VINTAGES Wine Picks & LCBO Wine Reviews

Domaine Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2023 and Pinot Noir 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

2026-09-26T17:44:44.501-04:00

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of excellent, premium wines from Niagara that arrived as part of the feature on "Local Wines You'll Love" from Ontario in the recent September 12 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these wines are produced by Domaine Le Clos Jordanne (DLCJ), a unique Franco-Canadian winery project that was established in 2000 as a partnership between the Boisset Family in Burgundy and Ontario-based Vincor Canada. The goal of this joint venture was to establish a 'domaine' in Ontario's Niagara Peninsula and produce ultra-premium Canadian VQA wines from Burgundy's classic grape varieties – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The first wines were introduced to the marketplace in 2007, with Thomas Bachelder as the original winemaker. He developed the brand's signature style around cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, low intervention, and terroir expression. The wines were crafted using sustainable winemaking practices, with a focus on delivering the best and most authentic expression of Burgundian-style wines through the lens of Niagara terroir. This approach led to international recognition and critical acclaim.

In 2016, the original Le Clos Jordanne project was paused before being revived in 2019 by Arterra Wines Canada in a new partnership with Thomas. After years of nomadic winemaking, the brand established a permanent home in 2024 by opening the Domaine Le Clos Jordanne winery at the former Angel's Gate property on the Beamsville Bench sub-appellation in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula. Today, DLCJ uses innovative New World practices combined with time-honoured Burgundian techniques, such as harvesting and sorting the grapes by hand. Every step of the process, from vineyard to bottle, receives careful consideration. Alongside Thomas, the winemaking team consists of Phillip Brown (Associate Winemaker) and Kerri Crawford (Assistant Winemaker).

These wines form Le Clos Jordanne's top-tier "Le Grand Clos" range, which is their mission to hone in on the "filet mignon" of the Clos Jordanne vineyard and their finest expression of the Jordan Bench terroir. Le Clos Jordanne's estate vineyard is located about 14 km east of the winery on a premium parcel of the Jordan Bench, on the first rise from the plain, a natural plateau near the slope of the Niagara Escarpment. The vineyard features limestone-laced silt and clay glacial soils, which are known for bringing intensely focused fruit, minerality, and ageability to the resulting wines. Both the Le Grand Clos Chardonnay and Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir come from blocks located on the western side of the vineyard – a happenstance of aspect, altitude, drainage, and geology. The Chardonnay is from Block 1, while the Pinot Noir is from Blocks 3 and 7.

The vineyards are farmed both traditionally and sustainably in order to preserve the natural balance of the vines and maintain the parcel's terroir specifics and quality of fruit. Each vine is tended to by hand, from pruning through to harvest, with the vines pruned to either a single- or double-Guyot cane system. Some of the tasks in the vineyard include leaf stripping, which takes place on the eastern side of the vine, exposing the clusters to more sun and airflow, promoting healthy ripening and helping to prevent disease. The soil in the vineyard is managed to nurture and maintain a natural level of microbiological life. Every other row is cultivated, alternating yearly, leaving a varied cover crop in the remaining rows. This creates competition in the root system while allowing the topsoil to remain loose and aerobic. Each year, every second row of the soil is broken up (deep-ripped) in order to aerate the soil structure and help avoid compaction.

To craft this Chardonnay, hand-harvesting began slowly and meticulously on October 7, picking only the best bunches. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed, and the full tank of free-run juice was racked into French oak barrels, where it would remain for the next 18 months. The juice underwent wild yeast fermentation, followed by malolactic fermentation on its lees. During this process, Thomas, Kerri, and Phillip would go through each individual barrel, watching the process slowly unfold, and nearing the end of élevage, a selection of 33 barrels, seven of them being first fills, were blended and bottled.

To craft this Pinot Noir, the grapes were hanging beautifully with thick skins and great flavours when it was decided to hand-harvest on October 2 due to unseasonably warm weather and a heatwave in the short-range forecast. After hand-sorting and destemming, the grapes were placed into multiple fermentation tanks, separated by individual blocks, and allowed to naturally warm as the wild yeast began the fermentation process. After about a month, with daily pump-overs or punch-downs, the ferment was complete and the free-run wine was placed into 48 barrels, a combination of both first-fill and previous-fill barrels. After a fairly long period of ageing in barrel, the final wine was selected from 19 barrels, four of them being first fills, and then blended and bottled.

In 2023, the growing season in Niagara was a pretty classic vintage for the region, with no major curveballs. It began with a slightly mild winter followed by a warm spring, which meant early budbreak. Summer featured occasional heatwaves, along with big thunderstorms, which meant vigilant viticultural practices were needed. Harvest time arrived hard and fast with a beautiful, dry, and warm fall, with all the grapes harvested and processed within a very short 22-day window, ending on October 24. There were a handful of extra-long days and a few sleepless nights, but the passionate crew worked tirelessly to give the fruit and wines the attention and love they demanded and deserved. From a great vintage, let's see how these 2023 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $55.00
Screw cap. Lovely, rich, and layered aromas of medium-high intensity deliver perfectly ripe apple and pear notes nuanced with vanilla, citrus, oak spice, butter, and mealy complexity. On the dry, full-bodied palate it is rich and flavourful with lovely orchard fruit and stone fruit, apple, pear, lemon citrus, and melon joined by oak spice, vanilla, and butter flavours in a complex profile. Impressively textured with an almost chalky mouthfeel. Some leesy notes add further complexity on the mid-palate. Lemon citrus and apple notes taper to savoury with leesy mineral, gentle oak spice, and vanilla notes on the exceptionally long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93+ pts

DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $55.00
Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose has crushed ripe raspberry and spice aromas with oak accents, plus whiffs of black cherry, earthy mushroom, beet root, and clove add complexity. The weighty, medium+ bodied has a nice, chalky textured mouthfeel and fresh acidity. It's dry and ripe with delicious dark raspberry, earthy mushroom, beet root, oak spice flavours, plus some notes of clove , white pepper, and stony mineral. It has grainy, chalky textured tannins with good structure and tension. Dark raspberry and spice notes taper to savoury, stony minerals on the long, chalky textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

A couple of wines by Domaine Le Clos Jordanne are available as VINTAGES Essentials at the LCBO, while the full range of wines can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara or through Arterra Wines Canada.

Kew Fracette Sparkling 2025 and Inniskillin Fracette Rosé Sparkling 2025 (Ontario) - Wine Reviews

2026-09-22T17:41:38.007-04:00

Tonight's sparkling wine reviews are a pair of delicious, brand-new Fracette sparkling wines that recently arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on Ontario wines in the September 12 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Fracette (pronounced “frah-SET”) is a new VQA category of sparkling wine that is uniquely Canadian, as it is crafted using Icewine. The term Fracette is a combination of words inspired by the frozen (fr-) grapes used to make Canadian Icewine and facette (-acette), representing the layers and complexities of this completely new style of sparkling wine.

