VINTAGES Wine Picks & LCBO Wine Reviews

Kir-Yianni Xinomavro Rosé 2025 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-06-09T17:38:39.957-04:00

Tonight's rosé wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific, dry, and vegan-friendly rosé from Greece that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend in the June 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the well-respected Kir-Yianni, a family-run winery that was established by the late Yiannis Boutaris in 1997. Yiannis was from the renowned Boutaris winemaking family and one of the leading figures in the Greek wine industry right up until his passing in 2024.

Kir-Yianni was founded in Amyndeon of northern Greece and expanded soon thereafter into neighbouring Naoussa to the south, within the geographic region of Macedonia. In 1999, Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis, became Managing Director of Kir-Yianni, and represented the fifth generation of the Boutaris family of winemakers. Stellios was joined by his brother, Mihalis, a few years later and, together, the brothers undertook a project to take Kir-Yianni to the next level of viticulture and winemaking. They began by replanting their 28 hectares of vineyards with both Greek and international varieties, but most importantly, ensuring that each varietal was planted on the most appropriate vineyard parcel.

Today, the philosophy at Kir-Yianni is based upon ensuring a fine balance between the family's hundred-year-long tradition and the use of new and innovative winemaking techniques. By taking proper care in the vineyard, including the use of sustainable practices, strict grape selection, micro-vinifing, and blending meticulously, the team at Kir-Yianni aims to ensure typicity, ageing potential, and consistent wine quality from one vintage to the next. The end goal is to produce appealing wines that reflect the potential of the Greek vineyard and its indigenous varieties, while also protecting the environment by using integrated farming principles. One of their most ambitious initiatives is to achieve carbon neutrality, a lengthy process in which they have already achieved their first two major goals within 18 months in 2024.

While last year's 2024 Kir-Yianni Xinomavro Rosé was labelled as "Vieilles Vignes" (or Old Vines), this vintage bears the name "Terres de Sable" (or Sandy Lands). It is still crafted with 100% Xinomavro that was sourced from the PGI Macedonia viticultural zone of northern Greece. The grapes were carefully selected from 40 to 60-year-old vines, from vineyards chosen for their soil, vine health, and capacity to reach full maturity. In the wider region of Macedonia, the climate experiences significant diurnal temperatures between day and night, and the variety in morphology creates excellent conditions for viticulture.

To craft this dry rosé, the grapes were rigorously sorted on a conveyor belt and direct pressed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 17–19°C. The wine stayed in contact with its fine lees for 3 months, with occasional bâtonnage (mild stirring).

The 2025 growing season in northern Greece was a very good-to-standout vintage, something that appears to happen in every odd-numbered vintage. While the last two harvests were marked by major challenges due to extreme weather events, 2025 was a return to relative normality, with generally typical conditions and no extreme weather phenomena. June and July were hot and dry. However, the diurnal temperature drop of 10°C at night helped preserve acidity. Cold and rainy conditions at the appropriate time, along with daytime heat and cold nights ensured that the grapes developed full aromatics and phenolic ripeness. Let's see how this 2025 Xinomavro Rosé from northern Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2025 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap and pours a very pale copper-salmon colour. Lovely, fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose is intense and complex with spice, red berry, grapefruit, citrus, white peach, and mineral aromas accented with strawberry, raspberry, and dried herbs. The mid-weighted palate is dry and slightly honeyed with delicious grapefruit, citrus, red berry, white peach, and dried spice flavours. It is well-structured with fresh and zesty acidity. Well-balanced throughout with grapefruit, red berry, spice, and white peach notes tapering to leesy minerals on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Many wines by Kir-Yianni are available at the LCBO, and can also be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

June 6, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Glou Glou

2026-06-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

Hello Summer! Here's my top wine picks from the June 6, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where "Glou Glou" is the title of the release. In all, there are 104 products offered in this release, with the ongoing theme throughout being wines for summer drinking, which includes over a dozen rosés. 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 titled "Glou Glou", which is actually an onomatopoeia (i.e. words that imitate the sound it's meant to describe.) In the wine world, "glou glou" wines are easy-drinking, refreshing, and not overly serious wines. Furthermore, glou glou wines are often meant to describe chillable red wines. Of the 18 chillable reds that are included in the feature story, four are included in my top wine picks and are ideal for summer drinking. Up first is a Frappato from Sicily, followed by a Cinsault from Chile. The other two chillable red wine recommendations are blends, with the Rioja composed of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Viura, while the Portuguese red from Vinho Verde is a blend of 70% Alvarelhão, 15% Pedral, and 15% Verdelho Tinto.

Among my top red wine picks, we'll begin in Tuscany with the return of the Oreno, an iconic Super Tuscan composed of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, followed by the Chianti Classico that is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera, and 5% Colorino. The remaining wines are all mono-varietals, including a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Carmenère from Chile, and the indigenous Lacrima from Marche. For Cabernet Sauvignon wine lovers, there are wines from Chile and Coonawarra in Australia.

The only blend among my top white wine recommendations is the wine from Côtes de Gascogne in the Southwest of France, and it is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Gros Manseng. All the other white wine picks are mono-varietal wines crafted in a dry style, including the Riesling from Australia, the Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, Niagara, and South Africa, as well as the Vermentino from Tuscany. You can also go off the beaten path and try the Carricante from Etna in Sicily, or the Kydonitsa from Greece.

From a new batch of rosé wines, my top rosé wine picks begin with Pinot Noir taking centre stage. The rosé by Hidden Bench is a blend of 88% Pinot Noir, 6% Chardonnay, and 6% Viognier, while the rosé from Uruguay is composed of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Merlot, and 20% Marselan. The other rosé wines are mono-varietals, with the Malivoire rosé made with 100% Pinot Noir, the Greek rosé is 100% Xinomavro, and the Spanish rosé is 100% Garnacha (i.e. Grenache).

My lone sparkling wine recommendation in this release is the 2018 traditional method bubbly by Jackson-Triggs, which was aged on its lees for 5 years and is composed of 53% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, and 5% Pinot Meunier.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

BISQUERTT CRAZY ROWS CINSAULT 2024 - DO Secano Interior, Valle del Itata, Chile (#48197) (XD) - $16.95 88+ pts wine review
MONTE SCHIAVO MARZAIOLA LACRIMA DI MORRO D'ALBA 2024 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#50813) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
ANSELMO MENDES PARDUSCO VINHO VERDE 2023 - DOC, Portugal (#50869) (XD) - $18.95
ARTUKE 2024 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#49423) (XD) - $19.95
TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2023 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
GORGHI TONDI DUMÈ FRAPPATO 2025 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#50571) (XD) - $22.95 review coming soon...
ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Sustainable, Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $23.95
MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#977629) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
STONEHAVEN RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#49433) (XD) - $29.95
WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $33.95 91 pts wine review
ORENO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95 94 pts wine review

White Wine:

MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#933424) (XD) - $16.95
FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#222802) (XD) - $18.95
KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY RIESLING 2024 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#49836) (XD) - $18.95
MAISON FONTAN TATTOO BLANC 2024 - IGP Côtes de Gascogne, Southwest, France (#48562) (XD) - $19.95 review coming soon...
HUIA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#659979) (XD) - $21.95
TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2024 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95
TSIMBIDI MONEMVASIA KYDONITSA 2024 - PGI Laconia, Greece (#33254) (XD) - $27.95

Rosé Wine:

EL GORU ROSADO GARNACHA TINTA 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Jumilla, Spain (#49815) (D) - $14.95 review coming soon...
BODEGA GARZÓN ESTATE PINOT ROSÉ DE CORTE 2025 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $19.95
KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2025 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2025 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $23.95
HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2025 - VQA West Niagara, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $26.95 91 pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2018 - Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#234161) (XD) - $34.95 91+ pts updated review soon...

Monte Schiavo Marzaiola Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2024 (Marche) - Wine Review

2026-06-06T17:36:54.146-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly wine crafted using Lacrima grapes that made its debut at the LCBO in today's June 6th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Monte Schiavo is one of three ranges of wines produced by the Pieralisi family of Tenute Pieralisi. Monte Schiavo represents the family's 60 years of experience in viticulture and production of excellent wines in the Marche winegrowing region.

