Keep checking this blog for more Holiday picks at regular LCBOs. Bettter still, get a copy of Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2011! A year’s worth of buying tips for $20…the price of one of these bottles. And it supports my habit!  Here’s the site for paypal orders….we ship the same day.

Slainte
Billy

SPARKLING
GRAHAM BECK Brut Sparkling, South Africa 593483 $17.95
One of the world’s great value-priced sparkling wines. Crisp, refreshing, and yeasty in the Champagne style – with a shade more flavour and friendliness. Let the party begin.

SUMAC RIDGE Brut Sparkling ‘Steller’s Jay’, VQA Okanagan 264879 $24.95
We all know about the excellent Niagara sparklers, but west coast Sumac Ridge’s wine is up there with the best. Dry with a suggestion of richness. Aperitif, with seafood or sip for celebration.

PELLER ESTATES ‘Ice Cuvée’ Rosé Sparkling, VQA Niagara 113035 $35.20
Pink coloured sparkling wine infused with Icewine. Hits a middle ground between dry and sweet but there’s no mistaking the delicious flavour and charm. Big time yummy. A lovely treat for anyone who’s been nice to you.

WHITE/ROSÉ
wine style: fresh white
WOLF BLASS 08 Riesling ‘Gold Label’, Australia 606269 $199.95
Wonderful combo of citrus, mineral freshness and joie de vie. Instant happiness. Could be the hit of the holidays. For anytime sipping or with the big bird.

wine style: dry Rosé
DOMAINE de PELLEHAUT 09 Rosé, VDP Cotes de Gascogne, France 199570 $11.95
Dry Rosé is a must-have for the holiday season because it’s refreshing, it goes well with all foods, and most importantly, it’s fun. This is an amazing value.

REDS
wine style: rustic red
SALCHETO 08 Chianti, Colli Senesi, Tuscany, Italy 184903 $15.95
The Colli Senesi Chiantis are the juniors of the region – full of enthusiasm and gusto. Great entertainment for the taste buds, especially when there’s something Italian on your plate. Would make a refreshing break from richer reds.

wine style: rustic red
ELIO FILIPPINO 07 Nebbiolo, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy 184952 $15.95
Very dry, woods with a fall day feeling. If you like PInot, and other less dense reds, this is the wine for you.

wine style: rustic red
MONTARIBALDI 08 Barbera D’Asti ‘La Consolina’, Piedmont, Italy 182212 $15.95
Many of today’s Barbera’s are enriched for commercial success but here’s the real thing. Tangy dry, invigorating and without a trace of chocolate or plums. Red wine that grabs the taste buds and says, “let’s eat!” And “drink lots!” A perfect partner for roast chicken.

wine style: rustic red
LES VIGNERONS du CASTELAS 07 Cotes du Rhone-Villages, France 199299 $13.95
I’ve been recommending rich style Rhones all year but here’s a gutsy, earthy character. Lots of pucker power. Very bistro, very refreshing and very good with almost any food or situation.

wine style: rich red
PELEE ISLAND 08 Cabernet Sauvignon, VQA Pelee Island 530576 $19.95
Cabernet ripens really well down Pelee way, and this is wonderful local steak wine. Medium-rich with a little rustic edge. Pour from a decanter and celebrate Canadiana.

wine style: rich red
ACUSTIC 08 Monstant, Spain 190728 $18.95
Monstant (Catalonia) reds remind me of the Rhone (same grapes) but with more heft. And the difficult to describe ‘Spanish feeling’. Strawberries! Wonderfully refreshing for a rich red. Grilled steak or lamb.

wine style: rich red
MITOLO 09 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Jester’, McLaren Vale, Australia 43224 $21.95
If you’re craving a big Aussie (wine that is) have a date with the Jester. Combines character with easy drinkability and warmth. Better with steak than traditional holiday fare. Impressive looking gift.

SWEET
WARRE’S Quinta da Cavadinha 1996 Vintage Port, Portugal 189605 $54.00
Big bold Vintage Port at an appealing price. Enjoy with a cheese platter. Needs decanting as there’s sediment.

