July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mediterranean Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here), which highlights Mediterranean Wines for Summer Sipping as the feature story of the release. The mini-thematic features three wines from Austria's historic Winzer Krems, while in Local Talent there is a stellar lineup of Cool Chardonnays. In all, there are 90 wines included in this release, with almost an equal number of red- and white-coloured wines, and everything should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not already in many stores.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release, which lists twelve Mediterranean wines for Summer Sipping - five of which are included among my top wine picks. Up first are a couple of white wines from Sicily - an Etna Bianco crafted with 100% Carricante, as well as a Grillo. The other three wines are all rosés, including a couple of blends from Provence in France, with the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. The other rosé is from Greece and a blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero.

The red wines in this release felt a bit like slim pickings, with only nine recommendations coming from just four countries. We'll start in France with the Gigondas, which is majority Grenache, with Syrah completing the cuvée, while the Bordeaux red is 100% Merlot. From Italy, the Vino Nobile is Sangiovese, while the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera, and 5% Colorino. From Argentina there is a straight Malbec, while the other wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Spain has three recommendations in this release, with both Riojas crafted with 100% Tempranillo, while the Navarra red is 100% Graciano.

Among my top white wine picks, Cool Chardonnay is the place to start with a quartet of lovely 2022 vintage Chardonnays from Ontario - three from the Benchlands in Niagara and one from Prince Edward County. Tasting the four of these side-by-side would be a lovely exercise for the studious types (or a Saturday evening!). There are two blends among my white wine recommendations - the Côtes du Rhône Blanc is composed of 50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, and 10% Marsanne, while the South African white is mainly Chenin Blanc blended with Roussanne, Viognier, and Sémillon. Among the mono-varietal wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River in Australia, the Torrontés from the high-altitudes of Salta in Argentina, as well as the slightly off-dry Riesling from Austria. Lastly, the Orange Wine from Chile is crafted with Torontel.

My lone rosé pick (that wasn't part of the Mediterranean feature) is from New Zealand, and it is a somewhat quirky blend of 48% Pinot Gris, 48% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• AGRAMONT GRACIANO 2022 - DO Navarra, Spain (#37262) (XD) - $15.95
• NIETO SENETINER DON NICANOR MALBEC 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#178657) (XD) - $17.95
• MONTEBUENA CUVÉE KPF 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#211029) (XD) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
• PALACIO DE PRIMAVERA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#13632) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2022 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $19.95
• MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#977629) (XD) - $24.95
• PIEDRA NEGRA GRAN LURTON SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - IG Los Chacayes, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#980334) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• VECCHIA CANTINA RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36523) (XD) - $27.95
• DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D'OR 1806 GIGONDAS 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $39.95

White Wine:

• LES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, AC, France (#18600) (XD) - $14.95  review coming soon...
• GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2023 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• AVONDALE JONTY'S DUCKS PEKIN WHITE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#439554) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• BODEGA EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE LABORUM FINCA EL RETIRO TORRONTÉS 2023 - Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#489179) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• MATURANA NARANJO TORONTEL ORANGE WINE 2023 - Sustainable, Loncomilla, Valle del Maule, Chile (#556217) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...

• TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2024 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95
• WINZER KREMS KREMSER KREUZBERG RESERVE RIESLING 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#44857) (D) - $29.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#529941) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• ROSEHALL RUN JCR CHARDONNAY 2022 - Estate Grown and Bottled, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#45615) (XD) - $36.00  91+ pts  wine review
• CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#36806) (XD) - $42.00  92+ pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO/ MOSCOFILERO ROSÉ 2024 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#25745) (XD) - $16.95  review coming soon...
• ERADUS SADIE ROSÉ 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43353) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• CHÂTEAU LA TOUR DE L'ÉVÊQUE ROSÉ 2024 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#319392) (XD) - $20.95
• SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2024 - AP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $25.95

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Planeta La Segreta Grillo 2023 and Controdanza 2020 (Sicily) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, sustainably crafted wines from Sicily that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES last month, with the Grillo making its debut in mid-March, while the red wine arrived last weekend. Both are readily available for purchase today!

The lovely wines are produced by Planeta, one of Sicily's most respected and renowned wine producers. The Planeta family have long and deep roots on the volcanic island of Sicily that spans 17 generations and over 500 years. They have been involved in the agricultural evolution of these complex lands with an approach that leans towards openness and innovation.

