LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

November 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Finest Holiday Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: November 19, 2022 VINTAGES Release

Here's my top wine picks from the November 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release. The theme of the release is titled "Gifts to Celebrate: Our Finest Holiday Wines" and basically continues the theme from the last release - fine holiday wines for gift-giving or yourself, with prices further moving into the premium scale with each passing release. Also in this release are many wines available only at Flagship Exclusive (FE) locations and online at lcbo.com. On the whole, it's another outstanding (and large) release with many lovely options.

From the feature on the "Finest Holiday Wines", many of the twenty-five wines listed in the feature could be considered recommended buys, but I have limited myself to six recommendations - all red wines. We start in Italy with the Amarone that is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is an 80/20 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. Lastly, the beautiful Barolo is crafted with Nebbiolo. From the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Bordeaux is a lovely red that is made with 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. On the local front, the Terroir Caché is a blend of 46% Merlot, 31% Malbec, and 23% Cabernet Franc, as well as a Pinot Noir, both from Niagara.

Aurelio Settimo Rocche dell'Annunziata Barolo 2017 (94 pts)

Other top red wine picks from this release includes a Rhône red that is a blend of primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support, while the Bordeaux red from the Montagne-Saint-Émilion appellation is an 80/20 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. From Chile, the Vitrum consists of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Franc, 8% Carmenère, 4% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot, while the Portuguese red is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Sousao. Last, but not least, the Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County is actually a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Petite Sirah, and 1% Syrah.

Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (89 pts)

Among my dry white wine recommendations, the only blend is the wine from Napa Valley that consists of 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon. The Chablis is crafted with Chardonnay, while the Muscadet is made with Melon de Bourgogne, and the rest of the white wines should be self-explanatory.

For sweet wine lovers, there is a nice selection of wines that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Starting at the off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) end of the spectrum is a Riesling from Niagara and a Pinot Gris from Alsace. Semi-sweet wines include a blend of Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, and Falanghina from Campania and a Riesling Kabinett from Mosel. The very sweet wines are a Riesling Auslese from Mosel, a lovely Gewürztraminer Icewine from Niagara, and a 2010 Sauternes from Bordeaux that is a blend of 80% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Muscadelle.

13th Street June's Vineyard Riesling 2020 (89 pts)

Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine 2019 (92+ pts)

Enjoy my fine wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

ABAD DOM BUENO LADERAS DEL NORTE MENCIA 2019 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#244699) (XD) - $15.95
XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#421388) (XD) - $18.95 88+ pts wine review
PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET FRANC 2019 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#10591) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU GUILLOU 2018 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#140483) (XD) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
QUADRUS RED 2016 - DOP Douro, Portugal (#440305) (XD) - $23.95 90 pts wine review
CHOCALAN VITRUM BLEND 2019 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#25640) (XD) - $25.95 92 pts wine review

BRANCAIA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#260802) (XD) - $41.95
HIDDEN BENCH TERROIR CACHÉ 2018 - Unfiltered, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#505610) (XD) - $44.95
LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $47.95
CHÂTEAU LA GARDE 2015 - AC Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France (#191163) (XD) - $52.95 92 pts wine review
AURELIO SETTIMO ROCCHE DELL'ANNUNZIATA BAROLO 2017 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#293761) (XD) - $54.95 94 pts wine review
OBSIDIAN RIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Obsidian Ridge Vineyard, Red Hills, Lake County, California, USA (#544940) (XD) - $58.95 FE
MASI MAZZANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#597476) (XD) - $135.95

Pérez Cruz Limited Edition Cabernet Franc 2019 (90 pts)

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico 2018 (88+ pts)

White Wine:

ZACHARIAS MOSCHOFILERO 2021 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#548222) (XD) - $13.95
DOMAINE DU HAUT BOURG MUSCADET CÔTES DE GRANDLIEU 2019 - Sur lie, AP, Loire, France (#426619) (XD) - $18.95
CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2019 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $19.95
13TH STREET JUNE'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2020 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#147512) (D) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
PIERRE SPARR MAMBOURG PINOT GRIS 2019 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#686451) (D) - $26.95 FE
NATIV SUADENS BIANCO 2020 - IGT Campania, Italy (#577767) (M) - $27.95 91 pts wine review
REICHSGRAF VON KESSELSTATT SCHARZHOFBERGER FEINHERB SAAR RIESLING KABINETT 2019 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#25716) (M) - $29.95 FE
CHRISTOPHE PATRICE BEAUREGARD CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#14872) (XD) - $43.95 FE
INGLENOOK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Estate bottled, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA (#17090) (XD) - $52.95 FE 91+ pts wine review
MARKUS MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING AUSLESE*** 2018 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#25715) (S) - $149.95 FE

Dessert Wine:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547703) (S) (200 mL) - $34.95 92+ pts wine review
CHÂTEAU LA TOUR BLANCHE 2010 - AC Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France (#28719) (S) (350mL) - $62.95 FE

13th Street Blanc de Blanc 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely, locally crafted Traditional Method vintage sparkling wine that recently launched at the LCBO and is currently on limited time offer at $3 off and widely available across Ontario.