What makes Fracette unique is that instead of a conventional mixture of still base wine with sugar and yeast being used in the tirage to spark secondary fermentation, VQA Icewine supplies the fermentable sugar. The secondary fermentation is what creates the bubbles and can take place either in tank (the Charmat or méthode cuve close method) or in bottle (the Traditional method). This distinctive use of Icewine as the tirage liqueur can enhance the freshness and depth of flavour of the finished wine, creating a crisp and complex sparkling wine with a unique drinking experience.

Some of the rules governing Fracette wines include the use of Vitis vinifera grape varieties, with Vidal permitted in the Icewine component, and no more than 15 g/L residual sugar. Like other VQA sparkling wines, the wine must derive its effervescence from alcoholic fermentation rather than artificial carbonation, have a minimum of 300 kPa, and the alcohol content must be between 7% and 14.9% ABV. Since November 2025, Fracette has been a protected and regulated VQA Ontario wine category under Ontario's Vintners Quality Alliance regulations.

Both of these delicious sparkling wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin Wines are readily available at the LCBO, with the Kew Fracette Sparkling featured as a Hand-Picked Gift. I happened to notice while shopping over the weekend that both of these bubblies are also available at grocery stores. Let's see how these two locally crafted Ontario sparkling wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

KEW FRACETTE SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53239) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of 41% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, 16% Pinot Meuiner, and 10% Vidal Icewine. Delicate aromas of stone & orchard fruits, peach, floral, pear, and apple with hints of citrus rise out of the glass. On the weighty, medium-full bodied palate there's sweet fruited peach, floral, pear, apple, and citrus replays on the dry flavour profile. Acids are crisp, juicy, and refreshing, while the gentle mousse is clean and crisp. It's well-balanced throughout with floral, peach, pear, and citrus notes on the dry finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. 89 pts

INNISKILLIN FRACETTE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53240) (XD) - $34.95
100% Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Franc Icewine used as the tirage. A finishing touch of Cabernet Franc Icewine was also used. The medium+ intensity nose has gentle aromas of red berry jelly, raspberry, strawberry, and cherry aromas with hints of citrus, rose floral, and mineral. It is light-to-medium bodied on the palate with lovely raspberry, cherry, and strawberry flavours mingling with blood orange, mineral, and spice flavours in a dry, complex flavour profile. It has clean and crisp acidity, along with finely crafted bubbles that are smooth, refined, and elegant. Red berry and citrus notes taper to minerals and spice on the long, savoury, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Kew Vineyards and Inniskillin are widely available at the LCBO and various online and brick-and-mortar shops, including grocery stores, and can also be ordered direct from each winery or through Arterra Wines Canada.

September 12, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

2026-09-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the September 12, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where local wines from Ontario are the focus of the feature story. While the release is quite good overall, with a number of high-quality wines, the first word that comes to mind when I think about this release is "disappointment."

My first disappointment with this release is that it contains only 83 products, including 14 Online & Flagship Exclusives, leaving just 69 products broadly available across the province. I’ve heard that smaller releases will be the norm for the next couple of months, and perhaps beyond. Second, while there are 20 wines from Ontario, plus one from Nova Scotia and two from British Columbia, there are also 26 wines from Italy. This means that 49 of the 83 wines, or 59%, come from just two countries. I love my Ontario and Italian wines, but diversity is lacking, in my opinion.

The last disappointment took place on Release Day (September 12), when I visited one LCBO store and discovered that it had received only one Ontario wine from the entire release. I then visited a second LCBO store, only to find that all six wines being poured for the Saturday tasting were from the previous release (August 29, which is apparently what they do at this location). Furthermore, their policy was to only place wines from this release, which they had already received, on the shelves the following Monday. Nevertheless, by now, everything should be available for purchase both online and at physical LCBO stores across Ontario.

Moving past my disappointments, let’s have a look at my top wine picks from the feature story, which focuses on great local wines from Ontario. Of the twenty Ontario wines featured, eleven are among my recommended buys. Ontario produces many fine sparkling wines, with Kew Vineyards being a specialist in this category. Kew’s Blanc de Blanc is crafted with Chardonnay, while its Blanc de Noir is made from Pinot Noir. Also featured in this release is a new category of sparkling wine called Fracette—a uniquely Canadian style in which an Icewine liqueur de tirage is used to initiate the secondary fermentation. The Kew Fracette is a blend of 41% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, 16% Pinot Meuiner, and 10% Vidal Icewine, while the Inniskillin Fracette is a Cabernet Franc sparkling rosé with Cabernet Franc Icewine used to initiate the second fermentation. White wines from Ontario include a pair of lovely Chardonnays, as well as a fine, gently off-dry Riesling. My top red wine picks from Ontario are a trio of Pinot Noirs, followed by a Cabernet Franc.

My top red wine picks from the main release begin with a pair of excellent Riojas from Spain. First is the 2014 Rioja, a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano & Mazuelo, followed by the 2015 Rioja, made with 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 5% Mazuelo & Graciano. From Italy, the Valpolicella is composed of 85% Corvina Veronese, 10% Rondinella, and 5% Corvinone, while the Toscana Rosso is a blend of 40% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Syrah. Staying in Italy, both the Chianti Classico and Rosso di Montalcino are crafted with 100% Sangiovese, while the wine from Basilicata is made with Aglianico. Lastly, the other mono-varietal reds are a Malbec from Argentina and a Shiraz from Western Australia.

Among my white wine recommendations from the main release, the only blend is a white wine from the Douro in Portugal, crafted with three indigenous varieties—Códega de Larinho, Rabigato, and Viosinho. Among the mono-varietal wines, at the top of the list is the outstanding Verdicchio from 50+-year-old vines, followed by the Pecorino, with both wines coming from the same producer in Italy. Other mono-varietal wines include a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, an old-vine Chardonnay from Australia, and a Pinot Gris from New Zealand.

There are two sparkling wine picks outside Ontario. First up is a Prosecco from Italy crafted with Glera, while the second bubbly is a Cava from Spain composed of 55% Xarel·lo, 30% Macabeo, and 15% Parellada.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

FRANKLAND ROCKY GULLY SHIRAZ 2022 - Frankland River, Western Australia (#33371) (XD) - $17.95
VITICCIO SOSPETTI TOSCANA ROSSO 2022 - IGT, Tuscany, Italy (#50775) (XD) - $18.00 88 pts wine review
ZENATO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2022 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#995704) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, Mendoza, Argentina (#261867) (XD) - $19.95
PATERNOSTER SYNTHESI AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2021 - DOC, Campania, Italy (#51672) (XD) - $19.95
TAWSE GROWERS BLEND CABERNET FRANC 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#284570) (XD) - $29.95

WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $33.95 91 pts wine review
BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH PINOT NOIR 2024 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11582) (XD) - $34.95 91+ pts wine review
POGGIO SAN POLO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2022 - Sustainable, DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#60863) (XD) - $36.95
FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $49.95
DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $55.00 93 pts wine review
R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA BOSCONIA RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#529586) (XD) - $59.95
R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA TONDONIA RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $82.95

White Wine:

