November 22, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Gifts + Niagara Sparklers

Here are my top wine picks from the November 22, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), which has Giftable Wines as the feature story of the release, while Sparkling Wines from Niagara is the mini-thematic, as well as the topic in Local Talent. This is a fairly large release with almost 130 products offered, with about two-thirds of the wines coming in at under $35. Overall, it is a very good release with many delicious examples from across the globe, including Australia, which is notably strong in this release. All the wines should be readily available for purchase online and in-stores across Ontario.

Of the twenty-nine wines included as part of the feature story on Giftable Wines, nine are included among my top wine picks. The lone bubbly is the 2017 Blanc de Blancs that is 100% Chardonnay and aged on its lees for 54 months. Giftable white wines are the Chardonnay from New Zealand, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre in Loire. For big spenders, the most giftable red wine is the Amarone, which consists of 50% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 20% Corvinone, and 10% other permitted varieties. Also from Italy is the Brunello di Montalcino, which is 100% Sangiovese, while the Saint-Estèphe from Bordeaux is composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. From Spain, the Rioja is a 90/10 blend of Tempranillo and Graciano, while the Ribera del Duero is 100% Tempranillo. On the local front, there is a fine Pinot Noir from the Twenty Mile Bench in Niagara.

From the mini-thematic on Niagara Sparkling Wines, two of the four wines featured are among my recommended buys. First up is the 2020 Sparkling, which is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Pinot Noir, while the second recommended buy is the 2022 Brut Rosé Sparkling, which is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Italy and the Wine of the Month - the Crognolo Super Tuscan, which is a 95/5 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. Also from Italy, the Etna Rosso is mainly Nerello Mascalese and a small amount of Nerello Cappuccio, while the Chianti Classico is Sangiovese, and the wine from Abruzzo is crafted with Montepulciano. Australia also shows strongly in this release with a quartet of reds - the single varietal wines are a Shiraz, a Grenache, and a Cabernet Sauvignon, while the blend is a GSM composed of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre. There are a couple of blends from France, with the Plan de Dieu composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Mourvèdre, while the Côtes de Gascogne from Southwest France is 50/50 Tannat and Merlot. Other blends include the Carmenère (which has 5% Petit Verdot) from Chile, and the Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot blend from South Africa. Other wines that may not be obvious which varietals they are crafted from are the Naoussa from Greece, which is 100% Xinomavro, and the Blaufränkisch from Austria.

All of my top white wine picks from the main release are mono-varietal wines. We'll begin on the national front with a lovely dry Riesling from British Columbia, followed by a medium-sweet Riesling from Niagara. From Australia, there is an excellent Sémillon from the Barossa Valley, as well as a lovely Viognier from Eden Valley. Other fine wines include the Malagouzia from Greece, and a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. There's also a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and a Chardonnay from Argentina.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CAPE PASTORAL ORGANIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON/ MERLOT 2023 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#36978) (XD) - $13.95  review coming soon...
• UMANI RONCHI PODERE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2023 - DOC, Italy (#46567) (XD) - $17.95  review coming soon...
• RÉMY FERBRAS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2023 - AOP, France (#538009) (XD) - $17.95  review coming soon...
• MAISON FONTAN TATTOO T&M ROUGE 2022 - IGP Côtes de Gascogne, Southwest, France (#43894) (D) - $18.95  review coming soon...
• ESTERHÁZY ESTORAS BLAUFRÄNKISCH 2021 - Qualitätswein, DAC Leithaberg, Austria (#45354) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CARMENÈRE 2023 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo Andes, Chile (#670539) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BOUTARI NAOUSSA RED 2022 - PDO Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (#23218) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  updated review soon

• FAMILIA TORRES PAGO DEL CIELO CELESTE CRIANZA 2020 - Toronto Skyline Limited Edition, DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#44753) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• YALUMBA SAMUEL'S COLLECTION BUSH VINE GRENACHE 2023 - Barossa, South Australia (#531228) (XD) - $21.95
• ANGOVE FAMILY CREST GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOURVÈDRE 2022 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#534750) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• HEIRLOOM COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#493577) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• TORNATORE ETNA ROSSO 2022 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $24.95
• IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#85209) (XD) - $24.95
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Alto Maipo, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#630350) (XD) - $27.95
• TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SHIRAZ 2023 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#927533) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review

