June 26, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Cottage Wines + California

The main theme of the June 26, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release features cool wines for the cottage, while the mini-theme looks at hot wines from California. All of these wines, plus those from the main release should be on LCBO shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

From the main theme on wines for the cottage, or simply summer sipping, six of the sixteen wines featured are included among my top wine picks. In the "super sipping" category, there is a fine Greco di Tufo from Campania, as well as a dry rosé from Niagara that is made with 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Viognier. The other four wines have great complexity and are ideal for grilled foods. First up is a brilliant Chenin Blanc from South Africa, while the other white wine is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The red wines include a Cabernet Franc from Argentina, and the Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico which consists of 92% Sangiovese and 8% Canaiolo.

Of the eleven wines featured as part of the mini-theme on "hot" wines from California, the lone wine included among my top wine recommendations is a high-quality Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.

There are a pair of fine Tuscan reds as part of my top red wine picks. First up is the Montepaldi Chianti Classico that consists of 80% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet, 5% Merlot, 5% Alicante, and 5% Colorino, while the Fontodi Chianti Classico is made with 100% Sangiovese. From Rhône, the Rasteau consists of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, while the Crozes-Hermitage is made with Syrah. The last blend is made with Tannat, Pinenc (a native Occtaine grape with different names by location), and Cabernet Sauvignon from Southwest, France.

Among my white wine picks, the Ventoux is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Clairette, while the Vinho Verde is a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho. The rest are all single varietal wines, including a Melon de Bourgogne from Loire, and a Turbiana (similar to Verdicchio) from Lugana. On the local front, there is a fine Chardonnay from Niagara.

Lastly, the rosé wines are both blends crafted in a dry style. The rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, while the rosé from Italy is an unspecified blend of red grapes.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• MONTEPALDI TAGLIAFUNE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - Single vineyard, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#18588) (XD) - $17.00
• MI TERRUÑO EXPRESIÓN CABERNET FRANC 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#22007) (XD) - $17.95
• SAINT MONT LES VIEILLES VIGNES 2016 - AC, Southwest, France (#10316) (XD) - $19.95
• HACIENDA ARAUCANO HUMO BLANCO EDICION LIMITADA CARMENÈRE 2019 - Lolol Valley, Chile (#19243) (XD) - $19.95
• LAVAU RASTEAU 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#680496) (XD) - $23.95
• CAVE DE TAIN HÉRITIERS GAMBERT NOBLES RIVES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2018 - Sustainable, AC, Rhône, France (#572230) (XD) - $25.95  91+ wine review
• LECONFIELD COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#18476) (XD) - $34.95  FE
• FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $39.95
• FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215202) (XD) - $64.95

White Wine:

• PAUL JABOULET AÎNÉ VENTOUX LES TRAVERSES 2018 - AC Côtes du Ventoux, Rhône, France (#18615) (XD) - $13.95
• MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO/ALVARINHO 2019 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $16.95
• LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• TRE FIORI GRECO DI TUFO 2019 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#17677) (XD) - $17.95
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2020 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $17.95
• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $22.95
• TENUTA ROVEGLIA VIGNE DI CATULLO LUGANA RISERVA 2016 - DOC, VQPRD, Lombardy, Italy (#437004) (D) - $28.95
• VILLA MARIA TAYLORS PASS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#13901) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• ALBINO ARMANI ROSÉ 2020 - IGT Vallagarina, Trentino, Italy (#19852) (XD) - $14.95
• SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2020 - AP Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $24.95
• HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95

Fortified:

• LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY - DO, Spain (#342931) (S) (500 mL) - $26.95  91 pts  wine review