LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks, LCBO Wine Reviews, LCBO Wine Picks : Index

Thursday, September 22, 2022

September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: High Scores

LCBO Wine Picks: September 24, 2022 VINTAGES Release

As we go head first into the busy holiday season, here's my top wine picks from the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release. The feature of the release is titled "High Scores", and like all other releases this year, there is no mini-feature. All of the wines in this release should be in stores across Ontario by Saturday. The Online Exclusives (OE) wines included as part of this release will also be available at Flagship locations.

We begin with the feature on High Scoring wines, and of the seventeen wines included as part of the theme, six are included among my top wine picks. Among the white wines, both the Charles Baker Riesling and the Gewurztraminer are just off-dry (i.e. a hint of sweetness), while the dry white from Niagara is a blend of 75% Marsanne and 25% Viognier. Among the reds, the wine from Roussillon is a tank-aged blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre that was all grown on schist soils, while the Cahors consists of 90% Malbec and 10% Tannat. Lastly, there is also a consistently delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.

Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (89 pts)

Domaine Forca Real Schistes Côtes du Roussillon-Villages 2018

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, we begin in Spain with a pair of lovely Riojas - the Gran Reserva is a blend of approximately 94% Tempranillo and 6% Mazuelo, while the Reserva consists of 85% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. From Tuscany, the 2016 Chianti Classico is one the Wines of the Month and crafted with 100% Sangiovese, while the 2018 Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. For GSM wine lovers, Barossa red is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Shiraz, and 5% Mataro. Single varietal wines worth noting are the Crozes-Hermitage which is made with Syrah, and the Etna Rosso from Sicily that is crafted with 100% Nerello Mascalese.

Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico 2016

Cave de Tain Héritiers Gambert Nobles Rives Crozes-Hermitage 2020

The only blend among my white wine recommendations from the main release comes from Roussillon and it is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. Contrasting new world vs. old world single varietal wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from both Chile and Loire, as well as a Chardonnay from both New Zealand and Burgundy. If you want to try something off the beaten path, check out the Posip grape variety from Croatia. For those that prefer their wines somewhat sweet, the always lovely Hidden Bench Riesling should be on your radar.

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2021 (90 pts)

Miguel Torres Ándica Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (90 pts)

My lone rosé wine pick is a dry rosé from Provence that is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino).

Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2021 (90+ pts)

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

DOMAINE FORÇA RÉAL SCHISTES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2018 - AP, Midi, France (#494161) (XD) - $16.95
VIGNOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#17404) (XD) - $19.95
SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2019 - Barossa, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $19.95
WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Clare Valley/Limestone Coast, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CUNE RESERVA 2017 - Rioja Alta, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#417659) (XD) - $21.95
IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#85209) (XD) - $21.95
CHÂTEAU LAMARTINE CUVÉE PARTICULIÈRE CAHORS 2018 - AC, South of France, Southwest, France (#441238) (XD) - $26.95
CAVE DE TAIN HÉRITIERS GAMBERT NOBLES RIVES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2020 - Sustainable, AP, Rhone, France (#572230) (XD) - $27.95
NICOSIA CONTRADA MONTE SAN NICOLÒ 2018 - DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#26507) (XD) - $29.95 OE
LAN GRAN RESERVA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $33.95
BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD OLD VINES PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#361816) (XD) - $47.95 OE

White Wine:

MIGUEL TORRES ÁNDICA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Vegan, Valle de Curicó, Chile (#25641) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2021 - AP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
KEW MARSANNE/VIOGNIER 2018 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95
PIERRE SPARR SOL CALCAIRE GEWURZTRAMINER 2018 - AC Alsace, France (#25370) (D) - $21.95
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2019 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (M) - $24.95
MERGA VICTA POSIP 2020 - Smokvica, Dalmatia, Korcula, Croatia (#25828) (XD) - $26.95
CHATELAIN LES CHARMES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#727990) (XD) - $26.95
CHARLES BAKER IVAN VINEYARD RIESLING 2019 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359794) (D) - $29.95
DOMAINE BEGUE-MATHIOT FOURCHAUME CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#26452) (XD) - $36.95 OE
BLANK CANVAS REED CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#20183) (XD) - $39.95 OE

Rosé Wine:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2021 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

STEORRA PÉTILLANT NATUREL SPARKLING CHARDONNAY 2016 - Ancestral method, Arroyo Secco, Monterey County, California, USA (#20177) (XD) - $29.95 OE

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2019 and Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2020 (Loire) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of perennially excellent white Sancerre wines crafted with Sauvignon Blanc from Loire that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2019 (92+ pts) and Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2020 (92 pts)

These lovely wines are produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite producers from the Loire Valley. The Roger family descends from a long line of winegrowers from the village of Bué, with the first mention of the family name dating back to the 17th century. Up until the 1960s, the Roger family practiced mixed farming with animal rearing. In the 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines from his parents left for him and together with his wife, Nicole, they focused on developing the vineyards and estate to make it the highly regarded producer it is today. In 2004, their sons, Thibault and Etienne, joined them at the estate. Today, Thibault and Etienne carry on their parents' passion for wine and terroir and define the estate's identity. The brothers complement each other, perpetuating their family's know-how and techniques to improve their wines with each passing vintage.

