March 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Pinot Noir

Here are my top wine picks from the March 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and the theme of the release focuses on Pinot Noir. Also in this release are a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives. Overall, it's a small-ish release once again with 88 wines, all of which should be available for purchase across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme titled "Pinot Noir - A Labour of Love", the varietal known as the heartbreak grape and one that your either love or hate. In all there are only five wines (or eight if you add the three Essentials Collection wines) included as part of the theme, with wines from Ontario, Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand, and somewhat surprisingly - Provence featured, and the two wines included among my list of top wine picks are Pinot Noir wines from Burgundy and Provence.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begins with the iconic Purple Angel that is composed of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, as well as the wine from South Africa that is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. From Spain, the Gran Reserva is crafted with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, while the Reserva grown in Rioja Alta is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha / Graciano / Mazuelo. From Rhône, the Gigondas is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, while the Ventoux is composed of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah with traces of Cinsault and Carignan. Lastly, the Bordeaux red is crafted with 100% Merlot, while the red wine from Tuscany is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, and the rest other permitted varieties.

Among my white wine picks, all of the wines are single varietal wines. The Sancerre is crafted with Sauvignon Blanc, while the Chablis 1er Cru is made with Chardonnay. If you want something on the sweeter side, the Riesling from Niagara always impresses.

The last group of wines is composed of a dry rosé from California that is a blend of 65% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 11% Carignan, and 10% Vermentino, while both sparkling wines are dominated by Chardonnay. The Champagne is crafted with 96% Chardonnay and 4% Pinot Noir, while the sparkling wine from B.C. is composed of 65.5% Chardonnay and 34.5% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CARMENÈRE 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#213512) (XD) - $15.95
• PESQUIÉ ÉDITION 1912M VENTOUX 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#636159) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2019 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CUNE RESERVA 2018 - Rioja Alta, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#417659) (XD) - $24.95
• VALMOISSINE PINOT NOIR 2021 - IGP Var, Provence, France (#714451) (XD) - $25.95  90 pts  wine review
  
• BENEGAS ESTATE SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2018 - Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#547331) (XD) - $25.95
• ESK VALLEY SYRAH 2018 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#17545) (XD) - $29.95  FE  90+ pts  wine review

 

• FAMILLE JAUME PASCAL & RICHARD CRU DES CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE GIGONDAS 2020 - AC, France (#28615) (XD) - $30.95
• CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47118) (XD) - $31.95  90 pts  wine review
• EL COTO DE IMAZ GRAN RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#976811) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
• MARCHAND-TAWSE CÔTE D'OR BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#285601) (XD) - $38.95
• MEERLUST RUBICON 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#64329) (XD) - $59.95
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $96.95

White Wine:

• NOMAD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#446088) (XD) - $17.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2022 - Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
• MARGAN FAMILY HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2017 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#493338) (XD) - $19.95  91 pts  wine review
• TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH RIESLING 2020 - Vegan, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $21.95
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES-BENCH CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95  FE  91+ pts  wine review
• ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#82255) (XD) - $36.95
• ALAIN GEOFFROY BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2020 - AP, Burgundy, France (#733501) (XD) - $43.95

Rosé Wine:

• DECOY ROSÉ 2021 - California, USA (#558114) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BLUE MOUNTAIN GOLD LABEL BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#206326) (XD) - $34.95  90 pts  wine review
• LE BRUN DE NEUVILLE GRAND VINTAGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2008 - Disgorged June 2022, AC, France (#11131) (XD) - $88.95  92 pts  wine review

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Manos Negras Stone Soil Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Malbec from the famed Paraje Altamira appellation within the Uco Valley that landed at the LCBO last weekend as part of the March 4th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is made by Manos Negras, a producer that was born out of a friendship between an American Wine Educator, an Argentine star viticulturalist, and two Kiwi winemakers, all with extensive international experience and a no nonsense, hard-nosed work ethic.

Manos Negras is co-owned by Jeff Mausbach and Alejandro Sejanovich, friends who built a long-lasting friendship through experience and hard work. Jeff spent over a decade as Wine Education Director for Bodega Catena Zapata and has travelled the world preaching the gospel of the unique character of Argentine wines. Alejandro was Vineyard Director for Bodega Caetna Zapata for 15 years and pioneered high-altitude vineyard planting while also conducting ground breaking research on Mendoza Malbec clones. The Kiwi winemakers are Jason Mabbett, who was a professor of winemaking at Auckland University and also made wine in Australia, California, and Argentina, and Duncan Killiner who has made wine from Israel to Uruguay and from Italy to Chile, while also taking on winemaking consultant duties for producers in Chile and Argentina.

