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Sunday, May 24, 2026

May 23, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summer-Worthy Wines + Rueda

LCBO Wine Picks: May 23, 2026 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the May 23, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). The thematic of this release focuses on Summer-Worthy Wines, while the mini-thematic of only three wines looks at the wines from Rueda, which also tend to be summer-worthy. In all, there are 111 products included in this release, of which 18 are Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE), and everything should be readily available for purchase at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

While the theme is titled "Summer-Worthy Wines", it is actually more about trendy wines that needed to feel summer worthy. What you will find among these twenty-four products is that they are mostly off-the-beaten path types of wines and styles. Only two wines (both white) from the thematic made my list of top wine picks, one of which is a wine from Savoie crafted with the Jacquère varietal, while the other is a Catarratto from Sicily.

Rhône leads the way with a quartet of wines among my top red wine recommendations. First up is the lone mono-varietal Rhône red - a Crozes-Hermitage that is crafted with 100% Syrah. The Costières de Nîmes is a blend of 55% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 15% Syrah, while the Coudoulet Côtes du Rhône is composed of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault, and the Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône is a blend of mainly Grenache with Mourvèdre and Syrah in support. Next up is Tuscany with a trio of wine recommendations - both the Brunello di Montalcino and the Riserva Chianti Classico are crafted with pure Sangiovese, while the Chianti is 95% Sangiovese with the balance Canaiolo & Colorino. The only other blend among my picks is the wine from Portugal, which is a blend of Tinta Roriz and Castelão. The rest of my top red wine picks from other wine regions include a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. On the local front from Niagara, there is a fine Syrah and a lovely Gamay Noir.

Domaine Gassier Lou Coucardié Costières de Nîmes Rouge 2019 (91+ pts)

Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2022 (91+ pts)

Domaine Cluny Bourgogne Côte d'Or Pinot Noir 2022

Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (89 pts)

The blends among my top white wine picks from this release include the excellent Côtes du Rhône Blanc that is composed of 30% Bourboulenc, 30% Marsanne, 30% Viognier, and 10% Clairette, while the white wine from Alto Adige is a blend of mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. Among the mono-varietal whites, there are a couple of Chardonnays - one each from Argentina and Burgundy, as well as a couple of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand and Australia. There is also a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, and finally, a Verdejo that is part of the mini-theme of Rueda.

Wakefield Estate Label Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (89 pts)

Other wines in this release include the latest vintage of a perennially fine rosé from Tavel, which is crafted with 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Bourboulenc, as well as a rosé from Provence that is a blend of 30% Cinsault, 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, and 10% Rolle. Among the sparkling wines, the Blanquette de Limoux is crafted with 100% Mauzac, while the Brut Rosé Sparkling from Niagara is a blend of mainly Pinot Noir and Riesling, with a splash of Gamay Noir.

Château d'Aqueria Cru des Côtes du Rhône Tavel Rosé 2025 (92 pts)

Antech Cuvée Françoise Brut Blanquette de Limoux 2023

The Foreign Affair Brut Rosé Sparkling (89 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

QUINTA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO 2022 - Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#488015) (XD) - $14.95 88+ pts wine review
ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Sustainable, Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
FEATHERSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39275) (XD) - $18.95 review coming soon...
HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2024 - AOP, France (#276956) (XD) - $19.95
CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471797) (XD) - $25.00 91+ pts wine review
GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $29.95

DOMAINE CLUNY BOURGOGNE CÔTE D'OR PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, AOC, Burgundy, France (#49859) (XD) - $29.95 review coming soon...
FAMILLE PERRIN COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - Ssecond Wine of Ch. de Beaucastel, AOC, France (#48884) (XD) - $32.95
DOMAINE GASSIER LOU COUCARDIÉ COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES ROUGE 2019 - AOC, Rhône, France (#42213) (XD) - $39.95 OFE 91+ pts wine review
E. GUIGAL CROZES-HERMITAGE 2021 - AOC, Rhône, France (#28574) (XD) - $45.95 OFE
BINDI SERGARDI I COLLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#16973) (XD) - $54.95 OFE
COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2020 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $68.95

