
162529 SUSANA BALBO CRÍOS MALBEC ARGENTINA 2023 $18.95
18767 ALTOS IBÉRICOS CRIANZA SPAIN 2021 $19.95
485474 VENTISQUERO GREY GLACIER SINGLE BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2019 $19.95
36529 ORESTIADI MAZAL FRAPPATO SICILY 2022 $18.95
573675 FERZO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 $19.95
TOP White Wines OVER $20 in this release.
=========================================
632034 TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2025 AUSTRALIA $23.95
184549 LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY VQA 2022 $55.00
25031 THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING VQA 2021 $28.95
47917 CAYTHORPE MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 $20.95
417774 DOMAINE QUEYLUS TRADITION CHARDONNAY VQA 2022
$33.70
241182 CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING VQA 2021 $39.95
TOP Red Wines OVER $20 for this release.
=======================================
594002 JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE VQA 2022
$29.95
130252 TAWSE SKETCHES CABERNET/MERLOT VQA 2021 $22.95
48326 CELLIER DES SAINT-ETIENNE CÔTE DE BROUILLY BEAUJOLAIS 2024 $20.95
46882 CHÂTEAU DE BEL-AIR LALANDE-DE-POMEROL BORDEAUX 2015 $48.95
22793 ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO PIEDMONT 2022 $23.95
222810 ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 $24.95
203968 PASQUA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2022 $24.95
60137 MOUNT RILEY PINOT NOIR 2023 NEW ZEALAND $21.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are the "better" value ones...on sale through March 1....
W H I T E W I NES & R O S E
CAVES D'ESCLANS
WHISPERING ANGEL ROSÉ
AC Côtes de Provence, France
325076 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $27.95 Save $2
SUSANA BALBO CRIOS TORRONTÉS
Argentina
1834 (XD – 2 g/L)
750 ml REG. $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2
AGANIS PINOT GRIGIO
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali, Italy
45809 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $23.95 Save $1.00
ANSELMI SAN VINCENZO
IGT Veneto, Italy
948158 (XD – 6 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2
FIELDING UNOAKED
CHARDONNAY VQA Niagara Peninsula
164491 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $15.95 Save $1.00
RED WINES
FAMILLE PERRIN LES SINARDS
CHÂTEAUNEUFDUPAPE
AC, Southern Rhône, France
926626 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $43.95
NOW $40.95 Save $3.00
FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, sustainable
1545 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR
New Zealand
626390 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
LA MASCOTA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON Mendoza, Argentina
292110 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2.00
MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Colchagua Valley, Chile
322586 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00
TENUTA FRESCOBALDI DI CASTIGLIONI
IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
145920 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $23.95
NOW $20.95 Save $3.00
TOMMASI RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA
CLASSICO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
910430 (D – 7 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $25.95 Save $2.00
UMBERTO CESARI LIANO
SANGIOVESE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON
IGT Rubicone, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
225086 (D – 11 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $24.95 Save $5.00
M. CHAPOUTIER LES
VIGNES DE BILAHAUT
CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES
AOC, Midi, France
168716 (XD – 3 g/L)
750 ml REG. $16.95
NOW $13.95 Save $3
FOR MORE SELECTIONS, GO TO -- https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON CHILE PACIFICO 2025 TORONTO WINES OF CHILE ANNUAL TRADE TASTING
The Date and Time: Monday October 27 2025 2PM - 5PM
The Event: WINES OF CHILE ANNUAL TRADE TASTING
The Venue: One King Street West
The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers, agents
The Availability/Catalogue: the booklet showed a wide range of wines available through the LCBO or through an agent. Unlike earlier years, there were more wines over the $20 level. 16 wineries brought in 125 or so wines for sampling; most of them were reds.
The Quote/Background: Earlier there was a Pisco tasting. Also, some of the wineries were looking for agents to represent them in Ontario.
