January 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

Happy New Year! The January 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the first release of the new year (and decade) and it is the annual "Smart Buys" Release - a theme that is perennially featured in the first release of the year. All of the wines from the thematic, as well as the rest of the release will appear on shelves by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the "Smart Buys" theme that focuses on great-value wines. After the many expensive releases leading up to the holidays. This release is very much wallet-friendly, but at the same time does offer some quality wines to add to your collection. Nearly all of the 27 wines featured in the "Smart Buys" section are under $20, with six included among my top wine picks. Smart Buys in white wines include a Chenin Blanc from South Africa and a Falanghina from Italy. Red wines that are Smart Buys include a pair of relatively mature wines - a Tempranillo from Rioja and a Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. Lastly, red wine blends from the Smart Buys section include a 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre blend from Costières de Nîmes, and a 60/40 Shiraz/Grenache blend from McLaren Vale.

Among my red wine picks from the rest of the Release, there are a pair of lovely Rhône reds. The Cairanne is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan, while the Lirac is a blend of 55% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre. Lastly, the Corbières is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache.

There are no blends among the rest of my white wine recommendations. But there are some lovely dry wines include a pair of Chardonnays, a Pinot Gris, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Muscadet which is made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. For sweet wine lovers, there are quite a few lovely offerings - an off-dry Riesling from Alsace, a medium dry Riesling from New Zealand, and finally, a mature Riesling Kabinett from Germany.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU SAINT-LOUIS LA PERDRIX L'ENVOL 2018 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#10514) (XD) - $12.95  88 pts  wine review
• PIATTELLI RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#10968) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• BRELLA PINOT NOIR 2014 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#514786) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• FINCA LOS MAZA RESERVA MALBEC 2016 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#10772) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• CAMILLE CAYRAN CAVE DE CAIRANNE LE CHÊNE NOIR 2017 - AP Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#10006) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2017 - AP, Midi, France (#670505) (D) - $17.95

• MARQUES DE LA CONCORDIA VIÑA ALARDE RESERVA 2013 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#10548) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• PAXTON AAA SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#149898) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR 2018 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#1545) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Cauquenes, Maule Valley, Chile (#630350) (XD) - $24.95  FE
• AMAYNA SYRAH 2016 - Leyda Valley, Chile (#143529) (XD) - $28.95  FE
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• TUSSOCK JUMPER CHENIN BLANC 2019 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#480764) (XD) - $12.95  88 pts  wine review
• LACHETEAU MUSCADET 2018 - AP, Loire, France (#10697) (XD) - $13.95  87 pts  wine review
• RIOLITE IL POGGIO GUERRIERO FALANGHINA BENEVENTANO 2017 - IGP, Campania, Italy (#10950) (D) - $15.95  87 pts  wine review
• PIERRE SPARR SOL CALCAIRE RIESLING 2015 - AC Alsace, France (#10683) (D) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• DR. SIEMENS SERRIGER WÜRZBURG FEINHERB RIESLING KABINETT 2010 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#524827) (M) - $18.95  FE
• BABICH BLACK LABEL PINOT GRIS 2017 - Estate grown and bottled, certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447417) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $19.95
• THE DOCTORS' RIESLING 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#12321) (M) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER MINERALITÉ DE L'OREGON CHARDONNAY 2015 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#273334) (XD) - $24.95
• BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT N. 2 CHARDONNAY 2015 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#547299) (XD) - $44.95

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December 7, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Festive Get-Togethers

The December 7, 2019 VINTAGES Release is the final release of the year and it's a mono-themed release featuring Fine Wines for Festive Get-Togethers, which also includes a fine selection of sparkling wines. All of the wines from this release will be on shelves by this Saturday, with a subset possibly arriving a bit later.