• ESCARPMENT NOIR PINOT NOIR 2023 - Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand (#41810) (XD) - $29.95  review coming soon...
• TENUTA SETTE PONTI CROGNOLO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#727636) (XD) - $34.95  92 pts  updated review soon
• COTO DE IMAZ GRAN RESERVA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#976811) (XD) - $34.95
• REDSTONE ESTATE SYRAH 2020 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#437376) (XD) - $40.95  91 pts  wine review
• TAWSE CHERRY AVENUE PINOT NOIR 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#398347) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
• POGGIO LANDI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#573980) (XD) - $49.95  93 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU BEAU-SITE 2018 - AOC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (#647933) (XD) - $52.95  93 pts  wine review
• LE RAGOSE RISERVA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#32699) (XD) - $101.95

White Wine:

• FOGOLAR HUGHES VINEYARD RIESLING 2022 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#30664) (M) - $19.95
• ZUCCARDI MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#46400) (XD) - $19.95
• BELLINGHAM THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2024 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $19.95
• ALPHA ESTATE TURTLES SINGLE VINEYARD MALAGOUZIA 2024 - PGI Florina, Greece (#32161) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2022 - Vegan, Sustainable, Eden Valley, South Australia (#954644) (XD) - $21.95
• CLOS HENRI ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#927186) (XD) - $24.95
• ESTERHÁZY ESTORAS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Leithaberg, Austria (#40882) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• TORBRECK WOODCUTTER'S SEMILLON 2024 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#927541) (XD) - $29.95  92 pts  updated review soon
• CULMINA DECORA RIESLING 2021 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#46638) (XD) - $36.95
• HUBERT BROCHARD SANCERRE 2023 - AOC, Loire, France (#42444) (XD) - $39.95
• CLOUDY BAY CHARDONNAY 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#359513) (XD) - $50.95

Sparkling Wine:

• KEW TRADITION SPARKLING 2020 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#491092) (XD) - $32.95
• WESTCOTT BRILLIANT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2022 - Traditional Method, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#38733) (XD) - $40.00
• HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Sustainable, Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95  93+ pts  wine review

Fortified Wine:

• TORO ALBALÁ POLEY PEDRO XIMÉNEZ DULCE MONTILLA-MORILES 2019 - DO, Spain (#46830, 500 mL) (S) - $29.95

Dessert Wine:

• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE RIESLING ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#558288, 375 mL) (S) - $89.95

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Solicchiata Secondo di Castello 2012 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Franc-based blend from the volcanic soils of Sicily. It is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving in last month's October 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as an Online & Flagship Exclusive, with some quantities still available, mostly in the Ottawa area (with store transfers likely possible).

It is produced by Feudi Barone Spitaleri, an historic château and winery that was established in 1852 by Felice Spitaleri, Marquis of Sant'Elia and Baron of Solicchiata, after he returned to Sicily from his own "grand tour" in France. However, the history of the Spitaleri family goes back much further, as they were named in 1102 after the Order of the Hospitallers Knights. Moreover, the Spitaleri family have been making wine on the volcanic island of Sicily since the 14th century and were creators of the oldest branded wine in the world.

Baron Felice was a pioneer in the art of oenology and used the knowledge he acquired in France to create the first ever Bordeaux varietal blend in Italy. In 1890, he was the first to be recognized with the Royal Warrant of Appointment by HM the King of Italy. In 1907, Antonino, a descendant of Felice, stopped the commercial production of wine, but saved a few vines for family use.

Today, Feudi Barone Spitaleri continues to be proudly owned by the Spitaleri family with brothers Baron Arnaldo and Felice the latest generation of the family to run the estate. Arnaldo revived the production of premium wines in 1997 and heads up the estate, while Felice is the master winemaker of the family wine company. Following the vision of its founder, only French vines are grown on the fertile, volcanic soils of Feudi Barone Spitaleri. The vines are grown on slopes which were formed during the lava flow in 1607 and on these slopes, Felice chose two plots close to each other and created terraces, roads, over 100 km of stone walls, and built an efficient Château solely dedicated to wine production. Feudi Barone Spitaleri grows only highly-selected and sophisticated varieties, instead of the indigenous, yet more productive, varieties. Along with a number of other properties across eastern Sicily, the Spitaleri family also grows some of the most celebrated oranges.