Since the 1960s, the Pieralisi family have been one of Marche's most famous families of entrepeneurs and winemakers. However, the Pieralisi family's journey of innovation goes back even further as Adeodato Pieralisi founded the first workshop for the maintenance of agricultural machinery in 1888. With innovation in their DNA, the family has an attachment to the land and the region, along with a passion for innovation that has guided the family since the 19th century.

In 1976, the co-operative winery of Monte Schiavo was established in the comune of Maiolati Spontini, in the province of Ancona, in the heart of the classic production area of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, where it still stands today. In 1995, the Pieralisi group acquired Monte Schiavo and set forth a path with a passion for the land and developed technologies to make the work by humans easier and more effective.

Today, the Pieralisi family have created a cutting-edge winery with a rigorously short production chain, the capability to manage the entire production cycle, and meets modern standards for hygiene and quality. Guided by the experience and passion of first-class oenologists and master winemakers, the Pieralisi family boasts of production excellence and an aim of guaranteeing taste and quality. With a deep respect for the land and its natural processes, along with a conviction that authenticity at the origin is the key to creating a quality product, the estates of Tenute Pieralisi are certified organic (or in conversion to organic), while also fully complying for the production of vegan wines.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Lacrima, an autochthonous vine that is a rare survivor from medieval times in the Marche region. The name "Lacrima" means tear and is derived from the juice that flows out of this ripe and dark berry. It is grown almost exclusively in the comune of Morro d’Alba, within the province of Ancona in Marche. The grapes for this wine were grown on hills overlooking the Adriatic Sea on fertile, medium-soil, at 120 metres above sea level. After manually harvesting the grapes over the last days of September, it underwent traditional vinification and ageing in stainless steel tanks.

The growing season in 2024 in Marche was marked by a torrid, dry summer, which resulted in a low-yielding and early harvest. Let's see how this 2024 Lacrima from Marche is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTE SCHIAVO MARZAIOLA LACRIMA DI MORRO D'ALBA 2024 - Vegan, DOC, Marche, Italy (#50813) (XD) - $17.95
100% Lacrima in an unoaked style. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose delivers wild berry, floral violet, and raspberry aromas in a slightly perfumed profile, and layered over dark berry, black cherry, and earth with hints of mineral. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied it has a fine balance of fruity and savoury with wild berry, floral violet, raspberry, red currant, and plum flavours surrounding a core of savoury earth and mineral. Mild spice notes join the party on the mid-palate. It has fresh acidity and somewhat firm tannins that are youthfully textured and chalky. The wild berry and violet notes give way to savoury minerals on the long, gently youthful finish. Give it a slight chill and enjoy this recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

One wine by Monte Schiavo is available in extremely limited quantities at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Antech Cuvée Françoise Brut Blanquette de Limoux 2023 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

2026-06-03T17:45:12.644-04:00

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely vintage bubbly crafted in the traditional method with 100% Mauzac from Limoux (Languedoc) that arrived at the LCBO in the recent May 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Cuvée Françoise is a range of premium wines crafted by Famille Antech. The brand is named in honour of its creator, Françoise Antech-Gazeau, the sixth generation of a family of winemakers in Limoux. Françoise was born and raised in Limoux, in the South of France, and pursued higher education in Paris. She combined her business degree with a passion for "French-style" know-how and taste for international affairs and found employment at L'Oréal.

However, after a decade at this large company, Françoise desired to return to her roots and in 1995 she returned to Limoux to join her father, Georges, and her uncle, Roger, and put her energy and enthusiasm into a project that was dear to her.

With the Cuvée Françoise range there is a constant quest for excellence based on an approach of Learning, Leading, and Sharing. With great respect for the prior generations, Françoise spent her early years learning from her father and uncle, while also discovering and listening. As a leader in Limoux with many vintages in which Françoise was able to understand the history and terroir, Françoise affirmed her ambitions since the beginning of the century and laid the foundations for sustainable viticulture and ambitious winemaking to finally recognize the potential of Limoux sparkling wines. Françoise shares her know-how with family members who joined the team, including her son, Baptiste, who joined the project in 2020.

The style of Cuvée Françoise wines has evolved over the years, always seeking more freshness and precision, while long ageing on lees allows for magnification of minimalist, but very demanding, cellar work. As Françoise is in love with the terroir of Limoux, she has always been a fervent ambassador of this unique place that produces fantastic sparkling wines.

This sparkling wine is crafted with the indigenous Mauzac varietal gown in the Limoux wine region of Languedoc. Some parcels of Mauzac benefitted from the seaside Mediterranean climate, while others were located in the foothills of the cooler Pyrenees mountains. The vineyards were planted on limestone soil, cultivated according to Certified TERRA VITIS standards, and are in conversion to organic farming. The higher altitude vineyards in the Pyrenees were dry farmed. With a firm commitment to sustainability, this wine is bottled in a lightweight bottle that is 15% lighter than average, and is also made from 90% recycled glass. Furthermore, the bio-sourced label is made of natural cotton.

To craft this sparkling wine, the grapes were hand-harvested, then pressed using direct slow and low pressure. It underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and was aged on its lees for an average of 30 months, followed by light dosage of 6 g/L and a proportion of reserve wines.

In 2023, the growing season in the Western Languedoc region of Limoux was a low-yielding vintage as drought conditions impacted yields, the loss of some vines and, in some instances, entire vineyards. The heat spikes in August and September also caused sunburn and vine shutdown. From a good vintage with variable quality, let's see how this Blanquette de Limoux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX 2023 - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $23.95
100% Mauzac aged on its lees for 30 months. The open, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers a fine mix of lemon citrus, leesy mineral, and ripe apple aromas with touches of toasty brioche, white floral, autolytic, and savoury characters. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is dry and gently honeyed with delicious, sliightly tangy flavours of apple, lemon, and citrus tapering to savoury, leesy minerals, and toasty brioche. It has fresh acidity and crisp bubbles, along with a fine mineral texture. The mineral notes carry through to the long, savoury, and textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Very small quanities of other wines by Antech are available at the LCBO, while the full range (and in larger quantities) can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Jean Perrier & Fils Cuvée Gastronomie Abymes Savoie 2024 (France) - Wine Review

2026-05-30T17:33:53.487-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely wine from the Abymes appellation in Savoie crafted with the Jacquère varietal. It made its debut at the LCBO as part of the feature on Summer-Worthy Wines in last weekend's May 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Jean Perrier & Fils, a family-run winery with a long history linked to the wines of Savoie. It was established in 1853 by Catherine Perrier, a native of the commune of Barberaz in Saovie, who purchased a cellar in St André les Marches and started growing vines next to the mountain Mont Granier.

In 1911, Claude Emile Perrier, son of Catherine, acquired a second cellar, but had to replant the vineyard due to phylloxera. The family expanded their vineyard and cellar in 1920 under the guidance of Jean Perrier, son of Claude Emile. The Perrier family made their wine in bulk and sold it to cafés up until 1947, when Jean Victor Perrier, son of Jean, extended the lands further and became the first in Savoie to bottle their own wine. By 1953, Jean and his two employees were farming over 2 hectares of vines.

In 1964, Gilbert Perrier, son of Jean Victor, joined the family business and under his direction further improvements were made - including setting up their first bottling line, extending the cellars, and also building a new winery. By 1984, President Gilbert welcomed his two elder sons into the family, while his third son joined the company about a decade later. The three brothers — Philippe, Christophe, and Gilles — share the tasks of vinification, trade, administration, and marketing. Gilles' son has also recently joined the winery and represents the 7th generation of the Perrier family to work the vines.

Today, Vins Perrier farms over 59 hectares of vineyards across 8 towns throughout the Savoie. All farming is practiced sustainably, and by hand, while time-honoured traditions in the vineyard and cellar are combined with modern techniques to create wines of exacting standards that are fresh, clean, and vibrant, and also express the pure character of Savoie.

Like the lovely 2023 Jean Perrier & Fils Cuvée Gastronomie Chignin I enjoyed around this time last year, this white wine is also made with pure Jacquère grapes. Indigenous to Savoie, Jacquère is the most widely planted grape varietal in the Savoie winegrowing region, with over 50% of the vineyards planted with Jacquère. The mid-sized grapes naturally grow in tight bunches with a thick skin, juicy pulp, and a slightly bitter taste. It is an early-budding and early-ripening variety with high acid that tends to produce lower-alcohol wines.

