August 22, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: 90+ pts + South Africa

The main theme of the upcoming August 22, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is titled "Guide Posts" and focuses on wines that have received high scores, while the mini-theme looks at the stellar wines from South Africa. All of these wines, plus those from the main release, should be on shelves by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at high-scoring wines. Of the fourteen wines that received high scores from international critics and competitions, five wines are included among my top wine picks. At the top of my list is a lovely blend from Paraje Altamira in Argentina that is a co-fermented blend of 78% Malbec and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, followed closely by a 2016 Chianti Classico that is 100% Sangiovese. There are also a pair of lovely Chardonnay wines - one from Mâcon-Péronne in Burgundy, while the other is from Tumbarumba in Australia. The last wine from this feature is a white wine blend from Rhône that consists of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Viognier.

The mini-theme on wines from South Africa is mini indeed with just seven wines and provides a decent cross section of what comes out of South Africa, although notably absent is any Chenin Blanc. There are some good wines featured as part of the South African theme, but just one wine made my list of wine recommendations - a 2014 Syrah for $18.

Among my top red wine picks, the California Cabernet Sauvignon includes some Petit Verdot and Malbec. From France, the Vacqueyras is a blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, while the Roussillon red is consists of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan. Lastly, the 2015 Chianti Classico is made with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Malvasia Nera, A pair of single varietal wines worth your attention are a Malbec that is consistently one of my favourites and also featured in this Release as the Wine of the Month, and a consistently well-made Gamay from Niagara.

Besides the Rhône white mentioned above, all of my white wine picks are single varietals wines and the most interesting of the bunch might the 2011 Rioja, which is a barrel-aged Viura. The Chablis is, of course, made with Chardonnay. For sweet wine lovers, look to the Riesling from Niagara or the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel. Lastly, the dry rosé from Argentina is an interesting blend of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ALMENKERK WINE ESTATE SYRAH 2014 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#15780) (XD) - $17.95
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2018 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• VALE DE LOBOS SYRAH 2015 - DO Tejo, Portugal (#14546) (XD) - $19.95
• 13TH STREET GAMAY 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#177824) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• GABRIEL MEFFRE LA CHÂSSE GRANDE RÉSERVE 2015 - AP Vacqueyras, Rhône, France (#15455) (XD) - $19.95
• CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
• ZAHA EL CORTE 2016 - Toko Vineyard, Paraje Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina (#629972) (XD) - $24.95  91+ pts  wine review
• M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2017 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France (#643239) (XD) - $26.95
• CASA EMMA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#910281) (XD) - $43.95
• ARCHIMEDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#431825) (D) - $79.95  93 pts  wine review
  

White Wine:

• COLOMÉ TORRONTÉS 2019 - Calchaquí Valley, Salta, Argentina (#357913) (XD) - $15.95
• RHÔNE TO THE BONE 2018 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#14033) (XD) - $16.95
• INVIVO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14199) (XD) - $17.00  88 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DU BICHERON MÂCON-PÉRONNE 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#14960) (XD) - $19.95
• VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION ST. URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING 2018 - St. Urban Vineyard, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#38117) (M) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• PROCELLA TUMBARUMBA CHARDONNAY 2018 - Single vineyard, New South Wales, Australia (#15140) (XD) - $21.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2019 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#646802) (XD) - $22.95
• DR. LOOSEN BERNKASTELER LAY RIESLING KABINETT 2017 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#15295) (S) - $29.95
• DOMAINE LAROCHE VIEILLES VIGNES LES VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#991893) (XD) - $39.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA VIÑA GRAVONIA CRIANZA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#910711) (XD) - $39.95  FE
  

Rosé Wine:

• LUIGI BOSCA A ROSÉ IS A ROSÉ IS A ROSÉ 2019 - Argentina (#553032) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• ANDREA BIASIOTTO EXTRA DRY MILLESIMATO PROSECCO 2018 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#516559) (D) - $18.95
• RENÉ GEOFFROY TERRE EXTRA BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, Champagne, France (#16166) (XD) - $149.95  FE