VINTAGES Wine Picks & LCBO Wine Reviews

Kechris Genesis Xinomavro / Merlot 2022 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-04-26T17:45:00.003-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend of Xinomavro and Merlot from Macedonia in Northern Greece that made its debut at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the April 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Kechris, a family winery with roots going back to 1939 when it began producing "Kechribari" retsina wines at their family restaurant of Kokoras in the old town of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. The Kechris family developed a reputation for producing high-quality retsina wines, which led to increased demand. In order to keep up with demand and grow the family business, the four Kechris brothers — Anestis, Vassilis, Dimitris, and Periklis — established the E. Kechris Bros. liquor company in Kalochori, Thessaloniki, in 1954. They produced a range of products at their modern, state-of-the-art facility including retsina, ouzo, brandy, and fruit liqueurs, and began exporting their products to other countries by 1974.

In 1984, the second generation of the family with Stelios Kechris, son of Vassilis, took over the business. Stelios is widely credited for transforming Kechris from a well-respected regional producer into one of Greece's leading wineries. One of Stelios' most important achievements was to spearhead the renaissance of premium retsina wines, which culminated in the creation of the Tear of the Pine retsina.

Today, in addition to retsina, Kechris also produces several quality wines in all three colours. Kechris' values are based on their identity, which is defined by their actions, and their actions are based on Tradition in Motion, Quality, Innovation, and Directness. The philosophy at Kechris is linked to their culture, to people, and to life itself. For Kechris, wine gives value to life's various moments by bringing us closer and helping us share thoughts and emotions.

This red wine is from Kechris' Genesis range of wines which bridge Greece's indigenous grape heritage with international varieties. There are three wines in the Genesis range, one of each colour, and this particular red wine is a blend of equal parts Xinomavro, Greece's flagship red variety, and Merlot. The grapes were grown in the small town of Goumenissa, in vineyards planted on clay loam soils. The Merlot grapes were harvested in September, while the Xinomavro was harvested from late-September to late-October. Both grapes were vinified separately. After undergoing alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wines remained in contact with their skins for 4–6 weeks, and then remained in tanks.

The growing season in 2022 in the Northern Greece region of Macedonia began with a cold winter and snowy mountain tops. Furthermore, rainfall during this season contributed to the increase of bud fertility, as well as the enrichment of the aqueous horizon with water. A colder spring, which was also drier than usual, resulted in a later, but even budbreak, while summer had mostly mild temperatures apart from a heatwave in the first half of August. There was heavy rainfall that began at the outset of September, along with almost 40 days of high daytime temperatures and cool nights. From a vintage that produced exquisite grapes, let's see how this 2022 blend of Xinomavro and Merlot from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KECHRIS GENESIS XINOMAVRO / MERLOT 2022 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#30613) (XD) - $22.95
This lovely, 50/50 blend of Xinomavro and Merlot has an open, medium-high intensity nose that offers an enticing medley of sun-dried tomato, dried rose floral, sweet spices, and red cherry aromas with hints of orange, red plum, savoury earth adding further complexity and interest. The dry, medium+ bodied palate has very good structure and lovely, ripe flavours of sun-dried tomato, rose floral, cherry, sweet spices, and savoury earth. It's nicely balanced throughout with juicy acidity and well-structured, gritty, and slightly chalky tannins. All of the flavours taper to savoury, earthy, and mineral-tinged notes on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Kechris are available through the LCBO, or their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Château Roquefort Les Roches Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

2026-04-24T17:47:00.001-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux that landed at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the April 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Château Roquefort, a family estate winery situated between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers region, within the commune of Lugasson and only a stone's throw away from Saint-Émilion. The estate has a very long, deep-rooted history, and has also passed through several families over the centuries, with the Bellanger family taking over Château Roquefort in 1976.

The name Roquefort takes its name from the Middle Ages: Roca Forte, which means rocky outcrop. Archeological evidence from the Neolithic era at the site finds a human settlement on the Roquefort limestone plateau, including pottery dating back to 4500 BC, along with a walkway and mass burial site at around 3700 BC. Further excavations revealed items from the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as from the Gallo-Roman era. The oldest archival documents refer to the Roquefort fortification house in 1291 that was authorized to be rebuilt by King Edward I of England, with only a part of the original tower remaining today and has been restored by the Bellanger family.

From the 18th century onward, the château has evolved and tells a story of agriculture and winemaking in the region. When Jean and Christiane Bellanger fell in love with Château Roquefort in 1976, they breathed new life into the site in Entre-deux-Mers. Together, they understood terroir and gradually replanted the vineyard and worked with the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology to adopt the best winemaking practices. By 1983, there were 30 hectares of vines, and in 1987 they began winemaking activities.

Today, Château Roquefort is run by the son of Jean and Christiane, Frédéric Bellanger, and his wife Anne. Frédéric took over the reins from his parents in 1995 and continued to develop the estate, which now covers 240 hectares, of which 85 hectares are grape vines. Together, they have succeeded in strengthening the estate's soul by paying tribute to its history and traditions, while also pushing towards a modern era of responsible and expert winemaking. They also share a passion for wine and the products of nature, which tell their history and provide unforgettable tasting moments and emotional experiences. Their four daughters — Victoire, Inès, Eva, and Raphaëlle — could be the future authors of Château Roquefort as each is learning how to produce and share good wine in their own way. With a strong commitment to respect for the environment, Château Roquefort was awarded Haute Valeur Environnementale in 2017, which was followed by the conversion to organic for white wines in 2021.

This white wine is crafted using 100% Sauvignon Blanc and showcases the mineral memory of the limestone terroirs where it is grown. The vineyards are located within the commune of Castelviel, which is the highest point in the Gironde, and the Sauvignon Blanc here thrives on the clay-limestone soils where fossilized oyster beds outcrop. This particular Sauvignon Blanc is from organically cultivated vines averaging 20 years old and are planted on chalky-clay soils. It was vinified by macerating the skins and undergoing a low-temperature fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.

In Bordeaux, the 2024 growing season was an uneven and challenging vintage that featured lots of rain, which led to problems with downy mildew, coulure, and millerandage. On the bright side, white wines found great success as they delivered freshness, good concentration, and expressive aromas. The success of white wine varieties can be attributed to the less extreme temperatures of the year, along with cooler nighttime temperatures in August and September. Furthermore, vineyards on earlier-ripening sites and clay-based soils also benefitted from this low-yielding vintage. Let's see how this 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT LES ROCHES BLANCHES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - AOC Bordeaux, France (#35860) (XD) - $15.95
This lovely, organic Sauvignon Blanc has a restrained, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose of grapefruit, lime citrus, gooseberry, and herbal aromas nuanced with stony, yeasty, leesy mineral complexity. It is impressively concentrated on the dry, medium-full bodied palate with delicious grapefruit, lime citrus, herbal, gooseberry, and stony mineral replays on the flavours. It has fresh and zesty acidity, good structure, and a fine, chalky mineral textured mouthfeel. Stony minerals with grapefruit, lime citrus, and herbal notes linger on the long, balanced, and slightly chalky textured finish. Ideal with seafood, vegetarian fare, and poultry, and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines by Château Roquefort can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2023 (South Africa) - Wine Review

2026-04-19T17:46:00.001-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly, and predominantly Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend from South Africa that arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's April 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Mulderbosch Vineyards, a winery that was founded in 1989 by Larry Jacobs, a former physician, and winemaker Mike Dobrovic. When Larry and Mike discovered this property, it was a run-down old fruit farm that had been lying fallow for close to a century, with no history of viticulture. With visionary optimism, they saw the potential to create good wine on this humble property, cleared out the years of neglect, and turned the site into one of Stellenbosch's most exciting winegrowing corners.

Mulderbosch Vineyards is situated in Stellenbosch Kloof, South Africa's finest winegrowng area, about 14 km north of False Bay. This particular area has sloped vineyards that offer optimal exposure to the sun, varied soil types ranging from Malmesbury shale and Table Mountain sandstone to sandy duplex and decomposed granite. Furthermore, the region feels the effects of the cooling ocean breezes, which naturally brings down the temperatures and allows for slow ripening, good acidity, and richer, more expressive aromas and flavours in their grapes. Mulderbosch created their first wines from the 1992 vintage and accolades and international acclaim followed immediately thereafter.

While Larry and Mike are no longer involved with Mulderbosch, as the winery has changed ownership several times over the years, the leadership teams over the years have done their best to maintain the founders' track record and build on the reputation that was established. The pursuits and dreams at Mulderbosch are based on the same principles of excellence, creativity, and innovation. These days, many of their innovations come from paying very close attention to what happens below and above ground - from the health of the soils to the well-being, harmony, resilience, and longevity of their vineyards. They practice mindful viticulture and have created an environment to protect and promote biodiversity. At the winery, they gently handle the firm, optimally ripened and flavourful fruit, and stand back and let the wines speak for themselves. Mulderbosch is also committed to eco- and socially-responsible farming and production, and is accredited, along with their supplier growers, with both Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) and Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association (WIETA) of South Africa.

As a Bordeaux blend and one of Mulderbosch's first wines since its inception more than 30 years ago, the Faithful Hound's composition changes each vintage. For the 2023 vintage, this red wine is composed of 44% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. Each parcel of grapes is typically vinified separately, with fermentation taking place primarily in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts. The wines were aged for 16 months in neutral French oak barrels, 3rd fill and older, prior to assembling the final blend and then bottling.

The growing season in 2023 in South Africa was beset with various challenges. Winter was relatively mild and dry, which allowed for early budbreak and flowering. However, summer provided cool and wet conditions, which slowed ripening. Those that picked before the rainstorms arrived in Stellenbosch yielded powerful and ripe grapes that were full of flavour, while those that had to pick during the rain were forced to slowly harvest. As is often said, it is the harvest season that makes or breaks the vintage. While phenolic development was sufficient, this could be the reason why there is very little Cabernet Sauvignon in this cuvée in this vintage. Overall, it is considered to be a good year, with the wines exhibiting elegant, cool-climate characters. Let's see how this 2023 Bordeaux blend from Stellenbosch in South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2023 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#922443) (XD) - $20.95
This blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec has a lifted, medium-high intensity nose that delivers fragrant ripe red berry fruit, bay leaf, and green herbal aromas, plus whiffs of tobacco, currant, cassis, cedary oak spice, and earth. The medium to medium-full bodied palate is dry and elegant with lovely ripe red berry fruit, bay leaf, cassis, currant, tobacco, grilled herb, cocoa, and oak spice flavours. It's supported by crisp and juicy acidity, while the ripe, elegant tannins offer a supple, textural grip. More bay leaf, grilled herbs, cassis, and cedary oak notes linger on the long, supple, and well-balanced finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Mulderbosch Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Abcon International Wine Merchants.

Château Plantey Pauillac 2020 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

2026-04-16T17:52:00.001-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent follow-up to the lovely 2018 Château Plantey from Bordeaux that I enjoyed last April. This latest vintage arrived at the LCBO a few weeks ago in the March 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Château Plantey is situated in the prestigious Pauillac appellation within Haut-Médoc on Bordeaux's Left Bank. The Pauillac appellation bears almost a third of the 60 classified growths in the 1855 classification and these prestigious estates represent 85% of the surface area of the appellation. The remaining 15% of the area, which represents a few dozen hectares, leaves room for more discreet names, such as Château Plantey.

The small village of Pauillac is located on the west (left) bank of the Gironde, while Château Plantey is only a couple of kilometres west of the village centre. Château Plantey is an old property which used to be owned by the De Gerès family from Loupes, Seigneurs of Camarsac. It was purchased by prominent winegrower Gabriel Meffre, who was originally from Vaucluse, in 1958, along with other properties in the nearby regions of Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Julien.

Today, Château Plantey is owned by Claude Meffre, son of Gabriel. Claude joined the family business in 1996 and first managed property in Saint-Estèphe - Château La Commanderie. Starting in 2000, Claude began managing Château Plantey.

