November 14, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fine Holiday Wines

As we head into the holidays, the main (and only) theme of the November 14, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on fine wines for the holidays. It's a big Release with many quality wines, some of which appeared in VINTAGES previously. All of these wines will be on shelves by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on fine wines for the holidays that would make excellent gifts for yourself, friends, or family. There are twenty-five wines featured as part of the theme, and a number of these I had previously recommended when they came through VINTAGES earlier this year. Thus, just two of the twenty-five wines are included amony my top wine picks. First up is an excellent Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the classic 2016 vintage that consists of mostly Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, as well as 5% of white varietals Clairette and Bourboulenc. The second wine is a lovely traditional method sparkling wine from Niagara that is a dry, zero-dosage blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

From the rest of the Release, among my red wine recommendations there is a red from Chile that is made with 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, while the red from Hawke's Bay consists of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, and 2% Malbec. From Washington, the Red Blend consists of 60% Syrah and 40% Merlot, while the Spanish red is made with 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Lastly, the Chianti Classico is made with 100% Sangiovese.

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is an oak-influenced Greek wine that consists of 60% Malagouzia, 20% Assyrtiko, and 20% Chardonnay. The only wine with a bit of sweetness is the Pinot Gris from New Zealand, while the rest, including the Riesling, are all dry wines. For Sauvignon Blanc fans, there are a pair of lovely 2019s from New Zealand - one from Marlborough (South Island) and the other from Hawke's Bay (North Island) - as well as a Sancerre from Loire.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release and stay safe during this holiday season!

Red Wine:

• FALERNIA GRAN RESERVA SYRAH 2016 - Elquí Valley, Chile (#16793) (XD) - $16.95
• SISTER'S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#478271) (XD) - $17.95
• BORSAO BEROLA 2016 - DO Campo de Borja, Spain (#371518) (XD) - $18.95
• HIGH HEAVEN ROAMING ELK RED BLEND 2017 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#15847) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#85209) (XD) - $19.95
• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2017 - Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $23.95
• INVIVO CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR 2018 - Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (#466029) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• LAURA HARTWIG EDICIÓN DE FAMILIA 2017 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#14147) (XD) - $27.95  90 pts  wine review
• TRINITY HILL THE GIMBLETT 2016 - Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#280263) (XD) - $39.95  FE  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $85.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III WHITE 2019 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#14186) (XD) - $17.95
• TAHBILK VIOGNIER 2019 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#271387) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• WHITEHAVEN PINOT GRIS 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447516) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• PADDY BORTHWICK RIESLING 2019 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#648840) (XD) - $19.95  FE
• TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DELLA SALA BRAMÌTO CHARDONNAY 2019 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#176792) (XD) - $22.95
• WHITEHAVEN GREG RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Awatere single vineyard, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• BERNARD REVERDY & FILS SANCERRE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#200055) (XD) - $30.95
• CHÂTEAU DE MALIGNY CHABLIS 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#16209) (XD) - $30.95
• MOSS WOOD SEMILLON 2018 - Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia (#15047) (XD) - $36.95  FE

Sparkling Wine:

• TENUTA DEL BUONAMICO PARTICOLARE BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Charmat method, Tuscany, Italy (#16712) (D) - $20.95  88 pts  wine review
  
• 13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE SPARKLING 2014 - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#142679) (XD) - $39.95  91 pts  wine review
• BOLLINGER SPECIAL CUVÉE BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#384529) (XD) - $91.95
• LOUIS ROEDERER BRUT NATURE CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#440891) (XD) - $124.95  FE

Dessert Wine:

• HENRY OF PELHAM RIESLING ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#430561) (S) (375 mL) - $49.95  91+ pts  wine review