There are two lines of wines produced by Feudi Spitaleri, with this wine coming from their Castello di Solicchiata Vineyard range. As the name suggests, this is the "Second Wine" of the estate, and is inspired by the historic Bordeaux blends using varietals that have been present on their estate in Sicily for more than 150 years. It was Baron Felice Spitaleri who first experimented and planted these varieties by following his passion for Bordelaise vines, a passion which was developed during his prolonged stay in France.

This red wine is composed of 80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot that was grown on 80 hectares of terraced vineyards with alberello (bush) training. The vineyard is situated on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna, on volcanic soils, at 800 metres above sea level. After hand-harvesting the grapes, they were macerated (and fermented) in conical oak tanks. The wine was matured for over two years in French Allier and Tronçais oak barriques, followed by further refinement in bottle for three years.

In 2012, the growing season in the Mount Etna area was hot and very dry, with no rain from May to October. As temperatures were well above average during summer, it was one of the warmest ever recorded in Etna, and irrigation was necessary for most growers because the vines were highly stressed. Many growers picked early, however, those who waited for the October rains were rewarded with grapes that offered a better balance between sugar and acidity. From a very good to outstanding vintage, let's see how this 2012 Etna red wine from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SOLICCHIATA SECONDO DI CASTELLO 2012 - IGP Sicily, Italy (#46776) (XD) - $34.95
This blend of 80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that is immediately appealing, while revealing somewhat maturing aromas of dried cherry, rose floral, savoury earth, exotic spices, and cedar wood, plus volcanic ash minerals emerging with time in the glass. The dry, medium-full bodied palate is quite astringent with drying, mouth puckering tannins. Flavours are savoury with wet earth, cedar wood, cocoa, dark minerals, and oak spice nuanced with dried cherry and rose floral. Mouthwatering acids are juicy and succulent. The long finish is dry with savoury earth, and cedar notes, plus touches of exotic and sweet spices. This recommended buy is a wine for the table to pair with big red meats. Score: 91 pts

Other fine wines by Feudi Barone Spitaleri can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Miles From Nowhere Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River in Western Australia that made its debut at the LCBO in last month's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on October 11th.

It is produced by Miles From Nowhere, a wine brand established in 2007 by Franklin & Heather Tate. Franklin began working in wine when he planted his parents' first vines in 1973, while the couple have been working in the wine industry together since 1986. Miles From Nowhere is a dedication to the Tate family's patriarch that arrived in Australia from Ukraine over 100 years ago, and felt every bit 'miles from nowhere'. The brand's name also alludes to the geographic remoteness of the vineyards situated in the beautifully isolated Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.

The Tate family's goal with Miles From Nowhere is for every glass to express their love and passion for the Margaret River region. Frederique Perrin is the Director of Winemaking at Miles From Nowhere, and her philosophy is based on the belief that most wines are made to be shared and drunk. Additionally, no great wine is made in the cellar, as it all begins with viticulture, and then focusing on crafting wines that capture the soul of the terroir.

Miles From Nowhere has three ranges of wines - the icon wine range titled "Origin of Now", the middle-tier Best Blocks range, and the entry-level Estate Range. This particular white wine is from their Estate Range and is crafted using 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in their vineyards in Margaret River.

For this particular vintage, they selected their best blocks of the year, with about 70% coming from their Wilyabrup property and the remaining from their Karridale property. The Sauvignon Blanc in Wilyabrup is planted in an east-west orientation, by the property dam, and cane pruned. It ripens slowly due to the cool nights and foggy mornings, and produces moderate yields. The Sauvignon Blanc in Karridale is oriented north-south, on a slightly south-facing slope; therefore, the fruit is exposed to the sun by several leaf plucking passes throughout the season to ensure even ripening, while the very cool nights preserve the crisp acidity all the way to the harvest. To craft this wine, the grapes were harvested at night and rushed to the winery for pressing while cold. After pressing, the juice was racked off the majority of its solids, leaving some fine lees to bring to the ferment, which was long and cool (about 12°C), to preserve the fine fruit aromas. The wine was aged sur lees for about 3 months, then filtered and bottled in early winter.

