It can taste dirty, bitter or hot with alcohol — or just plain unpleasant.
asserted
It → taste → alcohol
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
asserted
it → have → ?
These bottles prove it, delivering pure pleasure in the glass — with the kind of balance and character you’d expect to pay more for.
asserted
you → prove → more
With prices climbing everywhere, these bottles are worth remembering.
asserted
bottles → climb → ?
2024 S. Sebastião Água Do Sol Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal
Score 94
(LCBO 43981, $9.95)
The 2024 vintage of this wine was recommended here in March, earning 94 points.
asserted
vintage → recommend → points
A retaste reveals it’s just as compelling now.
asserted
it → reveal → ?
The nose alludes to wild blueberries and sun-warmed cedar before plush flavours of dark fruit, grilled meat and terracotta roll in.
asserted
flavours → allude → fruit
Then, the finish lingers, leaving a light dusting of salt and white pepper.
asserted
finish → linger → salt
This wine delivers more balance, complexity and length than the price would suggest.
asserted
price → deliver → balance
You won’t regret it.
asserted
You → regret → it
NV Concha y Toro Frontera After Midnight Night Harvested Wines, Chile
Score 90
(LCBO 553917, $9.85)
The aroma of this Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec blend first finds you in the kitchen with a pot full of boiling blackberry jam on the stove — fragrant and full.
asserted
aroma → find → stove
The wine slides in slowly with almost spoonable flavours of muddled cherries, cassis and blackberries.
asserted
wine → slide → cherries
Mouth-watering acidity offsets the generous, clean-fruited centre, so it doesn’t cloy — it tastes ripe and round.
asserted
it → water → centre
This is very much the quintessential jammy red — and those who like that style of red will love it.
asserted
who → like → it
2022 Strewn Rogue’s Lot Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon VQA Niagara Peninsula
Score 92
(LCBO 65342, $14.95)
The 2022 vintage of this Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend is very good, offering more smooth, full-fruited flavour than most sub-$15 reds now on shelf.
asserted
vintage → offer → shelf
Each glass starts with lovely aromatic intensity: black cherries and raspberries, cocoa powder and a touch of butterscotch.
asserted
glass → start → butterscotch
It’s a wine that sings with smash burgers, seared steak and potatoes or stuffed bell peppers.
asserted
that → ’ → burgers
2025 Paul Mas Le Rosé Pays d’Oc IGP, France
Score 92
(Vintages 37666, $16.95)
Rosé earns its place in late September for three reasons that know no season.
asserted
that → earn → season
It makes a refreshing pre-dinner drink.
asserted
It → make → drink
And it looks as beautiful as it tastes.
asserted
it → look → ?
This bottle ticks all those boxes.
asserted
bottle → tick → boxes
The colour catches the light like a satin ballet slipper.
asserted
colour → catch → slipper
The expression is subtle, winking toward apricot, cherry and violet on the nose and palate with a kiss of sea spray somewhere.
asserted
expression → wink → spray
Made from partially dried fruit — much like Amarone — the grapes are picked and then dried for less than a month before being made into wine.
asserted
grapes → make → wine
This process concentrates both flavour and structure.
asserted
process → concentrate → flavour
The bouquet explodes with dark berry goodness underpinned with coffee, peppercorn and rubbed oregano.
asserted
bouquet → explode → coffee
The wine cloaks the palate, unfurling with everything found on the nose along with a hint of sweet tobacco.
asserted
wine → cloak → tobacco
Bright acidity tempers the richness.
asserted
acidity → temper → richness
CAROLYN’S PICK OF THE WEEK:
2024 Rota N2 Red Blend Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal
Score 94
(LCBO 43763, $9.85)
This wine was called RUA N2 when it was launched last year with the 2023 vintage, earning 94 points here last September.
asserted
it → call → points
The 2024 — now called Rota N2 and out now — is just as good.
asserted
2024 → call → ?
The fragrance is warm and heady, showing cherry, chocolate and fig, followed by blackberry and an umami-rich note of hoisin.
asserted
fragrance → show → hoisin
As each sip tapers, just the right amount of texture holds the fruit in place for some lovely length, too.
asserted
amount → taper → length
The Aporia
