January 6, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

Happy New Year! Here's my top wine picks from the first release of the year - the January 6, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. As has been the case for many years now, the first release of the year is the annual Smart Buys release, where the vast majority of wines are priced under $20, and in this case, nearly 80% of the wines are under $25. This release also includes some Online & Flagship Exclusive (FE) wines, and everything will be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We begin with wines from the Smart Buys theme, and of the twenty-five wines featured, seven are included among my top wine picks, and six of these are actually white wines. The lone blend among the whites is from Greece, and it is a blend of 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Malagousia, and 20% Robola. There is a nice variety of mono-varietal white wines, beginning with a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, a Muscadet made with Melon de Bourgogne, a Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige in northern Italy, a Verdicchio from Marche, and a dry-ish Riesling from Australia. The only Smart Buy among the reds is the Côtes du Rhône-Villages, which is composed of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, and 2% other permitted varieties.

There two blends among my red wine recommendations - the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which consists of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Muscardin, and the Amarone which is composed of 80% Corvina Veronese and 20% Rondinella. The mono-varietal red wines begin in Italy with the organic Brunello di Montalcino that is crafted with Sangiovese, as well as the Nebbiolo from Piedmont. There are also a trio of Australian wines - a Cabernet Sauvignon and a pair of Shiraz wines. Lastly, there is a Malbec from Argentina, and a lovely 2013 Syrah from South Africa.

Since most of my white wine picks are from the thematic, there are only two other white wines included among my recommendations - a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and a Pecorino from Italy.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• SHANAHANS THE OLD DOG SHIRAZ 2021 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#13030) (XD) - $16.95
• WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Limestone Coast / Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION MALBEC 2020 - Sustainable, San Pablo Vineyard, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#450155) (XD) - $19.95
• SIDEWOOD SHIRAZ 2020 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#446146) (XD) - $19.95
• LA NERTHE LES CASSAGNES CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#494674) (XD) - $25.95
• RENATO RATTI OCHETTI NEBBIOLO 2021 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#475913) (XD) - $31.95
• DOMAINE CHANTE-PERDRIX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#121723) (XD) - $46.95
• AVONDALE SAMSARA SYRAH 2013 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#32935) (XD) - $47.95  FE
• BERTANI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA VALPANTENA 2020 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#568741) (D) - $57.95  93 pts  wine review
• COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $59.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE LA GRANGE VIEILLES VIGNES CÔTES DE GRAND LIEU MUSCADET 2021 - Sur lie, AP, Loire, France (#637868) (XD) - $13.95
• YALUMBA THE Y SERIES RIESLING 2021 - Vegan, South Australia (#32555) (XD) - $14.95
• SUTIL RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, sustainable, Central Valley, Chile (#35965) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
• HATZIMICHALIS ALFEGA WHITE 2022 - PGI Valley of Atalanti, Greece (#33255) (XD) - $15.95  90+ pts  wine review
• FONTEVECCHIA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2022 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#11140) (XD) - $16.95
• DE ANGELIS CAMPO DI MARTE OFFIDA PECORINO 2022 - DOCG, Marche, Italy (#577734) (XD) - $16.95
• MOUNTADAM FIVE-FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2020 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#22984) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#95802) (XD) - $18.95
• RIVER FARM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#32547) (XD) - $21.95

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December 16, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

Happy Holidays! Here's my top wine picks from the last release of the year! The theme surrounding the December 16 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection is titled "Bubbles" and focuses on sparkling wines for the holidays. There are 92 wines in the release, a bit on the small side compared to recent releases, with southern Rhône wines showing well among my picks. All the wines in this release should be available in stores across Ontario by this Saturday!

We'll begin with the theme on sparkling wines, and of the fourteen bubblies included as part of the theme, just three are among my top sparkling wine picks. At the top of the heap are a pair of Vintage Champagnes, both 2015, with the Nicolas Feuillatte composed of 100% Pinot Noir, while the Veuve Clicquot is an Essentials product, and it is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Meunier. On the more wallet-friendly side, we have a lovely Cava from Spain that is crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay.

