April 18, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Organic, Biodynamic & Sustainable + Sicily & Sardinia

The main theme of the April 18, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable wines, while the mini-theme looks at wines from the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia. All of these wines should be on VINTAGES shelves at the top 51 stores only by Saturday, and with physical distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future you can expect to wait in long lines. To stay safe and save time, a better option might be to shop online from LCBO.com - the product code for each of my recommended wines below links directly to the LCBO website.

We begin with the main theme on eco-minded winemaking concepts to produce Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable wines. Organic wines use grapes grown without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers, and contain a very small amount of sulfites. Of the six organic wines featured, two are recommended - a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and a Chardonnay from Niagara. Biodynamic wines are organic wines as they follow a similar approach. In a nut shell, biodynamics take care of the vineyard as a single organism, emphasizing biodiversity of the land and creatures on it. Astrological influences and lunar cycles also play a part in biodynamic winemaking. Of the six biodynamic wines, one is included among my wine recommendations - a lovely Napa Valley Chardonnay. Sustainable winemaking strives for economic viability and social responsibility in an ecologically responsible manner, often borrowing the practices for organic and biodynamic winemaking. From the six sustainable wines featured, two are included among my top wine picks - a Fumé Blanc that is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa.

From the mini-theme on wines from Sicily and Sardinia, there are six wines from Sicily and three from Sardinia, and just one from each region is included among my wine recommendations. From Sicily, there is an excellent Carricante from the northern slopes of Mount Etna. The lone wine from Sardinia is a Carignano (Carignan) that was grown at the southern end of the island.

Red wines from the main release include a pair of Rioja wines - at the low end is the Crianza that consists of 85% Tempranillo snf 15% Garnacha / Mazuelo, while at the high end is a Reserva that is made with 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano / Mazuelo. Also from Spain, the Priorat is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Cariñena, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Italy, the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot, while the Côtes du Rhône from France consists of about 50% Grenache, and Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise to complete the blend. Single varietal wines include a Pinot Noir and a Shiraz from Australia, while the Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, all are single varietal wines. From Loire, the Savennières is made with Chenin Blanc, while the Valdeorras is from northwestern Spain, a place known for producing fine wines made from the Godello varietal. For those that prefer sweeter wines, the off-dry Riesling from Niagara is your best bet.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Stay home and stay safe!

Red Wine:

• CVNE CUNE CRIANZA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#39925) (XD) - $15.95
• CASTELLO DI GABBIANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#216309) (D) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2016 - AP, France (#13439) (XD) - $18.95
• SARDUS PATER IS SOLUS CARIGNANO DEL SULCIS 2017 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#13452) (XD) - $19.95
• MOMO ORGANIC PINOT NOIR 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#163972) (XD) - $19.95
• PENNY'S HILL CRACKING BLACK SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#396473) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
• MAIUS ASSEMBLAGE 2017 - DOQ Priorat, Spain (#13745) (XD) - $23.95
• SIMONSIG LABYRINTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#744375) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• GIANT STEPS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#219725) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• R. LOPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2007 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $59.95
• PECCHENINO SAN GIUSEPPE BAROLO 2015 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#181396) (XD) - $65.95

White Wine:

• LYRARAKIS VÓILA ASSYRTIKO 2018 - Vegan, PGI Crete, Greece (#14420) (XD) - $16.95
• FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 -VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
• LAKEVIEW CELLARS VIOGNIER 2017 - Lake Lodge Farms, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#646307) (D) - $19.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $19.95
• ORGANIZED CRIME WILD FERMENT RIESLING 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11952) (D) - $21.20
• TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2018 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• A COROA GODELLO 2018 - DO Valdeorras, Spain (#13746) (XD) - $24.95  FE
• DOMAINE DU PETIT MÉTRIS CLOS DE LA MARCHE SAVENNIÈRES 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#250571) (XD) - $26.95  FE
• HIDDEN BENCH FUMÉ BLANC 2018 - Rosomel Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68825) (XD) - $29.95
• GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2016 - Made with organic grapes, Napa Valley, California, USA (#346304) (XD) - $67.95

Sparkling Wine:

• CÀ DI RAJO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO - DOC Treviso, Italy (#13830) (XD) - $16.95