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Aresti Family Collection Assemblage 2020 $120 FOB
-Vina Aresti Trisquel Series Semillon 2024 $24.95
-Vina El Principal Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 $100
-Garces Silva Family Vineyards Amayna Cote d'Mar 2022 $39 Consignment The Vine
-Montes Outer Limits Albarino 2024 $24.95 Vintages 47156
-Montes Purple Angel 2021 $105.95 Vintages 62364
-Montgras Ninquen CabSauv & Syrah 2022 $29.95
-Vina Perez Cruz Piedra Seca Cabernet Sauvignon 2023$22.95 Vintages
-Vina Perez Cruz Piedra Pircas Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 $42.95 Vintages Cellar Collection 536839
-VSPT Wine Group Chardonnay Leyda Lot 5 2023 $26.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (86 – 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Aresti Reserva Chardonnay 2023 $34 FOB
-Vina Aresti Espiritu de Chile Sauvignon Blanc $18 FOB
-Bodega Volcanes de Chile Parinacota $39.95
-Garces Silva Family Vineyards Amayna Sauvignon Blanc 2025 $28.99 The Vine
-Vina Marea Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $24.95
-Vina Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $19.95 Vintages Essential
-Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2023 $17.95 Vintages
-Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $18.95 Vintages
The Food: cheese and meat boards, marinated veggies (red peppers, tomatoes), focaccia and breads, artichokes, waitstaff did walk around platters.
The Downside: it got crowded really quickly
The Upside: a good chance to taste some of the more expensive wines from Chile.
The Contact Person: lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.
By DEAN TUDOR, wine writer since 1968 and owner of Gothic Epicures Writing --- deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine news items and RSS feeds, plus references to individual wines, beers and spirits, has been at https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor since 1994. These notes (below) for TOP wines available through the LCBO Vintages New Releases (on a bi-weekly basis) can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca or at https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor -- no winery can buy their way into – or out of – my publications. Not all wines are available in every LCBO store.
What is a TOP wine? Terrific-Occasional-Personal--- A TOP wine can be expressed as 88+ points, or Silver/Gold Medal, or described as BETTER/BEST, or 4/5 ****/***** Stars (out of?) and other such categories [in the 1950s such categories were titled "dandy, so-so, punk and lousy"]. My evaluations are a combined MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Rhone wine should taste like Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace, above or below its price).
THEME • Southern Hemisphere aka Antipodean wines
TOP White Wines UNDER $20 in this release.
=========================================
357913 COLOMÉ TORRONTÉS ARGENTINA 2024 $15.95
28583 CASAS DEL BOSQUE LA CANTERA BOTANIC SERIES SAUVIGNON BLANC CHILE 2021 $19.95
462457 PAUL MAS SINGLE VINEYARD RÉSERVE MARSANNE LANGUEDOC
2024 $17.95
15774 J. DE VILLEBOIS SAUVIGNON BLANC LOIRE 2024 $19.95
48110 KASTEELBERG CHENIN BLANC SOUTH AFRICA 2025 $16.95
TOP Red Wines UNDER $20 for this release.
========================================
44779 TIERRA DE CUBAS DUX GRAN RESERVA SPAIN 2015 $16.95
46404 DONA PAULA EL ALTO SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC ARGENTINA 2023 $19.95
162529 SUSANA BALBO CRÍOS MALBEC ARGENTINA 2023 $18.95
18767 ALTOS IBÉRICOS CRIANZA SPAIN 2021 $19.95
485474 VENTISQUERO GREY GLACIER SINGLE BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2019 $19.95
36529 ORESTIADI MAZAL FRAPPATO SICILY 2022 $18.95
573675 FERZO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 $19.95
TOP White Wines OVER $20 in this release.
=========================================
632034 TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2025 AUSTRALIA $23.95
184549 LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY VQA 2022 $55.00
25031 THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING VQA 2021 $28.95
47917 CAYTHORPE MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 $20.95
417774 DOMAINE QUEYLUS TRADITION CHARDONNAY VQA 2022
$33.70
241182 CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING VQA 2021 $39.95
TOP Red Wines OVER $20 for this release.
=======================================
594002 JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE VQA 2022
$29.95
130252 TAWSE SKETCHES CABERNET/MERLOT VQA 2021 $22.95
48326 CELLIER DES SAINT-ETIENNE CÔTE DE BROUILLY BEAUJOLAIS 2024 $20.95
46882 CHÂTEAU DE BEL-AIR LALANDE-DE-POMEROL BORDEAUX 2015 $48.95
22793 ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO PIEDMONT 2022 $23.95
222810 ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 $24.95
203968 PASQUA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2022 $24.95
60137 MOUNT RILEY PINOT NOIR 2023 NEW ZEALAND $21.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are the "better" value ones...on sale through March 1....