MATAHIWI ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2024 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#12679) (XD) - $17.95
LEYDA GARUMA COASTAL VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $18.95
QUADRUS WHITE 2024 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#667162) (XD) - $23.95
SCHILD OLD VINE BAROSSA CHARDONNAY 2025 - Barossa, South Australia (#50189) (XD) - $23.95
NALS MARGREID HILL PINOT GRIGIO 2025 - DOC Südtirol-Alto Adige, Italy (#17365) (XD) - $24.95
HIDDEN BENCH RIESLING 2023 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $26.95
UMANI RONCHI CENTOVIE PECORINO 2024 - IGT Colli Aprutini, Abruzzo, Italy (#11108) (XD) - $28.95
UMANI RONCHI CASAL DI SERRA VECCHIE VIGNE VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2023 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#98111) (XD) - $28.95 93+ pts wine review
DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00 review coming soon...
DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $55.00 93+ pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

ALESSANDRO BERSELLI SIGNATURE COLLECTION VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE 2025 - DOCG, Italy (#51608) (D) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CYGNUS SADOR ORGANIC RESERVA BRUT NATURE CAVA - Vegan, Sustainable, Traditional Method, DO Penedès, Spain (#352856) (XD) - $19.95
KEW FRACETTE SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53239) (XD) - $26.95 89 pts wine review
KEW BLANC DE BLANC 2019 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#438994) (XD) - $32.95 review coming soon...
KEW BLANC DE NOIR 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (XD) - $32.95 review coming soon...
INNISKILLIN FRACETTE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2025 - Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#53240) (XD) - $34.95 90+ pts wine review

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

2026-09-16T17:33:32.857-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, high-altitude, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Uco Valley that was featured as a Hand-Picked Gift in the recent August 29 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the lovely 2023 Tapiz Alta Collection San Pablo Vineyard Malbec I enjoyed a few months ago, this red wine is produced by Fincas Patagónicas, one of Argentina's most prominent wine producers. Fincas Patagónicas was established in 2003 by Patricia Ortiz with the goal of crafting exceptional wines from Argentina's most distinctive terroirs. The winemaking philosophy combines traditional methods with innovative techniques to create wines from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza and along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia that truly express the unique terroir of each region.

Fincas Patagónicas has three winery projects in Argentina — Zolo, Tapiz, and Wapisa. Tapiz is located in the heart of the San Pablo Geographical Indication (GI), within the Tunuyán department of the Uco Valley, Mendoza. Situated at 4,600 feet above sea level, the estate is home to one of Mendoza's highest-elevation vineyards. At Tapiz, sustainable winemaking traditions are combined with modern innovation at its state-of-the-art winery, which was constructed in 2016 and is surrounded by estate vineyards. Under Patricia's guidance, Tapiz has been a pioneer in the region and played a role in the development of the San Pablo GI. The San Pablo GI benefits from extremes of altitude, temperature, and soil heterogeneity, allowing for the creation of full-bodied and concentrated wines that are also elegant and balanced.

Tapiz is committed to environmentally conscious practices and to producing wines that faithfully express their unique terroir. Today, the wines are crafted by the celebrated winemaking team of Fabián Valenzuela and famed Bordeaux winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, who was the winemaker at Pétrus for 44 vintages. The name "Tapiz" is Spanish for tapestry, and the label and capsule depict the different components that come together to create wine, including high-altitude fruit, the land, the sun, and the workers. Thus, Tapiz represents a beautiful tapestry of terroir and innovation. Through her wineries, Patricia is also dedicated to giving back to the environment through sustainable practices while encouraging responsible practices among staff, suppliers, and customers.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the San Pablo Vineyard surrounding the winery. The estate vineyard is situated at 4,600 feet above sea level, and the 16-year-old vines were sustainably farmed. To vinify the wine, the grapes underwent a cold pre-maceration at 8˚C for 5 days to extract colour and aromas. The wine was then fermented in stainless steel tanks at approximately 28˚C for 14 days before resting on its lees for 16 days. It was subsequently aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, with 15% of the barrels being first-use and the remainder second- and third-use.

The 2023 vintage in Argentina was defined by multiple frosts, which greatly reduced yields in most parts of the country. However, higher-elevation sites with natural slopes fared better as the cold air moved to lower areas. Spring eventually turned warm and dry, leading to the hottest Argentine summer since 1961 and historic drought conditions. With lighter fruit loads, the grapes ripened more quickly than average, resulting in an earlier harvest. Despite the heat and drought, the low yields concentrated flavours, while the dry conditions kept disease at bay. From a vintage with high expectations for red wines from high-altitude vineyards, let's see how this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Uco Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION SAN PABLO VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#403345) (XD) - $20.95
The medium-high intensity nose offers ripe black fruits, blackberry, black plum, and cedar oak aromas followed hints of black currant, cassis, and grilled herbs. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate has delicious, ripe black fruits, black currant, blackberry, black plum, and oak spice flavours, along with touches of graphite, and grilled herbs. It has clean, fresh acidity, alongside finely textured and firm tannins with good structure that will benefit from a few years in the cellar. It's well-balanced throughout with black currant, cassis, and cedar oak notes, plus hints of graphite lingering on the long, slightly youthful finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

The aforementioned Malbec is available at the LCBO, along with another Malbec, while the full range of Fincas Patagónicas wines can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.

Domaine Welty Bélénus Gewürztraminer 2023 (Alsace) - Wine Review

2026-09-12T17:40:23.291-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a beautiful, organic, and off-dry Gewürztraminer from Alsace that made its debut at the LCBO last month. It arrived as part of the feature on Great Wines for Takeout Nights in the August 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and would be ideal for pairing with spicy dishes such as Thai or Indian curries.

It is produced by Domaine Welty, a small, family-run winery situated in the commune of Orschwihr in southern Alsace, at the foot of the Bollenberg hill. The family's story began when M. Welty planted her first vines in 1738 on the dry and arid hills of the Bollenberg. Eight generations later, the Welty family continues with the same faith and passion, with a beautiful family history that binds them strongly to the land, vineyard, and wine.

The modern era of Domaine Welty began in 1984, when Jean-Michel took over management of the estate from his father, Fernand. As the seventh generation of the family, Jean-Michel gradually doubled the vineyard size to what is now 14 hectares of vines. In 2012, Jean-Michel was joined by his son, Jérémy, who represented the eighth generation of the family and brought a wind of freshness to the domaine, including new ideas and cultivation techniques – specifically organic agriculture. In 2018, the domaine received its Organic Farming certification, while Jérémy also took over winemaking responsibilities. In 2021, Jérémy took over the domaine from his father.

Since the beginning, the Welty family's daily work has been guided by their conviction that nature will give them what they have given it. Every day they apply with passion and fervor the principles of organic farming, observing the virtues that it generates in the vineyard. Additionally, by cultivating their vines organically, they have gained a better understanding of the vineyard. They have also begun implementing new processes, in particular developing decoctions in order to carry out homeopathic vine treatments. Today, the philosophy at Domaine Welty has evolved strongly in order to listen to nature, respect it, understand it, and seek balance. This allows the family to produce the most natural wines possible, along with the purest expression of their terroir.

Domaine Welty has several ranges of wines, with this particular wine coming from their "Blancs de Terroir" range, a group of terroir-driven white wines. It is crafted using 100% Gewürztraminer that was organically grown on clay-limestone soils. The name Bélénus is associated with the Bollenberg hill near the domaine's vineyards. Belenus (or Belenos) was an ancient Celtic deity whose name is generally associated with brightness, light, and the sun, making the name a fitting reference to the dry Bollenberg hill and its excellent exposure to the sun.

