LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Saturday, May 11, 2024

May 11, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic Euro Regions

LCBO Wine Picks: May 11, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here's my top wine picks from the May 11, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It's a big release with 111 wines on offer, with the theme of the release focusing on the Classic Euro Regions. If you can get your hands on the magazine, also included in this release is a sneak preview of the wines in the May 25 release (more on this in a couple of weeks). All wines from this release should be available for purchase online and in-stores across Ontario by Saturday.

We'll begin with the theme titled "The Wine Pantheon - Classic Euro Regions" and it consists of eighteen wines from the six major wine producing regions of Europe - Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. Five wines from the theme are included among my top wine picks, starting in Greece with a lovely Malagousia. My lone recommendation from France is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is crafted with 39% Grenache, 33% Mourvèdre, 25% Syrah, and 3% Cinsault. There are a pair of wines from Italy - the Vino Nobile is Montepulciano made with 70% Sangiovese and 30% Canaiolo, while the white wine from Sicily is certified organic and crafted with 100% Grillo. The last wine from the theme is a Portuguese red that is featured on the cover and is a 50/50 blend of Tinta Roriz and Castelão.

Carpineto Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018 (91+ pts)

Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Grillo 2022 (90 pts)

Red wine recommendations from the main release starts with the Rioja that is composed of Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano, followed by the Riserva Chianti Classico that is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. From France, the Bordeaux red is a composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, while the red from Roussillon is made with 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. The rest of the reds are all mono-varietal wines, including the lovely Cabernet Franc from Niagara.

Featherstone Reserve Cabernet Franc 2021 (91+ pts)

There are a couple of white wine blend recommendations from the main release, with the Calabrian white a blend of Greco Bianco and Chardonnay, while the Roussillon white is composed of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. Local wines also showed well with a pair of lovely wines by Featherstone - a Sauvignon Blanc and an off-dry Riesling, as well as the Westcott Chardonnay, all from Niagara. You can also pick up a fine Torrontés from Argentina, or go off the beaten path and try an Albariño from Languedoc.

Westcott Estate Chardonnay 2021 (90+ pts)

Tenuta Iuzzolini Madre Goccia 2022 (90 pts)

Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2021 (90 pts)

Featherstone Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (89 pts)

Among my pink wine recommendations, on the local front, we have a Niagara rosé that is a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 28% Gewürztraminer, while the Prince Edward County rosé is crafted using Gamay. Lastly, the Tavel rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Bourboulenc, and 5% Cinsault. Both sparkling wines are also blends, with the South African sparkling composed of 50% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay, and 1% Meunier, while the Cava is a blend of 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

LA POSTA ARMANDO BONARDA 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#261586) (XD) - $14.95 88+ pts wine review
QUINTA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO 2020 - Vegan, Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#488015) (XD) - $14.95 88+ pts wine review
TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Vegan, sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $17.95
FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Vegan, Perdriel, Mendoza, Argentina (#261891) (XD) - $18.95
FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2022 - Vegan, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#261867) (XD) - $18.95
BASTIDE MIRAFLORS SYRAH / VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE 2021 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#320499) (XD) - $19.95
MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#288530) (XD) - $24.95
FEATHERSTONE RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#38301) (XD) - $29.95 91+ pts wine review
CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $33.95 91+ pts wine review
CHÂTEAU BEAU-SITE 2018 - AC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (#647933) (XD) - $48.95 93 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#735407) (XD) - $64.95
MUGA PRADO ENEA GRAN RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#743310) (XD) - $78.95

White Wine:

LAURENT MIQUEL SOLAS ALBARIÑO 2022 - IGP Aude, Languedoc, France (#36005) (XD) - $16.95
FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
SAINT-ROCH CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON CORBAROL 2022 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#175232) (XD) - $17.95
ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2023 - Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#80234) (M) - $17.95 90 pts wine review
GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95 90 pts wine review
MEGA SPILEO MALAGOUSIA 2022 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#36837) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
TENUTA IUZZOLINI MADRE GOCCIA 2022 - IGT Calabria, Italy (#36512) (D) - $22.95 90 pts wine review
WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#424507) (XD) - $29.95 90+ pts wine review