Like the last vintage, this red wine is crafted with 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Left Bank Bordeaux cru bourgeois appellation of Pauillac. While most red wines from the Left Bank are Cabernet Sauvignon-driven, this red wine is unique in that it is a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 27 hectares of vines average 30 years old, reside in an area about 30 metres higher than the area surrounding them, and are planted on sandy-gravelly soils. After harvesting the grapes, they underwent traditional Bordeaux vinification, followed by ageing for 12 months in barrels.

The 2020 growing season in Bordeaux produced yet another high-quality vintage. It began with a rainy winter that provided ample water reserves. However, the rain stretched into spring, which led to severe mildew pressures. Summer was hot and dry, which resulted in an earlier harvest. September brought warm days and chilly nights, which was ideal for the grapes to reach phenolic ripeness. From a superb vintage, which some consider a legendary modern classic, let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU PLANTEY PAUILLAC 2020 - Sustainable, AOC, Bordeaux, France (#38192) (XD) - $34.95
This 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, open, and lifted, with a medium-high intensity nose offering lovely, well-balanced aromas of ripe red & black fruits, currant, cassis, blackberry, and peppery spice layered over savoury earth with accents of graphite and floral. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is well-structured with lovely red & black fruit, currant, cassis, graphite, earth, spice, and black cherry flavours in a complex profile. Acids are juicy and structured, while the youthful, grippy, and chalky textured tannins will reward cellaring. Savoury with graphite and mineral notes lingering on the juicy finish, with excellent length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the coming 8-9 years. Score: 92 pts

Larger quantities of this lovely wine can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

Urbanihof Classic Grüner Veltliner 2024 (Austria) - Wine Review

2026-04-14T17:39:00.001-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic Grüner Veltliner from Austria that made its debut at the LCBO in the recent March 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Weingut Urbanihof, an organic winery that has been run as a family business for over 400 years, passing down from one generation to the next. Urbanihof is located in Fels am Wagram, in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), which is Austria's largest Qualitätswein winegrowing region.

Today, Urbanihof is run by Sonja and Franz Paschinger, the 11th generation of the family. Their children — Lisa, Jakob, and Julia — are waiting in the wings as they look to manage their family's 40 hectares of organic vineyards. Lisa is a graduate of Höhere Bundeslehranstalt (HBLA) in Fruit and Viticulture in Klosterneuburg, and Jakob is currently a student in the same program at HBLA, while Julia is a wine enthusiast and aspiring lawyer.

At Urbanihof, the Paschinger family's focus is on sustainability and quality, while striving to offer their customers only the very best. They place great importance on healthy vineyards and wines that inspire, and since 2000, they have worked as naturally and gently as possible. Since 2016, Weingut Urbanihof has officially been certified organic, enabling them to achieve their ultimate goal of leaving future generations with healthy soils and ample fertile space for growth, a foundation for long-term success.

In their vineyards, which are densely planted, they deliberately keep yields low, while intensive soil and canopy management guarantee optimal ripening conditions for the grapes. One of the many sustainability initiatives at Urbanihof is that they have been producing rich manure through their own composting of horse manure and grape pomace for the past five years. They then apply this manure to their vineyards, which ensures a healthy, nutrient-rich soil.

Their vineyards in Wagram are terraced slopes that were shaped by uplift and subsidence during the last Ice Age, primarily due to storms. These terraces consist of loess – a fine, sandy loam soil – which is particularly well-suited to viticulture. The loess was deposited by windblown loess masses on the terraces formed by the ancient Danube and is now up to 30 metres thick, and beneath the loess are layers of gneiss and gravel. Loess soil has excellent water and nutrient retention capacity, an indispensable characteristic given that there is ever-decreasing rainfall. The climate in Wagram is shaped by the coolness of the Waldviertel region to the north, the mildness of the Danube Valley to the south, and the warm Pannonian winds from the east. Furthermore, Wagram experiences warm days and cool nights.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Grüner Veltliner that was organically grown on deep loess soil within the municipality of Fels am Wagram, from the DAC Wagram appellation in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). In 2022, beginning with the 2021 vintage, Wagram became the 17th winegrowing region in Austria to be granted DAC status. The grapes underwent a cold temperature fermentation and likely matured in stainless steel, without any oak ageing.

The 2024 growing season presented many challenges and is considered a miracle vintage. Rain during early bud break and spring frosts, along with rain in early summer and in September reduced yields. By mid-June, temperatures rose and allowed the grapes to ripen on schedule and reach phenolic ripeness, with the hot temperatures continuing into September. The year favoured Grüner Veltliner, as the variety is more resistant to rain, with the resulting wines tending to be ripe, and having relatively lower acidity levels. From a smaller than usual crop, with good quality, let's see how this 2024 Grüner Veltliner from Austria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

URBANIHOF CLASSIC GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Wagram, Austria (#49425) (D) - $24.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this organic Grüner Veltliner has a lovely, deep, medium-high intensity nose featuring a ripe core of lemon citrus and yellow apple aromas accented with white peach, melon, and spice, plus hints of grapefruit and savoury earthy mineral. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is fairly dense and concentrated, with a kiss of sweetness offering ripe flavours of lemon citrus, yellow apple, spice, white peach, and melon in a slightly off-dry flavour profile. It's all supported by juicy and refreshing acidity. Savoury and dry with leesy mineral notes lingering on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

One other wine by Weingut Urbanihof is coming to VINTAGES in a couple of weeks, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: New Zealand

2026-04-13T05:00:00.011-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the April 11, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where the feature story of the release looks at Wine Wonders of New Zealand. This is a smallish release with only 85 products offered, and the average price per bottle comes in at just over $25, with just over half coming in at under $23. This is not a top release, but there are some fine wines to be enjoyed, with everything readily available for purchase both online and in-stores at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature on Wine Wonders of New Zealand wines, with fourteen wines featured in the thematic, of which four are included among my top wine picks. Of the five NZ Sauvignon Blanc wines featured, two are among my recommended buys, with one from Marlborough and the other from a Māori-owned winery in North Canterbury. There's also a dry Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley, while the only red is a Pinot Noir from Wairarapa on the North Island.

My top red wine picks from the main release begin in Greece with a single vineyard Xinomavro from Naoussa, followed by a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Xinomavro from Macedonia. There are quite a few blends among my red wine recommendations, including a couple from Veneto, where the IGT Veronese is a blend of 40% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella, while the Valpolicella is composed of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% other traditional varieties. The red from South Africa is composed of 44% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec, while the Portuguese red is a blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. From France, the Rhône red is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Carignan, while the red from Roussillon is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah.

Among the white wines from the main release, there are a couple of blends, with the Rhône white crafted with 60% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 10% Roussanne, and 5% Viognier, while the Tuscan white is composed of primarily Vernaccia di San Gimignano with 5% Incrocio Manzoni completing the blend. The rest of the whites are mono-varietal wines, with locally crafted wines from Niagara leading the way once again with a couple of Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a pair of lovely Rieslings. Lastly, but definitely not the least, there is the perennial favourite Marsanne from Victoria, Australia, and a fine Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux.

Other wines include a dry rosé from South Africa that is crafted with Cinsault, while the Crémant de Loire sparkling wine is a blend of 70% Chenin, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

COUTADA VELHA SIGNATURE RED 2022 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#11152) (XD) - $14.95 90+ pts wine review
MONTES LIMITED SELECTION CARMENÈRE 2022 - DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#256685) (XD) - $17.95
TEDESCHI NICALÒ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2023 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#984997) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2022 - AOP, Midi, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
DOMAINE LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2023 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95
MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2023 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#922443) (XD) - $20.95 89 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AOC, France (#51799) (XD) - $20.95

KECHRIS GENESIS XINOMAVRO / MERLOT 2022 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#30613) (XD) - $22.95 90 pts wine review
PADDY BORTHWICK PAPER ROAD PINOT NOIR 2023 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#179770) (XD) - $24.95 91+ pts wine review
ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE 2022 - Sustainable, IGT Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#672931) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
RICASOLI BROLIO BETTINO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#630939) (XD) - $28.95
HIDDEN BENCH GAMAY 2023 - Sustainable, Uunfiltered, VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20422) (XD) - $29.95 90+ pts wine review
SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#716266) (XD) - $29.95
KIR-YIANNI RAMNISTA SINGLE VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2020 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#178020) (XD) - $39.95 92+ pts wine review

White Wine:

CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT LES ROCHES BLANCHES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - AOC Bordeaux, France (#35860) (XD) - $15.95 90 pts wine review
TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $19.95
CHÂTEAU DE NAGES HÉRITAGE BLANC COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2023 - AOC, Rhône, France (#48332) (XD) - $19.95
TAHBILK MARSANNE 2024 - Sustainable, Estate Grown and Bottled, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#117945) (XD) - $19.95
TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO 2024 - PDO Mantinia, Greece (#724583) (XD) - $21.95 89 pts wine review
PENINSULA RIDGE WISMER VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#155580) (XD) - $21.95 90 pts wine review

LOVEBLOCK ORGANIC PINOT GRIS 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#47914) (XD) - $23.95 92 pts wine review
LAWSON'S DRY HILLS RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, Carbon Zero, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#47921) (XD) - $24.95
TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH RIESLING 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $24.95
PANIZZI VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO 2024 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36446) (XD) - $25.95
HIDDEN BENCH RIESLING 2022 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $26.95 92+ pts wine review
BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95
BACHELDER WERNER-YORK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45136) (XD) - $45.00

Rosé Wine:

LUBANZI CINSAULT ROSÉ 2025 - Fair Trade, Climate Neutral, WO Swartland, South Africa (#49070) (XD) - $18.95

Sparkling Wine:

ACKERMAN BULLE ROYALE CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional Method, AOP, Loire, France (#42057) (D) - $20.95 89 pts wine review

Praise Bistro Blanc 2024 and Bistro Rouge 2024 (Languedoc) - Wine Reviews

2026-04-09T17:36:00.001-04:00

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of delicious, vegan-friendly IGP Pays d'Oc wines from Languedoc that are brand-new arrivals at the LCBO, with both landing in-store and online in the March 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Praise Wines was founded a few years ago by sommeliers, friends, and business partners Scott Zebarth and Will Predhomme. Praise was born out of a desire to democratize wine, with the core values of quality, transparency, collaboration, sustainability, empowerment, and life-changing. In addition to making wine accessible for everyone, they wanted to go one step further and launched their Drink Better Initiative.

In today's world, access to clean water is the biggest crisis in the world, and the team at Praise believes that everyone should have access to clean water. At Praise, they are on a mission to combat the water crisis and create a positive impact through their wine brand. Praise believes that businesses can be agents of change and transform the world together. Their vision is to end water scarcity and build a sustainable future where humanity thrives in harmony with nature. With their commitment to making a difference, each bottle of Praise wine helps provide clean and safe water, an essential resource, to those in need for one year.

Praise proudly works with Water.org, who offers a portfolio of smart solutions that break down the financial barriers between people living in poverty and access to safe water and sanitation. Their unique solutions are adapted to the conditions in 11 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as they work in collaboration with their in-country partners to provide efficient and scalable solutions, while using financing as a tool to help those in need.

There are only two wines in the Praise portfolio - the Bistro Blanc and Bistro Rouge. Both wines are crafted using organically cultivated grapes that were grown in Minervois, Languedoc, and labelled as IGP Pays d'Oc wines. Additionally, both wines are vegan-friendly, sustainable HVE3 certified, and packaged with environmentally-friendly packaging.