Planeta's more recent history begins in the early 1900s, when Grandfather Vito transformed the small, family winery in Menfi, in western Sicily, into a large co-operative in a short period of time, paving the way for new solutions and prospects. In the mid-1980s, the family planted their first vines around Ulmo, a 16th-century farmhouse which the family had always owned near the village of Sambuca di Sicilia. They wanted to provide this beautiful place full of memories with a new future and built their first winery at the site in 1995, on the banks of Lake Arancio and its nearby woods. Success at the Ulmo winery led to further expansion on the island, with the idea of producing each wine in its own territory.

Today, Planeta has wine estates across Sicily, in the territories of Vittoria, Noto, Etna, and Capo Milazzo. Planeta is still family-owned and operated, with primarily two generations of the family working on the estate, including brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews. Together, they have a vision of unity, love for the land, and a desire to protect it by using sustainable and environmentally-friendly approaches to viticulture and winemaking. As a pioneer in modern Sicilian winemaking, Planeta is focused on crafting high-quality wines using both indigenous and international varieties that reflect the unique terroirs of each territory in Sicily, while embracing innovation and modernity, and respecting tradition. With a passionate focus on the environment, all of Planeta's cultivated areas (vineyards, olive groves, almond orchards, and cereals) are certified organic.

This Grillo is from Planeta's Menfi territory range of wines. Menfi is located on the southern coast of western Sicily. The Menfi area, from the sea to the hills, and up to an altitude of 400 metres, is home to Planeta's largest extension of vineyards. Along with three estates in Menfi - Ulmo, Dispensa, and Monte Cirami - they have 250 hectares of vines where they make precise choices that are specific to both native and international varieties, as well as individual terroirs. The historic Dispensa estate has been in existence since 1755 and is hidden in the heart of the hills among the vineyards. The Dispensa estate is the heart of Planeta's activities, with production, administrative, and logistical headquarters developed around the estate. They also have two wineries on the property, with the small winery holding the family's collection of favourite wines from around the world, as well as certain vintages of Planeta wines. Furthermore, the family's library houses hundreds of Italian and foreign volumes dedicated to the history of vines and wines from the 18th century to the present day.

Bearing the name 'La Segreta', this Grillo is named after the woods that surround their Ulmo vineyards. It is cultivated with passion in accordance with sustainable and organic agricultural criteria. First crafted in the 2016 vintage, the first label was graphically related to a detail of an ancient 18th-century map of the area to underline the family's deep roots and presence on the site since ancient times. Today, the label takes inspiration from nature and depicts Sicilian flora with great precision and poetry.

The Controdanza, which translates to 'country dance', is named after the rural dance where dancers move elegantly in a pattern of opposition and agreement. This is what Planeta thought of when they combined Nero d’Avola with a small amount of Merlot, with this particular vintage composed of 85% Nero d’Avola and 15% Merlot that was cultivated in the white lands of Noto, as an unconventional blend based on contrast rather than similarity. Created as the second wine of their top-end Santa Cecilia, the grapes for this wine come from the lowest areas of the valleys where the fruit wins over the typical balsamicity of Nero d’Avola on Noto's lime soils.

With both of these wines coming from excellent vintages, let's see how these two wines from Sicily are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

PLANETA LA SEGRETA GRILLO 2023 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#39442) (XD) - $19.95
100% Grillo organically grown on moderately deep, scarce -to-almost-non-existent structure, moderately limey, and average fertility soil at the Dispensa vineyard in Menfi. Raised entirely in stainless steel and enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. The lovely, medium-high intensity nose has depth with an attractive mix of ripe lemon citrus, flinty mineral, yellow flowers, and herbal aromas surrounding a core of apple and pear notes. On the fleshy, medium-full bodied palate it is dry and spicy with lovely aroma replays of lemon citrus, apple, pear, herbs, and mineral notes on the flavour profile. It has crisp and juicy acidity, along with a fine, mineral texture on the mid-palate. Spice and minerals are nuanced with lemon citrus on the long, succulent, and juicy finish. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on March 15th and is a highly recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

