Showing posts with label vintages-release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintages-release. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedWednesday, January 15, 2025

January 18, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Sustainable California

LCBO Wine Picks: January 18, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Here are my top wine picks from the January 18, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, where the theme of the release focuses on Sustainable wines from California, while the mini-feature includes a few wines for Lunar New Year Celebrations. In all, there are just over 75 wines in this release, including a half-dozen Online & Flagship Exclusives. The release is definitely red heavy, and all the wines should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not earlier.

Of the twelve wines included in the feature story on Sustainable California, three wines are among my top wine recommendations. First up is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Central Coast, while the second white wine is a Chardonnay broadly labelled as from California, with the majority likely coming from the Sonoma Coast. The lone red wine from California is a lovely Pinot Noir from Central Coast.

The selection of wines for Lunar New Year Celebrations is much more exciting, with three of the four wines on my recommended list. At the top of the list is an excellent and lusciously sweet Vidal Icewine from Niagara, while the off-dry Riesling from Niagara will also delight if you enjoy your wines a little sweet. Lastly, there is a Super Tuscan featuring a dragon on the label that is crafted with 60% Sangiovese and equal parts Merlot and Sagrantino.

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2022 (92+ pts)Jade Riesling 2023

Among my top red picks, we'll begin in Bordeaux with the Wine of the Month, which is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Merlot completing the cuvée, along with the Arrive in Style Rhône red that is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault & Syrah. Staying in France, there is also the Saint-Chinian that is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, while the red from Roussillon is mainly Syrah with Grenache in support. From the U.S.A., the Petite Sirah actually includes small amounts of Grenache, Syrah, and other Rhône varietals, while the red wine from Washington State is straight Merlot. Mono-varietal wines include the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico that is crafted with pure Sangiovese, as well as the Malbec from Argentina, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. On the local front, there is a lovely Gamay Noir, as well as the Thirty Bench red, which is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Merlot.

Xavier Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Rhône 2020Cecchi Valore di Famiglia Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2018 (91 pts)

Stoney Ridge Small Lot Bucknall Vineyard Gamay Noir 2022 (90 pts)Rue Naujac 33 Merlot 2019 (90 pts)

Campet Saint Marie Vieilles Vignes Saint-Chinian 2022Saint-Roch Corbarol 2022

There are only two other white wine picks in this release - a perennial favourite Marsanne from Australia, as well as a Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Tahbilk Marsanne 2023

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • CAMPET SAINT MARIE VIEILLES VIGNES SAINT-CHINIAN 2022 - AP, Languedoc, France (#38858) (XD) - $15.95
  • PIATTELLI LUJÁN DE CUYO RESERVE MALBEC 2022 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#452029) (XD) - $16.95
  • SAINT-ROCH CORBAROL 2022 - Old vines, AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#195107) (XD) - $16.95
  • ESCUDO ROJO GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#13434) (XD) - $17.95
  • YALUMBA GALWAY VINTAGE SHIRAZ 2021 - Vegan, Barossa, South Australia (#41311) (XD) - $19.95
  • RUE NAUJAC 33 MERLOT 2019 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#39143) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
  • XAVIER VIEILLES VIGNES CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AC, France (#12987) (XD) - $21.95

  • STONEY RIDGE SMALL LOT BUCKNALL VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#42483) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • WENTE BAILY HILL PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, Central Coast, California, USA (#39674) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review
  • THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S BLEND RED 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#320986) (XD) - $24.95
  • CHÂTEAU FONTIS 2019 - AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#41081) (XD) - $25.95
  • IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#19875) (XD) - $36.95
  • CECCHI VALORE DI FAMIGLIA GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#32313) (XD) - $39.95  91 pts  wine review
  • STAGS' LEAP PETITE SIRAH 2020 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#590356) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

  • MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447425) (XD) - $19.95
  • TAHBILK MARSANNE 2023 - Sustainable, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#117945) (XD) - $19.95
  • WENTE LOUIS MEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Central Coast, California, USA (#368563) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
  • BENZIGER CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, California, USA (#34777) (XD) - $22.95
  • JADE RIESLING 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#42484) (M) - $24.95

Dessert Wine:

  • INNISKILLIN VIDAL ICEWINE 2022 - With Gift Box, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#388306, 375 mL) (S) - $54.95  92+ pts  wine review


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  • Date publishedWednesday, January 1, 2025

January 4, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

LCBO Wine Picks: January 4, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Happy New Year! Here's my top wine picks from the first release of the year, which is always the annual Smart Buys Release, where most of the wines are priced at under $20. In this release, 52 of the 74 wines are less than $20. Interestingly, the average price of a bottle is just north of $21, including HST. All the wines in this release should be available for purchase by Saturday, with many on shelves already. Please note that the prices indicated below include HST, which will be deducted when purchasing in-store, while the prices on lcbo.com have already deducted the HST.

