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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: 20 wines under/ over $20 for the August 15, 2026 release.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  20 wines under/ over $20 for the August 15, 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 • Great Wines for Takeout Night

TOP White Wines UNDER $20 in this release.
=========================================
68015 FLAT ROCK UNPLUGGED UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2024 VQA $19.95
49578 NOEMA ASSYRTIKO 2024 GREECE $19.95
51404 CASA SANTOS LIMA MEIA SERRA ENCRUZADO 2023 PORTUGAL $19.95
541854 VILLA SPARINA GAVI DI GAVI 2025 TUSCANY $19.95
708073 ATTEMS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 FRUILI $19.95
39442 PLANETA LA SEGRETA GRILLO 2024 $19.95
41899 AZEVEDO LOUREIRO ALVARINHO 2024 $13.45
51629 DE WETSHOF CHALK ROAD CHENIN BLANC 2025 SOUTH AFRICA $14.95
51695 SEÑORÍO DE NAVA FUENTENEBRO ALBILLO MAYOR 2022 $17.95
40788 AVELINO VEGAS MONTESPINA SOBRE LÍAS VERDEJO 2025 SPAIN $16.95
51206 ECHEVERRIA NO ES PITUKO ORANGE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 CHILE $17.95
196956 JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2024 $17.95
49035 ALAIN JAUME GRAND VENEUR CÔTES DU RHONE 2024 $19.95

TOP Red Wines UNDER $20 for this release.
========================================
11851 CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 VQA $19.95
278150 CITRA NIRO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2022 $17.95
50092 PASQUA MUCCHIETTO PRIMITIVO 2022 $19.95
168823 BURGO VIEJO RESERVA 2020 $18.95
548867 CASA SANTOS LIMA COLOSSAL RESERVA 2021 PORTUGAL $16.45
45323 ADEGA COOPERATIVA DE VIDIGUEIRA ALICANTE BOUSCHET 2023 PORTUGAL $19.95
28081 VIÑALBA PATAGONIA RESERVE MALBEC 2023 $19.95
49830 EL PORVENIR AMAUTA ABSOLUTO MALBEC 2024 $16.95
46055 FEATHERSTONE GEMSTONE 2023 VQA $17.95
476002 LUNGAROTTI L'UM UMBRIA SANGIOVESE/MERLOT 2022 $17.95
451724 ZENATO ALANERA PARZIALE APPASSIMENTO 2022 $18.95


TOP White Wines OVER $20 in this release.
=========================================
39763 TRIUS SHOWCASE WILD FERMENT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 VQA $28.95
171322 PATRIARCHE PÈRE & FILS MÂCON VILLAGES CHARDONNAY 2025 $24.95
42676 VESEVO GRECO DI TUFO 2024 CAMPANIA $22.95
51690 PERI PERI VICERÉ INZOLIA 2025 SICILY $24.95


TOP Red Wines OVER $20 for this release.
=======================================
11728 CHÂTEAU LALANDE DE GRAVET SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU 2022 $28.95
633628 MISSION HILL RESERVE MERITAGE 2022 BC VQA $32.95
44514 REDSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2022 VQA $25.95
52473 FEATHERSTONE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 VQA $29.95
438580 QUERCECCHIO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2021 $40.95
538918 ASTROLABE MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2023 $29.95

ROSE TABLE WINE [listed only, under $20]
==============================
45075 TAWSE GROWERS BLEND ROSÉ 2025 VQA $18.95
668426 VILLA AIX EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 $19.95
556142 PASQUA 11 MINUTES ROSÉ ODI ET AMO VENEZIE 2024 $19.95

LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO’s Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale  through August 16...better hurry!! Different LTOs on August 17 through Sept 13 (see below)

W H I T E W I N ES

ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO
DOC Friuli, Italy
707950 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

BOSCHENDAL 1685 CHARDONNAY
WO Western Cape, South Africa
367698 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00

FLAT ROCK RIESLING 6
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
43281 (M – 11 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE
RESERVE CHENIN BLANC
WO Stellenbosch, South Africa
231282 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00

SUSANA BALBO CRIOS TORRONTÉS
Argentina
1834 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2.00

OYSTER BAY
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South
Island, New Zealand
316570 (XD – 4 g/L)
750 ml REG. $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3

WINZER KREMS KREMSTAL DAC
GRÜNER VELTLINER
DAC Kremstal, Austria
375022 (XD – 5 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00

RED WINES

BERONIA RESERVA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
50203 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $23.95
NOW $21.95 Save $2.00

CATHEDRAL CELLAR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WO Western Cape, South Africa
328567 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00

KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S
RUN SHIRAZ
Clare Valley, South Australia
925453 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

MITOLO JESTER SHIRAZ
McLaren Vale, South Australia
659607 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR
Marlborough, South Island,
New Zealand, sustainable
590414 (XD – 5 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Margaret River, Western Australia
606624 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
282996 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

SMALL GULLY THE FORMULA
ROBERT’S SHIRAZ
South Australia
142935 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

THE BLACK CHOOK
SHIRAZ VIOGNIER
South Australia
66738 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

TOMMASI RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA
CLASSICO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
910430 (D – 8 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $25.95 Save $2.00

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Limestone Coast/Clare Valley,
South Australia
744235 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

ZONTE’S FOOTSTEP
CHOCOLATE FACTORY SHIRAZ
McLaren Vale, South Australia
396481 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $18.95 Save $1.00

BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA
DO Campo de Borja, Spain
273748 (XD – 3 g/L)
750 ml REG. $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2


LIMITED TIME OFFERS
Save on THESE wines from Aug.17 to Sept.13, 2026

WHITE WINES

BANFI PRINCIPESSA GAVIA GAVI
DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
250696 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
286278 (XD – 5 g/L) 750 ml $23.95
NOW $21.95 Save $2.00

KIM CRAWFORD MARLBOROUGH
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
35386 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00

OYSTER BAY PINOT GRIGIO
Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand
326090 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00

STONELEIGH LATITUDE
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South
Island, New Zealand
40137 (XD – 4 g/L)
750 ml REG. $23.95
NOW $20.95 Save $3

WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
424507 (XD – 6 g/L) 750 ml $31.95
NOW $29.95 Save $2.00

RED WINES

CLARENCE DILLON
CLARENDELLE RED
Bordeaux, France
28837 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

CONFIDENCIAL RESERVA
Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal
452789 (D – 9 g/L) 750 ml $15.95
NOW $14.95 Save $1.00

DUCA DI SARAGNANO
ALCHYMIA PRIMITIVO
IGT Puglia, Italy
636613 (M – 17 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00

FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, vegan
64618 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

LA MASCOTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Mendoza, Argentina
292110 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2.00

MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS
GRAN RESERVA
DOP Cariñena, Spain
82024 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE
RISERVA CHIANTI
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
111641 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 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

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Valle del Maipo, Chile
18721 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

LE VOLTE DELL’ORNELLAIA
IGT Toscana, Tuscany
964221 (XD – 3 g/L)
750 ml REG. $31.95
NOW $28.95  Save $3

BENJAMIN BRIDGE
NOVA 7 SPARKLING
Nova Scotia, Charmat method
256289 (S – 71 g/L) 750 ml $25.95
NOW $23.95 Save $2.00

MALIVOIRE LADYBUG ROSÉ
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario,
sustainable, vegan
559088 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

FOR MORE SELECTIONS, GO TO --
 https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]



Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

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