rosé-wine | VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews

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Saturday, June 7, 2025

June 7, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Rosé

LCBO Wine Picks: June 7, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the June 7, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here). Like the first release last June, this release focuses on Rosé wines. It is not a big release with only 78 products offered. However, just over one-third of the wines are on the recommended list, and all should already be available for purchase today, if not by Saturday's official release date.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release: food-friendly rosé wines. Of the sixteen wines included as part of the thematic, four are included among my top rosé wine picks. A couple of major points within the feature are the various methods of crafting rosé wines, as well as wine serving temperatures for rosés. At the top of the list is a rosé from Provence that is crafted primarily with Grenache and Rolle (Vermentino). Next up are a pair of local rosés - the rosé from Hidden Bench is a blend of 87% Pinot Noir, 7% Viognier, and 6% Chardonnay, while the touch-off-dry rosé from Featherstone is composed of 46.7% Gamay, 42.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.1% Cabernet Franc. The last rosé is definitely off the beaten path with a rosé from Sicily that is crafted with the Frappato grape varietal. Not part of theme, but also a fantastic rosé is Xinomavro Rosé from Greece.

Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé 2024 (90+ pts)

Kir-Yianni Xinomavro Rosé 2024 (90+ pts)

Local talent is particularly notable in this release, where a selection of four wines by Thomas Bachelder showcases a small portion of his meticulous exploration of Niagara and its complex terroirs. The four single-vineyard wines are all from the 2022 vintage and focus on Chardonnay and Gamay Noir, with wines from both the Niagara Escarpment and Niagara-on-the Lake wine regions represented. All four Bachelder wines are highly recommended buys!

Bachelder Parcelle Ivy & Warren Saunders Vineyard Haut Chardonnay 2022 (94 pts)

Bachelder Wismer-Foxcroft Vineyard Gamay Noir 2022 (92+ pts)

Bachelder Kirby Vineyard Gamay Noir 2022 (91 pts)

Nearly all of my red wine picks are mono-varietal wines. The exceptions are the Super Tuscan, which is a blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, while the Bordeaux red is 75/25 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There's also the Rioja, which is mainly Tempranillo, plus Graciano. Among the mono-varietal wines, both Chianti Classico wines are 100% Sangiovese, while the rest should be recognizable and straightforward.

There are two white wine blends among my top white wine recommendations, and both are from Italy. The first is the Soave, which is composed of Garganega (85-90%) and the rest Trebbiano di Soave, while the white wine from Umbria consists of Vermentino, Grechetto and Trebbiano. Other dry white wines include the unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara, the Grüner Veltliner from Austria, the Viognier from France, and the Pecorino from Abruzzo. There's also a fine Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, as well as an Aligoté from Burgundy. If you enjoy some sweetness in your wines, look for the off-dry Riesling from Niagara, or the fairly sweet Gewürztraminer from Pfalz.

Domäne Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Grüner Veltliner 2023

Lungarotti Torre Di Giano Vermentino/ Grechetto/ Trebbiano 2023 (90+ pts)

Black Bank Hill Runway Chardonnay 2023 (90 pts)

Tiki Single Vineyard North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Blason de Bourgogne Aligoté 2023 (89 pts)

Laurent Miquel Nord Sud Viognier 2023 (89 pts)

Charles Baker B-Side Riesling 2023 (89 pts)

Among my top sparkling wine picks, the sparkling wine from Prince Edward Country is 100% Chardonnay, while the Prosecco DOCG is a minimum 95% Glera, with Bianchetta and Perera completing the blend.

