bordeaux | VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews

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Monday, October 27, 2025

October 25, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

LCBO Wine Picks: October 25, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the October 25, 2025, LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where Fine French Wines are the feature story of the release. With the holidays creeping up, this is a big release with nearly 155 SKUs offered — nearly 40 of which are Gift and Sampler Packs. There are many fine wines in this release that are worthy gift-giving options or adding to your cellar, and everything should be available for purchase in-store and online.

We'll begin with the feature on Fine French Wines, and of the twenty-two wines included as part of the thematic, nine are included among my top wine picks. Champagne is synonymous with fine French wines, and there are a couple of fine bubblies from Champagne in this release - with the 2016 Champagne composed of 43% Pinot Noir (13% red wine), 42% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier, while the non-vintage Champagne is crafted with Pinot Noir. The lone French white recommendation is the Muscadet from Loire that is crafted with Melon de Bourgogne, while the lone rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Caladoc, and Syrah. From the Rhône Valley, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault, while the Crozes-Hermitage is 100% Syrah. The red wine from Saint-Chinian in Languedoc is crafted with 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, while the Bordeaux red is 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The last wine from France is the Madiran, which is primarily Tannat with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in support.

Xavier Vignon Crozes-Hermitage 2021 (91+ pts)

Red wine recommendations from the main release begins in Italy with a Bolgheri from Tuscany that is crafted with 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Merlot, followed by the Sicilian red that is a blend of 50% Nero d'Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Franc. From Chile, the Cabernet Sauvignon is actually blended with 10% Syrah and 5% Carmenere, while the Central Valley red from Chile is composed of 45% Grenache, 40% Petite Sirah, and 15% Mourvèdre. From Spain, the Rioja is made with 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and the rest is Mazuelo and Graciano., while the Priorat is a blend of 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha. Among the single varietal wines, there are a couple of fine Pinot Noirs - one each from Niagara and New Zealand, as well as a pair of Malbecs from Argentina. There's also a lovely Pinotage from South Africa, and a Garnacha from Spain.

Cloudsley Twenty Mile Bench Pinot Noir 2020 (92 pts)

Montes Alpha Special Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (90+ pts)

Volcanes de Chile Tectonia Grenache/ Petite Sirah/ Mourvèdre 2021 (90+ pts)

Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2022 (90+ pts)

All of my top white wine picks are mono-varietal wines. There are a trio of Chardonnays worth your attention, with versions from New Zealand, Argentina, and an unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara. Also recommended buys are the Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and the Grüner Veltliner from Austria. If you enjoy off-dry (i.e. mildly sweet) Riesling, there are a pair of fine Rieslings from the Niagara Escarpment appellation. Lastly, and staying on the local front, there is a delicious, dry Gewürztraminer from Niagara-on-the-Lake, followed by a lovely Gewürztraminer Icewine.

Laurenz V. Friendly Grüner Veltliner 2023 (89 pts)

Lakeview Gewürztraminer Icewine 2019 (92+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

FORTANT GRANDS TERROIRS SAINT-CHINIAN 2022 - AOC, Languedoc, France (#43564) (XD) - $19.95
PLANETA LA SEGRETA ROSSO SICILIA 2022 - Sustainable, DOC, Sicily, Italy (#477950) (XD) - $19.95
SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2023 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
RADFORD DALE VINUM PINOTAGE 2022 - Vegan, WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#45165) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
CHÂTEAU BOUSCASSÉ 2019 - AOP Madiran, Southwest, France (#743385) (XD) - $23.95 90+ pts wine review

VOLCANES DE CHILE TECTONIA GRENACHE/ PETITE SIRAH/ MOURVÈDRE 2021 - Valle Central, Chile (#44597) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
CLOS BALTASAR GARNACHA 2021 - Vegan, DO Calatayud, Spain (#22444) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
MONTES ALPHA SPECIAL CUVÉE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#649160) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
ERADUS PINOT NOIR 2023 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41809) (XD) - $24.95 review coming soon...
VERSADO CENTENARY VINES MALBEC 2019 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#46352) (XD) - $29.95
DOMAINE DU GRAND ORMEAU 2020 - Sustainable, AOC Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, France (#33040) (XD) - $33.95

CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11665) (XD) - $36.95 92 pts wine review
TORRES SALMOS 2021 - DOCa Priorat, Spain (#450734) (XD) - $39.95 92 pts wine review
XAVIER VIGNON CROZES-HERMITAGE 2021 - AOP, Rhône, France (#43809) (XD) - $48.95 91+ pts wine review
R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA BOSCONIA RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#529586) (XD) - $59.95
CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2022 - AOC, Rhône, France (#735407) (XD) - $74.95
ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO 2022 - DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#986380) (XD) - $203.95

White Wine:

BOYA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Coast Zone, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#389726) (XD) - $15.95 88 pts wine review
2027 CELLARS WISMER VINEYARD FOXCROFT BLOCK RIESLING 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#47642) (D) - $18.95
REIF RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#360255) (XD) - $19.95
RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2023 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $19.95
CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#918805) (XD) - $20.95
LAURENZ V. FRIENDLY GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#66225) (XD) - $22.95 89 pts wine review
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $24.95
DOMAINE POIRON DABIN CHÂTEAU-THÉBAUD MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2019 - AOP, Loire, France (#42743) (XD) - $28.95
AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#12623) (XD) - $32.95
TWO SISTERS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#423103) (XD) - $39.00

Rosé Wine:

LE BIJOU DE SOPHIE VALROSE ROSÉ 2024 - IGP Coteaux de Béziers, Languedoc, France (#20012) (XD) - $17.95

Sparkling Wine:

DRAPPIER ZERO DOSAGE BRUT NATURE PINOT NOIR CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#179275) (XD) - $74.95
MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2016 - AOC, France (#69831) (XD) - $131.95

Dessert Wine:

LAKEVIEW GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547703, 200 mL) (S) - $34.95 92+ pts wine review

Château de Fontenille Blanc 2023 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, sustainable Sauvignon Blanc-based blend from Bordeaux that was included as part of the feature story on "Summery White Wines" in the recent June 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection a couple of weeks ago.

It is produced by the historic Château de Fontenille, a winery whose roots can be traced back to the 4th century, when the poet Ausone praised the wines of the area within the Entre-deux-Mers wine region of Bordeaux. In the 4th century, this site was a Roman villa, of which there are only scattered remains today, and featured grape vines. The history of the property is traced back to the 15th century, when it was mentioned in the archives of the neighbouring Benedictine monastery - Abbey of La Sauve Majeure. This monks of the monastery tended to the vines on this site for hundreds of years. In 1923, the property was known for its use of high-quality wine barrels.

A property as old as Château de Fontenille has changed hands many times over the years, and in 1989 the property marked its rebirth as its 16 hectares of vineyards were acquired by a young Belgian, Stéphane Defraine. Château de Fontenille has since grown to 63 hectares of vines, and in 2020, Stéphane was joined by his daughter Macha. Together, with a dream and ambition, they imagine, probe, prepare, wait, adjust, and improve as they seek to improve their wines with each passing vintage. As part of this process, they master each row of plots, micro-vinify, and delicately mature their wines with meticulous precision.

With the proper choice of varietal origin, reproduction of the vines, caring for their longevity, the intra-parcel selections, micro-vinifications, and ageing techniques, including the selection of wood, the family aims to take Château de Fontenille one step further to produce high-quality wines. They have divided their 63 hectares of vineyards across the appellations of Entre-deux-Mers and Cadillac, which are spread over 5 islets, into 67 plots, and have great diversity in soil, grape varieties, and vineyard management techniques. Among their vine plantings are century-old Sémillon, as well as the re-discovery of Sauvignon Gris from the Loire, and young plantings of Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Since 2005, Château de Fontenille began working their soils without the use of chemical weedkillers, and are actively trying to limit their interventions to control pests and disease. After receiving their HVE environmental approach certification, they began their conversion to organic in 2020. Their approach to sustainability includes social and economic improvements. Among their sustainability initiatives include reducing energy consumption, preserving water resources, the maintenance of a singular plant heritage, the sorting and recycling of waste, and protecting the health and well-being of their employees, local residents, and consumers.

