Frind Pinot Noir Cuveé 2019 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

After being introduced to a pair of lovely wines by Frind Estate Winery a couple of years ago, including the 2018 Frind Chardonnay, tonight's red wine review is a Pinot Noir from the same producer that is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves a few months ago as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release and still available for purchase now (at a potentially reduced price in-store).

Frind Estate Winery is a fairly new producer that was established in 2017 by Markus Frind, the creator of the dating website Plenty of Fish. However, the property, which is situated lakeside in West Kelowna, British Columbia, was owned by the Bennett family of political fame for more than 50 years before it was sold to Markus. As a descendent of a generation of farmers, Markus, who was born in Germany and immigrated to Canada as a young boy with his parents, grew up on a farm in northeastern British Columbia. After studying Business and Computer Science at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and achieving many successes, he decided to follow his ambition into B.C. wine by combining his two passions: technology and agriculture.

Each bottle of Frind Estate wines features an abstract golden pinecone representing three aspects meaningful to the founder and his family - science, symbolism, and sentiment. Markus Frind is passionate about science and math, and over a decade ago he cracked a mathematical sequence used as supporting research for another academic paper that helped its author win the Nobel Prize in math. The bottom of any pine cone features a beautiful spiral pattern, also found in snail shells and roses, that is the result of Fibonacci sequences. Coincidentally, the City of Kelowna logo also represents the geometry of a pinecone. Symbolism is represented by Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, who is often depicted wielding a Thyrsus - a staff topped with a pinecone that represents fertility, prosperity, and could turn water into wine. The pinecone is also sentimental to the family because the property is sprinkled with beautiful, old growth Ponderosa Pine trees, and it was on the property where Markus and his daughter Ava found the perfect pinecone to artistically render for the brand.

Frind Estate Winery strives to celebrate and preserve the rich history of this spectacular location in West Kelowna. They are committed to lead through innovation and technology to create smooth, fruit forward wines, while also growing the business and inspiring the international wine industry. Let's see how this 2019 Pinot Noir from British Columbia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FRIND PINOT NOIR CUVEÉ 2019 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#25655) (XD) - $29.95
This 100% Pinot Noir was sourced from vineyards in Summerland and Kelowna, from various soil types and different Pinot clones, and aged in French barrels for five months. Enclosed by screw cap, the medium-high intensity nose offers a pleasing mix of ripe, slightly desiccated, bright and dark red cherries, and blackberry aromas with hints of red plum, sweet spice, and mineral. It has good weight on the medium+ bodied, well-structured palate with ripe red and dark cherry, currant, strawberry, red plum, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and supple, dusty textured, and mouth-coating tannins. Cherry notes are joined by minerals and touches of dried herbs on the long, juicy finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next couple of years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Frind Estate Winery can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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French Door Estate Winery Héritage 2020 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a sneak preview of a lovely red wine from B.C. that is expected to be released by the winery this Spring!

It is produced by French Door Estate Winery, a small, boutique, family-owned and -operated winery and vineyard that was founded in 2019 by Audra and Jason Shull. They are located on the beautiful Black Sage Bench at 365 metres above sea level on a plateau edge overlooking the valley, south of the town of Oliver, in the southern Okanagan Valley.

With a passion for quality wine, the 10-acre property is planted with 100% vinifera vines, both red and white, on beautiful, expressive soils that have resulted in rich, lush, and character driven wines. The soils on the property are sandy and rocky, with a gravel and clay base that are very well drained, with a granitic sub-soil. Their goal is to produce honest, low-intervention wines, from sustainably grown grapes, in a classic old-world French style.

The name "French Door Estate Winery" came to mind because the family was inspired by the simplicity and quality of French architecture, cuisine, and wine during their travels to Provence. As they believe that the Okanagan valley has a similar uniqueness about it, the Shull family wanted to bring these parallels to life through the way their wine is made and discussed.

Their consultant winemaker is Pascal Madevon, a man who integrates his French heritage into all of his wine creations. All of the wines are produced in the Barrel Room where there are three Tonneau French oak vats and French oak barrels. The French theme continues with a white and bright with black accents colour scheme throughout the winery, resembling the look and feel of a French farmhouse. The symbol of the "French door" is representative of their aspiration to incorporate the traditional aesthetics and values of beautiful Provence into their own backyard, with a modern twist.

