April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic European Regions

Here are my top wine picks from the April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Fine Wines from Classic European Regions". Also included in the printed magazine is a sneak preview of the next release which will be the return of the monthly "Online & Flagship Exclusives" only release, with no associated in-store release. All of the wines from the last release of April should be in stores across Ontario by Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from classic European wine regions that features nineteen wines, of which eight are included among my top wine picks. Can you guess the eight classic European wine regions that span three countries featured in the theme? They are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Rhône Valley, Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, and Rioja. From France, the Rhône Valley wines are the Châteauneuf-du-Pape which is crafted with 58% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, and 2% other permitted varieties, while the Côtes du Rhône is mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. The white Burgundy from France is made with Chardonnay, while the white wine from Piedmont is made with the indigenous Cortese varietal. From Tuscany, the Chianti is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo, while the Cepparello Super Tuscan is 100% Sangiovese. From Veneto, the Amarone consists of 47% Corvina, 39% Corvinone, 6% Rondinella, and 8% other varieties. And lastly, the 2015 Rioja is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano, while the 2018 Rioja which is also the Wine of the Month is crafted with 100% Tempranillo.

The only blend among my red wine recommendations from the main release is the Syrah from Chile that actually consists of 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Viognier. Otherwise, there is a nice variety of other red wines to check out, such as a pair of Cabernet Franc wines - one from Niagara and one from Argentina. There is also a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Mencía from Bierzo in Spain.

Among my white wine picks, it was a somewhat surprisingly small release of white wines and all of my recommendations are mono-varietal wines. Dry white wines include a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines - one from Chile and the other from New Zealand, as well as a Viognier from Australia, and the Riesling from Austria. If you like your wines a little sweet, the Riesling from Niagara is a perennial favourite!

Both rosé wine recommendations are dry in style and predominantly made with Grenache, with the Tavel composed of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Clairette, and 10% Cinsault, while the rose wine from California is Grenache-based and blended with Syrah and Carignan.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CABERNET FRANC 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#523001) (XD) - $19.95
• XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2020 - Sustainable, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95
• MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES EXCELLENS CUVÉE ESPECIAL COLECCIÓN PRIVADA CRIANZA 2018 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#10684) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#612) (XD) - $20.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Mendoza, Argentina (#492736) (XD) - $21.95

• GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2018 - Palazzone, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• PITTACUM VAL DE LA OSA MENCÍA 2017 - Old vines, enclave singular, DO Bierzo, Spain (#31200) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#33894) (XD) - $29.95
• BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
  
• DOMAINE DES SÉNÉCHAUX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#677922) (XD) - $63.95
• BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#300012) (XD) - $78.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#12818) (XD) - $159.95

White Wine:

• YALUMBA ORGANIC VIOGNIER 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, South Australia (#288217) (XD) - $16.95
• LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Coastal vineyards, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $19.95
• FONTANAFREDDA GAVI DI GAVI 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#366948) (XD) - $23.95
• STADT KREMS STEINTERRASSEN RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#30595) (XD) - $24.95
• FRAMINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#606848) (XD) - $24.95
• NICOLAS POTEL BOURGOGNE HAUTES CÔTES DE BEAUNE BLANC 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#29712) (XD) - $34.95

Rosé Wine:

• ANGELS & COWBOYS ROSÉ 2022 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#493155) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95

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Southside Fizz by Aloette (Ontario) - Cocktail Review

Tonight's cocktail review is a delicious, brand new, ready-to-drink cocktail that just arrived at the LCBO. It is produced locally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is widely available across the province now.

Southside Fizz by Aloette is a mojito-esque twist on the classic Southside cocktail where London Dry Gin (plus Vodka according to the ingredients) is mixed with lime juice, muddled mint, and a hint of fresh cucumber to create a cool and refreshing carbonated cocktail that is light and citrusy on the palate, and enjoyed chilled or over ice.

It was created by Aloette, a neighbourhood bistro located in downtown Toronto and imagined by Alo Food Group. At Aloette, they take pride in using only the finest ingredients to create the perfectly crafted cocktail. Let's see how this new Southside Fizz cocktail by Aloette is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SOUTHSIDE FIZZ BY ALOETTE - Ontario, Canada (#31248) (355 mL) - $2.95
It smells very fresh with hints of cucumber, lime, and mint, all of which is echoed on the very fresh and flavourful palate, joined by some savoury London Dry Gin notes on the finish. It's not very sweet, while the carbonated bubbles add to the overall freshness. Chill and enjoy! Perfect for sipping on hot summer days and a recommended buy!