The growing season in 2024 in Minervois experienced drought conditions for the third year in a row, along with hot (and sometimes very hot) temperatures, which led to reduced yields. The resulting wines were generally aromatic with concentrated and dense flavours. From a very good vintage in terms of quality, let's see how these two IGP Pays d'Oc wines from Languedoc are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

PRAISE BISTRO BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46876) (XD) - $18.95
Blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Viognier grown in Minervios and enclosed by screw cap. The delicate, medium+ intensity nose offers ripe yellow fruit, lemon citrus, pear, and floral aromas with touches of fresh herbs and honeysuckle. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has impressive weight and concentration with flavours of ripe lemon citrus, pear, white peach, floral, and herbs, plus touches of gummy bear notes. It has juicy, well-balanced acidity, along with some warmth and spice on the mid-palate. Pear and citrus notes taper to leesy minerals on the finish, with good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

PRAISE BISTRO ROUGE 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46339) (D) - $18.95
100% Grenache enclosed by screw cap. The fresh, open, medium-high intensity nose is quite ripe and fruity with a fine mix of red berry, raspberry, savoury earth, and spice aromas, plus hints of white pepper and milk chocolate. On the mid-weighted palate it has fresh, juicy, and lively acidity that supports the ripe-fruited flavours of raspberry, white pepper spice, clove, and chocolate, with savoury earth undertones. It has ripe, supple tannins with a slightly gritty texture. The ripe fruit has a touch of sweetness that is masked by the high acids, which makes the wine come off as dry. Ripe raspberry, spice, and savoury earth notes linger on crisp finish, with very good length. Give it a light chill, crack open and enjoy! Score: 87+ pts

Both of these wines can also be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Casale del Giglio Bellone 2023 (Lazio) - Wine Review

2026-04-04T17:35:00.001-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely white crafted with the indigenous and quite rare Bellone (bel-LOH-neh) varietal. It made its debut at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the March 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Casale del Giglio, a winery with roots as a wine merchant that was founded in 1914 by the Santarelli brothers - Emidio, Isidoro, and Antonio. In 1955, Dino Santarelli, son of Emidio, founded a company to bottle Lazio's classic wines, which were largely sold in Rome, but also exported abroad, including Canada.

In 1967, Dr. Berardino Santarelli, son of Antonio, established the family estate of Casale del Giglio on the unconventional land in the Agro Pontino valley, between the towns of Aprilla and Latina, about 50 km south of Rome. Since vine growing was not a tradition in this area, Dr. Santarelli and his son, Antanio, had free rein to introduce pioneering ideas, and in 1985 they planted nearly 60 different experimental varietals in the soils at Casale del Giglio. This bold and daring scheme had never been approached in such a scientific way, and their young winemaker, Paolo Tiefenthaler, was to become its leading light. Ampelographers and university researchers of the day joined them in this research project, and continue to support this effort, which is also endorsed by the Agricultural Department of Latium's Regional Government. The project aimed at identifying and maximizing the territory's potential for quality viticulture has yielded positive results, with these processes influencing other regions across the globe.

The philosophy at Casale del Giglio is based on the future of Italian viticulture relying not only on consolidating the image of its traditional wine producing zones, but on its ability to produce top-quality wines at favourable prices in areas whose potential is still relatively unexplored. As a result of Casale del Giglio's research, there are new recommended varieties that can be cultivated in the province of Latina. Casale del Giglio has 180 hectares of vines planted to the cordon trained system, while electing to plant grape varieties which have adapted well to the territory and produce quality wines.

Bellone is an Italian white wine grape variety first cited by Pliny the Elder and has been present in the Latium region of central-western Italy, near the city of Rome, and cultivated since the times of the Romans. Today, Bellone is cultivated from the Roman to the Lepini hills and in the hinterland of the coastal town of Anzio in Lazio, where the warm sandy soils tempered by a relentless sea breeze provide the ideal microclimate. Casale del Giglio's Bellone Project was launched in 2012 around the coastal town of Anzio, a choice location keeping in line with the claim of past farmers that Bellone thrives on sea air. The Bellone grape is vigorous and resistant to drought, which ensures wine quality and balance, while its plump, golden yellow, and thick-skinned grapes hang in elongated, cone-shaped bunches. Meanwhile, the persistent Tyrrhenian Sea breeze prevents over-ripening, while maintaining high concentrations of both sugar and acidity, which ultimately lead to early maturation and highlighting the wine's pronounced mineral notes.

I've had the pleasure of tasting Casale del Giglio's flagship white wine "Anthium", which is crafted with Bellone from 60-year-old vines, many times over the years and am excited to see how this entry-level Bellone compares. To vinify this wine, the grapes were harvested at the end of September and then macerated on the skins to encourage extraction of the aromas bestowed by the territory. It was then softly pressed and then underwent spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts for about 10–12 days at 18–20°C, and matured in bottle without the use of any oak. Let's see how this 2023 Bellone from Lazio is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASALE DEL GIGLIO BELLONE 2023 - IGT Lazio Bianco, Italy (#45845) (XD) - $19.95
This 100% Bellone has a lovely, medium-high intensity nose that is open with earthy minerality and sea spray aromas layered over lemon citrus, apple, and yellow floral. It's medium-full bodied on the dry, fairly concentrated, and well-structured palate with lovely, ripe lemon citrus, apple, earthy mineral, saline, floral, and warm spice flavours in a gently honeyed profile. Acids are crisp and juicy, while also having a slight mineral texture on the mid-palate. Lemon citrus and apple transition to spices, and then to saline minerals on the long, balanced, and savoury finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Casale del Giglio can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

Licenciado Reserva 2020 (Rioja) - Wine Review

2026-04-02T17:44:00.000-04:00

For the long weekend, tonight's red wine review is a lovely Tempranillo from Rioja that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on wines for Easter in the recent March 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2020 Burgo Viejo Reserva I enjoyed last year, this red wine is also produced by Bodegas Burgo Viejo, a co-operative style of winery that was formed at the end of the 1980s by six neighbouring families in La Rioja, Spain. The winegrowing families of Castillo Garcia, Galán Garijo, Gurría García, Marques Malumbres, Rivas Marques, and Ruiz Casas came together, along with their vineyards, winegrowing traditions, and age-old knowledge that was passed down from one generation to the next to create wines with an innovative spirit under a single brand.

Together, they have 200 hectares of vineyards that they cultivate with care, and are able to produce a wide range of wines that combine the tradition of La Rioja with new market trends that meet the demands of consumers worldwide. Their vines average 30+ years of age, with some dating back almost a century, while newer plantings are grown organically and represent the future.

While Burgo Viejo has several lines of wines, this particular wine is the lone wine in the Licenciado range. This wine has been crafted since at least the 2006 vintage and represented a shift in Burgo Viejo's philosophy to premium, estate wines. It also coincided with the time of Mr. Gorka Etxebarria's arrival at Burgo Viejo in 2003. Gorka holds a Graduate Degree in Oenology from the University of La Rioja and has worked for some of Rioja's most prestigious wineries. Since 2003, Gorka has been leading the winemaking process at Burgo Viejo, where he combines an innovative approach with traditional methods to produce the finest results that the wonderful vineyards have to offer.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Tempranillo that was grown in vineyards throughout the municipality of Alfaro in La Rioja of Spain, at the foot of the Yerga Mountain and on the banks of the fertile Ebro valley. This area offers a wide diversity of soils and microclimates where Tempranillo — the flagship variety of the region — thrives and becomes a special Rioja wine. As the vineyards are owned by Bodegas Burgo Viejo, the team constantly works the vineyards as required in order to produce top-quality grapes, as well as decides the precise time for harvest.

It was vinified by de-stemming and lightly crushing the grapes, followed by a temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It also underwent malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks, and then was matured for at least 18 months in 225 L oak barriques.

In 2020, the hot growing season featured rainfall and early budding, which resulted in an early and uneven harvest. Some areas were also severely hit by hail and mildew, which resulted in smaller yields in these areas, while areas not impacted by these conditions had more generous yields. Rainfall in September also presented challenges, but those that harvested after the rain benefited from northern winds and generally excellent conditions, produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol, good acidity, and deep colour. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2020 Tempranillo Rioja Reserva is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LICENCIADO RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#370023) (XD) - $19.95
This 100% Tempranillo has lovely, medium-high intensity aromas that are clean and well-balanced with ripe dark red berry, black cherry, coconut, and oak spice, plus touches of floral, wild raspberry, savoury earth, and cocoa. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has more dark red berry notes of strawberry, raspberry, and black cherry nuanced with coconut, oak spice, earth, and cocoa notes. It's well-structured with crisp and succulent acidity, along with refined, dusty textured tannins that are a touch grippy on the back palate. Savoury with coconut, toasty oak, and earthy notes on the long finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the coming 5-7 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Burgo Viejo can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

Mega Spileo Cuvée III Red 2023 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-03-31T17:50:00.001-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend of mainly Mavrodaphne and Cabernet Sauvignon from Greece that arrived at the LCBO just over a week ago in the March 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the lovely 2023 Mega Spileo Assyrtiko I enjoyed last year, this wine is produced by Mega Spileo Estate, a historically significant monastery and winery whose roots date back to 362 A.D. The monastery was established by brothers who were also monks near the town of Kalavryta, in the Achaea region of northern Peloponnese, and holds a special place in Greek orthodox tradition and history.

In the mid-15th century, vine cultivation was added to the lands surrounding the winery. The grapes harvested from these vines were used by the monks to produce wine for both the Holy Communion and as a nutritious dietary supplement. During this period, a massive barrel called "Angelis" was acquired and used to store 12 tonnes of wine - this barrel still survives today.

The latest chapter in Mega Spileo's long and storied history opened in 1999 when brothers Giannis and Theodoros Anastasiou received a long-term lease on the Estate from the Monastery. The brothers' vision was to revitalize the historical vineyard using a team of experienced oenologists and wine producers in order to create a completely new and unique estate. Situated only a few minutes away from the historical monastery, Mega Spileo Estate is located within the UNESCO Chelmos-Vouraikos Global Geopark, which covers an area of 647 km² and is surrounded by tall mountains, plateaus, sheer gorges, ancient trees, wild herbs, flowers, and cool breezes, all of which come together to create a unique microclimate that is ideal for winegrowing. By replanting vineyards and implementing best practices in both the vineyard and winery, including protecting the environment and using sustainable agricultural techniques, Mega Spileo is now a thriving estate winery and a reference point for premium Greek wines.

This wine is one of two wines from Mega Spileo's "Cuvée III" range, which is named as such because each wine in the range is crafted using three varietals that blend indigenous Greek varieties with international varieties. The grapes for Cuvée III wines are also grown at altitude and express a modern Greek identity.

The Mega Spileo Cuvée III Red is a blend of 40% Mavrodaphne, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Agiorgitiko that was grown in mountain vineyards surrounding the Mega Spileo vineyard, between 700 and 800 metres above sea level, within the PGI Achaia regional appellation of the Peloponnese. Each varietal was vinified separately, with the grape must and marc (pomace) remaining in contact until fermentation is complete. The varieties are then blended and matured for 8 months in new American oak barrels.

In 2023, heavy rainfall during spring caused severe diseases such as downy mildew, which was followed by elevated temperatures and drought during the summer months. While these conditions reduced yields, grape quality is high. Let's see how this 2023 red blend from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III RED 2023 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#25708) (D) - $21.95
This blend of 40% Mavrodaphne, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Agiorgitiko has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that delivers lush and ripe dark berry, black cherry, blackberry aromas alongside sweet oak, vanilla and cocoa notes. On medium-bodied palate it ripe and sweet fruited with delicious cassis, black cherry, blackberry, vanillin oak, and cocoa flavours. Subtle spice on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins offer some chalkiness and textural grip. Cassis and ripe dark berry notes taper to savoury, cocoa, vanilla, oak, and smoke on the long lasting finish. Shows much better balance than the previous vintage and is a recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Small quantities of many Mego Spileo wines are available the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Featherstone Four Feathers 2024 (Niagara) - Wine Review

2026-03-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly, and off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) white wine blend from Niagara that is crafted with mainly Riesling. It is a VINTAGES Essentials product that was featured in Local Talent in last weekend's March 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, and this vintage should be readily available at most stores.