This red wine from the Okanagan Valley is a blend of 41% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 6% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. The grapes were grown at their estate vineyard which experiences long days of sunshine, while the Oliver wind in the afternoon cools the grapes until the sun goes behind Mount Kobau. Each vineyard block and variety is cultivated with precise care depending on the vines' needs. To vinify this wine, all of the grapes were hand-harvested and sorted before being de-stemmed and gently crushed into tanks. Each variety was fermented separately and was followed by an extended maceration to extract colour and tannins. Free run wine was drained directly into barrels, while the rest was pressed off the following day, and then aged for 14 months in 60% neutral and 40% new French oak barrels before being bottled.

The 2020 growing season in the Okanagan started wet and cool, which meant a smaller fruit set than usual. The result was a smaller grape harvest, which in turn meant less wine. However, the grape quality of what was picked was excellent due to perfect ripening conditions, and the quality of the wines will be among the best of the decade. According to French Door, their 2020 Héritage could be their most refined yet. Let's see how this 2020 Okanagan Valley red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FRENCH DOOR ESTATE WINERY HÉRITAGE 2020 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (XD) - $52
Blend of 41% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 6% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. The medium+ intensity nose seems a bit shy, offering elegant dark fruited aromas of black currant, cassis, and blackberry nuanced with savoury freshly tilled earth, olive, dried herbs, and oak spice adding complexity. On the elegant, refined, medium-full bodied, and dry palate it has lovely dark currant, blackberry, black cherry, olive, and earthy flavours. It has fresh acidity and elegantly refined, well-structured tannins, with savoury cocoa and herbal notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Really elegant and refined throughout. Once released, this is a highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

While this 2020 vintage isn't available for purchase as of yet at the time of this post, the 2019 vintage of this terrific wine is available direct from the winery.

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Monte Creek Living Land Series Chardonnay 2020 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2017 Monte Creek Ranch Cabernet/Merlot a couple of years ago, and tonight's wine review is a lovely Chardonnay made by the same producer in British Columbia. This new wine is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Monte Creek Winery, which is owned by a local B.C. family and supported by a trusted team of on-site professionals to manage the operations. Established in 2009, Monte Creek Winery is located in the Thompson Valley, near Kamloops. Today, Monte Creek is turning its unique growing conditions in the Thompson Valley through quality, innovation and sustainability into award-winning premium wines. They also re-branded (and for the better, in my opinion) since the last time I tasted their wines to better align with their vision.

This particular wine is from their Living Land Series - a celebration of the idea that great wines only come from balanced vines, and earth that is truly alive and thriving. Their philosophy is that in order to grow incredible fruit, you must promote and maintain an environment that is healthy and working with nature, not against it. Far from just dirt, the grapevines used to grow the grapes in the Living Land Series wines are grown not from just dirt, but soils that are biodiverse and alive, and enhancing their vitality is the guiding principle of their viticulture. Flourishing soils make for healthy grapes, and healthy grapes help produce vibrant wines.

Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, the grapes for this wine were grown in the Thompson Valley on Olhausen glaciolacustrine sandy loam and Similkameen glaciofluvial silty loam soils. It underwent wild fermentation and was aged sur lie, with 75% aged in French oak, while the remainder was aged in concrete eggs. By using both of these ageing methods, Monte Creek aims to integrate the oak slightly while also preserving the acidity.

The 2020 growing season in the Thompson Valley is characterized by a relatively cool and slightly compressed season, with 50% budbreak occurring about a week later than normal. Harvest came to an abrupt end due to temperatures falling to -11 Celsius on October 25th. However, with a cool a start to the season combined with the warm late-summer period, the grapes reached phenolic maturity at the same level as sugar maturity. Overall, the wines from 2020 tended to have moderate alcohol levels and well-extracted, refined structure. Let's see how this 2020 Chardonnay from B.C. is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTE CREEK LIVING LAND SERIES CHARDONNAY 2020 - BC VQA British Columbia, Canada (#25658) (XD) - $22.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity nose is richly structured with orchard fruit, apple, and pear aromas nuanced with subtle oak, butter, lemon citrus, and touches of tropical fruit. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers lovely apple, pear, buttery, and citrus replays on the flavour profile and supported by fresh acidity. Well-balanced throughout and impressively structured. More orchard fruits with lemon citrus, and butter with hints of vanilla, tapering to a long, fine, leesy mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other delicious wines by Monte Creek are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Perigon Beverage Group.

