October 5, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fall Favourites

Here are my top wine picks from the October 5, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, where the theme is titled "Fall Favourites". There are 107 wines offered in this release, with more than 70 wines coloured red, and about two-thirds of the wines priced at more than $20. Overall, it is a very good release leading up to Thanksgiving and the gift-giving season. All the wines should be on shelves across Ontario already. Also, it is worth noting that the cover of the printed LCBO VINTAGES catalogue doesn't mention the date of the release.

We'll begin with the theme titled "Fall Favourites", which features twenty wines and six of which are included among my top wine picks. Starting with the white wines, the Rhône white is predominantly Grenache Blanc (60%), plus Clairette, Viognier, and Roussanne completing the blend, while the Sicilian white is composed of 33% Inzolia, 27% Catarratto, 30% Grecanico, and 10% Chardonnay. Also included as part of the theme is a lovely Chenin Blanc from South Africa. The red wines from the theme begin in Bolgheri with the Second wine of Ornellaia, which is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Mono-varietal reds from the theme are the Shiraz from Australia, and a Malbec from Uco Valley in Argentina.

Among my top red wine recommendations from the main release, there are quite a few high-quality wines worthy of your attention. We'll start with a couple of the oldest recommended wines - a 2009 Bordeaux that is composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the 2012 Rioja that is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo. Next, we move to Tuscany with a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that is crafted mainly with Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), as well as a pair of Chianti Classico wines made with 100% Sangiovese. Other blends include the Carmenère from Chile, which is actually a blend of 85% Carmenère and 15% Cabernet Franc, and the Barossa red that is made with Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. The last blend is the Rasteau from Rhône, which is composed of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah.

The only blend among my white wine picks from the main release is a blend of 55% Viognier and 45% Marsanne from McLaren Vale. Chardonnay wine lovers will want to look to South America for wines from Argentina and Chile, while fans of Sauvignon Blanc will want to sip local with a pair of wines from Niagara. For those that like some sweetness to their wines, check out the off-dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand, or the semi-sweet Riesling from Niagara.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Vegan, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#37867) (XD) - $17.95  review coming soon...
• SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MATARO 2022 - Gomersal, Barossa, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $18.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2022 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - $18.95
• VERSADO MALBEC 2018 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#317008) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• TENUTA DI RENIERI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540849) (XD) - $22.95  review coming soon...

 

• LA CHEVALIÈRE RASTEAU 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#18502) (XD) - $23.95  review coming soon...
• CASTORANI AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2018 - DOC, Italy (#366732) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• DIEVOLE PETRIGNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#39448) (XD) - $28.95  92 pts  wine review
• FATTORIA SVETONI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36916) (XD) - $29.95  92 pts  wine review
• WOLF BLASS GREY LABEL SHIRAZ 2021 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#390872) (XD) 750mL $34.95  91+ pts  wine review

• CHÂTEAU COUFRAN HAUT-MÉDOC 2009 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#38194) (XD) - $43.95  92+ pts  wine review
• ROCCA BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#395103) (XD) - $48.95  92+ pts  wine review
• MONTES WINGS CARMENÈRE 2020 - DO Apalta, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#33354) (XD) - $67.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $73.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2022 - Second wine of Ornellaia, DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $78.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER / MARSANNE 2023 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#662775) (XD) - $16.95
• TASCA D'ALMERITA REGALEALI BIANCO 2023 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#531780) (XD) - $17.95
• FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2023 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#95802) (XD) - $18.95
• BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES BLANC 2022 - AP, France (#644385) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#36901) (D) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2022 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#918805) (XD) - $20.95
• ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#556118) (XD) - $22.95
• FOGOLAR GRIMSBY HILLSIDE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39764) (M) - $27.95
• TRIUS SHOWCASE WILD FERMENT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada (#39763) (XD) - $32.00

Fortified Wine:

• BARBEITO 5-YEAR-OLD MALVASIA RESERVA - DOP Madeira, Portugal (#39480, 500 mL) (S) - $17.95