The winery's name literally translates to "Black Hands" and reflects their philosophy towards winemaking - get their hands black with wine by rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty with a fearless, hands-on approach to winemaking from budbreak to bottling. That's how they make the hand-crafted wines of Manos Negras.

This particular Malbec was grown in the Paraja Altamira GI within the Uco Valley in Mendoza. The soil profile in Mendoza is unique and every vineyard has patches of very rocky top soil that is rich in limestones. These small lots produce Malbec grapes of exceptional concentration with a flinty minerality. This Malbec was sourced exclusively from small lots of rocky, mineral-rich soils.

From a good-to-excellent vintage, let's see how this 2019 Malbec from Paraje Altamira is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MANOS NEGRAS STONE SOIL MALBEC 2019 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#482109) (XD) - $21.95
100% Malbec grown in small lots of rocky, mineral-rich soils, this has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose of distinctive earthy-stony mineral aromas layered over ripe dark berry, blackberry, cool herbs, spices, and hints of black plum. It's mid-weighted on the dry, salty palate with lovely dark berry, blackberry, spices, and stony mineral flavours which are supported by fresh, bright, and juicy acidity. Supple tannins are well-structured and lightly chalky textured. Lovely stony mineral notes linger on the long, savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

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Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, consistently well-made Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia that is featured on the back cover of the March 4th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It arrived at the LCBO last weekend and is widely available across Ontario.

Wakefield Wines are produced by the Taylor family who established their own estate in Australia's Clare Valley in 1969 after making wines for others many years prior. The estate winery was created by Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons when they planted their first vineyards and began a journey to become one of the Australia's most renowned wine producers.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by the third generation of the family - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton. Together, they are focused on continuing the family tradition of producing delicious wines that stand the test of time. They are also focused on producing wines sustainably and responsibly, while respecting the fruit and where it comes from. This particular wine is from their Jaraman range where they specifically search for parcels of extraordinary to fruit from Australia's iconic wine regions to craft wines that showcase the fruits' distinctive regional characteristics and style. The winemakers ensure that the distinct regional characteristics of each variety is preserved and enhanced, ensuring that the fruit is the star and any winemaking influence is the supporting act.

Like the 2018 Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon that I last enjoyed nearly a year ago, this particular vintage is also crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from nearly equal parts Clare Valley (52%) and Coonawarra (48%) fruit. It was matured for 10-12 months in French oak barrels in a combination of 50% 1-year-old barrels and the other half in 2- and 3-year-old barrels, prior to being bottled.

The growing season in 2020 in the Clare Valley began with challenging weather events that included spring frosts at budburst and then hot and windy conditions during flowering. The start of summer brought wild weather, from searing heat and bush fires to heavy rain and chilly, gusty winds. Weather conditions returned to relatively normal in February and March, and harvest was smooth and steady. Although it was a tough year for growers in Clare Valley, the quality of the fruit was high. In Coonawarra, the season began well with good rainfall from the end of Autumn to the beginning of Spring. The region was also fortunate not to have been affected by the bush fires that occurred throughout the summer. Although yields were down, the warm days and cool nights provided the perfect ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon and the wines from this vintage look excellent. Let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Clare Valley & Coonawarra, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. With 52% Clare Valley and 48% Coonawarra fruit, this Cabernet Sauvignon has fresh, lifted, medium-high intensity aromas of mint and leafy herbals followed by mocha chocolate, oak spice, dark currant, and cassis. It's full-bodied, smooth, and well-structured with delicious minty-eucalypt, leafy herb, dark currant, mocha chocolate, and cassis replays on the flavour profile. It has fresh, balanced acidity and smooth, refined, and slightly youthful tannins. Juicy currants, chocolate, herbal, and earthy flavours linger on the long finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Wakefield Wines are available at the LCBO and via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Fasoli Gino San Raffaele Pinot Grigio 2021 (delle Venezie) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2020 Fasoli Gino San Raffaele Pinot Grigio last year, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely white wine from northeastern Italy which arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the March 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release. This lovely, organic, and vegan-friendly white wine is also sporting a new, fresh, and modern label for this vintage.

It is produced by Fasoli Gino, a winemaking family of four generations with deep roots in Verona, northern Italy. Their story of passion and dedication for wine begins in 1925 with Amadio Fasoli dedicated himself to viticulture in the valley of Illasi, the green expanse to the east of Verona. Amadio personally delivered the wines he made to the best eateries of the area by horse and cart.

