Your LCBO Shopping List for Easter Wines

Easter is on its way! For me that marks that spring is around the corner. It is interesting to see some of the wines shifting in style while the seasons begin the change. I had the opportunity to sample a number of the wines in this spring-will-soon-be-here release of Vintages and found some neat Easter eggs to share with you.

Celebrate spring by popping the corks. There is a larger than usual selection of sparkling wines along with a feature of wines from Israel that stirs up great memories when I visited the wine regions there a couple of years ago while on a media tour. If you haven’t yet tried some from this region, there are definitely some good red wines worth the money -Recanti David Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.95). Tada! Just like that you will have explored a new wine country.

Italian Barolo, Barbera, Brunellos and Chiantis are plentiful too. Many ready now and others to tuck away in the depths of your cellar.

With only $100 to spend, it is a hard task to pick a handful of good value wines that won’t break the bank – there are many to choose from in this release. Here’s my shopping list to take with you when you head into your local LCBO store. Hope this helps!

Cheers,
–Debbie

Domaine Félibre Givré Ginger Ice Cider

Québec
$19.95 (Vintages #393611) 6.5% alcohol

This was a flyer and I really liked it! A Gold Medal winner at the 2015 Berlin International Wine Competition soothes with its fresh ginger, honey & ice cider combination. Not too powerful in flavour nor too sweet either. This ice cider is refreshing and flavourful. WOW your guests with it as an on arrival drink, after or after a meal. Chill & serve it straight up, over ice or mixed with sparkling wine.

Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc 2013

Stellenbosch, South Africa
$15.95 (Vintages #739995) 13.5% alcohol

A lot going on in this white wine! Amazing value for a well made wine with smokey notes combined with apple, pears that round out in your mouth with each sip. This wine makes me want to create a pasta with cream sauce loaded with bacon bits or seafood.

Primus the Blend 2013

Colchagua Valley, Chile
$19.95 (Vintages #712463) 14.5% alcohol

What a blend! 35% Carmenere, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot to finish it off.The result of this recipe? A deep coloured wine with aromas and tastes of black cherry, over ripe blackberry, dark chocolate and a peppery finish. My notes say – Smooth. Smooth. Smooth. Fire up the BBQ & get a steak, burgers or spicy sausages on the grill to enjoy with this big bold red wine.

Le Gravillas Cotes du Rhone-Villages Seguret

Cotes du Rhone, France
$15.95 (Vintages #309260) 14.% alcohol

I was lured to the name on this one as I visited the town of Seguret when backpacking through France during my 20’s. I could almost spot the hostel in the etching on the wine label. This is a beautiful Rhone blend has impressive red fruit aromas and flavours with grippy tannins that would mellow if cellared for two to five years. Impressive and well blended, this wine needs food and would be delicious if you were planning to serve roast lamb for Easter. For nostalgia as well as quality, at this price, I will buy a case – they are giving this red wine away!

Frascole Chianti Rufina 2012

Tuscany, Italy
$17.95 (Vintages #85167) XX alcohol

An Italian classic. A medium bodied red wine delivering intense red fruit flavours (think strawberry, plums and currants) laced with dried herbs and white pepper. Solid tannins begging to be enjoyed with food – spaghetti and meatballs no less! A classic Italian wine for a classic Italian dish. Mama Mia!

Grand Total: $89.75

Pretty good for 4 bottles of wine and a neat treat!