We'll begin with the feature story that is titled "Smart Buys" and includes thirty wines, which represents surprisingly 40% of the Release. Five wines, of which four are red, are among my top wine recommendations from this Release, with the only blend a red wine from Greece that is composed of 90% Agiorgitiko and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The other wines are a Syrah from Hawke's Bay, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, and the 2019 Chianti Classico Annata that is made with 100% Sangiovese. The lone white "Smart Buy" is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Lornano Chianti Classico 2019 (91 pts)Domaine Skouras Cuvée Prestige Agiorgitiko / Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (89 pts)

Inviniti Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (89 pts)

Among my top red wine picks, the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 92% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, while the red from Jumilla, Spain, is composed of 85% Monastrell and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, while the red from California is also mainly Grenache (61%) with 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 4% Petite Sirah completing the blend. The last red blend is from Costières de Nîmes, and it is crafted with 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. Among the mono-varietal reds, there are a couple of wines from Chile - a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Carmenère. And lastly, the red wine from Beaujolais is a Gamay from 40-year-old vines.

Trasqua Fanatico Riserva Chianti Classico 2018El Goru 38 Barrels Monastrell / Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (90 pts)

San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (90 pts)Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant 2022 (89 pts)

Château Grand Escalion 2021 (89 pts)Vignerons des Pierres Dorées Vieilles Vignes La Rose Pourpre 2022 (89 pts)

Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2022 (89 pts)

There are two blends among my top white wine picks from this Release. The Creekside wine from Niagara is a 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, while the Chilean white is composed of 94% Chardonnay and 6% Roussanne. Mono-varietal dry white wines include the Muscadet from Loire, which is made using the Melon varietal, and the Verdicchio from Marche. If you enjoy sweeter wines, either Riesling from Mosel or Niagara will delight.

Emiliana Signos de Origen Chardonnay / Roussanne 2022 (90 pts)

Enjoy my top recommendations from this Release and wish you all the best in 2025!

Red Wine:

  • CHÂTEAU GRAND ESCALION 2021 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#18141) (XD) - $13.95  89 pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#38581) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE FOND CROZE LE SERRE DE LA GARDE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AP, France (#28545) (XD) - $15.95
  • TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
  • KARL'S SCEPTER COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#33732) (XD) - $15.95
  • VIGNERONS DES PIERRES DORÉES VIEILLES VIGNES LA ROSE POURPRE 2022 - AP Beaujolais, France (#42095) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
  • SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Las Piedras, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#37911) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
  • BONNY DOON LE CIGARE VOLANT 2022 - Central Coast, California, USA (#18516) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
  • LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
  • EL GORU 38 BARRELS MONASTRELL / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Vegan, DO Jumilla, Spain (#41096) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • TRINITY HILL SYRAH 2021 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#194274) (XD) - $23.95
  • TRASQUA FANATICO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#283861) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...

White Wine:

  • VELENOSI QUERCIANTICA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO 2023 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#16607) (XD) - $15.95
  • DR. HEIDEMANNS-BERGWEILER RIESLING 2022 - QbA, Mosel, Germany (#39799) (M) - $15.95
  • INVINITI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Carbon Zero, Sustainable, Vegan, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#36907) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  • LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2023 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $18.95
  • 13TH STREET EXPRESSION SERIES RIESLING 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#19345) (M) - $19.95
  • EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN CHARDONNAY / ROUSSANNE 2022 - DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#37756) (XD) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#520627) (XD) - $23.00


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  • Date publishedThursday, December 12, 2024

December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

LCBO Wine Picks: December 14, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Happy holidays! Here are my top wine picks from the December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is the last release of the year. The feature story in this release focuses on - what else? - Sparkling Wines for holiday and end-of-year celebrations. There are 135 wines on offer in this release, and it includes a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. All the wines should be available for purchase by Saturday. The prices noted below include HST, which will be deducted when purchasing in-store.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on sparkling wines from around the world. Of the seventeen bubblies included as part of the theme, six are included among my top sparkling wine picks. Most of my sparkling wine picks from the theme are relatively wallet-friendly at under $33, with the exception being the 2017 vintage Champagne ($136) that is crafted with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. On the local front, there are a couple of fine vintage sparkling wines from Niagara's Kew Vineyards - the Blanc de Blancs, which is crafted with Chardonnay, and the Blanc de Noirs, which is made with Pinot Noir. The sparkling wine from Loire is a blend of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Chardonnay, while the bubbles from Provence is composed of Syrah and Grenache. And lastly, the vintage Cava is a blend of 50% Xarel·lo, 35% Macabeu, and 15% Perallada.

Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 (91+ pts)Kew Blanc de Noirs 2020 (90+ pts)

Rivarose Brut Prestige Rosé Sparkling (89 pts)

There are two other sparkling wines not part of the feature story but also worth a look. From Champagne, the Bollinger Brut Rosé is crafted with 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, and 14% Meunier, while the Palmer Brut Réserve is a blend of 51% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 19% Pinot Meunier. Lastly, the Hidden Bench sparkling wine from Niagara is made using 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.

Palmer Brut Réserve Champagne (93 pts)

My top red wine picks begin in Napa Valley, with the iconic Silver Oak Cab Sauv that is actually a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Tuscany has five wine recommendations among my picks, with Brunello di Montalcino made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) with Canaiolo making up most of the remaining blend. The Riserva Chianti Classico is composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo + other varieties, while the Isole e Olena Chianti Classico is of a similar blend, and the Vallepicciola Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese. Also from Italy, the red wine from Sicily is crafted with Nero d'Avola, while the Barolo is made with, of course, Nebbiolo. The Côtes du Rhône red is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, and 5% Mourvèdre, while the Australian GSM red is an unspecified blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. From Chile, the Cabernet Franc includes 5% Petit Verdot, while the Argentine red is an 80/20 blend of Malbec and Touriga Nacional. Lastly, the red wine from Spain is composed of 40% Grenache, 40% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cariñena.

Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (94 pts)Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2021 (93 pts)

Carpineto Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019 (91+ pts)Carpineto Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (90+ pts)

Pérez Cruz Limited Edition Cabernet Franc 2022 (90+ pts)Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône 2022 (89 pts)

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, which is crafted with nearly half Grenache Blanc, plus Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul, and Picardin rounding out the blend. Other white wines include a Chardonnay from South Africa, and a couple of Sauvignon Blancs - one each from New Zealand and Friuli, and a pair of dry Rieslings - one each from Alsace and Austria. The sweet wine among the lot is the lovely Gewürztraminer from Alsace.

E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2021 (93 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release and have a safe and happy holiday season! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2022 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $15.95  90 pts  wine review
  • MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS RESERVA 2019 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#166579) (XD) - $16.95
  • HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AC, France (#276956) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • KABILE RESERVE SYRAH 2016 - PGI Thracian Valley, Bulgaria (#41369) (XD) - $19.95
  • VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC / TOURIGA NACIONAL 2022 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#442459) (XD) - $19.95
  • VALLEPICCIOLA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#39690) (XD) - $19.95  91 pts  wine review

  • PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET FRANC 2022 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#10591) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • TASCA D'ALMERITA REGALEALI LAMÙRI 2020 - DOC Sicily, Italy (#36750) (XD) - $23.95
  • TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / MOURVÈDRE / SHIRAZ 2022 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95
  • CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47118) (XD) - $31.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review

  • ISOLE E OLENA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#704346) (XD) - $45.95  93 pts  wine review
  • FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215202) (XD) - $69.95
  • RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2020 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $78.95  93 pts  wine review
  • LA FIORITA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#998195) (XD) - $103.95  OFE  93 pts  wine review
  • SILVER OAK NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#936039) (XD) - $325.95  94 pts  wine review
Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2020 (93 pts)La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino 2019 (93 pts)

Vallepicciola Chianti Classico 2021 (91 pts)Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir 2022 (90 pts)

White Wine:

  • PITARS BRAIDA SANTA CECILIA SAUVIGNON 2022 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#30119) (XD) - $16.95
  • BABICH SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#36903) (XD) - $23.95
  • DE WETSHOF BON VALLON CHARDONNAY 2023 - WO Robertson, South Africa (#403675) (XD) - $24.95
  • TRIMBACH RIESLING 2022 - AC Alsace, France (#734517) (XD) - $29.95
  • BRÜNDLMAYER TERRASSEN RIESLING 2023 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#40885) (XD) - $34.95  OFE
  • DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER KESSLER GEWURZTRAMINER 2021 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#307694) (MS) - $37.95  OFE
  • E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#28618) (XD) - $71.95  OFE  93 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

