LCBO Sale Pick of the Week: Oct. 9

We want you to drink only good wine. And to never overpay. Since our kwäf Taste Buds are drinking all the time anyway—we mean, tasting all the time—we’re happy to pick out the super star values and pass them on to you. One good wine at a time, just because we care. Find these wines on sale at the LCBO, and enjoy!  Sign up to receive weekly picks.

Ring Bolt 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, Australia)

Sale $17.95, Regular $19.95
Discount (until Oct. 12): $2.00
LCBO # 606624 | 750 mL bottle


Tastes like: Rich yet restrained Bordeaux-style plum, blackberry and spicy vanilla.
Pairs with: Meats, stews, roasted things, hard cheese and burgers.
Good for: Surprising your Bordeaux-loving pals at a blind tasting. (See above.)
Drink this: Now to 2016.
Alcohol: 14%


Why we're drinking this
The Ring Bolt is a very reliable wine that we return to again and again, and especially now that it’s two bucks off. It’s a good value even at regular price. And besides, the Aussies have it tough these days. They fell victim to their own success in the 1990s and early 2000s, as the world clamoured for their so-called “critter” wines—Yellow Tail, Little Penguin, etc.—which were (and some still are) made in a sweet, opulent, concentrated style that often becomes cloying and, quite frankly, gross. Nowadays, Aussie wines aren’t quite the bell of the ball. We tell you all this in order to emphasize that the Ring Bolt is most definitely not akin to a critter wine. It’s been a solid player in the LCBO/Vintages stable for quite a while. If you haven’t tried it, now’s the time. Do it for the Aussies!

Tasting note
This is a nice, lean, taught wine. It’s more Bordeaux in style than Aussie, partly because it comes from the cooler Margaret River region. This is a special place, home to much quality juice. The 2012 vintage was very good, even by Australia standards (hell, just about every vintage there is at least “good”). This wine has nice concentration and structure, soft smooth tannins, and lovely ripe Cabernet fruit. Expect requisite plum, bell pepper and blackberry/blackcurrant, plus subtle sweet oak touches. This is remarkably restrained yet powerful. A super-solid quaffer. Drinking well now, but could improve over a year or two.

Find it at your LCBO
Check availability on the LCBO website!


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Ring Bolt 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon | kwäf LCBO Pick October 9

This week's selection by kwäf Taste Bud  Dick Snyder