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Frind Chardonnay 2018 and Big Red 2018 (British Columbia) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a couple of lovely wines from British Columbia that are new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across Ontario as part of last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES Release on October 30th.

Frind Estate Winery was founded in 2017 by Markus Frind when he purchased the lakeside property in West Kelowna, British Columbia, from the political Bennett family who had owned the property for more than 50 years. Markus was born in Germany, a descendant of a generation of farmers, and immigrated to Canada as a young boy with his parents to a farm in northeastern British Columbia. He studied Business and Computer Science at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and developed the Plenty of Fish dating site in 2003 to great success. After many successes, Markus sold the site in 2015 to follow his ambition into B.C. wine by combining his two passions: technology and agriculture.

Markus brought on famed Winemaker Eric von Krosigk to oversee the operation and, today, Frind Estate Winery is one of the most advanced wineries in the world, using cutting edge technology to create truly distinctive wines. Some of the technology they use includes an optical sorter, automated ferment tanks, and the Willmes Sigma Press.

On the label of each Frind Estate wine is an abstract golden pinecone that represents three aspects meaningful to Markus and his family - science, symbolism and sentiment. The property is sprinkled with beautiful, old growth Ponderosa Pine trees, and one day Markus and his daughter Ava found the perfect pinecone which was artistically used for the creation of the brand. Let's see how these two wines from British Columbia are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

FRIND CHARDONNAY 2018 - BC VQA, British Columbia, Canada (#19930) (XD) - $29.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, this lovely unoaked Chardonnay has a fragrant, medium-high to highly-aromatic nose with complex aromas of lemon citrus, ripe apple, yeasty, and leesy, with subtle buttery nuances. On the weighty, impressively concentrated palate it has lovely replays of lemon citrus, ripe apple, and buttery flavours with a subtle toastiness, and supported fresh and lively acidity. The juicy mid-palate leads to more ripe apple, lemon citrus, and leesy notes on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

FRIND BIG RED 2018 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#19931) (XD) - $24.95
A Merlot-dominated blend with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in support, all aged for 12 months in mostly neutral French and American oak. Stelvin screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose is ripe and plummy with a mix of red and black fruits, red cherry, and touches of cedary wood and stemmy characters. On the medium-bodied palate it has delicious ripe cassis, black cherry, blackberry, plummy, and sweet wood spice flavours supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and supple, structured and slightly chalky tannins. Some minty herbals and leafy notes add complexity on the mid-palate. Juicy and succulent with cedar wood spice and savoury cocoa notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from B.C.'s Frind Estate Winery are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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January 23, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Chile + British Columbia

The second release of the year is the January 23, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release and features wines from Chile as the main theme, while the mini-theme looks at the six top producers from British Columbia. As usual, there also many other lovely wines throughout the rest of the release, and all of these wines should be on shelves by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at the wines of Chile and its values and virtues. In addition to first-class winemaking and well-priced wines, Chile is known for its numerous sustainable winemaking initiatives. Chile is also diverse in its climates, regions, and grape varietals. In this release as part of the theme, there are twelve wines featured and four are included among my top wine picks. First up is an organic sparkling wine that always provides pleasure and consists of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir. There are also three fine reds from Chile. From the Central Valley area, the Travesy is a blend of 38% Malbec, 33% Carignan, and 29% Syrah, while the single varietal Carignan is from old vines that were dry farmed in the Maule Valley, which is located in the southern part of the Central Valley. Last, but not least, there is a lovely Pinot Noir from the up-and-coming Malleco Valley, Chile's southernmost official viticultural region.

The mini-theme features wines from 6 top producers in the Okanagan, British Columbia. There is one wine from each producer, and four of the wines are included among my top wine recommendations. The lone red is the always lovely Merlot from Burrowing Owl. In white wines, there is a dry Pinot Gris by Mt. Boucherie, as well as a dry Riesling from Quails' Gate. And lastly, the sparkling wine from British Columbia is a blend of mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a splash of Pinot Gris made by Blue Mountain.

Red wines from the rest of the release include the latest vintage of the Chianti Classico that consists of 82% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, and 3% Syrah, while the red from Costières de Nîmes is a blend of 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre. From Almansa in Spain, this red wine is a minimally-oaked blend of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre). The lovely Brunello is 100% Sangiovese, while the other Italian red is a Nero d'Avola from Sicily. Other single varietal wines include a Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River, a Shiraz from South Africa, and a pair of Malbec wines from Argentina.