The growing season in Margaret River was mild, with harvest starting a bit later than normal, and in great weather conditions. All the white varieties were allowed to optimally ripen and could be harvested at their peak flavour profile. For this wine, the Sauvignon Blanc from both sites was picked on the 3rd of March, with the Wilyabrup fruit displaying intense tropical fruit characters, while the Karridale fruit was added to the blend to provide refined focus and length. From a fantastic vintage, let's see how this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MILES FROM NOWHERE MARGARET RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Western Australia (#41794) (XD) - $18.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this has a fragrant, highly aromatic nose that delivers a fine mix of lime/lemon citrus, leesy mineral, and garden herb aromas flecked with ripe tropical fruits (guava, kiwi), jalapeño, and spice. The dry, medium+ weighted palate has good density and concentration that supports the delicious lime/lemon citrus, guava, kiwi, garden herb, leesy mineral, and spice replays. It's well-balanced throughout with clean, fresh, and vibrant acidity. More lime citrus and guava with touches of leesy minerals linger on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Miles From Nowhere can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Fleuron de La Rebourgère Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2023 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire Valley that arrived at the LCBO in last month's October 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Domaine Girard, a family estate winery that was established in the 1940s by the husband and wife team of Marcel and Gabrielle Girard in Rebourgère, a hamlet of Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, in the heart of the region of Nantes, Loire Valley. Gaston Girard, the only son of Marcel and Gabrielle, began working on the family farm at an early age and helped his mother, who had lost her husband after he returned from the war with an illness. Like most farms of the period, the Girard family practiced mixed farming with some cattle, cereal crops, and vines.

In 1961, Gaston married Georgette, a young woman from the nearby village of La Haie-Fouassière, and together they grew the farm by giving up on mixed farming and focusing on grapevines. As pioneers in the 1970s, the Girard family focused on direct-selling of their wines. With the entire family involved in the business, Gaston focused on winemaking, while his son, Patrick, helped bottle, label, and wrap the product. At the end of the week, the whole family would travel to other regions in France to hand-deliver their wines to cafés, restaurants, and private clients.

Patrick Girard, the third generation of his family to farm these lands, followed his father's footsteps and began to work in the vineyard and help with winemaking in the late 1980s, after completing his studies in winemaking. In 1991, after Gaston retired, Patrick took over the family estate. In the spring of 1991, the vines froze, and the crop was completely annihilated. In May 1991, Gaston married Martine, and together with bravery and amibition, they rebuilt the family vineyard over the years, while also making numerous improvements using modern techniques both in the vineyard and cellar.

Today, Domaine Girard's philosophy is based on the quality of the work, precision, and the flawless quality of the wines. They have 93 acres of vines in reasoned culture, and use 40% of the crop to create a diverse range of wines. As winemaker, Patrick also works in the vineyard and takes care of the commercial aspects of the business, while Martine works in the cellar, prepares orders, administrative, and accounting activities. The fourth generation of the family, Guillaume Girard, son of Patrick and Martine, joined the family estate in 2013, after completing his studies in winemaking and marketing, and like his father, combines tradition with modernity to craft their lovely Loire Valley wines.

Like the 2022 Domaine Girard Le Fleuron de La Rebourgère Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie I enjoyed in Spring of last year, this white wine is crafted with 100% Melon de Bourgogne that was grown on silty, clayey, and shallow soils (less than 30 cm), with a sub-soil made of schist and gneiss. The vines are more than 40 years old and planted on weak-to-moderate slopes. The grapes were mechanically harvested, then direct-pressed into underground, thermo-regulated vats for fermentation. The wine was left on its lees for 9–10 months, with one or two bâtonnages (lees stirring) in order to increase richness and texture.