Huff Cuvée Peter F. Sparkling 2021 (92 pts)

Sorelle Bronca l'Est Brut Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore (90 pts)

Enjoy my top wine picks from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2023 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $16.95
SANTA CAROLINA EL PACTO AGREEMENT NO. 1 LIMITED PRODUCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#35673) (XD) - $18.95
CHÂTEAU MAISON NOBLE CUVÉE PRESTIGE 2020 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#633198) (XD) - $20.95
VITE COLTE SOGNI AL CAMPO NEBBIOLO 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#17572) (XD) - $24.95
BACHELDER KIRBY VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45139) (XD) - $27.95 91 pts wine review
BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#33994) (XD) - $32.00 92+ pts wine review
BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2017 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $32.95 review coming soon...
FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $49.95
ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#384552) (XD) - $78.95
ORENO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

LAURENT MIQUEL NORD SUD VIOGNIER 2023 - IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#673236) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2024 - IGT Terre d'Abruzzo, Italy (#289553) (XD) - $17.95
LUNGAROTTI TORRE DI GIANO VERMENTINO/ GRECHETTO/ TREBBIANO 2023 - DOC Bianco di Torgiano, Umbria, Italy (#268110) (XD) - $17.95 90+ pts wine review
ANSELMANN GEWÜRZTRAMINER KABINETT 2022 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#630004) (S) - $18.95
BLASON DE BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2023 - AC Bourgogne Aligoté, France (#648436) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Wachau, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95 review coming soon...

PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO 2023 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#946848) (XD) - $20.95 90+ pts wine review
TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $23.95 review coming soon...
CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#523845) (D) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
BLACK BANK HILL RUNWAY CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#45092) (XD) - $29.95 90 pts wine review
BACHELDER WERNER-YORK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45136) (XD) - $39.95
BACHELDER PARCELLE IVY & WARREN SAUNDERS VINEYARD HAUT CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#45135) (XD) - $45.00 94 pts wine review

Rosé Wine:

FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $16.95 review coming soon...
CARUSO & MININI FRAPPO FRAPPATO ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, IGP Terre Siciliane, Italy (#43979) (D) - $18.95
KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2024 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts updated review soon...
HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA West Niagara, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
CAVES D'ESCLANS ROCK ANGEL ROSÉ 2024 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#491027) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

SORELLE BRONCA L'EST BRUT PROSECCO VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE - DOCG, Italy (#42677) (D) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
HUFF CUVÉE PETER F. SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional method, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#198754) (XD) - $39.00 92 pts wine review

Malivoire Vivant Rosé 2024 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Since rosé season is upon us, and it's the long weekend, tonight's rosé wine review is a lovely, certified sustainable rosé crafted locally in Niagara with 100% Pinot Noir. It arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's May 10th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Malivoire Wine Company, a pioneering wine producer that was established in 1996 by Martin Malivoire and his wife, Moira Saganski. Driven by a passion for viticulture and crafting distinctive wines, Martin transitioned from a successful career as Director of motion picture special effects and purchased a vineyard in 1995 in the Beamsville Bench area of the Niagara wine region and named it the Moira Vineyard. A couple of years later, the Malivoire acquired land at 4260 King Street East (Beamsville), which would go on to become their Estate Vineyard and the site of the winery. This site is located on a glacial moraine, 30 metres above the lakeshore plain and provides superior airflow and water drainage, which contribute to the quality of the grapes grown at the estate.

What started as a personal project, Malivoire Wine Company is now a showcase for innovation, creativity, and sustainability for the Ontario wine industry. The team at Malivoire is led by Martin Malivoire (Proprietor), Shiraz Mottiar (Team Principal and General Manager), and Elisa Mazzi (Winemaker). Shiraz joined Malivoire in 2000 after graduating from the first class at Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and was promoted to Winemaker in 2005. Garnering numerous accolades and respect over the years, Shiraz continues to guide the winery and industry towards a more sustainable future. Elisa was hired and mentored by Shiraz, and in 2023 Elisa took over as Winemaker. The team at Malivoire isn't just a collection of employees - they're passionate professionals who have found their work-home with us. Malivoire firmly believes in providing opportunities for the team to evolve while staying true to its core values and objectives.

Since its founding, Malivoire has long been at the forefront of the Ontario wine industry, blazing a trail as a pioneer and leader in sustainable viticulture, defined by a steadfast commitment to innovation and stewardship of the land. Malivoire was one of the first to implement gravity flow methods and among the first to achieve certification under Ontario's Sustainable Winemaking Program. At Malivoire, sustainability is based on their "Three P" principles - Planet, People, Prosperity - and all three must be equally in balance to ensure success. Sustainability initiatives include Environmental Stewardship, Community Engagement, Education and Empowerment, Transparency and Accountability, and the Workplace.