Rosé Wine:

FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2023 - Vegan, sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
CASA-DEA ROSÉ 2021 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#38296) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2023 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AP, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

MURVIEDRO ARTS DE LUNA BRUT NATURE ORGANIC SPARKLING - Vegan, DOP Cava, Spain (#25073) (XD) - $14.95
GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (XD) - $22.95

The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Reserve Red 2021 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a fully and completely delicious Bordeaux-varietal red blend from Niagara that returned to the LCBO last month in the April 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Stoney Ridge Estate Winery, a producer that was established in December 1986 as Stoney Ridge Cellars and was the 14th licensed winery in Canada. The name of the winery comes from its inauspicious beginnings at the Weylie farm on Ridge Road in Stoney Creek. Stoney Ridge's legacy is that it is one of Canada's fledgling wineries that helped usher in the national wine industry and its rise to world-class wine production.

With a pioneering spirit, Winemaker Jim Warren and his two business partners produced their first vintage of 500 cases of 11 different wines entirely by hand and were committed to making small amounts of the very best wine possible from Ontario grapes.

Over the next few decades, Stoney Ridge grew and expanded, and moved to its new home at the base of the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland. In 2013, Stoney Ridge was purchased by famed Canadian sports broadcaster Bob McCown and continued to evolve, eventually launching the popular Tragically Hip line of wines in partnership with the iconic Canadian rock music band - The Tragically Hip.

Today, Stoney Ridge operates in partnership with the Niagara Custom Crush Studio, Canada's only Custom Crush Winemaking Facility. Still located at the newly renovated facility in Vineland, the Studio has taken over the production of all of Stoney Ridge's wines, including the celebrity wines. Stoney Ridge remains committed to producing 100% locally-sourced, VQA wines, just as it did in 1986.

Stoney Ridge has a few lines of wines, including celebrity wines. This particular wine is from their Tragically Hip range, which consists of 4 premium wines - a rosé, a white wine, and a pair of red wines. Named after their hit album and song - Fully Completely - this red wine is composed of 54% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were grown at select vineyards across the Niagara Peninsula and mechanically harvested in late-October. The fruit arrived clean at Stoney Ridge with good flavour concentration and aromatics, with an average Brix (sugar content) of 21.5°. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks and one tonne fermenter bins, with each lot kept separate. After completing both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the wine was racked into new and seasoned French and American oak barrels for 18 months prior to blending.

The growing season in 2021 was impacted by chilly conditions, as well as a drastically wet fall during harvest. It is a vintage where picking decisions will play an important role and also tests the winemakers' skills in both the vineyard and the winery. Let's see how this 2021 Bordeaux-blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

The Tragically Hip Fully Completely Reserve Red 2021 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

THE TRAGICALLY HIP FULLY COMPLETELY RESERVE RED 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#411595) (XD) - $24.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 54% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium-high intensity nose that offers enticing aromas of brambly red and dark berries, black raspberry, black cherry, and white pepper spice, plus hints of tea leaf, underbrush, and cedar wood adding further intrigue and complexity. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate, it has delicious ripe and spicy red and black berries, dark red cherry, blackberry, and red plum flavours accented with white pepper spice, tea leaf, and underbrush notes. It has juicy, well-balanced acidity, along with smooth, refined, and well-integrated tannins. Savoury and gently spicy with touches of smoke linger on the long-lasting finish. Enjoy this highly recommended with your favourite Hip song over the next 3-4 years. Score: 90+ pts

All Tragically Hip wines are currently available at the LCBO, as well as direct from the Stoney Ridge in Niagara, and through their Agent - Perigon Beverage Group.

Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2021 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of one of my perennial favourites that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on April 27th.