PLANETA CONTRODANZA 2020 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia Noto, Italy (#477190) (XD) - $24.95
This blend of 85% Nero d'Avola and 15% Merlot was grown at their Buonivini vineyard in Noto on soils composed of lime marl, with abundant structure of small size, along with a finely textured soil featuring small amounts of light-coloured chalk. Matured for 12 months in fourth- and fifth-use Allier oak barrels. The lifted, medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely, slightly perfumed bouquet of dried roses, floral, fresh & dried cherry, sweet spice, and leather aromas with undertones of savoury earth and minerals. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and chewy with a fairly firm structure and delicious balsamic flavours joining the black cherry, floral, leather, and spices. Some dried berry and floral characters add further interest. Lemony acids are fresh and juicy, while the refined, slightly drying tannins have good grip and structure. Minerally and gently spicy on the long, savoury finish. Arrived in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 29th and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

A selection of fine wines by Planeta (some in limited quantities) are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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March 15, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Sustainable Italian Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the March 15, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which features Sustainable Italian Wines as the main theme of the release, while the mini-theme looks at Stellar Stellenbosch. The release as a whole is very good with ninety-four products on offer at various price points, with all but ten coming in at $40 or less. Also included in this release are nearly a dozen Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE) wines. All the wines should be available for purchase by Saturday, if not already on shelves (and online) today.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release - Sustainable Italian Wines - where a dozen wines are included as part of the theme and five are among my top wine picks. The two sustainably crafted white wines are a Verdicchio from Marche, and a Grillo from Sicily. The mono-varietal sustainable red wines are the Nero d'Avola from Sicily, and the Chianti Classico, which is made with 100% Sangiovese. The Rosso di Montepulciano from Tuscany is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot.

The "mini-theme" is a very, very brief look at wines from Stellenbosch, South Africa. There are only(!) three wines included in the thematic, and my only pick from this group is the Syrah. Why limit the mini-theme to a very slim count of just three wines? I would recommend that mini-thematics should include anywhere from 6 to 8 wines.

Among my top red wine recommendations from the main release, we'll begin with the blends from Iberia, with the Bierzo from Spain consisting of 85% Mencía, 10% white grapes, and 5% other red varieties, while the Alentejano from Portugal is crafted with Trincadeira, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, and Syrah. The only other red blend is from Roussillon, and it is composed of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah. Among the single varietal wines, there is an excellent Brunello di Montalcino that is crafted with Sangiovese, while the wine from Castilla y León is 100% Tempranillo. The lovely wine from Greece is Xinomavro, and the Chilean red is Carmenère. On the local front, there are a couple of fine Pinot Noirs from the Bench in the Niagara Escarpment, as well as a Gamay from the Niagara Peninsula.

All of my white wine picks from the rest of the release are mono-varietal wines, with a trio of Chardonnays leading the pack. There are two Chardonnays from Niagara, as well as one from South Africa. For other dry whites, you can go slightly off the beaten path with a fine Ribolla Gialla from Friuli, or the elevated Alvarinho from Vinho Verde. There's also a fine Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara, along with a dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand. If you want a wine with a little sweetness, check out the lovely Niagara Riesling.

Lastly, there is a lovely, fortified wine from Portugal that is very sweet, but balanced, and crafted using the Setubal Moscatel variety, which is also known as Alexandria.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cincin!

Red Wine:

• FLOR DE MAIO MAYFLOWER 2021 - Vegan, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#427195) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
• GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA NERO D'AVOLA 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#39219) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39275) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION SYRAH 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#493841) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES GRENACHE / CARIGNAN / SYRAH CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, Midi, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95
• SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2022 - Las Lagunas, DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• BOUTARI NAOUSSA XINOMAVRO 2021 - PDO Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (#23218) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review

 

• ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ DEHESA LA GRANJA 2018 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León, Spain (#192476) (XD) - $22.95  91+ pts  wine review
• POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2022 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $24.95
• RICASOLI BROLIO BETTINO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#630939) (XD) - $27.95
• DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2022 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#446484) (XD) - $29.95
• THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#44041) (XD) - $40.00  92 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER WISMER-PARKE SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520379) (XD) - $54.95  OFE
• IL POGGIONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#551176) (XD) - $76.95  93 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CASAL DI SERRA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2023 - Sustainable, DOC, Marche, Italy (#268169) (XD) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TE PA PA ROAD MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41804) (XD) - $18.95
• PLANETA LA SEGRETA GRILLO 2023 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#39442) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• TRIUS DISTINCTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#19379) (XD) - $19.95
• AGANIS DI FLABE RIBOLLA GIALLA 2023 - DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli, Italy (#39744) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• AVELEDA SOLOS DE GRANITO ALVARINHO 2022 - Vegan, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#17514) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $24.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00  90+ pts  wine review
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95  OFE  91+ pts  wine review
• TESSELAARSDAL CHARDONNAY 2023 - Vegan, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (#32933) (XD) - $49.95  OFE

