LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Friday, May 9, 2025

May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fizz

LCBO Wine Picks: May 10, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the May 10, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (link to flipbook). In time for Mother's Day this weekend, the feature story of this release is titled "Fizz" and looks at sparkling wines for various occasions. It is a compact release with only 77 products offered, and a whopping 32 wines are among my recommended buys. All the wines should already be available for purchase in-store (and online), if not by this Saturday.

Like the rest of the release, the feature story on sparkling wines for various occasions is a bit on the small side, with only eleven wines offered, and three included among my top sparkling wine picks. According to the magazine, the 2021 vintage sparkling wine from Ontario, which is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, is ideal for garden parties. The other two fizz recommendations are delicious with dinner, with the 2020 Brilliant Sparkling crafted with 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier, while the South African sparkler is roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Flat Rock Riddled Sparkling 2021 (91 pts)

Red wine recommendations from the main release begin in France, with a lovely Côtes du Rhône that is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault, followed by a Roussillon red that is composed of Syrah and Old Vines Grenache. Other blends are from Italy, with the perennial favourite Etna Rosso, which is composed of Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese, and the Lucente Super Tuscan, which is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo, while the Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese. The only other blend among my red wine picks is from Coonawarra, and it is majority Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz, Malbec, and Merlot rounding out the blend. There's also an Australian Shiraz, while the Rioja is 100% Tempranillo.

Perez Cruz Piedra Seca Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (91 pts)

Castello di Radda Chianti Classico 2021 (90+ pts)

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet/ Shiraz/ Malbec/ Merlot 2022 (89 pts)

My white wine picks begin on the local front with the white wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake that is a blend of 63% Chardonnay, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, 15%Sémillon, and 5% Viognier, followed by an off-dry (i.e. lightly sweet) Riesling from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. The only other white wine blend is from the Rhône Valley, and it consists of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Among the single varietal wines, go off the beaten path and try the Jacquère varietal from Savoie, or the Catarratto Lucido from Sicily. There are also a pair of Assyrtikos from Greece, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, a Garganega from Soave, and a pair of Chardonnays - one from Chablis, and one from Australia.

Jean Perrier & Fils Cuvée Gastronomie Chignin 2023 (90 pts)

Bertani Sereole Soave Classico 2023 (89 pts)

d'Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2022 (88 pts)

Among my top rosé wine recommendations, all are of the dry style. From Provence, the M de Minuty Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Tibouren, while the Triennes Rosé is principally Cinsault, blended with Grenache, Syrah, and Merlot. The rosé from Australia is a blend of 52% Grenache, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Vermentino, while the rosé from Ontario is the lone mono-varietal rosé, and is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2022 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $19.95
BASTIDE MIRAFLORS SYRAH/ VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE 2022 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#320499) (XD) - $19.95
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CABERNET/ SHIRAZ/ MALBEC/ MERLOT 2022 - Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, South Australia (#511600) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
D'ANGELO AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2020 - DOC, Basilicata, Italy (#971689) (XD) - $19.95
CASTELLO DI RADDA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#16448) (XD) - $22.95 90+ pts wine review
PEREZ CRUZ PIEDRA SECA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, DO Maipo Andes, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#36167) (XD) - $22.95 91 pts wine review

IZADI RESERVA 2020 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#461269) (XD) - $23.95 90+ pts wine review
WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2022 - Clare Valley / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
TORNATORE ETNA ROSSO 2021 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
LA VITE LUCENTE 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#747030) (XD) - $32.95 91 pts wine review
COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 - AC, France (#48884) (XD) - $32.95
CLOSSON CHASE CHURCHSIDE PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#265074) (XD) - $50.00
FATTORIA DEI BARBI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#372938) (XD) - $58.95

White Wine:

