The Bar Towel

kwjd wrote:So I just started seeing a girl and apparently she isn't as in to double IPA's and barrel aged imperial stouts as I am.... so I need advice on wine. Does anyone have suggestions for wines available at the LCBO that aren't too expensive (say, under $20)? Both red and white wine suggestions would be appreciated. I know that is incredibly vague, but just whichever wines people think are good. I do love wine, but I know next to nothing about it compared to beer.

My girlfriend really loves grenaches and grenache blends. Unfortunately she can't remember any names, just what the labels look like.

Gewurztraminers are quite nice. Many have lychee-like flavours and aromas plus have aromas of roses, passion fruit and floral notes. Women seem to like that sort of thing.

Latley I've been drinking mostly chardonnays and albarinos. Names escape me at the moment but I have the bottles at home still and can check later tonight.

I'll be a whore and push what my old company brings into the LCBO, and that is wines from Luigi Bosca & Miguel Torres (Spain & Chile).

Good entry wines from Torres Spain are Coronas (Tempranillo); Nerola White, and the dessert wine Moscatel Oro.

Luigi Bosca do a great Malbec and Chardonnay all for $17.95.

But, like beer, all tastes are personal.

Just had a wonderful Torres 2006 Cordillera Chardonnay. Not normally a grape I like, but this had a great fruit salad, sharp citrus flavour going on.

Torontoblue wrote:I'll be a whore and push what my old company brings into the LCBO, and that is wines from Luigi Bosca & Miguel Torres (Spain & Chile).

Good entry wines from Torres Spain are Coronas (Tempranillo); Nerola White, and the dessert wine Moscatel Oro.

Luigi Bosca do a great Malbec and Chardonnay all for $17.95.

But, like beer, all tastes are personal.

Are you importing Vina Esmeralda again this year?

Esmeralda was in the last Vintages release and it's delicious. Reliable screwcap, under $15 - a winner all round.

mintjellie wrote:

Torontoblue wrote:I'll be a whore and push what my old company brings into the LCBO, and that is wines from Luigi Bosca & Miguel Torres (Spain & Chile).

Good entry wines from Torres Spain are Coronas (Tempranillo); Nerola White, and the dessert wine Moscatel Oro.

Luigi Bosca do a great Malbec and Chardonnay all for $17.95.

But, like beer, all tastes are personal.

Are you importing Vina Esmeralda again this year?

I believe 400 cases were due to come in around June time, but it's either sold out real quick or hasn't made it in. I'll ask the Ontario office and see what's happening.

Sid is right about the Luigi Bosca Malbec. You simply can't beat it at the price. I've had $30 malbecs that don't come close. The Luigi Bosca Malbec is mouth coating with loads of black fruit and spicebox. Really really good. Like really good.

Another great malbec buy is ALamos Malbec. It will be released this saturday through vintages. $13.95 for this 90 pointer!

SteelbackGuy wrote:Sid is right about the Luigi Bosca Malbec. You simply can't beat it at the price. I've had $30 malbecs that don't come close. The Luigi Bosca Malbec is mouth coating with loads of black fruit and spicebox. Really really good. Like really good.

Another great malbec buy is ALamos Malbec. It will be released this saturday through vintages. $13.95 for this 90 pointer!

Thanks. I'll start to look for some of the suggestions.

What do you mean by 90 pointer? Is there some type of rating system or is there a website similar to BA/RB for wine?

kwjd wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:Sid is right about the Luigi Bosca Malbec. You simply can't beat it at the price. I've had $30 malbecs that don't come close. The Luigi Bosca Malbec is mouth coating with loads of black fruit and spicebox. Really really good. Like really good.

Another great malbec buy is ALamos Malbec. It will be released this saturday through vintages. $13.95 for this 90 pointer!

Thanks. I'll start to look for some of the suggestions.

What do you mean by 90 pointer? Is there some type of rating system or is there a website similar to BA/RB for wine?

Wine Advocate & Wine Spectator are the main rating's and news sites to go to. Wine Enthusiast is also a good site to go to, and is free to register to read all ratings.

Plenty of Esmeralda on the shelf at the Manulife LCBO as of Thursday at 7PM if anyone wants some.

Sarge wrote:Plenty of Esmeralda on the shelf at the Manulife LCBO as of Thursday at 7PM if anyone wants some.

Whats the LCBO # on that Esmeralda I'm not seeing it?

The number in the release catalogue is 113696 but when I put it in the LCBO website, it doesn't recognize it. Curious.

Sarge wrote:The number in the release catalogue is 113696 but when I put it in the LCBO website, it doesn't recognize it. Curious.

So this Vina Esmeralda is from Miguel Torres in Spain and not Bodegas Esmeralda from Argentina?

The number helps thanks. Although I may wait before I torture my local store with a number that doesn't show up.

Definitely Torres. See page 41 of the June 26 release book.

That is the correct CSPC #. Strange that it's not showing on the LCBO website. Even just doing a blanket search of Miguel Torres products doesn't even bring up the Vina Esmeralda.