Among my white wine picks, the Roussillon is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu, while the white Bordeaux consists of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. The rest of the white wines are all single varietal wines, including Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, and a Chardonnay from British Columbia. For Riesling wine lovers, there is a dry Riesling from Alsace, as well as a pair of sweet Riesling Kabinett wines from Mosel.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU GRAND ESCALION SAFRANÉE 2018 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#18141) (XD) - $14.95  review coming soon...
• LA POSTA PIZZELLA FAMILY MALBEC 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#166298) (XD) - $16.95  87 pts  wine review
• ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2017 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $16.95
• LAYA 2018 - DOP Almansa, Spain (#132605) (D) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• INDOMITA OLD VINES DRY FARMED GRAN RESERVA CARIGNAN 2018 - DO Maule Valley, Chile (#16627) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH SHIRAZ 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#399246) (XD) - $16.95
• SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2018 - Buchahueico, DO Malleco Valley, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $19.95  91+ pts  wine review

• DOMAINE NATURALISTE DISCOVERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#489906) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• FEUDO MONTONI LAGNUSA NERO D'AVOLA 2018 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#523738) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...
• ODFJELL WINEMAKER'S TRAVESY CARIGNAN / MALBEC / SYRAH 2016 - Vegan, Central Valley, Chile (#17238) (XD) - $29.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#704346) (XD) - $38.95
• BURROWING OWL MERLOT 2018 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#585737) (XD) - $39.95
• CAPARZO LA CASA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#20750) (XD) - $79.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2018 - AP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
• LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2019 - Vegan, AC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• MT. BOUCHERIE PINOT GRIS 2019 - BC VQA Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#17864) (XD) - $19.95
• QUAILS' GATE DRY RIESLING 2019 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308312) (XD) - $19.95
• VAN LOVEREN CHRISTINA THE HERITAGE COLLECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#13354) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE FERNAND ENGEL HERITAGE RIESLING 2017 - AC Alsace, France (#17891) (XD) - $20.95
• QUAILS' GATE CHARDONNAY 2018 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#377770) (XD) - $24.95
• MAX FERD. RICHTER ELISENBERGER RIESLING KABINETT 2018 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#665984) (S) - $26.95
• ANSGAR CLÜSSERATH TRITTENHEIMER RIESLING KABINETT 2017 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#18128) (MS) - $32.95

Sparkling Wine:

• EMILIANA ORGANIC BRUT SPARKLING - Vegan, Traditional Method, DO Casablanca Valley, Chile (#536607) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• BLUE MOUNTAIN GOLD LABEL BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional Method, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#206326) (XD) - $34.95  90 pts  wine review

Fortified:

• LOUKATOS MUSCAT OF PATRAS - PDO, Greece (#290718) (S) - $9.95  FE

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Monte Creek Ranch Cabernet/Merlot 2017 and Hands Up Red 2017 (British Columbia) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of red wine blends from British Columbia that are available in Ontario for the first time!

Monte Creek Ranch Winery is owned by a local B.C. family and supported by a trusted team of on-site professionals to manage daily winery and ranch operations. They are one of four wineries located in the cool climate region of Thompson Valley GI (Geographical Indication) which became BC's newest VQA appellation in 2018, and is located near Kamloops. Since 2009, Monte Creek has been focused on growing strong vineyards and raising healthy animals, with many efforts geared towards sustainability. With an agricultural background, the family understands how important it is to have healthy permaculture - diversity in offering and land use - for successful and sustainable farming, while practicing organic farming methods at every opportunity.

Their 1,200 acre ranch has 75 acres of vines planted at two estate vineyards in the cool climate South Thompson valley - Monte Creek and Lion's Head - where the climate is semi-arid, with hot, dry days and cool nights. Located at the bottom of an old glacial lake, the soils here are rich in calcium and minerals, silty, uniform, and free-draining, thus requiring irrigation. The ultimate focus is to produce premium wines that showcase this unique terroir.

Monte Creek has won numerous awards for its wines, but they are most proud of their 2018 Reserve Riesling which won Best White Wine of the Year (Double Gold) at the 2020 All-Canadian Wine Championships. This was the first time an award of this level was given to a winery in colder climate Thompson Okanagan wine region. To order this dry Riesling in Ontario, you can reach out directly to the winery or contact Perigon Beverage Group (formerly Hobbs and Co.).