Gino Fasoli, son of Amadio and second generation of the family, inherited the same passion for his father's vineyards and increased the size of the vineyards, thereby increasing wine production. Gino gave his name to the winery and was driven to make his wines known across the entire region of Verona. In 1979, Gino Fasoli developed an allergy to to some of the chemicals used in the vineyards and soon thereafter the winery was passed on to the third generation who made the brave and difficult decision at the time to go organic.

By 1986, the third generation of the Fasoli family, brothers Amadio and Natalino, had converted all of their vineyards to organic, and in 2003 they constructed a new winery. In 2006, they also introduced biodynamic practices. At the turn of the century, Matteo Fasoli became the 4th generation of the family to join the family's winemaking business.

Today, the Fasoli family uses their know-how gathered over 4 generations while enthusiastically embracing modern agricultural techniques. The Fasoli brothers are farmers at heart and the love for the land in which they live can be felt through their enthusiasm and care for its fruits. They only produce wines that they love drinking. This journey from vine to glass is carried out with total respect for the culture and values of the terroir. The Fasoli family is constantly striving for excellence while developing and implementing production techniques that have the least environmental impact possible. Fasoli Gino is one of Italy's most long-standing and respected organic producers.

Tasting Note:

FASOLI GINO SAN RAFFAELE PINOT GRIGIO 2021 - Vegan, DOC delle Venezie, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. This organic and vegan-friendly white wine has fresh, medium-high intensity aromas which are ripe and complex with honeysuckle, melon, lemon citrus, and pear aromas with a lessy mineral underpinning. On the dry, light-to-mid-weighted palate it has crisp, lively, and refreshing acidity that lifts the citrusy, apple, pear, melon, and honeysuckle flavours. Succulent and juicy on the lightly spicy mid-palate, while the spicy notes are joined by minerals on the crisp finish, with very good length. Highly recommended buy! Grab two and enjoy one now while holding the other for a year or so for a more evolved expression. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Fasoli Gino can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Creekside Red Tractor Cabernet/Merlot 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Cabernet-Merlot from Niagara that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the March 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Red Tractor Wines are produced by Creekside Estate Winery. This new world wine brand was established by Creekside in 2011 to celebrate the past, present, and future of farming in Ontario. The red tractor symbol comes from an old Massey Harris tractor that Creekside owns and serves as a symbol of the hard work required to farm the vineyards. Red Tractor Wines honours this hard work and salutes their family of growers.

The grapes used to craft Red Tractor Wines are sourced from family farms across the Niagara Peninsula - because place matters. The wines pay homage to the vineyards and growers such as the Serluca and Smith Families, as they work alongside these second-generation farmers as they push the boundaries on innovation and lead with sustainable farming practices.

And thinking ahead to International Women's Day, which is held annually on March 8th, Yvonne Irvine leads the winemaking for Red Tractor Wines. She has over 12-years of viticultural and winemaking experience, and works closely with the family of growers while embracing the honest, hard-work required to grow and harvest quality fruit. Each vintage is a labour of love as she celebrates the growers by crafting their fruit into strong, powerful wines.

I was first introduced to Red Tractor Wines in 2019 when they launched their first Cabernet/Merlot and Cabernet Franc wines. The range now also includes a Shiraz Cabernet and a Chardonnay. While the 2017 vintage of this red wine blend was Merlot-based, this particular vintage is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon (47%) and Merlot (46%), plus 7% Cabernet Franc to complete the blend. This blend celebrates the vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula and the growers that have shaped the landscape. The grapes were harvested from three vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was vinified and aged in separate small lots, and then blended after 16 months in barrel.

From the near-perfect 2020 growing season that provided structure, ripeness, and longevity to age, let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux-blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11851) (D) - $17.95
A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, this has an attractive, medium-high intensity nose that offers ripe black currant, cassis, black cherry, chocolate, and oak spice aromas with some earthy undertones and a touch of olive. On the medium-full bodied palate it has ripe, dark currant, cassis, black cherry, plum, and earthy oak spice flavours supported by fresh acidity. Structured tannins are gritty textured and quite drying, while savoury earth, cedary, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy with big red meats. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious Red Tractor Wines are available direct from Creekside Estate Winery in Niagara.

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Selbach Tradition Feinherb Riesling Kabinett 2020 (Mosel) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Riesling Kabinett from Mosel that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the February 4th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by J & H Selbach, a separate family business from their estate wine producing company - Weingut Selbach-Oster. The company Selbach-Oster was established as an independent business in 1964 to separate the family's estate vineyards from the rest of the business which included making wine from their own grapes and purchased grapes from small growers along the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer, in the negociant tradition.

