sparkling-wine | VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews

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Monday, November 24, 2025

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

LCBO Wine Picks: November 22, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

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

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

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc de Blancs 2017 (93+ pts)

Poggio Landi Brunello di Montalcino 2019 (93 pts)

Tawse Cherry Avenue Pinot Noir 2022 (92 pts)

Familia Torres Pago del Cielo Celeste Crianza 2020 (89 pts)

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

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

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2022 (92 pts)

Umani Ronchi Podere Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2023

Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz 2023 (91+ pts)

Heirloom Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (90+ pts)

Angove Family Crest Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2022 (89 pts)

Rémy Ferbras Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2023

Pérez Cruz Limited Edition Carmenère 2023 (89 pts)

Cape Pastoral Organic Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 2023

Esterházy Estoras Blaufränkisch 2021 (89 pts)

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

Torbreck Woodcutter's Semillon 2024 (92 pts)

Esterházy Estoras Grüner Veltliner 2024 (91 pts)

Alpha Estate Turtles Single Vineyard Malagouzia 2024

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

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

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

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

White Wine:

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

Sparkling Wine:

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

Fortified Wine:

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

Dessert Wine:

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

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

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

Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Cap Classique Brut Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2022 (91+ pts) and Pat's Garden Reserve 2020 (91 pts)

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Notes:

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

Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Cap Classique Brut Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2022 (91+ pts)

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

Ken Forrester Pat's Garden Reserve 2020 (91 pts)

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

Ackerman Bulle Royale Crémant de Loire Brut Sparkling (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious traditional method sparkling wine from Loire that made its debut at the LCBO in last month's September 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Maison Ackerman, a winery whose roots began as a skilled grain and wine merchant in 1811. The initial business was established by Jean‑Baptiste Ackerman, of Belgian origin, and Jean Pierre Apollinaire Laurance-Olivier, in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, near Saumur in the Loire Valley. In the 1830s, Jean‑Baptiste began experimenting with méthode traditionnelle (i.e., traditional method sparkling wine) and eventually became one of Loire's sparkling wine pioneers.

The troglodyte limestone cellars in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, on the banks of the Thouet, where the small river meets the Loire, were optimal for storing and crafting his sparkling wines because they have a cool and constant temperature, low light, and a large storage capacity. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, the number of sparkling wine houses multiplied and settled on either side of the Ackerman-Laurance cellars. These cellars were a source of new economic activity in Saumur, as the resulting sparkling wines were exported all over the world.

Today, these cellars are a key element of the natural and industrial landscape of the Saumur region of the Loire, which is a World Heritage Site. While these cellars are no longer the place where their wines are produced, they remain the soul of the company. Ackerman is an historic wine house with a rich heritage, and its longevity and prosperity are based on its winegrowers, its employees, and its customers.

With core values focused on elegance, diversity, and audacity, Ackerman is highly involved in the vineyard from pruning through to harvesting, while a research & development centre is at the very heart of the vineyard. They also have a spirit of innovation and employ the latest in winemaking and bottling technologies. Ackerman is also committed to limiting their impact on the environment and sustainable development. Their vineyards are HVE (High Environmental Value) certified, while also making their winegrowers and partners aware of alternative and eco-responsible practices, as well as protecting biodiversity.

This particular sparkling wine is from Maison Ackerman's Bulle Royale range, which is inspired by the "Cuvée de l'Aiglon" that was created by Maurice Rémy in 1956 to revive the trade of fine sparkling wines from Saumur. This Crémant de Loire was crafted in the traditional method using 70% Chenin, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Cabernet Franc grapes that were grown in Saumurois soils and terroirs. The region is primarily known for its chalky and porous soil, which allows the roots of the vines to go deep into the soil in search of water, while the climate is Oceanic with low rainfall. After hand-harvesting the grapes at optimal maturity, the grapes were brought to their cellars in Vaudelnay. Each grape variety was vinified separately, gently whole-cluster pressed, then blended at the end of winter. It was aged on its lees for 18 to 25 months. For this cuvée, they assembled the most fruity and expressive Chenin Blanc from clayey terroirs with very ripe and concentrated Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc from limestone plots. Let's see how this Crémant de Loire Brut sparkling wine is tasting tonight...