Both of these wines are crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown on Sancerre's famous limestone soils called "caillottes". The vineyards were managed to produce grapes that reveal its terroir, including the use of organic principles and working the deep soils to revitalize the soil life. Jean-Max Roger also uses Guyot Poussard pruning to have a better balance of stock, while also performing spring debudding to control yields. Weeds are controlled mechanically while also respecting soil life.

In the winery, Jean-Max Roger uses a similar vinification process for each wine. They start by using a pneumatic press with cold settlement for between 48 and 72 hours. The wines undergo a temperature-controlled, long fermentation using natural yeasts to develop aromatic complexity, followed by ageing on heavy lees to develop minerality. After fining and filtration to stabilize the aromas and wine, it is bottled at the estate and rests for a couple of months prior to release.

While these wines come from different vintages, both the 2019 and 2020 vintage are considered very good years for Sauvignon Blanc. Let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc wines from Sancerre are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $31.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc from vines ranging between 6 to 40 years of age that were grown in the villages of Bué, Amigny, and Sancerre. Clean, elegant, and fresh aromas of lemon citrus, white floral, and ripe orchard fruit with subtle herb, spiciness and leesy mineral aromas rising out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied with lovely aromas replays and fine, well-delineated acidity gliding across the palate. Elegant and drinking beautifully at this stage. Lightly spicy on the slightly chalky textured, juicy mid-palate. Lovely citrus and apple, along with a fine mineral streak lingers on the well-balanced finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2019 (92+ pts)

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $32.95
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was grown in ancestral plots exclusively in the village of Bué on caillottes soils, from vines between 10 to 40 years of age. Lovely, intense aromas of lemon/lime citrus, white floral, and spice layered over stony minerals with a hint of white peach. It has very good weight on the medium-full to full-bodied palate. Elegant citrus, white floral, and stony mineral flavour replays are lifted by fresh, juicy acidity. There's a nice, subtle chalky texture on the mid-palate, while citrus, leesy-stony mineral and floral notes linger on the very long, crisp, and balanced finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2020 (92 pts)

Other excellent wines by Jean-Max Roger are available through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

LAVAU Vacqueyras 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

For Rhône wine lovers (like me!), tonight's red wine review is this lovely Vacqueyras that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, one of my favourite Southen Rhône producers. Maison LAVAU was founded in the Rhône Valley in 1964 by the Lavau family that had been involved in winemaking from Bordeaux to Tunisia for several generations. The Lavau family decided to settle in the Rhône Valley after being seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soils. Today, Lavau is a renowned and respected name in Rhône Valley winemaking with brothers Benoit and Frédéric Lavau at the helm of the family business. Over the years, the Lavau brothers have enhanced their expertise by becoming creators of cuvées and producers. Not only do they own wine estates covering more than 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, but they also have long-running partnerships with more than 350 growers so that Maison LAVAU is able to select the best terroir and grapes in order to craft top quality wines.

This red wine is crafted with 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all grown in plots on the plain of Vacqueyras. The vines average 35 years old and are planted on alluvial and sandy, well-draining soils. Grenache is the emblematic variety of the Southern Rhône Valley, tolerating drought very well, while also providing juice that is very sweet, and often contributes power and volume to wine blends. Syrah is often trellised because it is not very resistant to the mistral winds, while adding a beautiful purple colour to the wines, along with intense fruit aromas and spices; Syrah also pairs very well with Grenache. Mourvèdre is the late-maturing variety that originated in Spain and produces intense and powerful wines with great finesse, and is particularly suited for ageing and ageing in wood. At the winery, the grapes for this wine were de-stemmed and placed in stainless steel, thermo-regulated vats for a 24-hour maceration, followed by fermentation. 60% of the cuvée is matured in vats, while the rest was aged in 450 L first and second-use barrels for a period of 12 months, before being blended together with the tank-aged portion.

The 2018 growing season in Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss. Winter and spring were wet and mild, but reasonably successful. In the Southern Rhône, there was unexpected rainfall in June that caused some difficulties with mildew and rot. The damp weather eventually dried up and gave way to a hot, dry summer. Despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good with red wines more densely concentrated than typical with strong fruit flavours and structure. After enjoying the excellent 2017 LAVAU Vacqueyras in Spring of last year, let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The fragrant, medium-high intensity offers lovely perfumed, ripe dark berry, purple fruit, dark cherry, and floral aromas with swarthy, scorched earth undertones. The medium-full bodied palate is ripe with smooth, refined, subtly structured and grippy tannins that support the ripe dark berry-cherry, purple fruit, earthy, and smoky flavours with subtle spicy notes. Acids are fresh and lively, Nicely balanced throughout with lovely dark berry, subtle smoky earth, and spice notes linger on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

Monte Creek Living Land Series Chardonnay 2020 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2017 Monte Creek Ranch Cabernet/Merlot a couple of years ago, and tonight's wine review is a lovely Chardonnay made by the same producer in British Columbia. This new wine is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Monte Creek Winery, which is owned by a local B.C. family and supported by a trusted team of on-site professionals to manage the operations. Established in 2009, Monte Creek Winery is located in the Thompson Valley, near Kamloops. Today, Monte Creek is turning its unique growing conditions in the Thompson Valley through quality, innovation and sustainability into award-winning premium wines. They also re-branded (and for the better, in my opinion) since the last time I tasted their wines to better align with their vision.