W H I T E W I NES & R O S E
CAVES D'ESCLANS
WHISPERING ANGEL ROSÉ
AC Côtes de Provence, France
325076 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $27.95 Save $2
SUSANA BALBO CRIOS TORRONTÉS
Argentina
1834 (XD – 2 g/L)
750 ml REG. $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2
AGANIS PINOT GRIGIO
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali, Italy
45809 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $23.95 Save $1.00
ANSELMI SAN VINCENZO
IGT Veneto, Italy
948158 (XD – 6 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2
FIELDING UNOAKED
CHARDONNAY VQA Niagara Peninsula
164491 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $15.95 Save $1.00
RED WINES
FAMILLE PERRIN LES SINARDS
CHÂTEAUNEUFDUPAPE
AC, Southern Rhône, France
926626 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $43.95
NOW $40.95 Save $3.00
FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, sustainable
1545 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR
New Zealand
626390 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
LA MASCOTA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON Mendoza, Argentina
292110 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2.00
MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Colchagua Valley, Chile
322586 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00
TENUTA FRESCOBALDI DI CASTIGLIONI
IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
145920 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $23.95
NOW $20.95 Save $3.00
TOMMASI RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA
CLASSICO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
910430 (D – 7 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $25.95 Save $2.00
UMBERTO CESARI LIANO
SANGIOVESE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON
IGT Rubicone, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
225086 (D – 11 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $24.95 Save $5.00
M. CHAPOUTIER LES
VIGNES DE BILAHAUT
CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES
AOC, Midi, France
168716 (XD – 3 g/L)
750 ml REG. $16.95
NOW $13.95 Save $3
FOR MORE SELECTIONS, GO TO -- https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON CHILE PACIFICO 2025 TORONTO WINES OF CHILE ANNUAL TRADE TASTING
The Date and Time: Monday October 27 2025 2PM - 5PM
The Event: WINES OF CHILE ANNUAL TRADE TASTING
The Venue: One King Street West
The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers, agents
The Availability/Catalogue: the booklet showed a wide range of wines available through the LCBO or through an agent. Unlike earlier years, there were more wines over the $20 level. 16 wineries brought in 125 or so wines for sampling; most of them were reds.
The Quote/Background: Earlier there was a Pisco tasting. Also, some of the wineries were looking for agents to represent them in Ontario.
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Aresti Family Collection Assemblage 2020 $120 FOB
-Vina Aresti Trisquel Series Semillon 2024 $24.95
-Vina El Principal Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 $100
-Garces Silva Family Vineyards Amayna Cote d'Mar 2022 $39 Consignment The Vine
-Montes Outer Limits Albarino 2024 $24.95 Vintages 47156
-Montes Purple Angel 2021 $105.95 Vintages 62364
-Montgras Ninquen CabSauv & Syrah 2022 $29.95
-Vina Perez Cruz Piedra Seca Cabernet Sauvignon 2023$22.95 Vintages
-Vina Perez Cruz Piedra Pircas Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 $42.95 Vintages Cellar Collection 536839
-VSPT Wine Group Chardonnay Leyda Lot 5 2023 $26.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (86 – 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Aresti Reserva Chardonnay 2023 $34 FOB
-Vina Aresti Espiritu de Chile Sauvignon Blanc $18 FOB
-Bodega Volcanes de Chile Parinacota $39.95
-Garces Silva Family Vineyards Amayna Sauvignon Blanc 2025 $28.99 The Vine
-Vina Marea Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $24.95
-Vina Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $19.95 Vintages Essential
-Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2023 $17.95 Vintages
-Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $18.95 Vintages
The Food: cheese and meat boards, marinated veggies (red peppers, tomatoes), focaccia and breads, artichokes, waitstaff did walk around platters.
The Downside: it got crowded really quickly
The Upside: a good chance to taste some of the more expensive wines from Chile.
The Contact Person: lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.
Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.comhttp://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
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