March 4, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Hidden Italy

Here are my top wine picks from the March 4, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release which is titled "Hidden Treasure" and looks at wines from Italy's lesser-known regions. Overall, this is a smaller-than-normal release with just 77 wines includes in the release. It's also a bit surprising to see only twelve wines over $30 in this release. Nevertheless, all of the wines in this New Release Collection should be available at LCBO outlets across Ontario by this Saturday.

As this release is a small one, the number of wines featured in the theme on Hidden Treasures from Italy's lesser-known wines regions is also not many, with just eight wines featured and two included among my top wine recommendations. The lesser-known Italian wine regions listed in the magazine are Friuli, Lake Garda, Langhe, Umbria, Taurasi, and Sicily. The recommended buys are a Etna Rosso from Sicily which is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, while the wine from Umbria is composed of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino.

Red wine picks from the release begins with the outstanding Super Tuscan that is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The only other blend among my top wine picks is the Cabernet/Merlot from Niagara that is composed of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Some of the single varietal wines include a pair of high altitude Malbec wines from Argentina, as well as a pair of Southern Hemisphere Cabernet Sauvignon wines - one from Chile and the other from Australia. There are also a couple of Syrah/Shiraz wines, with the Syrah coming from Chile and the Shiraz coming from Australia.

All of my white wine picks are single varietal wines, with Sauvignon Blanc leading the way with three examples from New Zealand and one from South Africa. If you enjoy Sauv Blanc, get all four to compare and contrast. There is also a fine Grüner Veltliner from Austria, as well as an organic Pinot Grigio from Italy. Lastly, if you like some sweetness in your wine, try the off-dry Riesling from Niagara.

Among my sparkling wine picks, the Rose Prosecco is a blend of 90% Glera and 10% Pinot Nero, while the vintage Champagne is crafted with 100% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cincin!

Red Wine:

• FINCA SOPHENIA ALTOSUR MALBEC 2021 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#13113) (XD) - $17.00
• CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11851) (D) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• ROCKWAY VINEYARDS GAMAY NOIR 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#32022) (XD) - $19.00
• ESCUDO ROJO RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#13434) (XD) - $19.95
• LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO ROSSO DI TORGIANO 2019 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (#368548) (XD) - $21.95  88+ pts  wine review
• MANOS NEGRAS STONE SOIL MALBEC 2019 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#482109) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• FALERNIA TITÓN SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVA SYRAH 2017 - DO Valle del Elqui, Chile (#27198) (XD) - $22.95
• ANGOVE FAMILY CREST SHIRAZ 2019 - Vegan, McLaren Vale, South Australia (#12842) (XD) - $23.95
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Clare Valley & Coonawarra, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• TORNATORE ETNA ROSSO 2018 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $24.95
• TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#72439) (XD) - $70.95  93 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• FASOLI GINO SAN RAFFAELE PINOT GRIGIO 2021 - Vegan, DOC delle Venezie, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ALTIMA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - WO Elandskloof, Western Cape, South Africa (#15713) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, Qualitätswein, Wachau, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $20.95
• DUCK HUNTER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#26127) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#225557) (XD) - $21.95
• SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC RIESLING 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#25647) (D) - $22.95
• VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536201) (XD) - $27.95

Sparkling Wine:

• VOGA ROSÉ PROSECCO 2020 - Sustainable, DOC, Italy (#27125) (D) - $19.95
• MANDOIS VICTOR VIEILLES VIGNES BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#29945) (XD) - $84.95