This 100% Jacquère was grown on argilo-calcaire (limestone and clay) soils from estate vines on gentle slopes within the Abymes appellation. The terroir in this area was created by a landslide in the 13th century. The grapes are carefully pruned during the growing season as the nights are extremely cool, while aspect and canopy management are used to ensure the grapes ripen with exposure to the midday sun. As an early-ripening variety, the Jacquère grapes were manually harvested and carefully selected at full ripeness. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were crushed using a pneumatic press and then fermented for three weeks at 20°C in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. It was bottled young in order to preserve the fruit and freshness.

In 2024, spring frosts affected the vineyards in Savoie, while mildew was also a threat. However, Jacquère is fairly mildew-resistant. Quality is high in this vintage, even though yields are slightly reduced. Let's see how this 2024 Jacquère from Savoie is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JEAN PERRIER & FILS CUVÉE GASTRONOMIE ABYMES SAVOIE 2024 - AOP, France (#944264) (XD) - $19.95
Crafted with 100% Jacquère, this has a lifted, medium-high intensity nose that offers lovely lemon oil, ripe citrus, floral blossom, yellow plum, and grapefruit aromatics accented with almond and touches of mineral and spice. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has ripe, gently honeyed flavours of melon, lemon citrus, and grapefruit, and yellow plum, plus touches of almond, leesy mineral, and spice notes adding savoury complexity. Acids are clean and fresh, while fine leesy mineral notes linger on the long-lasting and juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Jean Perrier & Fils can be ordered through their Agent - Buyers+Cellars.

Domaine Cluny Bourgogne Côte d'Or Pinot Noir 2022 (France) - Wine Review

2026-05-27T17:43:09.209-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a fantastic Pinot Noir from Burgundy that made its debut at the LCBO last weekend in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on May 23rd.

It is produced by Domaine Cluny, a family-run estate winery situated in the heart of the Côte de Nuits in the historic town of Brochon, between the iconic villages of Fixin to the north and Gevrey-Chambertin to the south. The Cluny family have been passionately farming vineyards in Brochon for six generations since the start of the 20th century. The estate has been extended over the years and passed down from one generation to the next.

It all started with Charles Cluny, who had come to work at Château de Brochon and bought some plots of vines. Paul Cluny, son of Charles, worked on the estate and expanded it before passing it along to his son, Charles. Michel Cluny, son of Charles, further extended the property before passing it on to Hervé Cluny in 1981. After Hervé passed away in 2005, his two daughters, Léa and Camille, inherited the domaine and its vineyards. For about the next decade, the family maintained the vineyards and predominantly sold the grapes to négociants.

In 2014, Édouard Papin, Léa's husband, joined the estate after studying viticulture and oenology in Beaune and a year later produced his first vintage using family estate fruit. Édouard took a rigorous approach to both vineyard and winery management in order to maximize the potential of the outstanding vineyard sites and climats he worked with.

Together, the Cluny family farms 7 hectares of some of the finest vineyards in the Côte de Nuits. They craft regional Bourgogne wines, Villages level wines, and Premier Cru wines using the traditional Burgundian varietals Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Domaine Cluny is actively moving towards environmentally-friendly wine growing while continuing to produce wines using traditional Burgundy methods. The family has chosen to farm sustainably using a quality charter based on caring for the soil, using tillage and restricting yields to harvest the finest fruit every year.

This particular red wine is crafted using 100% Pinot Noir that was grown at the En Comble vineyard site within the village of Brochon in the Côte de Nuits district, and the Burgundy appellation of Côte d'Or. The grapes come from a small plot of only 0.72 hectares of vines which average 40 years old and are planted on a sandy soil mixed with clay. After harvesting the grapes by hand, they were sorted and de-stemmed, and underwent alcoholic fermentation using indigenous yeast in concrete vats at a controlled temperature. It was matured for 12 months in (French) oak barrels.

In 2022, the growing season in Burgundy produced an excellent vintage in terms of both quality and quantity. The summer was hot and dry, without any challenges except for a couple of days of heavy storms in June, and some hail damage. After the rains of June, summer featured near-perfect growing conditions for Pinot Noir, with July and August offering warmth for ripening with little drought stress and raisining. 2022 is a 5-star vintage that brings together the fruit, aroma, and tannin of a warm vintage with the freshness, moderate body, and alcohol of a classic, cooler vintage. Let's see how this 2022 Pinot Noir from Côte d'Or in Burgundy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE CLUNY BOURGOGNE CÔTE D'OR PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, AOC, Burgundy, France (#49859) (XD) - $29.95
The lifted, medium-high+ intensity nose offers lovely ripe black cherry and wild berry fruited aromas with a touch of reductive notes, followed by accents of earthy mushroom and a touch of fine wood spice. On the dry, medium-bodied palate it is well-structured with delicious black cherry, wild cheery, and oak spice flavours, alongside savoury earth, mushroom, and cocoa notes in a nicely balanced profile. Slightly tangy on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh, crisp, and structured, while the grainy tannins offer impressive structure in the Pinot context. Long and structured with juicy berry, oak spice, and cocoa notes on the succulent finish. Should drink nicely for at least the next 5 years and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Domaine Cluny can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Featherstone Gamay Noir 2022 (Niagara) - Wine Review

2026-05-24T17:35:32.877-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Gamay Noir from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO in this weekend's May 23rd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as part of the feature on Local Talent.

It is produced by Featherstone Estate Winery, a boutique, certified sustainable winery that was established in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, Dave Johnson. The estate winery is situated in Vineland, Ontario, among 23 hectares of rolling hills within the prestigious upper Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. The name "Featherstone" is an homage to the gourmet food shop which specialized in poultry that Louise and Dave once owned and was named "Feather", while "stone" comes from the stone rock face and quarry adjacent to the vineyard.

Since its founding in 1999, Featherstone has been practicing eco-friendly farming techniques with respect for the land at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and its site. Since the beginning, Featherstone has been practicing insecticide-free farming, and has employed various sustainable practices over the years. Notably, Featherstone pioneered in the region a small flock of sheep to naturally eat their way through the grape leaves that needed to be removed from the fruiting zone on the vines, while also fertilizing the soil as they moved through the vineyard. Featherstone also takes care of their dirt by avoiding herbicides, planting cover crops, using organic compounds to control mould and mildew, and switching to a recycle sprayer. In 2023, Featherstone received its Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

After 25 years, Featherstone opened a new chapter in 2024 when it was acquired by philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal, while Louise and Dave look forward to their retirement years. After a period of transition, the new owners aim to build upon the successes of the past and carry the winery into the future with sustainability at its core.

Other developments since the change in ownership are that Kevin Qin, a graduate of the Niagara College Winery & Viticulture program who joined Featherstone in 2014, is now the Head Winemaker. Bruce Sawchuk also recently joined Featherstone as Junior Winemaker. The winery also completed their renovations of their new tasting room and expanded their hospitality services by opening the Nest Bistro.

Philanthropy is also a focus at Featherstone as both Rayla and George are firm believers in creating stronger communities through philanthropy. Their annual giving through the Myhal Family Foundation has helped to support projects in Education, Healthcare and Humanitarian efforts globally. With the purchase of Featherstone, their hope is to uplift the surrounding community with an ambitious goal of giving back 10% of all profits to local charities in the area.

To craft this 100% Gamay Noir, which was produced by both winemakers David Johnson and Kevin Chuan Qin, the grapes were machine harvested on October 14, 2022, then brought to the winery to be optically sorted to separate the ripest grapes. The selected grapes were then de-stemmed, crushed, and then cold-soaked on the skins for 72 hours prior to undergoing alcoholic fermentation using indigenous yeasts in their climate-controlled cellar. The wine also completed 100% malolactic fermentation, and was then aged for 10 months in American oak barrels.