Fortified Wine:

• VENÂNCIO COSTA LIMA MOSCATEL DE SETÚBAL 2021 - DOC, Portugal (#42991) (S) - $18.95  91 pts  wine review

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Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Grillo 2022 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic Grillo from Sicily that arrived at the LCBO on the weekend in the May 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is also featured in the theme of the release: The Wine Pantheon - Classic Euro Regions, and is widely available across Ontario today.

It is produced by Tenuta Gorghi Tondi, a family-owned estate winery located in the extreme western part of Sicily. The story of Gorghi Tondi begins with Dora, the great-grandmother of sisters Annamaria and Clara Sala, who had a love for nature, grapes, and for the land that, even a century later, continues to move the current generation of the family. Tenuta Gorghi Tondi was established in 2000 by Michele, who worked in the wine business for over forty years, and together his wife Doretta decided to start a family-owned company with their two daughters - Annamaria and Clara. The two sisters returned home from their careers and were surrounded by the family vineyards and wines, while facing a new challenge to build a future and bringing back the old dream of making premium wines in Sicily.

Situated within a nature reserve on the western part of the island of Sicily, the Sala family have been growing grapes in the area for four generations. In defence of a unique viticultural and environmental heritage, Tenuta Gorghi Tondi is led by Annamaria and Clara Sala, a family that safeguards the heritage today just as it did a century ago, while in perfect balance with its surrounding environment.

The Sala family has a strong bond with their territory, especially the High, Medium, and Low "whirlpools" (the so-called "Gorghi") that are at the heart of an oasis, which is also the inspiration for the name of the winery - Gorghi Tondi, or Round Whirlpools. Tenuta Gorghi Tondi is within a naturalistic oasis that has been protected by the WWF since 1998 because it contains a treasure of volatile and aquatic species, and rare flora. They have two properties - Ramisella and San Nicola, both within the Mazara del Vallo countryside, covering over 130 hectares of vines which overlook the horizon and are cradled by the sea breeze. The vineyards are located on mostly flat land of medium-textured soil, tending to limestone, and are characterized by excellent depth and permeability, and are close to the four small lakes of the Lakes Preola and Gorghi Tondi Nature Reserve, inside a karst depression formed due to the rains that eroded the surrounding area over time.

Organic viticulture and sustainability are core values at Tenuta Gorghi Tondi. All grapes are grown organically and certified, without the use of any synthetic chemicals, and emergency irrigation is practiced only if absolutely necessary to maintain the authentic aromas and flavours of the grapes. Gorghi Tondi actively protects flora and fauna, practices low impact on the environment, eco-sustainability, and maximum control and care for all operations in the vineyard and in the cellar. At the estate, Gorghi Tondi uses clean energy to allow for sustainable development and protect the ecosystem.

This white wine is from Gorghi Tondi's Territoriali Collection - a group of single varietal wines from their youngest vineyards. Crafted with 100% Grillo, the name of this wine is "Coste a Preola", which pays tribute to Sicily and its biodiversity, and is also the name of the vineyards' area where this Grillo was organically grown. Situated near the estate, the vineyard is also close to the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Preola within the WWF Nature Reserve. The Coste a Preola Grillo is a wine that symbolizes the strong bond between Gorghi Tondi and the oasis. Grillo is the main variety grown on the estate with over 40% of the vineyards dedicated to the varietal. Grillo benefits from a high day-night temperature range, as well as the "marine aerosol" action of the sea breeze, and the changing climatic conditions, all of which are favourable to producing excellent quality Grillo grapes.

Coste a Preola is located in southwestern Sicily, in the countryside of Mazara del Vallo, Trapani, within the San Nicola District, at an elevation of about 25 metres above sea level. The Grillo grapes come from single Guyot trained vines that are nearly 20 years old and planted on soil composed of a medium-textured limestone substrate tending to sandy. To craft this wine, the grapes were fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and remained in tanks for 5 months to mature on its lees.

