Brett happens

Twenty-nine of the wines featured in the latest issue (December 11th release) of the LCBO’s Vintages magazine are also available in Quebec. Time for another shoot-out.

SAQ / LCBO

$14.60 / $14.95 Juan Gil White Label de Cepas Viejas Monastrell 2009 Jumilla
$15.55 / $13.95 Alamos Torrontès 2009 Mendoza
$16.00 / $16.95 Tommasi vigneto Le Rosse Pinot Grigio 2008 IGT delle Venezie
$17.95 / $17.95 Château de Gourgazaud Réserve 2006 Minervois La Livinière
$19.25 / $18.95 Pittacum Mencia 2006 Bierzo
$19.85 / $17.95 Coriole Redstone Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale
$19.95 / $19.95 Clos du Bois Zinfandel 2007 North Coast
$19.95 / $19.95 Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling 2008
$20.90 / $19.95 Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier 2008 Barossa
$22.35 / $21.95 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
$23.15 / $23.95 Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine
$25.70 / $28.95 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese 2008 IGT Toscana
$25.75 / $24.95 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot 2008
$26.50 / $22.95 Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2008 Napa Valley
$27.30 / $28.95 La Valentina Spelt Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2005
$27.90 / $24.95 Nk’Mip Cellars Merlot 2007 Okanagan Valley
$29.60 / $29.95 Kim Crawford Rise-and-Shine Creek Pinot Noir 2007 Central Otago
$37.50 / $41.95 Tenuta Sant’Antonio Selezione Antonio Castagnedi Amarone della Valpolicella 2006
$42.00 / $39.95 Boekenhoutskloff The Chocolate Block 2008 Western Cape
$44.00 / $47.95 Delamotte Brut Champagne
$44.75 / $44.95 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2004
$49.25 / $52.95 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
$53.25 / $49.95 Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut Champagne
$54.00 / $54.00 Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port 1996
$60.50 / $64.95 Glenafarclas 12 years old Highland Single Malt
$64.00 / $69.95 The Yamazaki 12 years old Single Malt Wiskey
$75.00 / $69.95 Tenuta Sette Ponte Oreno 2007 IGT Toscana
$99.00 / $99.95 Gaston de Lagrange XO Cognac
$147.25 / $119.95 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa Valley

SAQ 13, LCBO 12. That said, several of Ontario’s wins are decisive, approaching and even exceeding 10%.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the new year, when Quebec wine and spirits lovers get hit with a double whammy: the Quebec sales tax jumping from 7.5% to 8.5% on January 1 and a small increase in the SAQ’s fixed markup in early February.