The growing season in 2022 was a very low-yielding vintage due to the wet fall of 2021, which was followed by a severe cold episode in winter 2022. While it wasn't a textbook growing season in Niagara, Indian Summer temperatures during harvest were quite favourable and allowed wineries a broad opportunity to harvest the grapes at optimal maturity. September was warm and dry, and the fruit quality during harvest was excellent, with Gamay grapes showing lots of fruit, energy, and depth. From a low-yield and high-quality vintage, let's see how this 2022 Gamay Noir from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39275) (XD) - $18.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. Enticing, medium-high intensity aromas of red & black sour cherry, pomegranate, and savoury beetroot notes with hints of smoke, and woody earth. It is light-to-medium bodied on the dry palate with smooth, light, and integrated tannins. Fresh and lively acidity adds a tanginess to the cran-cherry, sour cherry, pomegranate fruit flavours, which are nuanced with savoury wood, and cocoa notes. The crisp and juicy mid-palate leads to savoury, earthy, cocoa, and woody notes on the long, well-balanced, and succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

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

May 23, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summer-Worthy Wines + Rueda

2026-05-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the May 23, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). The thematic of this release focuses on Summer-Worthy Wines, while the mini-thematic of only three wines looks at the wines from Rueda, which also tend to be summer-worthy. In all, there are 111 products included in this release, of which 18 are Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE), and everything should be readily available for purchase at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

While the theme is titled "Summer-Worthy Wines", it is actually more about trendy wines that needed to feel summer worthy. What you will find among these twenty-four products is that they are mostly off-the-beaten path types of wines and styles. Only two wines (both white) from the thematic made my list of top wine picks, one of which is a wine from Savoie crafted with the Jacquère varietal, while the other is a Catarratto from Sicily.

Rhône leads the way with a quartet of wines among my top red wine recommendations. First up is the lone mono-varietal Rhône red - a Crozes-Hermitage that is crafted with 100% Syrah. The Costières de Nîmes is a blend of 55% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 15% Syrah, while the Coudoulet Côtes du Rhône is composed of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault, and the Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône is a blend of mainly Grenache with Mourvèdre and Syrah in support. Next up is Tuscany with a trio of wine recommendations - both the Brunello di Montalcino and the Riserva Chianti Classico are crafted with pure Sangiovese, while the Chianti is 95% Sangiovese with the balance Canaiolo & Colorino. The only other blend among my picks is the wine from Portugal, which is a blend of Tinta Roriz and Castelão. The rest of my top red wine picks from other wine regions include a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. On the local front from Niagara, there is a fine Syrah and a lovely Gamay Noir.

The blends among my top white wine picks from this release include the excellent Côtes du Rhône Blanc that is composed of 30% Bourboulenc, 30% Marsanne, 30% Viognier, and 10% Clairette, while the white wine from Alto Adige is a blend of mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. Among the mono-varietal whites, there are a couple of Chardonnays - one each from Argentina and Burgundy, as well as a couple of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand and Australia. There is also a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, and finally, a Verdejo that is part of the mini-theme of Rueda.

Other wines in this release include the latest vintage of a perennially fine rosé from Tavel, which is crafted with 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Bourboulenc, as well as a rosé from Provence that is a blend of 30% Cinsault, 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, and 10% Rolle. Among the sparkling wines, the Blanquette de Limoux is crafted with 100% Mauzac, while the Brut Rosé Sparkling from Niagara is a blend of mainly Pinot Noir and Riesling, with a splash of Gamay Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

QUINTA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO 2022 - Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#488015) (XD) - $14.95 88+ pts wine review
ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Sustainable, Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
FEATHERSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39275) (XD) - $18.95 90 pts wine review
HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2024 - AOP, France (#276956) (XD) - $19.95
CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471797) (XD) - $25.00 91+ pts wine review
GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $29.95

DOMAINE CLUNY BOURGOGNE CÔTE D'OR PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, AOC, Burgundy, France (#49859) (XD) - $29.95 91+ pts wine review
FAMILLE PERRIN COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - Ssecond Wine of Ch. de Beaucastel, AOC, France (#48884) (XD) - $32.95
DOMAINE GASSIER LOU COUCARDIÉ COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES ROUGE 2019 - AOC, Rhône, France (#42213) (XD) - $39.95 OFE 91+ pts wine review
E. GUIGAL CROZES-HERMITAGE 2021 - AOC, Rhône, France (#28574) (XD) - $45.95 OFE
BINDI SERGARDI I COLLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#16973) (XD) - $54.95 OFE
COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2020 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $68.95

White Wine:

CUATRO RAYAS VENDEMIA NOCTURNA VERDEJO 2024 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#14028) (XD) - $14.95
AMATO CATARRATTO 2024 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#48105) (XD) - $16.95
WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Australia (#166942) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - Qualitätswein, DAC Wachau, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95
JEAN PERRIER & FILS CUVÉE GASTRONOMIE ABYMES SAVOIE 2024 - AOP, France (#944264) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CANTINA TRAMIN T CUVÉE BIANCO 2024 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy (#49286) (XD) - $20.95
TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2024 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#733956) (XD) - $23.95
OTU LIMITED RELEASE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#17548) (XD) - $24.95
EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2024 - Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $29.95
CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AOC, France (#48892) (XD) - $34.95 OFE

Rosé Wine:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUERIA CRU DES CÔTES DU RHÔNE TAVEL ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#319368) (XD) - $25.95 92 pts wine review
UP ULTIMATE PROVENCE CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#14833) (XD) - $30.95

Sparkling Wine:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX 2023 - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $23.95 91 pts wine review
THE FOREIGN AFFAIR BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#19346) (D) - $24.95 89 pts wine review

Château d'Aqueria Cru des Côtes du Rhône Tavel Rosé 2025 (France) - Wine Review

2026-05-21T17:42:37.686-04:00

Tonight's rosé wine review is from Southern Rhone Cru of Tavel, which is typically a Grenache-based blend. As a perennial favourite of mine, I am delighted to see the latest vintage of this excellent, organic, and dry rosé arrive at the LCBO in this weekend's May 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, and is already widely available for purchase across the province.

It is produced by Château d'Aqueria, a benchmark estate considered to be one of the jewels of the Southern Rhône Valley that is situated in Cru of Tavel. The historic property was established in 1595 when Louis Joseph d'Aqueria purchased this prime vine-growing area of Tavel known as "Puy Sablonneux" from the monks at the Abbey in Villeneuve les Avignon. Robert d'Aqueria, son of Louis Joseph, and hereditary Count Palatine built a home on the site which was transformed in the 18th century into the Château as we know it today.

The Château and the surrounding area had been in the hands of numerous families since that time, until the estate was acquired in 1919 by Jean Olivier, a doctor of law. Jean passed the estate on to his daughters Mireille de Bez and Nicole Boccon-Gibod. Paul de Bez, son-in-law of Jean, took over management of the property. When Vincent and Bruno de Bez, the sons of Paul, began running the family business in 1984, it represented three generations of the family that put this historically significant place on the map as a stand-out property in the appellations of Tavel and Lirac.

Today, Château d'Aqueria is owned by the Guigal family as they took over the reins from the de Bez family in May 2022. While Château d'Aqueria has been practicing sustainable viticulture for many years, after the acquisition, the Guigal family announced that Aqueria would be converting to certified organic viticulture, and beginning with the 2025 vintage they began producing certified organic wines.

While Aqueria may be under new ownership, the philosophy at the estate remains the same — in search of excellence. Their goal is to also preserve the history and memory of the people who accompanied these excellent terroirs throughout the years. Furthermore, they are taking steps to bring to light the rich diversity of the estate by observing and understanding the land, while also maintaining the centuries-old tradition of conservation and respect for the vineyards. The vinification process at Château d'Aqueria is managed with exact precision so that each wine can offer the purest expression of these terroirs, and at the same time craft exceptional wines.

This rosé has been crafted for over 30 years and, for the first time in its history, it bears the certified organic designation beginning with the 2025 vintage. The wine is typically a blend of several varieties, and in this particular vintage it is composed of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Bourboulenc. The grapes were grown on clayey-sandy hillsides, and upon harvest, each variety was carefully de-stemmed and chilled prior to placing in vats. The varieties were blended two-by-two during the 12 to 24-hour maceration phase in order to enhance aromatic complexity. Once the desired colour was obtained, the entire tank was bled and the marcs (grape pomace) pressed at length, which then goes into the free-run wine. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled tanks for 15 days, after which the wine was matured in both stainless and concrete tanks for 6 months, then bottled and released.

