Here’s a good pick at the LCBO for red wine lovers on a budget, especially this week.

Negrar Appassimento 2019 — Veneto, Italy (on sale for $12.90 until Sunday, regular $14.90)

You can’t miss the distinctive label that represents Ulysses’ 10-year journey home from Troy to Ithaca, depicting characters ranging from sirens to the one-eyed Cyclops. This blend of indigenous Italian grapes—primarily Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella—fuses traditional winemaking with appassimento (where grapes are partially dried to concentrate their flavours). Medium-plus in body, red fruit dominates on the tastebuds, with raspberry, red currants and cherries leading the way. There’s a hint of a syrupy reduction on the finish, but it mostly dry and lightly spiced, making this is an easy sipper, but with a bright acidity that also allows for good food pairing. Good value here. 88