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Anatolikos Vineyards (Greece) - Winemaker's Dinner

Back in October, I enjoyed the fine wines of Anatolikos Vineyards with winemaker Sakis Nikolaidis at the new (and very secluded) Vintage Conservatory location in Yorkville, downtown Toronto. The wines were paired with a specially prepared 4-course dinner and hosted by Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits, the agency who represents the wines of Anatolikos Vineyards.

Anatolikos Vineyards was established in 2005 by brothers Sakis and Marios Nikolaidis. The Nikolaidis brothers are from Xanthi in northeastern Greece and experienced businessmen in the field of gastronomy. Their vineyard is located in the Avdira area of Xanthi, which is in the Thrace region of Greece. The city of Avdira is known from the ancient times as a city of initiative. In this same spirit in the year 2000, the Nikolaidis brothers began the revival of a famous ancient vineyard and in 2005 Anatolikos Vineyards started farming Greek and foreign grape varieties on the site.

The vineyard is located on the dry hills of Avdira at an elevation of 50-70 metres above sea level, approximately 3 km north of the Thrace Sea, and features sandy soils, continuous cool winds, and Avdira's micro-climate which is great for growing high quality grapes. Avdira's micro-climate offers an ideal environment for the cultivation of grapes as it experiences very little, but necessary, rainfall, while the evenings have low temperatures. The thermal amplitude between warm days and cool nights is about 13-15°C.

Today, Anatolikos Vineyards has 10 varietal and regional wines in their portfolio, all certified organic, vegan, and vegetarian, and continues to develop and expand the vineyard. The wines are grown according to the principals of bio-agriculture, cultivating traditional grape varieties from the lands of Avdira and Thrace, highlighting the history and interest of the wider region. One of the more interesting facts I learned from Sakis is that their wines are aged outdoors in clay amphorae for 270 days. They also continue to develop the distribution channels in Greece and overseas. In Canada, the lovely wines of Anatolikos Vineyards are available via Kolonaki.

Thank you to the team at Kolonaki for a lovely evening and the opportunity to taste these fine, certified vegan and organic wines from Greece. All five wines were great and really complemented the food pairings very nicely. Full reviews of each wine is provided below and all of the Anatolikos Vineyards wines can be purchased through Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Tasting Notes:

ANATOLIKOS FINE ASSYRTIKO 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $34.95
Aged for 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels, this Assyrtiko has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is leesy with citrus, herbs, and earthy mineral aromas. On the medium-bodied, well-structured palate, it is fleshy and gains weight in the mouth with pleasing aroma replays, plus salty notes on the ripe flavour profile. With balanced acidity, it is nicely textured on the mid-palate, continuing on the long finish with touches of vanilla and butter. Score: 90+ pts

ANATOLIKOS MALAGOUSIA 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $32.95
Fermented with indigenous yeast and spending some time in French oak barrels, this Malagousia has a lovely, fragrant, highly aromatic nose featuring aromas of anise, wild herbs, chamomile, some citrus, and touches of sweet oak. It's medium-full bodied on the nicely textured, dry palate with lovely, flavourful replays joined by floral notes. It's well-structured with good acidity, and very good length on the finish. Score: 91 pts

ANATOLIKOS ORANGE WINE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $61.95
Blend of 80% Assyrtiko and 20% Malagousia that was grown on sandy hills with stony subsoil at a distance of 3 km from the sea. This skin-fermented white (aka orange wine) was fermented in amphora with native yeasts. It offers a medium+ intensity nose with aromas of tea leaf, orange citrus, herbs, and spices. It's medium-full to full-bodied and harmonious with lovely, dry aroma replays, and nicely textured with a chalky mouthfeel. Impressively concentrated and a lingering finish. Score: 92 pts