Winemaking at Malivoire is a blend of innovative thinking with respect for tradition. They have a long-term view of the vineyard farms that recognizes the winery and vineyard as a wholistic system, and take responsibility for the health of the entire ecosystem, including the health and well-being of their staff working in the vineyard, winery, and their neighbours and community at large. Some of Malivoire's practices include Reduction & Elimination of Synthetic Inputs, Water Conservation, Hand Harvesting and Sorting, Energy Conservation, and Eco-Conscious Packaging.

The 2024 vintage of this wine comes to us in a somewhat refreshed, yet familiar package. The clear label appears dark salmon coloured in most lighting situations, and allows the white letters and beach chair to stand out. I like the new look! Like previous vintages, it is composed of 100% Pinot Noir. The grapes were grown on the estate within the Beamsville Bench appellation. The Pinot Noir clusters were hand-picked at cool, day-break temperatures on September 21st, and pressed immediately for optimum freshness. The resulting juice was chilled in a horizontal "dairy tank" prior to undergoing a cool fermentation in stainless steel, and finally bottled in January 2025.

The excellent growing season in 2024 had near-perfect growing conditions throughout, from early bud break to a warm and late fall that allowed for long hang time. It all began with a mild winter and no spring frost events. A warmer-than-usual spring was followed up by above-average temperatures in summer, with warm days and warmer-than-usual nights, which results in a reduced diurnal temperature range and produced grapes with intense flavours and colour development. Early fall had some moisture and disease pressure, leading to mild concerns about early-ripening, thin-skinned grapes such as Pinot Noir. During the harvest season, September had warm temperatures, while some humidity was linked to extreme weather events. From a very good-to-excellent vintage, let's see how this 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $21.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. 100% Pinot Noir with a pretty shade of pale salmon-copper. Medium+ to medium-high intensity aromatics of red berry, strawberry-rhubarb, cherry, melon, grapefruit, blood orange, zesty citrus, and raspberry aromas. It's medium+ bodied with very good weight and concentration on the dry palate with lovely red berry, strawberry-rhubarb, raspberry, melon, and citrus replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by clean, fresh, and lively acidity. Nicely textured and slightly tangy on the mid-palate. Touch spicy on the long, crisp, and savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Malivoire Wine Company can be found at the LCBO, ordered direct from the winery in Niagara, or through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose Rosé 2023 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly dry rosé wine from Languedoc that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the August 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Bijou Wines, a wine producer based in the heart of the South of France. Originally established in the Languedoc in 2012, Bijou Wines has since expanded into Provence and specializes in the production of rosé wines.

With a talented team of growers and winemakers, Bijou's stance has always been to produce best-in-class wines. Bijou sources their grapes from unique, lesser-known, but authentic terroirs such as Coteaux de Béziers, Coteaux Varois en Provence, and Haute Vallee de l'Aude in Limoux. Framed as "affordable luxury", Bijou wines are comprised of the very best expressions of old and low-yielding Mediterranean grape varieties, and recognized around the world by critics as authentic and delicious, with beautiful aromas and flavours, and good structure to allow the wines to be enjoyed with or without food.

At Bijou, sustainability is always at the top of mind. The vision is to provide quality wine sustainably by using greener approaches from vineyard to packaging. In 2019, their growers in Coteaux de Béziers (where this wine is from) obtained the HVE Level 3 certification. Today, more than 95% of Bijou's wines are sustainably farmed as HVE3 and organic certified. With climate change and weather patterns changing, adapting viticulture is paramount. As such, Bijou began using the sustainable Caladoc grape varietal in their blends starting in 2019. Caladoc is a crossing of Grenache and Malbec that is resistant to intense heat and drought. In the realm of packaging, Bijou uses lightweight bottles, as well as an extraordinary range of sustainable and environmentally-friendly 1.5 L pouches that significantly lowers their carbon footprint.

