October 2, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Euro Signatures + Pacific Northwest

As we head into the holiday season, the main theme of the October 2, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on European Signature wines, while in the mini-theme we venture to the Pacific Northwest south of the border. For some bizarre reason the LCBO has also re-listed in this Release all of the rosés from the last Release. On a positive note, it's great to see the LCBO finally list the wines from the VINTAGES Online Exclusives (VOE) collection in the magazine! All of the wines slated to be in stores should be on shelves across the province by Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that is a light look at European Signature wines. This feature probably could've gone a quite bit deeper, but as it stands there are ten wines among the eight categories, and four wines are included among my top wine picks. First up is a Grüner Veltliner from the Kamptal region in Austria, and secondly there is a fine Pinot Grigio from the northern Italian wine region of Südtirol – Alto Adige. Lastly, the white wine from Portugal is a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho, while the 2009 Rioja consists of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, and 10% Graciano / Mazuelo.

From the mini-feature on U.S. wines from the Pacific Northwest, namely Oregon and Washington, only seven wines are listed, three from Oregon and four from Washington. Just one wine from this feature is among my top wine recommendations - a lovely Cabernet-based blend from Washington that consists of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 8% Syrah. Additionally, there is also a nice white wine from the same producer that is a unique blend of 77% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Chardonnay, and 1% Marsanne which is listed as a "Flagship Exclusive" and is only available at LCBO Flagship store locations.

Looking at my red wine picks, the Wine of the Month is the Côtes du Rhône-Villages that is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. Also from Rhône, the Costières de Nîmes red is a blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre. The Argentinean red consists of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, while the Cab Sauv from Chile is actually a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménere, and 5% Petit Verdot. Meanwhile, the 2016 Bordeaux is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, and lastly, the Madiran is comprised of 90% Tannat and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from 50+ year-old vines.

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is the White Meritage from Niagara that is made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. If you're into sweet wines, the latest vintage of the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel should be on your shopping list, as well as a vegan-friendly Riesling that is also from Mosel.

All of the rosés from the last Release are featured again in this Release, and my lone rosé wine pick is a dry rosé from Provence that is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah.

For Lady Gaga fans, there are a couple of Special Edition Champagnes from Dom Pérignon. The 2010 is a blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir, while the 2006 Champagne is a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. On the more affordable side of sparkling, the bubbles from Chile is a blend of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• AROMO PRIVATE RESERVE SYRAH 2019 - Valle del Maule, Chile (#14128) (XD) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU LE GRAND MOULIN 2016 - AC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#11326) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• PATERNOSTER GIUV AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2017 - DOC, Basilicata, Italy (#21458) (XD) - $18.95
• VIÑA CHOCALAN GRAN RESERVA ORIGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Sustainable, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#21467) (XD) - $19.95
• LA FERME DU MONT LE PONNANT CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - Unfiltered, AP, France (#171371) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO SYRAH/VIOGNIER 2017 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#19390) (XD) - $24.95  90+  wine review

• BERTHOUMIEU CHARLES DE BATZ MADIRAN 2015 - AP, South of France (#12979) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2016 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $27.95  VOE  90 pts  wine review
• HEDGES CMS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20491) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $32.95  90+  wine review
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $32.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CHURCHSIDE PINOT NOIR 2018 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#265074) (XD) - $42.00  FE
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $60.95

White Wine:

• LA FORTEZZA GRECO 2018 - DOC Sannio, Campania, Italy (#17744) (XD) - $15.95
• MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO / ALVARINHO 2020 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $17.95
• MARKUS HUBER TERRASSEN GRÜNER VELTLINER 2019 - DAC Traisental, Austria (#484956) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2019 - DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#83287) (XD) - $19.95
• ALLRAM STRASS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2019 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#14189) (XD) - $19.95
• KELLEREI BOZEN PINOT GRIGIO 2019 - DOC Südtirol – Alto Adige, Italy (#249466) (XD) - $19.95
• DONATIEN BAHUAUD LES GRANDS MORTIERS VOUVRAY 2019 - AP, Loire, France (#140889) (M) - $21.95  88+ pts  wine review
• AXEL PAULY GENERATIONS MOSEL RIESLING 2019 - Vegan, Qualitätswein, Germany (#21033) (M) - $22.95  VOE  90+ pts  wine review
  
• STUDERT-PRÜM MAXIMINHOF WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT 2019 - Estate bottled, Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#970129) (S) - $23.95  FE
• HEDGES CMS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20496) (XD) - $24.95  FE
• JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE MERITAGE 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#360297) (XD) - $25.95

