LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Thursday, April 13, 2023

April 15, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California Cabernet

LCBO Wine Picks: April 15, 2023 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the April 15, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection that is titled "California Cab" and also includes the monthly selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives. It's a good sized release with nearly 100 wines and also has quite a few nice buys, with white wines playing a more prominent role as we head into warmer weather.

However, we begin with the feature on California Cabernet. There are only eight wines as part of the theme, all more than $20, and while there are some delicious among the bunch, only the Napa Valley Cab - which is actually composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot - is included among my top California Cabernet Sauvignon wine recommendations.

St. Supéry Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Red wine picks that are blends from the rest of the release start in Rhône with the Vacqueyras consisting of Grenache and Syrah, and the Côtes du Rhône-Villages that is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The only other blend is from Portugal and it consists of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Touriga Francesa. Single varietal wines include a Sangiovese from Chianti Classico DOCG, a pair of Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Argentina, a Cabernet Franc from Niagara, a Xinomavro from Greece, and a Carignan from 70 year-old vines in Chile.

Castelli Del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva Chianti Classico 2018 (90 pts)

Alpha Estate Hedgehog Single Vineyard Xinomavro 2020

Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (89 pts)

José Maria da Fonseca Domini 2019 (88+ pts)

Among my top white wine picks, the only blend is the Soave from Veneto that is made with 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave. For Sauvignon Blanc wine lovers there are a pair of excellent wines from Sancerre, as well as a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, and one that is locally crafted in Niagara. To explore other varieties off the beaten track, try the Ribolla Gialla from Friuli, or the Malagouzia from Greece. For Riesling wine lovers, from most to least sweet are the wines from Mosel, Okanagan, and Niagara. Lastly, the Champagne consists of 59% Chardonnay and 41% Pinot Noir.

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2020 (93 pts)

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2021 (92+ pts)

Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2019

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

BISQUERTT FAMILY VINEYARDS CRAZY ROWS CARIGNAN 2020 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#30217) (XD) - $16.95
JOSÉ MARIA DA FONSECA DOMINI 2019 - DOP Douro, Portugal (#452730) (XD) - $17.95 88+ pts wine review
ANDRÉ BRUNEL CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - AC, France (#538496) (XD) - $18.95
MARYNISSEN CABERNET FRANC 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#23973) (XD) - $18.95
ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28078) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
TRAPICHE MEDALLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#568865) (XD) - $21.95 90 pts wine review
CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#643205) (XD) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
ALPHA ESTATE HEDGEHOG SINGLE VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2020 - Vegan, PDO Amyndeon, Greece (#259762) (XD) - $26.95
DOMAINE DE L'OISELET VACQUEYRAS 2017 - AP, Rhône, France (#537951) (XD) - $29.95
ST. SUPÉRY ESTATE BOTTLED CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#423822) (XD) - $72.95

Trapiche Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (90 pts)

White Wine:

FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
SANTA CAROLINA GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sustainable, carbon neutral, DO Valle de Itata, Chile (#928580) (XD) - $18.95 88+ pts wine review
VIDUSSI RIBOLLA GIALLA 2021 - DOP Collio, Friuli, Italy (#27624) (XD) - $19.95
ALPHA ESTATE TURTLES SINGLE VINEYARD MALAGOUZIA 2022 - Vegan, PGI Florina, Greece (#32161) (XD) - $19.95
PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO 2020 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#946848) (XD) - $21.95
SOUTHERN RIGHT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, WO Cape Coast, South Africa (#512277) (XD) - $23.95 FE
STUDERT-PRÜM WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2019 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#114777) (S) - $28.95 FE
CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2019 - Sustainable, Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (D) - $31.95 93 pts wine review
SPERLING VINEYARDS OLD VINES RIESLING 2019 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#361204) (M) - $34.95
JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $35.95 93 pts wine review
JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $37.95 92+ pts wine review

Santa Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2019 (88+ pts)

Sparkling Wine:

G.H. MARTEL VICTOIRE GOLD EDITION FÛT DE CHÊNE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#25967) (XD) - $99.95 FE

Dr. Hermann Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese 2005 (Mosel) - Wine Review

To cap off the long weekend, for tonight's wine review I dive into my cellar from one of my favourite German wine producers for this beautiful Riesling Auslese from Mosel that I purchased nearly a decade ago when it made its debut at the LCBO in the May 25th LCBO VINTAGES Release that focused on German Riesling wines. Of course, this is now long gone from shelves, but surprisingly no newer vintage ever made it to the LCBO.

Auslese means "selected", and the grapes for this Riesling Auslese were hand selected from the most ripe bunches in late autumn from the famous Ürziger Würzgarten (Spice Garden) vineyard area located in the town of Ürzig, within the Mosel wine region. The unique soils of Ürziger Würzgarten are volcanic in combination with red slate that deliver very unique wines. Let's see how this 2005 Riesling Auslese from the Mosel is tasting tonight...