This white wine is from the Entre-deux-Mers appellation of the Bodeaux. Entre-deux-Mers, whose name originates from the Latin term "Inter duo maria”, which means between two tides, is situated between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Indeed, the name is related to the two tides that go up the course of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers via the Gironde estuary. While it is often referred to as "Bordeaux Tuscany", the Entre-deux-Mers appellation is renowned for its exemplary white wines.

This white wine is crafted with 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, and 10% Sémillon that was grown on soil composed of siliceous clay and gravel, at an elevation of 380 feet above sea level. The wine was vinified completely in stainless steel tanks, with skin maceration for 10 to 24 hours, and was aged on its fine lees for 4 months.

The 2023 growing season in Bordeaux began as a dry and warm vintage, with flowering and fruit set looking textbook perfect from late-May to the first week of June. However, the weather turned tropical with three weeks of heat and relentless rain, which led to downy mildew outbreaks. July was also hotter and drier than average, however, it was also unusually cloudy. There were also a couple of pre-harvest heatwaves in August and September. From a great vintage that delivered freshness for white wines, let's see how this 2023 Bordeaux Blanc is tasting tonight...

Château de Fontenille Blanc 2023 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE FONTENILLE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, AC Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France (#140046) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, and 10% Sémillon. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose seems a bit reserved, offering attractive and ripe aromas of lemon citrus and white peach nuanced with leesy mineral, spice, and grapefruit with touches of earthiness and guava adding further complexity and interest. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it is richly structured and faintly honeyed with delicious yellow citrus, grapefruit, lemon, spice, and green fruit flavours. Nicely textured with succulent and juicy acidity. More savoury with leesy mineral, spice, earthy, and grapefruit citrus notes on the long, well-structured, and juicy finish. Should continue to drink well over the next 2-3 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Château de Fontenille can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Château Tanesse 2020 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Bordeaux red from the Right Bank that arrived at the LCBO as the Wine of the Month in the April 26th LCBO VINTAGES Release Collection.

It is produced by Vignobles Gonfrier, a prominent, family-owned wine producer whose journey began when Paul Gonfrier and his wife, Marie-José, left their native land of Algeria in 1962 to start a wine business in Lestiac-sur-Garonne, Gironde, in the great wine region of Bordeaux. Paul bought Château de Marsan, which was in ruins at the time, but was surrounded by promising terroirs. He began the adventure with three hectares of grapes, then developed the property's arboricultural activity with the help of the entire family.

Paul's three sons became actively involved in the estate and in local life, with his eldest son, Pierre, becoming mayor of the local municipality, while Philippe became involved in running the property at a very early age, and the youngest son, Eric, carrying out his first vinification in 1985. The Gonfrier family continued to grow the estate with each passing year, with the objective of excellence: ensuring that each variety of grape is carefully selected to best express each plot's special characteristics, while also employing vinification techniques among the vines and in the cellar that seek to allow the terroir to express its finest qualities.

Today, Vignobles Gonfrier is led by brothers Eric and Philippe Gonfrier. Their recognition of exceptional quality wines has allowed them to acquire additional vineyards to further refine their blends. With over 1,000 hectares of vines, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, the Gonfrier family goes out of its way to craft top-quality wines with sensitivity and respect for the concept of terroir. The third-generation of the family is also now involved in the family business, with Thibault, Philippe’s son, joining the company and expending great effort on taking care of the well-maintained vineyards in an environmentally respectful manner. In 2018, Thibault's sister, Audrey, also joined the company following her successful time spent at a Bordeaux wine merchant. Eric's three children are currently finishing up their studies and are eager to integrate into the family business by implementing new modern skills and knowledge. Their deep-rooted values are: passion for their work, respect for their clients, respect for their commitments, respect for the environment, and defence of their independence and freedom of action.

