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  • Date publishedWednesday, January 31, 2024

February 3, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Chile & Argentina

LCBO Wine Picks: February 3, 2023 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Here's my top wine picks from the February 3, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which features wines from Chile and Argentina as the theme of the release. We're back to normal levels of wines in this release with nearly 100 products, which also includes some Online & Flagship Exclusives. All the wines should be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from Chile and Argentina - Partners in Wine. There are twenty-two wines included in the thematic, with eight among my top wine picks. We start with the whites, with a Torrontés from Argentina, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. Among the reds, the Cabernet Franc includes 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Carménère, while the Emiliana is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, and 19% Carignan. Single varietal wines include the Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir, all from Argentina, while the Puente Austral from Chile is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec 2021 (91 pts)Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate Laborum Finca El Retiro Torrontés 2022 (89 pts)

Indómita Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (89 pts)Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020 (90 pts)

Puente Austral Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (89 pts)Emiliana Novas Stellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah / Carignan 2021 (88+ pts)

From my top red wine recommendations, Tuscany leads that way with the iconic Cepparello, as well as the Gran Selezione, both of which are crafted with 100% Sangiovese, while the Guidalberto Super Tuscan is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Other red wines include the Rioja that is a blend of 97% Tempranillo and 3% Mazuelo, as well as the California Cabernet Sauvignon that is actually composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 5% Malbec.

LAN Gran Reserva 2016 (92 pts)Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (91 pts)

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the release, there are only three wines - a Pinot Grigio from Friuli, a Chardonnay from South Australia, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. The last wine from this group is an excellent Riesling Icewine from Niagara.

Attems Pinot Grigio 2022 (90 pts)Wakefield Estate Label Chardonnay 2022 (89 pts)

Lakeview Cellars Riesling Icewine 2019 (92 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

  • CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2020 - Sustainable, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#35677) (XD) - $14.95  90 pts  wine review
  • PUENTE AUSTRAL RESERVA PRIVADA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21960) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  • SECRETO PATAGÓNICO REBEL PINOT NOIR 2022 - Patagonia, Argentina (#36015) (XD) - $16.95
  • EMILIANA NOVAS STELLAR SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON / SYRAH / CARIGNAN 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#35672) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
  • SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Las Piedras, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#37911) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
  • ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28078) (XD) - $20.95
  • MERAYO LAS TRES FILAS MENCIA 2020 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#462788) (XD) - $20.95

  • CATENA LUNLUNTA OLD VINES APPELLATION MALBEC 2021 - Sustainable, Mendoza, Argentina (#11769) - (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
  • RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#350454) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
  • LAN GRAN RESERVA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
  • ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI STIELLE GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#459529) (XD) - $53.95
  • TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#72439) (XD) - $75.95
  • ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#28768) (XD) - $175.95
San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (90 pts)

White Wine:

  • INDÓMITA GRAN RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#544213) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
  • WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CHARDONNAY 2022 - Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  • BODEGA EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE LABORUM FINCA EL RETIRO TORRONTÉS 2022 - Single vineyard, Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#489179) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
  • ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
  • VILLA MARIA EARTH GARDEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#24981) (XD) - $20.95

Dessert Wine:

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


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  • Date publishedSaturday, January 27, 2024

Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

red wine review is a lovely, sustainably-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon from the Uco Valley in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO last year in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. While a few bottles of this vintage still seem to be available at the LCBO, the latest 2021 vintage will be arriving at LCBO outlets as part of the upcoming LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Zuccardi Wines, an internationally acclaimed winery that was established by Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza. He planted his first vineyard in the desert of Mendoza 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, José Alberto had an innovative and visionary spirit which made him one of Argentina's most enthusiastic wine ambassadors.

Today, the Zuccardi family is considered a key figure in the history and future of viticulture in Argentina. The winery is in the hands of the third generation of the family, viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi. He joined the family winery in 2007 and led the development of the high mountain region of the Uco Valley, including planting the family's first vineyard in the Uco Valley. In 2009, Sebastián established a Research & Development department to study the soils and terroir of the Uco Valley to gain a deeper understanding and how it's expressed in the wines. This research has led to Zuccardi producing wines that are a true reflection of the place. In 2013, Zuccardi began the construction of a new winery in the Paraje Altamira area of the Uco Valley, with the inauguration taking place in 2016. Named Zuccardi Valle de Uco, the modern building is a tribute to the mountains of Mendoza.

