LCBO Sale Pick of the Week: March 19

Santa Carolina 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile)

Sale $9.95, Regular $11.95
Discount (until March 29): $2.00
LCBO # 275925 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Plum, blueberry and a nice dose of mint.
Pairs with: Steak, bloody.
Good for: Your first spring barbecue, even if it’s still only 5 degrees out there.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Drink: Now.

Why we’re drinking this
Look, for under $10 you can’t expect much. That’s just reality. But if ten bucks is a price point you’re trying to hit, you have to consider Chile. They can pack a lot of value into a bottle due to a whole lot of global economic factors that we’re not going to go into here. Santa Carolina is a reliable commercial brand that generally delivers on the plus side of the quality-to-price ratio. The wines aren’t fancy, but as long as you’re not Iggy Azalea, you should be cool with that. And this wine is a highlight for sure.

Tasting note
On the nose, lots of eucalyptus, plum and blueberry, some tobacco and meatiness. It’s got a smoky quality that’s quite appealing too. It’s nice, clean, straight up. Dry and fruity, again with that meaty quality. This has all the textbook flavours of cab sauv with a nice feel in the mouth and a clean finish. It’s a bit astringent, possibly due to some overzealousness in the flavour-extraction department, but this is a solid wine for everyday combat. Go forth and kwaf with confidence. Especially armed with a bloody rare steak and a flaming barbecue.

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This week's selection by kwäf Taste Bud Dick Snyder