“Billy, I loved the Port you poured tonight, and do you want to hear how I overcame the anxiety of preparing dessert”. Certainly, I said. “Just serve chocolate and Port.”

I’m passing on these words of wisdom from someone who came to a tasting to all over-stressed Holiday hosts. And to anytime hosts. You’ll never get a complaint when you put out a good piece of chocolate alongside a glass of Port. For ‘a nice presentation’ place the glass and chocolate on the same plate, lined with a doily.

Tawny Port has a mellow/warming quality that’s very appealing at the end of dinner. A second glass after the chocolate is the ideal ‘good-night’ kiss to your guests. Real friends will of course linger longer. Enjoying your stress-free company.

GRAHAM’S 10-YEAR-OLD-TAWNY PORT, Portugal 206508 $27.95

I’ve included a few semi-expensive picks for Holiday treats, or gifts. And a few wines from the November 13 release. Along with my usual bargains.

Enjoy.

P.S. Keep checking here for lots of Holiday picks at regular LCBOs.

WHITES

wine style: fresh white
SOLIGO 09 Pinot Grigio, Piave, Italy 181560 $13.95
The fresh, fruity and fun character of good PInot Grigio. Ideal Holiday season house white.

wine style: fresh white
FLATROCK 09 Riesling ‘Nadja’s Vineyard, VQA 20 Mile Bench 578625 $19.95 (Nov 13)
One of Ontario’s best dry Rieslings. Very sharp, very pure and very good for aperitif.

wine style: nice & easy white
ZENATO 09 Lugana, Lombardy, Italy 707158 $13.95
Zenato’s Lugana is the Michael Buble of white wine. One of the nicest drinks on the planet. Shades of non-oaked Chard.

wine style: rich white
HIDDEN BENCH 07 Chardonnay, VQA Beamsville Bench 68817 $35.20
Super lush, rich, exotic. Glam local Chardonnay in HD. Fireside sipper.

wine style: rich white
STRATUS 07 White, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 660704 $44.20 (Nov 13)
A multi grape blend with amazing flavour concentration. The hit of a big Chardonnay but with a greater variety of flavours. Vibrant and refreshing too. Something special for sure.

wine style: rich white
SANTA RITA 08 Chardonnay ‘Medalla Real’, Limari Valley, Chile 303628 $17.95
Santa Rita is the master of blockbuster wines at Honest Ed prices. Get the rich Chardonnay experience for less than twenty bucks.

SPARKLING

wine style: sparkling Rosé
MUMM NAPA Brut Rosé, California 205641 $29.95
Tart, with a delicious tease of berry flavours. Classic and classy aperitif. Treat yourself and your best friends.

REDS

wine style: rustic red
GEMMA 09 Dolcetto D’Alba ‘Madonna Della Neve’, Piedmont, Italy 185017 $13.95
Tart, vigorous, earthy – pure Italian. Lasagna or burgers.
wine style: rustic red
TENUTA di CAPRAIA 06 Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, Italy 23374 $28.95
Hail to the original Chianti. Earthy, rustic and challenging. Next best thing to being at a farm house in Tuscany. Wild boar on the spit? Enjoy with any grilled red meat.

wine style: rich red
MacROSTIE 07 Pinot Noir, Carneros, California 674911 $24.95
Rich, spicy sweet, Californian Pinot. Very seductive, very pretty, very easy. The mood for cuddles.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE GALEVAN 07 Cotes du Rhone ‘Paroles de Femme’, France 125930 $15.00
The French edition of Shiraz – spicy sweet, nourishing and very yummy. Perfect for Holiday entertaining.

wine style: rich red
CLOS DU VAL 08 Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California 590216 $22.95
Zin in a pure, Pinot Noir style. Bright flavours and invigorating personality. Refreshing and charming. My favourite combination in red wine.

wine style: rich red
STRATUS 07 Red, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 131037 $44.20
Niagara’s edition of traditional red Bordeaux – solid and serious. A bit tight and tuxedo-ish right now, but would be perfect for a formal event in 3-5 years. Start planning! The perfect gift for a wine geek.

wine style: rich red
TORRES 05 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Mas La Plana’. Penedes, Spain 129676 $44.95 (Nov 13)
Wonderful solid Cabernet expression. But not taking itself too seriously. Enjoy now or could be aged. This is the wine that beat the Bordeaux boys in a famous tasting several years ago.

