LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Thursday, June 24, 2021

June 26, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Cottage Wines + California

LCBO Wine Picks: June 26, 2021 VINTAGES Release

The main theme of the June 26, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release features cool wines for the cottage, while the mini-theme looks at hot wines from California. All of these wines, plus those from the main release should be on LCBO shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

From the main theme on wines for the cottage, or simply summer sipping, six of the sixteen wines featured are included among my top wine picks. In the "super sipping" category, there is a fine Greco di Tufo from Campania, as well as a dry rosé from Niagara that is made with 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Viognier. The other four wines have great complexity and are ideal for grilled foods. First up is a brilliant Chenin Blanc from South Africa, while the other white wine is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The red wines include a Cabernet Franc from Argentina, and the Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico which consists of 92% Sangiovese and 8% Canaiolo.

Villa Maria Taylors Pass Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (91+ pts)

Of the eleven wines featured as part of the mini-theme on "hot" wines from California, the lone wine included among my top wine recommendations is a high-quality Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.

There are a pair of fine Tuscan reds as part of my top red wine picks. First up is the Montepaldi Chianti Classico that consists of 80% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet, 5% Merlot, 5% Alicante, and 5% Colorino, while the Fontodi Chianti Classico is made with 100% Sangiovese. From Rhône, the Rasteau consists of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, while the Crozes-Hermitage is made with Syrah. The last blend is made with Tannat, Pinenc (a native Occtaine grape with different names by location), and Cabernet Sauvignon from Southwest, France.

Cave de Tain Héritiers Gambert Nobles Rives Crozes-Hermitage 2018 (91+ pts)

Among my white wine picks, the Ventoux is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Clairette, while the Vinho Verde is a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho. The rest are all single varietal wines, including a Melon de Bourgogne from Loire, and a Turbiana (similar to Verdicchio) from Lugana. On the local front, there is a fine Chardonnay from Niagara.

Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2019 (90 pts)

Lastly, the rosé wines are both blends crafted in a dry style. The rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, while the rosé from Italy is an unspecified blend of red grapes.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

MONTEPALDI TAGLIAFUNE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - Single vineyard, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#18588) (XD) - $17.00
MI TERRUÑO EXPRESIÓN CABERNET FRANC 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#22007) (XD) - $17.95
SAINT MONT LES VIEILLES VIGNES 2016 - AC, Southwest, France (#10316) (XD) - $19.95
HACIENDA ARAUCANO HUMO BLANCO EDICION LIMITADA CARMENÈRE 2019 - Lolol Valley, Chile (#19243) (XD) - $19.95
LAVAU RASTEAU 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $21.95 90+ pts wine review
CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#680496) (XD) - $23.95
CAVE DE TAIN HÉRITIERS GAMBERT NOBLES RIVES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2018 - Sustainable, AC, Rhône, France (#572230) (XD) - $25.95 91+ wine review
LECONFIELD COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#18476) (XD) - $34.95 FE
FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $39.95
FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215202) (XD) - $64.95

White Wine:

PAUL JABOULET AÎNÉ VENTOUX LES TRAVERSES 2018 - AC Côtes du Ventoux, Rhône, France (#18615) (XD) - $13.95
MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO/ALVARINHO 2019 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $16.95
LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
TRE FIORI GRECO DI TUFO 2019 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#17677) (XD) - $17.95
KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2020 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $17.95
LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $22.95
TENUTA ROVEGLIA VIGNE DI CATULLO LUGANA RISERVA 2016 - DOC, VQPRD, Lombardy, Italy (#437004) (D) - $28.95
VILLA MARIA TAYLORS PASS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#13901) (XD) - $29.95 91+ pts wine review

Rosé Wine:

ALBINO ARMANI ROSÉ 2020 - IGT Vallagarina, Trentino, Italy (#19852) (XD) - $14.95
SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2020 - AP Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $24.95
HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95

Fortified:

LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY - DO, Spain (#342931) (S) (500 mL) - $26.95 91 pts wine review

Lustau East India Solera Sherry (91 pts)

Studert-Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2012 (Mosel) - Wine Review

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! For tonight's wine review I dive into my cellar for this lovely Mosel Riesling that I purchased nearly 7 years ago when it arrived at the LCBO as part of the September 13, 2014 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Of course, this vintage is long sold out, while the 2018 vintage appeared on VINTAGES shelves back in April for a few dollars more, with plenty still available for purchase.

