LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Saturday, November 16, 2024

November 16, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Giftable Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: November 16, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the November 16, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is titled "Enjoyful Gifts", while the mini-theme spotlights the wines from Greece. This is a large release with more than 140 wines offered, and includes quite a few wines that are Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). Overall, it is a very fine release with many fine gifting options and wines for the cellar. All these wines should be readily available for purchase across Ontario.

With the holidays fast-approaching, the main thematic of this release is "Enjoyful Gifts" and it features twenty-eight gift-giving options that are mostly red with a few bubbles, and eight of which are included among my wine picks. We'll start with the 46th edition of the Franciacorta, which is a blend of 79.5% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Nero, and 1.5% Pinot Bianco. Moving on to the reds, the Napa Valley Cab is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, while the Luce Super Tuscan is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The last blend in this group is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is a blend of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Vaccarèse. Among single varietal giftable wines, there is the 2020 Pinot Noir from Niagara, the Pinot Noir from Oregon, as well as a pair of Nebbiolo wines, one of which is a Barolo.

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2020 (93+ pts)

Sokol Blosser Estate Pinot Noir 2021 (92 pts)

Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo 2022 (91+ pts)

Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Extra Brut Franciacorta (91+ pts)

The mini-spotlight on Greek wines in this release only(!) includes three wines, and the one wine included among my recommendations is a lovely Assyrtiko that returned to VINTAGES this month after being first released last March.

My red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Niagara with a fine 2021 Pinot Noir, followed by the Bolgheri, which is a blend of 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. From France, the Bordeaux red is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Rhône red is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support, and the Roussillon red, which is approximately 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. The only other blend is from South Africa, and it is crafted with 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 18% Petit Verdot, 18% Merlot, and 2% Malbec. The single varietal wines are the Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and the Rioja from Spain, which is crafted with 100% Tempranillo.

Poggio al Tesoro Il Seggio 2021 (92 pts)

Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (89 pts)

Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (89 pts)

Among my top white wine picks, both whites at the lower end of the price scale are blends, with the Roussillon composed of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, and Macabeu, while the Vinho Verde is a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho. All the other white wines are single varietal wines, led by a trio of Chardonnay wines - a pair from Niagara and one from Burgundy. If you enjoy sweeter wines, the Riesling Spätlese from Mosel will delight!

Deux Roches Les Pommards Saint-Véran 2021 (93 pts)

And lastly, there is a fine group of sparkling wines for your next holiday celebration. The Champagne is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Meunier, the sparkling wine from Chile is crafted with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, while the rosé Prosecco is made with Glera and Pinot Nero.

Montes Sparkling Angel Brut Sparkling (91 pts)

Villa Sandi Il Fresco Millesimato Brut Rosé Prosecco 2023 (90+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
CAP ROYAL ROUGE 2020 - Vegan, AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#486761) (XD) - $18.95
BASTIDE MIRAFLORS SYRAH/VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE 2021 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#320499) (XD) - $19.95
MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#922443) (XD) - $20.95

ALTANZA RESERVA 2017 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#208223) (XD) - $21.95 89 pts wine review
RENATO RATTI OCHETTI NEBBIOLO 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#475913) (XD) - $32.95 91+ pts wine review
POGGIO AL TESORO IL SEGGIO 2021 - DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#645515) (XD) - $45.95 92 pts wine review
SOKOL BLOSSER ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#748434) (XD) - $49.95 92 pts wine review
LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $52.00 93+ pts wine review

CASCINA CHICCO ROCCHE DI CASTELLETTO BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#17697) (XD) - $54.95
BACHELDER HANCK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#41732) (XD) - $55.00 OFE
DOMAINE DES SÉNÉCHAUX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#677922) (XD) - $59.95
GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#71407) (XD) - $116.95
LUCE 2021 - IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy (#685263) (XD) - $129.95

White Wine:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2022 - AP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $16.95
MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO / ALVARINHO 2023 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $17.95
MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC 2022 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21111) (XD) - $22.95
PAPAGIANNAKOS ASSYRTIKO 2022 - Vegan, PGI Attica, Greece (#33260) (XD) - $26.95 90+ pts wine review
WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#424507) (XD) - $29.95
STUDERT-PRÜM MAXIMINHOF WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2023 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#114777) (S) - $31.95 OFE
THE PURSUIT ON SEVEN CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#21655) (XD) - $48.00 OFE
DEUX ROCHES LES POMMARDS SAINT-VÉRAN 2021 - AP, Burgundy, France (#37919) (XD) - $50.95 OFE 93 pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