White Wine:

CUATRO RAYAS VENDEMIA NOCTURNA VERDEJO 2024 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#14028) (XD) - $14.95
AMATO CATARRATTO 2024 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#48105) (XD) - $16.95
WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Australia (#166942) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - Qualitätswein, DAC Wachau, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95
JEAN PERRIER & FILS CUVÉE GASTRONOMIE ABYMES SAVOIE 2024 - AOP, France (#944264) (XD) - $19.95 review coming soon...
CANTINA TRAMIN T CUVÉE BIANCO 2024 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy (#49286) (XD) - $20.95
TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2024 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#733956) (XD) - $23.95
OTU LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#17548) (XD) - $24.95
EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2024 - Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $29.95
CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AOC, France (#48892) (XD) - $34.95 OFE

Rosé Wine:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUERIA CRU DES CÔTES DU RHÔNE TAVEL ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#319368) (XD) - $25.95 92 pts wine review
UP ULTIMATE PROVENCE CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#14833) (XD) - $30.95

Sparkling Wine:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX 2023 - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $23.95 review coming soon...
THE FOREIGN AFFAIR BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#19346) (D) - $24.95 89 pts wine review

May 9, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Good Vibes & Sustainable Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: May 9, 2026 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Happy Mother's Day! Here are my top wine picks from the May 9, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), which is titled "Good Vibes & Sustainable Wines". There are 92 products included in this release, and while this is not an expensive release, the number of wines priced below $20 continues to dwindle with less than one-third below this mark. Overall, it is a good release with the sweet spot of quality-to-price ratio falling between $20 and $30. All the wines are readily available for purchase at LCBO outlets both in-store and online.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release that includes thirteen wines that offer good vibes with a nod to sustainability. There are four recommended buys from the thematic, beginning with a 2024 Chardonnay from Niagara, along with a Pecorino from Abruzzo. The lone red wine recommendation from the feature story is made with Cariñena (Carignan) from Spain, while the dry rosé is crafted with Pinot Noir from Chile.

Torre Zambra Poggio Salaia Terre d'Abruzzo Pecorino 2025 (89 pts)

My top red wine picks from the main release begins with the Purple Angel from Chile that is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, followed by a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Among the blends, the Cab Sauv from South Africa is actually composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec, while the Valpolicella is a blend of 45% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, and 15% Rondinella. Among the mono-varietal red wines, the Chénas from Beaujolais is made with Gamay, while the Rioja is Tempranillo. There are also a couple of Barossa Shiraz wines from Australia, as well as a fine Malbec from Argentina.

Whitehaven Greg Southern Valleys Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 (91+ pts)

Yalumba Samuel's Collection Shiraz 2023 (91+ pts)

Tapiz Alta Collection San Pablo Vineyard Malbec 2023 (90+ pts)

Among my white wine recommendations, there are a trio of gently off-dry Riesling wines - one from British Columbia, one from Prince Edward County, and one from Alsace. Other white wines include a 2021 Chardonnay from Niagara, a Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige in northern Italy, and an off-dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand. And lastly, there is a fine Alvarinho from Portugal.

Wending Home Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 (91 pts)

Other rosé wine recommendations in this release include a rosé from Provence that is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 5% Tibouren, along with a McLaren Vale rosé that is crafted with Grenache. Among the sparkling wines, the Grand Cru Champagne is 80/20 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while the bubbly from South Africa is composed of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay.

Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne XX (93+ pts)

Graham Beck Méthode Cap Classique Brut Pinot Noir / Chardonnay Rosé Sparkling (90+ pts)

Dandelion Fairytale of McLaren Vale Rosé 2025 (88+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!