October 31, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California + Italy

After nearly a month without a VINTAGES Release, we return with a fairly large October 31, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release that focuses on high-quality (and high-priced wines) from California as the main theme, while the mini-theme features wines from Italy. All of these wines, plus those from the rest of the Release, will be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at a shining lineup of California wines. There are thirteen wines featured as part of this theme and four are included among my top wine picks. The lone white wine among the four is a high-end, perennially excellent Chardonnay from Sonoma Mountain. There is also a nice Petite Sirah from Napa Valley that always shows well every year, and in this vintage it is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 6% Grenache, plus a mix of Rhône varietals. Of course, no talk of California wine would be complete without Cabernet Sauvignon. For those looking for top California Cab at the LCBO, the Groth Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, while the Cab from Cliff Lede consists of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

The mini-theme looks at fine wines from 10 favourite Italian producers - one wine from each producer. Like the theme on California, there are quite a few quality wines featured, but only two of these wines are on my wine recommendation list. First up is a lovely Gran Selezione Chianti Classico from Tuscany that is a blend of 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino, while the second wine is made with Verdicchio - one of Italy's classic white wines from the central-eastern wine region of Marche.

I suppose the Sassicaia, which is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, doesn't need any introduction as it wasn't included as part of the Italian theme, but it is coming to VINTAGES as part of this Release. Other red wines that are more wallet-friendly include a Cab-Merlot from B.C. that is actually a blend of 69% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, while the South African red consists of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. From France, the Rhône red is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, while the Roussillon red is a tank-aged blend of 66% Syrah and 34% Carignan. Lastly, the Spanish red from Montsant consists of Garnacha, Cariñena (Samsó), Syrah, and Merlot.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, South Africa had a really good showing with four wines - a Chenin Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc, an (oaked) Chardonnay, and an unoaked Chardonnay - and all are under $20. Elsewhere, there is also a nice unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara, while New Zealand brings us a sustainably crafted Sauvignon Blanc. Moving up in price, one of my favourite Chardonnays of the release is a lovely Chardonnay from Australia. For sweet wine lovers, the Riesling from New Zealand will bring much pleasure.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers and stay safe!

Red Wine:

• LOUIS BERNARD LOUIS CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2016 - AP, France (#561290) (XD) - $17.00
• VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#555763) (XD) - $18.95
• POTENTE 2018 - DO Montsant, Spain (#10682) (XD) - $19.95
• CARAMANY SOUS LA MONTAGNE CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2017 - AC, France (#15169) (XD) - $20.95
• MONTE CREEK RANCH CABERNET/MERLOT 2017 - BC VQA British Columbia, Canada (#15770) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review
• RUSTENBERG JOHN X MERRIMAN 2016 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#707323) (XD) - $24.95

 

• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE SINGLE VINEYARD RISERVA DI FIZZANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• FLAT ROCK GRAVITY PINOT NOIR 2017 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#1560) (XD) - $34.95
• STAGS' LEAP WINERY PETITE SIRAH 2017 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#590356) (XD) - $59.95
• GROTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA (#606517) (XD) - $121.95
• CLIFF LEDE STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA (#14217) (XD) - $124.95
• SASSICAIA 2017 - DOC Bolgheri-Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy (#480533) (XD) - $249.95

White Wine:

• THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2019 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#15985) (XD) - $14.95
• VELENOSI QUERCIANTICA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI 2019 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#16607) (XD) - $16.95
• BELLINGHAM HOMESTEAD THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $16.95
• ANTHONIJ RUPERT CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ALTIMA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - WO Elandskloof, South Africa (#15713) (XD) - $19.95
• RUSTENBERG CHARDONNAY 2019 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#598631) (XD) - $19.95
• 13TH STREET JUNE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#236745) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review

• SPY VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#686675) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• GREYWACKE RIESLING 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) $29.95  FE  91 pts  wine review
• VASSE FELIX CHARDONNAY 2017 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#903617) (XD) - $39.95  FE  93 pts  wine review
• NORMAN HARDIE COUNTY UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#381715) (XD) - $45.20  FE
• FLOWERS CHARDONNAY 2017 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $59.95  FE
• KISTLER SONOMA MOUNTAIN CHARDONNAY 2018 - Unfined and unfiltered, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County, California, USA (#183921) (XD) - $116.95

Rosé Wine:

• GARZÓN RESERVA PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2019 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $17.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT ROSÉ PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (D) - $19.95