This red wine is part of the Zuccardi Q range of wines that was launched in 1999 and were the first wines to bear the family name. It is named "Q" because the fruit for these wines comes from their best vineyards and plots that were marked with the letter "Q" for Quality. These specially designated vineyards and plots are given extra care and attention during the growing and vinification process in order to produce wines of exceptional quality. All wines in the Zuccardi Q range are regional wines with fruit from across Mendoza, with each plot harvested and vinified separately in order to achieve the best expression of each varietal.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes for this red wine were grown in two regions of the Uco Valley - La Consulta within the San Carlos district, and the high-altitude Gualtallary wine region in Tupungato. The vineyard in La Consulta is situated at 990 metres above sea level, while the Gualtallary vineyard is situated at 1,400 metres above sea level. The soil profile is alluvial and gravel covered with calcium carbonate at shallow depth, and calcareous sands. To vinify this wine, the bunches of grapes were selected and then filled into tanks by gravity. It was fermented using indigenous yeasts with gentle extraction using delestage and pigeage techniques. It underwent maceration on the pomace for 25 days, malolactic fermentation, and finally aged in oak barrels.

The growing season in 2019 produced grapes of exceptional quality. This was in part due to the climatic conditions that allowed Zuccardi to harvest each region, variety, and type of soil at the time they expected. Spring was generally wet, while temperatures throughout the season were cool-to-moderate, and always below average. Yields were marginally smaller, while a cool autumn allowed for a longer ripening period. The wines of 2019 are characterized by modest alcohol and fresh acidity.

The only other time I recall tasting this wine was back in 2016, when I opened up the 2006 Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon that was probably past its prime drinking window. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28078) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from La Consulta and Gualtallary. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose reveals reductive aromas of plummy dark berry, black currant, blackberry, mineral, and touches of cassis. It's medium to medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe, and gently spicy palate with delicious plummy dark berry, cassis, black currant, and blackberry flavours joined by savoury mineral and spice notes. Fresh acidity is juicy and succulent, while the tannins are smooth and refined with a supple grip. It's nicely balanced with dark berry, mineral, and spice notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Zuccardi are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, January 24, 2024

Orestiadi Ludovico 2008 (Sicily) - Wine Review

red wine review is a lovely blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon that I purchased nearly a decade ago from the LCBO VINTAGES Release. Of course, it is long sold out by now, but you can grab the latest vintage of this wine (link in product code below) as it arrived in LCBO VINTAGES late last year, with some bottles still available for purchase now.

Orestiadi Ludovico 2008 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

ORESTIADI LUDOVICO 2008 - IGT Rosso Sicilia, Italy (#388645) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep garnet colour. Lovely, medium-high intensity bouquet of dried floral, dried & stewed dark berry, savoury wet earth, and sweet spice aromas. It's medium-full bodied and dry with smooth, fine-grained tannins that are resolving nicely and with very good acidity. Flavours are savoury with wet earth, forest floor, and woody flavours, plus touches of desiccated dark berry, violet, and dark plum. Still quite composed and balanced, with just a touch of warmth and some chalky grip on the mid-palate. Earthy and savoury, with some stewed dark berry notes on the satisfyingly long finish. Aging nicely and should continue to drink well over the next few years. Score: 91+ pts


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  • Date publishedMonday, January 22, 2024

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review

white wine review is a delicious, certified-sustainable Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. It is a General List products at the LCBO and, while this vintage is likely long gone, the latest vintage is widely available at the LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Santa Carolina, an historic Chilean wine brand that was established as Viña Santa Carolina in 1875 by Luis Pereira, who named it after his wife, Carolina Iñiguez. As a renowned producer for over 150 years, Santa Carolina produces a wide range of wines with consistent quality and is noted for being among the first Chilean wineries to receive international recognition.