We begin with feature on table wines for Festive Get-Togethers. There are 18 wines listed as part of this theme, of which five are included among my wine picks. The lone white wine from this part of the release is an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre. Among the reds, single varietal wines include a Petit Verdot, the Gran Reserva from Rioja that is made with Tempranillo, and the Chianti Classico that is made with Sangiovese. Lastly, the Bordeaux is a blend of 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère.

The second part of this theme is titled Festive Fizz and focuses on fine sparkling wines. Of the eleven sparkling wines featured, four are included among my top wine recommendations. First up at the entry level is a dry Prosecco made using the Glera grape. Moving up in price and quality, the classy bubbly from Ontario is made with Chardonnay. And last but not least, the 1er Cru Champagne is made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, while the Brut Champagne is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 11% Pinot Meunier.

From my red wine recommendations, the 2014 Reserva from Rioja consists of Tempranillo and Graciano. From Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of mainly Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. Last, but definitely not the least, the superb Cepparello Super Tuscan is made with 100% Sangiovese.

Among white wine picks from the rest of the Release, the only blends are an Australian white made with 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Semillon, while the Vinho Verde is a blend of 85% Alvarinho and 15% Trajadura. The rest are all single varietals, and for those that prefer sweeter wines, the Mosel Riesling should be on your shopping list.

Happy holidays and enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#421388) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• BODEM LAS MARGAS GARNACHA 2017 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#10700) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#29280) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#357335) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CLOS ST. ANTONIN 2016 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#10513) (XD) - $19.95
• PIRRAMIMMA PETIT VERDOT 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#986752) (XD) - $28.95  90 pts  wine review
• LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $31.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU BOUTISSE 2016 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#368175) (XD) - $40.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#959627) (XD) - $49.95  91 pts  wine review
• TWO HANDS BELLA'S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#636407) (XD) - $59.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#25650 / #25601) (XD) (750 mL / 1500 mL) - $113.95 / $256.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• MURALHAS DE MONÇÃO VINHO VERDE 2018 - Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#80374) (XD) - $15.95  88+ pts  wine review
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2018 - DAC Wachau, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL RIESLING 2018 - DAC Wachau, Austria (#491902) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• THE LANE GATHERING SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON / SEMILLON 2016 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#10539) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2018 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#1552) (XD) - $26.95
• BISCHÖFLICHE WEINGÜTER TRIER SCHARZHOFBERGER RIESLING KABINETT 2017 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#670752) (S) - $27.95  90+ pts  wine review
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95  92 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• DESIDERIUS PONGRÁCZ BRUT CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING CHARDONNAY / PINOT NOIR - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#404111) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#53215) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 2014 - 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) - $69.95  92 pts  wine review
• RUINART R DE RUINART BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#189878) (D) - $88.95  92 pts  wine review

Fortified:

• CÉSAR FLORIDO CHIPIONA DORADO MOSCATEL - DO, Spain (#10824) (S) (375 mL) - $17.95
• CALEM 20-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#10902) (S) - $56.95

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November 23, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Coveted, Iconic Wines

The November 23, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release is another big one as we dive into the busy holiday season. This Release is another mono-thematic edition, featuring Coveted, Iconic Wines for your cellar or gift-giving. There are plenty of other great options from the rest of the Release as well, with all of these wines showing up on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

There are 31 wines listed as part of the Coveted, Iconic Wines theme, of which a dozen are included among my top wine picks from the November 23rd LCBO VINTAGES Release. We begin with an excellent 2012 vintage Champagne that was aged for 5+ years and consists of 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 26% Pinot Meunier. For white wine lovers, there are a pair of lovely Chardonnays from the new world - one from Niagara and one from Napa Valley.

Red wines from the main thematic include a high-end Australian Shiraz, a South African Pinot Noir, a lovely Barolo (which is made with Nebbiolo), an Argentinean Malbec, and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. The blends include the Stratus Red which is a blend of 25% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 10% Malbec, 7% Tannat, and 5% Petit Verdot, while The Chocolate Block consists of 64% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 11% Cinsault, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Viognier.