ANATOLIKOS MV MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2018 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $36.95
Organically grown blend of 60% Mavroudi, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was fermented with native yeasts and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose is spicy with dark currant, dark berry, cassis, and blackberry aromas. On the medium-full to full-bodied palate it is structured with mildly grippy, yet smooth tannins balanced with fresh, juicy acidity. It has nicely balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile with a tinge of cocoa on the long finish. Score: 91+ pts

ANATOLIKOS FINE MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $49.95
Organically grown 100% Mavroudi, this has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of spices, pepper spice, ripe dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. It's medium-full to full-bodied on the palate with appealing ripe currant, pepper spice, and green herbal flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and smooth, refined tannins. Elegant and nicely balanced throughout, with excellent length on the finish. Score: 93 pts

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2021 (Loire) - Wine Review

After the enjoying the beautiful 2020 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre over the weekend, tonight's white wine review is its excellent companion that also arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on April 15th.

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of the most highly regarded wine producers in Sancerre and the Loire Valley. The Roger family comes from long-line of of winegrowers in the village of Bué, with the family name first mentioned in the 17th century. Until the 1960s, the family practiced mixed farming which included animal rearing.

In the 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines from his parents and together with his wife, Nicole, they focused on developing the vineyards and the estate. Their passion and love for wine and terroir was naturally passed on to their sons, Thibault and Etienne, and in 2004 both joined the family estate. The brothers complement each other, perpetuating their family's know-how and techniques to improve their wines with each passing vintage. Today, the estate covers 28 hectares of vines in the Sancerre appellation, and 6 hectares in Menetou-Salon, with more than 40 plots that offer exceptional diversity of exposure, slope, and soil profiles. This diversity, combined with the Roger family's winemaking expertise, allows each wine to express all of the uniqueness of their terroirs through their structure, elegance, and finesse.

I've enjoyed this Sancerre Blanc many times over the years, including most recently the 2020 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre back in September. It is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in ancestral plots in the village of Bué, in Grand Chemarin and neighbouring vineyards with identical agronomic characteristics. It gets its name "Cuvée Genèse" because this is the wine that has shaped the tastes of several generations of the Roger family and it is the genesis of the estate.

The Sauvignon Blanc vines are between 10-40 years old and planted on stony, limestone, and calcareous soils called "caillottes" with south-eastern exposure to the sun. Like other wines in the portfolio, the vineyards are managed according to organic principles to produce grapes that reveal its terroir. At the winery, the wines are produced to reflect the fruitiness and density of the vintage. The grapes are immediately pneumatically pressed upon arrival at the winery, then cold settled for between 48 and 72 hours. It undergoes a long, temperature-controlled fermentation using natural yeasts, followed by ageing on heavy lees. After fining and filtration, the wine is bottled at the estate. From a challenging 2021 growing season, let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $37.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, fragrant, and intensely aromatic with impressive depth, it has lovely aromas of lemon citrus, white floral, flinty-earthy minerality, pear, quince, and melon. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has very good concentration with ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of citrus, pear, quince, and flinty-earthy-leesy minerality. It's supported by fresh, crisp, and lively acidity, and a pleasing textural mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Leesy minerality with citrus, quince, and pear notes linger on the very long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Jean-Max Roger can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2020 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the April 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite Loire Valley wine producers. The Roger family comes from a long-line of winegrowers in the village of Bué, which is located just west and a little south of the town of Sancerre. The first mention of the Roger family name dates back to the 17th century and up until the 1960s, the Roger family practiced mixed farming with animal rearing. In the 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines from his parents and together with his wife, Nicole, they focused on developing the vineyards and the estate.

Today, Jean-Max Roger is one of the most highly regarded wine producers in Sancerre and the Loire Valley. Their passion and love for wine and terroir was naturally passed on to their sons, Thibault and Etienne, and in 2004 both joined the family estate. The brothers complement each other, perpetuating their family's know-how and techniques to improve their wines with each passing vintage. The estate covers 28 hectares of vines in the Sancerre appellation, and 6 hectares in Menetou-Salon, with more than 40 plots that offer exceptional diversity of exposure, slope, and soil profiles. This diversity, combined with the Roger family's winemaking expertise, allows each wine to express all of the uniqueness of their terroirs through their structure, elegance, and finesse.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this lovely white wine from Sancerre, including most recently the 2019 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre last September. It is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in the famous vineyards of Saint Martin, L'Epée, and others, within the villages of Bué, Amigny, and Sancerre. Most importantly, this is a terroir-focused wine where all of the grapes were grown on limestone soils called "caillottes", and hence, where the wine gets its name from. The grapes have southern and south-western exposure to the sun. The vines are between 6-40 years of age and were managed according to organic principles to produce grapes that reveal its terroir. After harvesting, the grapes are brought to the winery and immediately pneumatically pressed and cold settled for between 48 and 72 hours. It undergoes a long, temperature-controlled fermentation using natural yeasts, followed by ageing on heavy lees. After fining and filtering, the wine is bottled at the estate using their own facilities.