SWEET WINE, PORT & BOOZE

QUADY 07 Orange Muscat ‘Essensia’, California 299552 375ml/$13.95 (Nov 13)
A huge blast of delicious apricot and orange sweetness. But not sticky. You’ll not find a more crowdpleasing and value priced sweet wine. Great to see Essensia back on the shelf.

DELAFORCE Vintage Port 1994, Portugal 163063 $69.95
Huge flavour concentration and sweetness. Late evening sipper, solo or with aged cheddar. Decant. Great value for the Port lover.

ST. GERMAIN Delice De Sureau, France 180695 $49.95
An elderflower infused eau-de-vie in one of the most beautiful bottles I’ve ever seen. Fruity herbal flavours combine with a mix of freshness and sweetness. Very delicate, very delicious. On the rocks or mix with sparkling wine or mineral water. Something new and different for the Holidays. For cocktail recipes visit www.stgermain.fr

GREEN SPOT, IRISH WHISKEY 699827 $84.95
For those who enjoy a dry, earthy style whiskey. Unique and very nourishing. A very pleasant way to support the struggling Irish economy.

France and Italy are the star buys once again. Wonderful wines and values for Fall and Winter evenings. Southbrook’s Syrah is elegant and worth the splurge. Never thought I’d be recommending a pink Port but it’s perfect for the party season.

WHITES
wine style: nice & easy white
JEAN JEAN 09 ‘Ormarine’ Picpoul de Pinet, Midi, France 525287 $12.95
Novel house wine. Low keyed but tasty and refreshing. Forget Pinot Grigio for a week and go with Picpoul.

wine style: nice & easy white
ZAGLIA 09 Friulano, Friuli, Italy 182204 $12.95
A delicious sipper. Refreshing but also feels slightly sweet – could be a cousin of Gewurz. Pretty floral, spicy fragrances and flavours. Would be a huge hit at family events.

wine style: rich white
GABRIEL D’ARDHUY 09 Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 183699 $17.95
Solid, semi-rich Chardonnay in the international style. Would fit in anywhere. Ideal as your first wine for winter dinner parties.

wine style: rich white
VINA CARMEN 08 Chardonnay Gran Reserva, Casablanca, Chile 961276 $14.95
The new-style rich Chardonnay. Citrussy fresh with liveliness and a ‘drink lots’ personality. The perfect all-evening white.

SPARKLING
wine style: sparkling brut
ROEDERER ESTATE Sparkling Brut, Anderson Valley, California 294181 $28.95
Half-price Champers. Seriously dry, austere sparkling with a Champagne feeling. Stock up.
P.S. The Roederer Rosé is darn good too.

REDS
wine style: fresh red
Albino Armani 08 Refosco, Friuli, Italy 181529 $13.95
Refosco is the Beaujolais of this part of Italy. Light, tart and refreshing. The perfect first bottle of the day. Always show your Armani early!

wine style: rustic red
MARENCO 08 Dolcetto d’Acqui. Piedmont, Italy 188052 $14.95
The real deal! Rustic, invigorating Dolcetto to terrorize fans of smooth. Real Italian wine for those that love the style. Count me in.

wine style: rustic red
SOUTHBROOK 08 Syrah ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara 129809 $24.95
The peppery flavours of Syrah along with the lighthearted, earthy feeling of a Village Beaujolais. A great tease and partner for white meats. A possible splurge choice for the holiday dinner.