In 2023, the Loire Valley had a challenging vintage due to variable weather conditions which encompassed both rain and heatwaves, with producers fighting against mildew and acid rot. However, one of the most successful areas of the Loire in this vintage was in the western area of Pays Nantais, which encompasses the Muscadet appellations. Because the Melon de Bourgogne varietal is an early ripening grape, producers were able to the Melon grape during the heatwave at the beginning of September, and prior to the heavy rains that fell mid-month. The result was Muscadet with perfectly ripe grapes, very good concentration, and slightly higher alcohol levels. Let's see how this 2023 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine from the Loire Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FLEURON DE LA REBOURGÈRE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2023 - AOC, Loire, France (#557207) (XD) - $16.95
This 100% Melon de Bourgogne has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that is clean and refined with elegant lemon citrus, stone fruit, and ripe apple aromas, plus touches of leesy minerals and a whiff of honey adding nuance and interest. The dry, medium-full bodied palate is rich and densely concentrated with ripe apple, lemon citrus, and leesy mineral flavours, plus stone fruit, melon, and spice characters adding complexity. It has crisp and finely detailed acidity, along with a richly textured mouthfeel. Apple notes give way to leesy and oyster shell minerals with touches of spice on the long, succulent, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy to enjoy with seafood. Score: 89 pts

Other terrific wines by Domaine Girard can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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November 8, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Festive Wines + Burgundy

Here are my top wine picks from the November 8, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where "Wines for Every Festive Moment" is the feature story of the release, while The Bounties of Burgundy is the mini-feature. Also included in this release are a new batch of Online & Flagship Exclusives. While this is a large and fairly expensive release with 145 products offered and the average price per bottle just north of $38, it is a very good release with many fine options for festive occasions - and your cellar. All the wines should be readily available for purchase online and in-stores across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story titled "Wines for Every Festive Moment", which could be translated to "Premium Wines for Festive Moments" as each wine is priced at a minimum of $34.95. Of the thirteen wines included in the feature story, five are among my top wine picks. At the top of the list is the Oreno that is crafted with 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, followed by a Gran Selezione Chianti Classico that is 100% Sangiovese, and a Pinot Noir from South Africa. On the local front, there is a lovely Syrah from Niagara, as well as a dry white wine blend from Lincoln Lakeshore that is crafted with 68% Pinot Gris and 32% Gewürztraminer.

My top red wine recommendations from the main release also begin in Tuscany with the Tignanello that is a blend of 78% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc, followed by the Chianti Classico that is made with 100% Sangiovese. Australia has a quartet of fine offerings, starting with the 2022 Barossa red that is a blend of 45% Grenache, 36% Mataro, 17% Carignan, and 2% Counoise, followed by the 2019 Barossa red that is composed of 57% Shiraz and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon; there are also a couple of straight Shiraz wines - one from Clare Valley and one from Victoria. The only other blend is from Roussillon, and it consists of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan. From Greece, there are a couple of lovely wines crafted with Xinomavro and Agioritiko, respectively, while Chile delivers another fine Carmenere. On the local front, there is an exceptional Pinot Noir from St. David's Bench in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, the only blend is the Côtes du Rhône Blanc, which is a blend of 32% Viognier, 28% Grenache Blanc, 24% Roussanne, and 16% Marsanne. Among the mono-varietal whites, Sauvignon Blanc leads the pack with a Sancerre from Loire, and a pair from Marlborough in New Zealand, followed by a pair of Canadian Chardonnays - one from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and one from the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario. And lastly, the lone bubbly is the 2016 vintage Champagne, which is a blend of 48% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 18% Meunier.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• TERRA NOBLE AZARA CARIGNAN 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#44587) (XD) - $18.95
• KILIKANOON GOLDEN HILLSIDE SHIRAZ 2020 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#45346) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• DON'T TELL GARY SHIRAZ 2022 - Victoria, Australia (#632620) (XD) - $19.95
• YALUMBA SAMUEL'S COLLECTION BAROSSA SHIRAZ / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Vegan, Barossa, South Australia (#12999) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2020 - AOP Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France (#643239) (XD) - $23.95
• TENUTA DI RENIERI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540849) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...