The growing season in 2025 in the Southern Rhone was marked by a series of heatwaves. It began with a mild winter with sufficient rainfall to replenish the soils, followed by a balmy spring. Serious heat arrived during summer, which was beneficial for vines in Tavel, but also cut yields during this hot and fast-growing season. However, autumn rains cooled down the temperatures just enough to prevent overripening and preserve acidity and aromatics. Overall, quality is high in this vintage. Let's see how this 2025 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUERIA CRU DES CÔTES DU RHÔNE TAVEL ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#319368) (XD) - $25.95
This lovely organic rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Bourboulenc. Lovely, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers attractive and complex aromas of ripe red berry, strawberry, cherry, and cranberry nuanced with fine mineral undertones and accents of dried spice, and grapefruit citrus. The weighty, medium-full bodied palate is dry with delicious and complex red berry, dried spice, and stony mineral flavours, plus touches of grapefruit zest. It has clean, vibrant acidity, along with a slightly chalky and tannic textured mouthfeel on the slightly spicy mid-palate. Mineral notes linger on the long, textured finish. Always great and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

One other wine by Château d'Aqueria is available at the LCBO (in small quantities), while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Yalumba Samuel's Collection Shiraz 2023 (Barossa) - Wine Review

2026-05-18T17:36:27.676-04:00

After enjoying the lovely 2023 Yalumba Galway Vintage Shiraz back in March, we go up a notch with tonight's red wine review from the same producer. This lovely, vegan, and certified sustainable Barossa Shiraz from Australia arrived at the LCBO as part of the Good Partners feature on Sustainable Winegrowing Australia in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on May 9th.

Yalumba is Australia's oldest continuously family-owned winery and one of the country's most historically important wineries. It was founded by Samuel Smith in 1849 after 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.

Today, Yalumba is highly regarded for creating wines of authenticity and distinction, with sustainability an integral part of their success. Sustainability entered the picture at Yalumba in 1893, when 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.

In 1985, Yalumba opened a new chapter when Robert Hill-Smith, the fifth generation of the family, became Managing Director at a time when the company was transitioning away from its strong reliance on fortified wines. Robert is widely credited for turning Yalumba into a well-respected producer of fine table wines, with a particular focus on premiumization, Rhône varieties, sustainability, and export markets. Robert also spearheaded the founding of Australia's First Families of Wine initiative, and in 2019 Yalumba became a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Daughters Jessica and Lucy Hill-Smith have also joined the business and represent the sixth generation of the family.

The well-respected Louisa Rose first joined Yalumba as a cellar hand during the 1992 vintage, eventually becoming Head of Winemaking at the family business for nearly two decades and one of Australia's most respected winemakers. In 2023, Louisa stepped into the role of Head of Sustainability and brings her vision, leadership, and voice to the future of Australian wine, while championing sustainable practices, progressive thinking, and a united industry. Sam Wigan joined the Yalumba family in 2001 and became Head Winemaker in 2023. Sam now leads a close-knit team of winemakers across the Hill-Smith family's stable and embodies the Yalumba philosophy with a love for bringing people together through storytelling, generosity, and the enjoyment of fine wine.

Yalumba has several collections of wines, and this particular wine is from their Samuel's Collection, which is their core premium range of wines. The range celebrates and honours their founder, Samuel Smith, who planted Yalumba's first vineyard over 170 years ago. Samuel had a spirit of embracing provenance and giving back to the land, which was the starting point for making this collection of fine wines possible. Samuel's Collection wines are designed to offer regional typicity and varietal transparency, alongside serious winemaking and drinkability at a moderate price.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Shiraz that was sourced from vineyards across the Barossa. The vines range from young (approx. 10–15 years old) to old (greater than 35 years), and are planted on a diverse range of sites that have slight variations in microclimates and soil types, such as red brown earths, sandy loams, and dark clay, all of which contributes to the complexity of this wine. Each parcel was vinified separately and fermented using a combination of both wild and cultured yeasts. The wines were matured for 10 months in Yalumba coopered French and Hungarian hogsheads, only 15% new, then blended and bottled prior to release.

The growing season in the 2023 vintage was delayed by several weeks due to abundant winter and spring rainfall, along with cooler than average temperatures in September and October. Further impacting the vintage were the windy conditions during flowering, which resulted in lower fruit set at some of the vineyards. Summer was relatively mild and allowed the grapes to slowly ripen, develop complexity, and thrive. From a late vintage that produced elegantly restrained wines with character and charm, let's see how this 2023 Barossa Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

YALUMBA SAMUEL'S COLLECTION SHIRAZ 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Barossa, South Australia (#12907) (XD) - $21.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this lovely Shiraz has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is deep and intense with ripe dark fruits, blackberry, black cherry, black pepper spice, oak spice, and dried herb aromas with a hint of mint. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has above average concentration and delicious ripe dark fruit, black cherry, cassis, blackberry, black pepper spice, and cedary oak flavours, plus hints of dried herb, meaty, and smoky mineral notes. Some minty notes on the mid-palate, alongside fresh acidity and smooth, supple, and fine-grained tannins. A touch warming, but still within balance. Savoury, cedary, and smoky mineral notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

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

Tapiz Alta Collection San Pablo Vineyard Malbec 2023 (Argentina) - Wine Review

2026-05-15T17:39:34.213-04:00

Happy start to the long weekend! Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Malbec from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's May 9 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Fincas Patagónicas, one of Argentina's most prominent wine producers. It was founded in 2003 by Patricia Ortiz with the goal of crafting exceptional wines from Argentina's most distinctive terroirs. At Fincas Patagónicas, the winemaking philosophy combines traditional methods with innovative techniques to create exceptional wines from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza to the Atlantic coast of Patagonia that truly express each area's unique terroir.

Fincas Patagónicas has several winery projects across Argentina, including Zolo and Wapisa, but Tapiz, where this wine is from, was their first. The state-of-the-art Tapiz winery is located in the high-altitude San Pablo region, within the Tunuyán department, of the Uco Valley, and is surrounded by estate vineyards. Under the guidance of Patricia, Tapiz is a pioneer in the region and helped develop the San Pablo Geographical Indication (GI).

Tapiz wines are crafted by the celebrated winemaking team of Fabian Valenzuela and famed Bordeaux winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet (winemaker of Petrus for 44 vintages), and are a beautiful tapestry (tapiz) of terroir and innovation. The wines of Tapiz combine sustainable winemaking traditions with modern innovation, along with a strong commitment to excellence which is reflected in their environmentally conscious approach and dedication to producing wines that truly express their unique terroir in San Pablo. The San Pablo GI benefits from the extremes of altitude, temperature, and soil heterogeneity, which allows the winemaking team to create full-bodied and concentrated wines that are elegant and balanced. Through her wineries, Patricia is dedicated to giving back to the environment through sustainable practices, while also encouraging responsible practices among their staff, suppliers, and customers.

This red wine is crafted using 100% Malbec that was grown at the San Pablo Estate Vineyard within the Uco Valley. The vineyard is situated at a high altitude of 1,350 metres (4,430 feet) above sea level, which is one of the highest vineyards in Mendoza. The vines average 14 years old and are planted on alluvial soils which have a diverse sandy loam texture, gravel, and significant deposits of calcareous material. The grapes were sustainably farmed and hand-harvested, and vinified by first undergoing a cold pre-maceration for 5 days at 8ºC. It underwent alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks for approximately 15 days at 28ºC, as well as 100% malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 10 months in French (85%) and American (15%) oak barrels.

