Michael Vaughan's Weekly National Post Feature

Days of Wine & Roses no more!
Under $10 wines a rare breed
© Michael Vaughan 2007
National Post Weekly Wine & Spirits Columnist
Saturday, July 28, 2007

To see this article as it appears in the National Post click here

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If there is a product that interests you, just click on the name below and you will instantaneously connected with the LCBO database. The product will appear in blue and all you have to do is click on the name again and then the next screen will provide details along with the store search. Just click on store search. The number of bottles in each store is updated nightly. Call the store first to see if stock still remains (each store phone number is listed).

The days of wine and roses are over, at least for Ontario consumers. Indeed, if the LCBO has its way, there won't be a penny left for the flowers. Unless, of course, LCBO stores start selling floral arrangements. Despite Vintages assurances that they are not pushing the price envelope, agents are telling me exactly the opposite. The message is loud and clear: raise prices or else.

Now that may be ok in a competitive system. But when a government monopoly controls all shelf space, it is seriously wrong. Worse yet, McGuinty has sanctioned this LCBO cash grab. Others are also pleased. Big domestic wine producers are laughing all the way to the bank. Rising import prices means they can raise Ontario wine prices. Also, being able to import finished, ready-to-drink, off-shore wine at prices below 40¢-a-litre (under 30¢ for whites) to produce "Cellared in Canada" blends means huge profits.

No matter how you dice the carrots, the consumer is getting the short - or is it long - end of the stick. For instance, how come you or I can't access that same cheap imported bulk red wine? This is the private domain of McGuinty's Ontario-based wine producing buddies. Add to this invisible LCBO floor prices and it means that you and I will never see these bargains in LCBO stores.

Sadly, it's getting worse. Just last week LCBO consultants were bemoaning the non-appearance one of my annual recommended best buy whites from France. Dry, crisp and peachy, Domaine des Cassagnoles first hit the Vintages shelves in 2001 at a mere $7.95. For six years, some 1,000 cases flew out of the stores each summer. Last year it jumped to $9.95 and still sold out. This year Vintages didn't order it. Why? The agent states: "we were told that the price was too low and they (Vintages) were no longer interested."

It's depressing to see Vintages reject bargain-priced wines that consumers want to buy. And yet it happens every day. It also seems that Vintages knowingly accepts sky-high quotations. The extra money can be rolled back into advertising in LCBO publications. What happened to getting the best prices? Did you know that the amount of money spent on LCBO merchandising carries more weight (40 points out of 100) in terms of getting a wine listed, than quality (only 20 points)? To see the official LCBO grading sheet click here.

Fortunately, there are still good under-$10 buys on the General List. The question is: for how long? Take Fazi Battaglia 2006 Verdicchio dei Castellini di Jesi (24422) nicknamed "Titulus" for short. It's fresh, dry, crisp and cool with subtle ripe lemon-melon flavours and just a faint hint of honey. Perfect for seafood and only $9.95 until August 19th.

Even cheaper is a tasty Portuguese red. At only $8.15 Caves Alianca 2005 Foral Douro Reserva (239046) from the Douro Valley is loaded with tangy, fresh plum flavours, which is best if served very slightly chilled.

If you think that it's bad on the wine front, then consider spirits. The unannounced Vintages "rapid release" of The Macallan 18 Years Old Highland Single Malt (214759) at $279.95 is now on the shelves. It's a great top scorer, but before rushing out to buy a case, consider the following. The same bottle sells for $233 in Quebec, $195.58 in Nova Scotia and only $155.35 in Alberta. For info call Calgary's Willow Park Wines & Spirits at 403-296-1640. If you are at the airport, call manager Gord Gary at Skyway Wine & Liquor at 403-250-5610 where it is $169.99

Vintages Delisting and Bin End Sale

Starting this today, 453 Vintages products will be put on sale. To see the detail list click here, use the 'npreader' password to access the list. Also check out the list of 88 products in the Vintages Delisting sale that started on last Monday, July 23rd. To see the detail list click here.

2001 - 2007 Tasting Note Database
Our tasting note database from December 31, 2000 to July 2007, covers every Vintages release product for the past 80 months. There are more than 15,000 notes in the database data. Just enter the name of the product, supplier name or CSPC number. Or you can search by type of wine, country of origin, even wine agent! Nothing could be easier. Also you can get information on the agent by clicking on the agent’s name, as well as current LCBO store inventory by clicking on "Check LCBO Availability", which will automatically tell you the number of bottles at LCBO as of last night.

To use our Tasting Notes Database: click here

** For All Visitors **
Vintages Releases
To see the complete list of upcoming products from the
August 4 release, including In-Store Discovery items,
click here (sorted by date of release).
You can also see it sorted by agent click here
To see the complete list of upcoming products from the
August 18 release, including In-Store Discovery items,
click here (sorted by date of release).
You can also see it sorted by agent click here
To see the complete list of upcoming products from the
September 1 release, including In-Store Discovery items,
click here (sorted by date of release).
You can also see it sorted by agent click here

Copyright Food & Beverage Testing Institute of Canada 2007
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
(electronic or other wise) and or quotation.
Contact Michael Vaughan at
mbv@total.net