 

• SANTA RITA FLORESTA CARMENÈRE 2023 - DO Apalta, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#34733) (XD) - $27.95  OFE
• TORBRECK CUVÉE JUVENILES 2022 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#723940) (XD) - $29.95
• ALPHA ESTATE HEDGEHOG SINGLE VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2022 - PDO Amyndeon, Greece (#259762) (XD) - $29.95  review coming soon...
• KACABA TERRACED VINEYARD SYRAH 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#394171) (XD) - $35.15  review coming soon...
• DOMAINE SKOURAS GRANDE CUVÉE AGIORGITIKO 2022 - PDO Neméa, Greece (#94706) (XD) - $42.95  OFE  review coming soon...

 

• BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD OLD VINES PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#361816) (XD) - $55.00  OFE  93+ pts  wine review
• HAMILTON RUSSELL PINOT NOIR 2024 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#999516) (XD) - $70.95
• ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#384552) (XD) - $80.95
• ORENO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95  94 pts  wine review
• TIGNANELLO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#986786) (XD) - $192.95

White Wine:

• IDI DI MARZO SETTE VIZI TREBBIANO 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, IGT Terre d'Abruzzo, Italy (#45808) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2024 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#95802) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LITORALE VAL DELLE ROSE VERMENTINO 2023 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (#17703) (XD) - $19.95
• TIRAKI SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41802) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...
• ANGOVE FAMILY CREST PINOT GRIS 2023 - Adelaide Hills / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#41786) (XD) - $24.95  OFE  90+ pts  wine review
• BROKENWOOD SEMILLON 2024 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#657726) (XD) - $24.95

 

• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2022 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $25.95  90+ pts  wine review
• VILLA MARIA TAYLORS PASS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#13901) (XD) - $29.95
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE LES CASSAGNES DE LA NERTHE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AOC, Rhône, France (#31174) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BLACK BANK HILL FRATERNITÉ 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#47889) (XD) - $34.95
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2023 - AOC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $41.95
• QUAILS' GATE STEWART FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2022 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#639641) (XD) - $47.95  OFE
• GOBELSBURG RIED RENNER 1ÖTW ERSTE LAGE GRÜNER VELTLINER 2022 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#45353) (XD) - $69.95  OFE

Sparkling Wine:

• MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2016 - AOC, France (#69773) (XD) - $124.95

Dessert Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE FROSTBITE SELECT LATE HARVEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39276, 375 mL) (S) - $29.95
• GRAND TOKAJ 6 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZÚ 2013 - Tokaj, Hungary (#46596, 500 mL) (S) - $82.95  OFE

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Château Tour du Haut-Moulin 2015 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine is a lovely Cabernet-Merlot from the Haut-Médoc wine region of Bordeaux that was featured on the back cover of last month's October 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Château Tour du Haut-Moulin, an historic wine estate situated in Cussac-Fort-Médoc, at the heart of Haut-Médoc, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The commune of Cussac-Fort-Médoc lies between Saint-Julien to the north, and Margaux to the south. The estate was established in 1870 and was managed by the Cazaux-Poitou family for 6 generations. As the 6th generation of the family, the current proprietor, Lionel Poitou, has been a part of the property since he was born and has been managing the family estate for nearly four decades. Lionel's philosophy is based on careful observation, attention to nature, and respect for tradition.

In 2024, Château Tour du Haut-Moulin was acquired by Tzora Vineyards, a wine company owned by the Hevrony and Flam families, two leading producers of the Judaean Hills region of Israel. The team at Château Tour du Haut-Moulin is now led by four individuals: Eran Pick MW, Golan Flam, Dan Sheinman, and Lionel Poitou. Eran holds a B.Sc. degree in Viticulture and Enology with Highest Honours from University of California, Davis. Golan has been making wine for over 25 years, while also having a B.Sc. from the Faculty of Agriculture and a Masters in Enology. Dan has a B.Sc. degree in plant sciences, and then began his journey in winemaking by focusing on both vineyard and cellar approaches and practices in Burgundy. Together, they have a shared vision to maximize the potential of the estate, while maintaining its long-standing history and tradition.