Viña Santa Carolina was founded in the fertile soils of a young winemaking country located at the end of the world. The underground cellar was built in 1877 and has a history that fills caves and manuscripts found within its walls, along with memories of ancestral trades, dedication, innovation, knowledge, and hard work that forged the essence of one of Chile's oldest wineries.

After nearly a century in the hands of the Pereira family, Santa Carolina was acquired in 1974 by the Larrain family. In 2010, following the devastating earthquake that struck Chile, the winery was reconstructed and restored, and reopened to the public in 2012. Santa Carolina won several prestigious awards over the ensuing years and is considered one of the world's most powerful wine brands. The winemaking philosophy at Santa Carolina is to produce wines of consistent quality, while also having wines with unique and distinctive characteristics.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in both the Leyda Valley and the Maule Valley. The Leyda Valley, whose signature grape is Sauvignon Blanc, is located around the mouth of the Maipo River and has a Mediterranean climate under the strong influence of the Pacific Ocean, which results in winters with moderate rainfall and cool summers. The vineyards in Leyda Valley are planted on gentle hillsides with different exposures to the sun, which results in grapes with different flavour profiles and adds complexity. To craft this wine, the grapes were mostly harvested at night, and after a cold maceration they were processed in a pneumatic press, clarified, and then underwent a temperature-controlled fermentation using selected yeasts. It was then aged on its lees for a month to enhance complexity and persistence, without the use of any oak. From a very good growing season, let's see how this 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile is tasting tonight...

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Valle de Leyda / Valle del Maule, Chile (#337535) (XD) - $13.95
Screw cap. Clean, crisp and generous medium+ to medium-high intensity aromas of lime citrus, kiwi, guava, gooseberry, herbs, and green apple, with leesy mineral undertones. On the dry, medium-bodied palate it offers crisp and vibrant acidity that lifts the lime citrus, kiwi, guava, gooseberry, leesy mineral, and herbal flavours. It is nicely balanced throughout, with lime, kiwi, and gooseberry flavours tapering to leesy mineral notes on the finish, with very good length. Great buy! Score: 89 pts


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  • Date publishedSunday, January 21, 2024

Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch (Jan. 2024)

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine Tasting
Earlier this I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive media preview of the Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch event that is taking place on at Inniskillin Estate winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The event begins with a welcoming cup of Icewine Hot Chocolate, followed by an opportunity to mingle and get warmed up before heading outdoors. Up next on the itinerary, we were joined by Inniskillin's Winemaker, Nicholas Gizuk, and he took us through an Icewine Harvest in the vineyard.

We headed out to the vineyard to inspect and cut bunches of Vidal grapes for the production of Icewine. It was very interesting to see the grapes still on the vines, many of which were turning brown - a sign that the grapes are freezing, sugars concentrating, and just about ready for picking. Keep in mind that according to VQA Ontario standards, grapes for Icewine production must be picked at temperatures no warmer than -8º Celsius. Within the bunches we noticed that some of the Vidal grapes were still green. We also got the opportunity to taste the green grapes and compare them with their brown counterparts, with Nicholas explaining some of the various changes occurring within the grapes, as well as some of the flavour differences we could expect to taste between the green and brown grapes. You will also get the opportunity to experience this when you attend on the 27th.

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine Vineyard

After finishing the harvest portion of the experience and walking among the vineyards, we headed inside with Nicholas for a guided tour of the facility as he explained the process for producing Icewine from selecting and pressing the frozen grapes to fermentation, maturation, and finally bottling. At the end of the tour, we got to taste some 2022 Vidal Icewine Juice, a 2022 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine (93 pts, $50), and the 2019 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine (93+ pts). It was a cool experience to taste Icewine Juice prior to it becoming the finished product. It was also very nice to compare the 2022 and 2019 vintage Icewines side-by-side, with the 2022 offering a fresher profile, while the 2019 showing some tertiary, caramelized characters - both were excellent!

At the conclusion of the tour, we headed to the underground cellar room to enjoy an Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet. Each item in the buffet was made with Icewine and offered a wide variety of options for all tastes. While I didn't try everything, I did enjoy everything that was on my plate, which included delicious portions of chicken, salmon, penne pasta, and cheese. The desserts were also tasty.

