WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: 20 wines under & over $20 for the March 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 • Easter
FIZZ [48072 PERE VENTURA PRIMER EXTRA DRY ROSE CAVA $18.95]
[36172 BEDIN ASOLO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO SUPERIORE $18.95]
TOP White Wines UNDER $20 in this release.
=========================================
41435 EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 AUSTRALIA $19.95
186346 SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2024 AUSTRALIA $18.95
11947 ROSEWOOD RIESLING 2023 VQA $19.95
13860 VIU MANENT GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023 CHILE $16.95
46876 PRAISE BISTRO BLANC MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2024 LANGUEDOC
$18.95
47322 CLAUDE-MICHEL PICHON CHENIN BLANC 2024 LOIRE
$15.95
47650 CAVINO HISTOROOTS ASSYRTIKO 2024 GREECE $15.95
447425 MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 NEW ZEALAND $19.95
391649 DUQUESA DE VALLADOLID VERDEJO 2024 SPAIN $15.95
TOP Red Wines UNDER $20 for this release.
========================================
166298 LA POSTA PIZZELLA FAMILY MALBEC 2024 ARGENTINA $18.95
21992 SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2022 PATAGONIA $16.95
325670 EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN PINOT NOIR 2022 CHILE
$18.95
212407 EMILIANA WINEMAKER'S SELECTION SYRAH 2022 CHILE$18.95
446245 CHÂTEAU DE MARSAN 2022 BORDEAUX $19.95
11838 CHÂTEAU LE CAP 2022 BORDEAUX $18.95
46339 PRAISE BISTRO ROUGE PAYS D'OC 2024 LANGUEDOC $18.95
561290 LOUIS BERNARD COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES 2023 $16.95
278150 NIRO DI CITRA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 $17.95
161844 VILLA GIRARDI BURE ALTO RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2022 $19.95
247973 CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2022 PORTUGAL $14.95
TOP White Wines OVER $20 in this release.
=========================================
918805 CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2024 ARGENTINA $21.95
149302 FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2024 VQA $24.95
949768 INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 VENETO $23.95
663286 AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 NEW ZEALAND $21.95
TOP Red Wines OVER $20 for this release.
=======================================
118067 VIÑA COBOS FELINO MALBEC 2024 MENDOZA $20.95
9175 ELDERTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 AUSTRALIA $27.95
142687 KACABA MERLOT 2021 VQA $35.15
523001 CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CABERNET FRANC 2024 VQA $24.95
427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 VQA $33.95
33994 BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2023 VQA $33
566844 FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES RHÔNE $21.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through March 29
FOR MORE SELECTIONS, GO TO -- https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
W H I T E W I N ES
KIM CRAWFORD CHARDONNAY
Marlborough/Hawke's Bay, East Coast,
New Zealand
991950 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00
THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S
BLEND RIESLING 6
VQA Beamsville Bench,
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
24133 (D – 16 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
TIEFENBRUNNER PINOT GRIGIO
IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti,
Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy
474742 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
OYSTER BAY PINOT GRIGIO
Hawke's Bay, North Island,
New Zealand
326090 (XD – 4 g/L)
750 ml REG. $20.95
NOW $17.95
VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION
ST. URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING 6
VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
38117 (M – 34 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
R E D W I N ES
BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA
DO Campo de Borja, Spain
273748 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
CHÂTEAU TEYSSIER
AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion,
Bordeaux, France
226035 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $25.95 Save $2.00
KILIKANOON KILLERMAN'S
RUN SHIRAZ
Clare Valley, South Australia
925453 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
LAN CRIANZA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
166538 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00
MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA
CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
288530 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
MONTE ANTICO
IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
69377 (D – 7 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00
OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR
Marlborough, South Island,
New Zealand, sustainable
590414 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
PORCUPINE RIDGE SYRAH
WO Swartland, South Africa
595280 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $14.95 Save $3.00
DUCA DI SARAGNANO ALCHYMIA PRIMITIVO
IGT Puglia, Italy
636613 (M – 17 g/L)
750 ml REG. $23.95
NOW $20.95
RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
943613 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $21.95 Save $3.00
RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO
GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
353201 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $49.95
NOW $44.95 Save $5.00
SELLA & MOSCA RISERVA
CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA
DOC, Sardinia, Italy
425488 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00
SIERRA CANTABRIA GARNACHA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
45091 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $32.95
NOW $30.95 Save $2.00
TERRA VEGA CARMENÈRE KPM
Central Valley, Chile
354761 (D – 2 g/L) 750 ml $13.00
NOW $12.00 Save $1.00
THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ VIOGNIER
South Australia
66738 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
THE FOREIGN AFFAIR THE CONSPIRACY
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
149237 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00
TRIUS RED 'THE ICON'
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
303800 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $24.95 Save $3.00
WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SHIRAZ
Clare Valley, South Australia
943787 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
ZENATO RIPASSA VALPOLICELLA
RIPASSO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
479766 (D – 10 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $26.95 Save $3.00
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 • Easter
FIZZ [48072 PERE VENTURA PRIMER EXTRA DRY ROSE CAVA $18.95]
[36172 BEDIN ASOLO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO SUPERIORE $18.95]
TOP White Wines UNDER $20 in this release.