Dr. Hermann Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese 2005 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

DR. HERMANN ÜRZIGER WÜRZGARTEN RIESLING AUSLESE 2005 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#324285) (MS) - ~~$21.95~~
Pours a deep yellow-golden colour. The medium+ intensity nose is a bit quiet, offering maturing, caramelized orange, citrus and peach aromas, plus spices and minerals. It's mid-weighted on the deliciously sweet, maturing, and complex palate with caramelized orange citrus, peach, honey, petrol, spices, and floral flavours framed by well-balanced, bracing acidity that keeps the sweetness in check. Sticky on the mid-palate, while petrol, mineral, and spice notes linger on the long, sticky, dry-ish finish. Drinking beautifully now and should hold well for another 5 years, maybe more. Score: 93 pts

Alpamanta Breva Pét-Nat Sparkling Criolla 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely unique and organic pét-nat sparkling wine crafted with the Criolla varietal from Argentina that was a new arrival at the LCBO in the August 27th LCBO VINTAGES Online Exclusives Release last summer.

It is produced by Bodega Alpamanta, a boutique winery that was established in Mendoza, Argentina, in 2005 by three close friends - Andrej Razumovsky from Austria and his cousin André Hoffmann from Switzerland, and Jeremie Delecourt from France. Andrej and André are from the noble Sayn Wittgenstain family who owned vineyards in Moldavia, while Jeremie's family are winegrowers and producers of rosé wines in Côtes de Provence. Together, this combination of rich heritage and passion for wine brought the Alpamanta project to life.

The name "Alpamanta" means "Love for the Earth" in the local indigenous culture. In the native culture, a key aspect is working and co-existing in harmony with nature and the environment. At Bodega Alpamanta, loving the earth is their motto and method of caring for the terroir.

They chose to establish their project in Mendoza because it offers the ideal conditions to produce organic wines. Since this region is a desert, it enjoys almost 330 days of sun and averages little rainfall of 220 mL per year. To ensure the vines receive water, they use drip irrigation which helps preserve water and reduce unnecessary waste. The climate in Mendoza is characterized by warm summers and cool nights, with thermal amplitudes that can reach around 20°C. Their vineyard was carefully chosen at 950 metres above sea level and the soils feature a combination of sand, clay, lime, and calcareous layers on the subsurface

Their vineyards are farmed certified organically and biodynamically, while focusing on respecting the soil and its biodiversity to help balance the ecosystem. They maintain a healthy and balanced vineyard, and avoid the spread of diseases by avoiding any chemical or synthetic products such as herbicides or fungicides.

Bodega Alpamanta has several ranges of wines, and this particular bubbly is from their Breva range. Breva means "fruit of the first harvest" and this sparkling wine is crafted with Criolla, one of the first native grape varieties in Argentina. This sparkling wine is made in the "Pét-Nat" style. Pét-Nat is short for "pétillant naturel", a French term that roughly translates to "naturally sparkling", and these types of sparkling wines undergo their primary fermentation in bottle with the sugars from the grapes providing the bubbles. This Breva Pét-Nat was fermented using native yeasts and no added sulfites, a truly natural wine. Let's see how this Criolla Pét-Nat from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Alpamanta Breva Pét-Nat Sparkling Criolla (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

ALPAMANTA BREVA PÉT-NAT SPARKLING CRIOLLA 2021 - Vegan, ancestral method, Mendoza, Argentina (#24889) (XD) - ~~$32.95~~ $27.25
Crafted with the Criolla grape, this pét-nat sparkling wine is enclosed by crown cap has enticing, fragrant aromas of wild berries, cherry, currant, and blackberry joined by funky earthy, barnyard notes that blow off with time in the glass, leaving only wild berry tones. It's fresh and lively on the dry, light-to-mid-weighted palate with deliciously complex wild berry, cherry, currant, and blackberry replays, plus dried spices, thyme and mint adding intrigue. Gently tangy on the mid-palate, it's also nicely textured with a supple grip and succulent, juicy acids. Crisp bubbles and dry with some leesy mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Chill and enjoy this unique, highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

This and one other Pét-Nat Sparkling are available on clearance in limited quantities at the LCBO, while wines from the entire Alpamanta portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - The Living Vine.

Frind Pinot Noir Cuveé 2019 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

After being introduced to a pair of lovely wines by Frind Estate Winery a couple of years ago, including the 2018 Frind Chardonnay, tonight's red wine review is a Pinot Noir from the same producer that is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves a few months ago as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release and still available for purchase now (at a potentially reduced price in-store).

Frind Estate Winery is a fairly new producer that was established in 2017 by Markus Frind, the creator of the dating website Plenty of Fish. However, the property, which is situated lakeside in West Kelowna, British Columbia, was owned by the Bennett family of political fame for more than 50 years before it was sold to Markus. As a descendent of a generation of farmers, Markus, who was born in Germany and immigrated to Canada as a young boy with his parents, grew up on a farm in northeastern British Columbia. After studying Business and Computer Science at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and achieving many successes, he decided to follow his ambition into B.C. wine by combining his two passions: technology and agriculture.

