LCBO VINTAGES Release July 22, 2017: Old + New Favourites

The upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on July 22, 2017 will be on shelves this coming Saturday. It's a mono-thematic release and is titled "Old Favourites + New Favourites".

The first part of this thematic are "Old Favourites", which is in reference to classically styled wines that are well-established from wine regions around the world. It lists 11 different styles and has 2 examples of each wine, for a total of 22 wines, of which 5 are included among my wine picks. The wines I've chosen include a Riesling from Ontario, the Xavier Côtes du Rhône red (from Southern Rhône) that's a blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. There is also a nice Chianti that is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo. From New Zealand, there is a Sauvignon Blanc, while the final pick is the Ontañon Gran Reserva that is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano.

From the second feature titled "New Favourites", this section lists 10 wines made from lesser-known grapes and styles. Just one of the "New Favourites made my list of wine picks, and it's the Vincens Prestige that is a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot.

In red wines from the rest of the release, the 2010 Bordeaux is a Merlot-based blend that is ageing quite well from an excellent vintage, while the Minervois is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. The Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône is a blend of nearly equal parts Grenache and Syrah, while the wine from Burgundy is a Pinot Noir, and the Barbaresco is made with Nebbiolo.

In white wines, the Vinho Verde is a blend of 70% Trajadura and 30% Alvarinho, while the Bila-Haut Blanc is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu. The Burgundy whites are all Chardonnay. For sweet wine lovers, the aforementioned Riesling from Ontario is your best bet.

Among my rosé wine picks, the Saint Aix is a classical Provence blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, with a touch of Carignan, while the Tavel Rosé is from vines averaging 46 years old and consists of 62% Grenache Noir, 17% Cinsault, 7% Grenache Blanc, and the balance other varietals. Both rosés are dry.

Enjoy my LCBO wine recommendations from this Release. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU HAUT ROZIER CUVÉE SAINT VINCENT 2010 - AC Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#496422) (XD) - $16.95
• CLAUDE GROS LA CONDAMINE PAULIGNAN MINERVOIS 2013 - AC, Midi, France (#493528) (XD) - $17.95  reviewed here
• XAVIER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95
• CHÂTEAU VINCENS PRESTIGE 2014 - AC Cahors, Southwest, France (#272427) (XD) - $18.95
• LA TREMENDA MONASTRELL 2012 - DO Alicante, Spain (#490011) (XD) - $19.95
• GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2014 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $21.95  reviewed here
• JEAN-LUC COLOMBO LES FOROTS CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#494641) (XD) - $21.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE BACO NOIR 2014 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#461699) (D) - $24.95
• THEULOT JUILLOT VIEILLES VIGNES MERCUREY 2015 - AC, Burgundy, France (#487462) (XD) - $31.95
• ONTAÑÓN GRAN RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#939736) (XD) - $38.95
• PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO BARBARESCO 2012 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#708826) (XD) - $46.95

White Wine:

• ANSELMO MENDES PASSAROS VINHO VERDE 2015 - DOC, Portugal (#190546) (XD) - $13.95
• LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $15.95
• DOMAINE DES TOURTERELLES MÂCON VILLAGES 2015 - AC, Burgundy, France (#489799) (XD) - $16.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2015 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $18.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (M) - $18.95
• BERNARD FOUQUET LE PETIT CLOS DRY VOUVRAY 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#489468) (XD) - $21.95
• VAVASOUR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#713958) (XD) - $23.95
• PAUMANOK DRY RIESLING 2015 - North Fork of Long Island, New York (#508770) (D) - $24.95
• EARL SYLVAIN MOSNIER BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2014 - AC, Burgundy, France (#488817) (XD) - $34.95
• PEARL MORISSETTE CUVÉE DIX-NEUVIÈME CHARDONNAY 2014 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#303602) (XD) - $38.20  FSE

Rosé Wine:

• DOMAINE MABY LA FORCADIÈRE TAVEL ROSÉ 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#701318) (XD) - $18.95
• SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2016 - AP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $22.95

Sparkling Wine:

• CHARLES HEIDSIECK BRUT RÉSERVE CHAMPAGNE - Disgorged 2016, AC, France (#036962) (XD) - $69.95