vintages-release | VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews

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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

September 28, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Super Euro Signatures + Oregon

LCBO Wine Picks: September 28, 2019 VINTAGES Release

The September 28, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features some top Signature wines from Europe as its main theme, while the mini-theme looks at wines from Oregon. This is the first of what will be some big Releases leading up to the holidays. Thus, if you are looking for fine wines as holiday gifts, or to add to your collection, wines from this Release would be a great place to start. All of the wines from the themes and main Release will arrive on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

From the main theme that looks at eight signature varietals that each do well in a particular region, six of the thirteen wines are included among my top wine picks. We begin with the Albariño / Alvarinho varietal that is widely planted in northern coastal Spain and northwest Portugal, as is the case with the Albariño wine from Spain and Alvarinho wine from Portugal in this Release. Try both to compare. Sangiovese is most associated with wines from Tuscany, and the example in this theme is a fairly tannic Riserva Chianti Classico that is actually a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that needs a few years of cellar time for optimum enjoyment. Grenache is one of the principal grapes in the South of France, and is the dominant varietal in the Sobilane, which is a 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah. Lastly, Nebbiolo is the king of Piedmont, and in this Release we have a lovely Barbaresco and a very age-worthy Barolo.

Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco 2015 (91 pts)

Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico 2016 (90 pts)

Amazingly, none of the eight wines featured from the mini-theme on Oregon wines are included among my recommendations.

Red wines from the main release include the Chianti Classico that is made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Bolgheri Super Tuscan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. From Argentina, the red wine is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, all are once again single varietal wines. The Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy is one of three Chardonnay wines to try. For sweet wine lovers, look for, in order of least to most sweetest, the Niagara Riesling, the Gewurztraminer from Alsace, or the Riesling Kabinett.

Domaine Béranger Pouilly-Fuissé 2016 (91 pts)

Hidden Bench Estate Riesling 2017 (91 pts)

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2016 (92 pts)

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

DOMAINE GOURON CHINON 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#470963) (XD) - $17.95
SOBILANE GRENACHE/SYRAH 2015 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#010337) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
WAKEFIELD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (D) - $19.95 88 pts wine review
ECHEVERRÍA ELEMENTOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#010764) (XD) - $19.95 88 pts wine review
FINCA FLICHMAN PAISAJE DE TUPUNGATO 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#415034) (XD) - $19.95
ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
MICHELE CHIARLO REYNA BARBARESCO 2015 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#583260) (XD) - $36.95 91 pts wine review
TORRES MAS LA PLANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 - DO Penedès, Spain (#129676) (XD) - $69.95 FE 92 pts wine review
DAMILANO LISTE BAROLO 2013 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#451807) (XD) - $73.95 93 pts wine review
ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO 2016 - DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#986380) (XD) - $134.95

Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (92 pts)

White Wine:

CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO 2018 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488734) (XD) - $18.95
ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#225557) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
JULIEN SCHAAL KALEIDOSCOPE RIESLING 2017 - AC Alsace, France (#667535) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
SIMONSIG CHARDONNAY 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#345389) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
DEU LA DEU ALVARINHO 2018 - Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#040642) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
MURÉ SIGNATURE GEWURZTRAMINER 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#387563) (M) - $21.95
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
EL ESTECO 1945 OLD VINES TORRONTÉS 2018 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#010695) (XD) - $25.95 FE
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068817) (XD) - $29.95
ZELTINGER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT 2016 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#665927) (MS) - $34.95 91 pts wine review
DOMAINE BÉRANGER POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#648659) (XD) - $37.95 91 pts wine review

Julien Schaal Kaleidoscope Riesling 2017 (89 pts)

Sparkling Wine:

GARDET MILLÉSIME EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#665869) (XD) - $58.95 90 pts wine review
BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, Champagne, France (#100503) (XD) - $113.95 FE

Gardet Millésime Extra Brut Champagne 2012 (90 pts)

September 14, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

LCBO Wine Picks: September 14, 2019 VINTAGES Release

The September 14, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release is a mono-thematic Release that is also the annual focus on local wines. All of these wines will be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday, and some are part of the VINTAGES Essentials collection that is always available year-round and can be found on shelves today.

The only theme of this Release is titled "Bring Local Home" and focuses on People, Places and Passion in the local Ontario wine scene. Wines from Niagara and its sub-appellations are featured, as well as wines from Georgian Bay and Lake Erie North Shore. Notably absent are any wines from Prince Edward County. Of the twenty wines featured as part of the theme, six are included among my top wine picks. Among the white wines, there is a lovely medium-sweet Riesling, as well as a rich, cool-climate Chardonnay. Among the red wines from Ontario, the majority are Bordeaux style blends. The Calamus is mostly Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Red Tractor is a blend of 45% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest other varietals. Lastly, the Trius Red is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fourth red from Ontario is a Cabernet Franc from a top vineyard within the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation along the Niagara Escarpment.

Tawse Quarry Road Organic Riesling 2017 (91 pts)

Icellars Estate Cabernet Franc 2016 (91 pts)

Creekside Red Tractor Cabernet/Merlot 2017 (88 pts)

From my red wine picks, the Rhône red is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, while the Saint Chinian is a blend of mainly Syrah with Grenache, and some Mourvèdre. From Bordeaux, the Lalande consists of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec, while the Carignan Prima is actually 100% Merlot. Lastly, the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot.

Cazal Viel Vieilles Vignes Saint Chinian 2016 (89 pts)

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, all are actually single varietal wines. The Etna Bianco is made with the indigenous Carricante varietal from Sicily. Other highlights from my white wine recommendations include a lovely Chardonnay from Burgundy's Marchand-Tawse, while the Marsanne is always a delicious wine from Australia. For sweet wine lovers, the Riesling mentioned above should be at the top of your list, followed by the Pinot Gris from Alsace.

Marchand-Tawse Viré-Clessé 2016 (91 pts)

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!