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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October 21, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

Here are my top wine picks from the October 21, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is titled "Golden State". As is the norm for this time of the year, the releases get bigger and pricier, with 157 products offered in this release, including many Gift and Sampler packs. The most expensive gift pack is over $2,000 and the person receiving it would be a very lucky duck. All of the wines in this release will be available in stores or online by this Saturday.

We begin with the shining wines from the Golden State of California, which include 12 premium-priced wines for your holiday shopping list - and three of which are among my top wine picks. The lone white wine is an always impeccable Chardonnay from Sonoma Mountain. Unsurprisingly, the other two wines are top California Cabernet Sauvignons, with the Cliff Lede version composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, while the Grgich Hills is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6.5% Merlot, and 6.5% Petit Verdot.

Even though California is the theme of the release, Italy could have made the case for being the mini-theme with many fine offerings from the boot-shaped peninsula. Leading off is the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, which is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, and 7% Malvasia Nera, followed by a pair of Riserva Chianti Classico wines - the 2016 is 100% Sangiovese, while the 2018 Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. The last red wine from Italy is the Modus Super Tuscan, which is composed of 44% Sangiovese, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 19% Merlot. Moving westwards to France, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 38% Syrah, 35% Grenache Noir, 25% Mourvèdre, 1% Cinsault, and 1% other permitted varieties, while the Côtes du Rhône Villages is made with 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and 10% Counoise. The last wine from France is from Languedoc and it is a blend of 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre. The last blend is a Malbec from Argentina that actually consists of 90% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.

The only blend among my white picks from the rest of the release is the Marsanne from Niagara, which is actually a blend of 93% Marsanne and 7% Viognier. The other wines include a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, a Chardonnay from Chablis, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and a Pecorino from Italy. If you prefer an off-dry style of wine (i.e. slightly sweet), you should take a look at the Gewurztraminer from Alsace.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• S. DELAFONT MOSAÏQUE 2020 - AP Languedoc, France (#31697) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Vegan, McLaren Vale, South Australia (#12835) (XD) - $21.95
• LA ROSELIÈRE CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES LAUDUN 2020 - AP, France (#31694) (XD) - $21.95
• ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP NATURE'S CRUX SHIRAZ 2020 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#33367) (XD) - $21.95
• CAVALIERE D'ORO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#216309) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• TEHO ZAHA TOKO VINEYARD MALBEC 2019 - Vegan, Paraje Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina (#441691) (XD) - $25.95

 

• RUFFINO MODUS 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#912956) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11582) (XD) - $34.95
• CASTELLO DI RADDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#31409) (XD) - $43.95
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#735407) (XD) - $64.95
• CASTELLO DI AMA SAN LORENZO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12751) (XD) - $64.95  94 pts  wine review
• GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#71407) (XD) - $109.95
• CLIFF LEDE STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA (#14217) (XD) - $124.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• PFAFF TRADITION GEWURZTRAMINER 2020 - AC Alsace, France (#29822) (D) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2022 - IGT Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy (#289553) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2019 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95
• RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2022 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $19.95
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $25.95
• THE CRATER RIM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Single vineyard, Waipara, South Island, New Zealand (#26359) (XD) - $29.95
  
• JEAN-MARC BROCARD SAINTE CLAIRE CHABLIS 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#356634) (XD) - $34.95
• KISTLER SONOMA MOUNTAIN CHARDONNAY 2021 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#183921) (XD) - $121.95

Fortified Wine:

• TAYLOR FLADGATE HISTORIC LIMITED EDITION RESERVE TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#581561) (S) - $53.95

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

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

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

White Wine:

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

Sparkling Wine:

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

Fortified Wine:

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

Dessert Wine:

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

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September 23, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: High-Scoring Wines

Here's my top wine picks from the September 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "High-Scoring Wines". It's a good sized release with 114 wines, and as we move closer to the gift-giving season, the prices also move up, with the average price per bottle settling in at just above $28/btl in this release. All of the wines should be available at the LCBO beginning this Saturday.