It is produced by Niagara's sparkling wine specialists - 13th Street Winery. Founded in 1998 in St. Catharines, Ontario, and purchased by the Mann and Whitty families in 2008, 13th Street has developed a reputation for crafting a wide range of high-quality, cool-climate sparkling wines from Niagara. Much of their success can be attributed to their winemaker, Jean-Pierre Colas, who is originally from Chablis in France and joined 13th Street in 2009. His winemaking philosophy is simple - he believes that great wines come from the best grapes grown in the best vineyards, with winemaking techniques only utilized to supplement and capture the very essence of the grapes' terroir and character. Their success has culminated in being awarded the No. 1 Winery in Ontario and No. 2 in Canada at the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada.

This Tradition Method sparkling wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay from 13th Street's neighbour Lado Viscek's meticulously farmed vineyard and some of their favourite growers in Niagara-on-the-Lake. All of the fruit was hand-harvested in early September and then transferred gently into the press where the free-run juice was captured separately to preserve the elegant profile. The primary fermentation was kept cool in 100% stainless steel, while malolactic fermentation was suppressed to keep fresh fruit characters in the wine. Secondary fermentation took place in bottle and the wine was aged sur lattes for a minimum of 12 months. It was disgorged in summer 2022 with no dosage added, resulting in a classic Brut Nature dry style of sparkling wine. Having enjoyed many other 13th Street wines over the years, let's see how their 2020 Blanc de Blanc from Niagara is tasting tonight...

13th Street Blanc de Blanc 2020 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

13TH STREET BLANC DE BLANC 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#28420) (XD) - ~~$29.95~~ $26.95 until Nov. 27
100% Chardonnay made in the traditional method. Elegant, clean, medium-high intensity nose offers lovely aromas of lemon citrus, peach, ripe apple, autolytic, and biscuit. It's medium-full bodied on the crunchy palate with crisp acidity and bubbles with peach, lemon citrus, ripe apple, biscuit, and autolytic flavours in a dry style. It's nicely textured with citrus, peach, and apple flavours joined by leesy mineral notes on the long, juicy, and dry finish. Highly recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by 13th Street Winery are available at the LCBO and directly from the winery in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco 2018 (Piedmont) - Wine Review

I got my first taste of this beautiful Barbaresco when a previous vintage made its debut in LCBO VINTAGES a few years ago. Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on November 5 and is featured as part of the theme on "fine holiday wines that would make a perfect gift".

It is produced by Michele Chiarlo, one of Italy's top wine producers and one of only eighteen members of Istituto Grandi Marchi. The story of Michele Chiarlo begins in 1898 with the birth of Pietro Chiarlo who was born into a farming family in Bubbio. As an adolescent, he worked as a farmhand and then at the winery in Canelli. In the 1930s, after working for a period in Abyssinia, Pietro returned to Calamandrana determined to invest in the estate and production of wine. With his brother Felice, he tilled the lands, breaking the soil by hand to replant the vineyards, and had a sense that wine was the future of the Piedmont hills. In 1935, Pietro's first son, Michele Chiarlo was born. After completing middle school, Michele enrolled in the winemaking school in Alba and his classmates were the future protagonists of Italian winemaking: Renato Ratti, Ezio Rivella, Franco Ziliani, Giuliano Noè, and Giacomo Tachis.

In the 1950s, with a passion for the land and viticultural experience, Pietro Chiarlo would take leadership of Cooperative Winery of Calamandrana as president and played a vital role that contributed to the development of viticulture and oenology in Piedmont and Italy. In 1956, Michele Chiarlo started his adventure as a producer of wine and understood that quality wine in the Piedmont hills began with the choice of vineyards in the most suitable areas. The first cru of Barolo bottled under the name of Michele Chiarlo dates back to 1958.

In the 1960s, Michele expanded the boundaries of the market for wine and was among the first Piedmont producers to believe in the success of Italian wine abroad. In 1972, Michele consolidated his success by constructing a larger, more functional winery in Calamandrana. He also selected and purchased some of the best parcels of land in Langhe, Monferrato, and the area of Gavi, including some of the most prestigious crus in Piedmont. In the 1990s, Michele's two sons join the winery with Stefano taking care of the agricultural and oenological side, and Alberto in sales and marketing.