Studert-Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2012 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

STUDERT-PRÜM GRAACHER HIMMELREICH RIESLING KABINETT 2012 - Prädikatswein, Gutsabfüllung, Mosel, Germany (#160853) (M) - $20.95
Screw cap. Gorgeous, highly aromatic nose is complex and elegant, delivering petrol and beeswax, plus apple, peach, pear, lemon citrus, some ripe tropical fruit and pineapple notes. It's medium-full bodied and richly concentrated with lovely, fairly sweet flavours of orange citrus, honey, and roasted pineapple with touches of petrol and wet stone. The sweetness is balanced with still vibrant acidity, while wet stone, slate, petrol, and mineral flavours linger on the finish, with excellent length. Will continue to drink well into the late 20's, maybe even longer. Score: 93 pts

Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Following up on the delicious 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère that I enjoyed back in April, tonight's wine review is another delicious offering from the same producer. This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon arrived at the LCBO last weekend and was featured as part of theme on wines from Chile in the June 12 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Laura Hartwig Premium Wines, a winery whose roots go back to when Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. In 1966, his daughter Laura Bisquert inherited the "Santa Laura" farm and further expanded the estate. While living in Toronto and Montreal in the 1970's, Laura and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, developed a passion for wine and decided to turn their estate back in Chile into a winery. Together, they planted their first vines in 1978 with the aim of producing wines that reflect their origin in Santa Cruz, the heart of the Colchagua Valley. Laura Hartwig uses a non-interventionist philosophy and human scale production to craft their wines. In this way, they are able to take detailed care with each step of the winemaking process.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot that was crafted from carefully selected 40 year old vines grown in the town of Santa Cruz, in central Chile's Colchagua Valley. The soils here are clay on the surface with sandy deposits in the deeper strata. The grapes were hand-harvested, then gently destemmed and sorted, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then aged in French oak barrels and staves for 13 months. Let's see how this Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (88 pts)

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#13428) (XD) - $16.95
This Cabernet Sauvignon, which includes 5% Petit Verdot has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose that delivers aromas of red and black fruit, cassis, currant, herbal and spice with savoury undertones. The fresh and chewy, medium-full bodied palate has ripe red and black fruit, currant, cassis, and herbal aroma replays on the flavour profile that turns savoury on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh, while the finely textured, powdery tannins are a touch drying. Savoury graphite with hints of dark berry linger on the finish, with good length. Score: 88 pts

The aforementioned Carménère can be found at the LCBO, while other delicious wines from Laura Hartwig can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group, who also now offer Air Miles® Reward Miles with purchase.

Château Guillou 2016 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this delicious red wine from Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the June 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château Guillou has been winegrowing in its current form since 1870. It is located within the Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC, a satellite of the Saint-Émilion appellation, on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River in Bordeaux. The Château's 62 hectares of vines are mostly located on a plateau with clay-limestone soils, and hillsides with clayey-silty soils. Today, the wines of Château Guillou are produced by Vignobles Jean-Bernard Saby & Fils, a family that has been making wine for nine generations since the 18th century.