Ackerman Bulle Royale Crémant de Loire Brut Sparkling (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

ACKERMAN BULLE ROYALE CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional Method, AOP, Loire, France (#42057) (D) - $20.95
Blend of 70% Chenin, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Cabernet Franc. The delicate, medium+ intensity nose delivers lemon citrus, acacia floral, and green apple aromas nuanced with white peach, melon, toasty and biscuit notes. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is crisp and lively with energetic acidity. Dry on the flavour profile with toasty, leesy, biscuit, lemon peel, citrus, green apple, and acacia floral flavours, plus touches of melon and white peach, with a kiss of underlying sweetness. The juicy mid-palate leads to savoury, leesy minerals, and touches of stone fruits on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Maison Ackerman can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Cantine Povero Campo del Palio Moscato d'Asti 2023 (Piedmont) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, sweet, semi-sparkling (or frizzante) wine with a lower alcohol content of 5.5% alcohol by volume (abv) from Piedmont. Sustainable and vegan-friendly, this bubbly arrived at the LCBO a few weeks ago in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 21st.

It is produced by Cantine Povero, a winery with roots going back nearly 200 years to 1837 on the lands of Roero, Monferrato, and Langhe, in the heart of Piedmont, Italy. Modern winegrowing entered the picture in 1948, when Bartolomeo Povero (aka Grandfather Tumlin) inherited a vineyard and increased his production by planting his first vineyard. Tumlin felt a strong emotional bond towards his land and was proud to continue the tradition of his ancestors, with the ancient wisdom passed down through the generations.

An excellent vintage in 1964 inspired brothers Giovanni and Michelino Povero, the sons of Tumlin, to produce their first branded bottles of Povero wines, which in turn resulted in expanded sales across Piedmont. In 1976, the brothers acquired their current headquarters at the foot of a medieval castle in the hamlet of San Matteo, within the commune of Cisterna d'Asti, and planted a further 10 hectares of vineyards. In 1987, the third generation of the Povero family expanded the family's business as the sons of Giovanni - Luca, Daniele, and Alessio - established Tenuta Fratelli Povero and produced wines from the oldest vineyards in Roero.

In 1998, the winery was renovated and modernized, along with a focus on organic farming and sustainability, as they installed a photovoltaic system in 2010 to allow the facility to use only renewable energy during the daytime. In 2019, Cantine Povero obtained organic certification for all of their vineyards. A year later, the third and fourth generations of the Povero family began leading the future of the winery with a dedication to both tradition and innovation.

Today, Cantine Povero's philosophy is to carry on the ancient wisdom handed down generation to generation, while innovating in a sustainable approach to agriculture. With a strong commitment to the environment, beginning with Nonno Tumlin and through each generation, they have learned to listen to the seasons and observe with love the branches, bunches, and leaves, and to confidently await the reward for their efforts. They practice organic cultivation without the use of any chemicals, and minimize their use of any treatments by using their innovative weather station to monitor humidity, rainfall, and temperature. Furthermore, they are practicing regenerative agriculture and encourage a diversified and harmonic ecosystem.

This frizzante is crafted with 100% Moscato that was grown in the Asti region of Piedmont. The vines are planted in sandy and clayey soil, and cultivated using the espalier system with Guyot pruning. The grapes were manually harvested, destemmed, and then cooled to 10–12°C before being gently pressed. It was fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks.

From a somewhat tough vintage where conditions were seldom steady, let's see how this 2023 Moscato d'Asti from Italy is tasting tonight...

Cantine Povero Campo del Palio Moscato d'Asti 2023 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

CANTINE POVERO CAMPO DEL PALIO MOSCATO D'ASTI 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#477869) (S) - $16.95
Fresh, medium+ intensity aromas of peach, candied citrus, spring flowers, melon, and Flintstones vitamins, with a twist of orange. Crafted in a frizzante style, the fairly light-weighted palate is clean and refreshing with bright acidity and gentle bubbles lifting the peach, candied citrus, orange, melon, and floral notes in a gently sweet flavour profile. A touch sticky on the finish with well-balanced peach, melon, and candied citrus notes tapering to savoury and leesy notes on the long-lasting finish. Versatile and widely appealing for the patio, dinner table, or with dessert. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Cantine Povero can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

The Quarterly Pour with Arterra Wines Canada (Apr. 2025)

At the end of April, Arterra Wines Canada held their quarterly tasting for the media at their head office in Mississauga, Ontario. This was my first "The Quarterly Pour" tasting, and it featured a curated lineup of estate-driven and milestone wines, along with a few lifestyle-led selections from their Better for You portfolio. All the wines were crafted using grapes from Ontario. The tasting was broken down into 4 categories:

Better for You Selection - zero-sugar, low- and no-alcohol wines
LCBO VINTAGES Release Wines
Surprise Pours - A special preview of wines that were just recently released or will be available in the near future
Inniskillin 50th Anniversary Spotlight

While I didn't taste everything in the Better for You Selection, there were a couple of wines that stood out, and they are in the last group in the list below.