It is produced by Featherstone Estate Winery, a boutique, eco-conscious winery that was established by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, Dave Johnson. The name "Featherstone" is an homage to the gourmet food shop named "Feather" which specialized in poultry that they once owned, and "stone" for the stone rock face and quarry adjacent to the vineyard. Featherstone is situated in Vineland, Ontario, among the rolling hills of the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. Featherstone prides itself on its eco-friendly farming practices, which have been in place since its founding in 1999.

In 2024, amidst its 25th anniversary, Featherstone began a new chapter as it was acquired by philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal, while Louise and Dave look forward to retirement after 25 successful years. Today, the Head Winemaker at Featherstone is Kevin Qin, a graduate of the Niagara College Winery & Viticulture program. Kevin joined Featherstone in 2014 and has grown alongside the winery ever since as he started out in retail and eventually moved into cellar operations and harvest leadership, while also assisting Dave in winemaking.

The philosophy at Featherstone remains the same - as both grape growing and winemaking are both scientific and intuitive processes - the wines of Featherstone reflect the special character of the grapes, as well as the artistry of the winemaker. In the vineyard, they work through the growing season to enhance the grapes' natural attributes, and then craft wines with minimal winemaking embellishments. Their goal is to produce limited amounts of small-lot wines so that they are able to practice hands-on, artisanal wine production.

As a local leader in eco-friendly farming practices, respect for the land is at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and its site. Featherstone pioneered in Niagara the employment of a small flock of sheep to naturally eat their way through the grape leaves that need to be removed from the fruiting zone on the vines, while also fertilizing the soil as they move through the vineyard. Among the many sustainable practices, Featherstone takes care of their dirt by avoiding herbicides, planting cover crops, using organic compounds to control mould and mildew, managing bugs without the use of insecticides, and switching to a recycle sprayer. In 2023, Featherstone received its Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

This certified sustainable white wine is a blend of precisely 60.1% Riesling, 18.2% Pinot Grigio, 12.6% Chardonnay, and 9.1% Gewurztraminer using grapes grown across the Niagara Peninsula. The grapes were both hand- and machine-harvested from Sept. 9th to Oct. 18th. After bringing the grapes to the winery, the juice was pressed and transferred into stainless steel tanks to undergo a temperature-controlled fermentation. It also underwent eight hours of juice fining and settling, then racked off its lees.

In 2024, the growing season in Niagara had perfect conditions from early bud break to the warm and late fall that allowed for a long hang time. While there was a slight hiccup in early fall due to moisture and disease pressure from rain that affected early-ripening and thin-skinned grapes, those that picked early were able to mitigate these pressures. From an exceptional vintage with plenty of ripeness and acidity, let's see how this 2024 Riesling-based blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE FOUR FEATHERS 2024 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#341586) (D) - $15.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, this blend of 60.1% Riesling, 18.2% Pinot Grigio, 12.6% Chardonnay, and 9.1% Gewurztraminer has a delicate, medium+ intensity nose of ripe peach, lemon peel, and apple with hints of honey and floral. On medium+ bodied palate it is gently off-dry with good concentration and delicious poached peach, lemon peel, apple, honey, and floral replays joined by spice notes on the flavour profile. Acids are clean and well-balanced. Finishes crisp and dry with leesy and apple notes, with good length. Chill and enjoy this easy drinking, recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Many other delicious wines by Featherstone are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

Parés Baltà V Brut Cava 2023 (Spain) - Wine Review

2026-03-24T17:41:00.001-04:00

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely, vegan, and organic Vintage Brut Cava. It is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving in-store and online in the recent March 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, and was also featured in the release as part of the thematic on Women in Wine.

It is produced by Parés Baltà, a well-respected and family-owned estate winery situated in the Penedes wine region of Spain, just 50 km south of Barcelona. The family has a long winemaking history that goes back to 1790, when the first vineyards were planted on the Parés Baltà estate, surrounding the manor house where the winery is located.

As the son of a family of winegrowers, Joan Cusiné Hill was born in 1917 in a small village in Penedes and dedicated his entire life to the cultivation of vines and creating the finest quality wines. During the 1980s, Joan Cusiné Cusiné, son of Joan Cusiné Hill, took over the winery and produced their first white wine that has become a classic at the winery. His wife, Maria Angels Carol, has always been by her husband’s side and supported him to get Parés Balta table wines and sparkling wines recognized and admired across the globe.

Today, Parés Baltà is led by the third generation of the Cusiné family. Brothers Joan and Josep head the winery with the unconditional help of their parents and their wives, María Elena and Marta, two women that fell in love with the brothers while learning about the world of wine. After working their first harvest, both women decided to study oenology at the University of Tarragona (Spain) and upon their return became lead winemakers at the winery, a position they have now held for more than 20 years. Their primary challenge was to combine tradition with innovation, ultimately sparking a revolution that converted their vineyards to organic and biodynamic certification in the span of a decade. Together, they have shared values and a vision that is invariably linked to respect for nature and care for their environment, a family legacy that was inherited from the first generation, Joan Cusiné Hill and Rosa Cusiné.

Faithful to their grandfather and father, the Cusiné brothers continue to produce high-quality organic and biodynamic table wines and sparkling wines with the premise of leaving the land that they inherited in peak condition for future generations. They continue to use their old cava cellar, which was constructed stone by stone at the beginning of the twentieth century. This cellar is located 10 metres underground and has a natural and constant temperature of 14–15ºC, conditions which are perfect for ageing cavas.

This sparkling wine is a blend of the three traditional grape varieties from Penedes: Parellada, Macabeu, and Xarel·lo. The Parellada comes from 59-year-old vines at Viñas del Pi and Viña de Cal Pons, on the foothills of the highest mountains of the Penedes - the Ancosa Mountains, between 610–635 metres above sea level, where loam and gypsum are the most highlighted components in the soil that was formed during the Triassic period. The Macabeu comes from 44-year-old vines at Vinyes de Macabeu, from the foothills of the Prelitoral Mountains at 230 metres above sea level, on loam soil with low permeability and good water retention, which makes it difficult to suffer from water stress and loss of aromatics. The Xarel·lo comes from 44-year-old vines grown in the Penedes Central Valley at 254 metres above sea level on loamy soils and continental sediments whose origins are from the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs of the Quaternary period. To this wine, Parellada contributes the floral freshness, which is preserved from its special microclimate, while Macabeu brings fruit and Xarel·lo provides the body to the final wine, and together, they complete this special cava.

As a 2023 vintage traditional method bubbly, this is crafted using a blend of 59% Parellada, 33% Macabeu, and 8% Xarel·lo. The grapes were hand-harvested from vineyards that were organically and biodynamically farmed. It underwent its first fermentation for two weeks in stainless steel tanks at 16°C. The wine underwent its second fermentation in bottle, following the traditional method, with a minimum ageing of 12 months, and without any oak ageing.

The vegetative cycle for this vintage begins in October 2022, when it had lower-than-usual rainfall and was the warmest October in history. The winter months were warm and wet, while drought set in from the end of February to the end of April, as there were 61 consecutive days without rain. May and June were warm and quite rainy, while July featured a heat spike that reached a record 40.2ºC. In August, there was an intense and persistent heat wave, while a short harvest was completed over about 7 weeks from August to September. This was a low-yielding vintage where, unusually, the red varieties ripened earlier than the white varieties. From an excellent vintage for sparkling wines, let's see how this 2023 Brut Cava from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PARÉS BALTÀ V BRUT CAVA 2023 - Vegan, Traditional Method, DO, Spain (#650648) (XD) - $17.95
This organic sparkling wine is a blend of 59% Parellada, 33% Macabeu, and 8% Xarel·lo with medium+ intensity aromatics offering enticing lemon, floral, apple, and autolytic notes with touches of peach and brioche. The mid-weighted palate is dry with a creamy mouthfeel and delicious pear, apple, lemon, floral, and autolytic flavours in a gently tangy profile. More savoury with leesy minerals on the mid-palate and touches of spice on the back-palate. Acids are bright and lively, while the mousse is well-balanced. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, savoury finish. A delicious, highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

Domaine les Evigneaux Cuvée Belle Dame Rasteau 2022 (Rhône) - Wine Review

2026-03-22T17:54:00.001-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Rasteau from the Southern Rhône that made its debut at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the March 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and was part of the feature on Women in Wine.

Domaine les Evigneaux is owned by Maison LAVAU, a well-respected producer situated near the village of Sablet, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail hills in the Southern Rhône Valley. The Lavau family has been involved in winemaking for several generations and have built a reputation as one of the region's top winemakers thanks to their dedication to high-quality standards, attention to detail, and thirst for excellence. After completing their studies in Canada, brothers Frédéric and Benoît Lavau joined the family business, and by 2000 they took over the company as their parents decided to retire.

In 2013, the Lavau family formed a partnership with Bénédicte Bonnet, née Arnaud, and her husband, Charles, who brought along with them the historic Château Maucoil property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Bénédicte and the Lavau brothers have always been fans of Rasteau, which became a Cru in 2010, and have been making wines from this appellation for many years. In 2014, because of their special fondness for vineyards in Rasteau, they decided to acquire a few special and "atypical" vineyards in this area because of their outstanding exposure. In all, they acquired 10 hectares of vineyards consisting of 12 plots in Rasteau's most emblematic terroirs, which formed the plans to create a wine capable of delivering all the complexity and power of this extraordinary AOC, and would go on to become Domaine les Evigneaux.

The vineyards of Domaine les Evigneaux are perched upon a hill overlooking the Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains, with an uneven terrain that offers a great diversity of soils and a fascinating landscape. As you move from one terrace to another, depending on the slope, the soil changes from clay-chalk to blue marl, and from rounded pebbles to red marl. On the lower terraces, the soil is strewn with rounded pebbles that are perfect for Grenache, while the hillsides have poorer soils of clay-chalk, and sometimes almost sandy, which is equally good not only for Grenache, but also the region's other emblematic varietals: Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan, among others. The Domaine takes full advantage of this geological diversity and blends grapes from these different profiles to create complex wines which assure the reputation of the Rhône Valley Cru of Rasteau.

This red wine is proudly crafted by Bénédicte Bonnet, who comes from a winegrowing family. She is an independent and hands-on winemaker who personally directs every stage of production from vineyard cultivation to final blending to ageing, ensuring that each bottle reflects her uncompromising standards, vision, and expertise. Her work embodies the confidence, talent, and leadership of women redefining the Rhône's great terroirs.

All grown within the Rasteau appellation of the Southern Rhône Valley, this red wine is composed of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault. The Syrah vines are planted on gravel and clay soil of the Quaternary terraces of Bellerive, in the south of the appellation, where it is sunny and early ripening, conditions which are ideal for growing Syrah. The Grenache vines are planted to the north in cooler soils which accentuate the diurnal temperatures (the difference between day and night temperatures), resulting in grapes with enhanced colour and aromatics. The pebble and gravel soils where Grenache is planted are mixed with a complex clay, which allows for constant, even drainage, and water supply.

To vinifiy this wine, the grapes were 100% destemmed, then underwent a cold pre-fermentation maceration, followed by 28 days of maceration with pumping over and rack and return. It was aged for 12 months, with 70% in 228 L barrels from the François Frères cooperage in Burgundy and 30% in amphoras.