VILLA SANDI IL FRESCO MILLESIMATO BRUT ROSÉ PROSECCO 2023 - DOC, Italy (#23545) (D) - $18.95 90+ pts wine review
MONTES SPARKLING ANGEL BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, DO Zapallar, Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#37122) (XD) - $22.95 OFE 91 pts wine review
CA' DEL BOSCO CUVÉE PRESTIGE EXTRA BRUT FRANCIACORTA - 46th Edition, Traditional Method, DOCG, Lombardy, Italy (#105353) (XD) - $46.95 91+ pts wine review
VEUVE CLICQUOT BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2015 - In gift box, AC, France (#588475) (XD) - $133.95 OFE

Dessert Wine:

STRATUS RIESLING ICEWINE 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#56671, 200 mL) (S) - $44.95
ROYAL TOKAJI RED LABEL 5 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZÚ 2017 - Tokaj, Hungary (#959031, 500 mL) (S) - $69.95 OFE

Skouras Wild Ferment Assyrtiko 2023 (Greece) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2022 Skouras Wild Ferment Assyrtiko last year, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO recently in last month's October 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

This white wine is produced by Domaine Skouras, a well-known winery that was founded by George Skouras. Born in Argos, a city within the Peloponnese peninsula of southern Greece, George studied oenology in Dijon (Burgundy) and realized his long-held vision to establish his own winery in his homeland in 1986.

Initially, Domaine Skouras was located in Pyrgela, a small village on the outskirts of Argos, followed by the creation of a boutique winery within the Nemea Appellation of northeastern Peloponnese, in the village of Gymno. In Nemea, George performed countless hours of manual work on a minuscule scale while learning about the Agiorgitiko variety and the Nemea denomination - lessons which became invaluable. The Nemea zone is the largest - and quite possibly the most exciting - Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for red wines in Greece, while the nearby PDO of Mantinia and other surrounding areas which do not have PDO status have excellent terroirs for viticulture. Domaine Skouras owns a number of vineyards across all these areas.

Today, Domaine Skouras is located in the highlands of Argolida, within the village of Malandreni in Nemea, in northeastern Peloponnese, just a few kilometres from Argos. The ultra-modern winemaking facility of Domaine Skouras was established in 2004 and is situated among vineyards in an area that is blessed with ideal winegrowing conditions, particularly for the Agiorgitiko variety. The two children of George and his wife, Ourania, are also energetically continuing the vision of the Domaine. Their son, Dimitris, studied Viticulture and Oenology in France, while their daughter, Stella, is a graduate of Economics and Marketing studies in Scotland.

The philosophy permeating each Skouras wine is reflected by the words: purity, varietal clarity, tracing of the region's mesoclimate, and the imprint of the terroir. The entire viticultural team works, observes, supervises, acts and reacts, advises and consults with only one aim - to achieve optimum ripeness and obtain the best possible grape - as the focus is on delivering better fruit, which in turn delivers better wine. The thrilling Skouras wines display the hallmarks of their creator: intensity, vibrancy, and complexity, characteristics which are expressed with elegance, grace, and nobility. Domaine Skouras wines are engraved with the character of their terroir.

Like the previous vintage, this white wine is crafted with 100% Assyrtiko that was grown in the village of Gymno, Nemea, at 600 metres above sea level, on red clay soil. The vines average 10 years of age, while harvest took place in September. To vinify this wine, the grapes were whole-bunch pressed and underwent alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel at 15°C, followed by ageing sur lie for 4 months, and without undergoing malolactic fermentation.

The 2023 growing season was a warm vintage that had a prevalence of downy mildew, which resulted in reduced yields. However, quality is high. Let's see how this 2023 Assyrtiko from Greece is tasting tonight...