This particular wine is from their Living Land Series - a celebration of the idea that great wines only come from balanced vines, and earth that is truly alive and thriving. Their philosophy is that in order to grow incredible fruit, you must promote and maintain an environment that is healthy and working with nature, not against it. Far from just dirt, the grapevines used to grow the grapes in the Living Land Series wines are grown not from just dirt, but soils that are biodiverse and alive, and enhancing their vitality is the guiding principle of their viticulture. Flourishing soils make for healthy grapes, and healthy grapes help produce vibrant wines.

Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, the grapes for this wine were grown in the Thompson Valley on Olhausen glaciolacustrine sandy loam and Similkameen glaciofluvial silty loam soils. It underwent wild fermentation and was aged sur lie, with 75% aged in French oak, while the remainder was aged in concrete eggs. By using both of these ageing methods, Monte Creek aims to integrate the oak slightly while also preserving the acidity.

The 2020 growing season in the Thompson Valley is characterized by a relatively cool and slightly compressed season, with 50% budbreak occurring about a week later than normal. Harvest came to an abrupt end due to temperatures falling to -11 Celsius on October 25th. However, with a cool a start to the season combined with the warm late-summer period, the grapes reached phenolic maturity at the same level as sugar maturity. Overall, the wines from 2020 tended to have moderate alcohol levels and well-extracted, refined structure. Let's see how this 2020 Chardonnay from B.C. is tasting tonight...

Monte Creek Living Land Series Chardonnay 2020 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

MONTE CREEK LIVING LAND SERIES CHARDONNAY 2020 - BC VQA British Columbia, Canada (#25658) (XD) - $22.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity nose is richly structured with orchard fruit, apple, and pear aromas nuanced with subtle oak, butter, lemon citrus, and touches of tropical fruit. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers lovely apple, pear, buttery, and citrus replays on the flavour profile and supported by fresh acidity. Well-balanced throughout and impressively structured. More orchard fruits with lemon citrus, and butter with hints of vanilla, tapering to a long, fine, leesy mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other delicious wines by Monte Creek are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Perigon Beverage Group.

LCBO Wine Picks: September 10, 2022 VINTAGES Release

As we leave Summer and head into the Fall and Winter gift-giving season, here are my top wine picks from the large September 10, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release. There are a whopping 173 wines in this release and theme focuses on the local wines from Ontario. With this release, the LCBO also returns to its normal bi-weekly in-store releases, and I am expecting large releases right through to the end of the year. All of the wines from this release should be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme that's titled "Local Love" and focuses on Ontario wines. Although there are quite a few nice wines among the nineteen featured in the thematic, just one is among my top wine picks - a lovely Cabernet Franc from Niagara.

Tawse Growers Blend Cabernet Franc 2019 (91 pts)

As this is a big release, there are more than the usual number of red wine picks. We start in Rhône with a lovely Vacqueyras that is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvédre, while the Plan de Dieu is also a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The last wine from France is from Corbières in Languedoc and it's a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 15% Carignan. From Italy, the Sicilian red is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, while the Brunello di Montalcino is made with 100% Sangiovese, and the Chianti Cliassico is composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. If you're seeking some top California Cabernet Sauvignon at the LCBO, you should get either the Napa Valley Cab which is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, or the Alexander Valley (Sonoma) Cab that consists of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec. Lastly, the red wine from Spain is a blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell.

Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2018 (89 pts)

Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (93 pts)

From my white wine recommendations, Sauvignon Blanc could well have been the mini-thematic of the release as there are many very nice Sauv Blanc wines in this release. Three Sauvignon Blanc wines are included among my picks, with a pair from it's classic home in Sancerre (Loire), while the third Sauv Blanc is from the New World in Chile. For Chardonnay wine lovers, there are a pair of lovely wines from the west coast - one from British Columbia and the other from Sonoma Coast. The Crianza from Rioja is a barrel-aged Viura. For those that prefer a pinch of sugar in their wines, there is a Pinot Gris from Oregon and a Riesling from Germany.

Aresti Trisquel Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (90 pts)

Del Rio Vineyard Estate Pinot Gris 2020 (90 pts)

Among my dry rosé wine picks, the lovely $25 rosé from Tavel is a blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, while the $20 Tavel rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. The rosé from Languedoc is a blend of mainly Cinsault and Grenache, with Caladoc and Syrah in support.

Château d'Aquéria Tavel Rosé 2021 (91+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!