Château Tanesse is located in the Langoiran district of the AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, a sub-appellation of the within the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Built in the second half of the 18th century by the Tanesse family, the Bordeaux charterhouse is located on a high hillock among Langoiran's sloping vineyards, and overlooks the commune's medieval 13th-century castle and offers a magnificent, panoramic view that stretches from the edge of the Sauternais to the outskirts of Bordeaux, while following the meanders of the Garonne River. The property is surrounded by a 30-hectare vineyard that sits atop very old foundations and has exceptional terroir.

This red wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc that was grown on gravelly and clayey-gravelly slopes atop a calcareous subsoil in the vineyard surrounding the Château. The vineyard is managed using sustainable viticulture (certified HVE3), while the Gonfrier family is also committed to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach certified by Ecovadis. The vines average 25 years old and were trained in the traditional Bordeaux-style, with two canes and a flat arch, along with controlled grassing-down of the vine rows or mechanical working of the soil in order to improve the soils' vitality and biodiversity. The grapes were manually green harvested, to allow for homogeneous distribution and proper aeration of the grape bunches, while also mechanically harvested. After destemming, crushing, and vatting, the grapes were fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks, with a prolonged maceration to extract tannins and showcase the terroir. And finally, the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Despite the pandemic, the 2020 growing season produced a legendary vintage. The growing season began with a balmy but frequently wet spring, which ensured both an early and successful budburst and flowering, while also putting the vineyards in good shape for the arrival of a hot and dry summer. Conditions were mostly arid throughout summer, with intermittent thunderstorms providing just enough water relief. The Right Bank had fewer deluges than the Left, but producers still had to be extremely vigilant at managing disease. Harvest took place during the chaos of COVID, but the weather in fall brought warm days and chilly nights, allowing the Bordeaux varieties to reach phenolic ripeness. While yields were slightly smaller than average, the fruit was healthy and of high quality. Let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU TANESSE 2020 - Sustainable, AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#666628) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc is richly fragrant and inviting, with a medium-high to highly aromatic nose of lovely ripe dark fruits, black cherry, currant, cassis, and wood spice aromas surrounding a core of savoury earth and accented with graphite, mineral, and whiffs of rose floral. It's medium+ bodied and dry with ripe black cherry, currant, cassis, earthy, and graphite flavours in a well-balanced profile with crisp and juicy acidity. Accessible, medium-level tannins are well-structured and provide a nicely textured mouthfeel. Savoury with earthy and graphite notes linger on the long, gently grippy finish. Should drink nicely into the early 2030s. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Vignobles Gonfrier can be ordered through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

Château Plantey 2018 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Cru Bourgeois Cab-Merlot from the Pauillac appellation on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. It made its debut at the LCBO and was featured as part of the theme exploring France's top wine regions in the February 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Château Plantey is situated in the winegrowing commune and appellation of Pauillac, within Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux. The small village of Pauillac is located on the west bank of the Gironde, while Château Plantey is only a couple of kilometres west of the village centre. Château Plantey is an old property which used to be owned by the De Gerès family from Loupes, Seigneurs of Camarsac.

In 1958, the vineyard was purchased by Gabriel Meffre. A former print media journalist for twelve years, Claude Meffre, son of Gabriel, now owns Château Plantey. Claude decided to join the family business in 1996 and first managed Château La Commanderie in Saint-Estèphe. From 2000, Claude has managed Château Plantey.

With most red wines from the Left Bank being Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends, this red wine from Pauillac is also a blend that consists of 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that was grown on the exceptional terroir around the château, which is located in the commune of Pauillac, just north of the hamlet of Artigues, about 2 km inland from the shores of the Gironde. The 27 hectares of vines, which sit about 30 metres higher than the area surrounding them, average 30 years old and are planted on chalky clay and gravel soil. The grapes were harvested by hand and mechanically, then traditionally vinified with thermoregulation in vats for three weeks. The wine was aged for 12 months in a combination of both vats and barrels, with 25% of the barrels new. In the 2018 vintage, Château Plantey was the only Cru Bourgeois listed from Pauillac.