From a favourable growing season that will be remembered as an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2022 Grillo from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95
This organic white wine has a medium-high intensity nose that is elegantly aromatic with depth, offering lovely yellow fruit, lemon oil citrus, earthy-leesy minerality, white peach, and apple aromas with whiffs of sea breeze and white florals adding further complexity. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied, well-structured palate with a lightly honeyed profile of lemon, apple, wild herbs, and saline mineral flavours. It has a very good, well-structured and textured mouthfeel and juicy, slightly tart acidity. Mineral notes linger on the savoury, lengthy, and textured finish. Should improve over the next 3-4 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

A higher-end Grillo by Gorghi Tondi will be available at the LCBO in the coming days, while the entire portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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Orestiadi Ludovico 2008 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon that I purchased nearly a decade ago from the November 8, 2014 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Of course, it is long sold out by now, but you can grab the latest vintage of this wine (link in product code below) as it arrived in LCBO VINTAGES late last year, with some bottles still available for purchase now.

Tasting Note:

ORESTIADI LUDOVICO 2008 - IGT Rosso Sicilia, Italy (#388645) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep garnet colour. Lovely, medium-high intensity bouquet of dried floral, dried & stewed dark berry, savoury wet earth, and sweet spice aromas. It's medium-full bodied and dry with smooth, fine-grained tannins that are resolving nicely and with very good acidity. Flavours are savoury with wet earth, forest floor, and woody flavours, plus touches of desiccated dark berry, violet, and dark plum. Still quite composed and balanced, with just a touch of warmth and some chalky grip on the mid-palate. Earthy and savoury, with some stewed dark berry notes on the satisfyingly long finish. Aging nicely and should continue to drink well over the next few years. Score: 91+ pts

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Planeta Frappato 2021 (Sicily) - Wine Review

After enjoying the beautiful 2018 Planeta Frappato Vittoria a couple of years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific (and now organically certified) red wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the July 22 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Planeta, a well-established and respected wine producer based on the island of Sicily, Italy. The Planeta family have been involved in the agricultural evolution on the complex lands of Sicily for over 500 years and 17 generations. Their approach has always been inclined towards openness and innovation, and in the early 1900's, Grandfather Vito led the way towards new solutions and new prospects by transforming the small, family winery in Menfi, in western Sicily, into a large co-operative in a short period of time.

Fast-forward to the mid-1980's, the Planeta family planted their first vines around a 16th century farmhouse, Ulmo, which the family has always owned. They wanted to provide this beautiful place full of memories with a new future and built their first winery at the site in 1995, on the banks of Lake Arancio and its nearby woods. The success of the winery at Ulmo led to further expansion on the island, with the idea of producing each wine in its own territory.

In addition to the winery in Menfi, Planeta also has wineries in Etna, Capo Milazzo, Noto, and where this wine is from - Vittoria. The Dorilli estate was established in Vittoria by renovating the big country house which stood at the centre of the family's landholding in the late-1990's, with the first vines planted in 1997. Vittoria is a place redolent of history and the long agricultural traditions of the Planeta family - even their ancestors couldn't agree on whether Vittoria or Menfi would be better suited to cultivate vines.

Planeta is still family-owned and operated today, with primarily two generations of the family, which includes brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews, who work together with a vision of unity, a love for the land, and a desire to protect it by using sustainable and environmentally-friendly viticultural approaches to winemaking. Planeta is also dedicated to producing high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Sicily's diverse wine regions.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Frappato, a rare, exclusive, and sought after variety that is grown in only a few hectares around Vittoria, on the island of Sicily. It is cultivated according to sustainable and organic standards and reaches its ultimate expression in the red sands of Vittoria, not far from the sea, where this wine is from. The soils in Vittoria are primarily sandy textured and consist of mainly loose red sands with a structure of small dimensions, moderately deep. An important layer of tufa (limestone) sits at about 90 cm deep, allowing for water capacity and balance for the plants. This Frappato was grown in the Mogli vineyard, which is located 70 metres above sea level.

