October 7, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic European Regions

Here's my top wine picks from the October 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Classic European Regions. It is a big, and very fine release with 141 wines that also includes a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive wines. All of these wines should be available by this Saturday.

We begin with the feature on Classic European Regions, which include twenty-three wines from seven classic wine producing countries across Europe. From the theme, there are five wines included among my top picks, with the lone white wine is from Spain and it is a blend of 70% Viura (from 80 year old vines) and 30% Maturana Blanca that was fermented and aged in oak. There are three wines from the classic wine producing country of Italy - an Amarone that is a traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, a Barolo that is made with Nebbiolo, and a Brunello di Montalcino that is made with Sangiovese. From France, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is composed of 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Counoise.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begins in France with a 2012 vintage blend from Bordeaux that is crafted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernets, while the red from Gigondas is roughly 70/20/10 Grenache / Syrah / Mourvèdre, and the wine from Madiran in Southwest France is composed of 50% Tannat, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 24% Cabernet Franc. The only other blend is a Rioja from Spain that is composed of 80% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano, and 9% Garnacha. Mono-varietal wines should be self-explanatory, but include wines crafted with Malbec from Paraje Altamira in Argentina, an Aglianico from Campania, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the release, the only blend is the white wine from Rhone that is a blend of 60% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne. Other fine offerings include a quartet of lovely Chardonnays from Piedmont, California, and Burgundy. If you would like to explore a new grape variety, try the Greek wine that is made with the Kydonitsa varietal. And lastly, if you want something a bit sweet, check out the Riesling from Niagara.

Other wines include a fine vintage sparkling rosé from Champagne that is a blend of 52% Pinot Noir (14% red wine), 27% Chardonnay, and 21% Meunier, while the Vin Santo is composed of 40% Malvasia Bianca, 30% Trebbiano Toscano, and 30% San Colombano.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2018 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU TOUR DE SARRAIL 2012 - AC Bordeaux, France (#448829) (XD) - $19.95
• CHAKANA FINCA LOS CEDROS MALBEC 2020 - Vegan, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#32142) (XD) - $20.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU BOUSCASSÉ 2017 - AP Madiran, Southwest, France (#743385) (XD) - $23.95  90+ pts  wine review
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Clare Valley and Coonawarra, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $24.95

• FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LAMBERT PRESTIGE DES DENTELLES GIGONDAS 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#20952) (XD) - $36.95  FE
• REMELLURI RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#480160) (XD) - $52.95  FE
• DOMAINE DE LA SOLITUDE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#560987) (XD) - $54.95
• TENUTA ROCCA COMUNE DI SERRALUNGA D'ALBA BAROLO 2018 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#154591) (XD) - $62.95
• CORTONESI LA MANNELLA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12405) (XD) - $72.95
• MASI CAMPOLONGO DI TORBE AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#548677) (D) - $148.95

White Wine:

• VIENI RIESLING 2021 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#35299) (M) - $17.95
• LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS LE MONARQUE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AP, France (#18570) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• MONEMVASIA KYDONITSA 2021 - PGI Laconia, Greece (#33254) (XD) - $23.95
• NIVARIUS LIMITED EDITION BLANCO 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#15591) (XD) - $27.95
• RENATO RATTI BRIGATA CHARDONNAY 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#17387) (XD) - $27.95
• CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021 - Sustainable, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#980490) (XD) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
• CHANZY LE BOIS CASSIEN MONOPOLE MERCUREY 1ER CRU 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#32950) (XD) - $41.95  FE
• DOMAINE PINSON FRÈRES MONT-DE-MILIEU CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#700914) (XD) - $74.95  FE  94 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, France (#69831) (XD) - $117.95

Fortified Wine:

• FONSECA GUIMARAENS VINTAGE PORT 1998 - Douro, Portugal (#33813) (S) (375 mL) - $46.95

Dessert Wine:

• ROSSETTI IL NOSTRO VIN SANTO DEL CHIANTI 2004 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#33440) (S) (375 mL) - $26.95