It is produced by Le Vins de Roquebrun, a co-operative winery that was founded in 1967. It is located in Haut-Languedoc Natural Regional Park, approximately 30 km north of Béziers, between Montpellier and Toulouse. Le Vins de Roquebrun is the largest producer in the Saint-Chinian appellation of Languedoc, consisting of 70 winegrowers that cultivate over 700 hectares of vines, plus 30 members in the cellar. Together, their philosophy is to create wines of originality, balance, and power.

Le Vins de Roquebrun is particularly noted because of its terroir - the mild and relatively arid climate, and in combination of schist soils, which allows for particular development of grapes within the Saint-Chinian Appellation. The resulting wines are typical of the region and of recognized quality. The soils in the Saint-Chinian Appellation are more than 450 million years old and among the oldest in France. The schist soil is commonly a brown or green rock, sometimes red, with a flaky appearance. As a fine-grained rock, it is composed mostly of clay flakes and tiny fragments of other minerals, all of which are laminated by the compression of clay in the heart of the earth's crust. The laminated and fractured rocks allow the roots of the vines to infiltrate deep into the ground in the search for natural groundwater, picking up minerals along the way. The minerals in the hills and valleys of Roquebrun retain water and store heat. This heat is released slowly at night, and it is said that the grapes still grow during the night. The main objective of the winegrowers of Roquebrun is to highlight the typicality of the terroir, and thanks to their efforts, the communal appellation of AOP Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun was created in 2005.

In the vineyard, Le Vins de Roquebrun only uses a set of qualitative grape varieties, while being respectful of culture. They also have rigorous specifications to regulate pruning methods, trellising, phytosanitary treatments, and yields, with a large part of the vineyard using drip irrigation to supply the vines with water. At the winery, Roquebrun uses strict specifications depending on the grape type and quality. All the grapes are manually harvested, which allows for sorting in the vineyard. Red wines, such as this wine, are often vinified using carbonic maceration, a technique that converts the sugar into alcohol without the use of yeast. The wine cellar is situated in an air-conditioned, semi-buried storehouse, and contains 900 French oak barrels and 56 stainless steel vats, all of which are used for ageing wines, depending on the wine and vintage. As of 1998, Le Vins de Roquebrun added a bottling line and a Bag-in-Box machine to its facility.

I've enjoyed this unoaked red many times over the years, with the most recent vintage being the 2018 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun a few years ago. The 2021 vintage of this lovely red wine is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, from selected plots that were grown on schistous soils. The grapes were manually harvested, then brought to the winery and vinified in whole bunches using carbonic maceration in vats for 25 to 30 days. It was aged in stainless steel vats in an insulated and air-conditioned cellar, and bottled at the property.

The 2021 growing season in Languedoc had severe frosts in April, which drastically cut yields. Summer conditions were hot and dry, and put the vines under drought stress, while heavy September rains arrived too late to offer much help. Overall, it is a small crop and quality is variable throughout the region. However, I am optimistic about this consistently well-made red from Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun. Let's see how this 2021 red wine from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2021 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2021 - AC, Languedoc, France (#155804) (XD) - $21.95
This unoaked blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre has a fresh, lifted nose of medium-high to high intensity that is ripe and spicy with lovely red & black fruits, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, peppery spice, stony mineral, and dried herb aromas with touches of meaty and savoury notes. It is notably mid-weighted on the dry palate with complex ripe blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, savoury meaty, stony mineral, black pepper spice, and dried herb flavours supported by tangy, juicy acidity. The smooth, refined tannins have some chalky textured and youthful grip. Stony mineral with touches of spice linger on the slightly tangy, crisp finish, with excellent length. Well-balanced and ready to drink now, but will provide pleasure over the next 5 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

The delicious 2022 Cave de Roquebrun Soleil de Schiste is currently available at the LCBO, while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Domaine Girard Le Fleuron de La Rebourgère Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2022 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine that is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape varietal. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the April 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Domaine Girard, a small family estate situated in the heart of the Muscadet area, between the Sèvre & Maine Rivers. It was established by the Girard family during the 1940s in Rebourgère, a hamlet of Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, in the heart of the region of Nantes. As the only son of Marcel and Gabrielle Girard, Gaston had to work on the family farm at an early age. He also helped his mother, a brave and ambitious woman with a strong character, as she had just lost her husband who came from the war with illness. Like most farms at the time, the Girard family practiced mixed farming with some cattle, cereal crops, and vines.