For sweet wine lovers, the iconic and coveted Noble One Botrytis Semillon and Delaforce Vintage Port will surely satisfy your cravings.

My red wine recommendations from the rest of the Release starts with the iconic $450 Antinori Solaia - easily one of the best wines I've ever tasted - is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For the rest of us modest folks, from the southern Rhône Valley, there is the Costières de Nîmes Rouge which is a blend of old vines 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Carignan, while the Cairanne is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. From Roussillon, the Lafage Tessellae is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. From Portugal, the Sagrado is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, while the Porca de Murça consists of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Lastly, coming back to Italy, we have a Chianti Classico that consists of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot.

Among my white wine picks from this Release, the Costières de Nîmes Blanc from Rhône is the companion to the rouge above and consists of 45% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 20% Viognier, and 10% Clairette, while the Pomino is an interesting blend of mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco. The rest are all single varietal wines, and for those that prefer sweeter wines, check out the always delicious Nadja's Riesling from Niagara.

And that's a wrap for this Release! Only one more to go in 2019! Enjoy!

Red Wine:

• PORCA DE MURÇA RESERVA TINTO 2014 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#684753) (XD) - $17.95
• VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#018721) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• TESSELLAE OLD VINES GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2017 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#343517) (D) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2016 - AP, Rhône, France (#040964) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• JEAN-LUC COLOMBO LE PAVILLON DES COURTISANES CAIRANNE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#120717) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review

• QUINTA DO SAGRADO RESERVA 2016 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#568774) (XD) $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• TRASQUA FANATICO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#283861) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• RYMILL COONAWARRA CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#010541) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK 2017 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#129353) (XD) - $39.95  91 pts  wine review
• TRAPICHE TERROIR SERIES FINCA ORELLANA SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2015 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#178145) (XD) - $42.95  91+ pts  wine review

• STRATUS RED 2016 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#312058) (D) - $49.20  92 pts  wine review
• AURELIO SETTIMO ROCCHE DELL'ANNUNZIATA BAROLO 2014 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#293761) (XD) - $54.95  92 pts  wine review
• HAMILTON RUSSELL PINOT NOIR 2018 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#999516) (XD) - $59.95  92 pts  wine review
• BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE E&E BLACK PEPPER SHIRAZ 2016 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#731620) (XD) - $99.95  93 pts  wine review
• SOLAIA 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#987586) (XD) - $457.95  95 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• GÉRARD BERTRAND RÉSERVE SPÉCIALE VIOGNIER 2017 - IGP Pays d’Oc, Roussillon, France (#147975) (XD) - $14.95  88 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DE ROCHEBIN CHARDONNAY MÂCON-AZÉ 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#156943) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• FOLLAS NOVAS ALBARIÑO 2018 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488981) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• FRESCOBALDI CASTELLO DI POMINO POMINO BIANCO 2017 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#065086) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES BLANC 2017 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#479659) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• FLAT ROCK NADJA’S VINEYARD RIESLING 2018 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#578625) (D) - $24.95
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $26.95  92 pts  wine review
• NALS MARGREID PUNGGL PINOT GRIGIO 2016 - DOC Südtirol – Alto Adige, Italy (#395756) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $44.95  93 pts  wine review
• GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2014 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#346304) (XD) - $67.95  93 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• QUEENSTON MILE BRUT BLANC DE NOIRS 2015 - Traditional method, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#010139) (XD) - $50.00  91+ pts  wine review
• MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#069773) (XD) - $93.95  92 pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

• DE BORTOLI NOBLE ONE BOTRYTIS SEMILLON 2016 - New South Wales, Australia (#917252) (S) (375 mL) - $29.95  93 pts  wine review

Fortified:

• DELAFORCE VINTAGE PORT 2000 - DOC, Portugal (#344861) (S) - $62.95  92 pts  wine review

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