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Dessert Buffet

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Brunch

Co-founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, Inniskillin is Canada's first estate winery. Situated in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Inniskillin is internationally renowned for its wines, especially Icewine, and played a pioneering role in establishing the Canadian wine industry. In 1984, Inniskillin had its first successful Icewine harvest of naturally frozen Vidal grapes, and in 1991, the 1989 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine was brought into the international limelight when it won the Grand Prix d'Honneur at Vin Expo in France. In 1999, Riedel Glassware and Inniskillin collaborated to create the ultimate Icewine glass - a shape that was perfected to guide the wine to parts of your palate that best interpret the nuanced flavours of Icewine. Today, Inniskillin Icewines are among the best and are enjoyed both locally and internationally.

Nicholas Gizuk joined Inniskillin in 2013, and it was clear right from the start that he was a perfect fit for the iconic winery. Nicholas was trained under the guidance of renowned Winemaker Bruce Nicholson from 2013 to 2021, and was promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 2017. Four years later, Nicholas Gizuk was promoted to Estate Winemaker at Inniskillin in Niagara. Nicholas' philosophy is about making varietally true wines, while also allowing the soil and sense of place to also be expressed in each wine, with as little intervention as possible.

Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch tentative event schedule on :
  • 7:00 am - Welcome with Icewine Hot Chocolate
  • 7:45 am - Join Inniskillin Winemaker Nicholas Gizuk as he guides you through an Icewine harvest
  • 8:15 am - Finish harvest, take a guided tour with Nicholas explaining the Icewine production process
  • 9:00 am - Mimosas in the cellar
  • 9:30 am - Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet
  • 11:00 am - Departure
Only a limited number of tickets are available for this exclusive event and the cost is $65+HST & Gratuity per guest, or $55+HST & Gratuity for Wine Club Members.

Get your tickets to Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch today!

Inniskillin Icewine Ice Bar


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  • Date publishedSaturday, January 20, 2024

Fazi Battaglia Passerina 2022 (Marche) - Wine Review

white wine review is a lovely wine crafted with the ancient and indigenous Passerina grape varietal. It is brand new to the LCBO and arrived on shelves across Ontario today as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Fazi Battaglia, a winery that was formed in 1949 by the union of two families - Fazi and Battaglia. It was founded in a small cellar in the town of Cupramontana, in the Province of Ancona, within the region of Marche, but grew into an historical wine brand only a few years later after the Angelini family got involved. In particular, it was the efforts of Francesco Angelini, founder of a pharmaceutical company and mayor of Ancona.

Angelini and Fazi Battaglia are known for their Verdicchio wines that are bottled in an amphora-shaped bottle which was inspired by ancient Etruscan containers. In the 1950s, this uniquely shaped bottle would make the little-known Verdicchio immediately recognizable, as well as be an image that would be linked not only to the winery, but also to a grape variety and the whole territory. Investments in improving the vineyard quality and a strong belief in Verdicchio also played an important role in the success of the grape, the winery, and the wine-producing region of Marche.

Today, Fazi Battaglia is back in the hands of the Angelini family as they pursue the road towards quality and innovation that they started in the 1950s. They are also taking on the role of great interpreter of the authentic identity of Italian winemaking. The philosophy at Fazi Battaglia is focused on respect for territorial suitability and promoting the identity of native varieties with transparency and precise production. The winery facility has been completely renovated, while retaining the original external architecture. In the cellar, the new smaller tanks will allow Fazi Battaglia to separate batches to enhance differences in soil, clonal selection, and vineyard exposure. With integrity and transparency, research and innovation, and exploring new production methods, Fazi Battaglia always remains anchored in tradition. While Fazi Battaglia is committed to promoting the Marche territory and synonymous with Verdicchio, they also produce wines using other Italian varieties.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Passerina, an ancient and indigenous grape variety grown traditionally and primarily in the central Italian wine region of Marche. The small grapes grow in medium-to-large clusters and are considered a high-yielding variety. For this wine, the Passerina grapes were grown on sunny hillside vineyards in Marche and picked by hand. After undergoing cold maceration in the press, the grapes were softly pressed and then fermented in steel tanks. It was aged on its fine lees for 4 months and then bottled. Let's see how this Passerina from Marche is tasting tonight...

