In this article, I am again providing my recommendations for wines that are on sale at B.C. Liquor Stores this month. Each month, B.C. Liquor Stores have a different selection of wines on sale, so I usually review what is on sale and decide what I would like to buy or try. This month, I am focusing on value wines under $30. These wines will be on sale until September 4, 2021, while quantities last.
Cecchi 2016 Chianti Classico Storia Di Famiglia – taking advantage of the tremendous 2016 vintage in Tuscany, this is a great everyday wine from a very experienced Chianti producer. This is a wine made with 90-per-cent Sangiovese grapes and 10 per cent other grape varieties. It is simple wine that is aged in bottle for two months and will provide immediate drinking pleasure with good structure and fruit content. It is on sale this month, reduced from $19.99 to $16.99.
Frei Brothers 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – while Napa gets a lot of attention, there are many great Cabernet Sauvignon wines from other regions in California that offer tremendous value. This is particularly true in a bounce back vintage like 2018. The Alexander Valley has hot days and cool nights which helps the full ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Frei Brothers is very experienced winery, producing wines in the Sonoma County for over a century. You can expect full bodied, tannic wines that will drink well for up to five years. It’s on sale from $29.99 to $26.99.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2016 Red Blend Indian Wells – California is not the only place in the US that makes great wines. Our neighbours in Washington have some magnificent wineries, such as Chateau Ste. Michelle. This is a blend of 54-per-cent Syrah, 27-per-cent Merlot, seven-per-cent Malbec, four-per-cent Grenache, three-per-cent Cabernet Sauvignon, two-per-cent Cabernet Franc, one-per-cent Cinsault, one-per-cent Barbera, one-per-cent Mourvedre. It’s another very affordable, ready to drink wine that gives you plenty of fruit and quality. The predominance of Syrah and Merlot should make this wine quite soft on the palate, while giving you tremendous black fruit flavours. It’s reduced in price this month from $29.99 to $24.99.
Chapoutier 2019 Cotes Du Rhone Belleruche – Cotes Du Rhone wines, which are a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes, are always crowd pleasers, as they have good fruit flavour, high intensity and pack a punch. They don’t need much aeration, so you can enjoy them right away. Chapoutier is one of the most respected Rhone wineries, so this is a great deal this month, as it is reduced from $19.99 to $15.99.
Santa Carolina 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Leyda – can you get a decent white wine under $15? This is a great summer sipper from a quality Chilean wine producer. It is hard to imagine how a wine produced from 30 different lots in the Leyda Valley can provide such quality at this price level. Expect good acidity and citrus flavours. You can’t go wrong with it, as it is on sale from $13.99 to $10.99.
See Ya Later 2019 Rosé Nelly – for summer, I love a rosé once in awhile. Take a flyer on a fun wine from a quality B.C. winery. This is a semi dry wine that is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. It is going to be fruity with strawberry and cherry notes. It’s reduced this month from $15.99 to $14.99.
For more recommendations over $30, see my video on my YouTube Channel.
Until next time, happy drinking!
Tony Kwan is a lifestyle writer. Lawyer by day, food and wine lover by night, Tony aims to give you an insider’s guide to the best that life has to offer.