D'ARENBERG THE OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY 2022 - Adelaide Hills / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#702845) (XD) - $17.95 88 pts wine review
COURTOIS LA SOURCE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, AP, France (#40368) (XD) - $18.95
ZACHARIAS ASSYRTIKO 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#588814) (XD) - $18.95
BERTANI SEREOLE SOAVE CLASSICO 2023 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#13359) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
JEAN PERRIER & FILS CUVÉE GASTRONOMIE CHIGNIN 2023 - AP, Savoie, France (#41428) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
ORGANIZED CRIME WILD FERMENT RIESLING 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11952) (D) - $21.95
RAPITALÀ VIGNA CASALJ ALCAMO CLASSICO 2022 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#39654) (XD) - $21.95
REYNEKE ORGANIC CHENIN BLANC 2024 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#41447) (XD) - $21.95
TSIMBIDI ASSYRTIKO 2023 - PGI Laconia, Greece (#35687) (XD) - $23.95
BÈGUE-MATHIOT VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2023 - AC, Burgundy, France (#524959) (XD) - $41.95
STRATUS WHITE 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#660704) (XD) - $49.20

Rosé Wine:

ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SCARLET LADYBIRD ROSÉ 2024 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#408476) (XD) - $18.95
MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $21.95 90+ pts wine review
TRIENNES ROSÉ 2024 - IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France (#409771) (XD) - $21.95 90+ pts wine review
M DE MINUTY ROSÉ 2024 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#575316) (XD) - $28.95

Sparkling Wine:

GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT NOIR/ CHARDONNAY ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (XD) - $24.95
FLAT ROCK RIDDLED SPARKLING 2021 - Sustainable, Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#383315) (D) - $39.95 91 pts wine review
WESTCOTT BRILLIANT SPARKLING 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#44695) (XD) - $47.95

Dessert Wine:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS RIESLING ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471839, 200 mL) (S) - $34.95 92 pts wine review

Lakeview Cellars Riesling Icewine 2019 (92 pts)

Château Tanesse 2020 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Bordeaux red from the Right Bank that arrived at the LCBO as the Wine of the Month in the April 26th LCBO VINTAGES Release Collection.

It is produced by Vignobles Gonfrier, a prominent, family-owned wine producer whose journey began when Paul Gonfrier and his wife, Marie-José, left their native land of Algeria in 1962 to start a wine business in Lestiac-sur-Garonne, Gironde, in the great wine region of Bordeaux. Paul bought Château de Marsan, which was in ruins at the time, but was surrounded by promising terroirs. He began the adventure with three hectares of grapes, then developed the property's arboricultural activity with the help of the entire family.

Paul's three sons became actively involved in the estate and in local life, with his eldest son, Pierre, becoming mayor of the local municipality, while Philippe became involved in running the property at a very early age, and the youngest son, Eric, carrying out his first vinification in 1985. The Gonfrier family continued to grow the estate with each passing year, with the objective of excellence: ensuring that each variety of grape is carefully selected to best express each plot's special characteristics, while also employing vinification techniques among the vines and in the cellar that seek to allow the terroir to express its finest qualities.

Today, Vignobles Gonfrier is led by brothers Eric and Philippe Gonfrier. Their recognition of exceptional quality wines has allowed them to acquire additional vineyards to further refine their blends. With over 1,000 hectares of vines, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, the Gonfrier family goes out of its way to craft top-quality wines with sensitivity and respect for the concept of terroir. The third-generation of the family is also now involved in the family business, with Thibault, Philippe’s son, joining the company and expending great effort on taking care of the well-maintained vineyards in an environmentally respectful manner. In 2018, Thibault's sister, Audrey, also joined the company following her successful time spent at a Bordeaux wine merchant. Eric's three children are currently finishing up their studies and are eager to integrate into the family business by implementing new modern skills and knowledge. Their deep-rooted values are: passion for their work, respect for their clients, respect for their commitments, respect for the environment, and defence of their independence and freedom of action.

Château Tanesse is located in the Langoiran district of the AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, a sub-appellation of the within the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Built in the second half of the 18th century by the Tanesse family, the Bordeaux charterhouse is located on a high hillock among Langoiran's sloping vineyards, and overlooks the commune's medieval 13th-century castle and offers a magnificent, panoramic view that stretches from the edge of the Sauternais to the outskirts of Bordeaux, while following the meanders of the Garonne River. The property is surrounded by a 30-hectare vineyard that sits atop very old foundations and has exceptional terroir.