Fazi Battaglia Passerina 2022 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

FAZI BATTAGLIA PASSERINA 2022 - IGT Marche, Italy (#36275) (XD) - $16.95
100% Passerina. The lovely, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is quite complex and evolving in the glass with delicate mineral, lemon citrus, peach, apricot, and stone fruit aromas, plus spice and herbal notes. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied and fleshy palate with ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of lemon citrus, peach, stone fruit, and melon flecked with leesy minerality. It has a finely textured mouthfeel, along with juicy well-balanced acidity. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

The Verdicchio by Fazi Battaglia is available at the LCBO, while other fine wines from their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, January 17, 2024

January 20, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California's Central Coast

Here's my top wine picks from the January 20, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection that features California's Central Coast as the theme of the release. Overall, it is a small release with only 70 products on offer, and more than 70% of the wines coming in at under $30. All the wines should be available on LCBO shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

There are only nine wines as part of the theme on California's Central Coast, a vast area runs along the Pacific Ocean from the Monterey region, just south of the Bay Area in the north, to the Santa Barbara region in the south, which is just north of Los Angeles. The only wine recommendation from the theme is a sustainably crafted Chardonnay from the Monterey region, with fruit coming from San Bernabe and Santa Lucia Highlands, and was barrel-fermented and aged in predominantly French oak.

Diora La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay 2020

At the top of the stack of my top red wine picks from this release is a 2011 Rioja that is typically made with 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and 10% Graciano / Mazuelo. On the local front, there are a couple of Bordeaux-blends from the great 2020 vintage - the Thirty Bench wine is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Merlot, while the Creekside wine is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. From France, there are a pair of similarly blended Syrah-Grenache wines, with the Languedoc red composed of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache, while the Roussillon red is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. Other red wines in this release include a Chianti Classico Riserva that is made with Sangiovese, a lovely Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and a Nerello Mascalese from Sicily.

R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva 2011Thirty Bench Winemaker's Blend Red 2020

Torre Il Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2020

Creekside Red Tractor Cabernet/Merlot 2020 (88+ pts)

Among my top white wine recommendations, the only blend is the 2019 white wine from Sicily that is crafted with 90% Catarratto and 10% Chardonnay. The other whites are a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Chardonnay from Sicily, and if you want to go off the beaten path, try the white wine from Marche that is made using the rare Passerina varietal.

Fazi Battaglia Passerina 2022 (89 pts)Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (89 pts)

Tenute Orestiadi Il Bianco di Ludovico Riserva 2019

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • TENUTE ORESTIADI MOLINO A VENTO NERELLO MASCALESE 2022 - IGP Terre Siciliane, Italy (#36295) (XD) - $14.95
  • SAINT-ROCH CORBAROL SYRAH/GRENACHE 2021 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#195107) (XD) - $16.95
  • CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11851) (D) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
  • ALKOOMI GRAZING COLLECTION SHIRAZ 2021 - Frankland River, Western Australia (#33369) (XD) - $17.95
  • CHÂTEAU PAUL MAS CLOS DES MÛRES 2021 - Sustainable, AP Languedoc, France (#286393) (XD) - $17.95
  • TORRE IL CERRETO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#33410) (XD) - $24.95
  • THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S BLEND RED 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#320986) (XD) - $26.95
  • SPY VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2020 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#734681) (XD) - $26.95
  • R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $70.95

White Wine:

  • COLOMBA BIANCA VITESE CHARDONNAY 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#35952) (XD) - $14.95
  • FAZI BATTAGLIA PASSERINA 2022 - IGT Marche, Italy (#36275) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts review coming
  • TENUTE ORESTIADI IL BIANCO DI LUDOVICO RISERVA 2019 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#36478) (XD) - $18.95
  • SPY VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#686675) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • DIORA LA SPLENDEUR DU SOLEIL CHARDONNAY 2020 - Sustainable, Monterey County, California, USA (#24293) (XD) - $24.95


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