In 2022, the growing season in the Southern Rhône was marked by extreme conditions with intense heat and drought. The year began with a dry winter and very little rain, followed by a spring that warmed up rapidly. While April did experience a fleeting cold snap, temperatures continued to rise, with successful budburst and flowering. May was abnormally hot, while rain in June brought some relief. On a positive note, the heat and drought during the summer months kept rot and disease at bay. In August, humidity arrived and revived the vines, which greatly benefited the red grape varieties Grenache and Syrah. From a high quality vintage with superb wines, let's see how this 2022 Rasteau is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE LES EVIGNEAUX CUVÉE BELLE DAME RASTEAU 2022 - AOP, Rhône, France (#47575) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault has a medium+ intensity nose that seems a bit shy, offering deep and warming aromas of ripe dark red wild berries, black cherry, kirsch, raspberry, garrigue, and spices with hints of stones, meaty, rose floral, and savoury earth. It's medium-full bodied, concentrated, and impressively structured on the dry palate with warming flavours of ripe raspberry, black cherry, garrigue, spices, stony mineral, meaty, and savoury earth. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the fine-grained tannins are structured with a slightly youthful grip. Warming, yet within balance, with wild berry, raspberry, garrigue, spice, and stony-smoky minerals on the long, savoury finish. Could pass for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. At 15% abv, chill and enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 91+ pts

At the moment, this is the only wine by Domaine les Evigneaux, but other wines down the line may be available through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

March 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Wines for Easter

2026-03-22T05:00:00.171-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the March 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where Wines & Recipes for Easter is the feature story of the release. In all, there are nearly 100 products offered in this release, with about 60% priced less than $25. While just over half the wines are red, I am a bit surprised that there were no rosés included in this release. Overall, I am satisfied with this release as there are a wide range of wines at various price points. Please also note that the next release is three weeks away on April 11th.

We'll begin with the feature on Excellent Wines & Recipes for Easter, and with twenty-two wines included as part of the thematic — nine are among my top wine recommendations. Among the whites, we go to the Southern Hemisphere with a Chardonnay from Australia, followed by the Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. From the Northern Hemisphere, there's an Assyrtiko from Greece, as well as the Soave from Italy, which is crafted with Garganega. Among the red wines, the only blend is Portuguese wine that is crafted with Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. The mono-varietal wines for Easter pairings include a Gamay Noir from Niagara, a Malbec from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and a Tempranillo from Spain.

At the top of the list among my red wine recommendations is the Rioja, which is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo, followed by the Pauillac from Bordeaux that is 50/50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. For Syrah wine lovers, the Syrah from Chile includes a dollop of Viognier, while the Vinsobres is a blend of Syrah and Grenache, while the South African version is 100% Syrah. Other blends include the wine from Greece that is crafted with 40% Mavrodaphne, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Agiorgitiko, and the Cabernet from Australia that is actually a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Tempranillo. And lastly, the Bistro Rouge is crafted with 100% Grenache.

White wine picks from the main release begin in Austria with a fine Grüner Veltliner from Austria, followed by the Bellone from Lazio, Italy. There's also a trio of Sauvignon Blanc wines, with a couple from Marlborough in New Zealand, and one from Margaret River in Australia. White wine blends include the wine from Languedoc, which is a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Viognier, while the off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) wine by Featherstone is a blend of 60.1% Riesling, 18.2% Pinot Grigio, 12.6% Chardonnay, and 9.1% Gewurztraminer.

There are also a couple of traditional method sparkling wines that are worth seeking out. The Champagne is crafted with approximately 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Meunier, while the bubbly from Nova Scotia is made with Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

PRAISE BISTRO ROUGE 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46339) (D) - $18.95 87+ pts wine review
GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13316) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN ORGANIC PINOT NOIR 2022 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#325670) (XD) - $18.95
EMILIANA SIGNOS DE ORIGEN ORGANIC SYRAH 2022 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#212407) (XD) - $18.95
ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP BLACKBERRY PATCH CABERNET 2021 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#353193) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review

CREMASCHI FURLOTTI GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2021 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Valle del Loncomilla, Valle del Maule, Chile (#549741) (XD) - $19.95
LICENCIADO RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#370023) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
BENGUELA COVE ESTATE SYRAH 2021 - Sustainable, WO Walker Bay, South Africa (#48604) (XD) - $19.95
MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III RED 2023 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#25708) (D) - $21.95 90 pts wine review
CHURCHILL'S GRAFITE DOURO RED 2021 - DOP, Portugal (#45407) (XD) - $21.95
FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES 2022 - AOC, Rhône, France (#566844) (XD) - $21.95

CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2023 - Sustainable, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $25.95
BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT SINGLE VINEYARD 32% WHOLE-CLUSTER GAMAY NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#33994) (XD) - $33.00
WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $33.95 91+ pts wine review
CHÂTEAU PLANTEY PAUILLAC 2020 - Sustainable, AOC, Bordeaux, France (#38192) (XD) - $34.95 92 pts wine review
MUGA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#472902) (XD) - $56.95

White Wine:

FEATHERSTONE FOUR FEATHERS 2024 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#341586) (D) - $15.95 88 pts wine review
PRAISE BISTRO BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#46876) (XD) - $18.95 88 pts wine review
CASALE DEL GIGLIO BELLONE 2023 - IGT Lazio Bianco, Italy (#45845) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
MOUNT RILEY LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447425) (XD) - $19.95
EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $21.95
AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $21.95
INAMA VIN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#949768) (XD) - $23.95
URBANIHOF CLASSIC GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Wagram, Austria (#49425) (D) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $24.95
CHÂTEAU JULIA ASSYRTIKO 2024 - Vegan, PGI Drama, Greece (#30608) (XD) - $29.95
GIANT STEPS YARRA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2024 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#243154) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

LIGHTFOOT AND WOLFVILLE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada (#16075) (D) - $51.95
PALMER LA RÉSERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#39865) (XD) - $87.95 93 pts wine review

Maturana Parellon Natural Semillon 2024 (Chile) - Wine Review

2026-03-19T17:43:00.001-04:00

After enjoying the lovely 2022 Maturana Puente Austral Gran Reserva Carmenère earlier this month, tonight's wine review is another fine and unique white wine crafted with Semillon that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the March 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Maturana Winery is a family-owned boutique winery that was established in 2010 after the great earthquake in Chile by the Maturana brothers, José Ignacio and Sebastian. The brothers had a great passion for viticulture and wine, and after the earthquake they decided that there was no time to waste in pursuing their passion.

The identity of Maturana is centred around innovation, differentiation, fair price, passion, rescue of heritage strains, and quality. They use innovation to capture the essence of each variety and specific location to bring them to their fullest potential by using diverse materials such as concrete in various sizes and shapes, clay amphorae, and French oak. Because Chile's wine industry has developed in the same way for decades, in a traditional and classic manner, Maturana welcomes the opportunity to be different. While supporting the natural management of vineyards, Maturana also responsibly pays their growers at a more-than-fair price of seven times the market price per kilo. Passion is the drug that keeps Maturana motivated, along with their commitment to showcasing old vineyards in central Chile, with some vineyards dating back to 1900. At the end, their mission is to produce wines of the highest quality, while also creating something unique.

Like the 2023 Maturana Naranjo Torontel Orange Wine I enjoyed last year, this wine is also one of Maturana's unique offerings. It is crafted with 100% Semillon that was grown in old vineyards in the Colchagua Valley Coast, in Paradones area in central Chile. It is uniquely crafted with 25% of the wine remaining in contact with its grape skins for four and a half months. Furthermore, 75% of the wine was aged in third-use French oak barrels for four and a half months.

The growing season in 2024 began with a very wet winter due to El Niño, which also contributed to a cool spring in the central regions. However, the lack of any summer heat spikes allowed for slow, even ripening and higher than normal acidity levels. From a high-quality vintage, let's see how this 2024 Semillon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MATURANA PARELLON NATURAL SEMILLON 2024 - DO Valle de Colchagua Costa, Chile (#15745) (XD) - $28.95
The medium-high intensity nose has rich and concentrated aromas of ripe lemon citrus, grapefruit, toasty vanilla, and spice with touches of blossom, honey, and leesy notes. It's medium-full bodied on the dry and slightly creamy palate with lovely honeyed, lemon citrus, floral blossom, and melon flavours with leesy, smoky, and vanilla undertones. Touch spicy on the textured mid-palate, along with juicy and succulent acids. Spice and citrus notes taper to leesy and smoky minerals on the long, crisp, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Maturana can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Yalumba Galway Vintage Shiraz 2023 (Barossa) - Wine Review

2026-03-16T17:51:00.001-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Barossa Shiraz that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story about Women in Wine in the recent March 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Yalumba, one of Australia's most historically important wineries. Recognized as Australia's oldest continuously family-owned winery, Yalumba was founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith when he planted his first vines in the heart of the Barossa with a genuine respect for the land and a willingness to venture into the unknown.

As Yalumba has always had a deep connection to the Barossa, their long-term vision is manifested in their marble and sandstone Clocktower - a solid monument that is their commitment to the region. Their passion is displayed by their Cooperage, which is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, where they continue a proud tradition of crafting barrels.

In 1893, Fred Caley Smith, the third generation of the family, took to the seas on a grand scientific discovery and returned with progressive horticultural developments that laid the foundation for sustainable viticulture and winemaking at Yalumba.

Today, Yalumba is in the hands of the fifth and sixth generations of the Hill-Smith family. As custodians, they have enormous respect for the generations that came before them, and also realize that a family wine business doesn't thrive across three centuries by standing still, and that change is a constant. The family spends most of their time looking forward and always strive to innovate and reduce their impact on the environment. The winemaking philosophy at Yalumba is based on minimal intervention, which includes organic and vegan-friendly practices, as well as wild fermentation.

The team at Yalumba is led by Robert Hill-Smith, the fifth generation of the family. Robert led Yalumba into the modern era by cementing their reputation as an internationally-focused and innovative wine business. He pioneered Viognier in Australia and established Australia's First Families of Wine. Sisters Jessica and Lucy Hill-Smith, daughters of Robert and the sixth generation, have also joined the family business, with Jessica taking on the role of General Manager of PR & Communications, while Lucy is based in the UK as a Fine Wine Ambassador.

At Yalumba, the winemaking team is led by Head Winemaker Sam Wigan, along with Louisa Rose, who is also a Winemaker and Head of Sustainability. Louisa is featured on page 20 of the Vintages Catalogue and is the reason for the inclusion on the feature about Women in Wine. Louisa joined Yalumba in 1992 and is one of Australia's most respected winemakers. She has gained international recognition as a pioneer for her work with Viognier and cool-climate Riesling, as well as her passion and push for sustainable viticulture without synthetic insecticides. Over the years, Yalumba has won 43 accolades for their sustainable practices, including the International Award of Excellence for Sustainable Wine Growing & the International Green Apple Gold Award, with Louisa playing an instrumental role.

First crafted in 1943, the Galway Shiraz is named after Lord Galway who served as Governor of South Australia. Lord Galway was an enthusiastic supporter of the local wine industry, particularly Yalumba and the broader Barossa wine community. To craft this 100% Shiraz, the grapes were sourced from various vineyards throughout the renowned Barossa wine region, from terroirs ranging from sandy soils to sandy loam, and from red-brown earth over red clay, which are ideal for growing expressive Shiraz. The grapes were harvested in March and April 2023, traditionally vinified, and then matured in French oak for 6–8 weeks.

The growing season during this vintage began with wet soils from abundant rainfall, along with cooler than average temperatures in September and October. This delayed the growing season by several weeks, and was joined by windy conditions during flowering, which resulted in lower fruit set at some vineyards. A relatively mild summer allowed the grapes to thrive, resulting in an elegantly restrained wine with character and charm. From a low-yielding, cool-climate year yielding high-quality and elegant wines, let's see how this 2023 Barossa Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

YALUMBA GALWAY VINTAGE SHIRAZ 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Barossa, South Australia (#41311) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by screw cap, the medium-high intensity nose leads with savoury earth and slightly meaty aromas layered over an attractive and complex mix of black pepper spice, ripe dark red fruits, black cherry, cassis, plum, and black currant notes with a touch of oak. The medium+ bodied palate is dry with lovely, well-balanced flavours of dark red fruit, currant, cassis, black pepper spice, plum, savoury earth, gentle oak spice, and touches of smoky mineral. It's well-structured with elegant and mildly grippy tannins that are supple, smooth, and refined. Acids are fresh and juicy. A touch tangy with currant, cassis, and peppery spice notes tapering to savoury, smoky mineral notes on the long, juicy, and well-balanced finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Several wines by Yalumba are available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.