Each bottle of Frind Estate wines features an abstract golden pinecone representing three aspects meaningful to the founder and his family - science, symbolism, and sentiment. Markus Frind is passionate about science and math, and over a decade ago he cracked a mathematical sequence used as supporting research for another academic paper that helped its author win the Nobel Prize in math. The bottom of any pine cone features a beautiful spiral pattern, also found in snail shells and roses, that is the result of Fibonacci sequences. Coincidentally, the City of Kelowna logo also represents the geometry of a pinecone. Symbolism is represented by Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, who is often depicted wielding a Thyrsus - a staff topped with a pinecone that represents fertility, prosperity, and could turn water into wine. The pinecone is also sentimental to the family because the property is sprinkled with beautiful, old growth Ponderosa Pine trees, and it was on the property where Markus and his daughter Ava found the perfect pinecone to artistically render for the brand.

Frind Estate Winery strives to celebrate and preserve the rich history of this spectacular location in West Kelowna. They are committed to lead through innovation and technology to create smooth, fruit forward wines, while also growing the business and inspiring the international wine industry. Let's see how this 2019 Pinot Noir from British Columbia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FRIND PINOT NOIR CUVEÉ 2019 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#25655) (XD) - $29.95
This 100% Pinot Noir was sourced from vineyards in Summerland and Kelowna, from various soil types and different Pinot clones, and aged in French barrels for five months. Enclosed by screw cap, the medium-high intensity nose offers a pleasing mix of ripe, slightly desiccated, bright and dark red cherries, and blackberry aromas with hints of red plum, sweet spice, and mineral. It has good weight on the medium+ bodied, well-structured palate with ripe red and dark cherry, currant, strawberry, red plum, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and supple, dusty textured, and mouth-coating tannins. Cherry notes are joined by minerals and touches of dried herbs on the long, juicy finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next couple of years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Frind Estate Winery can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley (Canada) - Cocktail Review

Tonight's cocktail review is a delicious, ready-to-drink, hard cocktail that was launched just a few weeks ago and is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cabana Coast Cocktails right here in Canada and they are one of a number of brands that are part of Ace Beverage Group. Cabana Coast Cocktails produces a few hard cocktails, including the Original Mule, and the Dirty Shirley is their newest creation!

The Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley is an adult take on a nostalgic, sweet, and classic beverage that many of us know from the good old days. The Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley is the Shirley Temple flavour you love that is infused with premium vodka to create a tasty, alcoholic twist on an all-time nostalgic drink. Let's get dirty and see how Dirty Shirley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CABANA COAST DIRTY SHIRLEY - Ontario, Canada (#31253) (473 mL) - $3.15
Small-batch crafted, it has delicious maraschino cherry, currant, and grenadine flavours with a touch of citrus in a fresh, carbonated style with bright bubbles. It's smooth and refreshing, while citrusy, cherry, and vodka notes linger on the crisp finish, with very good length. A delicious, recommended buy suitable for year-round sipping!

April 1, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Easter Feasts

LCBO Wine Picks: April 1, 2023 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the April 1, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, and annual Easter release which focuses on Perfect Old World and New World Wine Pairings for Easter Feasts. Although it is once again a small-ish release, there are many highly quality wines worth getting your hands on, while the sub-$20 category is fading to memory.

We'll begin with the theme on food & wine pairings centered around New World vs. Old World Wines for Easter Feasts. In all there are twenty wines featured across the six pairings and seven wines that are recommended buys. For pairing with appetizers, try the Pinot Grigio from Südtirol - Alto Adige or the sparkling brut rosé sparkling wine from South Africa that is crafted with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. For pairing with Prime Rib or Lamb Breast, you'll want a big, high tannin red such as the Cabernet Sauvignon from Paraje Altamira in Argentina. To pair wine with a Turkey Dinner, try New World wines such as the Pinot Noir from Chile or the Chardonnay from Twenty Mile Bench in Niagara. With Baked Ham, try the medium-sweet Riesling from Niagara, and to pair with Mushrooms try the Chianti Classico that is made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino / Canaiolo.

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2020

Red wine recommendations from the rest of the release start in Italy with an Amarone that is crafted with 60% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, and 5% Rondinella / Croatina Veronese, then followed by the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany that is a blend of mainly Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), plus Canaiolo and other permitted grape varieties. The only other blend is by Mascota Vineyards in Argentina that consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Single varietal wines include a pair of Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Australia, a Garnacha (aka Grenache) from Spain, and a Malbec from Argentina.

Pieropan Vigna Garzon Amarone della Valpolicella 2016

Carpineto Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Among my white wine picks, all are mono varietal wines and the most unique might be the wine from Greece that is made with Mavrofilero, a clone of Moschofilero. Other white wines include a pair of Chardonnays - one from Argentina and the other from Jordan Village in Niagara, as well as a pair of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines. There is also a Chenin Blanc from South Africa and a Grüner Veltliner from Austria.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!