FRAM Shiraz 2019 (South Africa) - Wine Review

For my final post of 2021, tonight's wine review is this lovely Shiraz from South Africa that arrives at the LCBO in the New Year as part of the first LCBO VINTAGES Release of 2022 on January 8.This red wine is produced by FRAM Wines, a passion project created in 2013 by Winemaker Thinus Krüger. After working at Boschendal Winery for 12 long years, Thinus decided to take his...

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Six-pack of LCBO General List Wines (Dec. 2021)

To wrap up the last batch of LCBO General List wines I received a few months ago, tonight's wine reviews are six wines that are readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, with a couple that are on promotion right now.While all of these wines in this post are represented by Dionysus Wines & Spirits (and Churchill Cellars), the Mare di Sirena and Popcorn Chardonnay...

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Trio of LCBO General List Wines (Dec. 2021)

Happy Holidays! Tonight's wine reviews are a trio of General List wines I received several months ago and finally got around to tasting. Both red wines are new arrivals to the LCBO and available in standard 750 mL bottles, while the white wine from Abruzzo comes in a 1.5 L large format magnum bottle. All of the wines are readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.Tasting...

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Albert Bichot Sélection Parcellaire Beaujolais-Villages 2018 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Gamay from Beaujolais that was slated to be released as a new arrival during the summer as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release but actually never made it into stores back then. However, it did arrive on shelves a few weeks ago and there are plenty of bottles still available.It is produced by Albert Bichot, a family whose roots...

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DGB - White Wines from South Africa

With today's mild weather, tonight's wine reviews are a trio of delicious white wines from South Africa. All three are readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, with one a VINTAGES Essentials product, while the other two being General List wines.These wines are produced by DGB (Douglas Green Bellingham) - a classic company in a modern era that uses their many years...

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Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore 2019 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of a consistently well-made, and delicious red wine from the famous Valpolicella region within Veneto. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend, as part of the December 11 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is crafted by Tedeschi Wines, a winemaking family with over four centuries of history and tradition, including cru wine pioneers in Valpolicella....

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Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino 2018 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2015 Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino near two years ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely red wine that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the December 11th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Founded in central Italy the early 1960's, Cantine Lungarotti soon became a driving force that opened up new opportunities not only for...

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Xavier Vignon Lirac 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely red from the Lirac AOC in the southern Rhône Valley that arrives at the LCBO this weekend. Not only is this wine featured as part of the theme on "Elegant Wines for Holiday Entertaining" in the December 11 LCBO VINTAGES Release, but it also the Wine of the Month and will be widely available across the province by Saturday, if not already.It...

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December 11, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Holiday Wines

The upcoming December 11, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the final release of the year. It is a mono-thematic release that focuses on Elegant Wines for Holiday Entertaining, with many other elegant wines also available throughout the rest of release as well. All of the wines should be in stores across Ontario by this Saturday.We begin with the theme on Elegant Wines for Holiday...

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Argentina National Wine Day Nov. 24, 2021 - Virtual Tasting Event

I had the pleasure of attending a virtual wine tasting event a couple of weeks ago to celebrate Argentina's National Wine Day - an event held annually since November 24, 2010, the day when a presidential decree was signed recognizing wine as the country's national drink and honouring the wine industry's contribution to Argentina's national identity. This virtual event was...

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Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent, off-dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand that arrived at the LCBO in limited quantities over the weekend as part of the recent November 27th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of iconic winemaker Kevin Judd. After spending many years working at another winery, he wanted to create his own label...

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Trapiche Gran Medalla Malbec 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Malbec from Argentina that returned to the LCBO over the weekend, as part of the recent November 27th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Bodega Trapiche was founded in 1883 when founder Tiburcio Benegas purchased the property that contained asmall vineyard. The winery was passed down through generations of the family, and was eventually sold to the...

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Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend 2018 (Hawke's Bay) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Bordeaux varietal from Hawke's Bay in New Zealand that arrived at the LCBO this weekend, as part of the November 27th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Trinity Hill was jointly established in the early 1990's on a stony site in Hawke's Bay, on the North Island of New Zealand, by founding winemaker John Hancock and Robert and Robyn Wilson over a...

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Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2020 (Midi) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2018 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc at the beginning of this year, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of a perennial favourite from Roussillon that arrives at the LCBO tomorrow as part of the November 27 LCBO VINTAGES Release.This white wine is produced by the legendary Rhône producer M. Chapoutier. The origins...

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November 27, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Finest Holiday Wines + Local Sparkling

The November 27, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the 2nd to last release of the year and the main theme is titled "Finest Holiday Wines", while in the Local Talent feature there are a few, fine sparkling wines from Ontario. All of these wines should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.We begin with the theme on Finest Holiday Wines - a group of sixteen wines which...

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