Finding an inexpensive wine that drinks like a dream isn’t easy. But they’re out there. Here’s your treasure map to the best sub-$10 bottles at the LCBO now, including four reds, a white and rosé. Because yes, actually, rosé season is now. Read on to see why that is. And how to drink well on a shoestring.
2022 San Marzano Primitivo, IGT Puglia, Italy (LCBO 13494, $9.75)
This ripe red from the heel of Italy could certainly sell for more. Each inky-dark glassful teems with poached black cherries drizzled with blackcurrant liqueur on the nose. Then, it slides in rich and full, with an intensity and complexity seldom found in sub-$10 reds. Each sip cascades stewed cherries, dried plum and dark chocolate before tapering to a short anise-hazelnut-black-pepper finish. Excellent-value bottle that goes especially well at the table with pizza, eggplant Parmesan or a slow-cooked shredded beef ragu on pasta.
NV Concha y Toro Frontera After Midnight, Chile (LCBO 553917, $8.40)
If you like big, jammy reds, you’ll love this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec. Each swirl of the glass releases heady scents of muddled black forest fruit with a touch of smokiness somewhere. There’s a warmth here that’s immediately evident and feels fabulous this time of year. The entry is slow, rolls in like thunder, and floods the senses with plum, blueberry jam and burnt almond before a sifting of cocoa comes to the fore on the finish. Delicious slow sipper for about the price of a song.
2021 Rose & Finch Red Blend, California (LCBO 38417, $9.60 till Feb. 2, reg. $10.60)
This bottle of sun-drenched goodness from California is a fraction of the price you’d usually pay. And it’s a real bargain. The fragrance calls to mind decadent chocolate cake, kirsch-infused cherries and vanilla cream. Then, all those elements echo on the palate, becoming more nuanced as it slides in, arcs and tapers off. Dark chocolate shavings shift to melting milk chocolate. The cherry-rich centre tastes sweet and juicy, jammy and smooth. And the vanilla cream note starts slow then intensifies on the finish. Just the type of easy-to-enjoy red to sip on its own, cocktail-style.
2023 João Portugal Ramos Loios Red Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (LCBO 89912, $8.10 till Feb. 2, reg. $9.10)
For something more quenching and juicy-crisp than the other wines on this list, reach for this bottle. It’s a smart little blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira and Castelão — three native grape varieties from Portugal.
It starts with cranberry and rubbed oregano, sweet bell pepper and red currant scents that lead to a brisk flood of crunchy red fruit. Plunging acidity lends structure to the bold, red-fruited stuffing and leaves the palate scraped clean. This is the wine to pour with rich foods such as casseroles, sausages and cheese boards.
2023 Tavernello Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC, Italy (LCBO 19780, $8.15)
If you love the restraint and refreshment of a light and lively Pinot Grigio, pluck this bottle from the shelf because it’s stylistically bang on and overdelivers for the price. The shy aromas of lemon and limestone lead to a brisk lick of lightning-bright vinosity. A bolt of lemon zest and sliced pear beams in and fans out before subtle underpinnings of crushed stone and seashell emerge and linger. This classic, well-made Italian is just the thing to enjoy on its own, in a spritzer or with fish and seafood dishes.
2023 Bacalhôa JP Azeitão Syrah Rosé, Vinho Regional Península de Setúbal, Portugal (LCBO 404566, $9.70)
If you think rosé is just for spring and summer, think again. This time of year, it just sings — especially with spicy fare. See for yourself with this glossy, beautifully balanced rosé from Portugal. The fragrance is featherlight with fluttery allusions of cherry blossom and sea spray. Then, it sweeps in tasting cool and crisp, mouth-watering but midweight. Quite a satisfying, vinous proposition that nods toward white flowers and cherries with a touch of satisfying salinity that leaves the palate nicely seasoned. This wine is drinking better than ever right now.