Tasting Notes:

MONTE CREEK RANCH CABERNET/MERLOT 2017 - BC VQA, British Columbia, Canada (#15770) (XD) - $23.95
A blend of 69% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc from carefully selected vineyards in Oliver, Osoyoos and Similkameen. It was partially fermented in oak vats, and then aged for 18 months in mostly used French oak barrels. Screw cap. Clean, medium+ intensity aromas of dark fruited currant, cassis, pepper spice, and oak. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with pleasing, fine-grained, and textured tannins and fresh, juicy acidity. More dark berry, cassis, and currant flavours are joined by minty, bay leaf, herbs, tobacco, and plum notes that add interest and complexity. Savoury with graphite and cedar oak notes linger on the long, juicy, slightly grippy finish. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Recommended buy. Arriving in LCBO VINTAGES Oct. 31, 2020. Score: 90 pts

MONTE CREEK HANDS UP RED 2017 - British Columbia, Canada (#15769) (XD) - $21.95
Hands Up pays homage to the area's past as the town of Monte Creek achieved fame after the last train robbery by the notorious "Gentleman Bandit" Bill Miner - whose photo is on the front label. A blend of predominantly Merlot, plus some Frontenac Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon that was mostly aged in large French oak tanks, with a smaller portion in barrel. Screw cap. The perfumed nose is very ripe with cassis and black cherry with some earthy, beetroot, and strawberry characters in a slightly jammy profile. It's medium+ bodied on the ripe palate with more jammy dark fruit and oak flavours. It has food-friendly acidity, while tannins are soft and rounded. Jammy fruit and oak notes linger on the finish, with good length. Crowd pleaser. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES Oct. 3, 2020. Score: 86 pts

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Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release July 6, 2019: Cool-Climate New World + Chardonnay

Cool wines are the theme of the upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on July 6, 2019, with the major theme focusing on wines from Cool New World Regions, while the mini-theme is the annual look at Cool-Climate Chardonnay. All these wines, plus from the rest of the Release will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features 13 wines from 10 New World cool-climate wine regions. Typically, cool-climate wines are fresh, refined, and food-friendly, and are influenced by the cooling breezes off a body of water, altitude, vineyard direction and steepness, and latitude. Four of the wines from this theme are among my top wine picks. From New Zealand, there are two lovely wines - a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir that are both reductive in style. From the high altitude vineyards in Argentina is a Gran Reserva that is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Lastly, the excellent sparkling wine from British Columbia is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

From the mini-theme on Cool-Climate Chardonnays, which coincides with the Cool-Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) taking place in Niagara later this month, just two of the eleven wines are included among my top wine recommendations. The first is a nice Chardonnay from Niagara, while the second wine is a lovely cool Chardonnay from South Africa.

Among my red wine picks from the rest of the Release, the Beaujolais is, of course, made with Gamay, while the Portuguese red wine is a blend of 40% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 30% Touriga Franca, and 30% Touriga Nacional. If you like Châteauneuf-du-Pape, both of my recommendations excellent - they are from different vintages and are different in style, with the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape consisting of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Muscardin, while the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre.

From my white wine picks, all are single varietal wines. The white Bordeaux is made with Sauvignon Blanc, while both white wines from Burgundy are made with Chardonnay.

Lastly, there are a pair of wines from Uruguay's Bodega Garzón, a winery that was awarded 2018 New World Winery of the Year for its innovation and leadership by using sustainable practices, modern technology, and most importantly - making some pretty delicious wines from Tannat (Uruguay's signature varietal) and Albariño.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• GLORIA RESERVA 2016 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#146522) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95
• FEUDO MACCARI NOTO NERO D’AVOLA 2016 - IGP Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy (#339101) (XD) - $17.95
• BEL-AIR CLOCHERS SAINT-AMOUR 2017 - AP, Beaujolais, France (#648527) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2016 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2016 - Uruguay (#558916) (D) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• BODEGA FIN DEL MUNDO NEUQUÉN GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Patagonia, Argentina (#668285) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• SUMMERHOUSE PINOT NOIR 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#492728) (XD) - $27.95  90 pts  wine review
• GEYSER PEAK WINERY WALKING TREE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#161323) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE CHANTE-PERDRIX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#121723) (XD) - $45.95  92 pts  wine review
• GIRAUD TRADITION CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#182899) (XD) - $59.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU BRIOT 2017 - AC Bordeaux, France (#668855) (XD) - $14.95  88 pts  wine review
• DeMORGENZON DMZ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#698324) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• NOVELLUM CHARDONNAY 2017 - France (#390781) (XD) - $18.95
• MARKUS HUBER TERRASSEN GRÜNER VELTLINER 2018 - DAC Traisental, Austria (#484956) (XD) - $18.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2018 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#646802) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $26.95  90 pts  wine review
• PAUL CLUVER ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#570952) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LAROCHE LES BEAUROYS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#648469) (XD) - $39.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE LAVERNETTE VERS CHÂNE POUILLY FUISSÉ 2016 - AC, Burgundy, France (#499657) (XD) - $44.95  FE

