August 31, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: 90+ Scores + Southern Rhône

The main theme of the August 31, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features wines that scored 90 pts or higher, while the mini-theme focuses on wines from the Southern Rhône. As always, there are other delightful wines to choose from outside of the themes. All of these wines will appear on LCBO VINTAGES across Ontario shelves by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that looks at wine scoring and focuses on wines that scores 90+ points. Of the thirteen wines featured as part of this theme, four are included among my top wine picks. From South Africa, the white wine is a blend that consists of 40% Chenin Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 10% Grenache Blanc, 8% Viognier, and 2% Verdelho, while the red wine from South Africa is a blend of 73% Syrah, 16% Merlot, and 11% Petit Verdot. From Bordeaux, the Pauillac red is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Lastly, the white Burgundy is a lovely Chardonnay from 60-90 year old vines.

From the mini-theme on wines from Southern Rhône that features only five wines, four are included among my top wine recommendations. Among the three red wines from Rhône, all are composed of various amounts of Grenache and Syrah - the two primary red wine varietals in Southern Rhône. At the top of the list is a lovely Gigondas that consists of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an early maturing blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Lastly, the Vinsobres is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah. The lone Rhône white wine is a blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, and 20% Clairette.

My top red wine picks include a pair of Chianti Classico wines - the 2014 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino / Canaiolo / Malvasia Nera, while the 2015 consists of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Also from Italy, the Tornatore is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grown on the northern slopes and volcanic soils of Mount Etna.

Among my white wine picks, the Côte des Roses White is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Vermentino that comes in the same fancy bottle as their rosé. The rest are all single varietal wines, including the Pouilly-Fumé that is made with Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer sweeter wines, the Riesling should be on your shopping list.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• COURTOIS LA GRANGE VINSOBRES 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#526632) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• H J. FABRE RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#646844) (D) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE RED 2015 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#698175) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2014 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#085209) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• TORNATORE NERELLO MASCALESE/NERELLO CAPPUCCIO 2017 - DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $24.95
• VICCHIOMAGGIO AGOSTINO PETRI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#993360) (D) - $29.95
• DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D’OR GIGONDAS 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR PEYRABON 2014 - AC Pauillac, Bordeaux, France (#648063) (XD) - $49.95  91 pts  wine review
• GABRIEL MEFFRE LAURUS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2015 - AC, Rhone, France (#699074) (XD) - $55.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• SIMONSIG CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#610907) (XD) - $13.95  89 pts  wine review
• LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2017 - AC, France (#142125) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) (M) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TAHBILK VIOGNIER 2018 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#271387) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES WHITE 2018 - AP, Languedoc, France (#010621) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• RASCALLION 33-1/3 RPM WHITE BLEND 2017 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#914390) (XD) - $18.95
• CLOS HENRI PETIT CLOS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#927186) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• NALS MARGREID PUNGGL PINOT GRIGIO 2016 - DOC Südtirol – Alto Adige, Italy (#395756) (XD) - $29.95
• DOMAINE DE CONGY POUILLY-FUMÉ 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#667501) (XD) - $32.95  90 pts  wine review
• DEUX ROCHES VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2016 - AP, Burgundy, France (#488825) (XD) - $41.95  91 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• DELAS SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2018 - AC, France (#224964) (D) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
• OTT BY.OTT ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#490896) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• PARÉS BALTÀ BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#650648) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• RENÉ GEOFFROY EMPREINTE BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#665844) (XD) - $69.95  91 pts  wine review