Southern Rhone blends lead the way among my red wine recommendations, and at the top of the list is a lovely, organic Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is made with 13 varieties - 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. The Lirac red is composed of 50% Grenache Noir, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 10% Mourvèdre, while the Costières de Nîmes red is a blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre. Lastly, the Côtes du Rhône is crafted with 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, and 5% Mourvèdre. Other blends include the Chilean red from Maipo Valley that is composed with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere, while the Argentine Malbec includes 6% Petit Verdot. The last blend is the Super Tuscan that is crafted with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. Some of the mono-varietal wines include the Morgon, which is made with Gamay, while the Barolo is crafted with Nebbiolo.

Among my white wine picks, there are only two wines that are blends - the wine from Greece is a blend of 90% Assyrtiko, 5% Athiri, and 5% Aidani, while the Rhône white was aged in barrels and is composed of 60% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, and 15% Grenache Blanc. Mono-varietal wines include a pair of Chardonnays - a Chablis 1er Cru from Burgundy and one from South Africa, as well as a pair of Sauvignon Blancs - one from Loire and the other is from New Zealand, while the last dry white wine is a Pecorino from Abruzzo in Italy. If you fancy something a little on the sweet side, look at the Riesling from Niagara.

Again, this is the last release of the year, so you'll want to stock up from this release or some other recent release for any holiday gatherings. Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release and have a safe & happy holiday!

Red Wine:

• SANTA EMA 60/40 BARREL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON / CARMENÈRE 2021 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#34606) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 - AC, France (#276956) (XD) - $18.95
• ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Vegan, DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#79798) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
• LOUIS AÎNÉ & FILS MORGON 2022 - AP, Beaujolais, France (#35464) (XD) - $22.95
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2021 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2020 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $29.95
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $32.95
• TENUTA SETTE PONTI CROGNOLO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#727636) (XD) - $34.95
• CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $62.95  94 pts  wine review
• RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $75.95

White Wine:

• LE BONHEUR CHARDONNAY 2022 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#20970) (XD) - $17.95
• FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2022 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95
• MEGALOMANIAC NARCISSIST RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#67587) (D) - $19.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $22.95
• ATLANTIS DRY WHITE 2022 - Greece (#371658) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT WHITE 2021 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#485854) (XD) - $29.95
• JEAN PABIOT ET FILS DOMAINE DES FINES CAILLOTTES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2022 - Sustainable, AP, Loire, France (#695908) (XD) - $34.95
• LA CHABLISIENNE GRANDE CUVÉE CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#685222) (XD) - $54.95

Sparkling Wine:

• SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Penedès, Spain (#558825) (D) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
• NICOLAS FEUILLATTE BLANC DE NOIRS GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, Chouilly, France (#18130) (D) - $92.95
• VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN BRUT VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, France (#508614) (XD) - $120.95

Fortified Wine:

• HIDALGO FARAON OLOROSO SHERRY - DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Spain (#471078) (XD) (500 mL) - $23.95  91+ pts  wine review

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December 2, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fine Wines for Festive Entertaining

Here's my top wine picks from the second last release of the year - the December 2, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection that features Fine Wines for Festive Entertaining. It is a very big release with 155 products on offer, including a rather large collection of nearly 50 wines that are available as Online and Flagship Exclusives (FE). The price creep also continues with not many wines under $20. All of the wines will be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on Fine Wines for Festive Entertaining, and of the twenty-one wines featured in the theme, eight are included among my top wine picks. Starting at the top is a very fine vintage bubbly from sparkling wine specialist 13th Street Winery in Niagara that is crafted with 54% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir. White wines from the theme are the Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and a pair of 100% Chardonnay wines - one from Argentina, and the other is a Chablis Premier Cru from Burgundy. Most of my recommended red wines from the theme are all blend variations of Cabernet and Merlot: the 2010 Bordeaux is composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Lucente Super Tuscan is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, while the blend from Western Australia is crafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. The lone mono-varietal red is a lovely Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune village of Saint-Romain, in Burgundy.

