February 15, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Australia

Here are my top wine picks from the February 15, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which features wines from Australia as the theme of the release. This is a relatively large release with 105 wines offered, and includes just over a dozen Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). Most wines in this release come in at under $30, and all should be available for purchase by this Saturday. As a reminder, HST savings are still in effect until February 15th.

Of the thirteen wines included as part of the theme titled "Australia Coming to Light", five wines from Australia are included among my top wine recommendations in this release. We'll begin with a perennial favourite Hunter Valley Semillon, followed by a blend of 75/25 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from Margaret River. There's also the consistently well-made Chardonnay from Clare Valley/Limestone Coast that is a frequent visitor to VINTAGES. The reds from Australia are both Cabs, with the 2018 crafted using 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the 2022 Cab is actually a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

There is only one blend among my top red wine picks from the main release - the Ventoux from Rhône that is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault. Among the mono-varietal wines, both the Riserva and the Gran Selezione Chianti Classicos are 100% Sangiovese, while the Tinto de Toro is the local name in DO Toro for Tempranillo. Chile is well-represented among my picks with three wines crafted using Syrah, Carmenère, and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively. On the local front, there are a pair of lovely Pinot Noir wines - one each from Niagara and Prince Edward County.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, the barely off-dry Riesling from Alsace tops the list. After that, we've got a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, followed by a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, and a Viognier from the Rhône. For sweet wine lovers, the Tokaji from Hungary was supposed to arrive last November, but got delayed, and is finally now here for your next special occasion.

Enjoy my top wine picks from this release! Cheers mate!

Red Wine:

• MATURANA PUENTE AUSTRAL RESERVA PRIVADA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#42113) (XD) - $14.95  review coming soon...
• CORAL DUERO ENVENA TINTA DE TORO 2022 - DO Toro, Spain (#40867) (XD) - $16.95  review coming soon...
• PESQUIÉ ÉDITION 1912M VENTOUX 2022 - Vegan, AP, Rhône, France (#636159) (XD) - $16.95
• XANADU CIRCA 77 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#18344) (XD) - $18.95  review coming soon...
• MONTGRAS ANTU LAS ARAUCARIAS VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle de Maipo, Chile (#444703) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE HULLABALOO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41312) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  

• CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA SYRAH 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#389759) (XD) - $22.95
• TERREDORA DI PAOLO CORTE DI GISO AGLIANICO 2019 - DOC Irpinia, Campania, Italy (#39183) (XD) - $26.95
• REDTAIL HUBBS CREEK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#42667) (XD) - $27.00
• SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#716266) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#33894) (XD) - $30.00  90 pts  wine review
• LORNANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#491985) (XD) - $48.95  93 pts  wine review
• PORSELEINBERG SYRAH 2020 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#483941) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

• WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CHARDONNAY 2022 - Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2022 - Sustainable, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#377457) (XD) - $18.95
• DOMAINE FONT SARADE BLANC VIOGNIER 2023 - IGP Vaucluse, Rhône, France (#42392) (XD) - $19.95
• MOHUA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536219) (XD) - $19.95
• THE HUNTING LODGE VIBRANT EXPRESSIONS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#17667) (XD) - $21.95
• XANADU VINEWORK SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON 2023 - Sustainable, Margaret River, Western Australia (#41315) (XD) - $22.95  review coming soon...
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2023 - New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $23.95  review coming soon...
• TRIMBACH RÉSERVE RIESLING 2022 - AC Alsace, France (#247023) (D) - $43.95  OFE

Fortified Wine:

• GONZÁLEZ BYASS LA COPA VERMOUTH ROJO - Jerez, Spain (#491712) (S) - $25.95

Dessert Wine:

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

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February 1, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

Here are my top wine picks from the February 1, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which explores France's top wine regions. There are 73 wines in this release, 60% of which are red, and nearly all the wines come in at under $40 and should be available on shelves by this Saturday, if not earlier. Grenache and Syrah (and Shiraz) wine lovers should take particular interest in this release as there are a number of quality, wallet-friendly offerings. The HST holiday is still in effect until Feb. 15. Prices noted below include HST, but will be deducted upon check out in-store.