This particular rosé is from Bijou's Sophie Valrose line of wines, which also includes a white and red. The "Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose" range is named after a lady who worked in the vineyards of Languedoc during the late 19th century and became a local hero. In that era, it was largely women who worked in the vineyards to prune and harvest the vines, while often mistreated, overworked and underpaid. Not pleased with the situation, Sophie fought for women's rights and drastically improved the working conditions for her fellow women who also worked in the vineyards. As a tribute to Sophie and her legacy, the back label of every bottle in this range shares her story. Each wine in this range is crafted using grapes sourced from handpicked bush vines, just like those that Sophie would have harvested herself many years ago.

The rosé is a blend of 45% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Caladoc, and 5% Syrah from 25-50 year-old well-trellised and low yielding bush vines. The grapes were grown on cool, alluvial clay soils within the Coteaux de Béziers appellation of Languedoc. After harvesting the grapes early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler, in order to preserve fresh acidity and balanced sugar levels, the grapes are destemmed and direct-pressed, with the Syrah undergoing a light maceration on its skins. The four grapes separately underwent a long and cool fermentation, and were then blended together, clarified, and stabilized prior to bottling. From a growing season that was a challenging year of extremes, let's see how this 2023 rosé from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose Rosé 2023 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

LE BIJOU DE SOPHIE VALROSE ROSÉ 2023 - Vegan, IGP Coteaux de Béziers, Languedoc, France (#20012) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap and pours a pale copper-pink colour. This blend of 45% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Caladoc, and 5% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that delivers ripe Mandarin orange, red apple, grapefruit, citrus, and melon aromas with honeyed peach overtones. It has good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied and dry palate with refreshing acidity and flavours of citrus, grapefruit, red apple, strawberry, red berry, plus touches of peppery spice. It has a slightly creamy mouthfeel on the mid-palate, while hints of oyster shell and saline mineral notes appear on the citrusy, lengthy, and very juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious Bijou wines can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Domaine Terre Davau Tavel Rosé 2023 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a lovely, organic Tavel from Rhône that is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO and landed on shelves across Ontario in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on August 24th.

It is produced by the Château de Manissy, an historic winery situated in the Tavel appellation of the southern Rhône Valley in France. The Château has a long history dating back to the 17th century. In more recent history, the Château and its lands were bequeathed to the Missionary Brothers of the Holy Family after the First World War. Soon thereafter, the Brothers planted their first vines and released their first Tavel wines for use at Mass and general consumption. The motto of the estate was introduced as "Auspice Clara Manissy Stella" – "Under the Protection of the Bright Star of Manissy", and continues to be used today, which also led to the estate's name - Château de Manissy.

Even though the brothers lived at the Château all those years (and continue to do so today), as they grew older they decided that they needed someone new to manage the vineyards. As such, in 2003, the young Tavel winemaker Florian André arrived at the estate and wholeheartedly carried out the brothers' work. Florian comes from 7 generations of Tavel winegrowers who know and love their terroir. With great respect for the vine and wine, Florian began converting all the vineyards to organic in 2009, followed by the progression to biodynamic agriculture. After joining Château de Manissy, Florian also created a new range of wines - one of which is the Domaine Terre Davau line.

Today, all Château de Manissy's vineyards, which are spread over 60 hectares across the appellations of Tavel, Lirac, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Cotes du Rhône, are farmed biodynamically. The soils in these vineyards are sandy clay and topped with either limestone fragments or "galets roulés", Rhône Valley's classic rounded pudding-stones. The vines get plenty of Mediterranean sunshine and are swept by Mistral wind, the ideal conditions for vinegrowing which dry up excess moisture in the soil and helps prevent disease, resulting in a healthy vineyard full of healthy grapes.

Domaine Terre Davau is Château de Manissy's winegrowing estate in the village of Roque sur Cèz (considered officially as one of the most beautiful villages in France), in the northeast of the department of Gard, about 40 km northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and is a true gem of the Rhône Valley. The estate of Domaine Terre Davau is named after a savoury herb and medicinal plant, locally once known as "davau", which grows freely in the area. The domaine's historic vineyards are situated on south-facing terraces, ascending a gentle slope, and have been in the hands of Florian's mother's side of the family for six generations. The grapes of Domaine Terre Davau are vinified at Château de Manissy's site in Tavel.

