Frescobaldi Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Toscana 2010

Frescobaldi Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Toscana 2010 ($26.99, SKU 380824) This was recommended to me by a tasting panel member. The nose was fruity to start and the taste was balanced. The body was medium to full. There was still a lot of tannin but it started to mellow out after about an hour in the glass. There was no rating from Wine Spectator yet but it should come in around 92 points. Again, how long can one resist drinking a $27 wine. I recommend patience of 8 to 10 years and you will be rewarded. There are over 360 bottles distributed throughout the LDB stores.

Villa Antinori Toscana 2010

Villa Antinori Toscana 2010 (WS92, $26.99, SKU 104885) I found this vintage at the liquor store recently and figured that it was worth a try since Wine Spectator gave it a "Smart Buy" rating for three years. This was the best of the past three vintages. When opened, the nose was tight and needed decanting for an hour. It was a Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah blend with strong tannin. It did not quite open up at the end of dinner but there was definitely some substance. It should be paired with Italian food. It will require long term cellaring as Wine Spectator suggested maturity between 2016 to 2024. At this price, it should make Wine Spectator's Top 100 for this year. The questions is how long can one cellar a $27 wine. The temptation is great to open a bottle whenever there is Italian food. There is ample stock at the liquor stores.

Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2010

Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2010 ($30, SKU 285775) This was discovered by a tasting panel member while looking at the left over wines from the wine festival. The price was reduced by $10 to $30. It was an eastern Canada wine with grapes from the Niagara region. It had medium body with medium flavour. There was a hint of papaya on the palate. It tasted more like the new world California chardonnay. There are two bottles left at 39th and 19 bottles each at Alberni and Park Royal. It is an interesting comparison to the B. C. chardonnay.

Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2012

Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2012 ($19.99, SKU 377770) This was brought to a dinner that I attended as an opening dialogue. It was a medium body chardonnay with a lighter taste like a French Chablis. It was quite pleasant complement to the appetizers and salads. There is ample stock in the LDB stores.

Cantinian Malbec 2012

Cantinian Malbec 2012 ($18.95, SKU 176487) I found this in the isles of the LDB store and it was advertised as a Canadian couple living in Argentina decided to apply their wine-making techniques to the local grape, Malbec. The wine was a medium body red wine with a funky character. It would probably be a nice barbeque wine. There is lots of stock in the LDB system.

Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon California 2011

Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon California 2011 ($20.99, SKU 142026) I tried this on the suggestion of one of my tasting panel. He found this in the corner of wine festival left over wines at 39th and Cambie. This is probably the third wine of Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma. Their flagship wine is the Cinq Cepages which sells for Can $80. The cabernet sauvignon was very young and fruity. Initial taste was fruity and tangy but there was a herbal aftertaste. This would be a good economical wine to go with some barbeque or light meal. There are roughly a dozen of this wine left on the shelves just outside the demo kitchen at the 39th store but the SKU doesn't even appear on the LDB website. Just go to 39th and Cambie and buy it.

Chateau Maison Blanche Medoc 2009

Chateau Maison Blanche Medoc 2009 (WS91, $26.99, SKU 563429) I found this on the shelves of the 39th and Cambie LDB store sitting among the cheaper Bordeaux wines. I am always interested in the 2009 and 2010 vintage. As it was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator, I figured that I cannot go wrong by much at this price. The name translates into "white house". When first opened the nose was not impressive. However after about 30 minutes everything seemed to come together. The color on the cork was a bit light but the taste was fruity. Although the label is Medoc (left bank and cabernet sauvignon based) the wine was 80% merlot, 16% cabernet sauvignon and 4% cabernet franc. So it was very comparable to the Chateau Pipeau that was tasted together. Half of my tasting panel liked this one and half liked the other one. At this price it is definitely worth a try with roast pork or chicken. Wine Spectator said it is good from 2012 to 2019, so it is good for short term cellaring. There is lots of stock in the LDB stores.