We'll begin with the feature story that explores France's top wine regions, and of the seventeen wines featured, seven are included among my top wine picks from France. Starting with the whites, there is a consistently fine Sancerre made with Sauvignon Blanc, a Mâcon-Villages from Burgundy crafted with Chardonnay, and the off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Gewürztraminer from Alsace. Moving to the south of France, the Rasteau is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, the Corbières is composed of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, while the Fitou from Midi is a blend of Grenache and Carignan. The lone mono-varietal red is the Beaujolais-Villages that is crafted with Gamay.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begins in California with a fine 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, followed by the Arrive in Style Riserva Chianti Classico from Tuscany that is 100% Sangiovese. Among the blends, the Chilean wine is crafted with 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, and 19% Carignan. There are also a pair of Côtes du Rhône-Villages wines, both of which are blends and weren't included as part of the feature story - the Plan de Dieu is the Wine of the Month and composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, while the Cuvée Sabrine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault. Mono-varietal wines come from down under with a fantastic Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and a Shiraz from Australia.

Among my top white wine picks, all are dry (i.e. not sweet), mono-varietal wines. First up is an excellent Pinot Gris from New Zealand, followed by a Pinot Grigio from northeastern Italy. There are also a pair of fine Chenin Blanc wines from the same producer in South Africa - try both to compare and contrast! Lastly, there is a Falanghina from Basilicata, Italy.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• ROC DES TEMPLIERS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 - AC, France (#539916) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
• EMILIANA NOVAS STELLAR SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON / SYRAH / CARIGNAN 2022 - Vegan, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#35672) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• GÉRARD BERTRAND AN 990 FITOU GRENACHE / CARIGNAN 2021 - AP, Midi, France (#403683) (XD) - $17.95
• ANDRÉ BRUNEL CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 - AC, France (#538496) (XD) - $18.95
• VIA NOSTRUM 2020 - AP Corbières, Languedoc, France (#32040) (XD) - $18.95
• CAVE DU CHÂTEAU DES LOGES LES 3 MADONES BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, France (#38266) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• SIDEWOOD SHIRAZ 2021 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#446146) (XD) - $19.95
• CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#643205) (XD) - $24.95
• LA FERME DU MONT LES MARNES BLEUES RASTEAU 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#40869) (XD) - $26.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BABICH ORGANIC SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2020 - Sustainable, Vegan, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#37402) (XD) - $28.95
• RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#350454) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER 2023 - Sustainable, AC Alsace, France (#224626) (D) - $18.95
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $18.95  91 pts  wine review
• PATERNOSTER VULCANICO FALANGHINA 2022 - IGT Basilicata, Italy (#19691) (XD) - $19.95
• ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2023 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BABICH BLACK LABEL MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Estate grown, South Island, New Zealand (#36906) (XD) - $20.95
• KEN FORRESTER SWARTLAND TERRE NOIR CHENIN BLANC 2022 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#15716) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• DEUX ROCHES TRADITION MÂCON-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, Burgundy, France (#38077) (XD) - $27.95  91+ pts  wine review
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2022 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $38.95

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

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. 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.

Of the twelve wines included in the feature story on Sustainable California, three wines are among my top wine recommendations. First up is a white wine from Central Coast that is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Orange Muscat, 4% Malvasia Bianca, and 2% Muscat Canelli, while the second white wine is a Chardonnay broadly labelled as from California, with the majority of the fruit likely coming from the Sonoma Coast. The lone red wine from California is a lovely Pinot Noir from Central Coast, with the fruit coming from Arroyo Seco.

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.

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, a Primitivo from Puglia, a Malbec from Argentina, and a 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.

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.

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
• SAN MARZANO TALÒ PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2022 - DOP, Puglia, Italy (#455220) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• 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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January 4, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

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.

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.

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.

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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December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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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