To craft this Gewürztraminer, the grapes were hand-harvested and placed in small crates. Upon arriving at the winery, the whole grapes were direct-pressed using a pneumatic press, and then fermented using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature. It was matured on fine lees until bottling.

The growing season in Alsace in 2023 began with a dry and mild winter, followed by a cool and wet March, which pushed budburst beyond the reach of early April frosts. While April remained wet and cool, May brought summer warmth, particularly towards the end of the month, followed by flowering and significant heat during the first two weeks of June. Gewürztraminer fared well in the weather conditions as July remained warm and dry, however, drought was becoming problematic. The end of July and early August was cooler and wetter, while dry heat arrived towards the end of the month. Due to the dry conditions, phenolic maturity was unusually ahead of sugar maturity, which resulted in harvest taking place a little bit later than anticipated. From another excellent vintage (8th out of the last 9 years), let's see how this 2023 Gewürztraminer from Alsace is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE WELTY BÉLÉNUS GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2023 - AOC Alsace, France (#49863) (M) - $25.95
This organic Gewürztraminer from Alsace has a lovely, intense, medium-high to highly aromatic nose with perfumed aromas of lychee, rose floral, yellow fruit, and citrus with touches of spice. The rich, weighty, medium-full bodied palate has very good concentration with lovely lychee, rose floral, citrus, yellow fruit, and spice replays in an off-dry flavour profile. It's framed by fresh, lively acidity that tempers the sweetness. Clean and well-balanced throughout with leesy, mineral, and spice notes lingering on the long, savoury, and textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

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

La Nerthe Les Cassagnes Côtes-du-Rhône Villages 2023 (France) - Wine Review

2026-09-09T17:43:47.034-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, organic GSM blend from the Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation of the Southern Rhône Valley. It arrived at the LCBO in the August 15th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and was featured as a Great Wine for Takeout Night, ideally paired with takeout burgers.

It is produced by Domaines Richard, a winemaking family passionate about wine since 1892. The Richard family's expertise has been passed down through the generations and is rooted in the constant pursuit of perfection from vine to glass. Since 1960, the Richard family has drawn inspiration from the major wine regions of the Rhône Valley, Bordeaux, and Beaujolais to craft wines with many expressions that reflect the richness and diversity of their grape varieties.

In 1985, Domaines Richard acquired Château La Nerthe, a historic and renowned estate situated in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In 1994, Domaine de la Renjarde was acquired and would go on to become Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe, just 15 km north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards of Les Cassagnes are situated in the named village appellation of Massif d'Uchaux, and are composed of three terraces, the highest of which overlaps with the surrounding Mediterranean forest, while garrigue (thyme, rosemary, laurels, evergreen oaks, olive trees, and genista) is found everywhere.

The Les Cassagnes vineyards are made up of 50 hectares in Sérignan-du-Comtat, along with another 20 hectares in Mondragon that were acquired a short time ago. While these two vineyards share proximity and similarities, they are also complementary. The historic vineyard in Sérignan-du-Comtat is situated at the level of the Rhône River, only 70 metres above sea level, while the newly integrated plots in Mondragon are about 200 metres above sea level. In Sérignan-du-Comtat, the vineyard is a succession of large terraces, while in Mondragon it is a mosaic of 38 small plots with their own micro-terroirs, separated by wooded patches. While both vineyards are rich in red sands and siliceous clay, the Mondragon plots seem richer in limestone, with many flat white stones visible on the surface. The vines also seem to be planted directly on rock, a somewhat rare occurrence in the Southern Rhône Valley.

The philosophy at Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe is focused on nature. With a commitment to preserving the environment, terroir, health of consumers, and the teams, the Les Cassagnes vineyard has been certified organic since 2013. In nature, the synergy between the sown plants and the soil microorganisms allows restructuring and enrichment of the soils, especially in organic matter, which is beneficial to the cultivation of the vine. The abundance of plants on the ground also provides a refuge for birds, small rodents, small herbivores, and insects, which promotes a balanced ecosystem and natural regulation of certain insect pests of the vine. By implementing forest hedges, they believe this will help with climate change, keep the plots cool, and protect them from hard-blowing winds. They have also started having sheep graze in the vineyards.

This red wine is crafted using a blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre, and 1% other varieties. The grapes were grown organically at La Nerthe's "Les Cassagnes" vineyards within the communes of Sérignan-du-Comtat and Mondragon. The vineyards are planted at altitudes up to 182 metres above sea level, featuring multiple microclimates and soils composed of poor sand, clay, and calcareous rocks that provide natural filtration. The name Les Cassagnes means oak trees and refers to the green oak forest that surrounds the vineyards.

To vinify this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were lightly crushed, with several daily pump-overs, to gently extract colour and tannins. The three main varieties were co-fermented over a long maceration of 3–4 weeks. After fermentation, the final blend was aged on fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 12 months before bottling.

In 2023, the growing season in the Southern Rhône began with a dry and windy winter with episodes of Mistral winds, followed by a wet spring with rain that provided the water needed for the growing period. While summer temperatures were hot, water stress was not critical and there was no disease in the vineyards. A final strong heatwave led to harvest beginning at the end of August and ending at the beginning of October, with the end results being generous red grapes that produced lovely, balanced wines. From a good vintage for vines grown on clay soils beneath rolled pebbles in the Southern Rhône, let's see how the 2023 Côtes du Rhône-Villages red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA NERTHE LES CASSAGNES CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE VILLAGES 2023 - AOP, France (#494674) (XD) - $27.95
Organic blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre, and 1% other varieties. Elegant, gently perfumed aromas of medium-high intensity rise out of the glass with black raspberry, garrigue, strawberry, cherry, and peppery spice aromas flecked with stony minerals and scorched earth. The mid-weighted, slighty warm palate is dry and ripe with lovely black raspberry, garrigue, plum, cherry, strawberry, peppery spice, stony mineral, and earthy flavours in a complex profile. Acids are well-balanced, while the smooth, refined tannins have a somewhat creamy mouthfeel that leads to a supple, fine-grained, and gently chalky textured back palate. Red berry, garrigue, and peppery spice notes taper to stony mineral and savoury earth on the long, balanced, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Extremely limited quantities of other fantastic wines by Château La Nerthe are available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.

Luis Felipe Edwards Cinso Reserva Cinsault 2024 (Chile) - Wine Review

2026-09-07T17:38:16.041-04:00

Happy long weekend! Tonight's red wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly, and unoaked Cinsault from the Itata Valley in Chile that made its debut at the LCBO in last month's August 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE), a major wine producer in Chile that makes premium wines with unique styles and characteristics. It was established in 1976 by Luis Felipe Edwards Sr. after he and his wife returned to Chile following some years in Europe. The couple was enamoured by an estate in Colchagua Valley that was for sale by a family friend and already had 60 hectares of vineyards, a small winemaking facility, and a historical country farmhouse. This estate was the foundation for what would become one of Chile's largest wineries, while also committing to maintaining their family heritage.

