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Sunday, September 28, 2025

September 27, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mature Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: September 27, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here's my top wine picks from the September 27, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where the feature story of the release focuses on Mature Wines, while the mini-spotlight looks at Kosher Wines. This is a good-sized release with nearly 100 products offered, and all the wines should be readily available for purchase across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story about Mature Wines, and of the thirteen wines included as part of the thematic, three are included among my top wine recommendations. Since a few of the bottles in this thematic are back vintage wines, some have surely shown up in VINTAGES in prior years, so, you may even have a bottle or two on-hand and could compare with a "fresh" bottle off the shelf that was aged at the winery. From the thematic, there are a couple of finely aged white wines from Niagara — a 2016 Riesling, and the 2007 Stratus White, which is composed of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling. My lone red wine pick from the theme is a 2016 Super Tuscan that is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 30% Petit Verdot.

Flat Rock Nadja's Vineyard Riesling 2016 (92 pts)

Red wine picks from the main release begin in Spain with a 2013 Rioja that is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and the rest is Graciano and Mazuelo, followed by a 2020 Cariñena that is composed of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cariñena, and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are also three wines from Tuscany, all blends — the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet, the 2020 Super Tuscan is primarily Sangiovese with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, and the Chianti Classico is a crafted with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. For blends of Bordeaux varieties, there is the wine from South Africa that is composed of 44% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot, as well as the Meritage from Niagara that is a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Other blends include a GSM from Australia that is crafted with 48% Grenache, 31% Shiraz, and 21% Mataro, while the red from Portugal that is a blend of 50% Castelão, 20% Camarate, and 15% Tinta Miuda.

Castelli del Grevepesa Castelgreve Chianti Classico 2021 (90 pts)

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Meritage 2022 (91 pts)

Quinta das Setencostas Alenquer Red 2020 (89 pts)

Monasterio de Las Viñas Reserva Garnacha / Tempranillo / Cariñena / Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

There are two white wine blends of note. The first is the Rhône white that is composed of 30% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 18% Viognier, 17% Marsanne, 5% Bourboulenc, and 5% Clairette, while the white from Hungary is a 60/40 blend of Királyleányka and Pinot Gris. The other white wines are mono-varietals, including a top-notch Vernaccia from Tuscany, and a medium-sweet Riesling from Niagara.

Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2023 (91+ pts)

Gabriel Meffre Laurus Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2023 (89 pts)

My lone rosé wine pick in this release is a dry rosé from Bordeaux that is a blend of traditional local varieties, with Merlot supported by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Among the bubbly's, the Champagne is a blend of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 15% Meunier, while the Crémant de Loire is composed of 70% Chenin, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Ackerman Bulle Royale Crémant de Loire Brut Sparkling

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

QUINTA DAS SETENCOSTAS ALENQUER RED 2020 - DOC, Portugal (#50930) (XD) - $13.95 89 pts wine review
MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS RESERVA GARNACHA / TEMPRANILLO / CARIÑENA / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#166579) (XD) - $16.95 review coming soon...
ARBOLEDA CARMENÈRE 2022 - DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#46284) (XD) - $18.95 88 pts wine review
SHANAHANS THE BARKING DOG GSM 2023 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#20880) (XD) - $19.95
KEN FORRESTER PAT'S GARDEN RESERVE 2020 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#45169) (XD) - $19.95 review coming soon...
CASAS DEL BOSQUE BOTANIC SERIES LAS DICHAS SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023 - Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#44595) (XD) - $21.95

CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CASTELGREVE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#573485) (XD) - $22.95 90 pts wine review
WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95 review coming soon...
JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#594002) (XD) - $29.95 91 pts wine review
CANNETO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12126) (XD) - $34.95
TERRABIANCA CAMPACCIO 2020 - Sustainable, IGT Toscana, Italy (#905265) (XD) - $39.95 91+ pts wine review
TERRENO MOMENTO MASSIMO 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#44854) (XD) - $49.95
R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA TONDONIA RESERVA 2013 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $77.95

Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

White Wine:

ALVI'S DRIFT PRIVATE CELLAR VIOGNIER 2024 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#18687) (XD) - $14.95
ETYEKI KÚRIA WHITE 2024 - PGI Transdanubian, Hungary (#45358) (XD) - $17.95
TE PA MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43360) (XD) - $18.95
MEGALOMANIAC NARCISSIST RIESLING 2024 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#67587) (M) - $19.95
SUTHERLAND CHARDONNAY 2021 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#146423) (XD) - $19.95
GABRIEL MEFFRE LAURUS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AOP, France (#376574) (XD) - $20.95 89 pts wine review
VILLA MARIA CLIFFORD BAY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#12631) (XD) - $23.95
PANIZZI VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36446) (XD) - $24.95 91+ pts wine review
FLAT ROCK NADJA'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#578625) (M) - $45.00 92 pts wine review
STRATUS WHITE 2007 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#47592) (D) - $59.20

Rosé Wine:

RAYMOND LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BORDEAUX ROSÉ 2024 - Vegan, AOC, France (#43531) (XD) - $18.95

Sparkling Wine:

ACKERMAN BULLE ROYALE CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional Method, AOP, Loire, France (#42057) (D) - $20.95 review coming soon...
AYALA MAJEUR BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#4143) (XD) - $84.95

September 13, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

LCBO Wine Picks: September 13, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the September 13, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (link to digital edition). The fantastic wines from Ontario are the feature story of the release. Also included in this release are a new selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). This is the first of what should be a steady stream of large releases as we head into the holiday and gift-giving season. As such, there are 125 products offered in this release, and all are readily available for purchase.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on the fantastic wines from Ontario. Of the nineteen wines included as part of the thematic, twelve are among my top wine picks, although quite a few of these showed up in VINTAGES previously. We'll start with the fine traditional method sparkling wine that is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir. Among the white wines, Ontario is well-known for its fine Chardonnay and Riesling wines. In this release, there are 4 lovely Chardonnays - one from the 2021 vintage, one from the 2022 vintage, and a pair of Chardonnays from the 2023 vintage. In Riesling, the Thirty Bench version has only a touch of sweetness, while the version by Tawse will be notably sweet. Among the reds from Ontario, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc are the shining varieties, although I would include Gamay and (while not as widely planted) Syrah as well. In this release, there are Pinot Noirs by Bachelder and Le Clos Jordanne, as well as a Cabernet Franc from the excellent 2020 vintage. Lastly, you can end your evening with a pair of lovely dessert wines - a Late Harvest Riesling or the Cabernet Franc Icewine.

Thirty Bench Steel Post Vineyard Small Lot Riesling 2021 (93 pts)

Domaine Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2022 (91+ pts)

Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023 (91+ pts)

Bachelder Les Villages Bench Pinot Noir 2023 (92+ pts)

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2021 (92+ pts)

Tawse Growers Blend Cabernet Franc 2020 (90 pts)

Inniskillin Niagara Estate Cabernet Franc Icewine 2023 (92+ pts)

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, only two are blends. The Ruffino Super Tuscan is composed of 39% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot, while the Roussillon is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 20% Syrah. The only other wines whose composition may not be obvious is the Maremma Toscana, which is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, which is Sangiovese, and the wine from Bierzo, which is crafted with Mencia. And if you want to sip local, there is another fine Pinot Noir from Niagara by Westcott.

Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2018 (92+ pts)

Westcott Estate Pinot Noir 2021 (91+ pts)

All the white wines from the main release are mono-varietal wines. At the top of the list is an excellent Verdicchio from 50-year-old vines. There's also a fine Carricante from Sicily, as well as a pair of Chardonnays from Burgundy. There's also a Chardonnay from the Limari Valley in Chile, and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The last wine is a Grand Cru Champagne that is crafted with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2022 (93+ pts)

Maison Louis Latour Marsannay Blanc 2022 (92 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!