December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Dinner Wines + Gifts

In what has been a year like no other, the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is upon us and it is the final Release of the year. This mono-thematic Release features Delicious Dinner Wines and Gifts and all of these wines, plus those from the Main Release will be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

The theme of this Release is a big one with thirty-two wines featured, but only four are included among my top wine recommendations. First up is a dry Champagne that is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. There are also a trio of delightful red wines that includes a lovely Malbec from the Uco Valley in Argentina, as well as an Australian Shiraz made with fruit from Clare Valley and McLaren Vale. Lastly, there is a fine blend from the Côtes du Rhône in France that consists of 75% very old Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah.

From my top red wine picks from this Release, the lovely Marguax is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, while the Lirac consists of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Cinsault. From Spain, the Rioja is a blend of 94% Tempranillo and 6% Mazuelo, while the gorgeous Amarone is a fairly traditional blend of 40% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, and 20% Rondinella. Lastly, the Cabernet Franc from Chile usually includes a small amount of Petit Verdot. The rest of the wines are all single varietals, including the wine from Georgia that is made with the indigenous Saperavi varietal.

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is an organic and biodynamic wine from South Africa is driven by Chenin Blanc with Roussanne, Viognier, and Semillon in support. There are also pair of lovely Sauvignon Blanc wines - one from New Zealand and the other is from Uruguay. There's also a very nice Albariño from Spain and a pair of Chardonnay wines from Burgundy. For those that prefer some sweetness in their wines, look for the off-dry Riesling from Niagara or the Pinot Gris from Alsace.

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

Red Wine:

• ZANGAURA SAPERAVI 2017 - PDO Kindzmarauli, Kakheti, Georgia (#617332) (XD) - $16.95
• SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ 2018 - Epiphany Vineyard, McLaren Vale, South Australia (#269464) (XD) - $17.95
• HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2018 - AC, France (#276956) (D) - $17.95
• KAIKEN ULTRA LAS ROCAS MALBEC 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#50849) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET FRANC 2017 - Fundo Liguai de Huelquén, DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#10591) (XD) - $19.95
• VAENI NAOUSSA GRANDE RESERVE XINOMAVRO 2013 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#15849) (XD) - $20.95  FE

• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95  88 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON 2016 - AP Lirac, Rhône, France (#15447) (XD) - $25.95
• MAJELLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#301531) (XD) - $29.95  FE
• LAN GRAN RESERVA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DROUHIN ROSEROCK PINOT NOIR 2016 - Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#529107) (XD) - $42.95
• FUMANELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#475053) (XD) - $62.95  92 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU PRIEURÉ-LICHINE 2016 - 4e cru classé, AC Margaux, Bordeaux, France (#17487) (XD) - $113.95  93 pts  wine review
  

White Wine:

• AVONDALE JONTY'S DUCKS PEKIN WHITE 2017 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#439554) (XD) - $16.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN MALDONADO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Garzón, Uruguay (#12678) (XD) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES OLD VINES RIESLING 2015 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#277228) (D) - $18.95
• CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO 2018 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488734) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• LA CHABLISIENNE LE FINAGE CHABLIS 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#556340) (XD) - $22.95
• DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER LES PRINCES ABBÉS PINOT GRIS 2018 - AC Alsace, France (#21253) (D) - $24.95
• VILLA MARIA SOUTHERN CLAYS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447474) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• RURIS AMOR LES BURNINS MONTAGNY 1ER CRU 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#16198) (XD) - $29.95

Sparkling Wine:

• ALBINO ARMANI EXTRA DRY CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE - DOCG, Friuli, Italy (#16602) (XD) - $22.95
• TRIUS BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#17690) (XD) - $29.95
• VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN BRUT VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#508614) (XD) - $107.95

Fortified:

• ALVEAR PEDRO XIMENEZ DE AÑADA 2015 - DOP Montilla-Moriles, Spain (#499152) (S) (375 mL) - $24.95
• WARRE'S QUINTA DA CAVADINHA VINTAGE PORT 2006 - DOP, Portugal (#189605) (S) - $54.95

Dessert Wine:

• CHÂTEAU HAUT-BERGERON 2016 - AC Sauternes, Bordeaux, France (#17503) (S) (375 mL) - $31.95