Over the years, Luis Felipe Edwards purchased more vineyard holdings and produced bulk wine, but in the 1990s, he recognized the quality of the wines being produced from his estate grapes and decided to bottle his wine and sell it under his own brand, using his own name as a seal of quality on each bottle.

In the 2000s, Luis Felipe Edwards Jr. took over the role of General Manager, while all director positions are held by members of the family. The focus was to preserve the quality of his wines while also diversifying the portfolio, which led to the exploration of new terroirs, most notably an estate in coastal Leyda Valley. Since 2010, LFE has grown exponentially by increasing vineyard plantings and winemaking and bottling capacities in order to keep up with growing demand, with a particular focus on premium wine grapes.

Today, LFE Wine Group is still family-owned and -managed. Their mission is to be the leading ambassador of Chilean wine across all categories, while also offering exceptional quality at the best value to wine drinkers worldwide. LFE is committed to innovation, sustainability, and biodiversity, while honouring their heritage in every bottle they produce.

LFE Wine Group has several estates and many brands and ranges of wines, and what makes them unique is their exclusive origin and the gentle care in which they are crafted, which gives them their distinctive personalities. All of the company's wines are produced at their Puquillay Estate in the Colchagua Valley and are vegan-friendly. This particular red wine is from LFE's Heritage range of wines. This Cinso and its companion Paí are fresh and unique wines crafted using grapes from small producers in Chile's Itata Valley. These Cinsault and País vines were planted on their own roots more than 30 and 80 years ago, respectively, and are head-trained and traditionally harvested by hand, giving rise to a pair of wines that are a true reflection of their terroir and the history of Chile.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Cinsault that was sourced from small growers located in various areas of the Itata Valley, about 500 km south of Santiago. The vineyards are situated at high altitude on gently rolling terrain approximately 30 km inland from the ocean, while the vines are more than 30 years old and are planted on their own roots, without rootstock. Vineyard work was carried out traditionally, with tillage on horseback and without machinery.

To vinify this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested during the first and third weeks of April, and different winemaking techniques were used to achieve the greatest expression of fruit. Maceration was carried out using both thermo-flash and traditional techniques. Some berries were destemmed, while others remained as whole clusters, and everything underwent a delicate crushing prior to alcoholic fermentation, which was carried out over 10 days with wild and native yeasts. The wine was then macerated for another 15 days on its skins, and was then aged on its fine lees and bottled unfiltered. It had no contact with wood, resulting in a wine of intense colour and spice notes, and a rustic character.

The 2024 growing season in southern Chile began with a wet winter and cool spring due to El Niño. However, this also meant that there were no summer heat spikes, which allowed for slow, even ripening and higher-than-usual acidity levels. Despite some challenges, quality expectations are high. Let's see how this 2024 Cinsault from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUIS FELIPE EDWARDS CINSO RESERVA CINSAULT 2024 - Vegan, Unfiltered, Unoaked, DO Valle del Itata, Chile (#51147) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. The medium+ to medium-high intensity has engaging aromas of peppery spice, dark red berry, wild berry, and dried herbs with savoury, underbrush, and earthy undertones. The dry, medium+ bodied palate has a nice, weighty mouthfeel with a fine mix of fruity-herbal-earthy notes with dark red berry, mild peppery spice, and earthy mineral flavours. Crisp, citrusy acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins have a slightly chalky textured grip, with good structure. Tangy wild berry and dried herbal notes taper to savoury earth and underbrush on the dusty textured finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

A couple of other wines by LFE Wine Group are available at the LCBO, while wines from the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Canada.

Bortoluzzi Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2024 (Italy) - Wine Review

2026-09-04T17:43:07.333-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Pinot Grigio from the delle Venezie DOC in northeastern Italy that returned to the LCBO in last month's August 15th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Bortoluzzi Wines, a family-owned winery that was established in 1982 by Giovanni Bortoluzzi, in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy. The family estate is situated at Borgo Tintor, within the comune of Gradisca d'Isonzo, in the far eastern part of Italy, close to the Slovenian border. Since its founding, the family's production philosophy has been based on the Latin motto "Ad Maiora", which means "towards greater things."

The Bortoluzzi family's passion for wine was handed down from one generation to the next. Giovanni worked in the wine industry as a consultant and bottler for many years before deciding to establish his own estate with his wife, Mireide. Today, the children of Giovanni and Mireide hold important roles in the family business, as Alberto is the Agricultural Expert and Vineyard Manager, Angela is Administration and Marketing Manager, and Alessio is Sales Director and Cellar Manager.

Together, they tend to their lands and vineyards which are treated like gardens. The Bortoluzzi vineyards are divided between the hills and plains, in the prestigious DOC wine regions of Collio and Isonzo, within Friuli Venezia Giulia. They pay great attention to detail, ranging from the extraordinary order of their rows to everyday work at the winery. While firmly believing that sensitivity is fundamental to creating excellent wines, their ability to listen to the land and perceive subtle changes in the vineyard allows Bortoluzzi to understand their terroir, adapt, and improve, which is at the heart of their wine production.

As good wine is made in the vineyard, sustainability is an indelible imprint that permeates every aspect of the Bortoluzzi family's daily lives. In order to make progress, it is essential to look to the future without forgetting the valuable lessons imparted by history and experience. They have great respect for the rhythms of nature as the vineyards are the beating heart of the winery, and their commitment to sustainability begins with the meticulous care of the rows of vines.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Pinot Grigio that was grown on the outskirts of the comune of Gradisca d'Isonzo, right on what in Roman times was the important Via Gemina. Half of the grapes come from 50 hectares of vineyards surrounding Bortoluzzi's Borgo Tintor estate, while the remainder comes from the prestigious DOCs of Collio and Isonzo. To craft this wine, all the grapes were hand-harvested and gently pressed whole. After being cold-decanted, the must was fermented at a controlled temperature of 17°C in stainless steel tanks for 6 months.

The growing season in 2024 in delle Venezie began with abundant spring rains, with different frequency and intensity depending on the area, followed by a sharp increase in temperatures, which improved the situation. With proper management in the vineyard, the result was healthy and quality grapes. Let's see how this 2024 Pinot Grigio from DOC delle Venezie is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BORTOLUZZI PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2024 - DOC, Italy (#27621) (XD) - $23.95
The lifted, medium-high intensity nose offers fresh spring flowers, lemon citrus, apple, pear, and garden herb aromas with hints of honey blossom emerging with time in the glass. On the dry, medium-bodied, and textured palate it is ripe with lemon citrus, honey blossom, floral, apple, and pear replays joined by spice and leesy mineral flavours. It's supported by clean and fresh acidity, while citrus, apple, and pear flavours taper to leesy minerals and gentle pithy notes on the long, textured finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Bortoluzzi can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.

