San Felice Chianti Classico 2017

San Felice Chianti Classico 2017 (SKU494469, $26.44 tax included, WS88)

I went by the LDB store and found this wine featured prominently near the front. The shelf label indicated it was the 2016 vintage. I checked Wine Spectator and found it to be 94 points and was number 19 of the Top 100 Wines of 2018. I quickly grabbed it and tasted it with some home-cooked meals. The nose was flowery and there was some berries on the palate. The finish was moderately long and it was quite a good Sangiovese. There was enough tannins for it to last a few more years. But when I came to take a photo for my blog, I discovered to my horror that they were selling the 2017 vintage which was rated at 88 points. Luckily it was not a complete disappointment since it was a decent Chianti Classico at an attractive price. Wine Spectator suggested drinking it between 2019 to 2025. It paired well with a tomato sauce dish, so I would highly recommend it with an Italian food. I went back to check to see if they have any of the 2016 vintages left but there was none. There is ample supply of the 2017 vintage in the LDB stores.

Estrella de Pascua Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah

Estrella de Pascua Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah (SKU 259051, $9.76 tax included)

There is a promotion going on at LDB for this Chilean red wine. The promotion is buy this and a 6 pack of a Holland beer and get $5 off. The wine itself is $3.50 off and the beer is $1.50 off if bought together. When I saw this, I thought it is a joke. How can there be a red wine under $10? There was no vintage on the bottle! I bought one just to try and paired it with some Chinese food in a restaurant. The wine was surprisingly fresh with a medium body. There was a hint of dark fruits on the palate. The finish was short but it went well with some everyday Chinese food. The alcohol content is only 12.5%, so it is not overwhelming. This would be a good wine to pair with some simple Chinese food or drink at a backyard barbeque. I have not tasted the beer and cannot comment on it. There is ample supply in the LDB stores. I recommend it just for fun. The promotion is good until March 31, 2020.