Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release Sept. 29, 2018: Famed Producers + Riesling

The upcoming September 29, 2018 LCBO VINTAGES Release features wines from four famed producers as its main theme, while the mini-theme looks at the Riesling varietal. All of these wines, plus many others leading up to the holiday season, will be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario this coming Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features ten wines from four famed producers from around the globe. Masi is first on the list and their Mazzano is a very fine Amarone made only in the best years, and in limited quantities, using Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes from a vineyard that is famous for the quality of its produce since the 12th century. The other wines from this theme include a Torrontés and a high-altitude (2,700 m) Malbec, both from Bodega Colomé in Argentina, one of a few family wine estates owned by Donald Hess (from The Hess Collection in Napa).

The mini-theme focuses on the lovely Riesling varietal, a grape that is so versatile that it can be produced in styles ranging from bone dry to lusciously sweet, and can age for many years. It is a small feature with just six wines listed, but two are included among my top wine picks. First up is a medium sweet Ontario Riesling that is returning to VINTAGES with another year under its belt, while the second wine is a dry Riesling from Alsace that should age nicely for a decade.

Among my red wine picks, the Minervois is a blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan, while the Rioja is made with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. The Australian Shiraz is actually 98% Shiraz and 2% Barbera. Lastly, the wine from Washington State is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec. The rest of the red wines are all single varietals.

From my white wine selections, the Roussillon white from Michel Chapoutier is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, and Macabeu. If you enjoy very sweet table wines, you should check out the Loire wine from Château la Varière that is made with Chenin Blanc.

Both rosés are dry, with the Tavel consisting of 60% Grenache Noir, 30%Cinsault, and the rest other local varietals, while the rosé from Provence is a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 25% Cinsault, and 25% Syrah.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE SÉRAME MINERVOIS 2011 - AC, Midi, France (#493643) (XD) - $16.95
• WITS END LUNA SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#311258) (XD) - $17.95
• MOMO PINOT NOIR 2016 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#163972) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• MAQUIS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2014 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#576066) (XD) - $19.95
• TRAPICHE MEDALLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 - Mendoza, Argentina (#568865) (XD) - $19.95
• COLOMÉ LOTE ESPECIAL EL ARENAL MALBEC 2016 - El Arenal, Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#575290) (XD) - $29.95
• FEUDO MACCARI SAIA NERO D’AVOLA 2015 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#128967) (XD) - $32.95
• BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD OLD VINES PINOT NOIR 2015 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#361816) (XD) - $44.95  FE
• LA RIOJA ALTA VIÑA ARDANZA RESERVA 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#315531) (XD) - $47.95
• CATENA ALTA HISTORIC ROWS MALBEC 2015 - Mendoza, Argentina (#982355) (XD) - $49.95
• L’ECOLE NO. 41 PERIGEE 2014 - Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA (#374413) (XD) - $89.00  FE
• MASI MAZZANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2012 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#597476) (XD) - $129.95

White Wine:

• LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2016 - AC, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $15.95
• COLOMÉ TORRONTÉS 2017 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#357913) (XD) - $15.95
• CITRA FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2016 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95
• 2027 FALLS VINEYARD RIESLING 2016 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#294041) (M) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
• BORTHWICK VINEYARD PADDY BORTHWICK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#361220) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU LA VARIÈRE LE SAVETIER COTEAUX DU LAYON 2016 - AC, Loire, France (#559930) (S) - $24.95
• DOMAINE DE RIAUX POUILLY-FUMÉ 2016 - AC, Loire, France (#200063) (XD) - $27.95
• CARABELLA DIJON 76 CLONE CHARDONNAY 2015 - Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#180133) (XD) - $27.95
• DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER KESSLER RIESLING 2015 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#061176) (XD) - $29.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE BERNE ÉMOTION 2017 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#556183) (XD) - $16.95
• DOMAINE MABY LA FORCADIÈRE TAVEL ROSÉ 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#701318) (XD) - $19.95