August 29, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Book Club Wines

2026-09-02T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the August 29, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where “Book Club” is the title and main theme of the release. With 92 products offered, this is on the smaller side of the spectrum. There are 40 red wines in the release, along with just 26 white wines, while sparkling wines and rosé make up much of the remainder. The average price per bottle comes in at just under $25. Overall, it is a good release, with all but one of my recommendations priced below $40, and everything should be readily available for purchase both online and in stores at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We’ll begin with the feature story titled “Book Club – Thoughtful Wine and Literary Pairings,” which includes seventeen wines that are perfect pairings for book lovers. Since my picks are focused on the wines themselves, only a couple of wines from the feature are included among my recommendations. One is a blend of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache from Australia, while the other is a Malbec from Argentina.

Among my top red wine picks, we’ll go local first with a pair of blends from Niagara. The wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake is composed of 53% Cabernet Franc and 47% Merlot, while the wine from Leaning Post is 47% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Syrah. Other blends include the Roussillon red, which is composed of approximately 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% Carignan, as well as the Chianti Classico, which is composed primarily of Sangiovese (90%), with Canaiolo and Colorino completing the blend. Among the mono-varietal reds, there is a Barolo crafted with Nebbiolo, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese. The remaining mono-varietal reds are a Gamay from Beaujolais, a Pinot Noir from South Africa, and a pair of Cabernet Sauvignons—one each from Argentina and South Africa.

The only blend among my top white wine recommendations is the Rhône wine, which is crafted with 70% Grenache Blanc, 15% Clairette, 10% Viognier, and 5% Roussanne. Chardonnay is particularly well represented in this release, with four recommendations—one each from Niagara, Prince Edward County, Chile, and New Zealand. There are also a pair of Sauvignon Blancs, one each from the Loire and New Zealand. Rounding out the selection are a fine Malagouzia from Greece, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and a Graševina from Croatia.

The remaining recommendations are in other styles, rather than red or white wines, and are all blends. At the top of the list is a Champagne crafted with 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir, while the Cava is approximately 40% Xarel·lo, 40% Parellada, and 20% Macabeu. Both of the rosé recommendations are from Provence and are dry in style, with the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, while the Côtes de Provence is crafted with 46% Cinsault, 34% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 2% Rolle, and 2% Sémillon.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CAP MARITIME COASTAL PINOT NOIR 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, WO Cape South Coast, South Africa (#51626) (XD) - $19.95
ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SPLITTING HARES TEMPRANILLO/GRENACHE 2022 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#30847) (XD) - $19.95
RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#443374) (XD) - $19.95
CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2022 - AOP, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION SAN PABLO VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#403345) (XD) - $20.95 90 pts wine review
MANOS NEGRAS STONE SOIL MALBEC 2023 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#482109) (XD) - $22.95

CHÂTEAU DES TOURS BROUILLY 2024 - AOC, Beaujolais, France (#637835) (XD) - $23.95
CARPINETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#356048) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
NOMAD WANDERLUST 2022 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#451328) (XD) - $25.95
LEANING POST CUVÉE WINONA 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#32020) (XD) - $28.95
BORGO SCOPETO VIGNA MISCIANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36331) (XD) - $35.95 91 pts wine review
SAN SILVESTRO PATRES BAROLO 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#377986) (XD) - $37.95 91+ pts wine review

White Wine:

BISQUERTT LA JOYA GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2024 - Sustainable, Valle Central, Chile (#48241) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
TOI TOI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#454785) (XD) - $18.95
BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE VILLAGES BLANC 2024 - AOC, France (#644385) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
KUTJEVO GRASEVINA 2025 - Slavonia, Croatia (#519074) (XD) - $19.95
BADENHORST SECATEURS CHENIN BLANC 2025 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#37537) (XD) - $19.95
ALPHA ESTATE TURTLES SINGLE VINEYARD MALAGOUZIA 2025 - Vegan, PGI Florina, Greece (#32161) (XD) - $21.95 91 pts wine review
LOVEBLOCK CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#50255) (XD) - $29.95
CHATELAIN HARMONIE POUILLY-FUMÉ 2024 - Sustainable, AOC, Loire, France (#50130) (XD) - $30.95
HUFF CATHARINE'S CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#88955) (XD) - $34.00 91 pts wine review
FEROX SILVER LION COLLECTION CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#53054) (XD) - $35.00

Rosé Wine:

CHÂTEAU LA TOUR DE L'ÉVÊQUE ROSÉ 2025 - AOC Côtes de Provence, France (#319392) (XD) - $20.95
AIX ROSÉ 2025 - AOP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

PERE VENTURA PRIMER ORGANIC RESERVA BRUT CAVA 2023 - Traditional Method, DO Cava, Spain (#51587) (D) - $20.95
ESTERLIN BRUT ÉCLAT CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#49321) (XD) - $64.95

Fortified Wine:

BARBEITO 5-YEAR-OLD RAINWATER RESERVA MEDIUM DRY MADEIRA - DOP, Portugal (#51850, 500 mL) (MS) - $18.95

Mega Spileo Assyrtiko 2024 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-09-01T17:40:46.244-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Assyrtiko from Greece that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the August 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It was included as part of the feature on "Great Wines for Takeout Night" and, per the magazine, is recommended for pairing with aromatic and mildly spiced dishes.

It is produced by Mega Spileo Estate, a winery with deep historical roots connected to the historic Mega Spileo Monastery. The monastery's origins date back to 362 A.D., when it was established by two brothers, Symeon and Theodore, who were also monks. Situated near the town of Kalavryta in the Achaea region of the northern Peloponnese, Mega Spileo holds a special place in Greek Orthodox tradition and history.

Vine cultivation was introduced to the lands surrounding the monastery around the mid-15th century, with the grapes used by the monks to produce wine for both Holy Communion and as a nutritious dietary supplement. A massive barrel called "Angelis" was acquired during this period and was used to store 12 tonnes of wine. Remarkably, the barrel still survives to this day.

In 1999, Mega Spileo turned a new chapter when brothers Giannis and Theodoros Anastasiou received a long-term lease on the Estate from the Monastery, with a vision to revitalize the historic vineyard. Working with a team of experienced oenologists and wine producers, they re-planted the vines and implemented best practices in the vineyard and winery, including environmental protection and sustainable agricultural techniques.

Today, the modern winery of Mega Spileo Estate resides only a few minutes from the historic monastery, within the UNESCO Chelmos-Vouraikos Global Geopark, which covers an area of 647 sq. km. The area surrounding the Estate features tall mountains, plateaus, sheer gorges, ancient trees, wild herbs, flowers, and cool breezes, all of which come together to create a unique microclimate that is ideal for grape cultivation. By focusing on high-quality grapes and careful winemaking, Mega Spileo has become an important reference point in Greek wine production and, more recently, a destination for wine tourism.

Like the 2023 Mega Spileo Assyrtiko I enjoyed last year, this white wine is crafted with 100% Assyrtiko grown in the mountain vineyards of Aigialeia and Kalavryta, at a relatively high elevation of more than 700 metres above sea level. Classified as PGI Achaia, the grapes were grown in an area situated between the Ionian Sea to the west and the Patras and Corinthian Gulfs to the north, along the northwestern coast of the Peloponnese.

For vinification, the grapes were harvested in late September, followed by static racking of the grape must after 48 hours. The wine underwent alcoholic fermentation with selected yeasts at low temperatures, followed by three months of lees contact in stainless steel tanks. To add further complexity and texture, one-third of the wine was then matured in oak barrels for an additional three months.

