Juvé y Camps Pinot Noir Brut Rosé Cava (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely Brut Rosé Cava made with Pinot Noir that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago as part of the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release, just in time for the holidays.The story of Juvé y Camps begins in 1796 when a curious, meticulous, and forward-thinking winemaker, Joan Juvé Mir, laid the groundwork for the company. Some years later,...

Read More

Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2017 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, and perennial favourite, Petit Verdot from Australia. The latest vintage arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release, where it was featured as part of the theme on Australian wines.Pirramimma was founded by Alexander Campbell Johnston (ACJ) in 1892 and has been owned and operated by the Johnston...

Read More

October 30, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California + Sicily

The main theme of the October 30 LCBO VINTAGES Release is titled "California Classics", while the mini-theme takes a look at Signature wines from Sicily. All of these wines, plus those from the main release should be available on shelves across Ontario by Saturday.We begin with the main theme on classic California wines. In total, there are thirteen wines featured as part...

Read More

Wakefield Jaraman Chardonnay 2018 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay from Australia. It's a new arrival to the LCBO that was featured in the theme on Australian wines in the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release.After making wines for many years, the Taylors family founded Wakefield Wines in 1969 in the Clare Valley, South Australia, to make their own wines. With three generations of the family...

Read More

Michel Lynch Réserve Graves 2019 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious white wine from Bordeaux that newly arrived at the LCBO last weekend. It's featured as part of the theme on wine pairings with Fall Comfort Foods in the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Owners of the historic Château Lynch-Bages since 1939, the Cazes family has a long tradition in viticulture and hospitality. A common surname throughout...

Read More

California Sommelier Sessions: Cakebread Cellars + St. Francis + Sequoia Grove

I received this tasting kit recently containing samples of three delightful wines from California. These three wines were featured in the latest California Sommelier Sessions virtual tasting series with representatives from each winery joining the tasting last week.Joining us for this virtual tasting were Stephanie Jacobsen of Cakebread Cellars, Kate Madigan of St. Francis,...

Read More

El Esteco 1946 Old Vines Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic, old vines Malbec from the Calchaquí Valley in northwestern Argentina. New to the LCBO, this red wine arrived on shelves across Ontario last weekend as part of the October 16 LCBO VINTAGES Release.Founded in 1892, El Esteco is one of the first institutions in Argentina to master the art of viticulture and winemaking. They are...

Read More

Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles 2019 (Barossa) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre a couple of months ago, tonight's wine review is another lovely wine made with the same varietals from the same producer. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as part of the theme in that Release on wines from Australia.Founded...

Read More

Lealtanza Gran Reserva 2011 (Rioja) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2015 Lealtanza Reserva back in April, we go up a notch with this Gran Reserva from the same producer that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.This Rioja Gran Reserva is made by Bodegas Altanza, a producer whose story begins in 1998 and is a synonym of quality and dedicated exclusively to top Reserva...

Read More

Donatien Bahuaud Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray 2019 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious off-dry Vouvray from Loire that returned to LCBO VINTAGES a couple of weeks ago as part of the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release, with plenty of bottles still available for purchase across Ontario.Donatien Bahuaud was born in the region of Nantes and came from a family of clog makers, coopers and vine-growers. As a young boy, he wandered...

Read More

October 16, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Australia

The October 16 LCBO VINTAGES Release is a big one leading up to the holidays with wines from Australia as the main theme, while the mini-theme features wines for pairing with comfort food. All of these wines, plus those from the main release should be on shelves across Ontario by Saturday.We begin with the main theme which sizes up wines from Australia. With thirteen wines...

Read More

Axel Pauly Generations Mosel Riesling 2019 (Germany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly, off-dry Riesling from Mosel that arrived at the LCBO as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive in the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and can be purchased online only at LCBO.com.Axel Pauly is the third generation of the family to work the vines on the very steep slopes of Mosel. Passed along from his grandfather to his father, Axel...

Read More

Trapiche Terroir Series Finca Coletto Malbec 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an excellent Malbec that was originally supposed to arrive at the LCBO during the summer, but it's release got pushed back to last week's VINTAGES Classics Collection Release on October 7th - and it was certainly worth the wait!Since its founding in 1883, Bodega Trapiche has received international recognition for its relentless quest for innovation....

Read More

Vini Ventures - A New Experience in Virtual Wine Tastings

In response to growing demand for private and corporate sustainable wine tastings, Toronto-based entrepreneur Michelle Paris, DipWSET, launched Vini Ventures - Canada's first virtual wine tasting company that focuses on environmental and sustainable practices. I received this sample box of six wines to experience Vini Ventures firsthand.Launched to great acclaim over the summer,...

Read More