Let the People Speak - Summer 2025
24 Nov 2025- Details
- Category: What I'm Tasting
Reviews from the masses...
I am lucky enough to teach wine classes in the city of Toronto. For 6 weeks I see 18 to 20 wine-curious folks, they come out to hear me preach the gospel of wine on a variety of topics. Each week, we pour three to five wines from the chosen topic: Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, if we're discussing grape variety; New Zealand or France,if the topic is a country.
Many years ago, a wine producer once said to me, "Why numbers, or stars, or any scire for that matter? Make it simple, like Siskel and Ebert." Not a bad idea, so let's put it into practice.
My students disagree with many of the numbers they see on the bottles they buy - it is a topic path we often wonder down — but they do know what they like...
Here are the wines they liked, thumbs up, and didn't, thumbs down.
Thumbs Up ...
Chateau La Rose de Vitrac 2022 Bordeaux (France) - $17.95 – LCBO 43908 
Creekside 2020 Shiraz (Ontario) - $15.95 – LCBO 66654
De Simone 2019 Merlot (Ontario) - sold out - from cellar
Family Tree (Henry of Pelham) 2024 Sauvignon Blanc “The Soldier’s Wife” (Ontario) - $16.95 – LCBO 25649
Hester Creek 2022 Syrah (British Columbia) - $19.99 – winery only
Les Dauphins 2022 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Red (France) - $14.95 – LCBO 385385
Mascota 2023 La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina) - $16.95 – LCBO 292110
Penny’s Hill 2024 On Pound Per Acre Chardonnay (Australia) - $10.95 – LCBO 32828
Remy Pannier 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Val de Loire (France) - $14.15 – LCBO 471318
Rocca Della Macie 2023 Moonlite Chardonnay Toscana (Italy) - $15.00 – LCBO 30946 
Rosemount 2021 Shiraz Diamond Series (Australia) - $16.00 – LCBO 302349
Santa Carolina 2022 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) - $14.00 – LCBO 275925
SoHo Wines 2024 Sauvignon Blanc “Peggy” Marlborough (New Zealand) - $18.00 – LCBO 144386
Thumbs Down ...
Bonamici 2020 Merlot (British Columbia) - sold out - winery only
Chateau Haut Balastard 2023 Bordeaux (France) - $14.30 – LCBO 25608
Concha y Toro 2023 Casillero del Diablo Merlot (Chile) - $11.95 – LCBO 427088
Concha y Toro 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Diablo Crystal (Chile) - $15.95 – LCBO 32498
Francois Martenot 2023 La Collection Grande Reserve Chardonnay (France) - $14.40 – LCBO 42074
Smoky Bay Winery NV Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) - $10.95 – LCBO 553891
Vineland Estate Winery 2022 Unoaked Chardonnay (Ontario) - $15.95 – LCBO 669374