This red wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc that was grown on gravelly and clayey-gravelly slopes atop a calcareous subsoil in the vineyard surrounding the Château. The vineyard is managed using sustainable viticulture (certified HVE3), while the Gonfrier family is also committed to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach certified by Ecovadis. The vines average 25 years old and were trained in the traditional Bordeaux-style, with two canes and a flat arch, along with controlled grassing-down of the vine rows or mechanical working of the soil in order to improve the soils' vitality and biodiversity. The grapes were manually green harvested, to allow for homogeneous distribution and proper aeration of the grape bunches, while also mechanically harvested. After destemming, crushing, and vatting, the grapes were fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks, with a prolonged maceration to extract tannins and showcase the terroir. And finally, the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Despite the pandemic, the 2020 growing season produced a legendary vintage. The growing season began with a balmy but frequently wet spring, which ensured both an early and successful budburst and flowering, while also putting the vineyards in good shape for the arrival of a hot and dry summer. Conditions were mostly arid throughout summer, with intermittent thunderstorms providing just enough water relief. The Right Bank had fewer deluges than the Left, but producers still had to be extremely vigilant at managing disease. Harvest took place during the chaos of COVID, but the weather in fall brought warm days and chilly nights, allowing the Bordeaux varieties to reach phenolic ripeness. While yields were slightly smaller than average, the fruit was healthy and of high quality. Let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU TANESSE 2020 - Sustainable, AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#666628) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc is richly fragrant and inviting, with a medium-high to highly aromatic nose of lovely ripe dark fruits, black cherry, currant, cassis, and wood spice aromas surrounding a core of savoury earth and accented with graphite, mineral, and whiffs of rose floral. It's medium+ bodied and dry with ripe black cherry, currant, cassis, earthy, and graphite flavours in a well-balanced profile with crisp and juicy acidity. Accessible, medium-level tannins are well-structured and provide a nicely textured mouthfeel. Savoury with earthy and graphite notes linger on the long, gently grippy finish. Should drink nicely into the early 2030s. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Vignobles Gonfrier can be ordered through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

Prosper Maufoux Domaine Vigne au Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2023 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Pinot Noir from Burgundy that made its debut at the LCBO in last weekend's April 26th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Maison Prosper Maufoux, an historic wine producer based in Burgundy. It was founded in 1860 by a notary who left his job to create the eponymous wine house, with success following soon thereafter, and then a move into a private mansion located in the main square in Santenay. The family winery continued to grow over the years, becoming a world-renowned name. In 1947, Prosper Maufoux formed a partnership with The House of Burgundy, an importer based in New York. In 1994, Robert Fairchild, then president of this leading American partner, bought the House of Prosper Maufoux.

Today, Maison Prosper Maufoux is owned by the Piffaut family as they acquired the property in 2010. The Piffaut family has wine-growing roots in Burgundy that go back over two hundred years. In 2015, the family acquired Château de Saint-Aubin, a building with a 300-year history, and its exceptional vineyards, and the building is now the new wine house for Prosper Maufoux. Situated in the heart of Côte de Beaune, on the road to the Grands Crus, the estate has 9 hectares of mythical terroirs on the property and overlooks Clos du Château. The exceptional Prosper Maufoux winery was built from scratch fairly recently and resides under the main courtyard of the Château.

Prosper Maufoux is committed to a sustainable approach in the vineyard and at the winery, and is certified to High Environmental Value (HEV) level 3. Among their many sustainable initiatives include biodiversity of species through a strategy of controlled protection and economical management of resources. Their viticultural philosophy is based on experience and observation: learning from the past and their predecessors, understanding their soils and the long-term impact of their cultivation practices. With environmental research, they implement some of the most advanced techniques in sustainable viticulture, which allows Prosper Maufoux to imagine the future in the most respectful way possible for their terroirs.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir that was grown at Domaine Vigne au Roy, which cultivates 36 hectares of vines in the commune of Bevy, within the regional appellation of Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. More specifically, the vineyard is situated on the slopes of the valleys incising the Jurassic limestone plateaux to the west of the Côte-de-Nuits, at an altitude of between 300 and 400 metres. The composition of the soil in the vineyard is identical to that of the Côte-de-Nuits, but the surface formations are very thin, or even non-existent, and result in clay-limestone soils that are formed based on the substratum of limestone and marl.

To craft this wine, the grapes were manually harvested, sorted, de-stemmed, and then carefully transferred to the vat by conveyor belt, followed by a cold maceration at 10°C for 4 to 5 days. Fermentation lasts for 18 to 20 days, with regular punch-downs or pump-over skins, and is monitored by daily tastings. The pressed juice and free-run juice were then blended into stainless steel vats and lightly settled, then matured in both vats and barrels to undergo full malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 10 months in both stainless steel vats and French oak barrels, with the barrels having a light blond toast, and 20% new.

