Deep Discounts: Our favourite bottles under $15
Karl Marx was a gourmand. He was also poor. He was fond of wine and, I am sure, he drank nothing but the cheap stuff. But that is not to say that he was knocking back glasses of tannic swill. He, more than most, was surely aware that a wine’s price is little indication of its quality.
All sorts of factors can contribute to the price of wine: the degree of automation in its production, import duties, marketing, the reputation of its place of origin, and so on. Knowing this can transform bargain-hunting from a concession into a thrilling triumph of insider knowledge. Buying local or from less-established regions, seeking out less-popular grapes, and perusing the LCBO’s bargain bin are all good ways to save money without sacrificing quality.
In this issue, In Vino Veritas has done just that. Wallet feeling a little light? Here are four bottles under $15 that you can enjoy guilt-free.
Danica Bennewies
Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot
$7.95 at the LCBO
My ultimate budget wine is one you may have heard of, even if you’re not a big wine drinker. LCBO released this red blend about a year ago and it sold out in 160 stores in just a matter of days. Why did it sell so fast, you wonder? Because not only is it pretty tasty, but it’s also only $8. The Toro Bravo is not what I would have expected for a sub-$10 wine. It’s medium-bodied and on the drier side, though some sweetness helps to balance out the acidity. Dark fruits, like blackberries and cherries, dominate the flavour profile. There is just a hint of black pepper and earthiness.
The biggest shock for me was that it’s not sickeningly sweet or overly fruity and jammy, which is what I typically expect with red wines in this price range. On the contrary, it’s quite easy to drink and goes with pretty much everything, making it the perfect bottle to crack open when you’re in the mood for a glass of wine but also want to afford groceries. If you’re looking for a budget red, I would highly recommend picking up a bottle of the Toro Bravo. For $8, you really can’t go wrong!
Tom Collins
Villa Wolf Gerwürztraminer 2017
$14.95 at the LCBO
I have been looking for an opportunity to review this German beauty. Villa Wolf was one of my favourite discoveries of 2019, because it is cheap and delicious! Very light gold in colour, it opens to an enticing, tropical bouquet of lychee and peach. Happily, those aromas carry through to the taste. Expect a blast of lychee, joined by peach, apples, meadow honey, and lightly floral notes. Despite the fruitiness of this wine, there is a pleasant tartness in the background. This offsets the wine’s sugar content, leaving it a versatile medium sweetness (not dry, but nowhere near dessert wine territory). Succulent, and never overwhelming, this medium-bodied wine is perfect for spicy East Asian dishes.
Angela Gu
Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2017
$14.95 at the LCBO
I do like a fun and fruity wine. They make me nostalgic for the beginning of undergrad—memories of days brimming with naïve optimism, energy, and lots of grapey sweet wines that were borderline juice. Castaño Hécula is not one of those. In fact, the first sip of this Monastrell (which you may know as Mourvèdre) was rather unpleasant. Very tannic. I made a rookie mistake: I didn’t let it aerate.
After about an hour, it was better. It’s pretty easy drinking. This wine is not scary! Even though it has a cork instead of a screw cap, it’s not an intimidating red. It smells like black fruit, and it’s a little smoky and leathery. I expected a more robust taste from the beautiful deep purple colour, but it’s just medium-bodied. This wine is also pretty dry. It felt almost like an astringent toner, but this makes it feel healthier because there is less residual sugar. This wine is great for pretending to be a responsible adult.
Kimia Veisi Nezhad
Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon
$14.00 at the LCBO
Earlier this month I hosted a wine-tasting event for Intel, and this full-bodied red came out on top of most people’s favorites list. “Casillero del Diablo” means the “Devil’s Cellar.” The bottle is embellished with their signature stamp—a horned man—which alludes to the devilishly good wine contained within. The wine is a dark purplish-red in color, and it contains hints of woody, spicy, and vegetal aromas.
It is pretty dry, with complex flavours that include dark chocolate, blueberry, and plum. It has a healthy level of tannins, which suggests that it could evolve in the bottle for a few more years and still taste delicious! As with most Cabernet Sauvignons, it pairs excellently with a wide range of foods. I like to pair it with a juicy steak sandwich—steak, mushrooms, and caramelized onion in creamy white sauce.
