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Welcome to this not-for-profit educational resource database & website created by Michael Vaughan PhD
An award-winnng weekly columnist for Canada's top newpapers including the National Post, Globe & Mail and the Financial Times
This not-for-profit website is dedicated to providing readers with independent non-advertorial reviews
Monday - April 19, 2021

About Vintage Asessments
our roots - check it out here
Supporters receive exclusive advance detailed reviews for each biweekly Vintages release + special summaries & hidden LCBO sales

SUPPORTER-ONLY SECTION
CLICK HERE TO SIGN IN

VINTAGES 2021 UPDATED BUYERS GUIDE
of the 2021 Vintages Releases

See our top 207 selections from January to April

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW
MAY 1 VINTAGES PREVIEW
see May 1st Vintages Linked Release Summary

click here to see MAY 1 Vintages Catalogue

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EXCLUSIVE MAY 15 PREVIEW
MAY 15 VINTAGES RELEASE
see our 153 linked May 15 release summary


See hidden delistings
Save up to $116 on a special reserve Rum

Remembering Steven Spurrier

Steven & I at Toronto Academie du Vin launch March 10, 2020
see Jancis Robinson's great tribute

Ontario's Wine Revolution
See the results of Canada's
1st tasting in London England
with top critics Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier & many more
SEE MY 1976 TORONTO LIFE FEATURE

More Vintages Previous Delists
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2020 Sauvignon Blanc Judging

It's hard to believe that I was in the beautiful Touraine town of Blois on the Loire River judging the 2020 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon. As the only Canadian judge, I joined 74 colleagues from 24 countries and we worked our way through 1,110 submissions on Friday and Saturday (March 6 and 7).  Getting up at 2 am to start tasting wines is not much fun - but I survived. 
It really helped that I brought two dozen of my ISO tasting glasses (vs. the larger glasses used at the competition) as the ISOs really concentrated the aromatics and provided me with a level playing field for the thousands of other wines I taste annually. This was the LAST major international tasting event of 2020
See the new 2021 tasting results

NEW VISITOR RESOURCES
our April 17 reviews now posted
Time to kick the COVID BLUES with one of our Best Buys
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New April 17 BURGUNDY Release Highlight
an unpaid / unsolicited recommendation
Domaine des Verchères Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018
Charming, Fresh. Bright - A BEST BUY   *** 90-points
ONLY $23.95 - Vintages 18674
The most delicious best value Burgundy tasted this year!
New in Vintages - don't miss it.
Click here to see review

Sign in for all April 17 reviews
APRIL 17 VAR PRELIMINARY BUYERS GUIDE

click here to see APRIL 17 Vintages Catalogue
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ACCESS TO ALL RELEASES
63,000 LINKED SCORES/NOTES
click here to see all reviews
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2020 BUYERS GUIDE
2,889 VINTAGES RELEASES
SEE OUR 688 TOP CHOICES
notes & scores for all releases from JANUARY to DECEMBER
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285 NEW PROMOTIONS

Our Exclusive NEW Linked PT1 Summary
285 LTO offers valid until April 25
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MEET OUR CHIEF TASTER

A happy Michael Vaughan at Thornbury's Beaver River
FISHING FOR THE TRUTH
"THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY"
real reviews for people who know & love qualiity


History in the Making
THE BIRTH OF VINTAGES
In 1974 the LCBO opened its first Vintages outlet.  In those days it was called the Rare Wines & Spirits Shop & was initially located in a tiny small third floor room at 43 Freeland Street. It then moved to an upscale location across from St. Lawrence Market.
See the original Toronto Life feature from March 1974
when BOLLINGER CHAMPAGNE BRUT RD 1961 was $16.45
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Copyright Michael Vaughan 2021
Contact Michael Vaughan at mbv@uniserve.com