Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release June 9, 2018: Milestone Moments + Summer Whites

The upcoming June 9, 2018 LCBO VINTAGES Release features Milestone Moments from the wine world as its main theme, while the mini-thematic focuses on cool Summer white wines. All of these wines will be shelves by this coming Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that focuses on Milestone Moments in the wine world. There are fourteen wines listed among the seven different milestones. The advent of appellations is an important milestone in the world of wine and began in 1716; in Ontario, the VQA appellation and standards system began in 1988 and the wine representing this milestone is the Fumé Blanc (i.e. barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc) from Niagara. The only other wine among my top wine picks is from the "South Africa goes global" milestone and is an Old Vine Chenin Blanc, where significant progress swept through South Africa after the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994.

From the mini-theme on cool and refreshing Summer white wines, four of the ten wines featured are included among my top wine picks. First up is a variety native to Burgundy called Aligoté. Also on my list is a Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch in South Africa, and a Falanghina from Campania, Italy. Lastly, there is a Marsanne from an Estate in Australia that first planted this grape back in the 1860's and still has vines dating back to 1927.

Among my red wine picks from the rest of the release, the Romanian wine is made using Cadarca (Kadarka), while the Crianza is made with Tempranillo. The wine from Gérard Bertrand is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan. From Faugères, the blend consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Carignan, while the Arana from Rioja is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo. And lastly, the Dievole is a blend of mostly Sangiovese.

And last, but definitely not the least, the brilliant Champagne is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my wine picks from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• GANCEDO XESTAL MENCÍA 2010 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#553743) (XD) - $17.95
• BALLA GÉZA CADARCA 2015 - DOC Minis, Romania (#548552) (XD) - $18.95
• LEALTANZA CRIANZA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#114835) (XD) - $18.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR TAUTAVEL GRENACHE / SYRAH / CARIGNAN 2015 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France (#272575) (D) - $18.95
• PARFUM DE SCHISTES FAUGÈRES 2016 - AP Les Crus Faugères, Languedoc, France (#538025) (XD) - $21.95
• DIEVOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2014 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#444448) (XD) - $22.95
• ALÉOFANE NATACHA CHAVE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#530691) (XD) - $36.95  FE
• CASTELLO DI GABBIANO BELLEZZA GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#652438) (XD) - $39.95  91 pts  wine review
• RINGBOLT 21 BARRIQUES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#367870) (XD) - $44.95  FE
• VIÑA ARANA RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#368373) (XD) - $44.95  FE
• CASCINA CHICCO GINESTRA RISERVA BAROLO 2010 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#551853) (XD) - $92.00  FE

White Wine:

• L’AVENIR FAR & NEAR CHENIN BLANC 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#556365) (XD) - $15.95
• TAHBILK MARSANNE 2017 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#117945) (XD) - $17.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2016 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (M) - $18.95
• JANARE SENETE FALANGHINA DEL SANNIO 2016 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#556787) (D) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557728) (XD) - $19.95
• BELLINGHAM THE BERNARD SERIES OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC 2016 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#012724) (XD) - $29.95
• HIDDEN BENCH FUMÉ BLANC 2016 - Rosomel Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068825) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• BOURILLON DORLÉANS LA COULÉE D’ARGENT SEC VOUVRAY 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#541532) (D) - $30.95
• HERVÉ AZO VAU DE VEY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2015 - AC, Burgundy, France (#240655) (XD) - $42.95
• FLOWERS CHARDONNAY 2016 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $59.95  FE

Rosé Wine:

• CHIVITE LAS FINCAS VINO DE LA TIERRA ROSADO 2017 - IGP Vino de la Tierra 3 Riberas, Spain (#556308) (XD) - $22.95

Sparkling Wine:

• POL ROGER VINTAGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2008 - AC, France (#411793) (XD) - $96.95  93 pts  wine review

Fortified:

• LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY - DO, Spain (#342931) (S) (500 mL) - $25.95  91 pts  wine review