The 2018 vintage in Pauillac began with a relatively mild winter, followed by very complex weather at the beginning of the season, with a deluge of rain and permanently high humidity until mid-July. From the rest of July through September, conditions were incredible, including searing heat, and perfect for achieving great maturity. While the 2018 vintage in Pauillac is considered to be excellent, some of the wines showed a slightly overcooked character, as well as some inconsistencies across the region in quality. Let's see how this 2018 Bordeaux red wine from Pauillac is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU PLANTEY 2018 - AC Pauillac, Bordeaux, France (#38192) (XD) - $44.95
This Cru Bourgeois is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot and has a lovely, elegant, and medium-high to highly aromatic nose of ripe red & black fruits, currant, and cassis aromas layered over earthy-smoky minerality, graphite, and accents of red cherry notes. The weighty, medium-full to full-bodied is dry with medium-firm, well-structured, ripe and slightly chewy tannins that are smooth and fine grained. Ripe flavours of red & black fruits, currant, cassis, black cherry surround a savoury core of earthy minerality and graphite. Touch chalky and grippy textured on the mid-palate, along with some warmth, but still well-balanced. Quite elegant throughout with savoury, graphite mineral notes lingering on the exceptionally long finish. Lovely! Enjoy this highly recommended buy into the early 2030s. Score: 92+ pts

While this wine appears to be sold out at the LCBO, you may be able to get your hands on it through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

Château Guillou 2022 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific wine that I've had the pleasure of enjoying several times over the years, including most recently the 2020 Château Guillou a couple of years ago. This Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent March 1 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available across Ontario.

It is produced by Domaine Familly Saby, a winegrowing family of oenologists with a long history of viticulture and winemaking in Bordeaux that goes back nine generations, with knowledge passed down from father to son since the 18th century. Today, the family business is led by Jean-Bernard Saby, the eighth generation of the family, and his two sons - Jean-Christophe and Jean-Philippe. Considered specialists in Bordeaux's Right Bank, the Saby family owns and operates several estates in this historic region of France, one of which is Château Guillou. The Saby family has successfully combined tradition with modernity to craft exemplary wines, while also focusing on sustainable viticulture.

The estate and vineyard of Château Guillou has existed in its current form since 1870. Situated in the highly-esteemed Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC, just north of neighbouring Émilion and east of Pomerol, on Bordeaux's Right Bank, the estate has 62 hectares of vines. Most of the vines are planted on a plateau featuring clay-limestone soils, and hillsides with clayey-silty soils. Wines in this region are typically Merlot-based blends, with Château Guillou following tradition. This particular red wine is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The grapes were traditionally hand-picked and sorted on tables. To vinify this red, the grapes underwent a cold soak pre-fermentation and foulage, a temperature-controlled fermentation, and malolactic fermentation. It was aged in a combination of second- and third-use French and American oak barrels.

The 2022 growing season began with higher than average rainfall in December, followed by two months of unusually warm and dry weather. March was slightly warmer, with a little more rain than average. Budbreak was slightly delayed due to a cool and wet March, and occurred after a couple of severe frost episodes that appeared at the beginning of April. Vine development was slowed during this period, but sped back up in the latter half of April. Mid-flowering and mid-véraison were both occurring earlier than usual due to intense heat episodes, with June being one of the hottest Junes since 1947! July was hot and dry and featured the second heatwave, which stressed the vines on free-draining soils, followed by a third heatwave in mid-August. From this period onwards, the weather was warm to very hot, and mostly dry. These conditions resulted in the earliest harvest ever for the region. From a surprisingly good vintage, let's see how this 2022 Montagne-Saint-Émilion red wine from the Right Bank of Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU GUILLOU 2022 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#140483) (XD) - $23.95
This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is fragrant and open, with a medium-high intensity nose that has a whisper of reductiveness followed by lovely ripe, plummy, black & red fruit, cherry, blackberry, and currant aromas nuanced with savoury earth, oak, and touches of mineral. Floral notes emerge with time in the glass. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is deliciously ripe with plummy, black & red fruits, cherry, blackberry, currant, cocoa, and savoury earthy oak flavours. It has crisp and juicy acidity, while the ripe tannins have a supple, slightly chalky textured grip. Touch of florality and spice on the mid-palate, while the berry notes taper to cocoa, savoury earth, and minerals on the long, succulent finish. Should drink nicely over the next 5-6 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