I last enjoyed the 2014 Château Guillou nearly five years ago when it came through VINTAGES in November 2016. It is typically a blend of mostly Merlot and some Cabernet Franc, with the exact composition varying slightly each vintage. This particular vintage consists of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, which is more Merlot than the last time I tasted this wine. The grapes were hand-picked and sorted, fermented in temperature-controlled tanks, then aged in a combination of new and used oak barrels. Although the 2016 vintage was mixed across Right Bank appellations, some estates produced their best wines ever. Let's see how this lovely Bordeaux red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU GUILLOU 2016 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#140483) (XD) - $23.95
Composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the fresh, open, medium-high to highly aromatic nose is ripe, plummy, and dark berry scented with some lovely floral, sweet spice, and licorice notes adding interest and complexity. It's medium-full to full-bodied with lovely savoury, earthy, tobacco, and dark berry flavours, while the acidity is fresh and juicy. Tannins are smooth with a very fine, dusty texture, yet still somewhat chalky and drying. Savoury, earthy, and chocolatey oak notes linger on the long finish. An impressive step up from previous vintages. Highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next few years. Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Vignobles Jean-Bernard Saby & Fils can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and Pinot Noir 2018 (Australia) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of delicious Australian red wines from the ever-reliable Wakefield Wines. Both arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the main feature on wines from Australia in the May 29 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Wakefield Wines was founded in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons, Bill and John, by the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley with a desire to create authentic, estate grown wines where the vineyards and winery both reside at the same location. The very first wines the Taylor family crafted were the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (reviewed below) and Shiraz, which are the heart and soul of the business. Wakefield Wines achieved overwhelming success over the years, expanding and growing their portfolio. Today, they also source fruit for their Estate Label wines from other wine regions mainly due to the fruit's higher quality, as is the case with the Pinot Noir that is reviewed below. Both of the wines reviewed in this post are from Wakefield's Estate Label range of wines.

A perennial visitor to LCBO VINTAGES, I last enjoyed the 2017 Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon back in August of last year. The 2018 vintage in Clare Valley can be characterized as warm and dry, and warmer than 2017. Thankfully, there were also no major heatwaves as these can be very damaging to the grapes. Overall, the team at Wakefield Wines was very excited about the quality of the wines from this vintage. With Cabernet Sauvignon in particular, the general consensus was that it may be one of the best vintages in quite a while with fantastic colour, flavour development and tannin structure.

The grapes for the Pinot Noir were sourced from Adelaide Hills, a vibrant, cool-climate wine region located in the Mount Lofty Ranges just east of the city of Adelaide in South Australia. Adelaide Hills is one of Australia's largest geographical wine regions, stretching north-south in a narrow band approximately 70 km in length, and bordered by Barossa Valley to the North and McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek to the South. For reference, Clare Valley is located further north, just over 100 kilometres north of Adelaide Hills.

All Estate range wines, which includes these two wines, have an Optimum Drinking Temperature sensor on the back label that will tell you when each wine is ready to enjoy. This innovative sensor is calibrated to each varietal and wine. It is touch-activated and changes colour depending on the temperature of the wine. To use, simply touch the sensor and compare its colour to the chart located on the left. If the colour of the sensor falls between the optimum temperature indicated in the chart, then the wine is ready to drink. Let's see how these wines are tasting...

Tasting Notes:

WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The fragrant, lifted nose has aromas of minty-leafy, dark berry, currant, and cassis with savoury, earthy undertones rising out of the glass. It's medium-to-full bodied with minty, cassis, dark berry, blackberry, currant, and savoury oak flavours supported by fresh, balanced acidity and smooth, dusty-textured tannins that have a subtle grip. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury, earthy oak notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (89 pts)

Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 with Optimum Drinking Temperature Sensor

WAKEFIELD PINOT NOIR 2018 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#197392) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The pretty, medium+ intensity nose offers sweet and ripe red cherry, red berry, and strawberry aromas flecked with tea leaf, earthy, and beet root notes. There's a kiss of sweetness on the ripe, light-to-mid weighted palate balanced with fresh, lively acidity and flavours of ripe red cherry, red berry, and sweet cinnamon spice with subtle wood notes. Light tannins are subtly textured, while sweet spice, vanilla, and cherry notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Delicious New World Pinot! Score: 89 pts

Wakefield Pinot Noir 2018 with Optimum Drinking Temperature Sensor

Other fine wines from Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group. In some exciting news, Profile Wine Group also now offers Air Miles® Reward Miles with purchase.

Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2020 (Provence) - Wine Review

For National Rosé Day, which is the second Saturday in June every year and coming up in a couple of days, tonight's wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Provence. This dry rosé wine is a new arrival to the LCBO and will be on shelves across Ontario as part of the June 12, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château des Ferrages is located in the village of Pourcieux, between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin in the lowland of Sainte-Victoire. Château des Ferrages was owned by winemaker Jose Garcia, whose family had been running the 30 hectare estate for three generations and making wines, primarily rosé, since 1980. In 2016, Château des Ferrages was cherry-picked by Mathilde Chapoutier Selection and acquired by legendary Rhône wine estate Maison M. Chapoutier. Two Sélections Parcellaires have emerged from these lands and apply biodynamic farming principles.

This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino) was grown on shallow, well-draining clay-limestone soils with varying amounts of sand. The parcels are located in the villages of Pourcieux and Pourrières, at the feet of Mount Aurélien and Mount Sainte-Victoire, respectively, which have a Mediterranean climate. The grapes were machine harvested at night to preserve freshness and aromas. It was produced by using the direct press method, then aged on fine lees in stainless steel vats. Let's see how this rosé is tasting tonight...

Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2020 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $22.95
This lovely dry rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino) that has a medium+ intensity nose offering lovely grapefruit, white floral, red berry, strawberry, and citrus aromas with mineral undertones. The medium-full bodied, concentrated palate is dry and complex with flavours of floral, grapefruit, orange rind, citrus, and mineral with hints of white peach. It has balanced acidity and a lick of saline on the mid-palate, while the long finish is dry, crisp, and minerally. Enjoy this recommended buy nicely chilled with hearty fish or poultry. Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Château des Ferrages can be ordered through their Agent who recently launched their new website - Connexion Oenophilia.

LCBO Wine Picks: June 12, 2021 VINTAGES Release

The main theme from the June 12, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on wines from Chile, while the mini-feature looks at sparkling wines. All of these wines from the themes, as well as those from the main release should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at the wine valleys of Chile. Among the thirteen wines featured, six are included among my top wine picks. Starting in one of Chile's northernmost winegrowing regions, the Limarí Valley, there is a traditional method sparkling wine made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. From the coastal part of the Aconcagua Valley, just north of Santiago, is a lovely cool-climate Syrah. Moving to the south-side of Santiago, from Cachapoal Valley, which is a sub-region of the Rapel Valley, the Sideral is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenère. Just south of Cachapoal Valley is the Colchagua Valley, and from here there is a fine Sauvignon Gris - a clonal mutation of Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon that is blended with 5% Petit Verdot. The fifth and final wine is a little further south, from the Maule Valley, Chile's largest winemaking region, and this red wine is made with 100% Carignan.

In all, there are eight wines featured as part of the mini-theme on sparkling wines and just one bubbly is included among my wine recommendations. Surprisingly, the lone fizz is from New Mexico (!) and is made in the traditional method using 100% Pinot Noir.

From my red wine picks, the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, while the Bordeaux red consists of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The rest are all single varietal wines that offer a fairly wide array of options for just about any palate.

Anthony Joseph Vidal Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 (90 pts)

Among my white wine picks, all are single varietal wines with quite a few Chardonnay recommendations, including an unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara. Other wines include a Torrontés from Argentina, a Vermentino from Italy, and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. If you want a wine with a little bit of sweetness, the Niagara Riesling is your choice!

Both of my rosé recommendations are dry rosé wines. The lovely rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino), while the rosé from Roussillon consists of 45% Grenache Gris, 45% Grenache Noir, and 10% Macabeu.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Salud!