Domaine Gioulis Agia Paraskevi Vineyard Agiorgitiko 2023 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-03-13T17:48:00.003-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic, single vineyard Agiorgitiko from Greece. It made its debut at the LCBO in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 7th.

It is produced by Domaine Gioulis, a family estate winery that was founded in 1993 by George Gioulis, an Agronomist & Oenologist who studied at the University of Bordeaux. Domaine Gioulis is situated in Klimenti, an old village located in the province of Corinth, near the valley of Nemea in the northern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.

Klimenti was built in 1400 A.D. on the steep slopes of Mount Ziria, at approximately 960 metres above sea level, close to Lake Stymphalia and 20 km upstream from the coastal city of Kiato (ancient Sikyon). Viticulture has been practiced in this area by residents since the early 19th century. Based on the mountainous characteristics of the region, Mr. Gioulis decided to establish this winery in his place of origin and planted his first vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon vines. This vineyard is regarded as one of the first certified organic vineyards in Greece.

Over the years, Domaine Gioulis has expanded and grown by adding vineyards and buildings. The second generation of the Gioulis family have also become active in the business after completing their studies. Dimitris, son of George, studied oenology at the University of Athens and now oversees winemaking and production, while daughter Ermioni studied Business Administration and the trade of wines & spirits and now handles commercial and marketing activities. Together with their father, the family aims to produce fine wines from their privately owned vineyards, while also highlighting the qualitative characteristics of the mountainous Klimenti wine region.

The climate in Klimenti is semi-continental with heavy winters and cool summers, conditions which favour organic farming. During the growing season, the climate is sunny with adequate rainfall and cool, northerly winds, which contribute to the absence of insects and reduced diseases. This climate gives rise to wines with minerality and length that is rare for hot-climate wines, and even during very hot and dry years, the quality of the wines remains unaffected. The southern Mediterranean microclimate in this area is also balanced by the mountain breeze from the Ziria mountains.

This red wine is crafted using 100% Agiorgitiko that was grown organically at the Agia Paraskevi Vineyard that is situated at a high altitude of 870 metres above sea level. This plot is located on the Peloponnese peninsula within the PGI Korinthia subzone, but borders the famous PDO of Nemea to the southeast. The grapes were manually harvested at optimum maturity, traditionally vinified, and aged in oak barrels. Grown at high altitude, the wine gives rise to elegant aromas due to the cooler growing conditions, lower grape maturation temperatures, and a continuous light breeze.

In 2023, the growing season was marked by heavy rainfall during spring, which caused severe diseases such as downy mildew, followed by elevated temperatures and drought during the summer months. Combined, these conditions impacted the vines and reduced yields. However, quality is high. Let's see how this 2023 Agiorgitiko from Korinthia in Peloponnese, Greece, is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE GIOULIS AGIA PARASKEVI VINEYARD AGIORGITIKO 2023 - PGI Korinthia, Greece (#48276) (XD) - $19.95
This organic Agiorgitiko has a medium-high intensity nose that offers an intriguing and funky mix of savoury blackberry, earth, and leather aromas followed by hints of ripe fruits such as pomegranate, black cherry, ripe raspberry, and plum. On the dry, medium+ weighted palate it offers delicious cran-black cherry, pomegranate, plum, raspberry, and spice flavours surrounding a core of savoury earth. It has crisp and juicy acidity, alongside supple, textured tannins. Some minerality on the back palate, while cran-black cherry and raspberry notes taper to savoury earth on the crisp finish, with very good length. A unique wine and a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Domaine Gioulis can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

Kir-Yianni Cuvée Villages Xinomavro 2022 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-03-11T17:48:00.000-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific, vegan-friendly Xinomavro from Greece that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend in the March 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Kir-Yianni is the producer of this lovely Greek red wine. The highly-regarded wine producer was founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris, a legendary winemaker and Greek wine maverick who also represented the 4th generation of the famed Boutaris winemaking family.

As a visionary and innovator, Mr. Boutaris' career path seemed predestined, leading to studies in Chemistry and Oenology. By1970, Yiannis left his family's wine business to chart his own path, eventually settling in the eastern foothills of Mt. Vermion, Yianakohori, near the town of Naoussa, where he planted 40 hectares of Xinomavro vines. This single vineyard planting of Xinomavro was the pioneering viticulture which both inspired and jolted the status quo in Greek winemaking, and also marked a new era in Greek winemaking which rejuvenated the region and empowered local growers.

This vineyard would go on to become Ktima Kir-Yianni - a name that was chosen because everyone used to call him "Kir", which meant "Sir" in Greek. Thus, the name Kir-Yianni was born. After planting more vines over the years, Yiannis would go on to purchase an old winery in 1996 in the village of Agios Panteleimon. This winery was completely rebuilt and inaugurated a year later to become the new Ktima Kir-Yianni.

In 1999, Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis, became Managing Director, and he was joined soon thereafter by his brother, Mihalis. There was intense experimentation and research on the Xinomavro varietal during this period, which led to replanting and acquisition of vineyards. In 2004, Stellios took over the family business as CEO and winemaker. Today, the philosophy at Kir-Yianni is a fine balance between a hundred-year-long family tradition and the use of new and innovative winemaking techniques, with the aim of producing appealing wines that reflect the potential of the Greek vineyard and its indigenous varieties. Furthermore, activities in the vineyard and at the winery are based on the principles of integrated farming and protecting the environment. At Kir-Yianni, sustainability is both a philosophy and a vital business decision that entails dedication, realism, and systematic investment, and in 2023 they started their journey to carbon neutrality.

Like the 2021 Kir-Yianni Cuvée Villages Xinomavro I enjoyed around this time last year, this red wine is crafted with 100% Xinomavro. As the name suggests, the "Cuvée Villages" is a strict selection of grapes from younger vines grown on the Estate and parcels from small winegrowers across the PDO zone of Naoussa. The villages of Naoussa offer an interesting and diverse mix of hilly terrain with variations in altitude, slope, soil structure, and orientation. This wine by Kir-Yianni is a wine enthusiast's introduction to the great richness of the viticultural and winemaking traditions of the region, as well as the dynamics of Xinomavro in its heartland terroir.

To craft this Xinomavro, the grapes were harvested from the end of September, cooled to 10°C, then underwent a rigorous grape selection on a conveyor belt. After cold-soaking for 6 days at low temperatures, it underwent alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 12 to 15 days at temperatures of 20–23°C. Malolactic fermentation and maturation took place in mainly 225 litre and 500 litre French oak barrels, in a combination of both new and 3rd-to-5th fill used barrels, for 12 months. The first blend was made on the 6th month of maturation. After bottling, the wine is further matured for 12 months in the cellar prior to release.

In 2022, the season began with a cold winter and snowy mountain tops, along with rain which contributed to the increase of bud fertility, as well as the enrichment of the aqueous horizon with water. Spring started colder and was drier than usual, which resulted in a later, but even budbreak. Summer featured mild temperatures, apart from a heatwave in the first half of August. September began with 100 mm of heavy rain and continued with almost 40 days of high daytime temperatures and cool nights. From a very good to excellent vintage, let's see how this 2022 Xinomavro from Naoussa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KIR-YIANNI CUVÉE VILLAGES XINOMAVRO 2022 - Vegan, PDO Naoussa, Greece (#14151) (XD) - $21.95
This 100% Xinomavro has a lovely, medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is open with ripe red berry, cherry, tomato, and Damson plum nuanced with hints of rose floral, tar, dried cherry, earth, and sweet spice adding elegance and complexity. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has ripe, Damson plum, red berry, tomato, savoury earth, and sweet spice flavours in a gently spicy profile. Acids are crisp and juicy, while the well-structured tannins are refined and finely textured with a gentle grip. Cherry and tomato notes taper to earthy and oak notes with touches of mineral on the long, savoury, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Quite a few wines by Kir-Yianni are available online and in a couple of stores in the GTA, and can also be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc 2024 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

2026-03-07T17:42:00.000-05:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic, and vegan-friendly white wine blend crafted with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. It arrived at the LCBO in today's March 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Maison Raymond, a family winery based in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region, about 50 km southeast of Bordeaux. The roots of Maison Raymond begin in 1850 when the first generation of the Raymond family settled in the region and practiced winegrowing at Château de Lagarde.

In 1980, Jean-Pierre Raymond, the 6th generation of the family, took over the business and converted 100% of the family farm to wine production. In total, Jean-Pierre converted 30 hectares of crops exclusively into vineyard land, a number which grew as he expanded Château de Lagarde to 260 hectares of mixed farming across the communes of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, Saint-Felix, and Saint-Martial.

Organic farming at Maison Raymond was introduced when Lionel Raymond, son of Jean-Pierre, joined the family business in 2000. Lionel expanded the vineyard area at the estate from 70 hectares to 180 hectares, while also acquiring new (and organic) properties. As Lionel had strong respect for the environment and terroir, he was convinced that organic was the way to move forward and proceeded to convert all 130 hectares of vines at Maison Raymond to organic viticulture. As a result, the Raymond family was one of the very first in Bordeaux to convert their entire estate to organic farming, with a firm commitment to sustainability and soil health. As a pioneer and visionary with nearly 250 hectares of certified organic vineyards, Maison Raymond is now the largest independent organic winery in France.

The winemaking philosophy at Raymond is based upon a relentless pursuit of quality and innovation, a set of values that have been passed down through the generations to produce exceptional and authentic wines. In 2010, the Lagarde wine cellar was completely renovated and features over 6000 m² of state-of-the-art equipment. As the largest sustainable wine development project at the time, they also installed 2500 m² of photovoltaic panels on the roof to generate renewable electricity.

I've enjoyed previous vintages of this white wine, including most recently the 2022 Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc a couple of years ago. It is produced using a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Sémillon. The grapes were grown organically on hillside sites within the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, on clay-limestone soil with gravels. The vineyard experiences a mild climate due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and also receives lots of sunshine and regular rainfall. The vines were trained using Bordeaux tradition of the double Guyot system, which also helps the grapes reach maturity and avoid phytosanitary disease. It was traditionally vinified in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, without any oak ageing.

The 2024 growing season in Bordeaux was an uneven and challenging vintage that featured rain, rain, and more rain, which led to problems with downy mildew, coulure, and millerandage. However, white wines found great success and consistency in this challenging vintage with freshness, good concentration, and expressive aromas. White wine varieties benefitted from the less extreme temperatures of the year and cooler nighttime temperatures in August and September. Vineyards on earlier-ripening sites and clay-based soils also benefitted from this low-yielding vintage. From a good vintage for white wines in Bordeaux, let's see how this 2024 Bordeaux Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2024 - Vegan, AOC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95
Equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, this organic white wine has a delicate, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers attractively ripe and gently honeyed aromas of lemon peel, citrus, yellow apple, quince, and hay with touches of white floral. On dry, medium-full bodied palate it is impressively dense and concentrated with delicious citrus, yellow apple, waxy, and quince flavours in a slightly tart profile, plus white floral and leesy minerals adding a pleasant savoury component. Acids are juicy and fresh. With a nicely textured mouthfeel, the citrus and orchard fruit notes taper to savoury, leesy minerals, plus a touch of dried spice on the long and juicy finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy with seafood, salad, creamy cheeses, or poultry. Score: 89 pts

One other wine by Maison Raymond is available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

March 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Women in Wine

2026-03-07T05:00:00.083-05:00

Here are my top wine picks from the March 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where Women in Wine is the feature story of the release. With 103 products on offer, this is a relatively large and very good release with some fine wines at various price points. Also included in this release are a relatively high number of quality Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines, with everything readily available for purchase both online and in-store.

