Desiderius Pongrácz Brut Cap Classique Sparkling Chardonnay / Pinot Noir (South Africa) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I bring you this excellent bubbly that I actually intended to open on New Year's Eve 2019, but for reasons I don't recall, I ended up not opening it.This lovely traditional method, dry sparkling wine from South Africa came to the LCBO last year as part of the December 7, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release. I had the privilege of tasting this wine at the...

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Lacour Tourny 2018 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this nice Bordeaux red that recently arrived at the LCBO as a General List product and is widely available across Ontario.Lacour Tourny pays tribute to the Marquis de Tourny, who worked under the reign of Louis XV to magnify the city of Bordeaux. The blend of this red wine consists of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from small plots within mature vineyards....

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Exploring DO Rueda Wines (Spain)

For tonight's wine reviews, I explore the wines of Rueda (Spain) thanks to DO Rueda and GLO Communications.Rueda Designation of Origin (DO) is one of the few European wine growing regions specialised in making white wines. Rueda is known for its excellence in producing white wines based on its native varietal, Verdejo, as well as its other principal white varietal, Sauvignon...

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Southbrook Organic Vidal Icewine 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Review (Dec. 2020)

To celebrate the holiday season, tonight's wine review is this gorgeous organic Vidal Icewine from Niagara that showed up in LCBO VINTAGES on November 10, 2018. While the 2014 is mostly sold out - six bottles actually still remain at LCBO locations - the 2015 vintage is available through the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake and online through their web store.It is produced by...

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St. Stephen Oda al Vino Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2017 and Am Malbec Reserva 2016 (Chile) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of nice organic red wines by St. Stephen Organic Vineyards from Chile. Both are currently only available via their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits, and may potentially appear in LCBO VINTAGES some time next year.St. Stephen Organic Vineyards is a family-owned and -operated winery located in the Colchagua Valley at the base of the...

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Catena Zapata Nicolás Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2016 (Argentina) - Wine Review

To follow up on the lovely 2017 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon that I enjoyed last month, tonight's wine review is an excellent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec by Bodega Catena Zapata that arrived at the LCBO as part of the VINTAGES Classics Collection back in September - with a few bottles still available for purchase at LCBO outlets in Toronto.The family winery was founded...

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Toro Bravo Sparkling Secco White (Spain) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I have this accessibly-priced, easy drinking, and vegan-friendly sparkling wine from Spain that is a recent arrival to the LCBO and widely available across Ontario.The Toro Bravo brand was born a few years from a collaboration between Alex Patinios of Dionysus Wines & Spirits Ltd. (Ontario Agent) and Melanie Nathou, a négociant who owns Wines...

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La Posta Pizzella Family Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this Malbec by La Posta Vineyads, the entry-level brand of Bodega Catena. This red wine is a frequent visitor to LCBO VINTAGES due to its popularity and last arrived at the LCBO in June - with only approximately 10 bottles still remaining on shelves in Ontario.In 2000, Laura Catena discovered a handful of growers whose results in the vineyards with...

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13th Street Cuvée Rosé Brut (Niagara) - Wine Review (Dec. 2020)

For tonight's wine review, I opened this lovely Rosé Brut Sparkling Wine from Niagara. It is part of the VINTAGES Essentials collection at the LCBO - which means it is always available in the VINTAGES section, and is currently on promotion at $5 off until January 3rd, 2021. It is also available at the winery for the same price with a home delivery option.This dry sparkling...

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Château Prieuré-Lichine 2016 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Margaux from the Left Bank of Bordeaux that newly arrived at the LCBO today as part of the December 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.A jewel of the Margaux appellation, this red wine is produced by Château Prieuré-Lichine and expresses the very essence of a world-famous terroir. The Priory (or monastery) of Cantenac was founded during the Roman...

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Castelo do Mar Albariño 2018 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Albariño from Spain that came to VINTAGES last Fall and returns to our shores as part of the December 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Castelo do Mar wines are produced by Veiga da Princesa, a winery that is part of the Pazo do Mar Group of wineries. Veiga da Princesa is located Arbo, Pontevedra, in western Spain near the Atlantic Ocean and just...

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December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Dinner Wines + Gifts

In what has been a year like no other, the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is upon us and it is the final Release of the year. This mono-thematic Release features Delicious Dinner Wines and Gifts and all of these wines, plus those from the Main Release will be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.The theme of this Release is a big one with thirty-two...

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Kaiken Ultra Las Rocas Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I continue the series on some lovely Malbec wines from Argentina. This particular bottle is arriving at the LCBO as part of the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Kaiken Wines, the name of which comes from the Caiquén wild goose from Patagonia that flies across The Andes between Argentina and Chile. Like the border-crossing...

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's wine review is this consistently well-made Australian Shiraz by the ever-reliable Wakefield Wines. I enjoyed the 2017 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz when it first came to VINTAGES in July 2019 and am pleased to see it return in time for the holidays as part of the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.Produced by the Taylor family, one of Australia's First Families of...

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Lungarotti IlBio Rosso 2016 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this nice, organic red from Umbria that is new to the LCBO and arrived recently as part of the November 14th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Cantine Lungarotti was founded in the early 1960s by Giorgio Lungarotti and soon became a major force on opening up new opportunities not only in Torgiano, but also throughout Umbria with wine as the centrepiece. The history...

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2018 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Sauvignon Blanc from the renowned region of Sancerre in Loire. It returned to VINTAGES as part of the November 28th LCBO VINTAGES Release.One of my favourite producers from Loire, Jean-Max Roger comes from a long line of winegrowers from the village of Bué, just southwest of the town of Sancerre, with the first mention of the name dating...

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Tournon Shays Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2013 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Australian Shiraz that came to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the November 28th LCBO VINTAGES Release.The Chapoutier family have been working the vineyards and winegrowing in the Rhône Valley since 1808. Michel Chapoutier is the seventh generation of the family to work in the wine business. Michel is a legend in the world of wine...

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Château Hauchat 2018 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice Merlot from Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the November 28, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Vignobles Jean-Bernard Saby & Fils, a family that has been producing wines on the Right Bank of Bordeaux in Saint Emilion for nine generations. Jean Saby started the family dynasty in the 18th century and the family...

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Domaine Hamelin Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2018 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Premier Cru Chablis that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES this weekend. This white wine is featured in the November 28 LCBO VINTAGES Release as a Top Holiday Wine and is indeed just that!I have had the pleasure of tasting this wine on a couple of occasions in the past, including the 2014 Domaine Hamelin Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru when it came...

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November 28, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Top Holiday Wines

The November 28, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is another large release focusing on Top Holiday Wines for the season with lots of great options for gift-giving. It's the only theme of the release and is the 2nd-to-last release of the year. All of these will be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.This mono-thematic Release features 24 wines as part of the theme on Top Holiday...

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