Everything changed in 1961, after Gaston married Georgette, a young woman from the nearby village of La Haie-Fouassière. Together, they worked to grow the farm, giving up mixed farming and cattle to focus on grapevines. In the 1970s, they developed direct-selling and were pioneers of this type of marketing. The entire family was involved in the business, while Gaston focused on the winemaking, while the rest of the family, including son Patrick, bottled, labelled, and wrapped the product. At the end of the week, the whole family would cross Brittany, Normandy, and other regions of Nantes to deliver their wines to cafés, restaurants, and private clients by car and trailer, and soon upgraded by a Citroën "H" van.

Patrick Girard is the third generation of the family to farm the land. From his first steps, he followed his father into the vines. After completing his studies in winemaking, Patrick joined his father to work on the farm in the late-1980s, and after a few years working with his parents, Patrick took over ownership of the estate in 1991 when Gaston retired. Perhaps it was a signal that in April 1991 the vines froze, and the crop was annihilated, just a month before his marriage to Martine in May. Patrick and Martine overcame these difficulties with bravery and ambition, and after years of hard work, with experience and knowledge acquired from former generations, the third generation of the Girard family revived the vineyard. Over the years, they also made numerous improvements using modern techniques both in the vineyard and in the wine cellar.

Today, the motto of the Girard family is the quality of the work, the precision, and the flawless quality of the wines, which have garnered numerous awards over the years. Domaine Girard has 93 acres of vines in reasoned culture, with 60% of the crop sold directly, and a range of diversified wines. Patrick works in the vineyard, is the winemaker, and also takes care of commercialization. Martine works in the wine cellar, while also preparing orders and dealing with administrative and accounting work. Patrick is also now joined by his son, Guillaume, the 4th generation of the Girard family, to farm these lands. After completing his studies in winemaking and marketing, Guillaume joined his parents at the estate in 2013 and, like his father, combines tradition and modernity.

Crafted with 100% Melon de Bourgogne, the grapes for this white wine are from 40+ year-old vines that were planted on parcels of week-to-moderate slopes, on silty, clayey and shallow soils (less than 30 cm), and with a sub-soil made up of schist and gneiss. The grapes were mechanically harvested, and upon arriving at the winery they were direct-pressed and fermented in underground, thermo-regulated vats. The wine was left on its lees for 9 to 10 months, with one or two bâtonnages (stirring the settled lees back into the wine) to increase richness and texture.

The growing season in the Loire Valley in 2022 started with a dry and relatively cool winter. There were some April frosts, but there was little damage as they occurred prior to budburst, even though budburst and flowering were early compared to normal. Temperatures warmed up in late-spring, while June saw some fortunate rain just before July's high temperatures set in and remained throughout the summer growing season, which helped keep the grapes from both rotting and disease, as well as allowing the grapes to reach phenolic ripeness. Harvest was unsurprisingly early, delivering great results with relatively high yields. The fruit was rich and ripe at harvest, while retaining acidity and aromatics. Overall, it was a very good-to-excellent vintage. Let's see how this 2022 Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine from the Loire Valley is tasting tonight...

Domaine Girard Le Fleuron de La Rebourgère Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2022 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE GIRARD LE FLEURON DE LA REBOURGÈRE MUSCADET-SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2022 - AC, Loire, France (#557207) (XD) - $16.95
Crafted with 100% Melon de Bourgogne, this has clean, fresh, and elegant aromatics of medium-high intensity rising out of the glass with ripe lemon-lime citrus, some yeasty-leesy minerality, white peach, oyster shell, and herbal aromas. It has very good weight and concentration on the medium+ to medium-full bodied, dry, and lightly honeyed palate with delicious and complex citrusy, white peach, apple-pear, spice, and saline mineral flavours. It has nicely balanced, juicy acidity and a very finely textured mouthfeel. Apple and pear notes give way to leesy and oyster shell minerals on the long, crisp, and well-balanced finish. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Domaine Girard can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO Inc.