Rosé Wine:

• MIMI EN PROVENCE GRANDE RÉSERVE ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#452573) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
• ASHLEY MARY LIMITED EDITION M DE MINUTY ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#575316) (XD) - $26.95

Sparkling Wine:

• 13TH STREET CUVÉE BRUT ROSÉ - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#147504) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review
• SPERLING BRUT RESERVE 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#635144) (XD) - $48.95  92 pts  wine review

Liqueur:

• SIVÓ SHÁMÁN HERBAL LIQUEUR - Matured in oak casks, Canada (#653436) (500 mL) - $27.95

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Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release April 27, 2019: 2015 Euro Reds + Pacific Northwest

The upcoming April 27, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features European Red Wines from the fantastic 2015 vintage in the main theme, while the mini-theme looks at cool wines from the Pacific Northwest. All of these wines, plus many more will be available on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features thirteen wines from the 2015 vintage that was a banner year across Europe. In this Release, the emphasis is on wines from France, Italy, and Spain, of which only two are included among my top wine picks - and both are from France. From Bordeaux, the Château Baracan is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. From southern Rhône, the Lavau Rasteau is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah.

The mini-theme focuses on wines from the cool Pacific Northwest - namely Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Of the ten wines listed as part of this feature, three are included among my top wine recommendations. First up are a pair of excellent wines from Oregon - one is a Chardonnay, while the other is a Pinot Noir. My third pick from this theme is a dry Pinot Gris from British Columbia.

The majority of my red wine picks from this Release happen to be single varietal wines. However, the 2009 Bordeaux red is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, while the 2012 Bordeaux red is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. From South Africa, the Rustenberg is a blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. A Malbec from Argentina, an Australian Shiraz, and a Pinot Noir from Chile are just a few of many delicious wines that can be found among my wine picks in this Release.

Among my white wine picks, all are single varietals wines. From Loire, the Muscadet is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape, while the Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre are both made with Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer sweeter wines, then look for the Riesling from Niagara.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• RUSTENBERG RM NICHOLSON 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#278390) (XD) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU BARACAN 2015 - AC Côtes de Bordeaux-Cadillac, France (#629980) (XD) - $16.95
• SISTER’S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#478271) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• COLAB AND BLOOM SHIRAZ 2016 - Barossa, South Australia (#632562) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• CHAKANA ESTATE SELECTION MALBEC 2016 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#219261) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CAVE DU CHÂTEAU DE CHÉNAS MOULIN-À-VENT 2016 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#648477) (XD) - $19.95

• LAVAU RASTEAU 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL SHIRAZ 2016 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#998476) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
• ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA PINOT NOIR 2017 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#541151) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• MOULINS DE CITRAN 2009 - Second wine of Château Citran, AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#633065) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CLONAKILLA HILLTOPS SHIRAZ 2016 - Canberra District, Australia (#481861) (XD) - $34.95  FE
• SOKOL BLOSSER PINOT NOIR 2015 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#748434) (XD) - $37.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU SOCIANDO-MALLET 2012 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#594382) (XD) - $67.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• MATAHIWI ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#402677) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• L’AMI DES CRUSTACÉS CLASSIQUE PINOT BLANC 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#644427) (XD) - $17.95
• SANPAOLO FIANO DI AVELLINO 2017 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#631705) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• REDSTONE LIMESTONE VINEYARD SOUTH RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#381251) (M) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2017 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#537076) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#616466) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE SEGUIN POUILLY-FUMÉ 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#637876) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95
• ROSEROCK CHARDONNAY 2016 - Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#573568) (XD) - $41.95  92+ pts  wine review

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