VINTAGES Release May 13, 2017: Buyers' Best + New Zealand + Sake

The next LCBO VINTAGES Release on May 13, 2017 will be on shelves this coming Saturday and features an interesting theme as its main release - an introduction to some of the buyers at the LCBO and their best finds, which is also a collection of wines that are new to VINTAGES. The mini-themes are wines from New Zealand and Sake - the same as the first release of May last year.

We'll begin with Buyers' Best finds feature that lists 19 wines from 5 different buyers. However, only 1 wine made my list of wine picks - a dry rosé from Spain that is made with Garnacha from nearly 60-year-old vines planted at high-altitude (790 metres).

From the New Zealand mini-theme, there are 7 wines listed and 2 are included among my top wine picks. If you enjoy Sauv Blanc, then the excellent Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc should be on your shopping list. Also from New Zealand is a red wine blend that consists of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 10% Malbec.

In red wines from the rest of the release, the wine from Rhône is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, while the Corbières is a blend of 55% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 20% Carignan/Mourvèdre. From Spain, the Valdemar is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, while the Cune adds more Graciano, with the final blend consisting of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo. The 2 California Cabs are also blends - the Clos du Bois includes 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, while the Ridge includes 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. From South Africa, the Glenelly Red is a blend of 36% Shiraz, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. And last but not least, the Solaia is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

In white wines, the Portuguese wine consists of two local barrel-aged varietals Arinto and Rabigato, rarely found in these parts, while the Sancerre is a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Meursault is a lightly oaked Chardonnay. For sweet wine lovers, try either Riesling or Gewürztraminer, including the very sweet Late Harvest Gewürztraminer from Konzelmann.

Among my sparkling wine picks, the Franciacorta is made with 100% Chardonnay, while both the Riddled and the Rosé Champagne consist of a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE PHILIPPINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#286344) (D) - $18.95
• PASK GIMBLETT GRAVELS CABERNET/MERLOT/MALBEC 2013 - Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#279869) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES RENAISSANCE CORBIÈRES 2013 - AP, Midi, France (#148692) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
• CONDE VALDEMAR RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#947309) (XD) - $19.95
• GRAND VIN DE GLENELLY RED 2010 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#360339) (D) - $19.95
• CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#054080) (XD) - $24.95
• CUNE GRAN RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#393553) (D) - $38.95  reviewed here
• CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#237263) (D) - $55.95
• MICHELE CHIARLO CEREQUIO BAROLO 2011 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#393355) (XD) - $73.95  FSE
• RIDGE VINEYARDS ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA (#089284) (D) - $86.95  FSE
• ANTINORI SOLAIA 2013 - IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy (#987586) (XD) - $254.95

White Wine:

• KONZELMANN LATE HARVEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#392357) (S) - $14.75
• FLAT ROCK RIESLING 2015 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#043281) (M) - $17.95
• PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#747600) (D) - $18.95
• QUINTA DA REDE GRANDE RESERVA BRANCO 2014 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#477943) (XD) - $21.95
• GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $24.95  reviewed here
• ANDRÉ DEZAT SANCERRE 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#493320) (XD) - $26.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2015 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here
• MARCHAND TAWSE MEURSAULT 2014 - AC, Burgundy, France (#285866) (D) - $65.95  FSE

Rosé Wine:

• IZADI LARROSA PREMIUM ROSÉ 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#490961) (XD) - $14.95
• CHÂTEAU D’AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2016 - AP, Rhône, Spain (#319368) (XD) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LO SPARVIERE FRANCIACORTA BRUT CUVÉE NO. 7 - Traditional method, DOCG Franciacorta, Lombardy, Italy (#484584) (D) - $29.95  FSE
• FLAT ROCK CELLARS RIDDLED SPARKLING 2010 - Traditional method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#383315) (D) - $29.95  reviewed here
• DUVAL-LEROY PRESTIGE PREMIER CRU BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#483107) (XD) - $70.95

Dessert Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES VIDAL ICEWINE 2015 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200 mL) - $26.95