Rosé Wine:

• VANDERPUMP ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#14808) (XD) - $29.95  89 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• UNDURRAGA TITILLUM BLANC DE NOIRS - Traditional method, Valle del Leyda, Chile (#21215) (XD) - $19.95
• DOM PÉRIGNON BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2010 - Creators Edition: Lady Gaga, AC, France (#20755) (XD) - $296.95
• DOM PÉRIGNON BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2006 - Creators Edition: Lady Gaga, AC, France (#20996) (XD) - $375.95  FE

Fortified Wine:

• BARROS COLHEITA TAWNY PORT 1998 - DOC, Douro, Portugal (#18603) (S) - $59.95  VOE

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Reine des Fleurs Rosé 2020 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Languedoc that is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across Ontario recently as part of the Sept. 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release - and listed again in the upcoming Oct. 2 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The Reine des Fleurs brand rings like the Cicada’s song... Drinking Reine des Fleurs wines is all about enjoying the true French way of life where people take time to indulge in the simple, yet refined pleasures of life. In the French countryside, the brand conveys the vineyards peaceful atmosphere and its picturesque wineries. One sip and you can already imagine the scented Garrigue and the Cicadas singing in the field.

Languedoc is the source of grapes for this rosé, a beautiful wine region located in Southern France, by the Mediterranean sea. This wine region benefits from the Mediterranean climate that offers hot and dry summers. Grape varietals in Languedoc are planted according to the specific characteristics of each terroir, thus, one of the most distinguishing features of Languedoc appellation wines is the strong bond between taste and place.

This dry rosé is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah where the grapes were harvested and fermented separately. Upon reaching the winery, the grapes were sorted and destemmed, then gently pressed with a pneumatic press to slowly extract the juice. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged on fine lees for 4 months. It was then blended, carefully filtered and bottled prior to release. Let's see how this rosé from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

REINE DES FLEURS ROSÉ 2020 - AP Languedoc, France (#19841) (XD) - $14.95
Crafted with 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, the fragrant nose offers pretty aromas of melon and grapefruit citrus alongside some garrigue and herbs with a touch of minerality. The fleshy, medium+ bodied palate is dry with delightful melon, grapefruit, citrus, ripe strawberry, and mineral flavours supported by fresh, balanced acidity. Slightly chalky textured on the mid-palate, with mineral, grapefruit, and strawberry notes lingering on the crisp, dry, and very long after taste. Highly recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from the Reine des Fleurs label can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Lungarotti Rosso di Montefalco 2016 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic red wine from Montefalco, in central west Umbria, that landed at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Although the Lungarotti family had been producing wine and oil since the 1700s, it was in 1949 when Giorgio Lungarotti was among a group of exhibitors at the Perugia Grape Exhibition and realized the need to modernize viticulture in Umbria. In the early 1960s, he founded Cantine Lungarotti in Torgiano, Umbria. With deep knowledge of the climate, soil, and environment in Umbria, Giorgio Lungarotti played an important role in the the creation of the DOC Montefalco appellation in 1979.

This red wine is from Lungarotti's estate in Montefalco. The winery is located in Turrita di Montefalco and was established after they purchased 20 hectares of land in 2000 and planted vineyards for the production of a range of Sagrantino-based wines. The cellars are located completely underground, and uses a gravity flow system from the time the grapes arrives at the winery, through to vinification and cellaring. The underground cellars also allow for natural control of ambient temperatures. Being environmentally conscious, all of the wines produced at the Montefalco estate are certified organic from the 2014 vintage onwards.

Depicted on the label of this red wine is a view of the Montefalco winery. In the foreground is a falcon because falcon hunting was practiced here and was a passion of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia.

Rosso di Montefalco DOC wines tend to be softer and easier to drink than the DOCG wines of Montefalco (which are 100% Sagrantino) thanks to the varietals in the blend. Montefalco Rosso wines are blends composed of 60-70% Sangiovese, 10-15% Sagrantino, and the rest from other red grape varieties, but typically Merlot. This organic Rosso di Montefalco is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Sagrantino that was grown on loose soils with a sandy-clayey texture and a subsoils of limestone. It was fermented in stainless steel, followed by ageing in barriques and 3-ton casks for 12 months. The wine spent a further 10 months ageing in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI ROSSO DI MONTEFALCO 2016 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (#577668) (XD) - $26.95
This organic red wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Sagrantino that has an elegant, perfumed, medium-high intensity nose of lovely red cherry, sweet spices, cinnamon, and floral aromas with wet earth notes providing a savoury aspect. It's medium-full bodied with lovely aroma replays plus some dark cherry notes on the flavour profile. It has juicy, succulent acids, while the firm, gritty, and drying tannins need a few years to integrate. Savoury and earthy with some minerals linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now, this will benefit from a few years in the cellar. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from Lungarotti can be purchased through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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La Vie d'Arnaud Corbières 2017 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious red wine from the Corbières appellation that arrived at the LCBO for the first time as part last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES Release on September 18th.