wine style: rich red
FEUDI SAN PIO 07 Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy 181446 $15.95
Big taste, big rich red for the winter season. Lush, with warmhearted, mature flavours. Guaranteed to be a knock out – for heft and charm. And value.

wine style: rustic red
MAS DONIS 08 Barrica, Montsant, Spain 705863 $16.95
Rustic meets rich and the feeling is friendly and charming. I may be drinking a lot of this.

wine style: rich red
TERRES d’AVIGNON 07 Cotes du Rhone, France 194886 $15.00
The beat goes on. Another super charming Rhone. Fall day meets Moroccan bazaar. The spice of life.

wine style: rich red
ALAIN JAUME 07 Rasteau ‘Les Valats’, Cotes de Rhone-Villages, France 185876 $18.95
Lovely hit of lushness, richness and the earthy feeling of the Rhone. Lots going on. Heartwarming red for winter. Compares well with wines at twice and three times the price.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE ZUMBAUM TOMASI 07 Pic Saint-Loup, Languedoc, France 185868 $18.95
Think Merlot meets Zin, meets south of France. Many delights. Fireside warmth for a winter dinner.

wine style: rich red
ALDERBROOK 04 Zinfandel ‘Old Vine’, Sonoma, California 603696 $23.95
Mature, elegant feeling. Could be a high priced Pinot Noir. Have with a roasted bird or sip with your sweetie.

wine style: rich red
SANFORD 08 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, California 206680 $44.95
Mix of delish strawberry flavours and Italina-style gusto. Not typical Californian – more cool climate elegant. Wonderful gift for a Pinot fan.

SWEET
wine style: sweet Port
CROFT PINK Port, Portugal 140871 $19.95
Not for the traditional Port fan, but you’re sure to be popular pouring this at family events. Sweet, but also refreshing and lighthearted. Lightly chill and serve in tumblers. An inch at a time.

WHITES
wine style: nice & easy white
TBILVINO TSINANDALI 08, Georgia 26658 $12.95
From the original home of wine and civilization! Soft, easy-drinking, non-oaked Chardonnay style. Worth a detour.

wine style: fresh white
FONTANAFREDDA 09 Gavi, Piedmont, Italy 75440 $15.95
Gavi is Italy’s answer to Chablis. A low-flavoured white with mineral freshness and a classy feeling. The tease of fruit in this one reminds me of Dry Riesling. Lovely aperitif.

wine style: fresh white
STRANDVELD VINEYARDS 09 Sauvignon Blanc ‘First Sighting’, Cape Agulhas, South Africa 18705 $14.95
Sauvignon with amazing purity and stone cold mineral freshness. Think about sea breezes. If you’re into the terroir thing this wine is the expression of a rocky outpost at the real foot of the African continent…where stubborn Dutch farmers dare to grow vines in windblown fields.

SPARKLING
JACKSON-TRIGGS Method Classique Brut 05 ‘Proprietor’s Grand Reserve’, VQA Niagara 587691 $19.95
Bargain-priced Bollinger! Bottle age has created toasty richness and charm. Feels luxurious – very Old World. Sip before and with, a nice dinner. Or for parties and celebrations. At this price you can afford to be generous. Very impressive.

REDS

wine style: lively red
NORMAN HARDIE 08 County Pinot Noir Unfiltered, VQA Prince Edward County 125310 $35.20
This is about adventure. Experience the wine that closely resembles the Pinots of Burgundy. Light (11% alcohol), tart, and an earthy feeling of soils. Barnyard for sure. Roast a bird and celebrate Canada’s new wine region.

wine style: rustic red
LAILEY 08 Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara 591404 $25.00
It doesn’t get more rustic than this. And you’ll not find a better Burgundian-style Pinot for the price. Raunchy in a good way. But don’t keep it – drink it now. I always enjoy the earthiness in Lailey’s wine.

wine style: rustic red
PIETRO RINALDI 08 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 182261 $16.95
A great hit of Italy. Gutsy red wine with the feeling of old soils – and meals in rustic restaurants. The soulful life. Aussie Shiraz fans will hate the tangy dry edge in this wine.

wine style: rustic red
JEAN-LUC BALDES 07 ‘Flore’, Cahors, France 176735 $13.95
Experience the original Malbec from the Cahors region in France. A gutsy, invigorating wine in the bistro style. Dry, low alcohol and sure to lead to a second bottle.

wine style: rich red
LA RESERVE DU CROUZAU 07 ‘St. Gervais’ Cotes du Rhone, France 142943 $13.95
A super-rich Rhone with enough warmth to get you through the coldest winter nights. Spicy flavours give energy to the lush, seductive feeling. A lot of action for the price.