One other wine by Domaine Famille Saby is available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Château Clou du Pin 2021 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely follow-up to the lovely 2020 Château Clou du Pin Premium that I enjoyed just over a year ago. This red wine is coming to the LCBO next weekend as part of the August 10, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Collection (which was merged with the Aug. 24th Release due to the strike) and is already available for purchase in-stores and online right now.

It is produced by Domaines Fontana, a family winery that was founded in 1950 by Huguette and Angelo Fontana. The young couple, who were in their mid-twenties, had a dream in mind and settled in the small town of Gensac in Gironde, about 15 km southeast of Saint-Émilion and 60 km east of Bordeaux. They chose Gensac because of the wealth of the land in the area where they could plant vineyards and build a cellar.

As the vineyard grew over the years, so did the Fontana family, as Huguette and Angelo had 5 children who grew up in the heart of the Estate and picked up their parent's passion for viticulture and wine. As adults, the boys of the second generation of the Fontana family joined the business and helped it grow by acquiring plots of neighbouring vines and investing in various trades that were present at the Estate. Huguette and Angelo's grandchildren, the third generation of the Fontana family, have also joined the family Estate and bring with them their modernity, a fresh gaze, dynamism, and youth, as well as a common desire to share their passion for the vine and wine.

Today, Domaines Fontana has over 300 hectares of land, most of which is situated within the commune of Gensac, but also extending over neighbouring and bordering communes. The family has worked hard to make their wines known across the globe, to try and reach as many consumers as possible. Domaines Fontana is certified HVE3 (High Environmental Value), a certificate which recognizes good environmental and health practices in the vineyard. Their main objective is to achieve the highest level of quality by combining tradition with innovative techniques to produce wines which they are proud of, as well as praised by those who taste them.

Like the previous vintage, this red wine is crafted using 100% Merlot that was grown on clay-limestone soils, on hillsides which are situated up to 120 metres above sea level. The vines have south-southwest exposure to the sun, which is ideal for ripening grapes to full maturity. Domaines Fontana practices both traditional and reasoned viticulture from pruning to vinification. The soil is enriched with only organic manure. To craft a structured and concentrated wine, only grapes from low-yielding plots are selected during harvest. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes are destemmed and macerated for 30 days, followed by fermentation in stainless steel vats which are equipped with a thermoregulation system with micro-oxygenation that is monitored. It was aged for a minimum of 12 months in barrel.