The grapes were hand picked and transported to the winery in small trolleys. Once the grapes arrived at the winery, they were de-stemmed and pressed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks. After alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine remains in contact with the skins for 10-13 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine remains in stainless steel tanks for further maturation, prior to bottling. From a smaller, but formidable vintage, let's see how this 2021 Frappato from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PLANETA FRAPPATO 2021 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia Vittoria, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $24.95
Organic, 100% Frappato raised entirely in stainless steel tanks. The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose is elegantly aromatic with red berry, raspberry, herbs, red licorice, cherry, and smoky-stony mineral aromas with touches of floral and earth. On the dry, light-to-mid weighted palate it offers juicy and ripe raspberry, herbal, cherry, earthy mineral flavours that are backed by fresh, well-balanced acidity and light, dusty textured tannins. It has very nice interplays between the berry fruit, savoury mineral, and herbal characters, with the mineral notes lingering through to the long-lasting, gently chalky textured finish. Even better than last time and a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Quite a few wines by Planeta are available at the LCBO, albeit in limited quantities, while the whol range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Feudo Maccari Saia Nero d'Avola 2018 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Nero d'Avola from Sicily that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on December 3rd.

Feudo Maccari was founded in the late 1990's when Antonio Moretti Cuseri of Tenuta Sette Ponti in Tuscany visited Sicily for a brief time and was enchanted by region's famous Baroque style and the warm waters of the sea. He thought he would only stay a while, but ended up planting roots and beginning a new adventure by acquiring land by units of "tumulo", an ancient Sicilian unit of measurement equal to 1,744 square metres, and acquiring more than fifty properties.

Today, Feudo Maccari has more than 250 hectares of property with about 60 hectares of land under vine, all of which exclusively rely on the head-trained system. This system was brought over by the first Greek colonists and is very costly to manage, but it is well-suited to the warm climate of southeastern Sicily. With the head-trained system, the bunches of grapes are protected by the leaves, while also limiting the oxidation of polyphenolic and aromatic substances. At the same time, the leaves are exposed to the sun's rays, allowing for excellent photosynthesis. Antonio chose this system because of the way it allows for perfect ventilation, how it offers the maximum amount of sunlight during daytime hours, and the fact that the bunches stay closer to the ground, which allows for ideal heat exchange so the fruit ripens.

Antonio immediately focused on native grape varieties like Nero d'Avola, Grillo, and Moscato di Noto, as well as some international varieties, to bring a fruity elegance and rich minerality to the wines. Because of Feudo Maccari's proximity to the sea and the limestone-rich soils, the area is perfect for quality winemaking and Nero d’Avola, in particular, came to life in this area between Avola and Pachino, in the province of Siracusa. Nero d'Avola is one of the great grape varieties of southern Italy, helping usher in a new era in the 1980s. Produced as a single variety, Nero d'Avola has shown itself to be an elegant, harmonious, well-balanced, and structured red able to stand up to long ageing in bottle.

The Saia gets its name from the irrigation canals created by the Arabs to collect rainwater centuries ago. It is crafted with Maccari's best selection of Nero d'Avola grapes, which were handpicked from 20-30 year old vines that were planted to south-facing vineyards situated 80 metres above sea level on volcanic soils with white sand and chalk deposits. The skins were gently broken and then it was fermented in stainless steel tanks and lined vats. The wine's first blend occurs when it is placed in barrique, and blended a second time at the first racking. It was aged for 12 to 14 months in French oak and then bottled with minimum intervention.

The 2018 vintage was characterized by a rainy spring which helped to refill the ground water, followed by a very sunny summer with temperatures sometimes higher than usual, along with sporadic rains which allowed the vines to work. September had perfect weather conditions with sunny, but not too hot days, and fresh nights, allowing the grapes to ripen perfectly. The balanced and regular weather trend helped guarantee the best territorial expression of the grapes and obtain wines of great elegance, beautiful acidity, and longevity. Let's see how this 2018 Nero d'Avola from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEUDO MACCARI SAIA NERO D'AVOLA 2018 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#128967) (XD) - $29.95
The nose is richly intense and spicy, followed by aromas of plum, red cherry, mineral, sandalwood, and raspberry. It's full-bodied and quite dense on the palate with a plummy core accented with cherry, sweet spices, and oak, plus savoury undertones. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the smooth and well-integrated with a slightly chalky mouthfeel on the back palate. Savoury, minerally, and tangy with sweet spices linger on the long, crisp, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

A very select number of wines from Feudo Maccari, while other wines from their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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July 16, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mediterranean