PORT
FERREIRA 2000 LBV Port, Portugal 675751 $18.95
Plan for winter with this very concentrated, characterful Port. There’s a refreshing edge that could easily lead to over consumption. Always a danger with Port.

Sláinte,
Billy
ROSÉ
wine style: Dry Rosé
SOUTHBROOK 09 Cabernet Rosé, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 168492 $18.95
Rosé in the Provence style – and colour. Refreshing but also substantial enough for food. Charcuterie, paella, Indian food.

wine style: Off-dry Rosé
FEATHERSTONE ESTATE 09 Rosé, VQA Niagara 117861 $14.95
Delicious, off-dry, fruity Rosé for summer sipping. Such as lunches, family gatherings and patio parties.

WHITES
wine style: Fresh white
CASA CAMBRAGO 08 Soave ‘Vigne Maiores’, Veneto, Italy 161679 $13.95
Soave makes a comeback! Interesting, savoury flavours and lots of refreshment. Summer aperitif, and a super partner for seafood. Give ‘nice’ a rest and excite your palate with this.

wine style: Fresh white
DOMAINE ROMANIN 08 Macon-Solutré-Pouilly, Burgundy 160218 $17.95
Macon is the original non-oaked Chardonnay – refreshment with savoury/earthy flavours. Jolting, refreshing, and good pucker fuel for the palate. Wonderful aperitif, or seafood partner.
wine style: Nice & easy white
ROBERT OATLEY 08 Pinot Grigio, South Australia 159806 $17.95
Not your typical Aussie – this is pure and refreshing. Medium-bodied and the perfect all-evening white.

wine style: Rich white
BISQUERTT 08 Viognier ‘La Joya’, Chile 168542 $13.95
Care to try the prettiest white wine in the world! Caresses and charmes. Delicate and delicious. Sip your cares away.

wine style: Nice & easy white
ALTA VISTA 08 Torrontés, Argentina 37127 $13.95
Here’s another pretty one. Torrontes is Argentina’s edition of Gewurztraminer – spicy, exotic flavours. And great drinkability.

REDS
wine style: Rich red
BOTALCURA 07 Reserve Syrah/Malbec, Chile 18630 $13.95
Solid, dense, he-man stuff. Yummy too. Sure to impress. And great value.

wine style: Rich red
CONO SUR 08 Pinot Noir ‘Vision’, Chile 689992 $15.95
One hell of a delicious drink. Combines traditional Pinot woodsy character with modern bright flavours. Spicy and seductive. One of the best under twenty dollar Pinots in the world.

wine style: Rich red
MANGA del BRUJO 07, Calatayud, Spain 15073 $15.95
Big impact red. Earthy, mysterious flavours add interest to the richness. Shades of Rhone with more heft. Should be wonderfully satisfying for at least three years.

SWEET WINE
Wine style: Port
DELAFORCE Fine Ruby Port, Douro, Portugal 164608 $12.95
Lovely, lovely Port at an everyday price. Nitecap with a chunk of chocolate!

WHISKEY
INISHOWEN Irish Whiskey, Cooley Distillery 656017 $37.95
Some peat but a lot of other stuff too. Earthy, spirited and exciting for the price. Aperitif whiskey perhaps!

Pick a Port!

Port continues to be one of the great values in wine when you consider the age, flavour concentration and overall character of what you’re buying. Get some and celebrate the season, or any cold winter night.