The 2021 growing season in Bordeaux posed several challenges, including frosts, millerandage, and mildew, but with careful viticulture and hard work, some very good wines were made. Winter was mild and wetter than usual, which resulted in early budbreak. However, this meant that vulnerable buds were exposed to the damaging frosts of early April. This resulted in poor fruit set, which affected yields. May brought cool weather, which slowed vine growth, while heavy rainstorms fell from June to early-July, keeping vignerons on their toes as they tried to guard against mildew development. Fortunately, conditions were much improved in August and September with the arrival of warm and dry weather, which stopped the rot and promoted ripening. From a cooler-than-average growing season, let's see how this 2021 Bordeaux Supérieur red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU CLOU DU PIN 2021 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#28727) (XD) - $18.95
This 100% Merlot has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose that delivers currant, cassis, black cherry, wood spice, black plum, sweet spices, and earthy aromas with touches of mineral adding further complexity. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has lovely, balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by fresh, gently tangy acidity and smooth, supple tannins with good structure. Earthy, savoury, and minerally on the long, juicy finish. Enjoyable now and over the next 5+ years. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Domaines Fontana can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Château Beau-Site 2018 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a beautiful Left Bank Bordeaux red wine from the Saint-Estèphe appellation that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent May 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Borie-Manoux, a wine merchant whose origins started as a wine trading company that was established in 1870 by the Borie family. Today, Borie-Manoux is a significant wine merchant in the Bordeaux wine industry with a rich history and a diverse portfolio of estates. Borie-Manoux is currently owned and managed by the Castéja family, with Philippe Castéja as President.

Château Beau-Site is one of Borie-Manoux's Bordeaux wine estates. Situated in Saint-Estèphe, it was founded in the 18th century and is one of the oldest estates in the commune. At the time of its founding, it was part of Château Morin. Its name - Beau-Site - reflects its scenic location as it overlooks the entire vineyard and has magnificent panoramic views extending towards the Gironde river. Château Beau-Site's first owner was M. de Camiran, while in the 1860s it became the property of M. Grazilhon, at which point in time the name was changed to Château Beau-Site-Grazilhon.

The term "Cru Bourgeois" is used to describe wines of great quality and value, and graced the bottles of Château Beau-Site wines for the first time, starting in 1868. A few years later, the château was upgraded to Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, and continued until the 1990s. A change in ownership in the 1920s led to the château reverting to its original name, with Mme Faugeras managing the property for several decades before selling it in the 1940s to M. Legendre.

In 1955, Château Beau-Site joined the Borie family after it was acquired by Marcel Borie. Marcel worked hard to restore the château to its former glory, and as part of this restoration, all the wines were now made and aged on-site, with the vat room filled with wooden vats. Towards the end of the 1950s, Marcel took over Château Haut-Vignoble Seguin, a 5-hectare vineyard that now produces Château Beau-Site's second wine.

After Marcel Borie died in 1961, his son-in-law, Émile Castéja, took over the reins and over the ensuing decade Émile replaced the wooden vats with epoxy-coated metal vats. By the end of the 1980s, he had replaced some of the metal vats with stainless steel vats.

In 2001, Émile Castéja retired and was succeeded by his son, Philippe Castéja. Upon taking over, Philippe quickly began work on the Château by making a number of improvements, such as digging an underground passageway between the barrel cellar and the vat room to make it easier for visitors to get around. In 2005, the tasting room was set up at the entrance to the barrel cellar and offered a view over the estuary. In 2006, the vat room's interior was completely refurbished, while the Château was completely refurbished and refurnished so that it could accommodate the family of Chantal Preben-Hansen, Philippe Castéja's sister, as well as visitors.

Sustainable winemaking practices were initiated by Philippe when he took over, and developed them further from 2014 as he was able to convince the family and team that the environment was an integral part of the wines and important for consumers. Since that time, the Casteja family has continuously sought ways to increase their commitment to sustainable winemaking. With sustainability at the top of mind, traditional vineyard work is still carried out with precision to ensure the highest quality grapes. The old vines have been carefully preserved to produce distinguished and elegant wines comparable to those of its illustrious neighbour, Château Calon-Ségur. At the winery, precision winemaking is terroir-focused.

As Saint-Estèphe is part of the Médoc region and situated at the northern tip of the Haut-Médoc, on the Left Bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux, the area has been planted with vines since Roman times, and further developed by English merchants from the Middle Ages onwards. The drainage of marshland in the 17th century led to further increases in surface land area and vineyards. The Saint-Estèphe AOC was officially recognized in 1936 thanks to its diverse climate and geology. The oceanic climate is temperate, but warm enough for the vines to thrive, while the soils are composed of gravelly alluvium, limestone, and oyster marl.