My top red wine picks from the main release begins with the latest vintage of the iconic Ornellaia that is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. There are two other blends and both are from Montes - the Wings Carmenère is actually a blend of 85% Carmenère and 15% Cabernet Franc, while the Alpha Special Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 5% Carmenère. The rest of the red wines are mono-varietal, including the Pinot Noir from Burgundy.

The six wines among my top white wine recommendations from the main release are made up of a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, and a pair of Chardonnay wines - one each from Niagara and Chile. There are also a pair of Riesling wines - the Australian version is crafted in a dry style, while the German Riesling is deliciously very sweet. Additionally, the traditional method vintage sparkling wine from Jackson-Triggs is crafted with 70% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, and 3% Pinot Meunier.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2022 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $15.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2021 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• MONTES ALPHA SPECIAL CUVÉE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#649160) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
• CATENA APPELLATION AGRELO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Agrelo, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#484303) (XD) - $22.95
• NEIL ELLIS SYRAH 2021 - WO Groenekloof, South Africa (#33289) (XD) - $24.95
• SANTA RITA FLORESTA CARMENÈRE 2021 - DO Apalta, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#34733) (XD) - $27.95  91 pts  wine review

• KECHRIS XINOMAVRO 2020 - PGI Slopes of Paiko, Greece (#33262) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• LA VITE LUCENTE 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#747030) (XD) - $32.95  91 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE REDBROOK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2019 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#16530) (XD) - $34.95
• BICHOT SAINT-ROMAIN PINOT NOIR 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#33708) (XD) - $41.95  91+ pts  wine review
• GREYSTONE PINOT NOIR 2019 - Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#30151) (XD) - $43.95
• CHÂTEAU COUFRAN 2010 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#325555) (XD) - $43.95  93 pts  wine review

• CASAS DEL BOSQUE PEQUEÑAS SYRAH 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, small parcels, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#34737) (XD) - $44.95  FE  92+ pts  wine review
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#84996) (XD) - $47.95  93 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE PANSIOT CÔTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES 2021 - Sustainable, AC, Burgundy, France (#34252) (XD) - $48.95  FE  93 pts  wine review
• MONTES WINGS CARMENÈRE 2019 - DO Apalta, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#33354) (XD) - $67.95  FE  93 pts  wine review
• ORNELLAIA 2020 - DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#722470) (XD) - $276.95  95 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• SONS OF EDEN FREYA RIESLING 2022 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#12652) (XD) - $19.95
• VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536201) (XD) - $20.95
• STAETE LANDT ANNABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#648691) (XD) - $25.95
• EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $25.95  92 pts  wine review
  
• GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $26.95  92 pts  wine review
• SANTA RITA FLORESTA CHARDONNAY 2021 - DO Punitaqui, Valle del Limarí, Chile (#34732) (XD) - $27.95  FE  91 pts  wine review
• STUDERT-PRÜM WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2020 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#114777) (S) - $27.95  FE
• ON SEVEN THE PURSUIT CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#25856) (XD) - $48.00  FE
• VINCENT DE LA REMONDIÈRE LES FOURCHAUME CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#32956) (XD) - $51.95  93 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#234161) (D) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• 13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#142679) (XD) - $39.95  93+ pts  wine review

Fortified Wine:

• CROFT RESERVE TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#538983) (S) - $18.95

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November 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Gifts for All

Here are my top wine picks from the November 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which, like the last release, is unimaginatively also titled "Gifts for All". It is a good-sized release with 121 products on offer and mostly a red wine-focused release. All of these wines should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not a couple of days earlier.