The drink hails from the Douro River Valley in northern Portugal, where it gets hot as hell in summer so the grapes achieve huge ripeness. Port starts out as red wine but while it’s still bubbling in the tank, brandy is added. This kills the fermentation and establishes the nature of Port – a red wine with some unfermented sugars and a fiery kick. A sweet and strong wine. Treat it with respect or you’ll suffer the next day. I’m serious.

There are many label designations for Port – too many – but basically there are only two styles; dark, manly Ports known as Vintage-style, and pale, delicate, feminine, sensual Ports known as Tawny-style. Got that?

Ports labeled Ruby are young, sweet editions of the Vintage style – fun, everyday stuff. The Reserve designation usually means a mix of Vintage and Tawny styles. You see what I mean about too many Port names!

Best times: Some enjoy Port with cheese, fruitcake or nuts . . . but I say best without food.

Taylor Fladgate ‘First Estate’ Port, Portugal 309401  $15.75
Sweet, Ruby-style Port with deep flavours. A good everyday drink.

Ferreira ‘Dona Antonia’ Reserve Port, Portugal 157586  $22.85
The bold flavours of Vintage combined with the mellow, sweet character of Tawny. Take me to your fireside. Would be a great introduction to Port.

Graham’s 03 Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port, Portugal 191239  $17.45
Huge concentration of flavours. Rich and exotic. Warms the body and soul.

Warre’s ‘Otima’ 10-Year-Old, Portugal 566174 $22.85/500ml
The Latin lover– charm and vigour. Sexy Port in a modern package.

THE LOW DOWN: Fancy wines at fancy prices are the features in this release. Go get em! For something more interesting and affordable check out the following.

P. S. Hate to say it, but I was disappointed with the premium local offerings.

WHITES
wine style: NICE & EASY WHITE
Aveleda 08 Alvarinho ‘Follies’, Portugal 59048 $15.95
Imagine the zest of Vinho Verde combined with the pretty, pleasantness of Pinot Grigio. This is one yummy, anytime sipper. Treat self or friends.

wine style: NICE & EASY WHITE
Kurt Darting 07 Riesling Kabinett, Pfalz, Germany 950212 $16.95
Medium-dry wine with heavenly flavours and tingling freshness. A low-alcohol, Sunday afternoon sipper. You MUST get some for the holidays.

wine style: NICE & EASY WHITE
Cave de Frontignan 08 Muscat Sec ‘Terres Blanches’, VDP d’Oc, France 653188 $13.95
Dry Muscat is one of the most exotic wines on the planet. Shades of Gewurztraminer but less of a show-off. Drier and more refreshing. This would be a great Holiday season house wine. You’ll get a lot of wows.

REDS
wine style: RICH RED
Bodegas Martin Codax 07 Mencia ‘Cuatro Pasos’, Bierzo, Spain 39313 $16.95
A mix of richness, hearty flavour and a rustic edge. Spain does a version of Ontario Baco! The feeling of being at the dinner table in winter – with good conversation.

wine style: RICH RED
Tabali 07 Syrah Reserva, Chile 662692 $16.95
Big and lush. But not overdone. Crowd-pleasing, winter warmer.

wine style: RICH RED
Mission Hill 07 Syrah ‘S.L.C.’, Okanagan, British Columbia 68379 $36.95
Dark. dense, earthy and very dry. Seriously good. Shades of the original from the Northern Rhone. Cellar a year or two.

SWEET
wine style: SWEET WHITE
Open 07 Vidal Icewine, VQA Niagara 149799 375ml/$29.95
Value-priced Icewine that’s really good. Luscious tropical flavours and lemony zest. Low alcohol too. Would be a lovely afternoon sipper, or add a splash to dry sparkling wine for a festive cocktail.

wine style: SWEET RED
Quinta de Ventozelo 10-Year-old-Tawny Port, Portugal 141044 $27.95
The exotic, tangy experience of Tawny. Sexy meets earthy. Port with a Middle Eastern feeling. Sip after dinner, or anytime.