=========================================
41435 EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 AUSTRALIA $19.95
186346 SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2024 AUSTRALIA $18.95
11947 ROSEWOOD RIESLING 2023 VQA $19.95
13860 VIU MANENT GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023 CHILE $16.95
46876 PRAISE BISTRO BLANC MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2024 LANGUEDOC
$18.95
47322 CLAUDE-MICHEL PICHON CHENIN BLANC 2024 LOIRE
$15.95
47650 CAVINO HISTOROOTS ASSYRTIKO 2024 GREECE $15.95
447425 MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 NEW ZEALAND $19.95
391649 DUQUESA DE VALLADOLID VERDEJO 2024 SPAIN $15.95
TOP Red Wines UNDER $20 for this release.
========================================
166298 LA POSTA PIZZELLA FAMILY MALBEC 2024 ARGENTINA $18.95
21992 SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2022 PATAGONIA $16.95
325670 EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN PINOT NOIR 2022 CHILE
$18.95
212407 EMILIANA WINEMAKER'S SELECTION SYRAH 2022 CHILE$18.95
446245 CHÂTEAU DE MARSAN 2022 BORDEAUX $19.95
11838 CHÂTEAU LE CAP 2022 BORDEAUX $18.95
46339 PRAISE BISTRO ROUGE PAYS D'OC 2024 LANGUEDOC $18.95
561290 LOUIS BERNARD COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES 2023 $16.95
278150 NIRO DI CITRA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 $17.95
161844 VILLA GIRARDI BURE ALTO RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2022 $19.95
247973 CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2022 PORTUGAL $14.95
TOP White Wines OVER $20 in this release.
=========================================
918805 CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2024 ARGENTINA $21.95
149302 FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2024 VQA $24.95
949768 INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 VENETO $23.95
663286 AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 NEW ZEALAND $21.95
TOP Red Wines OVER $20 for this release.
=======================================
118067 VIÑA COBOS FELINO MALBEC 2024 MENDOZA $20.95
9175 ELDERTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 AUSTRALIA $27.95
142687 KACABA MERLOT 2021 VQA $35.15
523001 CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CABERNET FRANC 2024 VQA $24.95
427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 VQA $33.95
33994 BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2023 VQA $33
566844 FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES RHÔNE $21.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through March 29
FOR MORE SELECTIONS, GO TO -- https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
W H I T E W I N ES
KIM CRAWFORD CHARDONNAY
Marlborough/Hawke's Bay, East Coast,
New Zealand
991950 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00
THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S
BLEND RIESLING 6
VQA Beamsville Bench,
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
24133 (D – 16 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
TIEFENBRUNNER PINOT GRIGIO
IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti,
Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy
474742 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
OYSTER BAY PINOT GRIGIO
Hawke's Bay, North Island,
New Zealand
326090 (XD – 4 g/L)
750 ml REG. $20.95
NOW $17.95
VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION
ST. URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING 6
VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
38117 (M – 34 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00
R E D W I N ES
BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA
DO Campo de Borja, Spain
273748 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
CHÂTEAU TEYSSIER
AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion,
Bordeaux, France
226035 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $25.95 Save $2.00
KILIKANOON KILLERMAN'S
RUN SHIRAZ
Clare Valley, South Australia
925453 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
LAN CRIANZA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
166538 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00
MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA
CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
288530 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
MONTE ANTICO
IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
69377 (D – 7 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00
OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR
Marlborough, South Island,
New Zealand, sustainable
590414 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
PORCUPINE RIDGE SYRAH
WO Swartland, South Africa
595280 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $14.95 Save $3.00
DUCA DI SARAGNANO ALCHYMIA PRIMITIVO
IGT Puglia, Italy
636613 (M – 17 g/L)
750 ml REG. $23.95
NOW $20.95
RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
943613 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $21.95 Save $3.00
RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO
GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
353201 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $49.95
NOW $44.95 Save $5.00
SELLA & MOSCA RISERVA
CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA
DOC, Sardinia, Italy
425488 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00
SIERRA CANTABRIA GARNACHA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
45091 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $32.95
NOW $30.95 Save $2.00
TERRA VEGA CARMENÈRE KPM
Central Valley, Chile
354761 (D – 2 g/L) 750 ml $13.00
NOW $12.00 Save $1.00
THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ VIOGNIER
South Australia
66738 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
THE FOREIGN AFFAIR THE CONSPIRACY
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
149237 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00
TRIUS RED 'THE ICON'
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
303800 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $24.95 Save $3.00
WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SHIRAZ
Clare Valley, South Australia
943787 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
ZENATO RIPASSA VALPOLICELLA
RIPASSO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
479766 (D – 10 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $26.95 Save $3.00
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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