The best wines at the LCBO to buy for Dad

Are you planning a last-minute dash to the LCBO to pick up a bottle of wine for dear old dad? Well thought out. But wine – just like shoes, hairstyles and underwear – is not one style that suits everyone. So, here’s your list of best buys, tailored for every type of wine-drinking dad.

For the cheap rich man dad

2018 Niro di Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Italy (Vintages $17.95)

Is your dad in that top one percent of income earners, but tighter than two coats of paint? Is he the type to “invest” in a new Tesla because Elon has slashed prices but doesn’t want to spend more than $25 on a bottle of wine? Is he sure to recognize an underrated red when he tastes it? Then impress him with a bottle 2018 Niro di Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC from Italy ($17.95 Vintages).

This Italian red is an absolute must. The label looks serious – so he can pour it in good company – and yet it’s priced well below his threshold.

The nose is purely fruity and is sure to seduce it with its earthy aromas of black cherries and vanilla notes. Then it enters with a smooth, saturated taste that is wrapped in a firm structure and a velvety mouthfeel. The flavors start out red, ripe and robust, then shift to more savory notes of toasted nuts and dark cocoa before a black olive finish emerges and lingers. Rating: 92

For the francophile father

2020 William Fevre Petit Chablis, France ($32.05 LCBO)

Is your father crazy about French wines? Does he think Burgundy makes the best Chardonnay, Bordeaux beats all other Cabernet-Merlot blends and no one can get their hands on rosé from Provence? Then give the man what he wants. Give him a bottle 2020 William Fevre Petit Chablis, Burgundy from France ($32.05 LCBO).

Chablis, as he already knows, is pure Chardonnay. And this expression will court him with his vibrant wave of luminescence. Each sip beams in like liquid light, glossy and cool-tasting, before overflowing with lemon, lime and green apple, then shifting to grapefruit, salt and zest. Spicy acidity keeps it refreshing and stylistically popping. Your francophile dad will love this classic. Rating: 91

For the amateur sommelier dad

2019 United Stars Mukuzani Dry, Georgia ($19.05 LCBO)

Does your father ignore big brands because he thinks they are too “commercial”? Does he like to drop terms like “terroir,” “aging potential,” and “tannin structure” as he swirls and sips? Does his heart beat faster when he discovers an amazing new wine that no one around him has ever heard of and who might have trouble pronouncing? If so, give him a bottle of the 2019 United Stars Mukuzani dry from the Kakheti region of Georgia (LCBO $19.05).

Made from Georgia’s native Saperavi grape, this complex red wine teems with dark berry fruit and references to gingerbread, dried fruit and nuts and a fluttery violet lift. Similar in weight and texture to a red Bordeaux, this medium-bodied beauty offers all the quality characteristics of what is arguably one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Rating: 93

For the California dreaming dad

2020 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, California (Vintages Essential $39.95)

If a plush crush of Californian Cabernet is your dad’s idea of ​​fun, give him a bottle of the 2020 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon from California ($39.95 Vintages Essential). You could easily pay more for less from this part of the world. So it’s a total find.

The 2020 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon excels with its fragrant, cassis-rich bouquet laced with cherry cola and a hint of nutmeg. That seductive nose leads to a generous, sun-filled entry that is pure hedonism, unfolding with focused flavors of cassis and cherry, blueberry cobbler, espresso, cocoa and toasted oak. Honest yet elegant. Just like him. Rating: 92

The partying pops

2019 Monasterio de las Vinas Crianza from Cariñena, Spain (LCBO $24/1.5 L)

If your dad likes to entertain, help him live big with a bottle of the Monasterio de las Vinas Crianza 2019 from Cariñena, Spain (LCBO $24.00/1.5 L). This classic Old World red is soft, ripe and full of fruit – but not at all heavy, thanks to its crisp, mouth-watering freshness that keeps it quenching and lifted. It is therefore a wine to serve with everything from pizza to grilled burgers to charcuterie. The flavors suggest ripe plums, muddled blackberries and black currants laced with freshly turned soil and a long finish of iron slate peppercorns. Serious wine for a remarkably low price. Pops will approve. Rating: 90

All of these wines make fantastic gifts for Father’s Day. Gift giving is hard work, of course, so pick up a bottle for you too to reward yourself for a job well done – you’re worth it.

Carolyn Evans Hammond is a Toronto-based wine writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Wineries sponsor segments in her YouTube series, but don’t select the wines she reviews. Her opinion is her own opinion. Prices subject to change. Reach her via email: carolyn@carolynevanshammond.com

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