www.winefind.ca
(All wines/spirits listed below are automatically linked to the lcbo database) 
If there is a product that interests you, just click on the name below and you will instantaneously connected with the LCBO database. The product will appear in blue and all you have to do is click on the name again and then the next screen will provide details along with the store search. Just click on store search. The number of bottles in each store is updated nightly. You should call the store first to see if stock still remains (each store phone number is listed).

There is no question that the LCBO carries a lot of imported wine, more than any mere mortal can taste. Nevertheless, there’s always a host of very fine products that, for whatever reason, do not end up on LCBO shelves. If you are interested in tracking down the host available but unlisted wines, you have to check with those  agents carring “consignment” wines, which can only be stored in a LCBO bonded warehouse.

Recently, I received an extensive list of consignment wines featured by the Lifford agency. I spotted a white I definitely wanted to buy. I then noticed I had to buy no less than 12 bottles. It seems that this discriminatory LCBO requirement has been around forever. The sheer insanity of it all really irked me. Why is it that the LCBO only forces importers to sell no less than a whole case of wine? I was told that age-old LCBO promises of a policy review of this unfair regulation have that all-too-familiar hollow ring. Nothing changes!

How can it be that the LCBO and any Ontario winery can ship exactly the number of bottles they like, while importers are bound and gagged. I wanted to yell “vive importers libre!” Unfortunately, it means that one can’t buy less than a case (usually 12 bottles) of any of the consignment wines I am recommending today.

Digging deeper, one discovers that this uneven playing field becomes even more stilted. For instance, when an Ontario winery decides not to sell a wine through the LCBO (i.e. directly to the customer), the entire LCBO mark up plus wine levy is handed over to the winery. On a bottle costing $19.95, the winery receives an additional $6.43 on top of the $9.32 profit-inclusive basic cost of the bottle – a total of $15.75.

Not so with consignment wines where basically the LCBO still pockets the full mark-up for doing what? On a wine selling for $19.95, for instance, the off-shore winery receives $8.10, the agent receives nothing unless the winery gives him part of that $8.10. Surely the importer who undertakes to sell these wines is entitled to equal treatment as an Ontario producer.

To cover the costs of pick-up and delivery along with administrative overhead, agents are forced to sell such consignment wines at a premium over LCBO cost. This fee, which I have been told has been decreed as being illegal by the LCBO, might be as low as $1 per bottle and rise to more than a 20% mark-up over cost. These higher prices obviously penalize consumers for buying consignment wines. The fact that some agents have imposed huge mark-ups hasn’t help the cause.

It is also worth noting that the LCBO have been operating their own secretive “licensees only” consignment program, essentially competing with existing consignment agents. Ironically, the LCBO refuses to let the general public access these wines. While the LCBO Chairman likes to suggest that it’s a very competitive world out there, it is clear that LCBO actions speak louder than its words. All these restrictions, along with the fact that wine importers cannot be in possession of more than 20 cases of wine at any point in time, makes virtually every agent a law breaker! Hopefully the new Liberal government will address these unfair Tory-installed regulations.

Moving on, Lifford carries  dozens of consignment wines (to get the list call 1-877-272-1720). While planning to focus on New Zealand wines, I had been moved by an exciting Australian Sauvignon Blanc making a slight detour necessary.

It was a happy day for wine lovers when cousins Martin Shaw (winemaker) and Master of Wine Michael Hill Smith decided over long lunch in 1989 to form Shaw and Smith. Their 28-ha Woodside Vineyard is located in the Adelaide Hills, they focused on cool climate styled Sauvignon Blanc (16-ha) and Chardonnay (12-ha) for 10 years before branching out into Riesling and Pinot Noir. Shaw & Smith 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (851139) at $24.92 is one of the few in Australia that can challenge New Zealand’s best. Ironically, it was the Shaw & Smith 2002 Unoaked Chardonnay (851147 - $24.92) that really swept me away. The seductive, rhubarb-tinged, ripe grapefruit nose was followed by bright, dry but harmonious, lemony, ripe pear flavours made this crowd-pleaser a real winner. For further information on Shaw and Smith click here

Of three excellent Sauvignon Blanc tasted, the best was Craggy Range 2002 Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road Vineyard Block 11 Martinborough (798975) at $28.30. A solid, still youthful effort with 14.4% alcohol, it has grassy, dusty, ripe lemon flavours with a lingering herbal finish. It could still use another 8 months or so to evolve and will definitely appeal to those who appreciate a gutsy, dry style. At 29, American-born Doug Wisor has done fine things at Craggy Range. He was in Toronto recently at the Vintages Young Winemakers event and some 7 cases of this wine will be sent to various LCBO stores in the near future (919530 - $27.95). For further information on Craggy Range click here

The preview blind tasting featured two New Zealand Pinot Noirs, which were extremely impressive, although different in style. The elegant Marlborough-based Wither Hills 2001 Pinot Noir (831016 - $44.35) has an attractive, bright ripe black cherry scented nose and fine, bright, fairly juicy, harmonious, ruby grapefruit, dried ripe red cherry flavours that are showing very nicely. For further information on Wither Hills click here

While the latter effort from the northern tip of the South Island resembles a fine Beaune, the next Pinot Noir from the most southerly reaches of New Zealand had shades of classic Mazis-Chambertin. From Central Otago region, the recently-launched Carrick 2001 Cairnmuir Road Pinot Noir (887497) at $52.62 is definitely worth a detour. Look for well balanced, solid, dry but not austere, medium-full bodied, slightly piquant, dried ripe black cherry flavours that show fine length and mouthfeel. Excellent today, this one can still evolve over the next 12 months. For further information on Carrick click here

Those wanting to know more should seek out the outstanding hot-off-the press Wine Atlas of New Zealand by Michael Cooper ($96.95). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a single Toronto bookstore that stocked it! Chapters-Indigo offer it on their website at a great discount, but will it be delivered before Christmas? It’s hard to believe that the Canadian distributor has only a single copy in stock for the entire country! Isn’t it time that the publisher find a more pro-active distributor! Fortunately, the New Zealand Wine Growers (rketchin@ketchin.com), however, have 4 copies immediately available at $85 (plus shipping and taxes). Let me assure you that it is indispensable for anyone planning to attend the biannual world conference Pinot Noir 2004 in Wellington from January 28-31. This celebration will bring delegates and international winemakers to New Zealand’s capital for three days. It features of top level national and international speakers, quality cuisine and a multitude of tastings. The program includes nine overseas winemakers and 99 New Zealand wineries. For information on the event

2001-2002-2003 Tasting Note Database

Our tasting note database from December 3 1, 2000 to November 2003, covers every Vintages release product for the past 34 months. There are more than 5,000 notes in the database data. Just enter the name of the product, supplier name or CSPC number. Or you can search by type of wine, country of origin, even wine agent! Nothing could be easier. Also you can get information on the agent by clicking on the agent’s name, as well as current LCBO store inventory by clicking on "Check LCBO Availability", which will automatically tell you the number of bottles at LCBO as of last night.

To use our winefind.ca Tasting Notes Database: click here

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Check out the
January 2004 InStore Discovery