September 26, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Beyond Cabernet

Here are my top wine picks from the September 26, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where “Beyond Cabernet” is the feature story of another relatively small release. In all, there are only 65 wines included, with almost everything priced under $50, including 50 wines under $30. As a result, most wines have relatively approachable price points, and the quality is good, with many enjoyable wines. At this point, everything should be readily available for purchase both online and in stores at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We’ll begin with the feature story, “Beyond Cabernet,” which aims to turn your attention to wines crafted with grapes other than Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the seventeen wines featured as part of the thematic, five are included among my top wine picks. At the top of the list is a fine Rioja from Spain crafted with Tempranillo, which is also one of the Wines of the Month in this release. Next up is a lovely, locally crafted Shiraz from Niagara, followed by a Shiraz from McLaren Vale in Australia, which happens to be the other Wine of the Month. There are also a pair of Chianti Classico wines from Tuscany, both of which are primarily crafted with Sangiovese.

My top red wine recommendations from the main release begin in British Columbia with a red crafted from 46% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Cabernet Franc, followed by a 100% Cabernet Franc from Niagara-on-the-Lake. From Italy, the Sicilian red is a 50/50 blend of Nero d’Avola and Syrah, while the Rosso di Montalcino from Tuscany is 100% Sangiovese. From Australia, the Cabernet Sauvignon actually includes 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, and 3% Cabernet Franc, while the wine from Padthaway is 100% Shiraz. Other recommended red wines include a fine Pinot Noir from Chile, a Syrah from New Zealand, and a Garnacha from Spain.

Among my top white wine picks, the only blend is a Veneto Bianco made with 84% Garganega, 10% Chardonnay, and 6% Riesling. At the top of the mono-varietal whites is an excellent, off-dry Riesling from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. Also on the local front, the Cave Spring Chardonnay was raised entirely in oak, while the Leaning Post Chardonnay was raised entirely in concrete. One of the more interesting white wines in this release is a White Malbec – it was harvested early and pressed at very low pressure to avoid extracting colour from the tannins. Also in this release is a fine Chardonnay from Burgundy, a Vermentino from Tuscany, a Godello from Spain, and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• SAN ALEJANDRO EVODIA GARNACHA 2023 - Spain (#23914) (XD) - $16.95
• SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ 2022 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#269464) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• JIP JIP ROCKS SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2024 - Padthaway, South Australia (#673897) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• XANADU CIRCA 77 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#18344) (XD) - $18.95
• TRINITY HILL SYRAH 2022 - Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#194274) (XD) - $21.95
• FRESCOBALDI PERANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#10360) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• BERONIA VIÑAS VIEJAS 2022 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#16587) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review

• MONTES ALPHA SPECIAL CUVÉE PINOT NOIR 2023 - DO Zapallar, Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#19288) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• FIRRIATO SANTAGOSTINO 30TH ANNIVERSARY BAGLIO SORÌA 2020 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#291369) (XD) - $24.95  92 pts  wine review
• FATTORIA DEI BARBI ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2023 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#397430) (XD) - $29.95
• JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA ESTATE GRAND RESERVE SHIRAZ 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#54135) (XD) - $29.95
• CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47118) (XD) - $32.95  91 pts  wine review
• ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET FRANC 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#53233) (XD) - $49.95
• BLACK HILLS NOTA BENE 2022 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#17727) (XD) - $74.95

White Wine:

• ARTESANO DE ARGENTO AGRELO VINEYARD ORGANIC WHITE MALBEC 2026 - Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#37223) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• PADDY BORTHWICK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#361220) (XD) - $19.95
• AQUILAIA VERMENTINO 2025 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (#49632) (XD) - $21.95
• BODEGAS MERAYO GODELLO 2024 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#50937) (XD) - $21.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2025 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $26.95
• THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT WOOD POST VINEYARD RIESLING 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359760) (D) - $28.95
• TEDESCHI GA.RY 2023 - IGT Veneto Bianco, Italy (#50568) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review
• MAISON CHAMPY PERNAND-VERGELESSES BLANC 2023 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#39801) (XD) - $61.95

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