Seppeltsfield EC405 Barossa Shiraz/Mataro 2020 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent blend of Shiraz and Mataro from the Barossa Valley in Australia. It arrived as a brand-new wine at the LCBO last month in the March 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as an Online & Flagship Exclusive, with many bottles now available both in-store and online.

It is produced by Seppeltsfield Wines, an iconic winery located on the Western Ridge of the Barossa Valley. With a rich history, Seppeltsfield combines over 420 acres of ancient vineyards, gardens, and heritage-listed architecture to handcraft quality wines and unique offerings. The Seppeltsfield estate is surrounded by a small settlement, also named Seppeltsfield, and is among the most western townships in the Barossa Valley. The picturesque region is a patchwork of vineyards on gently rolling hills, contrasted by open fields of cereal crops. The estate is a landmark of South Australia where travellers of all origins were warmly welcomed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to the generous hospitality of the Seppelt family. Today, Seppeltsfield proudly continues the Seppelt family vision of the "village", ensuring that the history, heritage, and provenance of this remarkable estate is shared with many.

Seppeltsfield was established in the Barossa Valley by Joseph and Johanna Seppelt, just 15 years after the European settlement of South Australia. In 1851, Joseph Seppelt, an emigrant from Silesia, purchased 158 acres of land with the original intention of farming tobacco, with later generations of the Seppelt family concentrating their efforts on grape growing and winemaking. Seppeltsfield flourished into the 20th century, along with the Seppelt family's expanding interest in the liquor industry. The Seppelt family is regarded as one of Australia's most successful wine dynasties as it remained within the family until 1985.

In 2007, Seppeltsfield returned to private ownership, and is now under the custodianship of proprietor Warren Randall. Mr. Randall is a qualified viticulturist and winemaker who had previously worked for the Seppelt family in the 1980s, and is supported by proud investors. The estate is viewed by Warren as a custodianship of the Seppelt family legacy. In 2010, the 1888 Gravity Cellar was recommissioned and has revitalized the estate's prowess with still wines as all super premium red Barossa varietals are once again passing though the Gravity Cellar. Originally completed in 1888, the visionary design of the Gravity Cellar was borne out of engineering logic by Oscar Benno Seppelt, son of Joseph and Johanna. The Gravity Cellar uses a gravity-fed, minimal handling approach to winemaking, which is now a coveted modern-day winemaking principle, and results in wines with heightened aromatics and purity of fruit, aided by the gentle extraction of colour, flavour, and tannin. As part of Randall Wine Group, Seppeltsfield is also committed and compliant with Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice – Winery Standard and the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia programs.

This red wine is a handcrafted blend of Shiraz (aka Syrah) and Mataro (aka Mourvèdre or Monastrell), a wine that celebrates the winemaking art of assemblage (bench blending) to achieve a final blended wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. The "EC" (East Cellar) part of the name of this wine goes back to the earliest red varietal blends that were first released by Seppeltsfield's founding family in the 1960s. While the composition of each wine varied with each vintage, the East Cellar code was a unique reference to where the wines were rested and matured in oak barrels prior to release.

The EC405 borrows the legacy of earlier EC bottlings, and brings together the traditional blend of Shiraz and Mataro. This 2020 vintage of the EC405 is a blend of 66% Shiraz and 34% Mataro. The Shiraz is made up of a parcel grown on Seppeltsfield's "V-Block" Vineyard in the western part of the valley and a parcel grown on Seppeltsfield's "Chooks Block" in the southern part of the valley, while the Mataro was sourced from a grower vineyard on the western ridge. The grapes used to craft the EC405 were fermented at their 1888 Gravity Cellar, which is built into the hillside on a series of terraces. Gravity guides the flow of the fruit through the winery, delivering gentle extraction of colour, flavour, and tannins. Each vineyard parcel was kept separate throughout the entire process, including maturation in seasoned French oak hogsheads. Bench blend trials were then conducted by the Seppeltsfield winemaking team, prior to assemblage and bottling.

