September 28, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Super Euro Signatures + Oregon

The September 28, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features some top Signature wines from Europe as its main theme, while the mini-theme looks at wines from Oregon. This is the first of what will be some big Releases leading up to the holidays. Thus, if you are looking for fine wines as holiday gifts, or to add to your collection, wines from this Release would be a great place to start. All of the wines from the themes and main Release will arrive on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

From the main theme that looks at eight signature varietals that each do well in a particular region, six of the thirteen wines are included among my top wine picks. We begin with the Albariño / Alvarinho varietal that is widely planted in northern coastal Spain and northwest Portugal, as is the case with the Albariño wine from Spain and Alvarinho wine from Portugal in this Release. Try both to compare. Sangiovese is most associated with wines from Tuscany, and the example in this theme is a fairly tannic Riserva Chianti Classico that is actually a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that needs a few years of cellar time for optimum enjoyment. Grenache is one of the principal grapes in the South of France, and is the dominant varietal in the Sobilane, which is a 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah. Lastly, Nebbiolo is the king of Piedmont, and in this Release we have a lovely Barbaresco and a very age-worthy Barolo.

Amazingly, none of the eight wines featured from the mini-theme on Oregon wines are included among my recommendations.

Red wines from the main release include the Chianti Classico that is made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Bolgheri Super Tuscan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. From Argentina, the red wine is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, all are once again single varietal wines. The Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy is one of three Chardonnay wines to try. For sweet wine lovers, look for, in order of least to most sweetest, the Niagara Riesling, the Gewurztraminer from Alsace, or the Riesling Kabinett.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• DOMAINE GOURON CHINON 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#470963) (XD) - $17.95
• SOBILANE GRENACHE/SYRAH 2015 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#010337) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• WAKEFIELD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (D) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• ECHEVERRÍA ELEMENTOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#010764) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• FINCA FLICHMAN PAISAJE DE TUPUNGATO 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#415034) (XD) - $19.95
• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• MICHELE CHIARLO REYNA BARBARESCO 2015 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#583260) (XD) - $36.95  91 pts  wine review
• TORRES MAS LA PLANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 - DO Penedès, Spain (#129676) (XD) - $69.95  FE  92 pts  wine review
• DAMILANO LISTE BAROLO 2013 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#451807) (XD) - $73.95  93 pts  wine review
• ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO 2016 - DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#986380) (XD) - $134.95

White Wine:

• CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO 2018 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488734) (XD) - $18.95
• ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#225557) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• JULIEN SCHAAL KALEIDOSCOPE RIESLING 2017 - AC Alsace, France (#667535) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• SIMONSIG CHARDONNAY 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#345389) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• DEU LA DEU ALVARINHO 2018 - Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#040642) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• MURÉ SIGNATURE GEWURZTRAMINER 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#387563) (M) - $21.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• EL ESTECO 1945 OLD VINES TORRONTÉS 2018 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#010695) (XD) - $25.95  FE
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068817) (XD) - $29.95
• ZELTINGER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT 2016 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#665927) (MS) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE BÉRANGER POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#648659) (XD) - $37.95  91 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• GARDET MILLÉSIME EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#665869) (XD) - $58.95  90 pts  wine review
• BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, Champagne, France (#100503) (XD) - $113.95  FE