The 10-hectare vineyard at Château Tour du Haut-Moulin is planted to mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a small amount of Petit Verdot, all of which is grown on the gravelly soils of the Médoc. The wines of Lionel Poitou are crafted in a style that emphasizes finesse and elegance over brute power.

The 2015 growing season with a combination of warm days and cool nights during March and early April, while the rest of April through May featured very warm and dry conditions, leading to a rapid and precocious flowering. June and July were exceptionally hot and without any rain, which eventually caused some drought stress on the vines. However, four separate rainstorms in August brought some relief to the vines. Heavy rains came in mid-September, prior to the red wine harvest, followed by sunshine with cool nights. There was more rain during the first weekend of October, but both Merlot and Cabernets were picked in unhurried conditions. From a very good to outstanding vintage for wines from the southern Médoc, let's see how this 2015 Haut-Médoc from Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU TOUR DU HAUT-MOULIN 2015 - AOC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#26295) (XD) - $27.95
Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was matured in French oak, only 30% new. The medium-high intensity nose is rich with ripe black fruits, black cherry, currant, and blackberry aromas that mingle with oak spice, graphite minerality, and savoury earth, plus touches of dark plum. The elegant, well-structured, medium+ bodied palate is dry with lovely black fruited, black cherry, currant, blackberry, graphite, savoury minerals, and earth flavours. Acids are succulent and juicy, while the tannins are youthfully grippy and chalky textured, yet approachable. Graphite mineral notes linger on the long, savoury, and slightly grippy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Any other wines by this Château can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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Featherstone Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, sustainable, and vegan-friendly Chardonnay that screams local as it was barrel-fermented and aged in Canadian oak barrels. This white wine returned to the LCBO as part of last month's October 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available across Ontario, including at the winery in Niagara.

It is produced by Featherstone Estate Winery, an eco-friendly winery situated on 23 acres of rolling hills in the prestigious Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. The winery was founded in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, Dave Johnson, and prides itself on their use of eco-friendly practices in the vineyard and cellar since the beginning. In 2024, after 25 successful years, Featherstone changed hands and began a new chapter under the ownership of philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal.

The vision at Featherstone is to build on the successes of the past and continue to produce distinctive, small-batch Niagara wines that are cultivated in soils that reflect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment. The philosophy at Featherstone has always been based on respect for the land which is at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and site. Through biodiversity and reduced chemical intervention, Featherstone encourages an environment that is healthy and unique, as they believe that this individuality translates into their wines. As nutrients and minerals are exchanged and transformed in a give-and-take relationship between living soil organisms and plants, there is a mutually beneficial circle where the soil nourishes the vine, while farming practices nurture the soil. Since its founding, Featherstone has always prided itself on farming without the use of insecticides, and in 2023 they achieved their Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was harvested on October 26, 2023. The grapes were machine harvested, crushed, de-stemmed, and then pressed into barrels made from Canadian oak that was grown nearby. It underwent alcoholic fermentation in barrels using wild, indigenous yeast, followed by 100% complete malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 10 months in 100% Canadian oak barrels, with lees stirring taking place on a monthly basis.

In 2023, rhe growing season was wet, dreary, and featured a smoke-filled summer, but was remarkably saved by a dry and warm fall. While the harvest was pushed back by as much as three weeks, most varieties that were harvested were in good shape, with a bountiful crop. Chardonnay was one of the star varieties of the vintage as it benefited from warm days and cool nights prior to harvest and developed vibrant fruit and juicy acidity. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2023 Chardonnay from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149302) (XD) - $24.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, the fragrant, medium-high intensity nose offers caramel, banana, and vanilla aromas surrounding a core of ripe tropical fruits, yellow apples, and creamed peaches. On the dry, full-ish bodied palate it has caramel, vanilla, buttery, yellow apple, and peach flavours joined by some toasty oak spice notes. It's well-structured with crisp and juicy acidity, while the spice notes give way to leesy minerals on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Many other delicious wines by Featherstone are available at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

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Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Cap Classique Brut Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2022 and Pat's Garden Reserve 2020 (South Africa) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of excellent wines from one of my favourite South African wine producers - Ken Forrester Wines. Both of these terrific wines arrived at the LCBO recently, with the red wine making its debut at the LCBO in the September 27th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, while the sparkling wine landed in the October 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Ken Forrester Wines was established in 1993 by Ken Forrester and his wife, Teresa, after they acquired at a public auction a vacant and derelict farm and homestead that was situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of Stellenbosch, South Africa's premier wine growing region. The site is one of the oldest farms in the Cape, with a long history that dates back to 1689, and the first vines were planted in 1694. The farm changed hands a number of times over the years, eventually falling on hard times in the early 1990s and finding itself up for auction.