As the flagship of the estate, the 2018 vintage of this elegant wine is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. The grapes were traditionally picked by hand and sorted on tables in the vineyard, then transferred into tipping buckets which carry the grapes back to the winery. Each plot was vinified separately, fermentation occurring over four weeks in small-capacity, temperature-controlled vats, at fairly low temperatures. Gentle extractions help preserve the fruit, while allowing the terroir to express itself. Each plot was aged in French oak barrels (approx. 40% new) for 6 months, then blended and aged a further 12 months prior to bottling on-site.

From the excellent 2018 vintage, let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU BEAU-SITE 2018 - AC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (#647933) (XD) - $48.95
This blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot has a rich, ripe, and brooding nose with medium-high to high intensity aromatics of dark red and black fruits, currant, cassis, and black cherry notes joined by spicy, fine wood spices, and sandalwood surrounding a core of savoury forest floor. On the dry, full-bodied bodied palate it is rich, spicy, and a touch warm with savoury earth, fine wood spice, blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, and graphite mineral flavours accented with dried herbs. Some licorice and clove spice notes appear on the mid-palate to add further interest. Acids are juicy and mouth-watering, while the refined, well-structured tannins have a gently chalky textured mouthfeel and are quite approachable at this stage. Savoury, graphite, and dried herb notes linger on the exceptionally long finish. Will improve further with age and enjoy into the mid-2030s. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines by Borie-Manoux can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

April 27, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Paso Robles + Bordeaux's Right Bank

LCBO Wine Picks: April 27, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here's my top wine picks from the April 27, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. The main feature of this release focuses on wines from Paso Robles, and for the first time in a very long time, there is a mini-theme, and it takes a brief look at Bordeaux's Right Bank. Also in this release is a fine selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive (FE) wines. All 93 wines will be available for purchase by Saturday, if not a couple of days earlier.

We'll begin with the theme on wines from Paso Robles - A Region to Watch. While I agree that Paso Robles is a region to watch, especially after tasting many fine wines from the region at the recent California wine tasting, only one of the wines from the theme is included among my top wine picks - the wine by Austin Hope that is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Not from the theme, but also in this release is a fine Paso Robles Cab by DAOU that is actually a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Petit Verdot.

DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (93+ pts)

Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (92 pts)

I am delighted to see the return of the mini-theme. However, four wines are not enough to turn it into any kind of theme. Of the four wines from the mini-theme on Bordeaux's Right Bank in this release, the lone wine recommendation is from the AC Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion appellation and is a Merlot-based blend.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Italy with a Chianti Classico that is composed of approximately 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, and 5% Syrah, followed by the Super Tuscan, which is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. Other blends include a red from Languedoc that consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, as well as The Tragically Hip red from Niagara that is a blend of 54% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pinot wine lovers can sip local with a fine Pinot Noir from Niagara, or look abroad for an excellent Pinot Noir from Martinborough in New Zealand.

Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2021

Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Pinot Noir 2021 (90 pts)

The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Reserve Red 2021 (90+ pts)

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is from Spain, and it is equal parts Chardonnay and Macabeo. Mono-varietal white wines include a fantastic, vegan-friendly Assyrtiko from Greece, a Chardonnay from California, and a Melon de Bourgogne from the Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine appellation in Loire. From Italy, there is a wine made with Fiano from Campania, and a Pecorino from Abruzzo. On the local front, there is a Chardonnay and a perennially excellent dry Riesling, both from Niagara.

Umani Ronchi Centovie Pecorino 2020 (92 pts)

Kir-Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023 (91+ pts)

Domaine Girard Le Fleuron de La Rebourgère Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2022 (90 pts)

Other wines from the main release include a pair of lovely rosé wines - a Pinot Noir rosé from Niagara, while the rosé from Provence is composed of 58% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, and 2% Mourvèdre. The last wine is a fortified wine from Spain - a Vermouth - that is a sweet blend of 50% Palomino and 50% Pedro Ximenez.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!