In 2024, the growing season in Greece was marked by one of the warmest years on record, requiring careful vineyard management and precise harvest timing. While yields were lower than average, quality was exceptional, with the resulting wines described as highly gastronomic. Let's see how this 2024 Assyrtiko from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MEGA SPILEO ASSYRTIKO 2024 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#31680) (XD) - $24.95
Clean and elegant, the medium-high intensity nose has lovely floral, white citrus, pear, apple, stone fruit, and ripe grapefruit aromas nuanced with hints of leesy mineral and vanilla notes. The medium-bodied bodied palate is dry and gently honeyed with delicious ripe citrus, grapefruit, pear, apple, leesy mineral, and spice flavours accented with floral and vanilla. Tangy on the mid-palate with crisp and refreshing acidity. Nicely textured with good structure throughout. Pear, apple, and citrus notes taper to savoury, leesy minerals on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Several wines by Mega Spileo are available at the LCBO, including at Destination Collection stores, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2023 (France) - Wine Review

2026-08-30T17:39:29.947-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Côtes du Rhône blend of Grenache and Syrah that arrived at the LCBO at the beginning of the month in the August 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Xavier Vins, a Rhône wine producer that was established in the late 20th century by Xavier Vignon, a renowned and pioneering Rhône oenologist. Xavier caught the wine bug after a chance encounter with an oenologist while studying in the faculty of pharmacy in the Champagne capital of Reims. This led to Xavier gaining valuable experience at several Champagne houses and marked the beginning of his journey into wine. In 2002, Xavier Vignon began making and marketing his own wines under the name Xavier Vins.

The philosophy at Xavier Vins is based on a creative approach that is original, unusual, and daring. Having spent time in both Champagne and Bordeaux, Xavier developed strong values around the freedom of blending and the notion of beginning with an idea before embarking upon the creation of a wine. Naturally, each year will be different and a source of surprise. The combination of different grape varieties in a blend can impart complexity while also enhancing the expression of terroir. To create a faithful expression of wine, Xavier works with a wide range of ingredients, including grapes, terroirs, parcels, exposures, altitudes, vintages, wooden vessels, and stainless-steel vessels. With his in-depth knowledge of each and every part of the Rhône Valley, Xavier uses this knowledge to select the soil, parcel, and varietal combinations needed to create a loyal and harmonious wine.

Xavier believes that wines are always the result of contrary or complementary unions, and that bringing together these different entities can give the best possible result. Therefore, each cuvée is a unique experience and an expression of a vintage, varietal, or terroir. The wines of Xavier Vignon are a source of emotion, guided by the pleasure of sharing, and an invitation not only to dream but also to better understand the landscapes of the Rhône Valley, which he holds so close to his heart. Xavier strives to capture this little part of the southern Rhône in the bottle, encapsulating its aromas, colours, and textures, with the ultimate aim of making people happy!

I last enjoyed the 2020 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône nearly four years ago, when it was a blend of primarily Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. This vintage is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, elaborated from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years of age, and the wine is from Xavier Vins' "The Originals" collection. The grapes were selected from more than 250 parcels, mainly located in the southern Rhône, from a diverse range of terroirs consisting of clay, pebbles, limestone, and sandy soils. To craft this wine, the grapes were manually harvested, with harvest dates determined by daily berry tasting. It was fermented at moderate temperatures to favour gentle diffusion of aromatic compounds. 80% of the blend underwent a short period of ageing in concrete vats to enhance the aromas, while the remainder was aged in wooden truncated-cone vats.

The growing season in 2023 began with a very dry start from January to March, which resulted in a relatively late budburst in early April, while the Mistral winds blew frequently during the period between budburst and flowering—precisely when growers would have preferred calmer conditions. Welcoming rains fell in May and June, followed by a warm and arid summer, which climaxed at 43°C in late August and led to some grapes suffering from sunburn and maturation issues. However, rainfall at the end of August allowed the vines to recover and the grapes to resume ripening. In September, the weather cooled with substantial diurnal temperature variation, which helped retain aromatics and acidity, while harvest took place during an Indian summer and continued into mid-October for the red varieties. Coming from a good vintage for vines grown on clay soils beneath rolled pebbles in the southern Rhône, let's see how the 2023 Côtes du Rhône red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 - AOP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95
A 70/30 blend of Grenache and Syrah from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years old. This has a lovely, fragrant, medium-high intensity nose of both black & red fruits, white pepper spice, black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, plum, and savoury herb aromas with meaty undertones and touches of scorched earth and stony mineral in a complex profile. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, meaty, peppery spice, savoury herbs, scorched earth, and mineral flavours supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Smooth, supple, and elegant tannins have a very gentle grip on the back palate. Savoury herbs with black raspberry, scorched earth, and mineral notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4–5 years! Score: 90 pts

A few wines by Xavier Vignon are available in various quantities, while the full range be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Beronia Rueda Verdejo 2025 (Spain) - Wine Review

2026-08-26T17:35:12.604-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, unoaked Verdejo from Rueda, Spain, that was included as part of the feature on wines "Beyond Chardonnay" in the June 20th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, with plenty of inventory available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Beronia, a bodega that was established in La Rioja, Spain, in 1973 by a group of friends that were united in their love of gastronomy and had a mission to create great wines to complement their culinary creations. Situated in the Rioja Alta village of Ollauri, within a landscape shaped by the River Ebro and the Cantabrian Mountains, the winery is rooted in the region and pays tribute to the Celtic tribe — Los Berones — who inhabited the region in 3rd Century B.C. In 1982, Beronia joined González Byass, a large, family-owned Spanish wine group.

In 2017, Beronia expanded into Rueda and created a winery solely for the production of Verdejo, a Spanish variety whose home is in Rueda. Today, they have 65 hectares of vines in Rueda, all dedicated to the production of their award-winning Verdejo wines. The stony, alluvial, and free-draining soils are rich in minerals, encouraging the vines to work hard for water and resulting in wines that are rich, aromatic, and flavourful.

Both wineries were specifically created for optimal sustainable production. Everything from the design and materials of the buildings to the technological innovations inside has been developed to promote maximum efficiency and minimal impact on the environment. They strive for the perfect balance between honouring local traditions while using advanced, modern practices to make the very best wines that their land can produce.

To craft this 100% Verdejo, the grapes were mechanically harvested at night to maintain fruit freshness and prevent oxidation through expedited processing. The grapes were gently pressed in an inert atmosphere to minimize browning in the must, while separation of musts was also performed based on their quality. It was fermented in both stainless steel and concrete tanks with selected yeasts at a controlled-temperature of between 14–17ºC for 10–15 days. Fermenting in stainless steel provides for absolute control over temperature and fermentation speed, and results in wines with clean, complex, and intense aromas. Fermentation in concrete promotes wine contact with lees, along with the vessel's porosity (micro-oxygenation) that helps achieve wines with a great mouthfeel. After ageing on its lees for 2 to 3 months, with weekly stirrings, the wines were clarified, filtered, blended, and bottled.