We begin with the feature on "High-Scoring Wines", which has nineteen wines listed, of which four are included among my top wine picks. There are a pair of red wines, including a perennially lovely Pinot Noir from Niagara, as well as a Chianti Classico that is mainly (~90%) Sangiovese. The other two wines are surprisingly both from Portugal - a white wine that is a blend of Viosinho, Arinto, Rabigato, and Gouveiro, and a Port wine that is a field blend of unspecified varieties.

At the top of the stack among my red wine picks is an Amarone that is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Molinara, while other blends include a wine from Jumilla that is composed of 55% Monastrell, 30% Garnacha, and 15% Syrah. The only other blend is the Cab Franc from Argentina, which is actually crafted with 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. The single varietal wines are all pretty straightforward with a pair Pinot Noirs - one from Germany and one from New Zealand, as well as a pair of Garnacha (aka Grenache) wines from Spain. There is also a fine Malbec from Argentina, and a Nero d'Avola from Sicily.

Moving on to my white wine recommendations from the main release, there are a couple of blends. First up is a wine from Limoux that is mainly Chardonnay, but also includes a splash of Mauzac, while the regionally blended Greek wine is composed of 70% Xinomavro and 30% Malagousia. Some of the excellent single varietal wines include a pair of Chardonnays - one from South Africa and one from Napa Valley, as well as a 100% Malagousia from Drama in Greece, and a Torrontés from Argentina. If you enjoy something on the sweeter side, try the always reliable Riesling from Niagara.

Among my top sparkling wine picks, which are all from Champagne, the Monmarthe Champagne is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay, while the 2009 Vintage Champagne is composed of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay. Lastly, the Brut Rosé Champagne is an unspecified blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL PETIT BONHOMME 2020 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#16578) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• NAVASCUÉS ENOLOGÍA CUTIO GARNACHA 2019 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#30586) (XD) - $16.95
• DESQUICIADO CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#32146) (XD) - $17.95
• FEUDO MACCARI NOTO NERÉ NERO D'AVOLA 2020 - DOP, Sicily, Italy (#339101) (XD) - $19.95
• GARNACHA DE LA MADRE 2018 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain (#18927) (XD) - $19.95
• CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#680496) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• ALTA YARÍ GRAN MALBEC 2020 - Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#32147) (XD) - $24.95
• JULES TAYLOR PINOT NOIR 2020 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#329805) (XD) - $27.95
• NEISS BOCKENHEIM PINOT NOIR 2019 - Vegan, sustainable, Pfalz, Germany (#25769) (XD) - $30.95  91 pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#274753) (XD) - $37.95  92 pts  wine review
• MASI COSTASERA RISERVA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#324137) (D) - $79.95

White Wine:

• CABRAL RESERVA 2020 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#35446) (XD) - $14.95
• THYMIOPOULOS ATMA WHITE XINOMAVRO/MALAGOUSIA 2021 - Greece (#33249) (XD) - $17.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2022 - Sustainable, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
• AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $21.95
• WINE ART ESTATE PLANO MALAGOUSIA 2022 - PGI Drama, Greece (#33256) (XD) - $23.95
• ALTUGNAC TERRES AMOUREUSES 2021 - AP Limoux, Languedoc, France (#16413) (XD) - $26.95  91 pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE RIESLING 2022 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#643361) (M) - $32.95
• HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2022 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#931006) (XD) - $64.95
• GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#346304) (XD) - $78.95

Sparkling Wine:

• MONMARTHE SECRET DE FAMILLE 1ER CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#624775) (D) - $52.95  91+ pts  wine review
• DUVAL-LEROY PRESTIGE PREMIER CRU BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#483107) (XD) - $93.95
• LANSON LE VINTAGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2009 - AC, France (#29949) (XD) - $102.95

Fortified Wine:

• POÇAS COLHEITA PORT 2010 - Vegan, aged in cask, DOC, Portugal (#21813) (S) - $38.95

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