This tidy little red wine is produced by the young and dynamic winegrower Arnaud Sié, In 2000, he took over his family's estate, which is located in located in Talairan, between Carcassonne and Perpignan, in the southern France wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Currently, he has 20 hectares of vineyards, 14 hectares of which are in the Corbières appellation. The vineyards are located on chalky clay soils 200 to 350 metres above sea level. Arnaud has worked tirelessly to modernize the wine cellars, while also performing extensive work in the vineyards. To ensure high quality, all of the grapes hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard.

I enjoyed the 2017 Château de Tréviac Corbières back in March, a red wine also crafted by Arnaud Sié, and would expect this wine to also be quite enjoyable. Let's see how this Corbières red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA VIE D'ARNAUD CORBIÈRES 2017 - AC, Languedoc, France (#18784) (XD) - $13.95
This blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache has a pleasing medium-high intensity nose that offers spicy black pepper, dark plum, dark cherry, ripe black & blueberry aromas, plus some stony mineral notes. The ripe, medium-full bodied, well-structured palate has dark cherry, black-blueberry fruit, peppery spice, violet, and licorice flavours with underlying savoury mineral notes. Plummy and dry on the mid-palate with fresh acids, and slightly chalky tannins, with more plum, dark berry, and savoury mineral notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Impressive quality for the price. Highly recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Arnaud Sié are available through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château Thieuley Entre-Deux-Mers 2019 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Bordeaux Blanc from the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation. This white wine is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across Ontario over the weekend as part of the September 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Entre-Deux-Mers is situated southeast of the city of Bordeaux. The name of the region translates to "between two tides", and is a reference to its location between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. At 3,000 hectares, Entre-Deux-Mers is the largest sub-region of Bordeaux, however, only about half area is planted with grapes.

This white wine is produced by a family-owned and -operated winery whose story begins in 1950, when André Courselle bought Château Thieuley to lay the foundation of a great vineyard. In 1972, his son Francis Courselle took over the property and over the next 30 years, expanded their holdings and increased the number of vines planted from 4 to 80 hectares over their three properties - Château Thieuley, Clos Sainte Anne and Château Saint Genes.

Francis' two daughters, Marie and Sylvie Courselle, inherited the estate and family passion, and today they control the destiny of Thieuley. Marie is in charge of the technical aspect of winemaking, while Sylvie runs the commercial side of the business. Together, Marie and Sylvie are dedicated to continuing the tradition of quality at Château Thieuley while also continuing to innovate and respect the environment.

This Bordeaux Blanc is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon, and 10% Sauvignon Gris that was sustainably grown (Terra Vitis certified) on clay and calcareous soils. It was macerated with skin contact, gently pressed, and vinified in stainless steel tanks with at least 3 months of ageing on lees.

Château Thieuley is known mostly for the quality of their white wines and believe that carefully blended wines are always more complex than single varietal wines. Made with love, let's see how this white wine blend from Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU THIEULEY ENTRE-DEUX-MERS 2019 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#21403) (XD) - $18.95
A blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon, and 10% Sauvignon Gris, the fragrant, highly aromatic nose offers lovely aromas of kiwi, guava, tropical fruit, and lemon citrus flecked with earthy minerals. It's medium-full bodied and creamy with very good fruit concentration and lemon citrus, tropical fruit, and guava flavours. Acids are fresh and balanced, while the long, crisp finish has some oyster shell and leesy mineral notes adding further complexity and intrigue. Highly recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines from Château Thieuley are available through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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Alpataco Pinot Noir 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For tonight's red wine review, I travel to Patagonia in southern Argentina to continue the recent string of fine wines from this South American wine producing country. This Pinot Noir is a new arrival to the LCBO, landing on shelves across Ontario earlier this month as part of the September 4th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as a "Smart Buy".

