June 11 VINTAGES Release: Sparkling Wine + California Zin + Father's Day

The June 11 VINTAGES Release has 3 themes and will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves this coming Saturday. The first theme is titled "Fizz Fest" and features sparkling wines for all occasions, while the second theme features California Zinfandel. The third and final theme of this release features a small selection of wines (and spirits) for Father's Day gifts.

We'll begin with the main feature on bubbly that has 16 sparkling wines, 5 of which are included among my wine picks. If you prefer your sparklers to be extra dry (i.e. not sweet), look for Chile's first organic sparkling wine that is a 77/23 blend of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Also extra dry, and more Pinot (82%) than Chardonnay (18%) is leads us to a rosé sparkling wine from South Africa. Single varietal sparkling wines with a hint sweetness, from less sweet to more sweet, include a Chardonnay from Burgundy, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Riesling, the latter two which are from Ontario.

The first mini-theme of 6 wines focuses on California Zinfandel. I'm not a big fan of Zinfandel, but if there's one wine I would add to my cellar, it would be the Ridge Lytton Springs from Sonoma County that, in addition to 74% Zinfandel, also includes 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignan and 2% Mataro (aka Mourvèdre). This is a wine to put away for at least a couple of years and enjoy into the 2030's.

Only one selection from the Father's Day mini-theme made my list of wine picks. It's a beautiful Brunello di Montalcino (100% Sangiovese) from Tenuta La Fuga, from the great 2010 vintage.

From the rest of the release, the Chinon is made with Cabernet Franc, while the Chianti Classico is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Creekside's Laura's Red (45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot) returns to VINTAGES with another year under it's belt. From Rhône, there are two fabulous reds: the Vacqueyras is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, while the Gigondas is mostly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre adding texture.

In white wines, the Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine is an extra dry wine made using the Melon de Bourgogne grape. If you like your wines on the sweet side, take a look at a pair of Ontario Rieslings, or go even sweeter with a Riesling Spätlese from Germany.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• SERGE ET BRUNO SOURDAIS CHINON 2014 - AC, Loire, France (#451898) (XD) - $16.95
• UGGIANO PRESTIGE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#454553) (XD) - $16.95
• CONCHA Y TORO SERIE RIBERAS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 - Ribera del Tinguiririca, Marchigue, Central Valley, Chile (#256693) (D) - $17.95
• CREEKSIDE ESTATE LAURA’S RED 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here
• KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2013 - Mendoza, Argentina (#50849) (D) - $19.95
• CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO PEUMO VINEYARD BLOCK 27 CARMENÈRE 2012 - Entre Cordilleras, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley, Chile (#562892) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here
• FOREST HILL ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Great Southern, Western Australia (#380840) (XD) - $29.95
• DOMAINE LA FOURMONE LE POÈTE VACQUEYRAS 2013 - AP, Rhône, France (#452268) (XD) - $29.95
• OLIVIER & LAFONT GIGONDAS 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#452300) (XD) - $29.95
• TENUTA LA FUGA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#212837) (XD) - $42.95
• RIDGE LYTTON SPRINGS 2013 - Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#982413) (XD) - $57.95

White Wine:

• MICHEL DELHOMMEAU CUVÉE HARMONIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2013 - AC, Loire, France (#164624) (XD) - $16.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (M) - $17.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE BOTTLED CHARDONNAY 2013 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $18.95
• WEINRIEDER KLASSIK GRÜNER VELTLINER 2013 - Niederösterreich, Austria (#446641) (XD) - $18.95
• ST. PAULS PINOT GRIGIO 2014 - DOC Südtirol/Alto Adige, Italy (#391870) (XD) - $19.95
• CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CHARDONNAY 2013 - Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#947937) (XD) - $24.95
• SERESIN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#735043) (XD) - $24.95
• FLAT ROCK NADJA’S VINEYARD RIESLING 2015 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578625) (M) - $24.95
• DR. HEIDEMANNS-BERGWEILER GRAACHER HIMMELREICH RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2013 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#339150) (S) - $26.95
• JEAN DAUVISSAT VAILLONS VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#457002) (XD) - $49.95  FSE

Sparkling Wine:

• EMILIANA ORGANIC BRUT SPARKLING - Charmat method, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#451914) (XD) - $15.95
• TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE SPARKLING RIESLING 2014 - Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#370361) (D) - $19.95
• GRAHAM BECK BRUT ROSÉ 2010 - WO Western Cape, Méthode Cap Classique, South Africa (#004085) (XD) - $21.95
• CREEKSIDE BACKYARD BUBBLY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#398628) (D) - $24.95
• BAILLY-LAPIERRE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Burgundy, France (#369066) (D) - $24.95