Top 3 Red Wines & White Wines under $16; for the Holidays

TOP 3 RED WINES PICKS UNDER $16

K W V Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon (V) 2008, Western Cape, South Africa
LCBO #328567;  Rating – 90;  $14.95

This is a complex and elegant wine from a very good vintage. It’s medium bodied with excellent length that will pair well with a nice rib eye on the bbq. Drink now and over the next 3 to 4 years. 

Goats Do Roam Red 2009, Wo Western Cape; South Africa
LCBO #718940;  Rating – 88;  $11.95

This is a very popular Rhone style wine. It is a blend of Shiraz,  Cinsaut, Carignan and Mourvedre with a little Pinotage. A lovely midweight and well balanced wine, with very good to excellent length. Makes an excellent party wine and it won't break the bank. 

Château Hauchat 2009, Ac Fronsac; Bordeaux, France
LCBO #123489;  Rating – 89;  $14.95

A nice modern style wine from the great 2009 vintage. A blend which is largely merlot with some cabernet franc. It’s medium-full bodied with good length and structure. Drinkable now but even better in a year or two.

TOP 3 WHITE WINE PICKS UNDER $14

Little Yering Chardonnay 2009, Yarra Valley, Victoria Australia
LCBO #145318;  Rating – 89;  $12.25

Unlike its Aussie peers, this is a lightly oaked chardonnay that is very stylish, yet elegant. A medium weight wine that you can sip all night with very good to excellent length. Compares well with $20 French wines. 

Stlto Chardonnay 2009, Italy; Abruzzo, Italy
LCBO #232322;  Rating – 88;  $11.95

A glitter cap, sleek bottle and stiletto image on the bottle is quite a fashion statement and what’s in the bottle lives up to the image. A pure unoaked chardonnay that is medium light with very good length. Will make a nice party sipper.  

Malivoire Guilty Men White 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
LCBO #192666;  Rating – 88;  $13.95

A Bordeaux style blend of riesling, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. It is well balanced and fruity with delicate aromas and good length. Despite the reasonable price the style is quite opulent.