The 2023 growing season in Burgundy produced a good vintage with expectations running high. It began with a relatively benign winter, followed by a spring that oscillated between both unseasonably warm and chilly days, including spring frosts, which led to an inconsistency that delayed budbreak. Flowering was successful, despite some thunderstorms, while summer brought more storms, along with high temperatures that created humid conditions - forcing producers to be vigilant in monitoring disease. Conditions were balmy in the lead-up to harvest, followed by very good weather during harvest as pickers harvested the grapes in the morning to avoid the heat during the day, while also ensuring that the grapes retained their freshness. Quantity and quality are both abundant in this vintage, while Pinot Noir looks to be promising, even though conditions were slightly warmer than which the grape typically excels in. From a good vintage with high expectations, let's see how this 2023 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Pinot Noir from Burgundy is tasting tonight...

Prosper Maufoux Domaine Vigne au Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2023 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

PROSPER MAUFOUX DOMAINE VIGNE AU ROY BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES DE NUITS 2023 - AP, Burgundy, France (#43436) (XD) - $31.95
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose takes some coaxing to reveal attractive aromas of black cherry, currant, and rose petals flecked with strawberry, while surrounding a core of savoury earth and mushroom. The medium+ bodied palate has good weight and concentration that supports the spiced, ripe black cherry, mushroom, savoury earth, currant, and strawberry flavours. Crisp acids are juicy and succulent. Impressively structured with textured tannins, plus some herbal notes on the mid-palate add further complexity. Black cherry and currants give way to savoury earth and mushroom notes on the long, crisp, and well-structured finish. Immensely enjoyable now, but will improve with a couple of years in the cellar. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Prosper Maufoux can be ordered through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

DAME Beverage Co. Hard Seltzer and Italian Spritzers (Ontario) - Reviews

Tonight's reviews are a trio of lovely ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages crafted in Ontario, Canada, by DAME Beverage Co.

Founded by Melissa Pulvermacher in 2023, DAME Beverage is based on a simple philosophy of crafting ridiculously delicious beverages while committing to keeping them clean and pure. The focus is on sourcing good quality ingredients, balance, quality, and flavour, while avoiding unnecessary additives.

DAME Beverage currently consists of three ready-to-drink ("RTD" for short) beverages that are crafted using all-natural and plant-based recipes, while also being mindful of sugar. All three products are 100% Canadian-crafted and canned in Toronto, Ontario, using all-natural ingredients, and are vegan & gluten-free. DAME's masterfully crafted hard seltzers and Italian Spritz cocktails provide a refreshing and delicious drinking experience straight from the can, poured over ice, or into your favourite fancy glass with a fresh fruit garnish.

In addition to elevating the canned beverage experience, as a female-founded company, DAME is also working on fuelling education, mentorship, and bursary programs for women to build sustainable careers in the hospitality and drinks business. Later in 2025, DAME Beverage will be launching "The Dame Dialogue" - a mentorship program pairing 'Dames' who have well-established careers and leadership positions in food and beverage with women looking to navigate personal and professional growth in the industry.

The Blood Orange Italian Spritz was just recently launched at LCBO outlets across Ontario, while the full range of ready-to-drink beverages can be ordered (and shipped across Canada) through damebeverage.com. Restaurants and licensees can order these beverages through Cru Wine Merchants.

After enjoying all three of these RTDs, I can tell you that Melissa and her team make really DAME good beverages, while also allowing you to drink better.

Tasting Notes:

DAME BLACK CHERRY VANILLA HARD SELTZER - Ontario, Canada - $3.45
Fragrant and very attractive aromas of black cherry and blueberry with hints of vanilla rise out of the glass. It honestly reminds me of a blue raspberry freezie. Delicately carbonated in a frizzante sparkling style, it has gentle flavours of black cherry, blue raspberry, and vanilla, with a kiss of sweetness on the mid-palate, while the refreshing finish is clean and dry. Crafted with a pure neutral grain spirit. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in a glass with a splash of your favourite cola and garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

DONNA SICILIAN LEMON WITH SEA SALT - Ontario, Canada - $3.55
Fresh, attractive aromas of Meyer lemon rise out of the glass. It's light-to-mid-weighted on the zesty palate with Meyer lemon and lemon peel aromas that give way to hints of bitters, herbs, and thyme with a pinch of salt at the tail end. Crafted in a frizzante style with light effervescence that balances the gently sweet flavours. Crafted with pure neutral grain spirit, Canadian bitters, Meyer lemon concentrate, Italian sea salt, organic cane sugar, and Sicilian lemon natural flavour extract. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in your favourite glass and garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and sprig of thyme.