We begin with the "Gifts for All" thematic, which consists of 23 wines, 21 of which are red, and the balance made up of a single white wine and a Champagne. The theme features quite a few nice (premium) wines, with pricing starting at just under $40. Eight wines from the theme are included among my top wine picks, starting with the 2020 Super Tuscan that's featured on the cover and is a blend of 55% Sangiovese and 45% Merlot. Also from Italy is the Second Wine of Ornellaia, which consists of 50% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Petit Verdot, while the other old world wine is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is made with 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. Blends from the new world include the always iconic Purple Angel, which is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, while the Hidden Bench red wine consists of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Malbec. There are also a pair of outstanding Pinot Noirs - one from Niagara and the other from Sonoma Coast. The last recommended wine from the theme is the Champagne that is made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

Red wines from the main release include the Wine of the Month, which is from Ventoux in Rhône and consists of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. Also from France, the Roussillon red is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. Other blends include the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that is composed of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Canaiolo, while the blend from Drama in Greece consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Agiorgitiko.

Among my white wine picks, the Rhône white is a blend of 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc, while the Spanish wine is a 50/50 blend of Viura and Tempranillo Blanco that was aged in French oak barrels. The mono-varietal white wines are all from the Southern Hemisphere - a Semillon from Hunter Valley, a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, and a Chardonnay from South Australia.

Other recommendations in this release include a pair of fine wines from Niagara. The first is a traditional method vintage sparkling wine that is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, while the other is a lovely Icewine made with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• VIA CARITATIS VOX ANGELORUM 2020 - AP Ventoux, Rhône, France (#35622) (XD) - $17.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND HERITAGE AN 1886 LES ASPRES GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE/SYRAH 2019 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France (#413245) (XD) - $18.95
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2021 - Estate-owned vineyards, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $19.95
• PLANETA PLUMBAGO NERO D'AVOLA 2019 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#19491) (XD) - $24.95
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE THE SIDING CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#333229) (XD) - $24.95  91+ pts  wine review
• KATOGI AVEROFF INIMA XINOMAVRO 2018 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#30680) (XD) - $27.95  91 pts  wine review

 

• WINE ART TECHNI ALIPIAS RED BLEND 2019 - IGP Drama, Greece (#26944) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ 2021 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#927533) (XD) - $29.95
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH TERROIR CACHÉ 2019 - Unfiltered, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#505610) (XD) - $44.95  92 pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $49.95  93+ pts  wine review

 

• XAVIER VIGNON CUVÉE ANONYME CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AP, Rhône, France (#393421) (XD) - $65.95
• FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215202) (XD) - $69.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2021 - Second wine of Ornellaia, DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $75.95  93 pts  wine review
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $95.95  94 pts  wine review
• LUCE 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#685263) (XD) - $125.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• D'ARENBERG THE OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY 2021 - McLaren Vale/Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#702845) (XD) - $18.95
• VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#974527) (XD) - $19.95
• E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AC, France (#290296) (XD) - $22.95
• MARQUES DEL ATRIO 2 CEPAS BLANCO DE GUARDA VIURA / TEMPRANILLO BLANCO 2019 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#32215) (XD) - $26.95
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2022 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $27.95

Sparkling Wine:

• HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
• VILMART ET CIE GRANDE RÉSERVE 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#12619) (XD) - $80.95  92 pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

• LAKEVIEW CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471813) (S) (200 mL) - $50.00  92 pts  wine review

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November 4, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Gifts for All

Here's my top wine picks from the November 4, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. The release is titled "Gifts for All" and includes 137 products, some of which are only available as Online & Flagship Exclusives (FE). It is a very good release with fine options at many price points, starting at $17. All of these wines should be available by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the Gifts for All thematic, which features twenty-five wines, of which seven are included among my top wine picks. The Veuve Clicquot is a blend of reserve wines from 8 different vintages and composed of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Meunier. There are a trio of lovely white wines - the Chardonnay from Le Clos Jordanne, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, and the indigenous Godello varietal from Spain. Giftable red wines include a Pinot Noir from Oregon, and a 2011 Rioja from Spain that is a blend of approximately 80% Tempranillo, with the rest consisting of Garnacho, Mazuelo, and Graciano. The final giftable red wine from the thematic is the Amarone, which is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara.