The historic Selbach family has a winemaking and shipping tradition that dates all the way back to the 1600s, while the Oster family were winegrowers and coopers going back to the 1700s. Johannes Selbach, who is from the Osters grand-maternal line of the family, is the current owner of Selbach-Oster. He was raised in the municipality of Zeltingen, where the estate is located today within the Mosel wine region, and grew up around the family's vineyards his whole life and made his first wine at at a young age in 1975.

Today, both of Johannes children, Sebastian and Hannah, are involved in the family's small winemaking business. Sebastian has especially developed a passion for wine by working the vineyards and after completing his studies in oenology and viticulture, as well as internships in Germany and abroad, he joined the family estate in 2019. There are no official titles at Selbach-Oster as each day is a joint effort among family members and their employees.

Selbach-Oster owns and farms 24 hectares of vineyards, most of which is old, some up to 100 years old, ungrafted Riesling vines, located on the "golden mile" of Mosel which features the steep, slate slopes from Zeltingen to Wehlen to Graach, and to Bernkastel. The vines are grown in harmony with nature with lots of time-consuming, manual labour, and with meticulous care. The grapes are hand-picked, and often with multiple passes, while fermentation takes place in their cold cellars with mostly wild, indigenous yeast.

From a very good 2020 vintage that is delivering balance and elegance, let's see how this 2020 Riesling Kabinett from Mosel is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SELBACH TRADITION FEINHERB RIESLING KABINETT 2020 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#21031) (M) - $24.95
The nose seems rather quiet with glimpses of citrus, orange, white peach, and honeyed aromas. On the rich, concentrated, and medium-full bodied palate it has deliciously off-dry and gently spicy flavours of citrus, white peach, ripe apple, and honey with touches of slatey and leesy minerals. It's nicely textured on the mid-palate with crisp, vibrant, and refreshing acidity that balances the sweetness, while leesy mineral notes linger on the sticky, juicy, long, and dry-ish finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

You may find some wines by Weingut Selbach at the LCBO, but your best bet is to reach out to their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious sweet cream Sherry that is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario as part of the General List Collection and currently on limited time offer of $2 off until the last week of March.

It is produced by Harveys, a sherry company that was founded in Bristol, England, in 1796 by merchant William Perry who would go on to become on the largest importers of sherry from the Bay of Cadiz (Spain) to the port of Bristol.

Quality is very important to Harveys and each drop means everything to them. They have spent years finding the the best vineyards and bodegas in Spain's Jerez winegrowing region. Jerez offers its own, unique micro-climate due to the fresh and humid winds from the west. and warm and dry winds from the east. Jerez is also known for its Albariza (white) soils which are best for growing Palomino grapes, and 300 days of sunshine a year. This unique terroir makes Jerez the global centre for sherry production. The Master Blender at Harveys is Manuel Jose Valcarcel ans he has been with the company for over 20 years and makes sure that their unique liquid is always up to the highest standards.

This Cream Sherry was launched in 1882 by John Harvey II and his brother Edward and granted the Royal Warrant shortly thereafter. It is composed of 80% Palomino and 20% Pedro Ximenez, using a delicate blend of Jerez's finest wines; delicate finos, aged amontillados, fragrant olorosos, and the special Pedro Ximenez grape which provides a silky, mellow smoothness. It is known for its deep golden chestnutty and amber tones, as well as being full, fragrant, pungent, and elegant all at once, and a full bodied, rich, yet mellow experience that is long-lasting and velvety. It is best enjoyed chilled at 12°C in a wine glass or mix over ice with a slice of orange. To assist you in enjoying the Bristol Cream Sherry it at its best temperature, the "Harveys" name on the front label will turn blue. Let's see how this sweet cream Sherry from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HARVEYS BRISTOL CREAM SHERRY - DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Spain (#215483) (S) (750 mL) - $18.45 $16.45 until Mar. 26
Screw cap. Blend of 80% Palomino and 20% Pedro Ximenez, the medium-high intensity nose has sweet aromas of caramel, fig, burnt sugar, golden raisin, hazelnut, and floral tones. It's medium+ bodied with a sweet flavour profile of caramel, molasses, fig, hazelnut, golden raisin, and floral flavours. It has balanced acidity and some warmth on the creamy mid-palate, but still within balance, while the delicious flavour replays come through on the smooth, nutty, dry-ish, and long-lasting finish. This recommended buy is best enjoyed nicely chilled. Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely Harveys Sherrys can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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