Like the year prior, the 2023 vintage in Argentina was another roller-coaster vintage as recent years influenced by La Niña left the country in a state of drought, including the winter months which were unnaturally dry but with some polar influences. Spring frosts attacked nascent buds during budbreak, which massively cut yields in some parts of Mendoza. After the bouts of frost, the season settled into warm days, while the summer was the hottest and driest in years. The grapes ripened quickly, and those vineyards at altitude benefitted from diurnal temperature variation. The end result was an early harvest with concentrated fruit, fresh acidity, and modest alcohol levels. From a good vintage that produced age-worthy wines with great minerality and texture, let's see how this 2023 Malbec from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION SAN PABLO VINEYARD MALBEC 2023 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#450155) (XD) - $20.95
This high altitude Malbec has lovely, open aromatics of medium-high intensity offering notes of ripe, crushed dark berry and blackberry aromas nuanced with hints of violet, mineral, savoury oak, earth, dried herb, and peppery spice. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has delicious ripe dark berry, blackberry, violet, dried herb, savoury earth, oak spice, and peppery replays joined by mineral accents on the flavour profile. It has crisp and fresh acidity, alongside supple, fine-grained, and gently chalky textured tannins. Clean and well-balanced throughout with dark berries, blackberry, savoury oak, earth, dried herb, and mineral notes on the long, gently tight finish. Enjoyable now, but should be even better in a couple of years, and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Fincas Patagónicas can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.

El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda 2022 (Argentina) - Wine Review

2026-05-11T17:33:00.004-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely single vineyard Bonarda that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the April 25th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by El Enemigo Wines, a project co-founded in 2008 by two of Argentina's most notable wine figures - Adrianna Catena, the youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena, and winemaker Alejandro Vigil.

Since childhood, Adrianna has lived and breathed wine, and today she blends her experience in Academia in History with her passion for viticulture and winemaking. Alejandro Vigil was the "enfant terrible" of his family as he left school at the age of 14 to join a wine co-operative. However, he did keep up with his studying at night so as to not upset his mother. Alejandro graduated at the top of his class agricultural engineering, and at the age of 27 he became the head of soils division for the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina. Since 2002, Alejandro has been the Chief Winemaker at Catena Zapata.

El Enemigo means "The Enemy", and reflects the personal philosophy of its founders, which is that the biggest enemy is oneself. The philosophy behind El Enemigo is to constantly strive to push boundaries and challenge personal limits. In this same spirit, the wines of El Enemigo emphasize Argentine terroir while focusing on old world winemaking techniques to create new world wines that are creative and energetic. Each wine is also crafted to be in balance between old world elegance and new world, fruit-driven intensity. El Enemigo Wines are produced in the southern foothills of Maipu, Mendoza, using grapes from a number of vineyards across the region. As a soil expert with a Master's Degree in both winemaking and irrigation management, the work of Alejandro Vigil has led to important developments in both vineyard management and winemaking in Argentina.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this wine, including most recently writing about the 2020 El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda a couple of years ago. Like previous vintages, this red wine is crafted using 100% Bonarda that was grown in a single vineyard within the El Mirador district of Rivadavia, in the central-north part of the province of Mendoza. The vineyard is situated at 650 metres (2,132 feet) above sea level and is planted on sand and deep clay soil. To vinify this wine, it underwent a wild yeast fermentation at a fairly warm temperature of 28C (82F) for 15 days, followed by a 15-day infusion with minimal movement to gently extract colour, aromas, and flavours. The wine was aged for 12 months in foudre, then rested in bottle prior to release.

According to Alejandro, the 2022 vintage in Mendoza was an exceptional year from every possible qualitative standpoint. It was a roller-coaster vintage with spring frosts followed by a relatively cool and damp season, and then another frost to end spring, which cut yields. Much needed rain arrived at the end and spring and into summer, which refreshed the vines. After the rains passed and the weather cleared, there was just enough heat for red grape varieties such as Bonarda to reach phenolic ripeness in time for harvest. The end result was expressive wines with optimal acidity, concentration, and ripeness. From a vintage that Alejandro Vigil says that "this is the best year that I have lived through", let's see how this 2022 Bonarda from Rivadavia, Mendoza, is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2022 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $29.95
This lovely, single vineyard Bonarda has a fresh and lifted medium-high intensity nose that offers a ripe mix of red, black, and purple fruit with plummy, black cherry, blackberry, and dried herb aromas layered over earthy oak, cocoa, and spices. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious dark fruited blackberry, plum, black cherry, dried herb, oak spice, and earthy flavours, plus mineral accents. It has fresh and succulent acidity, alongside smooth, elegant, and fine-grained tannins with good structure and a subtle chalky grip on the back palate. Plum and dark berry notes taper to oak spice and minerals on the long, dry, and savoury finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the coming 7-8 years. Score: 91+ pts

Several ultra-premium wines by El Enemigo are available in small quantities at the LCBO, while their very popular Chardonnay (and one of my personal favourites) will be arriving in VINTAGES later this month. The full range of El Enemigo Wines can also be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

May 9, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Good Vibes & Sustainable Wines

2026-05-10T05:00:00.008-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! Here are my top wine picks from the May 9, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), which is titled "Good Vibes & Sustainable Wines". There are 92 products included in this release, and while this is not an expensive release, the number of wines priced below $20 continues to dwindle with less than one-third below this mark. Overall, it is a good release with the sweet spot of quality-to-price ratio falling between $20 and $30. All the wines are readily available for purchase at LCBO outlets both in-store and online.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release that includes thirteen wines that offer good vibes with a nod to sustainability. There are four recommended buys from the thematic, beginning with a 2024 Chardonnay from Niagara, along with a Pecorino from Abruzzo. The lone red wine recommendation from the feature story is made with Cariñena (Carignan) from Spain, while the dry rosé is crafted with Pinot Noir from Chile.

My top red wine picks from the main release begins with the Purple Angel from Chile that is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, followed by a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Among the blends, the Cab Sauv from South Africa is actually composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec, while the Valpolicella is a blend of 45% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, and 15% Rondinella. Among the mono-varietal red wines, the Chénas from Beaujolais is made with Gamay, while the Rioja is Tempranillo. There are also a couple of Barossa Shiraz wines from Australia, as well as a fine Malbec from Argentina.

Among my white wine recommendations, there are a trio of gently off-dry Riesling wines - one from British Columbia, one from Prince Edward County, and one from Alsace. Other white wines include a 2021 Chardonnay from Niagara, a Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige in northern Italy, and an off-dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand. And lastly, there is a fine Alvarinho from Portugal.

Other rosé wine recommendations in this release include a rosé from Provence that is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 5% Tibouren, along with a McLaren Vale rosé that is crafted with Grenache. Among the sparkling wines, the Grand Cru Champagne is 80/20 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while the bubbly from South Africa is composed of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

PALACIO DEL BURGO CRIANZA 2022 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#18939) (XD) - $15.95
MAXWELL THE ORCHARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#49388) (XD) - $19.95
NEIL ELLIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#41448) (XD) - $19.95
TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION SAN PABLO VINEYARD MALBEC 2023 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#450155) (XD) - $20.95 90+ pts wine review
VAUCHER PÈRE & FILS CHÉNAS 2024 - AOC, Beaujolais, France (#48376) (XD) - $21.95
YALUMBA SAMUEL'S COLLECTION SHIRAZ 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Barossa, South Australia (#12907) (XD) - $21.95 91+ pts wine review
BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE 2023 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#16090) (XD) - $22.95
LIBRE Y SALVAJE VINO DE PARAJE CARIÑENA 2021 - DOP, Spain (#50357) (XD) - $24.95
SEPPELTSFIELD VILLAGE SERIES BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2023 - Barossa, South Australia (#49385) (XD) - $27.95
WHITEHAVEN GREG SOUTHERN VALLEYS SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2021 - Vegan, Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#48068) (XD) - $39.95 91+ pts wine review
MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2021 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $105.95 94+ pts wine review

White Wine:

PIERRE SPARR SOL CALCAIRE RIESLING 2022 - AOC Alsace, France (#10683) (D) - $19.95
VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION PINOT GRIS 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447490) (D) - $21.95
QUAILS' GATE DRY RIESLING 2025 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308312) (D) - $21.95 91 pts wine review
ALOIS LAGEDER TERRA ALPINA PINOT GRIGIO 2024 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy (#681429) (XD) - $22.95
RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#388421) (XD) - $23.95
TORRE ZAMBRA POGGIO SALAIA TERRE D'ABRUZZO PECORINO 2025 - IGT, Abruzzo, Italy (#49996) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
LIGHTHALL RIESLING 2023 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#50360) (D) - $24.95
AVELEDA SOLOS DE GRANITO ALVARINHO 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#17514) (XD) - $24.95
BACHELDER L'ARDOISE NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2024 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#302083) (XD) - $26.95
WENDING HOME ESTATE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#44853) (XD) - $34.95 91 pts wine review

Rosé Wine:

CASAS DEL BOSQUE BOTANIC SERIES PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2025 - Las Dichas, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#15277) (XD) - $17.95
DANDELION FAIRYTALE OF MCLAREN VALE ROSÉ 2025 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43354) (XD) - $19.95 88+ pts wine review
M DE MINUTY CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#575316) (XD) - $28.95

Sparkling Wine:

GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
PIERRE PAILLARD LES PARCELLES BOUZY EXTRA BRUT GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#34607) (XD) - $105.95 93+ pts wine review

Kew Tradition Sparkling 2021 (Niagara) - Wine Review

2026-05-08T17:36:00.002-04:00

To start off my weekend, tonight's wine review is this beautiful, Pinot-based vintage sparkling wine from Niagara that was crafted in the traditional method. It arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on April 25th.

