September 19, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

The upcoming September 19, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the annual mid-to-late September Release that features wines from Ontario, coinciding with harvest that occurs this time of year. Ontario is the only theme of the Release, and along with the other wines featured in this Release, these wines will all be on shelves across the province by this Saturday.

We begin with the seventeen wines featured as part of the Ontario theme, of which five are included among my top wine picks. Firstly, it was nice to see wines from each of the three major wine regions represented - Niagara, Prince Edward County, and Lake Erie North Shore, as well as the emerging wine regions of Mono (just north of Toronto) and the Ottawa Valley. From Niagara-on-the-Lake, there is a fine Vidal Icewine that always delivers pleasure year after year. From a winery located in Mono, but currently sourcing much of their grapes from Niagara because their own estate vines are still too young, there is a nice, medium-sweet Riesling. Also from Niagara is a Baco Noir from a winery that specializes in the grape. From Prince Edward Country there is a lovely Pinot Noir. And lastly, if you've always wanted to try Mead, a wine made with honey, try the barrel aged honey wine that was produced in Niagara.

From my red wine recommendations, the 2010 Rioja is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. The rest are all single varietal wines - the Barolo is made with Nebbiolo, while the organic Brunello is made with pure Sangiovese. Other wines among my picks are wines made with well-known varietals that have strong roots within their respective country/region - Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from Australia, Malbec from Argentina, Carmenère from Chile, and Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, all are single varietal wines. Beyond the three Chardonnay wines from the New World, there is also a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, a dry Riesling from Alsace, and a Malagousia from Greece. There is also a fine Torrontés from Argentina, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. For those that prefer wines with a little bit of sweetness, try the Vouvray from Loire that is made with Chenin Blanc.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers to sipping local!

Red Wine:

• WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#29280) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTERRA SHIRAZ 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#477059) (XD) - $19.95
• SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2018 - DO Maule Valley, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $19.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE BACO NOIR 2018 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#461699) (D) - $24.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2017 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#145888) (XD) - $34.95
• SOKOL BLOSSER PINOT NOIR 2016 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#748434) (XD) - $39.95
• COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $55.95  92 pts  wine review
• ROCCHE COSTAMAGNA ROCCHE DELL'ANNUNZIATA BAROLO 2015 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#413484) (XD) - $59.95
• LA RIOJA ALTA VIÑA ARDANZA RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#315531) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• SIMONSIG CHENIN BLANC 2019 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#610907) (XD) - $13.95  88 pts  wine review
• PIERRE SPERRY COEUR DE GRANIT RIESLING 2018 - AC Alsace, France (#15523) (XD) - $16.95
• SANTA ANA LA MASCOTA CHARDONNAY 2018 - Cruz de Piedra, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina (#126870) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• ADAMO LEPP DAVID'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2017 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#17203) (M) - $19.95
• SUTHERLAND CHARDONNAY 2018 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#146423) (XD) - $19.95
• BERNARD FOUQUET DOMAINE DES AUBUISIERES CUVÉE SILEX VOUVRAY 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#15615) (D) - $20.95
• PLANO MALAGOUSIA 2018 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#15444) (XD) - $21.95
• WINZER KREMS RIED KREMSER WACHTBERG RESERVE GRÜNER VELTLINER 2018 - DAC Kremstal, Austria (#15704) (XD) - $24.95
• EL ESTECO 1945 OLD VINES TORRONTÉS 2019 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#10695) (XD) - $24.95  FE
• STONESTREET CHARDONNAY 2016 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#991380) (XD) - $49.95  FE

Sparkling Wine:

• CYGNUS ORGANIC BRUT NATURE CAVA - Vegan, Traditional Method, DO Penedès, Spain (#352856) (XD) - $17.95

Dessert Wine:

• REIF ESTATE VIDAL ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

Specialty Wine:

• ROSEWOOD MEAD ROYALE HONEY WINE 2018 - Barrel aged, Canada (#437319) (S) (500 mL) - $19.95