DONNA BLOOD ORANGE ITALIAN SPRITZ - Ontario, Canada (#42798) - $3.95
Fresh, lifted aromas of blood orange, citrus, grapefruit, and floral accented with bitters. It's gently sweet on the medium+ bodied palate with more blood orange, citrus, and floral flavours, plus some bitters and rosemary undertones adding savoury characters. It has palate refreshing acidity and is crafted in a frizzante style with light bubbles. The gently sweet mid-palate gives way to a citrus peel, lemony, and rosemary finish. Crafted with a pure neutral grain spirit and Canadian bitters. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in a glass with a fresh orange slice and sprig of rosemary.

Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer 2024 and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's white wine reviews are a pair of lovely, vegan-friendly, sustainable, and locally crafted wines from Niagara. Both of these wines were bottled at the beginning of February and arrived at the LCBO in the April 12th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer 2024 (90 pts) and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (90 pts)

These wines are grown and produced locally by Niagara's own Featherstone Estate Winery. Established in 1999 by Dave Johnson and Louise Engel in the celebrated sub-appellation of Twenty Mile Bench in the Niagara Peninsula, Featherstone has a dedication to excellence in food and a passion for wine.

First planted in the 1970s, the grape crop from the Featherstone vineyard was sold to a large wine conglomerate until 1999, after which the first Featherstone wines were produced. The Riesling planted on the site in 1978 are some of the oldest Riesling vines in Niagara, while the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc that were planted in 1986 continue to thrive. Today, the entire crop is bottled to produce Featherstone wines.

Featherstone has distinguished itself with pride in being insecticide-free since 1999 and are the practitioners of eco-friendly farming. Featherstone Winery farms naturally and cultivates wine sustainably, encouraging an environment that is healthy and completely unique, with a belief that this individuality translates into their wines. Beginning with the 2023 vintage, Featherstone has been certified sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO), assuring wine drinkers that the complete grape-to-glass cycle is sustainable. Moreover, the SWO certification ensures that the grapes are grown and the Ontario VQA wine is crafted with sustainability at the forefront of each winery and vineyard's business philosophy.

In February 2024, Featherstone began a new chapter as Rayla and George Myhal acquired the winery from Dave and Louise. A transformative purchase in the year celebrating Featherstone's 25th anniversary, Rayla and George look to build on the successes of the past, while Dave and Louise look forward to their retirement.

The philosophy at Featherstone remains unchanged. As grape growing and winemaking are both scientific and intuitive processes, the wines are crafted to reflect the special character of the grapes, as well as the artistry of the winemaker, along with a focus on creating food-oriented, rich, clean, and brisk wines. Featherstone works throughout the growing season to enhance each grape's natural attributes, to ensure at harvest that the grapes will produce exceptional wines with minimal winemaking embellishments. They continue to use a small-lot, hands-on, artisanal approach to wine production. More than 20 years ago, Featherstone was one of the first wineries to use Canadian oak barrels, and Canadian oak continues to play an expanding role in many wines, including the Sauvignon Blanc.

Both grapes were completely harvested by the middle of October. The Sauvignon Blanc was crushed, destemmed and allowed to cold soak for 8 hours. 80% of the Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel with a selected yeast strain, while the remainder underwent uncontrolled fermentation in neutral Canadian oak barrels. The Sauvignon Blanc was racked off lees several times before final fining. To craft the Gewürztraminer, the grapes were cold-soaked and fermented with a selected yeast strain. It was fermented at 15°C, then racked off gross lees immediately after fermentation was completed.