It is produced by Kew Vineyards, a boutique winery situated in the heart of Niagara on a 160-year-old estate, in Beamsville, Ontario. The Kew homestead was built by William Kew and used by the family to successfully produce carriages. Descendants of the Kew family lived on the property until the late-1960s until it was purchased by Dieter Gutler and his wife Ingrid and began a new chapter.

In 1975, Mr. Hermann Weis brought his own clones from the Mosel Valley in Germany and planted some of Niagara's first Riesling vines on the estate at Kew Vineyards. While Mr. Weis was relentlessly met with skepticism as the community said he could never do it, he would go on to become a true pioneer of Ontario's wine region as most of Niagara's Rieslings today are based on the Weis Clone.

After the passing of Ingrid in 2021, the historical property Kew Vineyards and its 80+ acres of vineyards were acquired by Arterra Wines Canada in 2023. Today, Kew Vineyards is a hidden gem of Niagara's wine country history. The vineyards are situated on sloping land and well-drained soils, with ideal growing temperatures. The philosophy at Kew is based on small-batch winemaking and that wine is the ultimate expression of passion. At Kew, there is passion for the art of wine making, passion for the land, and passion for the way in which it celebrates daily life.

The winemaker at Kew Vineyards is Phillip Brown, who grew up in the agricultural community of Campbellville, Ontario, within the Niagara Escarpment. Phillip's father's passion for wine and extensive cellar nurtured his curiosity and desire to understand more about the world of wine. Phillip joined Niagara College’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program and gained experience at wineries in Ontario before moving to New Zealand in 2015 to work at a large-scale winery. Upon his return to Arterra, Phillip helped revive the Le Clos Jordanne project in 2017 and has been part of the Arterra winemaking team ever since. In early 2024, Phillip officially became the winemaker at Kew Vineyards.

As one of Niagara's sparkling wine specialists, Kew Vineyards produces seven unique, traditional method sparkling wines. Some of these bubblies are made using one varietal, while others are blends. Named "Tradition", this particular vintage sparkling wine is crafted as a blended wine, which is a true balancing act as winemakers must not only incorporate all the positive traits of each varietal, but also minimize the impact of their negative characteristics from one vintage to the next. This balancing act has been employed by Champagne producers for centuries as they balance the roles of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

This sparkling wine is crafted using a fairly traditional blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, and 22% Pinot Meunier, while also incorporating a unique twist with 6% Pinot Blanc. All the grapes were grown at the Estate Vineyard in the Beamsville Bench appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. The blend of the three traditional varietals results in a wine with gorgeous structure and depth, along with elegance and complexity that is unparalleled by any single varietal sparkling wine. In the traditional method, it underwent primary fermentation in stainless steel, while secondary fermentation took place in bottle. The wine was aged on its lees for 4 years and was released to the market in February 2026.

In 2021, the growing season began with above-average temperatures during winter, followed by a warmer spring. In May, conditions were dry with optimal temperatures, just in time for bud break. During the summer months, there were very high temperatures with minimal rain, which forced producers to manage drought. Conditions were looking exceptional heading into and throughout August. However, rain during harvest in September was problematic as the increased levels of moisture brought along with it elevated levels of rot, disease, and swelling of the grapes. While this is not a good vintage for late-ripening varieties, it is an incredible vintage for sparkling wines and early-ripening varieties. Let's see how this 2021 traditional method sparkling from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KEW TRADITION SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#491092) (XD) - $32.95
This lovely sparkling wine is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Meunier, and 6% Pinot Blanc. Elegant, medium-high intensity nose features toasty, brioche, lemon citrus, apple, and pastry aromas nuanced with autolytic characters. The mid-weighted palate is dry with a lovely, finely elegant bead of persistent bubbles, along with delicious flavours of apple, lemon citrus, toasty, brioche, and autolytic notes. Acids are crisp and fresh. Brioche and leesy mineral notes come to the fore on the long, crisp, and gently chalky textured finish. Will be an elegant accompaniment to Mother's Day brunch and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Several lovely wines by Kew Vineyards are available at the LCBO, as well as your local Wine Rack, while the full range can be ordered directly from winery in Niagara and through Arterra Wines Canada.

Urbanihof 4U Grüner Veltliner 2024 (Austria) - Wine Review

2026-05-05T17:42:00.001-04:00

After enjoying the lovely 2024 Urbanihof Classic Grüner Veltliner last month, tonight's white wine review is another lovely, organic wine from the same producer that also made its debut at the LCBO recently and was featured in the thematic of the April 25th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

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

Today, Weingut Urbanihof is run by the 11th generation of the family – Sonja and Franz Paschinger, while their children, the 12th generation — Lisa, Jakob, and Julia — wait 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.

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

Their philosophy in the densely planted vineyards is to keep yields low, while guaranteeing optimal ripening conditions by intensely managing the soil and canopy. One of the things that make Urbanihof unique is that for the last five years, they have been sustainably producing rich manure through their own composting of horse manure and grape pomace. The manure is then applied to their vineyards, which ensures a healthy, nutrient-rich soil.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Grüner Veltliner that was organically cultivated in the Fels area of the Wagram DAC, in Lower Austria, on deep loess soils. The name "4U" simply means "for you", and was created as an inviting, modern label to make Austrian wine more accessible and in a friendly and approachable manner. It was vinified by undergoing a cold fermentation of 18°C in stainless steel tanks and bottled without seeing any time in oak.

Like the aforementioned Classic Grüner Veltliner, this Grüner is also from a challenging 2024 vintage that produced miraculous results. The growing season featured rain during early bud break and spring frosts, along with rain in early summer and in September, all of which combined to reduced yields. On the positive side, temperatures rose by mid-June, which allowed the grapes to ripen on schedule and reach phenolic ripeness, with the hot temperatures continuing well into September. While challenging, the vintage favoured Grüner Veltliner as the variety is more resistant to rain. The resulting wines made with Grüner Veltliner tend to be ripe and with relatively lower acidity levels. From a good vintage, let's see how this 2024 Grüner Veltliner from Austria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

URBANIHOF 4U GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Fels, Wagram, Austria (#49424) (XD) - $21.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this organic Grüner Veltliner has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose of stone fruit, peach, melon, lemon drop, citrus, and grapefruit aromas flecked with leesy minerals. The weighty palate is dry with a slight spritz and delicious, ripe flavours of melon, white peach, stone fruit, lemon citrus, and grapefruit. Acids are clean, fresh, and balanced, while the rounded mid-palate is mildly textured with spice touches. Melon, peach, and citrus notes taper to leesy minerals on the long, crisp, and savoury finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

The Classic Grüner Veltliner is available at the LCBO, while the full range of wines by Weingut Urbanihof can be ordered their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Bolgrad Select Chardonnay 2024 and Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (Ukraine) - Wine Reviews

2026-05-02T17:32:00.001-04:00

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of delicious wines from Ukraine that made their debut at the LCBO in last month's April 11 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these wines are produced by Bolgrad Winery, the No. 1 still-wine producing winery in Ukraine, as they produce 18% of the country's still-wine production. Bolgrad is based in the Odesa region, which is at the heart of the country's winemaking, with over 60% of Ukraine's vines rooted in this region. While the brand was only formed in 1990, the company's history goes back more than 100 years.