From my red wine recommendations, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is typically a blend of 90-95% Sangiovese and the balance is Colorino, while the 2016 Rioja is a blend of mainly Tempranillo, plus Graciano. Other red wines include the Etna Rosso that is made with 100% Nerello Mascalese, as well as a pair of Malbec wines from Argentina.

Among my white wine picks, the only blends are the Rhône white, which is a blend of 80% Clairette and 20% Grenache Blanc, and the Greek white, which is composed of 70% Roditis Alepou and 30% Moschofilero. The white wine from Friuli is actually 100% Sauvignon Blanc, while other wines are also mono-varietal, such as the trio of Chardonnay wines from Niagara, Australia, and South Africa, as well as the Assyrtiko from Greece. For those that prefer sweeter wines, the Riesling from Mosel should be on your list, as well as the Gewurztraminer from Alsace.

At the top of my fine sparkling wine picks from the rest of the release is the 2008 vintage Champagne that is composed of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. There is also the Rosé Champagne that is a blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, and 14% Meunier, while the 2020 sparkling wine from Niagara is crafted with 100% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL ESTECO MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#113191) (XD) - $18.00
• SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2021 - DO Valle de Maule, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $18.95
• ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP HILLS ARE ALIVE SHIRAZ 2021 - Vegan, Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#522342) (XD) - $21.95
• BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2016 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $34.95
• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE SINGLE VINEYARD TENUTA FIZZANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $35.95  91+ pts  wine review
• TORNATORE PIETRARIZZO ETNA ROSSO 2020 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#18926) (XD) - $38.95  FE
  
• ZUCCARDI CONCRETO MALBEC 2021 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#455774) (XD) - $40.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA BOSCONIA RESERVA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#529586) (XD) - $53.95
• RÉSONANCE PINOT NOIR 2019 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#467696) (XD) - $61.95
• MASI MAZZANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#597476) (D) - $148.95

White Wine:

• SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE WHITE 2022 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#32386) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• BODEGA DEL ABAD CIMA BELLA GODELLO 2021 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#35413) (XD) - $17.95
• MOUNTADAM EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2019 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#10411) (XD) - $18.95
• PIERRE SPARR GRANDE RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER 2021 - AC Alsace, France (#747600) (D) - $19.95
• FAMILLE ARNAUD QUART DU ROI LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHONE-VILLAGES 2020 - AP, France (#31168) (XD) - $19.95
• PAUL CLUVER VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2022 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#33298) (XD) - $23.95

• ALOIS LAGEDER PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - DOC Südtirol-Alto Adige, Italy (#35198) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• SKOURAS WILD FERMENT ASSYRTIKO 2022 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#32387) (XD) - $25.95  91 pts  wine review
• PETER NICOLAY BERNKASTELER BADSTUBE RIESLING KABINETT 2021 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#17605) (M) - $26.95
• ATTEMS CICINIS 2021 - DOC Collio, Friuli, Italy (#75432) (XD) - $36.95  91+ pts  wine review
• WILDEBERG SEMILLON 2021 - WO Franschhoek, South Africa (#15623) (XD) - $43.95  FE
  
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $49.95  93 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER WISMER-WINGFIELD OUEST VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520403) (XD) - $54.95  FE

Sparkling Wine:

• FLAT ROCK RIDDLED SPARKLING 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#383315) (D) - $34.95
• VEUVE CLICQUOT EXTRA BRUT EXTRA OLD CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#507889) (XD) - $114.95
• BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#100503) (XD) - $137.95
• PIPER-HEIDSIECK RARE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2008 - AC, France (#380915) (XD) - $288.95

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