If you’re new to wine and looking to purchase for a party or special event, it’s helpful to have some guidance. With so many different bottles available at your neighbouring LCBO, from various regions across the globe, how do you know which to choose? You may be inclined to pick a more expensive bottle in hopes that its quality will satisfy your guests, but price isn’t always an indicator of great wine. Did you know that excellent selections from places like Portugal and Spain can be priced more affordably than mediocre wine made in America? This is why it’s important to look at reviews and descriptors before you start shopping.
Retailers like Wine Online for example provide you with a short summary describing each bottle they have available, along with professional reviews conducted by wine critics. They also let you know which bottles are selling best and what they’re rated among other customers like yourself. This way you get an expert’s opinion as well as a local one. If you’d like to learn about wine delivery services and how to get the perfect bottle delivered right to your door, consider a delivery service that offers expertise as well as convenience. Let’s look at some of this retailer’s staff picks and customer favourites, letting you know what wines they think you should try, helping you make the right decision for your special night.
The Barquinha Douro Reserva by Colinas do Douro winery in Portugal is a 2015 vintage at the top of their list. If you’re looking for a red, this wine is produced from old vines, blending three of the region’s most popular grape varieties – theTouriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and TintaRoriz, making it fruity and complex in structure. These grapes offer a rich and dense selection with firm tannins despite the wine’s youngage. The Wine Enthusiast also agrees, giving this bottle a respectable 91-point rating.
For a classic old-world selection of red wine that doesn’t break the bank, go with Bordeaux Rouge by Les Portes de Bordeaux, vintage 2016. This bottle is an intense violet colour thanks to a perfect blend of French Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. On the nose drinkers will detect cassis, blackberry and violets, while in the mouth it is silky and polished accompanied hints of dark fruit and spice. This wine is loved by staff and is alsoa Gilbert & Gaillard gold medal winner.
What about white wine? This retailer has you covered in that department as well. Try the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Blanco by Bodega Classica, vintage 2016 from Spain. It is made from 100% Viuragrapes from vines over fifty years old. The wineis further aged in French oak barrels for at least two months before bottled, offering complex white fruit and flowers on the nose, while on the palate it is fresh and ripe with good structure. The Wines From Spain Awards deemed it one of the best for its value and it too has received a gold medal (from the Baco Wine Awards in 2017). Not sure which bottle to buy next? Whenever scouting for that prized selection, always take a peek at who is recommending what before making your final decision.