From an excellent 2024 growing season that produced grapes with plenty of ripeness and acidity that would yield wines with both concentration and freshness, let's see how these two white wines from Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
The fresh, fragrant, and fairly intense nose delivers grassy, grapefruit, lemon citrus, apple, and white peach aromas accented with ripe tropical fruit and green herbs. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it shows impressive concentration and weight supporting the lovely grassy, grapefruit, lemon citrus, and ripe tropical fruit flavours. It has a finely textured mouthfeel and juicy, food-friendly acidity. Clean and well-balanced, it has ripe tropical fruit, grapefruit, and lemon citrus notes on the long, fruity, crisp, and textured finish. Score: 90 pts

Featherstone Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (90 pts)

FEATHERSTONE PHOENIX GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#519025) (D) - $18.95
Seems a bit shy at the moment, offering a medium+ intensity nose of honeydew melon, lychee, and rose petal aromas layered over ripe lemon citrus and apple. Rosewater aromas emerge with time in the glass and gain prominence. On the gently sweet, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious, honeyed flavours of ginger spice, rosewater, honeydew melon, lemon zest flavours accented with apricot and grapefruit notes. Framed by fresh and lively acidity, it also has a fairly richly textured mouthfeel. Some spice notes give way to honeyed, lemon zest, and lychee on the long, savoury, and leesy mineral finish. Bottled only a couple of months ago, this has room to improve and grow and will be even better after a few years in the cellar. Should drink nicely into the early 2030s and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer 2024 (90 pts)

There are many lovely wines by Featherstone available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered direct from the winery online, or by visiting them in Niagara.

LCBO Wine Picks: April 26, 2025 VINTAGES New Release Collection

Here are my top wine picks from the April 26, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here). Normally, this would've been the release where the focus was on wines from California, but with the current tariff situation, we get a release titled "Warm-Weather Wines" instead, while the mini-theme has a miniscule three wines from Victoria, Australia. Having said that, it is a very good release with 95 wines offered, Ontario wines shining brightly, and also includes nearly two dozen Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. Many wines are already available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, and all should be available by Saturday.

We'll begin with the feature story of "Warm-Weather Wines", which includes fourteen wines, nearly half from Ontario, and has a fine mix of white, (lighter) red, rosé, and sparkling wines. Seven wines from the feature story are among my top recommended buys, including all six wines from Ontario. First up are a pair of lovely vintage sparkling wines, with the Blanc de Blancs crafted with 100% Chardonnay, while the rosé sparkling is made with 100% Pinot Noir. Among the white wines from Ontario, the Fumé Blanc is a lovely barrel fermented and aged Sauvignon Blanc, while the Leaning Post Chardonnay was fermented and aged in concrete. The Marsanne includes a splash of (2.4%) Viognier and (2.4%) Pinot Gris. The last white wine from Ontario is a mildly sweet Riesling from Niagara. The lone red comes from Beaujolais, and it is crafted with Gamay.

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc de Blancs 2017 (92 pts)

Kew Rosalie Rosé Sparkling 2019 (90+ pts)

Red wine blends from the main release begin with the Wine of the Month - a fabulous Bordeaux red that is composed of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Staying in France, there are a trio of wines from the Southern Rhône Valley - the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 70% Grenache and the rest mainly Syrah, the Cairanne is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan, and the Luberon is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. For Pinot Noir wine lovers, look to the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits from Burgundy, or the fine local Pinot from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. And lastly, from Italy, the Brunello di Montalcino is crafted with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 90/10 Sangiovese and Merlot.

Bachelder Beam City Pinot Noir 2021 (92+ pts)

Mazzei Ser Lapo Riserva Chianti Classico 2021 (91 pts)

Brotte Grosset Création Cairanne 2021 (90 pts)

M. Chapoutier La Ciboise Luberon 2022 (88+ pts)

From my top white wine recommendations, the Bachelder Chardonnay grown in the Twenty Mile Bench has to be among the best from Niagara. There's also an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, as well as a blend of Rabigato, Viosinho, and Códega do Larinho from Portugal. Other blends include the white from Roussillon that is 80/20 Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, and the white wine from Crete in Greece is a blend of 60% Muscat of Spina and 40% Vidiano.

Among my rosé wine picks, the dry rosé from Provence is crafted with 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre, while the rosé from Niagara is a co-fermented blend of 94% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon that has a hint of sweetness.

Black Bank Hill Runway Rosé 2023 (89 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!