Bolgrad's history begins in 1900, when it was housed in the State Wine Warehouse, and vines were grown by landowners. Over time, the producer became the country's largest state-owned winery. At the end of the war in 1945, the company's official history with a decree, and it became a factory on paper. The winery has travelled a thorny path since that time, but has maintained its principles and commitment to producing high-quality wine.

Today, Bolgrad is a well-established producer of alcoholic beverages, including wine and spirits, with quality control at every stage and distribution in various countries globally. To produce their wines, they use a combination of both traditional and modern winemaking techniques.

These wines are from Bolgrad's Select Collection, which is their export-focused, premium range of wines. Selection Collection wines are varietally expressive, fruit-forward, and designed for international palates. Each of these wines are mono-varietal wines that were grown on the southwestern slopes of Yalpug, one of Ukraine's largest freshwater lakes. This area is nestled in a unique valley, where the grapes are kissed by the sunlight from both the sun in the sky and its shimmering reflection on the water's surface. The grapes were carefully selected and hand-harvested at the precise moment of optimal maturity to produce wines of balance.

Given the challenging conditions that are present in the country, the 2024 vintage in Ukraine is considered to be a success in terms of quality. There was continuous rainfall throughout winter and spring, until late May, while summer was exceptionally sunny and hot, which resulted in an earlier than usual harvest. Yields were impacted by the weather conditions, as well as the ongoing conflict, but overall, the vintage is considered to be of exceptional quality. Let's see how these 2024 vintage wines from Ukraine are tasting...

Tasting Notes:

BOLGRAD SELECT CHARDONNAY 2024 - Odesa, Ukraine (#48301) (XD) - $17.95
Delicate, medium intensity nose features white peach, apricot, and ripe lemon citrus aromas, plus hints of honeyuckle and floral. The weighty, medium-full bodied palate is dry with honeyed notes of lemon citrus, apple, pear, apricot, and honeysuckle flavours. It has clean, well-balanced acidity, along with some spicy warmth on the mid-palate. Citrus and apricot notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 87+ pts

BOLGRAD SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2024 - Ukraine (#48357) (XD) - $17.95
A gentle nose of red plum and currant aromas with hints of cran-cherry, cassis, and savoury oak. It's medium-full bodied and very ripe with sweet fruited flavours of currant, cassis, plum, black cherry, and oak spice. It's supported by very good, fresh acidity, alongside well-structured and gently grippy tannins. Good length on the savoury, slightly smoky finish. Score: 86 pts

While there is a Brandy by Bolgrad available at the LCBO, any other products may be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

April 25, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fresh Faces + Langhe

2026-04-29T05:00:00.090-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the April 25, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), in which "Fresh Faces" is the main feature story of the release, while the mini-thematic highlights a trio of wines from Langhe. While this is a fairly good-sized release with 99 products offered, 22 of these products are included as Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE), which translates to availability of modest quantities available, and only at select locations in-store. However, quality is high in this release, along with a relatively large number of my picks available as OFEs, everything should be readily available for purchase.

We'll begin with the feature story titled "Fresh Faces", and it consists of seventeen wines that are making their debut at the LCBO. Of the sixteen wines included as part of the thematic, five are among my top recommendations. We'll start with the three white wines - a Grüner Veltliner from Wagram, a Pecorino from Abruzzo, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. There's also a dry rosé crafted with Pinot Noir from Australia, while the only red wine is a blend of 50% Syrah with about equal parts Touriga Franca and Alicante Bouschet from Portugal.

Most of my top red wine recommendations are mono-varietal wines, with the only blends being a South African wine that is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec, while the Rhône red is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault. Among the mono-varietal reds, both Gran Selezione Chianti Classico wines are 100% Sangiovese, a fine Bonarda from Argentina, and a pair of lovely Pinot Noirs, one each from Niagara and Alto Adige.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, Canada leads the way with a pair of top Chardonnays from the Twenty Mile Bench from Niagara, as well as a dry Riesling from Niagara. From Austria there is a Grüner Veltliner from Leithaberg, along with a dry Riesling from Kamptal. Other wines include a 60/40 blend of Viognier and Marsanne from Australia, a Moschofilero from Arkadia (Greece), and an off-dry Gewurztraminer from Alsace.

As the weather warms, we tend to see rosé wines on shelves, and in addition to the rosé mentioned above, there is one more rosé worth your attention - a dry rosé from Niagara-on-the-Lake that is crafted with 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Among my top sparkling wine picks, both the Cuvée Catharine and the Italian bubbly are made with 100% Chardonnay, while the Kew Sparkling is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Meunier, and 6% Pinot Blanc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

RAVASQUEIRA ENCANTADO TINTO 2024 - Sustainable, Vinho Regional Alentejo, Portugal (#49910) (XD) - $17.95 88+ pts wine review
LAGAR DE ROBLA COLECCIÓN 4 HERMANOS MENCÍA 2023 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León, Spain (#50391) (XD) - $18.00
ANDRÉ BRUNEL CUVÉE SABRINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2024 - AOC, France (#538496) (XD) - $18.95
SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2023 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
ANDES PLATEAU COTA 500 CONCRETE CABERNET FRANC 2023 - Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#48240) (XD) - $24.95 OFE
EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2022 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $29.95 91+ pts wine review

ANTHONIJ RUPERT OPTIMA 2021 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#455915) (XD) - $34.95 OFE
RIOJA VEGA CON GRACIA GRACIANO 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#42117) (XD) - $40.95 OFE
PETER ZEMMER RISERVA PINOT NOIR 2022 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#48425) (XD) - $48.95 OFE 91+ pts wine review
RICASOLI CASTELLO DI BROLIO GRAN SELEZIONE GAIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#942607) (XD) - $49.95 OFE
TOLAINI MONTEBELLO SETTE GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#466607) (XD) - $52.95 OFE
BACHELDER WISMER-PARKE SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520379) (XD) - $65.00 OFE
ROCCHE COSTAMAGNA COMUNE DI LA MORRA BAROLO 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#49218) (XD) - $75.95 92+ pts wine review

White Wine:

CREMASCHI FURLOTTI RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#48162) (XD) - $14.95 89 pts wine review
JASCI & MARCHESANI TERRE DI CHIETI PECORINO 2024 - IGT, Abruzzo, Italy (#49217) (XD) - $16.95
D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER / MARSANNE 2025 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#662775) (XD) - $17.95
JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER 2024 - AOC Alsace, France (#224626) (D) - $18.95
URBANIHOF 4U GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Fels, Wagram, Austria (#49424) (XD) - $21.95 89 pts wine review
SOMMER SCHIEFER LEITHABERG GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Leithaberg, Burgenland, Austria (#43507) (XD) - $22.95 91 pts wine review

KTIMA TSELEPOS BLANC DE GRIS 2024 - Vegan, Perpatiara, PGI Arkadia, Greece (#49463) (XD) - $28.95 91+ pts wine review
CAVE SPRING CSV CAVE SPRING VINEYARD ESTATE GROWN RIESLING 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (XD) - $34.95 92 pts wine review
CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95 92+ pts wine review
WALDSCHÜTZ RIED GAISBERG 1ÖTW RIESLING KAMPTAL 2022 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#48258) (XD) - $58.95 OFE
BACHELDER WISMER-WINGFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#345819) (XD) - $60.00 OFE 94 pts wine review

Rosé Wine:

WAKEFIELD ESTATE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2025 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#49376) (XD) - $19.95
TWO SISTERS VINEYARDS MARGO ROSÉ 2024 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#22484) (XD) - $38.00

Sparkling Wine:

ROTARI ARTE ITALIANA BRUT SPARKLING - Sustainable, Metodo Classico, DOC Trento, Italy (#708495) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
KEW TRADITION SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#491092) (XD) - $32.95 91+ pts wine review
HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANCS 2018 - Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95

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

2026-04-13T05:00:00.014-04:00

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
BOLGRAD SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2024 - Ukraine (#48357) (XD) - $17.95 86 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
BOLGRAD SELECT CHARDONNAY 2024 - Odesa, Ukraine (#48301) (XD) - $17.95 87+ 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.