Apr. 28 Wine Picks: Veneto + New Zealand Whites

Here are my picks for the next LCBO Vintages release, which will be in stores on April 28. The main feature in this release are wines from Veneto (Italy), where wines are steeped in tradition and can pair exceptionally well with food. Among the Venetian red wines, the Monte del Frá Tenuta Lena and the Brigaldara made my list and both offer outstanding value at $15.95 and $14.95, respectively.

The secondary feature in this release is on white wines from New Zealand. The grapes Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris normally don't come to mind when thinking of New Zealand white wines, but both of these are worth checking out. Of course, no talk of NZ white wine would be complete without a Sauvignon Blanc, thus, we have a premium Savvy from Two Rivers.

From the rest of the release, we've got a lovely blend from Arnoux & Fils and a Burgundy Pinot Noir from Rochebin. You won't be disappointed with the Marziano Barolo, but perhaps let it rest for a few years.

Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• MONTE DEL FRÁ TENUTA LENA DI MEZZO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2008 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#272500) (D) - $15.95
• BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA 2010 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#917864) (XD) - $14.95
• ARNOUX & FILS VACQUEYRAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#264663) (D) - $19.95
• BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA 2009 - DO Campo de Borja, Spain (#273748) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE DE ROCHEBIN CLOS ST. GERMAIN VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#264549) (D) - $17.95
• MARZIANO ABBONA TERLO RAVERA BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#067918) (XD) - $42.95

White Wine:

• CHAVET & FILS LA DAME DE JACQUES COEUR MENETOU-SALON BLANC 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#525048) (XD) - $19.95
• LAWSON’S DRY HILLS GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#060129) (D) - $17.95
• SPY VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277723) (MD) - $19.95
• VINEA GARGANEGA 2010 - IGT Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#230656) (XD) - $13.95
• TWO RIVERS OF MARLBOROUGH CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $29.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE CLOS JORDANNE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009 - Twenty Mile Bench, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#033910) (XD) - $40.00

Rose Wine:

• WINZERGENOSSENSCHAFT KÖNIGSCHAFFHAUSEN PINOT NOIR ROSÉ TROCKEN 2011 - QbA Baden, Königschaffhauser Vulkanfelsen, Germany (#168237) (D) - $11.95

You can find the rest of the wines from this release here.