Skouras Wild Ferment Assyrtiko 2023 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

SKOURAS WILD FERMENT ASSYRTIKO 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#32387) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is elegantly fragrant and enticing with savoury and minerally aromas flecked with lemon peel, citrus, white floral, garden herb, and grapefruit, with touches of leesy and doughy notes adding further complexity. It has impressive concentration on the medium-full bodied and dry with palate with ripe and slightly honeyed flavours of lemon peel, citrus, grapefruit, floral, and leesy mineral. There's a fine, chalky textured mouthfeel, along with clean and refreshing acidity. It's well-structured and nicely balanced throughout, with lovely mineral notes lingering on the long, finely textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Domaine Skouras can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Malbec from Argentina. While this particular vintage was featured as a Food & Drink Discovery wine that arrived in VINTAGES back in June of last year and is long sold-out, the 2022 vintage landed on VINTAGES shelves last month in the October 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available for purchase now.

It is produced by the internationally-acclaimed Zuccardi Valle de Uco, a winery that was established by Engineer Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza. As one of the pioneers of Argentine wine, Alberto planted his first vineyard in the Mendoza desert in order to demonstrate his new, innovative, and efficient irrigation system, which led him to discover his passion for viticulture and pave the way for future generations of the family. In 1985, José Alberto, son of Alberto, assumed responsibility for the management of the family business and, like his father, had an innovative and visionary spirit which made him one of Argentina's most enthusiastic wine ambassadors, while also elevating their winery and the Argentine wine industry to global recognition.

Today, the winery is run by the third generation of the Zuccardi family with viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi the current director. Sebastián joined the family business in 2007 and led the development of the high mountain region of the Uco Valley. He planted the family's first vineyard in the Uco Valley and in 2009 he established a Research & Development department within the company to study the soils and terroir of the Uco Valley to gain a deeper understanding of how they are expressed in the wines. This research has led Zuccardi to produce wines with an identity that expresses, with transparency and precision, the place where they come from. After three years of construction, Zuccardi inaugurated their new winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - in 2016 in the Paraje Altamira area of the Uco Valley. This modern winery is a tribute to the mountains of Mendoza. To this day, Sebastián and the team continue to create, innovate, and push the boundaries to develop the unique personality of Argentine wines.

Zuccardi has several lines of wines in their portfolio, with this particular Malbec coming from their "Serie A", or "Argentina Series", line which highlights the richness and diversity of Argentina's terroirs. Wines in the Serie A line express the most representative grape varieties from the best regions for each grape, and from selected vineyards at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Malbec. The grapes were hand-picked from several vineyards in the Uco Valley and placed in plastic boxes during the second week of April. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, followed by undergoing a cold maceration for 5-7 days, and then classic vinification with native yeasts and fermentation at 25-27°C. It then underwent maceration for 20 days, with periodic pumping over and délestage. A portion of the wine was aged in French oak barrels.

The growing season in 2021 produced a great vintage in the Uco Valley. The cool and humid climate allowed the clusters to reach phenolic maturity with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity, as well as great tannic structure. Zuccardi's meticulous work on separating plots and types of soil for harvesting (work which has been going for more than a decade) allowed them to harvest every corner of their vineyards at the perfect time, thus showcasing the great diversity that characterizes the Uco Valley. Let's see how this 2021 Malbec from Argentina compares with the 2016 Zuccardi Serie A Malbec that I enjoyed many years ago...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - ~~$17.00~~
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is savoury and slightly reductive with dark fruited, blackberry, plum, mocha chocolate, and oak aromas surrounding an earthy core. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is spicy with savoury, ripe, and dark fruited replays of blackberry, oak spice, earth, and black plum flavours flecked with violet and stony mineral notes adding interest. It is well-structured with crisp and juicy acidity, along with well-integrated, gently textured tannins. Savoury with stony mineral notes, plus some dried herbs linger on the long-lasting, slightly grippy finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88+ pts

Other fine wines by Zuccardi Valle de Uco can be found at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Bacchus Fréchette Wine & Spirits.

Heaphy Pinot Gris 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Pinot Gris from New Zealand that made its debut at the LCBO as a brand new arrival in last month's October 5 LCBO New Release Collection.

It is produced by Heaphy Vineyard, a wine brand that was only established in 2019, but has long roots deep into the soil of the cooler Nelson winegrowing region on the South Island of New Zealand. The brand was established, mainly for international markets, by one of Nelson's wine pioneers, Greg Day, and his wife, Amanda.