While the 2020 growing season proved to be yet another challenging vintage, which led to reduced yields, and in turn, reducing supply, the quality of what was produced is high. Let's see how this 2020 Barossa Shiraz/Mataro is tasting tonight...

Seppeltsfield EC405 Barossa Shiraz/Mataro 2020 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

SEPPELTSFIELD EC405 BAROSSA SHIRAZ/MATARO 2020 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#33561) (XD) - $33.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 66% Shiraz and 34% Mataro has an elegant, fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of ripe, sweet black and purple fruits, blackberry, black cherry, and potpourri aromas with accents of savoury earth, iron, and minty herbs. It's medium-full to full-bodied with well-structured, rustic tannins and black-purple fruited and savoury flavours of blackberry, black cherry, sweet cassis, peppery spice, and graphite with persistent savoury mineral and cocoa characters. Acids are crisp and juicy. Some spice notes on the mid-palate taper to savoury graphite and mineral flavours on the long, grippy finish, with excellent length. Enjoy now to 2040. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Small quantities of other Seppeltsfield Wines are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

Kir-Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent, vegan-friendly Assyrtiko from Greece that officially arrives at the LCBO this weekend as The $18 Solution in the April 27th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Kir-Yianni, a winery that was founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris, one of the leading figures in the Greek wine industry and from the renowned Boutaris wine family. Yiannis' grandfather, John Boutaris, established the Boutari Wine Group in 1879, but Yiannis left the family's wine business to set his own path.

The beginnings of Kir-Yianni are rooted in the eastern foothills of Mt. Vermion, in Yianakohori, near the town of Naoussa, where Yiannis Boutaris planted 40 hectares of Xinomavro vines in 1970. This vineyard would later become Ktima Kir-Yianni. In 1985, Yiannis planted 20 hectares of white varieties in the highlands to the west of Mt. Vermion, in the area of Amyndeon. Over the next five years, Yiannis planted Merlot and Syrah in selected vineyard parcels at Ktima Kir-Yianni, varieties which were perfectly suited to the area's mesoclimate.

In 1996, Yiannis purchased an old winery in the village of Agios Panteleimon. This building was nicknamed "Paranga", or Shack, and would go on to become the Kir-Yianni winery in Amyndeon - where this wine was crafted. In 1997, Kir-Yianni was officially founded with the first vintage that was entirely vinified at the newly built Ktima Kir-Yianni winery.

Today, Kir-Yianni is led by Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis, and the fifth generation of the Boutaris family of winemakers. Stellios became the managing director of Kir-Yianni in 1999, and was joined soon thereafter by his brother, Mihalis, who returned from his studies at UC Davis. During this period, there was intense experimentation and research on the Xinomavro varietal, with the new generation of Xinomavro wines borne in 2003 based on the results of these experiments. Between 2004 and 2006, 28 hectares of vineyards were re-planted with Xinomavro and other Greek and international varieties, with a focus on ensuring that each varietal is planted on the most appropriate vineyard parcel. With 10 more hectares of vineyards acquired in 2009, Kir-Yianni became one of Greece's largest vineyards.

The philosophy at Kir-Yianni is a fine balance between a hundred-year-long family tradition and the use of new and innovative winemaking techniques. The aim of Kir-Yianni is to produce appealing wines that reflect the potential of the Greek vineyard and its indigenous varieties. Activities in the vineyard and at the winery are based on the principles of integrated farming, with concern about protecting the environment. Kir-Yianni takes proper care in the vineyard, strict selection on the vine and in the cellar, micro-vinifies, and meticulously blends - core practices which endow Kir-Yianni wines with typicity, ageing potential, and consistent quality from vintage to vintage.

