Quality is high and the prices right
Shop early at Vintages on Saturday to find best values from around the globe
Spain and Portugal lead the parade in next Saturday's Vintages release. Next Saturday's release of wines in Vintages includes a number of great values. Many are priced in the $12-17 range common in the LCBO, so buying in Vintages needn't raise your wine budget. But remember: these wines are often in small quantities, so shop early.
The release features wines from Spain and Portugal (as does today's wine selection). Although quality Spanish wines are no longer the bargains they used to be, some are very well-priced. One is Muga Barrel-Fermented White Rioja 2007 ($15.95, No. 958736). Mostly viura (a.k.a. macabeo), with a dash of malvasia, it's rich and complex, the sort of hefty white you can enjoy with pork chops or grilled salmon.
AddThis Social Bookmark Button of Spain's premier producers, it's a lighter-style tempranillo/grenache blend that's flavour-filled and refreshing. It's excellent for grilled or roasted chicken or -- thinking ahead -- turkey and cranberries. If a barbecue lies in your more immediate future, try Jean Leon 'Terrasola' Syrah/Garnacha Crianza 2005 ($15.95, No. 673707). It's dry, medium-bodied, and has quite concentrated flavours and a tangy texture.
Portugal, meanwhile, comes in with a real bargain: Colinas de São Lourenço Tinto 2005 ($15.95, No. 81570). It's a red blend of touriga nacional, baga and merlot that delivers solid flavours that are nicely complex. Dry and medium bodied, it's a natural for red meats.
Across the Atlantic, the Empire strikes back, as former Spanish colonies compete with well-priced, quality wine. La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 from Argentina ($15.95, No. 66720) is really lovely, with solid flavours, impressive structure, and great balance. If you think mainly of malbec when you think of red wine from Argentina, make room in your mind for the cabernets, which are very, very good.
Meanwhile, Uruguay is pressing on with tannat as its signature grape. For a mere $13.95, you can get a bottle of Ysern 'Blend of Regions' Tannat 2004 (No. 68643). It's rich, with concentrated, ripe fruit flavours, good balance, and a soft, tangy texture. Although tannat can be very tannic, this one is quite moderate. Drink it with grilled red meats, burgers or spicy sausages.
Rocketing back to Europe, you'll find some good French values on Saturday, too. Look for Mas Janeil Côtes du Rousillon-Villages 2005 ($15.95, No. 992800) from the south. It's a pretty compelling blend of syrah, grenache and carignan that's full of flavour and goes well with a range of red meats and hearty, mushroom-filled, vegetarian dishes. And there's a pretty nice cabernet franc from the Loire Valley: Domaine de Saint-Just 'Les Terres Rouges' Saumur Champigny ($16.95, No. 81331). With vibrant and substantial flavours and a rich and tangy texture, it's a versatile barbecue wine.
There are more, of course -- Saturday's release at Vintages includes more than a hundred wines -- but you can see that there are values to be had.