We'll begin with the feature story on Women in Wine, an annual thematic that shows up every year in March to coincide with Women's History Month. In this release there are seventeen wines featured as part of the thematic, of which seven wines are among my top wine picks. Both sparkling wine recommendations are from the thematic, with the vintage bubbly from Niagara crafted with Chardonnay, while the Cava from Spain is composed of 59% Parellada, 33% Macabeu, and 8% Xarel·lo. Among the white wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, as well as a Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Red wine recommendations from the thematic begin in Rasteau, with a lovely blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault, followed by a red from Swartland, South Africa, which consists of 75% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 8% Tinta Barocca, and 2% Grenache. And lastly, there is a Shiraz from the Barossa in Australia.

My top red wine picks from the main release begins in Veneto with a top Amarone della Valpolicella that is crafted with 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, and 5% Oseleta. Other blends include the Chianti Classico Riserva, which is composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Rioja is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, and 5% Mazuelo. The rest of my red wine recommendations are mono-varietal wines, including a trio of wines from Greece – one Xinomavro and two Agiorgitikos.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, we'll begin with the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, which is principally Grenache Blanc with Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul, and Picardin in support. Other blends include the wine from Croatia, which is a blend of 70% Posip, 20% Vugava, and 10% Chardonnay, while the white wine from Bordeaux is equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Mono-varietal dry white wines include a Chardonnay from South Africa, a Carricante from Etna in Sicily, and a partial-skin contact Sémillon from Chile. For wine lovers who enjoy some sweetness to their wines, there are a pair of lovely Rieslings from the Benchlands area in Niagara. The last wine is a bone-dry Sherry from Spain, which is crafted with 100% Palomino.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CHAKANA NUNA VINEYARD MALBEC 2022 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#46401) (XD) - $16.95
DOMAINE GIOULIS AGIA PARASKEVI VINEYARD AGIORGITIKO 2023 - PGI Korinthia, Greece (#48276) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
YALUMBA GALWAY VINTAGE SHIRAZ 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Barossa, South Australia (#41311) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
KIR-YIANNI CUVÉE VILLAGES XINOMAVRO 2022 - Vegan, PDO Naoussa, Greece (#14151) (XD) - $21.95 90+ pts wine review
PERICA VIÑA OLAGOSA RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#37634) (XD) - $23.95
TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SHIRAZ 2023 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#13990) (XD) - $24.95
MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET SWARTLAND ROUGE 2023 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#460964) (XD) - $24.95
DOMAINE LES EVIGNEAUX CUVÉE BELLE DAME RASTEAU 2022 - AOP, Rhône, France (#47575) (XD) - $28.95 91+ pts wine review
KTIMA PAPAIOANNOU OLD VINES SINGLE VINEYARD AGIORGITIKO 2015 - PDO Nemea, Greece (#30615) (XD) - $46.95 91+ pts wine review
TENUTA DI ARCENO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47677) (XD) - $49.95 OFE 92+ pts wine review
ILATIUM MORINI CAMPO LEÒN AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2018 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#334300) (D) - $59.95 94 pts wine review
TESSELAARSDAL PINOT NOIR 2024 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (#32934) (XD) - $68.95 OFE

White Wine:

LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2024 - Vegan, AOC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) (XD) - $19.95
STINA CUVÉE WHITE 2024 - PDO Central and South Dalmatia, Croatia (#32035) (XD) - $21.95
MULLINEUX KLOOF STREET OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC 2023 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21111) (XD) - $21.95
THREE DOG FOXCROFT RIESLING 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#50119) (D) - $23.95
MATURANA PARELLON NATURAL SEMILLON 2024 - DO Valle de Colchagua Costa, Chile (#15745) (XD) - $28.95 OFE 90+ pts wine review
THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT WOOD POST VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359760) (D) - $28.95 OFE 94 pts wine review
TORNATORE PIETRARIZZO ETNA BIANCO 2023 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#632489) (XD) - $39.95
TESSELAARSDAL CHARDONNAY 2024 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, South Africa (#32933) (XD) - $49.95 OFE
E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2023 - AOC, Rhône, France (#28618) (XD) - $82.95 OFE

Sparkling Wine:

PARÉS BALTÀ V BRUT CAVA 2023 - Vegan, Traditional Method, DO, Spain (#650648) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
TAWSE SPARK QUARRY ROAD BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional Method, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#48055) (XD) - $39.95

Fortified Wine:

HIDALGO LA GITANA EN RAMA MANZANILLA - DO, Spain (#47038) (D) - $34.95 OFE

Dessert Wine:

INNISKILLIN RIESLING ICEWINE 2024 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#50313, 200 mL) (S) - $43.95

Maturana Puente Austral Gran Reserva Carmenère 2022 (Chile) - Wine Review

2026-03-04T17:39:00.001-05:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Chilean Carmenère that made its debut at the LCBO about ten days ago in the February 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It was also featured on the cover of the release catalogue and was part of the thematic on wines from the Southern Hemisphere.

It is produced by Maturana Winery, a family-owned boutique winery that was established by the Maturana brothers, José Ignacio and Sebastian. The brothers had a great passion for viticulture and wine, and after the great earthquake in Chile in 2010, they decided that there was no time to waste in pursuing their passion.

With sustainability at the top of mind, the Maturana brothers have been producing unique wines which represent a way of life. Their philosophy since the beginning has been to capture the identity of each variety and specific place, and allow each to be expressed in the wine. In order to achieve the best expression of each variety and place, Maturana uses innovative approaches to fermentation and ageing by using different materials such as concrete in different sizes and shapes, clay jars, or French oak. The brothers welcome differentiation and look at doing things differently as an opportunity. To further their sustainability efforts, Maturana supports the natural and responsible management of vineyards, which benefits the growers and their families. As an example, Maturana pays their growers more than 7 times the market average for the price per kilo of grapes.

At Maturana, passion and quality are the main drivers. They are also firmly committed to making known old vineyards and native strains of varieties that exist in central Chile, with some of these vineyards dating back to the year 1900. Their mission is to produce the best quality wines, with the image, name, and communication method all playing a role and contributing to their concept of creating something unique. Their motto is based on the Walt Disney phrase - "Dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them."

While I enjoyed the 2022 Maturana Puente Austral Reserva Privada Carmenère just over a year ago, this red wine is from the same vintage, but comes from their Gran Reserva line, which is a step up from their Reserva Privada line. Like the wine tasted last year, this red wine is also crafted with 100% Carmenère, but was aged for 12 months in third-use French oak barrels.

In 2022, the growing season began with a cold winter that was extremely dry. With parched soil and a cool spring, vine growth was slow, along with several frosts which cut yields. However, budburst and flowering were reasonably successful, leading to a summer that was cooler than normal, until late in the season when it started to heat up, which was vital in helping red grape varieties reach phenolic ripeness. Light rains late in the season also provided some relief. During harvest, the weather was warm and dry, and while yields were down due to drought and frosts, the quality is excellent with wines exhibiting exceptional concentration, balance, purity, and structure. Let's see how this 2022 Carmenère from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MATURANA PUENTE AUSTRAL GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#47474) (XD) - $21.95
This 100% Carmenère is fresh and fragrant with a lovely, medium-high intensity nose of ripe red & black berry fruit, currant, tobacco, cococa, and savoury earth aromas mingling with dried & green herbals, and peppery spice. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is well-structured with very good concentration. Spicy flavours are joined by ripe blackberry fruit, currant, tobacco, and savoury earth notes accented with green herbs in a fairly complex profile. Juicy acids are supported by refined, slightly gritty textured tannins that have a mild grip. The finish is long and savoury with cedar, earth, and hints of smoky mineral. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Limited quantities of other wines, including a Semillon that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES this weekend, are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Eradus Pinot Gris 2024 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

2026-03-01T17:30:00.001-05:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, dry Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough that was featured as part of the thematic on wines from the Southern Hemisphere in last weekend's February 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Eradus Wines, a small, family-owned winery that was established by Har and Sophie Eradus, a couple who had emigrated from Holland in 1982 and grew flowers in Auckland. The couple embarked on a semi-retirement project in the 1990s and settled on an extraordinary footprint of land at the edge of the Awatere River, in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough, to grow grapes. At the time, this dryland was sheep country with only a few pioneering winegrowers.

The couple's connection to this land seemed fated when Sophie cleared a shed on the property and found an old potbelly door with an embossed logo that entwined their initials - "H", "S" and "E" - which inspired the Eradus logo. The couple's imagination was captured by this sliver of land that was nestled between a higher terrace and the glacial river below, with its guarding boundary of gnarled old macrocarpa cypress trees. From the beginning, Har and Sophie desired to have the unique and untameable terroir of the Awatere Valley express itself through their vines, grapes, and ultimately, the wines.

In 2004, Michiel, son of Har and Sophie, and his Kiwi wife, Hanna, took over the family business with a commitment to celebrating the unique terroir of this place. Their philosophy is based upon bending to nature and letting the Awatere Valley imprint itself upon every Eradus wine.

Eradus' piece of land has a unique mesoclimate that is truly cool-climate viticulture. To the east is the Pacific Ocean, a windswept stretch of blue which influences diurnal temperatures. To the south is towering Mount Tapuae-o-uenuku, while on the western horizon are sun-bleached high country hills. In between, on a sliver of terrace at the edge of a river, Eradus grows wines that encapsulate this extraordinary place. The windier nature of this area naturally protects their vines from disease. The area is also drier with a harsh sun, cool winds, and rocky soils that ensure small berries with concentrated flavours. The vine's roots dig deep into the rocky terrace, four metres above the mountain-fed Awatere River, to create wines of minerality and crisp, clean acidity.

Like other wines in the Eradus portfolio, including the lovely 2023 Eradus Pinot Noir I enjoyed last year, this white wine is also a single vineyard that was grown on the estate in the Awatere Valley. Crafted with 100% Pinot Gris from 19-year-old vines that are grown on a slender terrace at the edge of the Awatere River, on alluvial and river stone soils. With a unique microclimate and soil structure that is influenced by a fault line, a river, and the power of the nearby Pacific Ocean, their land is stony, dry, windy, and cool, elements which create wines of elegance and minerality with a lively and lingering finish.

The 2024 vintage in New Zealand is widely considered to be the best in living memory. The growing season began with unpredictable weather, including during budburst and flowering, but then settled down without any extreme weather. Summer was warm and dry, which created drought conditions for most of the country. However, temperatures during summer never got intensely hot, while autumn brought cooler weather, which helped cool the grapes and retain acidity and aromatics, and also extended the harvest season. Although yields were down in most of the country, the results were brilliant with clean and fresh fruit. From an exceptional vintage, let's see how this 2024 Pinot Gris from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERADUS PINOT GRIS 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#439000) (XD) - $21.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this single vineyard Pinot Gris underwent fermentation and ageing in both stainless steel and barrel. Fresh, crisp, and clean medium-high intensity nose delivers ripe citrus, lemon pith, pear, stone fruits, white peach, and melon aromas with hints of leesy mineral. The medium+ bodied palate is dry with a lovely textural mouthfeel and flavours of zesty lemon citrus, pear, melon, and white peach alongside spice notes and touches of stony minerals. It has a fresh and zesty acidity, while citrus and grapefruit notes taper to savoury and stony minerals on the long, dry, crisp, and textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

One other wine by Eradus is readily available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Bell'Aja Bolgheri 2022 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

2026-02-25T17:46:00.001-05:00

Tonight's red wine review is a beautiful red from Bolgheri that is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. It arrived at the LCBO just over two weeks ago in the February 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the renowned San Felice, a winery with roots dating back to the times of the Etruscan civilization more than 2,200 years ago. Findings unearthed on the estate show that the Etruscans shaped the Chianti territorial landscape, which also included the introduction of vine cultivation. The Borgo of San Felice, as it's known today, was established in the Middle Ages, with its first mention dating back to the year 714 when it was originally known as San Felice in Avana.