The vision at Ken Forrester Wines is for sustainable farming - to improve the lot of their employees by growing their own business, and thereby providing maximum job opportunities in a market that is desperate for support. In the vineyard, Ken Forrester farms sustainably without the use of herbicides and pesticides. They also till the soil, prune, thin bunches and leaves, and harvest by hand. With this additional employment, they hope that it goes some way to improving the quality of life in their community, and they know that if every community looked after their own, no one would go wanting. This is their proposal, and consequently, each bottle is a victory and represents a small change – for the better – in someone's life. Additionally, Ken Forrester Wines are certified for Integrity & Sustainability by the South African Wine and Spirit Board.

At Ken Forrester Wines, the winemaking philosophy is based on managing their vineyards in a sustainable manner, along with a workplace environment and work ethic that should be a shining light in the industry. They have several ranges of wines that are handcrafted and individually made to complement a wide variety of cuisines and provide excellent value. The Pat's Garden is part of their Reserve Wine Range, where the team at Ken Forrester is solely responsible for the cultivation of the vines and selection of the fruit, most of which come from their family property in Stellenbosch, just 5 kilometres from the cool Atlantic and in the sheltered lee of the majestic Helderberg Mountain. The sparkling wine is part of Ken Forrester's Cellar Exclusives Range - a collection of special and limited parcels of wines.

An interesting note about the red wine is that while it used to be known as "Pat's Garden Merlot", it was always blended with 8–12% Cabernet Franc. The wine laws in South Africa allow for wines to be labelled as a single varietal wine so long as the blend does not exceed 15% of other varieties. The team at Ken Forrester began doing some experimentation by blending the 4 traditional Bordeaux varieties and with the 2018 vintage they launched the Pat's Garden Reserve wine.

The 2020 growing season in South Africa featured moderate to warm growing conditions, which continued into late autumn, while the 2022 vintage was one of the wettest and coldest in recent memory. There was a sudden heat spike just before harvest in 2022, but fall was generally cool and moderate. Both vintages were rated excellent, so let's see how this 2020 red and 2022 sparkling wine from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

KEN FORRESTER SPARKLEHORSE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT SPARKLING CHENIN BLANC 2022 - Traditional Method, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#32030) (D) - $29.95
Aged on its lees for 20 months, the elegantly fragrant, medium-high intensity nose delivers lovely aromas of autolytic, toasty, leesy, biscuit, and honey characters surrounding a core of lemon citrus and golden apple. It has a finely beaded mousse and racy, gently tangy acidity on the medium+ bodied palate with delicious autolytic, biscuit, toasty, lemon citrus, and apple flavours, plus touches of honey in a fairly dry profile. Juicy on the mid-palate, while the long finish is savoury with leesy mineral notes. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

KEN FORRESTER PAT'S GARDEN RESERVE 2020 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#45169) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 44% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is well-balanced with complex aromas of ripe red & black fruits, currant, raspberry, blackberry, cassis, oak spice, cocoa, savoury wet earth, and dried herbs with touches of leafy green herb notes. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and slightly chewy with more ripe red & black fruits, currant, cassis, raspberry, blackberry, oak spice, savoury wet earth, cocoa, and dried herb flavours. Acids are juicy and succulent, while the elegant tannins are smooth, refined, and gently grippy on the back palate. Impeccably balanced throughout with red & black fruits mingling with savoury wet earth, oak spice, and smoky minerals on the long finish. Has the stuffing to age gracefully for at least another 5 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

One other wine by Ken Forrester is widely available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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