This 100% Assyrtiko was grown at an altitude of 700 metres within the Agios Panteleimon viticulture zone, in the Amyndeon appellation of Northwestern Greece. The vines are young, averaging only 8-10 years old, and are planted on poor sandy soil, which helps deliver wines of exquisite finesse and an intense aromatic character. The climate in this region is mildly continental with cold winters, warm summers, and is influenced by the four neighbouring lakes. To vinify this wine, the grapes were carefully destemmed and crushed, and maintained skin contact in order to maximize the extraction of aroma precursors. It was fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks, and remained on its fine lees for an extended period of 4-5 months in order to gain more volume and complexity.

With the impact of climate change, the 2023 growing season began as a very dry and almost warm winter, without the usual snowfall, followed by a nice, cold spring. A very wet June presented challenges for grape health, but Kir Yianni did manage well due to extensive work in the vineyard. In July, there were heat waves which stressed the vines, but warm days and cool nights during harvest season helped save the vintage. Let's see how this 2023 Assyrtiko is tasting tonight...

Kir-Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

KIR-YIANNI LE NORD ASSYRTIKO 2023 - Vegan, IGP Florina, Greece (#25707) (XD) - $18.00
Screw cap. Fragrant and intense, the medium-high intensity nose delivers elegant lemon citrus, floral, leesy-stony minerality, ripe pear, spice, and grapefruit aromas with some nuanced orchard fruit notes. It's medium-full bodied with impressive weight, concentration, and depth on the dry, structured palate. Lovely ripe lemon citrus, grapefruit, floral, leesy-stony minerality, pear, and white peach flavours are neatly balanced. It has crisp, clean, juicy, and structured acidity, along with some spice notes and a chalky mineral texture on the mid-palate. Oyster shell mineral flavours with touches of spice linger on the long, crisp, and well-balanced finish. Buy six and enjoy one each year to the end of the decade. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other fine wines by Kir-Yianni are available at the LCBO, and through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

April 27, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Paso Robles + Bordeaux's Right Bank

LCBO Wine Picks: April 27, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here's my top wine picks from the April 27, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. The main feature of this release focuses on wines from Paso Robles, and for the first time in a very long time, there is a mini-theme, and it takes a brief look at Bordeaux's Right Bank. Also in this release is a fine selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive (FE) wines. All 93 wines will be available for purchase by Saturday, if not a couple of days earlier.

We'll begin with the theme on wines from Paso Robles - A Region to Watch. While I agree that Paso Robles is a region to watch, especially after tasting many fine wines from the region at the recent California wine tasting, only one of the wines from the theme is included among my top wine picks - the wine by Austin Hope that is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Not from the theme, but also in this release is a fine Paso Robles Cab by DAOU that is actually a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Petit Verdot.

DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (93+ pts)

Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (92 pts)

I am delighted to see the return of the mini-theme. However, four wines are not enough to turn it into any kind of theme. Of the four wines from the mini-theme on Bordeaux's Right Bank in this release, the lone wine recommendation is from the AC Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion appellation and is a Merlot-based blend.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Italy with a Chianti Classico that is composed of approximately 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, and 5% Syrah, followed by the Super Tuscan, which is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. Other blends include a red from Languedoc that consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, as well as The Tragically Hip red from Niagara that is a blend of 54% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pinot wine lovers can sip local with a fine Pinot Noir from Niagara, or look abroad for an excellent Pinot Noir from Martinborough in New Zealand.

Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2021

Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Pinot Noir 2021 (90 pts)

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is from Spain, and it is equal parts Chardonnay and Macabeo. Mono-varietal white wines include a fantastic, vegan-friendly Assyrtiko from Greece, a Chardonnay from California, and a Melon de Bourgogne from the Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine appellation in Loire. From Italy, there is a wine made with Fiano from Campania, and a Pecorino from Abruzzo. On the local front, there is a Chardonnay and a perennially excellent dry Riesling, both from Niagara.

Umani Ronchi Centovie Pecorino 2020 (92 pts)

Other wines from the main release include a pair of lovely rosé wines - a Pinot Noir rosé from Niagara, while the rosé from Provence is composed of 58% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, and 2% Mourvèdre. The last wine is a fortified wine from Spain - a Vermouth - that is a sweet blend of 50% Palomino and 50% Pedro Ximenez.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!