BC Liquior Stores Launch Improved Website Search Engine

The BC Liquor Stores website has gonethrough another upgrade or evolution this month (bcliquorstores.com). It is mostlycosmetic, although the basic search engine has been simplified. You can nowquickly search the database from a single box on the front page, but likeprevious editions, it has trouble locating certain wines that are in thesystem. Two or three subsequent searches using different words can usuallyferret them out.

I mention the new page because there is onemenu item that will interest many shoppers. It is labelled In-Store Specials.When you click on the menu item it drops down into a number of sub-menusincluding Limited Time Offer or LTO. Each product is selling for a reducedprice, usually for about 30 days, and it is known in the business as an LTO. Tobe clear, the monopoly isn't giving anything away. The discount is courtesy ofthe agent/distributor, or in some cases the winery. The government still makesthe same amount of money on a discounted wine as it does on a full price item.There is no free lunch.

The big change with LTOs is consumers neverknew about them until they walked into the store. Now you can access the information24/7 online, and you can do some detective work before you shop. You can't buyanything online yet from government stores, something that boggles the mindgiven the efficiency and ease of online wine shopping, but maybe someday.

This week's picks are all LTOs. Since Ienjoyed all these wines at the regular price, you may want to know you can buythem at a reduced price at least for as long as the limited time offer lasts.There is nothing like getting a great tip on an excellent wine that is on sale,but it is quite another issue finding that wine. In the convoluted liquorretail market that is British Columbia, there is no simple shopping solutionand judging by the number of complaints I get about not finding winesrecommended in this column at your local government store, it is not gettingeasier.

Each week, nearly 50 per cent of the winesI taste are not sold in government stores. That said, 95 per cent of the winesthat I choose for these pages are sold in government stores. We do that becausethere are 190-plus such stores all over the province giving you the best chanceto find the wine. Keep in mind, the store you shop in would be lucky to carry12 bottles of any of the wine, let alone our weekend picks. In fact, theinformation is online by Friday afternoon and the wines tend to be cleaned outby Sun readers who shop early (good reason to subscribe). As disappointing asthat can be, the wine is not gone forever. Speak with the manager or wineconsultant and find out when the next order is coming to the store and get himor her to bring in a case. You have to be proactive.

Keep in mind the new website also lets yousearch for wines and stores in your neighbourhood, giving you betterinformation about what is available before you head for the store. In the caseof British Columbian wines, only a handful are in government stores becausedomestic producers prefer to take advantage of a home-team discount by selldirectly, in effect avoiding the onerous tax applied to imported wines. Oftenthe best wines are sold directly, online, in six- or 12-bottle cases. If thewine has VQA status, you may find it in VQA wine stores, but even they do notlist everything. You have to consider the hunt as part of the fun.

As for the 50 per cent of wines not sold ingovernment stores, good luck. Some are in private wine shops or restaurants andprices vary widely. Private retailers prefer wines you have never seen ingovernment stores so they have more pricing flexibility. Some match governmentstore pricing for bestselling inexpensive wines, but due to the nature of theirlicences (that they freely applied for) it's not a profitable sale. That saidthere is much to discover on the private side and it is an excellent option forbuyers of wines that shall we say are just off the beaten retail track.

Anna de Codorníu Brut N/V, Sant Sadurníd'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain

Price: $15 | Score: 88/100

UPC: 8410013261015

If you need a wedding sparkler for a crowd,this is it. The nose is a mix of attractive floral, honey, spicy, baked pearand red apple aromas. The attack is just off-dry with baked quince, citrusrind, pear, honey, nutty, spicy, floral flavours. Good finesse and length.

Pierre Sparr Extrem Riesling 2010, Alsace,France

Price: $20 | Score: 89/100

UPC: 003263530020420

Expect a full fresh floral nose withintriguing honey, pear, citrus, spicy and waxy aromas. The attack is dry andlively with elegance and fine acidity. More slate-y, steel-y, honey, citrus,guava flavours mark the palate before a long, tasty finish. This is greatbottle for the price. Pair with any food, you can't go wrong.

Robertson Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2012,Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa

Price: $10 | Score: 86/100

UPC: 746925000977

You don't get much wine for $10 (and thisis marked down to $9) unless you are sipping this Sauvignon. Clean, bright,fresh and full of citrus tropical fruit notes. The palate is a mix of pineappleand lemon peel. Nice with grilled chicken skewers, light salads and pasta.

Tarapaca Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva2010, Valle del Maipo, Chile

Price: $19 | Score: 88/100

UPC: 633567990059

It's a blend of several blocks in the MaipoValley and aged in oak barrels for 16 months. Look for more floral, cherryflavours flecked with tobacco and less savoury mint. Dry, fresh and smooth onthe palate with chocolate, cassis, savoury, licorice, vanilla and orange peel.Try with flank steak.

Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2010, Tasmania,South Australia

Price: $30 | Score: 89/100

UPC: 9339091000820

Dry, fresh, juicy, elegant palate withrhubarb, strawberry, smoky, savoury, tobacco, raspberry leaf and carrot topflavours. Good elegance and fruit with a touch of austerity and a hint oftannins on the finish. Fine drinking now but should improve with one to twoyears in bottle.