September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: High Scores

As we go head first into the busy holiday season, here's my top wine picks from the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release. The feature of the release is titled "High Scores", and like all other releases this year, there is no mini-feature. All of the wines in this release should be in stores across Ontario by Saturday. The Online Exclusives (OE) wines included as part of this release will also be available at Flagship locations.

We begin with the feature on High Scoring wines, and of the seventeen wines included as part of the theme, six are included among my top wine picks. Among the white wines, both the Charles Baker Riesling and the Gewurztraminer are just off-dry (i.e. a hint of sweetness), while the dry white from Niagara is a blend of 75% Marsanne and 25% Viognier. Among the reds, the wine from Roussillon is a tank-aged blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre that was all grown on schist soils, while the Cahors consists of 90% Malbec and 10% Tannat. Lastly, there is also a consistently delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, we begin in Spain with a pair of lovely Riojas - the Gran Reserva is a blend of approximately 94% Tempranillo and 6% Mazuelo, while the Reserva consists of 85% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. From Tuscany, the 2016 Chianti Classico is one the Wines of the Month and crafted with 100% Sangiovese, while the 2018 Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. For GSM wine lovers, Barossa red is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Shiraz, and 5% Mataro. Single varietal wines worth noting are the Crozes-Hermitage which is made with Syrah, and the Etna Rosso from Sicily that is crafted with 100% Nerello Mascalese.

The only blend among my white wine recommendations from the main release comes from Roussillon and it is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. Contrasting new world vs. old world single varietal wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from both Chile and Loire, as well as a Chardonnay from both New Zealand and Burgundy. If you want to try something off the beaten path, check out the Posip grape variety from Croatia. For those that prefer their wines somewhat sweet, the always lovely Hidden Bench Riesling should be on your radar.

My lone rosé wine pick is a dry rosé from Provence that is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino).

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• DOMAINE FORÇA RÉAL SCHISTES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2018 - AP, Midi, France (#494161) (XD) - $16.95
• VIGNOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#17404) (XD) - $19.95
• SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2019 - Barossa, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $19.95
• WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Clare Valley/Limestone Coast, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CUNE RESERVA 2017 - Rioja Alta, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#417659) (XD) - $21.95
• IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#85209) (XD) - $21.95
• CHÂTEAU LAMARTINE CUVÉE PARTICULIÈRE CAHORS 2018 - AC, South of France, Southwest, France (#441238) (XD) - $26.95
• CAVE DE TAIN HÉRITIERS GAMBERT NOBLES RIVES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2020 - Sustainable, AP, Rhone, France (#572230) (XD) - $27.95
• NICOSIA CONTRADA MONTE SAN NICOLÒ 2018 - DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#26507) (XD) - $29.95  OE
• LAN GRAN RESERVA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $33.95
• BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD OLD VINES PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#361816) (XD) - $47.95  OE

White Wine:

• MIGUEL TORRES ÁNDICA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Vegan, Valle de Curicó, Chile (#25641) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2021 - AP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• KEW MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2018 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95
• PIERRE SPARR SOL CALCAIRE GEWURZTRAMINER 2018 - AC Alsace, France (#25370) (D) - $21.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2019 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (M) - $24.95
• MERGA VICTA POSIP 2020 - Smokvica, Dalmatia, Korcula, Croatia (#25828) (XD) - $26.95
• CHATELAIN LES CHARMES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#727990) (XD) - $26.95
• CHARLES BAKER IVAN VINEYARD RIESLING 2019 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359794) (D) - $29.95
• DOMAINE BEGUE-MATHIOT FOURCHAUME CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#26452) (XD) - $36.95  OE
• BLANK CANVAS REED CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#20183) (XD) - $39.95  OE

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2021 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• STEORRA PÉTILLANT NATUREL SPARKLING CHARDONNAY 2016 - Ancestral method, Arroyo Secco, Monterey County, California, USA (#20177) (XD) - $29.95  OE