Oct. 29 Wine Picks: Sonoma Special + Party Wines

The next LCBO Vintages Release on October 29 is nearly upon us. In this release, the major feature is wine from Sonoma, California. Overall, I thought many of the wines from Sonoma were overpriced and did not provide great value; however, two wines did make my Wine Picks list.

We're also fast-approaching the holiday season. As such, the secondary feature in this release focuses on "party wines" (i.e. wines that please large crowds). These wines are generally easy-drinking, ready-to-drink now, and can be sipped alone or with food.

If you want to try something new, look at either the Passerina or Sardegna white wines from Italy. Want something sweet? Then take a look at Tawse's Riesling. I haven't sipped Flat Rock's Nadja's Vineyard Riesling since the 2007 vintage - that may change soon.

Among the red wines, it's a toss up for me between the Malbec, Syrah/Viognier and the Syrah. Which one will you buy?

Hope you enjoy my latest wine picks!


Red Wine:

• FINCA EL ORIGEN GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2009 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#065425) (XD) - $19.95
• PORCUPINE RIDGE SYRAH/VIOGNIER 2010 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#079442) (XD) - $16.95
• CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER’S LOT 54 SYRAH 2008 - Los Brujos Vineyard, San Javier Valley, Maule Valley, Chile (#227496) (XD) - $16.95
• SEBASTIANI PINOT NOIR 2008 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#014233) (D) - $19.95

White Wine:

• FLAT ROCK CELLARS NADJA'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2010 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578625) (XD) - $19.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (MD) - $17.95
• SILVIO CARTA BADDE ALVA VERMENTINO DI SARDEGNA 2009 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#230599) (D) - $16.95
• ET CETERA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#264812) (XD) - $14.95
• VELENOSI VILLA ANGELA PASSERINA 2009 - IGT Marche, Italy (#230524) (XD) - $13.95