Heaphy Vineyard is situated in the northwest corner of New Zealand's South Island, in a region named Nelson Tasman. The small winery is located high above Tasman Bay, in the Moutere Hills, where they have 10 hectares of long-established vineyards planted on Moutere's signature clay soils. Some of the vines in these vineyards were first planted in 1973, and are among the oldest productive vineyards in New Zealand.

In 2022, Heaphy Vineyard was acquired by Boutinot Wines, an international producer and distributor based in Manchester, UK. Greg had a long-standing relationship with Boutinot and offered them the opportunity to buy the brand as Greg and Amanda were planning on retiring. With the acquisition, Boutinot planned to make Heaphy the largest Nelson wine brand and one of the largest New Zealand wine brands in the UK. To help achieve this goal, Boutinot purchased new equipment in order to handle the additional capacity.

Today, Heaphy Vineyard is committed to sustainability and quality winemaking, with a particular focus on crafting wines that express the unique Nelson landscape. Heaphy Vineyard has two ranges of wines - the entry-level, which is the line this Pinot Gris is from, and the premium Moutere Range. Heaphy Vineyard is certified by Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand (SWNZ), which means that their wines are crafted using grapes grown in 100% SWNZ-certified vineyards and produced in 100% SWNZ-certified winemaking facilities. Some of the SWNZ certification commitments include completing annual submissions, as well as undergoing regular on-site audits, which are conducted by an independent verification company.

This white wine is crafted using 100% Pinot Gris that was grown in a single vineyard on Moutere's clay loam soils. The grapes were hand-picked at full ripeness, then gently pressed and cold settled in stainless steel tanks. The pressing juices were separated into free run and (direct) pressings, which allows for better integration for when they eventually come together again. The two juices were then racked together for fermentation at 14°C (on average) in stainless steel tanks, which delivered a natural residual sugar (RS) level of 4.5 g/L.

From an excellent vintage, albeit with slightly lower yields, let's see how this 2023 Pinot Gris from Nelson is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#36901) (D) - $19.95
Screw cap. This single vineyard Pinot Gris has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is attractive with freshly squeezed lemon citrus and lemon peel aromas joined by grapefruit, pear, and touches of floral, pithy and mineral notes adding complexity and interest. It has good weight on the dry, fleshy, medium-full bodied palate with delicious, honeyed flavours of pear, apple, lemon citrus, and grapefruit flavours. There's a kiss of sweetness, along with spice notes on the mid-palate. Clean acids are well-balanced and juicy. It's gently spicy with flor and leesy mineral notes lingering on the long, dry, and finely textured finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 2 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Heaphy Vineyard can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, sustainable and vegan Cabernet Sauvignon (blend) that made its debut at the LCBO last month as part of the October 5th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a winery that began its life in 2003 as the unique project of the Hurtado family who have over a century's worth of winemaking experience making quality wines in the Colchagua Valley. The Hurtado family found a unique place in Marchigüe, in western Colchagua Valley, that is marked by granite stone hills which are the inspiration for the name of the winery - "CAL: Hill" and "CUrá: Stone".

The vineyards in Marchigüe have granite hills with clay seams, and are situated at altitude just 26 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. The blend of differing orientations of the slopes makes the perfect blend which reflects the personality of the vineyard, and enables each variety to showcase the characteristic freshness, structure, verve, and depth in each Calcu wine.

With the core values of excellence, perseverance, honesty, and sustainability, Calcu is seeking to redefine Colchagua through the architecture of its vineyards. Excellence is reflected in the crafting of world-class wines by using high standards throughout each process and precision winemaking. With perseverance and determination, Calcu is continuously searching to improve their wine by taking action to achieve their proposed objectives. Honesty is the intention of their wines to naturally reflect their origin, and by scarcely intervening in the vineyards, the environment, and winery management. By adopting sustainable practices, Calcu is constantly implementing new measures and technologies to be more energy efficient, reducing waste and water consumption, while also becoming more environmentally-friendly. One of Calcu's sustainable initiatives was to design their vineyards in small blocks with short rows that minimize soil erosion, while the sloping rows are intended to reduce the risk of accidents for farmworkers.