This Tavel Rosé is crafted using a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Clairette, and Cinsault from 40 to 50-year-old vines that were grown on a small, 13-hectare parcel that has pudding stones over sand and blue clay soil. The grapes were hand harvested, and upon arriving at the winery they were destemmed, crushed, and cold-soaked for 12–24 hours prior to pressing. It underwent alcoholic fermentation by native yeasts at low temperatures for about 15 days, without malolactic fermentation, and was aged in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

From a promising vintage across the southern Rhône Valley, let's see how this 2023 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Domaine Terre Davau Tavel Rosé 2023 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE TERRE DAVAU TAVEL ROSÉ 2023 - AC, Rhône, France (#37680) (XD) - $19.95
This organic rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Clairette, and Cinsault. It has a hint of reduction that gives way to reveal a medium-high intensity nose of stony minerals and a red berry medley of strawberry, pomegranate, raspberry, and currant aromas, as well as some dried herbs and white pepper spice. On the dry, flavourful, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely red berry, currant, pomegranate, strawberry, and cherry flavours, plus savoury stony minerals, dried herb, and peppery spice replays Slightly creamy mouthfeel with crisp, juicy acidity on the well-structured palate. Red berry, currant, spice, and mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, dry, and gently chalky finish. Should be even better in a year or two. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Château de Manissy can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

Thalia Wines (Greece) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a trio of wines from Greece that I've had in my possession for nearly a couple of years now. While these particular vintages are long sold out, the latest vintage of each wine is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario at a about $1+ more than the price noted below.

All three wines are produced by Thalia Wines, a wine brand from Greece that was established by Steve Kriaris of Kolonaki Group of Companies. In addition to importing many boutique Greek wines into Canada, he also began producing and importing Thalia Wines - a range of three, diverse wines that are rooted in the rich tradition and craftsmanship of Greek winemaking.

The brand is inspired by Thalia, the eighth of nine Greek muses which inspired artists to create. She was born to Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the personification of thought, intellect, and memory, and the Mother of the arts. Thalia is the goddess of comedy, poetry, and festivity, and the one who inspired laughter to emanate from Greek theatres. To the ancient Greek philosophers, Thalia was the inspiration for their symposiums where they drank wine, listened and danced to music, debated, recited poetry, and revelled the night away.

Thalia is this wine brand's muse as she embodies their wines borne of ancient Greek lands and carries the fermentations of inspired generations in its genes. Thalia wines are best enjoyed amongst friends and loved ones, where we subconsciously desire to recreate the ancient Greek gatherings and enjoy each other's company, thoughts, and laughter.

The entire range of Thalia wines consists of 3 wines - a red, white, and rosé. All three wines are two-varietal blends that combine a native variety with an international variety. The 2021 vintage wines reviewed below are all from a good vintage, so let's see how these Greek wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

THALIA ROSÉ (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#27148) (XD) - ~~$10.95~~
A blend of 80% Agiorgitiko, Greece's noblest red grape variety, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. After hand-harvesting the grapes, each variety spent 2 to 3 hours on its skins. The free-run wine must was then blended and fermented together at low temperatures using selected yeast. Enclosed by screw cap and pours a medium orange-pink salmon hue. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose delivers dried herb, white pepper spice, grapefruit, citrus, and blood orange aromas with hints of stony minerality. It's nicely textured on the medium+ to medium-full bodied and dry palate with delicious dried herb, peppery spice, grapefruit, citrus, and red apple flavours supported by very good, crisp acidity. It has a nicely textured mouthfeel, while red currant and berry notes join the herbal and grapefruit characters on the juicy, dry finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

THALIA WHITE (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#273490) (XD) - ~~$11.50~~
This blend of 70% Assyrtiko, one of Greece's highest quality grapes and comes from the high altitudes of the Achaia region, and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, each variety was hand-harvested and fermented separately at low temperatures using selected yeast, followed by ageing on its fine lees for 2 months. Fresh and fragrant with ripe aromas of lemon citrus, hay, orange, and grapefruit, plus some intriguing yeasty, doughy, autolytic characters adding complexity. The medium+ bodied palate is dry and ripe with slightly honeyed notes of lemon citrus, grapefruit, apple, and wild herbs, with touches of leesy minerality. Acids are juicy and well-balanced. Subtle spice on the mid-palate, while citrus and leesy mineral notes linger on the lengthy, crisp finish. Well-made and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

