Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release Oct. 27, 2018: Italy + Whisky

The parade of premium wines we head into the busy holiday season continues with the October 27, 2018 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Featured in this Release are impeccable wines from Italy as the main theme, while the mini-theme features whisky from three continents. All of the lovely wines from this Release will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features twelve illustrious wines from Italy, five of which are included among my top wine picks. The lone white among them is from Umbria, made by iconic producer Marchesi Antinori, and consists of Chardonnay and a small amount of Grechetto. Moving on to the reds, there are some really excellent wines, including a 100% Aglianico from 200-year-old vines in Campania, as well as a Brunello made with 100% Sangiovese Grosso. From Tuscany, the Gran Selezione is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 5% Colorino, while the iconic Sassicaia is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Among red wines from the rest of the Release, the Côtes du Rhône Villages is a blend of mostly Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault in support, while the organic wine from South Africa is a blend of 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Armenia(!), there is a nice blend of Syrah, Tannat, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, while the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. From Spain, the Rioja is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo, while the Priorat is a blend of 90% Carignan and 10% Grenache. Lastly, the Napa Cab is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.

From my white wine picks, the only blend is from Australia, consisting of 50% Marsanne, 42% Roussanne, and 8% Viognier. For those who prefer their wines with a hint of sweetness, you should look for the Riesling from either Cave Spring or Quails' Gate. If you want something off-dry, look for the Gewürztraminer, or something semi-sweet with the Tawse Riesling.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Grazie!

Red Wine:

• CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2015 - AC, France (#538496) (XD) - $15.95
• ALTA VISTA PREMIUM CABERNET FRANC 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#609081) (XD) - $17.95
• REYNEKE ORGANIC RED 2017 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#617217) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTES ALPHA CARMENÈRE 2015 - Dry farmed, DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#143230) (D) - $19.95
• THELEMA MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS SUTHERLAND PINOT NOIR 2015 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#624924) (XD) - $19.95

• KARAS RED 2016 - Armavir Region, Armenia (#492751) (XD) - $21.95
• CARPINETO FARNITO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#996553) (XD) - $28.95
• VOLPAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#953828) (XD) - $28.95  FE
• LAN GRAN RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• NATIV BICENTO 2013 - DOC Irpinia Campi Taurasini, Campania, Italy (#575035) (XD) - $41.95  94 pts  wine review

• RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2014 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#353201) (XD) - $47.95  92 pts  wine review
• TORRES COS PERPETUAL 2015 - DOCa Priorat, Spain (#265710) (XD) - $49.95  FE
• PALAZZO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#660746) (XD) - $69.95  93 pts  wine review
• CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#718452) (XD) - $74.95  93 pts  wine review
• SASSICAIA 2015 - DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy (#480533) (XD) - $225.95

White Wine:

• PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#747600) (D) $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2016 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (M) $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• QUAILS’ GATE DRY RIESLING 2017 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308312) (D) - $18.95
• REDSTONE CHARDONNAY 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#398966) (XD) - $19.95
• JOSÉ PARIENTE VERDEJO 2016 - DO Rueda, Spain (#345058) (XD) - $19.95
• VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#974527) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review

• CRAGGY RANGE TE MUNA ROAD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand (#466011) (XD) - $26.95
• HERVÉ AZO CHABLIS 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#185736) (XD) - $27.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068817) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2016 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (XD) - $29.95  92 pts  wine review
• COMPLICES DE LOIRE TERRES DE CAILOTTES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2016 - AC, Loire, France (#557488) (XD) - $31.95
• JOHN DUVAL PLEXUS WHITE 2016 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#609099) (XD) - $36.95  FE
• CASTELLO DELLA SALA CERVARO DELLA SALA 2016 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#512376) (XD) - $68.95

Fortified:

• OFFLEY 10-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#297788) (S) - $26.95