Today, the passion for the pursuit of excellence is one of the fundamental pillars of the Hurtado family business and is reflected in each of their wines. This pursuit of excellence is implemented through precision viticulture and winemaking to accurately reflect the character of Calcu Vineyards in Marchigüe. Calcu Vineyards shares a winery with its sister company, Viña Maquis, in Palmilla in the Colchagua Valley, where they make and age their wines. This winery was built in 2002 under a sustainable concept and uses gravity technology to gently move the grapes, must, and wine throughout the winery in order to preserve the aromas and flavours of each of its wines. The winery is also innovative in that it is the only winery in Chile with a geothermal plant to generate energy, which is then used for wine production, thereby reducing its consumption of gas by 90%, and electricity by 40% per litre of wine produced.

Like the 2020 Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc, which I enjoyed earlier this year and included small amounts of other grape varieties to complete the blend, this Cabernet Sauvignon includes 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. The grapes were grown at their vineyard in Marchigüe, 25 km from the Pacific Ocean, in the gentle hills of the coastal mountains where the soft breezes coming from the ocean moderate temperatures and allow the grapes to obtain freshness, aromatics, and excellent concentration. The vineyard is planted on granitic soils with important clay content that helps develop persistent aromas and increases concentration in the wine. The tiny blocks selected for this Cabernet Sauvignon have a high clay content, but are poor in organic matter, which helps to obtain lower yields, while also allowing the wines to have fantastic power, structure, and elegance.

To craft this red wine, the grapes were hand-picked, followed by hand-sorting of clusters and berries. It underwent alcoholic fermentation between 20-24°C, maceration for 18 days, and then malolactic fermentation, all in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

The 2020 growing season experienced by Calcu in the Colchagua Valley was marked by a dry and warm climate, which challenged the team to be on high alert in order to identify the right moment of harvest for each block. The time of harvest is very important because this is what allows winemakers to maintain elegance and balance, characteristics which have embodied the wines of Calcu from this terroir. From a good vintage that produced high quality wines with excellent colour intensity and high concentration, which resulted in excellent complexity and very good ageing capability, let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Vegan, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#37867) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot has a whiff of reduction off the top, giving way to reveal fresh layers of ripe red and some black fruits, currant, cassis, and fine wood spice aromas of medium-high intensity, along with touches of dried herbs. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious red and some black fruit, currant, cassis, and dried herb flavour replays with smoky oak spice accents. Touch spicy on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the ripe tannins are smooth and well-structured, with some grip on the back-palate. Minerally and savoury on the long, slightly chalky textured, and youthful finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Calcu Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.

November 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

LCBO Wine Picks: November 2, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the November 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, with the theme of the release titled "California Stars & Icons". The release is on the bigger and more expensive side of the spectrum with 121 wines offered in this release, with about two-thirds dedicated to red wines. Overall, it is a very good release, especially if you are looking for red wines, since there are a wide variety of choices at many price points, including many fine gifting options. All the wines should be readily available for purchase today!

We'll begin with the theme of the release, which looks at some of California's Stars & Icon wines. There are twelve wines included as part of the feature, and four are included among my top wine picks. The mono varietal wines include the lone white, which is a fine Napa Valley Chardonnay, and an excellent Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. Both Napa Cabs are blends, with the Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 15% Merlot, while the Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon includes 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Groth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (94 pts)

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2021 (93 pts)

There are a good number of high quality red wines from the main release, and we'll begin in Tuscany with an excellent Brunello di Montalcino that is crafted with Sangiovese, followed by a Chianti Classico that is also crafted using the same grape, while the Super Tuscan is mainly Sangiovese (79%) with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). The red from Rioja is a blend of 80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha, while the Armenian red is composed of Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Meanwhile, the red from Niagara is a blend of 48% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Bordeaux red is a Cabernet-based blend. The rest of the reds are all single varietal wines.

Banfi Poggio alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino 2019 (94 pts)

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico 2020 (88+ pts)

The only blend among my white wine recommendations is the white from Argentina, which is composed of 38% Sémillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Torrontes. Among the mono-varietal dry whites, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, and a Chardonnay from Chile. If you want something a little sweet, the Niagara Riesling is a top-notch wine.

Among my sparkling wine picks, the 2009 Dom leads the pack with a Brut Rosé that is a blend of 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay, followed by the sparkling wine from Australia that is composed of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The Cava is also a blend, consisting of approximately 70% Parellada, 15% Macabeu, and 15% Xarel·lo, while the Cap Classique from South Africa is made with straight Chenin Blanc.

Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Cap Classique Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2020 (91 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!