April 16, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

Wines from California is the theme of the upcoming April 16, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Also coming in this release is April's monthly selection of Online Exclusives (OE) that will be available online only at lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme titled "State of Grace" that focuses on the elegant and refined wines of California that are loved the world over. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are generally two grapes that first come to mind when thinking about California wines, and of the thirteen wines featured in the theme, the two wines that are included among my top wine picks are made with these two varietals. The first wine is an excellent Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast, while the other wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon made with fruit from Sonoma County and Contra Costa County. Not part of the theme, but a great wine coming as an Online Exclusive is the excellent Fumé Blanc which is a blend of 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Semillon that was barrel-fermented in French oak.

Italy is showing strong in this release with five of my red wine picks coming from this old world wine region. From Tuscany, the Super Tuscan Crognolo is a blend of 90% ancient Sangiovese clone and 10% Merlot, while the Montecucco consists of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. From the Chianti Classico DOCG, the Riserva is 100% Sangiovese, while the Gran Selezione should be mostly Sangiovese with some Merlot. The last wine from Italy is a Nero d'Avola from Sicily, while the Crozes-Hermitage from northern Rhône in France is crafted with Syrah.

From my white wine recommendations, there are no blends and single varietal wines include an organic Soave that is made with 100% Garganega, while the Chablis is an unoaked Chardonnay. Wines that spent some time in oak include the Viura from Spain, the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the Chardonnays from Australia and Niagara. For those that prefer some sweetness to their wines, you should try the off-dry (i.e. lightly sweet) Vouvray that is made with Chenin Blanc, or the medium-sweet Riesling from Niagara that always delights!

Among my sparkling wine picks, the 2007 Champagne is a blend of 57% Chardonnay and 43% Pinot Noir, while the Limoux consists of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• NIETO SENETINER DON NICANOR MALBEC 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#178657) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• FEUDO MACCARI NOTO NERÉ NERO D'AVOLA 2018 - DOP, Sicily, Italy (#339101) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2020 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• HOLLICK WRATTONBULLY SHIRAZ 2019 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#165944) (XD) - $19.95
• CLINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Vegan, Contra Costa County, Sonoma County, California, USA (#24914) (XD) - $22.95
• CASTELLO DI COLLEMASSARI MONTECUCCO ROSSO RISERVA 2016 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#23039) (XD) - $22.95

 

• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Clare Valley & Coonawarra, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#33894) (XD) - $24.95
• SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#716266) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• TENUTA SETTE PONTI CROGNOLO 2018 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#727636) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• PHILIPPE & VINCENT JABOULET NOUVELÈRE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2016 - Sustainable, AP, Rhône, France (#635680) (XD) - $36.95  OE
• TENUTA SAN VINCENTI GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#414417) (XD) - $39.95  OE
  

White Wine:

• ONTAÑÓN VETIVER VIURA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#437707) (XD) - $16.95
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2020 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#468728) (XD) - $16.95
• TESSARI BARCO ORGANIC SOAVE CLASSICO 2019 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#14345) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE GENDRON CUVÉE CLOS CARTAUD VOUVRAY 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#22584) (D) - $18.95
• URLAR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Gladstone, North Island, New Zealand (#22852) (XD) - $19.95
• TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE NORTH BLOCK RIESLING 2019 - Estate bottled, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $21.95
• J. MOREAU & FILS CHABLIS 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#466144) (XD) - $24.95
• ON SEVEN THE PURSUIT CHARDONNAY 2018 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#25856) (XD) - $45.00  OE
• FLOWERS CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $59.95
• ROBERT MONDAVI TO KALON VINEYARD RESERVE FUMÉ BLANC 2016 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#326165) (XD) - $79.95  OE
  

Sparkling:

• J. LAURENS LE MOULIN BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional method, AP, Midi, France (#180323) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• GOSSET CELEBRIS EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2007 - AC, France (#344952) (XD) - $204.95  OE