The 2020 growing season was the warmest ever recorded in the Loire Valley. However, periods of intense rain helped fully replenish the soils. March and April were alternately warm and cool, while late April and May were warm; July began cool, but turned very warm, while August was hot. There were some welcomed rains at the end of August, leading to fine September weather. Overall, 2020 is an excellent vintage with wines having concentration, freshness, and poise. Let's see how this 2020 Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $35.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, fragrant, open, and highly aromatic on the nose with lovely lemon citrus, quince, pear, and spring flower aromas with a fine, flinty mineral underpinning. It is medium to medium-full bodied on the well-structured, dry, and ripe palate with deliciously elegant lemon citrus, stone fruit, apple, quince, and pear replays, plus spicy notes, herbs, and flinty mineral flavours. It is impeccably well-balanced throughout with crisp, juicy acidity, while minerally, herbal, and stone fruit characters linger on the finish, with excellent length. Wow. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other lovely wines by Jean-Max Roger can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying this lovely red wine that was included in the Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Trio wooden gift box last October, tonight's red wine review is this lovely Riserva Chianti Classico arrives solo at the LCBO as the Wine of the Month in the upcoming April 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Castelli del Grevepesa, a co-operative winery that was established in 1965 by visionary Sir Armando Nunzi and an initial group of 17 winegrowers. The project came about because the 1960s were difficult years in the winegrowing region of Chianti. To help the region weather the economic and technical crisis, Sir Gualtiero Armando Nunzi managed to bring together winegrowers from the different areas of Florentine Chianti Classico. Together, they had a shared intention to safeguard the land, and maintain the age-old traditions of Tuscan winegrowing with the long-established know-how that farmers still pass along today from one generation to the next.

Today, the modern Castelli del Grevepesa is the largest Chianti Classico family with over 120 associate winegrowers. With passion and hard work, they produce fine quality wines that are accessible to everyone, and recognised and valued across the world. Most of the winegrowers are situated in the areas of Greve in Chianti, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, and Barberino Val d’Elsa and some of the most famous Chianti Classico regions such as Panzano, Lamole, Campoli, and Bibbione. The iris flower is the symbol the company, a perennial flower that represents the solidity of Castelli del Grevepesa and its unbreakable bond with Florentine culture and traditions.

While Castelli del Grevepesa has several ranges of wines, this particular red wine is from their Clemente VII range that celebrates a member of the famous Florentine Medici family - Giulio de' Medici. He became Pope Clemente VII in 1523 and lived in Campoli, within the Chianti Classico area where Castelli del Grevepesa produces their wines today.

This Riserva Chianti Classico is crafted with 100% Sangiovese that was grown at 200 metres above sea level with west-southwest exposure to the sun. The grapes were hand harvested with individual bunch selection and fermented at a controlled temperature of 28°C, with 15 days of maceration with skins. Half of the wine was aged Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months, while the other half was aged in barriques for 12 months. It was then blended and further refined in bottle for at least 3 months. Let's see how this Riserva Chianti Classico made with Sangiovese is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#643205) (XD) - $24.95
100% Sangiovese. The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose is sweetly red fruited and sweet vanillin oak spiced, with aromas of lightly desiccated red cherry, rose floral, clove, cinnamon spice, vanilla, and earthy undertones adding interest. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, fine-grained tannins that have some pleasant grip. It has delicious red cherry, clove, savoury wet earth, forest floor flavours in a dry flavour profile. Savoury earthy and vanillin with touches of red cherry, clove, and rose floral notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

This label's Annata Chianti Classico is available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines by Castelli del Grevepesa are available through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Sparkling Wine:

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

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