July 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Old World vs. New World + Cool-Climate Chardonnay

The upcoming July 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is a duo-thematic release, with the first feature comparing some of the wine world's most well-known grapes that were born and bred in the Old World (i.e. Europe) with their transplanted versions in the New World. The second theme of this release is the annual look at cool-climate Chardonnay. All of the wines from this release should be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that compares wines from the Old World versus those made with the same grapes in the New World. Of the fourteen wines featured, only the New World Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is included among my top wine picks.

The secondary theme of the release focuses on cool-climate Chardonnay wines from a few cool-climate regions across the world. Eleven wines are featured as part of this theme and three are included among my wine recommendations. First up are a pair of outstanding Chardonnays from Niagara, while the third wine is a lovely old vines Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy. Buying all three and trying them side-by-side would make for a lovely evening.

From my red wine recommendations, the Chianti Classico (which is also the Wine of the Month) is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 4% Merlot, 3% Canaiolo, and 3% Cabernet, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape consists of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. The Bordeaux red consists of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, while The Trinity Red Blend is also predominantly Merlot. Single varietal wines that should please your palate include an Australian Shiraz, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Pinot Noir from New Zealand.

Among my white wine picks, the only blend comes from South Africa and it consists of 80% Chenin Blanc and the balance Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, and Viognier. Single varietal wines include a lovely Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, as well as a highly-ageable Marsanne from Australia. The Savoie is made with Jacquère from old vines. There is also a nice barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc - called Fumé Blanc - from Niagara. For sweet wine lovers, look for the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2016 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#18721) (XD) - $18.95
• WATERKLOOF SERIOUSLY COOL CINSAULT 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#15595) (XD) - $19.95
• TRINITY HILL THE TRINITY RED BLEND 2015 - Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#551630) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CLOS BEL-AIR 2016 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#633040) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• SHANAHANS SILENCE IS GOLDEN SHIRAZ 2016 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#13031) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#285361) (XD) - $24.95
• TENUTA PERANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#10360) (XD) - $24.95
• DOMAINE DE LA CHARBONNIÈRE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AP, Rhone, France (#62711) (XD) - $51.95
• MASSOLINO BAROLO 2016 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#11205) (XD) - $61.95

White Wine:

• PERCEVAL ABYMES OLD VINES SAVOIE 2018 - AC, France (#14956) (XD) - $17.95
• TAHBILK MARSANNE 2019 - Certified carbon neutral, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#117945) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• LAKEVIEW CELLARS FUMÉ BLANC 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11954) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• LEEUWENKUIL RESERVE WHITE 2017 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#14937) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• ALOIS LAGEDER DOLOMITI PINOT GRIGIO 2018 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy (#681429) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#388421) (XD) - $21.95
• DR. HERMANN KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY RIESLING KABINETT 2018 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#15290) (S) - $21.95
• MARCHAND-TAWSE VIRÉ-CLESSÉ 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#648576) (XD) - $31.95
• TRIUS SHOWCASE WILD FERMENT CHARDONNAY 2017 - Oliveira Vineyard, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#199273) (XD) - $36.95
• DEUX ROCHES VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2018 - AP, Burgundy, France (#488825) (XD) - $42.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $44.95  93 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• TROUPIS FTERI AGIORGITIKO/MOSCHOFILERO ROSÉ 2018 - IGP Peloponnese, Greece (#15139) (XD) - $16.95
• SOTO MANRIQUE NARANJAS AZULES GARNACHA ROSÉ 2018 - DOP Cebreros, Spain (#15377) (XD) - $16.95