The latest chapter in San Felice's winemaking history begins in the 1960s when the winery changed hands for the first time in generations. After its acquisition, San Felice was developed and modernized, and ushered in a new era focused on quality wine production and research. Today, San Felice is an emblem of authentic Tuscany, with vineyards in the region's three-most prestigious winemaking territories - 150 hectares in Chianti Classico, 23 hectares in Montalcino, and 15 hectares in Bolgheri. In addition to producing wine from only estate-owned grapes, they also have Borgo San Felice Resort - a place where tourists can enjoy a fine Tuscan meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or spend some time at the Botanic Spa.

San Felice owns three estates in Tuscany and the Bell'Aja Estate is their newest venture. The six-hectare estate was established in 2016 in Bolgheri, a region famed for the breathtaking five-kilometre Cypress Avenue that is lined with 2,540 trees. Situated near the Tuscan coastline in the commune of Castagneto Carducci, within the province of Livorno, the estate is noted for its world-class vineyard which occupies a natural amphitheatre overlooking the sea, with a breeze that is ideal for winegrowing. The vines at Bell’Aja are planted on silt-sand soils, which are typical of the area, with four hectares dedicated to Merlot, and two hectares dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon. At this special location, the delicious sea breeze blows over the vineyards, while the forests behind them cool the terroir at night, conditions which create the ideal conditions for elegant fruit ripening. Today, San Felice's Bell'Aja estate is known for its highly prestigious Bolgheri and Bolgheri Superiore wines.

This particular red wine is from San Felice's Bell'Aja Estate, a Bolgheri Rosso DOC that is composed of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown on the estate on silt-sandy soil, which is typical of the area. The vines were trained using the spur-pruned cordon system. After harvesting the grapes from the last week of August to the second week of September, it underwent fermentation and maceration for 18 days, followed by 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels.

In 2022, the growing season was marked by drought that began at the end of winter and persisted for much of spring and summer. The saving grace for this vintage were the series of thunderstorms in mid-August, which was crucial during the grape ripening period. The grapes in Bolgheri responded very positively throughout as they were resilient to the initial lack of water, followed by efficiently metabolizing the rains, which ultimately allowed for optimal ripening, especially for later-ripening varieties. It was an early harvest that began around the third week of August and concluded at the end of September. The end result was low yields with small, concentrated berries that produced red wines with sturdy frames of ripe and grippy tannins. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2022 Bolgheri is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BELL'AJA BOLGHERI 2022 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#16890) (XD) - $39.95
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, this is beautifully fresh and elegant with a medium-high intensity nose that offers ripe aromas of red & black wild forest berries, currant, cassis, black cherry, plus rose florals over a layer of savoury wet earth and accents of sweet oak spice. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it has lovely wild forest berries flavours alongside oak spice, wet earth, and touches of dried herbs and graphite. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the refined and textured tannins develop some youthful grip on the back palate. Savoury with graphite mineral notes linger on the long, balanced finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the coming 6-8 years. Score: 91+ pts

Quite a few wines by San Felice are listed on the LCBO website, with most available in only limited quantities, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Domaine Yvon & Laurent Vocoret Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru 2023 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

2026-02-22T17:45:00.001-05:00

Tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of an excellent Premier Cru Chablis from Burgundy that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the February 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Domaine Yvon & Laurent Vocoret, a small, family-owned winery situated in the Chablis wine region of Burgundy. Originally from the commune of Maligny, in Chablis, the Vocoret family of winemakers is inscribed in the history of vine cultivation and winemaking in the heart of their vineyard since 1713.

The story of the family begins with Jean Vocoret, whose winemaking soul no doubt guided him to pass down his wisdom, his fruits, and the nobility and passion for craftmanship in winemaking to his descendants. Born in 1863, it was Victor Hyppolite Vocoret, the great, great-grandfather of Yvon, who contributed to the renaming of the Domaine when he only had a few acres of vines and small barrels in the cellar.

Born in 1895, it was Yvon's grandparents, Henri and Louise Vocoret, who, despite the suffering during WWI, managed to make the land prosper with the help of their horses, their pride and joy, to produce excellent wine. Next were Maurice and Huguette Vocoret, the parents of Yvon who, hand-in-hand, carefully reflected upon the art of winemaking and invested in high-performing and efficient equipment for the cellar. Maurice and Huguette anticipated that with these improvements, the quality of their wines would gain recognition and respect, and since that time, the Domaine has maintained its reputation for producing high quality wines.

Today, the Domaine is in the hands of Yvon Vocoret and his son, Laurent, the fifth and sixth generations of the family, respectively. Additionally, the spouses Christine (wife of Yvon) and Clémentine (wife of Laurent) are also involved in the family business. Together, they have the same motivation as their ancestors and are grateful and respectful, as they continue to write the story of a humble, but determined, family of winegrowers. By using the same principles as generations that came before them, the Vocoret family produces wines with expertise and passion. With respect for the soil and grapes, the winery works with small volumes, thereby allowing each of their plots to express itself. The current generation of the Vocoret family upholds their family motto of quality, dignity, and respect.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was grown in Fourchaume, the largest and one of the best known Premier Cru vineyards in Chablis. The vines average 40 years old and are planted on clayey-gravelly soil resulting from Kimmeridgian limestone on marls, along with pebbles of marly limestone with a slightly whitish appearance. With respect for the environment, the family has been farming this vineyard organically since 1974. By 2005 they eliminated the use of anti-botrytis treatments, and by 2009 they stopped using chemical herbicides, and have been practicing sustainable farming for the last 17 years.

To craft this Chardonnay while respecting the character of the vintage, each plot of grapes was harvested at full maturity using both manual and mechanical methods. It was vinified by using the purest and simplest traditions that the family has been applying for five generations. It underwent a very light static settling to retain enough fine lees so that alcoholic and malolactic fermentations can proceed naturally. The wine was aged for 9 months in stainless steel tanks to obtain freshness and character.

In 2023, the season began with a very warm January, followed by average temperatures in February and March, and then a cooler-than-normal April, with enormously varied rainfall amounts during these months. May was also cooler than the long-term average, but warmed up at the end of the month, just in time for flowering and setting the stage for a large crop. June was warmer and drier than usual, while July saw normal rainfall, but was on the cool side, and by early August Chablis was facing drought conditions. August ended with storms and very warm weather, with the warm weather persisting into September and into an early and successful harvest. The extremely good 2023 vintage produced a large crop with wines that are ripe, lush, balanced, and juicy.

After enjoying the excellent 2021 Domaine Yvon & Laurent Vocoret Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru nearly three years ago, let's see how this 2023 Chablis 1er Cru from Burgundy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE YVON & LAURENT VOCORET FOURCHAUME CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2023 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#22776) (XD) - $58.95
Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, this has an elegant, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that feels a bit shy, offering significant flinty and stony mineral aromas layered over rich lemon citrus, golden apple, and pear, plus touches of yellow floral. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is richly concentrated and dense with lovely flinty, stony, and saline mineral flavours alongside lemon citrus, golden apple, and pear, plus touches of floral. Exceptionally well-balanced with fine, succulent acidity. Gentle spice notes on the mid-palate, while the stony, flinty, apple, and lemon citrus notes carry through to the exceptionally long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines by Domaine Yvon & Laurent Vocoret can be purchased through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

February 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Southern Hemisphere

2026-02-21T05:00:00.210-05:00

Here's my top wine picks from the February 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where wines from the Southern Hemisphere are the feature story of the release. There are 86 products included in this release, with a relatively high number of recommended buys, all the while the number of sub-$20 wines continues to dwindle. All the wines should be readily available for purchase both online and in-store at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on wines from the Southern Hemisphere, which are the major wine-producing nations of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Of the twenty-two wines included as part of the thematic, nine are among my top wine picks from this release. Going country-by-country, we'll start in Chile with three recommended buys - a 100% Syrah, a 100% Carmenère, and a Cabernet Sauvignon that likely includes a small amount of Petit Verdot. The lone Argentine recommendation is a Torrontés from the high-altitude Calchaquí Valleys in Salta, while the lone wine from Australia is a Semillon from Hunter Valley. From New Zealand, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, as well as a dry Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley. And lastly, from South Africa there are two wines - a Pinotage, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Red wine picks from the main release begin with a trio of Sangiovese-based blends from Tuscany. The Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, and 7% Malvasia Nera, while the Chianti Classico Annata is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, and 5% Colorino. The last wine from Tuscany is a Super Tuscan that is a blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Other blends include the Lirac, which is mainly Grenache with Syrah and Cinsault in support, while the wine from Lebanon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault. The last blend is from Niagara, and it is made with 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining reds are mono-varietal wines, including a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Gamay from Beaujolais, a Frappato from Sicily, and a pair of Nebbiolos from Piedmont.

Nearly all of my white wine recommendations from the main release are locally crafted wines from Niagara, with half a dozen recommended buys. First up are a pair of lovely Chardonnays from the Benchlands area on the Niagara Escarpment. Next up are a trio of terrific off-dry to medium-dry (i.e. somewhat sweet) Rieslings from Niagara. The last wine from Niagara is an interesting and noteworthy blend of 52% Marsanne and 48% Viognier, while the only wine crafted abroad is the Grüner Veltliner from Austria.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

ALVI'S DRIFT 221 PINOTAGE 2022 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#48109) (XD) - $17.95
CHÂTEAU FAKRA CUVÉE DU TEMPLE 2022 - Kfardebian Valley, Lebanon (#33850) (XD) - $17.95
ORESTIADI MAZAL FRAPPATO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#36529) (XD) - $18.95
VENTISQUERO GREY GLACIER SINGLE BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Trinidad Vineyard, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#485474) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CELLIER DES SAINT-ETIENNE CÔTE DE BROUILLY 2024 - AOP, Beaujolais, France (#48326) (XD) - $20.95

MATURANA PUENTE AUSTRAL GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#47474) (XD) - $21.95 90 pts wine review
FALERNIA TITÓN SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVA SYRAH 2022 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Elqui, Chile (#27198) (XD) - $22.95
KANONKOP KADETTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#30186) (XD) - $23.95
ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#22793) (XD) - $23.95
ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#222810) (XD) - $24.95

JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA ESTATE GRAND RESERVE RED MERITAGE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#594002) (XD) - $29.95 91 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2020 - AOP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $35.95
WENDING HOME ESTATE VINEYARD UP ABOVE WISMER-CUESTA PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#46464) (XD) - $42.95 91 pts wine review
TENUTA SAN GUIDO LE DIFESE 2023 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#147876) (XD) - $52.95
CASTELLO DI AMA SAN LORENZO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12751) (XD) - $76.95
RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $79.95

White Wine:

COLOMÉ ESTATE TORRONTÉS 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valles Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina (#357913) (XD) - $15.95 89 pts wine review
ECKER-ECKHOF GRÜNER VON ECKHOF 2024 - Qualitätswein, Niederösterreich, Austria (#37419) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
TAWSE GROWER'S BLEND RIESLING 2023 - VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $21.95
ERADUS PINOT GRIS 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#439000) (XD) - $21.95 90 pts wine review
KEW MARSANNE / VIOGNIER 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $22.95

TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2025 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $23.95
ORGANIZED CRIME LIMESTONE BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11951) (XD) - $24.95
STAETE LANDT ANNABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#648691) (XD) - $24.95
THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#25031) (D) - $28.95
CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#241182) (M) - $39.95 93 pts wine review
LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $55.00

Dessert Wine:

REIF GRAND RESERVE VIDAL ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#49821, 375 mL) (S) - $69.95

Sake:

SHUNKA SHUSETSU ECHIZEN JUNMAI GINJO SAKE - Japan (#572644, 720 mL) (M) - $28.95 91 pts review