Today, Michele, Stefano, and Alberto Chiarlo continue to work and following the tradition of a family business with an international outlook. They pay great attention to details, maniacal care of the vineyards, and vinification while respecting the terroirs, vines, and artisanship of the processes. Based in Calamandrana, they are one of the most important oenological realities in Piedmont. The Chiarlo family firmly believes in the exclusivity and continued investment in indigenous grape varieties.

This 100% Nebbiolo was grown in the Piedmont region in an area of the Langhe within the communes of Barbaresco and Neive on bluish-grey calcareous clay marl soils with good presence of micro-elements, with the Barbaresco vineyard containing more sand than the vineyard in Neive. The vineyards have southeast / southwest exposure to the sun and were trained using the Guyot system. The grapes were manually harvested and vinified in steel tanks, followed by aging for a minimum of 2 years with 18 months in large casks before further refinement in bottle.

The 2018 vintage was characterized by a late winter and spring with abundant snow and then rain which helped restore the precious water reserve after a dry 2017. The months of May and June put the winegrower sternly to the test, requiring prompt interventions with anti-mildew treatments and suitable agronomic operations aimed at maintaining the grapes’ perfect health. Summer was hot and dry, but the abundant quality of fruit required the elimination of excess bunches and allowed the grapes to continue it's balanced maturation. The ideal climate in the last weeks of summer, along with mild days and cool nights in September allowed for gradual maturation and the development of strong and elegant aromas. According to winemaker Stefano Chiarlo, the wine expresses a fine bouquet, revealing strong
characteristics of the terroir of origin. Let's see how this 2018 Barbaresco is tasting tonight...

Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco 2018 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

MICHELE CHIARLO REYNA BARBARESCO 2018 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#583260) (XD) - $36.95
100% Nebbiolo. Fine, intense aromas of cedar wood and spices layered over perfumed dark red cherry, rose floral, dried herbs, forest floor, and a whiff of orange. It's full-bodied and structured with lovely tangy dark red cherry, fine cedary wood, spices, herbs, and rose florals with touches of dried cherry-floral notes. It juicy, well-balanced acids and smooth, structured, and fine tannins that are somewhat youthful. Juicy and minerally on the long, very satisfying finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 10+ years. Score: 93 pts

Other lovely wines by Michele Chiarlo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Univins & Spiritueux.

Miguel Torres Andica Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2021 Miguel Torres Ándica Reserva Sauvignon Blanc in September, tonight's red wine review is another lovely wine from the same producer in Chile. It is a new arrival to the LCBO that landed in LCBO VINTAGES over the weekend as part of the November 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release and is also featured in LCBO's Food & Drink Magazine.

Miguel Torres Chile was founded in 1979 in the Curicó Valley, Chile, in the search for a new project after a long history rooted in winemaking in Spain. The Torres family settled on the Curicó Valley for its excellent conditions to further develop the wine industry and were the first foreign wine producer to establish themselves in Chile. As an innovator, Miguel Torres Chile introduced many new technologies and winemaking techniques to Chile, including the first use of fermentation in stainless steel tanks and ageing in French oak barrels in 1979, while also helping grow the Chilean wine industry.

Like the Sauvignon Blanc, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is from their Ándica range of wines that are made under the vision of honouring the natural expression and biodiversity of Chile, a country that welcomed the Torres family 40 years ago. Like all wines in the Ándica range, it is made with the utmost respect for the Chilean ecosystems where they grow their grapes, with a sustainable approach to agriculture and awareness of climate change.

This certified 100% organic red wine is crafted with fruit from southern Chile's Itata Valley, a cool-climate winegrowing region that covers roughly 100 square kilometres. Itata Valley's vine-growing tradition dates back over 400 years with small estates producing wine for family consumption still dominating the landscape. The region has a humid Mediterranean climate, yet considered cool-climate with lower temperatures than in other valleys and well-differentiated seasons, good soil, and lots of light. With these excellent conditions, the vineyards that grow on the eastern side of the Coastal Range produce high-quality vinestocks.

This Cabernet Sauvignon underwent alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel with native yeasts, as well as malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. It was aged in mostly used oak with 70% of the wine passing through French oak of third or more uses for 8 months, and then finally bottled in October 2021. The growing season was affected by a prolonged water shortage, as well as high temperatures in unexpected months which contributed to reduced yields in certain vineyards earlier than expected harvest. However, acidity was unaffected by these conditions, which was a very positive for a hot year, and resulted in red wines with balanced acidity and very good quality. Let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Itata Valley is tasting tonight...

