Oct. 13 LCBO Wine Picks: Australia + Chile

The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, October 13. The main feature in this release is on five impressive artisanal wineries from Australia. Four of these wineries have wines among my picks in this release.

Australia is known for its Shiraz. But these four wines show that they are more than capable of producing outstanding wines using other varietals. In white wine, there is a delicious Chardonnay from Yabby Lake in the Mornington Peninsula. In reds, we have a Cabernet Sauvignon from Fraser Gallop in Margaret River, and a Pinot Noir from Oakridge in Yarra Valley. We also have a red blend from Spinifex in Barossa that consists of old vine Grenache, Cinsault and Mataró (a.k.a. Monastrell/Mourvèdre). All four wines will provide pleasure over at least the next 5 years, but I wish none of these start at $29.95.

The secondary feature in this release is on wines from some of Chile's finest vineyards. From Chile's most northern wine region, we have a fabulous Syrah from the Elquí Valley - it's also my top value red from the entire release. There are also two whites worth consideration - a Sauvignon Blanc from the Garuma Vineyard in Leyda Valley, and a Chardonnay from the Atalayas Vineyard in Casablanca Valley.

Among the rest of my wine picks, the Sasso Al Poggio is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot. The Guardian Peak is also a red blend, consisting of 60% Syrah, 31% Mourvèdre, and 9% Grenache. The Barolo from Piedmont is 100% Nebbiolo. One final note - don't miss the gorgeous Reif Vidal Icewine! Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• FALERNIA RESERVA SYRAH 2009 - Elquí Valley, Chile (#208371) (XD) - $16.95
• SASSO AL POGGIO 2006 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#134809) (XD) - $18.95
• GUARDIAN PEAK SMG 2009 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#296681) (D) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU LAFONT FOURCAT 2010 - AC Bordeaux, France (#295790) (XD) - $15.95
• SPINIFEX PAPILLON 2010 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#285205) (XD) - $29.95
• MARCHESI DI BAROLO BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#168179) (D) - $34.95
• OAKRIDGE PINOT NOIR 2010 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#284059) (XD) - $38.95
• FRASER GALLOP CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia (#283069) (XD) - $45.95

White Wine:

• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (D) - $17.95
• GIESEN THE BROTHERS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#247213) (XD) - $19.95
• WILLY GISSELBRECHT TRADITION GEWURZTRAMINER 2010 - AC Alsace, France (#928390) (M) - $18.95
• LEYDA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Garuma Vineyard, Leyda Valley, Chile (#99309) (D) - $16.95
• CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#947937) (D) - $24.95
• YABBY LAKE SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia (#138628) (XD) - $39.95

Icewine:

• REIF VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.