  • RIVAROSE BRUT PRESTIGE ROSÉ SPARKLING - IGP Méditerranée, Salon de Provence, France (#515288) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • BOUVET LADUBAY BOUVET BRUT DE LOIRE SAUMUR BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, AC, Loire, France (#40866) (XD) - $19.95
  • JUVE & CAMPS BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA RESERVA DE FAMILIA CAVA 2019 - Traditional method, Spain (#39815) (XD) - $27.95
  • KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (D) - $32.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • KEW BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#438994) (D) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • HIDDEN BENCH NATUR ZÉRO DOSAGE SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#42220) (XD) - $47.20
  • PALMER BRUT RÉSERVE CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#39865) (XD) - $85.95  93 pts  wine review
  • LOUIS ROEDERER ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2017 - AC, France (#368415) (XD) - $135.95
  • BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#100503) (XD) - $149.95  OFE

Fortified Wine:

  • HIDALGO LA GITANA TRIANA PEDRO XIMENEZ SHERRY - DO, Spain (#39467, 500 mL) (S) - $25.95


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  • Date publishedFriday, November 29, 2024

November 30, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Enjoyful Gifts

LCBO Wine Picks: November 30, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Happy Holidays! Here are my top wine picks from the November 30, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is yet again titled "Enjoyful Gifts". As one of the final releases of the year, this release has just over 125 products offered, and includes many, many fine options for gift-giving, your cellar, or immediate pleasure. All the wines should be available for purchase across Ontario by this Saturday, if not earlier.

We'll begin with the theme, which features 32 "Enjoyful Gifts" for holiday gift-giving, of which thirteen wines are included among my top wine picks. A couple of these enjoyful wines came through VINTAGES earlier this year, but are worth pursuing if you missed it last time - namely the Chardonnays from Niagara and Argentina. The only other white is the latest vintage of a perennially excellent Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. In the bubbles category, the Vintage Champagne is composed of 48% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 18% Meunier. Premium, high-quality red wines are aplenty in the theme, with Bordeaux blends a focal point. The wine by Niagara's Hidden Bench is a blend of 47% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 23% Malbec (+ other varieties), while the 2016 Haut-Médoc is made with 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. From Tuscany, the Guidalberto is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Lucente is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The South African red is composed of mainly Syrah with 9% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Viognier completing the blend. The last red blend within the theme is the Amarone, which is a blend of 35% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 5% Oseleta. Single-varietal wines are the Pinot Noir from Chile, the Crozes-Hermitage Syrah from the northern Rhône, and the Brunello di Montalcino, which is made of Sangiovese.

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2020 (93 pts)El Enemigo Chardonnay 2022 (92 pts)

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (93 pts)Hidden Bench Terroir Caché 2020 (93+ pts)

Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino 2019 (93 pts)Brotte La Rollande Crozes-Hermitage 2022 (92 pts)

La Vite Lucente 2022 (91 pts)Maycas del Limarí Pinot Noir 2021 (91+ pts)

The Chocolate Block 2022 (91+ pts)

My top red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Chile with a pair of wines by Montes - the Purple Angel is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, while their Cabernet Sauvignon includes 10% Merlot. From Tuscany, the Oreno Super Tuscan is composed of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot, while the Chianti Classico is mainly Sangiovese with a small percentage of Merlot. From Rhône, the Costières de Nîmes is made with 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Carignan, while the Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. From Greece, the Neméa red is crafted with 100% Agiorgitiko, while the Achaia red is an off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Mavrodaphne, and 20% Agiorgitiko. The last red wine that needs mentioning (because it is crafted using a relatively unknown varietal) is a red from Alto Adige-Trentino in northeastern Italy that is crafted using the indigenous Teroldego grape variety.

