Tenuta San Guido Wine Tasting (Tuscany) - Wine Reviews

Back in September, I had a great opportunity to taste the latest wines by Tenuta San Guido - makers of the iconic Sassicaia Super Tuscan wine from Bolgheri - and after the structured tasting enjoyed a fine lunch at Stratus Restaurant in downtown Toronto.The story of Tenuta San Guido begins with Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. The Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta are among the...

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13th Street Cuvée Rosé Brut NV (Niagara) - Wine Review (Dec. 2022)

For tonight's sparkling wine review, I opened this excellent sparkling rose wine from Niagara that is a VINTAGES Essentials product at the LCBO and is readily available throughout the year. You will want to get your hands on it today as it is currently on promotion at $3 off until January 1st.Like the lovely 2020 13th Street Blanc de Blanc that I enjoyed last month, this bubbly...

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El Esteco Blend de Extremos Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, high-altitude Malbec from Argentina. This new arrival landed at the LCBO recently as part of the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release. (Although the VINTAGES magazine and LCBO website may list 2020, it's actually the 2021 vintage that arrived in stores.)It is produced by El Esteco, a pioneering institution founded in 1892 that was one of the...

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Brilla! Extra Dry Prosecco (Italy) - Wine Review

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious bubbly that I purchased a couple of weeks ago in preparation for holiday gatherings. This Prosecco made its debut in LCBO VINTAGES a couple of years ago and has quickly become a customer favourite with its unique, eye-catching, and sparkling packaging. Tasting Note:BRILLA! EXTRA DRY PROSECCO...

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Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely white wine from New Zealand that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the December 17th LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Esk Valley Wines, a brand that was created in the 1970s, but whose story begins in the 1930s as Glenvale Winery and a specialist in fortified wines. In 1986, the historic winery in Hawkes Bay was purchased...

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Lungarotti IlBio Rosso 2020 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2016 Lungarotti IlBio Rosso a couple of years ago, tonight's organic red wine review is the latest vintage of this IGT wine from Umbria that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.Founded in the early 1960s by Giorgio Lungarotti when he brought together the farms of a few families, Cantine Lungarotti soon became...

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Closerie des Alisiers Trilogie de Terroirs Pouilly-Fuissé 2020 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent Chardonnay from Burgundy that is new to the LCBO, arriving in stores this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on December 17.It is produced by Stéphane Brocard, son of renowned Chablis winemaker Jean-Marc Brocard. After it started getting a bit too crowded at his father's family business, Stéphane set out on his own in 2007...

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Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2019 Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine last month, tonight's Icewine review is another lovely Icewine from the same producer. This lovely red Icewine returned to the LCBO today as part of the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.Lakeview Cellars was established in Vineland in 1991 by Eddy Gurinskas. Today, Lakeview Cellars is the oldest of several...

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Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire Chablis 2020 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay that is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Jean-Marc Brocard, a family domaine that was established in 1973 in the center of Chablis, in Burgundy. Since the beginning, Jean-Marc Brocard was committed to a healthier culture and respectful of the environment. As...

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December 17, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Festive Sparklers

The final release of the year is the December 17, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release and it's theme is focused on sparkling wines for festive celebrations. Also included in this release are selection of Flagship and Online Exclusive wines. All of these wines should be available in stores or online by this Saturday.We start with the theme on Festive Sparkling Wines, with a dozen wines...

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Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For tonight's red wine review, I am sipping local with this lovely Niagara Syrah that arrived at the LCBO a couple of months ago as part of the October 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Founded in 1997 by Laura McCain in Jordan, Ontario, and acquired by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. last August, Creekside Estate Winery has been a leader in producing premium wines of distinctive,...

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Marnes et Caillottes Sancerre 2020 (Loire) - Wine Review

A perennial favourite, tonight's white wine review is this excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre that came to the LCBO last weekend as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, a winemaking family that descends from a long line of winegrowers dating back to at least the 17th century in the village of Bué, in Sancerre of the Loire Valley....

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Feudo Maccari Saia Nero d'Avola 2018 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Nero d'Avola from Sicily that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on December 3rd.Feudo Maccari was founded in the late 1990's when Antonio Moretti Cuseri of Tenuta Sette Ponti in Tuscany visited Sicily for a brief time and was enchanted by region's famous Baroque style and the warm waters of the sea....

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2021 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, organic white wine from the Loire Velley in France that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release. It is produced by Claude Branger at Domaine Haute Févrie in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation in the Loire Valley. The Domaine was founded 18 km southeast of Nantes during the First...

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Château Coufran 2009 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an excellent, maturing red wine from Bordeaux that is featured on the cover of today's December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release. This wine is also part of the theme of the release which is titled "Gifts to Celebrate: Festive, Food-Friendly Wines" and would make a fine gift for the holidays.The story of Château Coufran begins with 18th century archives that...

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