I expected the quality of the LCBO VINTAGES Release Wines (the first three wines in the list below) to be very good, and was really impressed with the Chardonnay as it had improved somewhat significantly since I first tasted the wine last year. The Jackson-Triggs wines were all delicious, high-quality, and premium wines with a price to match.

The surprise of the tasting were the three Inniskillin Reserve wines, especially the Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, as they offered a great quality-to-price ratio and just arrived at the LCBO last month as widely-available General List wines with special pricing to celebrate Inniskillin's 50th Anniversary.

Pretty much all the wines listed below (except the previews) are readily available through one or more of their retail sales channels - LCBO, Great Estates Niagara, or Wine Rack.

LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00 91+ pts
KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95 91+ pts
KEW ROSALIE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#43594) (XD) - $32.95 90+ pts

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#25368) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts
JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE RED MERITAGE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $29.22 91 pts wine review
JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 (exclusive preview) 91 pts
DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE CRÉMANT (2nd blend preview) 91+ pts

INNISKILLIN RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#17290) (XD) -$19.95 91 pts
INNISKILLIN RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#105379) (XD) - $19.95 91 pts
INNISKILLIN RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $22.79 90+ pts
INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149963, 200 mL) (S) - $59.95 92+ pts wine review

SAINTLY THE GOOD SAUVIGNON BLANC - VQA Ontario, Canada (#32183) (XD) - $19.95
BASK CHARDONNAY - Canada (#39912) (XD) - $13.95

May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fizz

LCBO Wine Picks: May 10, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (link to flipbook). In time for Mother's Day this weekend, the feature story of this release is titled "Fizz" and looks at sparkling wines for various occasions. It is a compact release with only 77 products offered, and a whopping 32 wines are among my recommended buys. All the wines should already be available for purchase in-store (and online), if not by this Saturday.

Like the rest of the release, the feature story on sparkling wines for various occasions is a bit on the small side, with only eleven wines offered, and three included among my top sparkling wine picks. According to the magazine, the 2021 vintage sparkling wine from Ontario, which is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, is ideal for garden parties. The other two fizz recommendations are delicious with dinner, with the 2020 Brilliant Sparkling crafted with 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier, while the South African sparkler is roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Flat Rock Riddled Sparkling 2021 (91 pts)

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in France, with a lovely Côtes du Rhône that is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault, followed by a Roussillon red that is composed of Syrah and Old Vines Grenache. Other blends are from Italy, with the perennial favourite Etna Rosso, which is composed of Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese, and the Lucente Super Tuscan, which is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo, while the Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese. The only other blend among my red wine picks is from Coonawarra, and it is majority Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz, Malbec, and Merlot rounding out the blend. There's also an Australian Shiraz, while the Rioja is 100% Tempranillo.

Perez Cruz Piedra Seca Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (91 pts)

Castello di Radda Chianti Classico 2021 (90+ pts)

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet/ Shiraz/ Malbec/ Merlot 2022 (89 pts)

My white wine picks begin on the local front with the white wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake that is a blend of 63% Chardonnay, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, 15%Sémillon, and 5% Viognier, followed by an off-dry (i.e. lightly sweet) Riesling from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. The only other white wine blend is from the Rhône Valley, and it consists of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Among the single varietal wines, go off the beaten path and try the Jacquère varietal from Savoie, or the Catarratto Lucido from Sicily. There are also a pair of Assyrtikos from Greece, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, a Garganega from Soave, and a pair of Chardonnays - one from Chablis, and one from Australia.

Jean Perrier & Fils Cuvée Gastronomie Chignin 2023 (90 pts)

Bertani Sereole Soave Classico 2023 (89 pts)

d'Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2022 (88 pts)

Among my top rosé wine recommendations, all are of the dry style. From Provence, the M de Minuty Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Tibouren, while the Triennes Rosé is principally Cinsault, blended with Grenache, Syrah, and Merlot. The rosé from Australia is a blend of 52% Grenache, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Vermentino, while the rosé from Ontario is the lone mono-varietal rosé, and is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!