Montes Purple Angel 2021 (94+ pts)Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (90 pts)

Château de Nages JT 2021 (91+ pts)Dauvergne et Ranvier de Natura Rerum Côtes du Rhône 2022 (90 pts)

Estate Papaioannou Agiorgitiko 2019 (90 pts)Mega Spileo Cuvée III Red 2022 (89 pts)

Volpaia Chianti Classico 2021 (91 pts)Mezzacorona Premium Collection Riserva Teroldego Rotaliano Superiore 2019 (89 pts)

The blends among my top white wine picks are the Côtes du Rhône Blanc, which is a blend of 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc, and the South African white, which is a co-fermented blend of 69% Sauvignon Blanc, 26% Chenin Blanc, and 5% Semillon. If you enjoy white wines with a touch of sweetness, the off-dry Riesling from Germany is your best bet.

Among my sparkling wine recommendations, the Cava from Spain is composed of 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay, while the Non-Vintage Champagne is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir. Lastly, there are two delicious, gently sweet sparkling wines from Ukraine, with the red bubbly a blend of of Cabernet, Merlot, and Saperavi, while the White Brut is composed of Chardonnay, Riesling, and Aligoté.

Segura Viudas Heredad Reserva Brut Cava (91+ pts)

Artemivske Victory Red Semi-Sweet Sparkling (88+ pts)Artemivske Victory White Brut Sparkling (88 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • DAUVERGNE ET RANVIER DE NATURA RERUM CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AC, France (#38881) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
  • PATERNOSTER SYNTHESI AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2019 - DOC, Basilicata, Italy (#51672) (XD) - $19.95
  • MEZZACORONA PREMIUM COLLECTION RISERVA TEROLDEGO ROTALIANO SUPERIORE 2019 - DOC, Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy (#732222) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III RED 2022 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#25708) (D) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
  • MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#322586) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $22.95

  • WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2022 - Clare Valley / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
  • MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle del Limarí, Chile (#511105) (XD) - $27.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • ESTATE PAPAIOANNOU AGIORGITIKO 2019 - PDO Neméa, Greece (#27217) (XD) - $28.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2021 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • LA VITE LUCENTE 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#747030) (XD) - $32.95  91 pts  wine review
  • BROTTE LA ROLLANDE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#38864) (XD) - $32.95  92 pts  wine review

  • CHÂTEAU LAROSE-TRINTAUDON 2016 - Sustainable, AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#297945) (XD) - $34.95
  • CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11665) (XD) - $36.95  92 pts  wine review
  • VOLPAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#953828) (XD) - $37.95  91 pts  wine review
  • THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK 2022 - Vegan, WO Swartland, South Africa (#129353) (Xd) - $41.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#84996) (XD) - $44.95  93 pts  wine review
  • HIDDEN BENCH TERROIR CACHÉ 2020 - Sustainable, Unfiltered, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#505610) (XD) - $47.95  93+ pts  wine review

  • TEDESCHI ANSARI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2019 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#16103) (D) - $56.95
  • CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#237263) (XD) - $76.95  93 pts  wine review
  • TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#72439) (XD) - $81.95
  • ORENO 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95
  • MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2021 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $105.95  94+ pts  wine review
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (93 pts)Cloudsley Twenty Mile Bench Pinot Noir 2020 (92 pts)

Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2022 (89 pts)

White Wine:

  • PAUL MAS NICOLE VINEYARD SINGLE VINEYARD COLLECTION RÉSERVE VIOGNIER 2022 - IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#370098) (XD) - $14.95
  • BOYA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#389726) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
  • STUDERT-PRÜM RIESLING TROCKEN 2023 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#39765) (D) - $17.95
  • WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#284588) (XD) - $21.95
  • PADDY BORTHWICK PINOT GRIS 2023 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#555516) (XD) - $21.95
  • E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AC, France (#290296) (XD) - $22.95
  • EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $27.95  92 pts  wine review
  • GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $28.95  93 pts  wine review
  • LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $52.00  93 pts  wine review
Boya Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (89 pts)

Sparkling Wine:

  • ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY WHITE BRUT SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40769) (D) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
  • ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY RED SEMI-SWEET SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40768) (MS) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
  • SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#558825) (D) - $39.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • DRAPPIER ZERO DOSAGE BRUT NATURE PINOT NOIR CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#179275) (XD) - $74.95
  • MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2016 - AC, France (#69773) (XD) - $122.95

Fortified Wine:

  • WARRE'S QUINTA DA CAVADINHA VINTAGE PORT 2010 - Sustainable, Douro, Portugal (#39466) (S) - $59.95

Dessert Wine:

  • PUKLUS PINCÉSZET TOKAJI ASZÚ 5 PUTTONYOS 2016 - Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary (#47209, 500 mL) (S) - $42.95 Delayed to Feb.


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