The theme of the upcoming July 16, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release is titled "Sun, Sea & Sips" and focuses on wines from the Mediterranean. Also included in the magazine is a list of the next Online Exclusives collection that will be available starting July 28. Wines from this Release will be available at LCBO outlets across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from sunny vineyards along the Mediterranean coast that are synonymous with summertime sipping. Of the eighteen wines featured in the theme, six are included among my top wine picks. Starting on the eastern side in Greece is an Assyrtiko from the Florina appellation in the hills of Amyndeon. Moving westward into Italy are a pair of lovely single varietal red wines from the island of Sicily made with Nero d'Avola and Frappato. From France, there are a pair of fine dry rosé wines - the one from Provence is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 5% Syrah, while the Tavel from Rhône consists of 39% Grenache Noir, 25% Cinsault, 10% Grenache Blanc, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and other varieties.

Among my red wine recommendations from the rest of the Release, the lovely GSM blend from Australia consists of 59% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre, and 19% Syrah, while the Roussillon red is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Carignan in support. The rest of the reds are all single varietal wines. The Morgon from Beaujolais is made with Gamay, while the Beaune from Burgundy is Pinot Noir. There's also a pair of lovely Malbec wines from Argentina, and from Australia there is a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

My white wine picks from the rest of the Release are all single varietal wines. From France, there is a lovely Muscadet from Loire that is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape, while the white wine from Burgundy is made with Aligoté. For Sauvignon Blanc wine lovers, there is a Sancerre from Loire, as well as a Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. Other dry white wines include an excellent Assyrtiko from Santorini, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, as well as a pair of Chardonnay wines from Niagara. If you enjoy sweeter wines, grab the Riesling from Mosel.

Among my pink wine recommendations, the rosé from Niagara is a blend of 46% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Gris, and 19% Gamay, while the version from Tuscany consists of Sangiovese and Merlot. Among my pink sparkling wine picks, the wine from Provence is crafted with Syrah and Grenache, while the bubbly from South Africa is a blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
• COLAB & BLOOM SHIRAZ 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#16043) (XD) - $19.95
• LAURENT GAUTHIER GRAND CRAS VIEILLES VIGNES MORGON 2019 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#279059) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
  
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES GRENACHE / SYRAH / CARIGNAN 2019 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Midi, France (#119354) (D) - $19.95
• DANDELION PRIDE OF THE FLEURIEU CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Fleurieu, South Australia (#23778) (XD) - $21.95
• PLANETA FRAPPATO VITTORIA 2019 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $22.95
• TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2018 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• FEUDO MONTONI LAGNUSA NERO D'AVOLA 2019 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#523738) (XD) - $24.95
• CATENA LUNLUNTA OLD VINES APPELLATION MALBEC 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#11769) (XD) - $24.95
• ARNOUX PÈRE & FILS LES BEAUMONTS CHOREY-LÈS-BEAUNE 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557785) (XD) - $39.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $15.95  90+ pts  wine review
• PROSPER MAUFOUX BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#23984) (XD) - $17.95
• KIR-YIANNI LE NORD ASSYRTIKO 2020 - Vegan, IGP Florina, Greece (#25707) (XD) - $18.95  review coming soon...
• ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#225557) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21111) (XD) - $19.95
• BACHELDER L'ARDOISE NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#302083) (XD) - $24.95
• CLOSSON CHASE THE BROCK CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#20899) (XD) - $25.00
• CHÂTEAU DE SANCERRE SANCERRE 2020 - Sustainable, AC, Loire, France (#340893) (XD) - $29.95
  
• MAX FERD. RICHTER ELISENBERGER RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2019 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#25712) (S) - $29.95
• ARGYROS ASSYRTIKO 2020 - PDO Santorini, Greece (#387365) (XD) - $44.95

Rosé Wine:

• FIELDING ROSÉ 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#53421) (XD) - $17.95
• RICASOLI ALBIA ROSÉ 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#556266) (XD) - $18.95
• VILLA AIX EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2021 - AP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#668426) (XD) - $20.95
• DOMAINE MABY LA FORCADIÈRE TAVEL ROSÉ 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#701318) (XD) - $20.95

Sparkling Wine:

• RIVAROSE BRUT PRESTIGE SPARKLING ROSÉ - Salon de Provence, IGP Mediterranean, Provence, France (#515288) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT SPARKLING ROSÉ PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (XD) - $22.95

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