THALIA RED (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#15285) (XD) - ~~$11.60~~
This blend of 80% Agiorgitiko and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-harvested and had gentle skin contact for one week. After undergoing alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the two varieties were blended and aged. It has a fragrant, medium+ intensity nose of ripe black cherry, red plum, vanilla oak spice, and sweet cinnamon aromas with savoury earth accents. On the medium+ bodied palate it is dry with good structure that supports the black cherry, currant, plum, cassis, savoury earth, coffee, and gently oak spice flavours. It has very good, juicy acidity and smooth, supple tannins with a lightly grippy texture. There's some pleasant bitterness on the mid-palate, while earthy, dark cherry, coffee, and spice notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Should continue to age gracefully over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88+ pts

The latest edition of all three wines are widely available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Skouras Cuvée Prestige Agiorgitiko / Moscofilero Rosé 2023 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Greece that arrived at the LCBO as part of last weekend's July 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the lovely 2022 Skouras Moscofilero I enjoyed a few months ago, this rosé is also produced by the well-known and highly-regarded Domaine Skouras. The winery was established in 1986 by George Skouras, a man who was born in the Peloponnese town of Argos, one of Europe's oldest towns with a rich, 3,000-year-old tradition of wine and culture.

With an interest in wine, George studied Agriculture at the University of Dijon, in Burgundy, France, where he encountered Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and famous local winegrowers that put a spell on him. After graduating with a degree in Oenology, George set out to gain experience in the classic wine-producing regions of France, Italy, and Greece, and upon returning home, he realized his dream of having his own winery - a small winemaking facility which was located in the small village of Pyrgela, on the outskirts of Argos.

The next chapter in Mr. Skouras' wine career led him to create a boutique winery in the Nemea Appellation of the northeastern Peloponnese, where he put in countless hours of manual work to learn invaluable lessons about the Agiorgitiko variety and the Nemea denomination.

Today, Domaine Skouras is an ultra-modern winery situated in the highlands of Argolida, an area that is blessed with ideal winegrowing conditions, particularly for Agiorgitiko. Situated near the winery is the PDO of Mantinia, a region which has a Mediterranean climate with continental influences and known for its Moscofilero. The philosophy at Skouras is focused on purity, varietal clarity, tracing of the region's mesoclimate, and imprint of the terroir, with the aim of achieving optimum ripeness and obtaining the best possible grape. George Skouras is dedicated to crafting high-quality wines that showcase Greek terroir, while embracing modern techniques and putting a strong emphasis on minimal intervention in the winemaking process.

This rosé is a blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero that is classified as PGI Peloponnese because the grapes come from two different areas within the Peloponnese. From 28-year-old vines, the Agiorgitiko was grown in Corinthia on calcareous soil at an altitude of 850 metres above sea level, while the Moscofilero is from 30-year-old vines grown on sandy soil in Mantinia at an altitude of 750 metres above sea level. The grapes were harvested from the end of September to the beginning of October. To craft this rosé, the Moscofilero had skin contact for 6 hours, while blending and alcoholic fermentation occurred in stainless steel vats, without undergoing malolactic fermentation. It was aged for a short period on its fine lees, and then bottled under screw cap.

From a warm vintage that had a prevalence of downy mildew that reduced yields, let's see how this 2023 Rosé from Greece is tasting tonight...

Skouras Cuvée Prestige Agiorgitiko / Moscofilero Rosé 2023 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO / MOSCOFILERO ROSÉ 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#25745) (XD) - $15.95
Blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero that is enclosed by screw cap. Pours a pretty shade of pink salmon colour. Lovely, medium-high intensity aromatics are fresh, zesty, and minerally, with red berry, strawberry, currant, cherry, and grapefruit citrus notes. The mid-weighted palate is dry, ripe, and lightly honeyed with tart red berry, strawberry, currant, and grapefruit citrus flavours joined by spicy notes on the mid-palate. Acids are crisp, fresh, and juicy, while tart red berry and grapefruit citrus notes with touches of leesy minerals linger on the finish, with very good length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines by Domaine Skouras can be found through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits - or at the LCBO.