It is produced by Familia Schroeder, whose story begins in 1927 when German immigrant Hermann Heinz Theodor Schroeder settles down in Patagonia and begins working in the wine industry. In 2001, his son, Hermann Schroeder, along with his own sons started the project of Familia Schroeder and with hard work and significant investments, the Schroeder family transformed the monotony of the Patagonian dry steppe into an eye-catching oasis.

The Estate is located at 39° South Latitude in Patagonia - a land of extremes with dry weather, frequent winds, rivers carrying pure snowmelt water, cool nights and long summer days. Located in Neuquén, the winery building is perched on a gentle slope that dominates the vineyards and blends in naturally with its surroundings, while also using gravity-flow winemaking. Leonardo Puppato is the Chief Enologist and has been part of the project since the beginning in 2002.

Patagonia is marked by large desolate expanses in the South, flanked by low, wooded mountains, a circuit of lakes in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Winegrowing activities are fairly limited, with Patagonia representing just 2% of Argentina's total cultivated area. However, the region is noted for its great thermal amplitude (high diurnal temperature variation) which comes from its combination of latitude, low altitude, and abundant hours of sun, in addition to scarce rainfall and strong winds. All of these factors contribute to healthy grapes with greater colour concentration (in red varieties) and thicker skins.

Not widely grown in Argentina, Pinot Noir is the 7th most widely planted red varietal in the country, representing less than 2% of all red wine varietals. However, Argentinean Pinot Noir is noted for its concentration as a result of the high number of light hours, thermal amplitude, and soil. The product of a sunnier climate, the style of Pinot Noir from Neuquén, Patagonia, where this wine is from, is a style resembling Pinot from California - concentrated and fleshy.

Tasting Note:

ALPATACO PINOT NOIR 2019 - Patagonia, Argentina (#19386) (XD) - $14.95
100% Pinot Noir that was matured entirely on the lees in stainless steel tanks. Screw cap. Sunny and fruity aromas of ripe black and red cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flecked with stony-smoky mineral notes of medium+ intensity rise out of the glass. It's light-to-mid-weighted on the palate with dark red cherry, strawberry, and spice with a subtle savoury mineral edge on the flavour profile. Fresh acids lift the palate, while the lights tannins are finely textured. Leesy mineral with dark cherry notes linger on the finish, with good length. A very satisfying Pinot! Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Familia Schroeder can be ordered through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

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Rosewood Legacy Cyser Apple Honey Wine 2017 (Ontario) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an interesting and delicious apple honey wine made locally in Niagara by a family of beekeepers that also make mead and wine using traditional vitis vinifera varieties. Although this unique apple honey wine is available direct from the winery, it is also featured in this weekend's Sept. 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release and should be on shelves across the province this week.

It is crafted by Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery, a family-owned and -operated producer with over 85 years of farming experience. Rosewood's proprietor is Eugene Roman, a 2nd generation lifelong beekeeper who was inspired by his father, R.W. Roman, and always had a dream to produce world-class, age-worthy, and innovative meads. He first applied for a meadery licence in Ontario 1967, but gave up after several years of trying. In 1982, Eugene & Renata Roman honeymoon in Niagara-on-the-Lake and fell in love with the region and promises that one day they will build a winery & meadery together.

In 2000, the dream becomes a reality with the purchase of a 40 acre site on the Beamsville Bench - the future of Rosewood, and they plant their first vines in 2003. The winery was built in 2005, and in 2008 they released their first wine.

Today, Eugene and his son William Roman, along with their winemaking team practice low intervention winemaking in the pursuit of balance, texture, and vintage expression, while respecting the land. They are focused on premium, vintage-driven wines, innovative meads, and artisanal local honey. The vineyards and apiaries are managed using sustainable farming techniques that utilize modern technology, extensive hand-tending of vines, and integrated pest management systems to promote sustainable farm lands and healthy crops.

This particular honey wine was re-created after Rosewood recently discovered R.W. Roman's original recipe by co-fermenting apple cider and estate honey. This is his Legacy.

Tasting Note:

ROSEWOOD LEGACY CYSER APPLE HONEY WINE 2017 - Ontario, Canada (#521138) (500 mL) (S) - $19.95
The attractive, medium-high intensity nose has light honeyed aromas mingling with freshly cut apple and wildflowers. It's mid-weighted on the lightly sweet palate with fine honeyed apple and floral notes on the flavour profile. Nicely balanced with fresh acidity that cuts right through the sweet flavours. Beeswax notes with hints of apple linger on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy on its own or pair with lightly sweet desserts. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Some of Rosewood's wines are available at the LCBO, while their entire portfolio of wines and meads can be ordered directly from winery, as well as through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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