Miguel Torres Andica Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

MIGUEL TORRES ANDICA GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Vegan, Valle del Itata, Chile (#25933) (XD) - $17.00
Certified vegan-friendly and organic, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has a complex, highly aromatic nose of forest floor, red and black fruit, dark cherry, blackberry, cassis, leafy green herbs and touches of smoke. It's medium-full bodied with ripe red and black cherry-berry, leafy green herbs, oak spice flavours with forest floor undertones. Slightly tangy on the mid-palate. Saliva-inducing acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the mouth-coating tannins are smooth, refined, and structured with some grip on the back palate. Juicy with savoury earth and spice notes lingering on the long, balanced finish. Highly recommended buy to be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Miguel Torres Chile are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

Treana Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Paso Robles) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this delicious, crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles that arrived at the LCBO some weeks ago as part of the September 24th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Hope Family Wines, a family that has been farming the land in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. When the family arrived in this barely-discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Little did they know that the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would one day become a viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.

Today, the Hope family cultivates mature vineyards of varieties best suited to their area including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre and Grenache. Vine density has increased and each vine is asked to produce very little fruit. The terroir of the domain expresses itself in its unique regional character which includes spice, licorice, and berry notes to go along with soft textures and silky tannins.

The Hope family range of wines consists of five individual brands, and this particular wine is from their Treana label that began as a dream when the family arrived in Paso Robles at a time when it was a rural, grain farming community with very few grape vines and even fewer wineries. The dream was to create world-class wines that could compete on the world stage, and yet be approachable for all to enjoy. The name "Treana" is inspired by the Spanish word for a trio of natural elements and in Paso Robles it is represented by the sun, soil, and sea - the three elements that make Paso Robles an exceptional winegrowing region. In 1996, the first Treana wines were crafted and became the benchmark for Paso Robles blends. In very recent news, Hope Family Wines won the 2022 American Winery of the Year at Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards.

Owner and winemaker Austin Hope grew up in his family's vineyards and much of his life around Cabernet Sauvignon and three men who helped guide his path - his father Chuck Hope, his Uncle Paul, and winemaker Chuck Wagner. As a tribute to these three men, Austin created the Treana Cabernet Sauvignon that encapsulates the quintessential learning over the course of this career.

To craft this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon red wine from the Paso Robles AVA, the grapes from each vineyard lot were vinified separately. Each lot was fermented in stainless steel tanks, underwent extended maceration, and carefully managed pump overs to enhance the extraction of colour and tannin. Furthermore, each lot was aged for 14 months in a combination of 25% once used French oak and 75% neutral French and American oak. After blending the lots together, the wine spent three months in new French oak. Let's see how this 2020 California Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TREANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#639518) (D) - $39.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fragrant nose offers sweet and lush aromas of ripe dark berry, blackberry, cassis, sweet oak, milk chocolate, green herbs, licorice, and spice. It's full-bodied and concentrated with sweet chocolatey oak flavours over shadowing the dark berry fruit, cassis, spice, and licorice notes. It's all supported by fresh, juicy acidity and smooth, supple, and lightly chalky tannins. Savoury chocolate with touches of coffee linger on the dry finish, with very good length. Reminds me of a chocolate milkshake. Will be enjoyed by many! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from Hope Family Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Group.

LCBO Wine Picks: November 5, 2022 VINTAGES Release

As we head into the busy holiday and gift-giving season, here are my top wine picks from the November 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release which is titled "Gifts to Celebrate" and includes many very fine, giftable options. All of the wines from the theme and main release should be available at LCBO outlet across Ontario by Saturday.

We begin with the theme on "Gifts to Celebrate: Fine holiday wines from every corner of the world" and features 18 wines. Many wines from this feature would make fine gifts, but three stood out for me. From Italy, the Chianti Classico Riserva is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, and the rest other red grape varietals, while the Barbaresco is crafted with Nebbiolo. The only rosé wine in this release is a good one from Provence and it is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault.

Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2017 (90 pts)

As this release is very heavy on red wines, most of my top wine picks are red coloured. Italy once again has a strong showing in this release led by the iconic Ornellaia - a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc - and it's Second Wine which is composed of 44% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 13% Petit Verdot. Also from Bolgheri is the excellent Antinori Guado al Tosso which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The last wine from Tuscany is a delicious Chianti Classico that is made up of 90% Sangiovese and the balance other permitted varieties. Moving to Piedmont, there is a full complement of lovely Nebbiolo wines that includes not only the Barbaresco mentioned above, but also wines from Langhe and Barolo. The rest of my red wine picks are all single varietal wines, with the Portuguese red crafted with Touriga Nacional, while the Bordeaux red is Merlot.

Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2018 (93 pts)

Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo 2020 (91+ pts)

Among the few white wines in this release, all of my white wine recommendations are single varietal wines. Dry white wines include a Chablis Premier Cru from Burgundy that is made with Chardonnay, as well as a Viura from Spain, and a Chenin Blanc from South Africa. For off-dry wine lovers, check out the Riesling from Niagara.

Lastly, the dry sparkling wine from Chile is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations in this release! Cheers!