Dionysos Wines (Greece) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's post features a trio of lovely wines from Greece. All three wines are new arrivals as Destination Collection products at the LCBO and can be purchased online or by visiting the LCBO Destination Collection stores on Danforth (Toronto) or Erin Mills Parkway (Mississauga).

All three of these wines are produced by Dionysos Winery S.A., a wine producer that was founded in 1936 in Athens by Asimakis Koutsouros and Stelios Gikas. Greece is known for its rich heritage and high-quality wines, which reflect the country's deep-rooted viticultural traditions.

Named after the ancient Greek god of wine, Dionysus, the two families that established Dionysos Winery had a passion for Greece's native grape varieties and a vision to create world-class wines. Today, the business is still owned by the Koutsouros and Gikas families, and because creating quality wines is what counts the most, the families have invested heavily in their modest winery to move forward and create quality wines.

Dionysos Winery is located about 30 minutes southwest of Athens in Lechio, within the Corinthos wine district - the most important quality vine growing region in the Peloponnese. In this location, the Mediterranean climate from the south meets the continental winds from the north to create superb winegrowing conditions that result in fruit forward, lively, temperamental, and complex wines.

Tasting Notes:

DIONYSOS LA CULTURE EN ROSE CUVÉE LIMITÉE 2022 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#35720) (XD) - $21.95
A blend of 95% Mavrofilero and 5% Grenache Noir that was grown in the Mountainous Mantinia region of Peloponnese. The oxidative, sherry-like, medium-high intensity nose has prominent florals with lemon blossom and rose aromas joined by macerated citrus and fig adding complexity. There is a sense of sweetness on the dry, medium-full bodied palate with blood orange, floral, citrus, and grapefruit flavours in a slightly oxidative style. It has very good, juicy, and slightly tangy acidity, along with a nicely textured, and well-structured mouthfeel. Florals and citrus notes linger on the long, juicy, and dry finish. Score: 90+ pts

Dionysos La Culture En Rose Cuvée Limitée 2022 (90+ pts)

DIONYSOS MANTINIA MOSCHOFILERO 2022 - PDO Mantinia, Greece (#547232) (XD) - $21.95
Fragrant, medium-high intensity nose delivers yellow and white citrus and floral aromas nuanced with leesy mineral, bergamot, and wild herbs. On the dry, ripe, light-to-medium bodied palate it has a very slightly honeyed profile of lemon citrus, floral, spice, and wild herb flavours with touches of leesy mineral notes. It has fresh, crisp, and juicy acidity, along with a fine, chalky textured mouthfeel. The spice notes give way to leesy minerals on the impressively long, dry finish. Score: 90+ pts

Dionysos Mantinia Moschofilero 2022 (90+ pts)

DIONYSOS OENOMELO SWEET WHITE WINE - Peloponnese, Greece (#35722) (S) - $25.95
This blend of 60% Muscat, 20% Moschofilero, and 20% Roditis has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers sweet aromas of candied lemon and ginger, honey, yellow floral, honeysuckle, and roses. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied and deliciously sweet on the palate with lovely candied lemon, honey, candied ginger spice, and floral notes on the flavour profile. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity, while candied lemon and honey notes taper to floral on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Dionysos Oenomelo Sweet White Wine (89 pts)

Other lovely wines by Dionysos Winery can be ordered through their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.

Born Rambla Rosé 2023 (Spain) - Wine Review

Today is National Rosé Day, and for tonight's rosé wine review I opened a lovely, organic, dry rosé from the Penedès region in Spain. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO that landed in stores across Ontario today as part of the theme on rosé wines in the June 8 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Born Rosé, a trendy wine brand that was established by a group of women in Barcelona who are passionate about rosé wines. Together, they have poured their energy, expertise, and savings into producing fine, Mediterranean rosé.

The leader of this group is Jana Robles, a Barcelona-based entrepreneur who loves rosé wine. She merged her passion for rosé wine with international business, which included years of experience living in the U.S.A., China, and the Netherlands. With a thirst for constant learning, Jana's global vision redefines her role as CEO and founder of Born Rosé on a daily basis.

As the rosé of Barcelona, each of their wines, all of which are rosé, are 100% organic, dry, light, pale, and with low alcohol levels. Born Rosé makes several rosé wines, including sparkling rosé, and rosé in convenient cans. The brand is noted for its stylish, minimalist, and modern packaging.

A relatively new winery with medals in tow, Born Rosé asserts that the best rosé is produced in the Mediterranean region, which connects Provence, Languedoc, and Barcelona. The Greeks planted their first vineyards 2,600 years ago and spread their culture of wine to the Mediterranean region - regions which share the same climate, land, and the Grenache grape variety, with Born Rosé contributing their know-how and passion. Let's see how this dry rosé from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BORN RAMBLA ROSÉ 2023 - Penedès, Spain (#37863) (XD) - $15.95
Certified organic, this pretty pale salmon pink coloured dry rosé is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Tempranillo. Fresh, elegant, medium+ to medium-high intensity aromas of peach, strawberry, and red cherry with hints of mineral, dried herb, and spice. On the dry, concentrated, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious citrus, grapefruit, peach, strawberry, and cherry flavours, with a touch of honeyed notes supported by very good, juicy acidity. Fine texture with subtle spice notes on the mid-palate. It's nicely balanced throughout with grapefruit, citrus, and spice notes tapering to mineral on the juicy finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the summer! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Born Rosé can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

LCBO Wine Picks: June 8, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the June 8, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which features Rosé Wines from Around the World is the theme of the release. It is a big release with over 125 wines offered. Included in the printed magazine is a sneak preview of the next release, which will be an Online & Flagship Exclusives only release. All the wines from this release are already in stores, and can also be ordered online.

We'll begin with the theme on Rosé wines, of which twenty-two are featured as part of the theme and seven are included among my top rosé wine picks. At the top of the list is a locally crafted rosé from Niagara that is a blend of 94% Pinot Noir and 6% Viognier. The rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, while the rosé from the Rhône Valley is composed of mainly Grenache, plus Mourvèdre and Cinsault. The rosé from Spain is also Grenache-based and made with 60% Grenache and 40% Tempranillo, while the rosé from Tuscany is, somewhat unsurprisingly, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. The only mono-varietal rosés are from Chile and the Loire Valley in France, and both are crafted using 100% Pinot Noir.

Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé 2023 (92 pts)

Casas del Bosque Botanic Series Pinot Noir Rosé 2023 (89 pts)

Among my top red wine recommendations, Tuscany really shines with five recommendations. At the top of this list is the Brunello di Montalcino, which is crafted with Sangiovese Grosso, while the other Tuscan wines are all blends. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is mainly Sangiovese (~80%), while the Riserva Chianti Classico is composed of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Colorino. The Bolgheri Rosso is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, while the Super Tuscan by Avignonesi is composed of precisely 50.82% Sangiovese, 24.58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.51% Merlot, 0.78% Syrah, and 0.30% Canaiolo. Moving to France, there are a couple of Grenache-led Rhône Valley wines, with the Rasteau made with 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The last blend is from Portugal, and it is a blend of 30% Tinta Roriz, 30% Touriga Nacional, and 20% Syrah. Only a few of my red wine picks are single varietal wines, and among them is the Rioja that is made with Tempranillo.

Vecchia Cantina Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016 (91+ pts)

Rocca delle Macìe Riserva Chianti Classico 2020 (91 pts)

La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2022 (91 pts)

Casa Santos Lima Quid Pro Quo Red 2021 (88+ pts)

There is only one blend among my white wine picks - a 70/30 blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho. There are a trio of Chardonnay wines - one each from the Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley, and Margaret River, as well as a pair of Assyrtiko wines from Greece. Wines that are a bit rare to see here in Ontario are a Pinot Bianco from northern Italy, and the Godello from Bierzo. If you enjoy some sweetness in your wines, look for the Riesling from Niagara.

Deep Woods Margaret River Chardonnay 2023 (90+ pts)

Maria Papoila Loureiro/Alvarinho 2022 (89 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!