To craft this 100% Verdejo, the grapes were mechanically harvested at night to maintain fruit freshness and prevent oxidation through expedited processing. The grapes were gently pressed in an inert atmosphere to minimize browning in the must, while separation of musts was also performed based on their quality. It was fermented in both stainless steel and concrete tanks with selected yeasts at a controlled temperature of between 14–17ºC for 10–15 days. Fermenting in stainless steel provides precise control over temperature and fermentation speed, resulting in wines with clean, complex, and intense aromas. Fermentation in concrete promotes greater lees contact, while the vessel's porosity allows gentle micro-oxygenation that helps achieve wines with a great mouthfeel. After ageing on its lees for 2 to 3 months, with weekly stirrings, the wines were clarified, filtered, blended, and bottled.

One of the most distinctive features of this wine is Beronia's ability to preserve a portion of the freshly pressed must in cold storage and delay its alcoholic fermentation until the following spring. This allows the winery to produce freshly fermented Verdejo well beyond the normal harvest period, helping to preserve the wine's vibrant freshness and intense varietal aromas.

In 2025, the growing season across Spain was almost unanimously declared as "exceptional". One of the main factors that influenced the vintage was the return of rainfall, after several years of severe drought conditions. This helped the vineyards recover, but also led to mildew pressure after the spring rains. Heat waves in June and August caused a reduction in yields, but did not compromise quality. In DO Rueda, slow and homogeneous ripening led to grapes with excellent alcohol levels, balanced acidity, and intense varietal aromas, especially in the region's signature grape — Verdejo. From an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2025 Verdejo from Rueda is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BERONIA RUEDA VERDEJO 2025 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#461327) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Clean, medium to medium-high intensity nose is fresh and gently spicy with ripe lemon citrus, golden apple, pear, saline, and leesy mineral aromas, plus touches of white floral and herbs. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it is refreshingly vibrant with lively acidity lifting the delicious lemon citrus, golden apple, pear, saline, leesy mineral, spice, and herbal flavours with an underlying savoury earth note. It has a lovely, textured mouthfeel throughout with lemon, apple, saline, and mineral notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Quite a few wines by Beronia are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Woodman Wines & Spirits.

Featherstone Blanc de Noirs 2023 and Reserve Stone & Vine 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

2026-08-22T17:47:08.209-04:00

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, premium wines that were just released by Featherstone Estate Winery. Both of these wines are only available direct through the winery in Niagara, including their online shop.

Featherstone is an award-winning and eco-friendly winery situated in the prestigious Twenty Mile Bench appellation in Niagara. It was established in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, David Johnson. In February 2024, in the midst of its 25th anniversary, Featherstone underwent a transformative change in ownership and is now owned by philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal.

The history of the Featherstone vineyard began in the 1970s when the first vines were planted. The grapes were sold to a large wine conglomerate until 1999, when the first Featherstone wines were made. Featherstone has thriving Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc vines planted in 1986, as well as Riesling vines dating to 1978, which are among the oldest Riesling vines in Niagara. Situated in Vineland, Ontario, Featherstone has 23 acres of rolling hills on the prestigious upper Twenty Mile Bench along the Niagara Escarpment in the Twenty Valley wine region of Niagara.

Since 1999, Featherstone has distinguished itself through insecticide-free and eco-friendly farming practices. The winery continues to farm naturally and without the use of insecticides while embracing sustainable winegrowing practices. It encourages biodiversity in an environment that is healthy and completely unique, believing that this individuality translates into its wines. In 2023, Featherstone received its Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification, assuring wine drinkers that the complete grape-to-glass cycle is sustainable.

The winemaking philosophy at Featherstone is based on the scientific and intuitive processes involved in grape growing and winemaking. The winery crafts wines that reflect both the character of the grapes and the artistry of the winemaker. Kevin Qin, who joined the Featherstone family in 2014, is the vineyard manager and head winemaker at Featherstone. He works throughout the growing season to enhance the grapes' natural attributes, ensuring that at harvest he can create exceptional, artisanally crafted wines with minimal winemaking embellishments. The team philosophy at Featherstone is based on the belief that a healthy team creates a healthy winery — investing in their people is just as important as investing in their vineyards. The winery also values work-life balance, provides a supportive workplace culture, and pays a living wage.

In 2023, the growing season in Niagara ended up being a very good one thanks to a warm, dry autumn, which provided relief from the wet, dreary, and smoke-filled summer. The extended growing season in Niagara contributed to the development of phenolic ripeness, concentrated flavours and complexity, along with ripe tannic structure, finesse, and juicy acidity. Let's see how these two wines from the 2023 vintage in Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

FEATHERSTONE BLANC DE NOIRS 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Traditional Method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $34.95
100% Pinot Noir grown on heavy clay soil. Grapes were hand-picked in early September, sorted, and whole-cluster pressed. Primary fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, with the wine remaining in tank until the beginning of February, after which it underwent tirage and was held on its lees for 24 months before disgorging. The medium-high intensity nose is toasty with strawberry, raspberry, and cherry aromas nuanced with citrus blossom, and leesy notes, plus touches of autolytic and reductive characters. The mid-weighted palate is dry and tangy with a delicious mix of citrus, strawberry, raspberry, red berry, mandarin, and toasty flavours supported by fresh and vibrant acidity, alongside crisp and refreshing bubbles. The mid-palate has a slightly creamy mouthfeel, while tangy citrus and red berry notes continue on the back palate, eventually joined by savoury, leesy notes on the long, crisp finish. This recommended buy is enjoyable now, but will reward ageing and should continue to drink well over the next 5-7 years. Score: 91 pts

FEATHERSTONE RESERVE STONE & VINE 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Ontario, Canada (XD) - $45.95
Blend of equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon that were harvested over fifteen days beginning Oct. 26. Each component was individually fermented in their climate-controlled cellar, and included undergoing 100% malolactic fermentation. The Merlot was fermented and aged in French oak barrels, while the Cabernets were fermented and aged in American oak. The best individual barrels of each varietal were hand selected and then blended. Rich, concentrated, medium-high intensity nose features ripe dark berry fruit and fine oak spice aromas of blackberry, black plum, black currant, dark cherry, sandalwood, and wet earth with a slightly reductive character. The medium to medium-full bodied palate is dry and ripe with lovely, tangy dark fruited, black plum, blackberry, black currant, tobacco, sandalwood, oak spice, dried spice flavours, plus some mocha notes. It's framed by crisp and juicy acidity, alongside elegant tannins that are supple with a gently grippy mouthfeel. Tangy dark berry notes taper to savoury earth and mocha on the long, well-balanced finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 91 pts

August 15, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Takeout Wines + Austria

2026-08-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the August 15, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where “Great Wines for Takeout Night” is the feature story, while the mini-theme focuses on wines from Austria. This is a fairly large release, with nearly 115 products offered, including another fine selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. As might be expected, the average price per bottle is higher than in the previous release, coming in at almost $29. Overall, this is a fine release with many lovely wines, and a particularly high number of OFEs among my top wine picks. Everything should be readily available for purchase at the LCBO, both online and in stores.

We’ll begin with the feature story, "Great Wines for Takeout Night," which includes eighteen wines, eight of which are among my top recommended buys for takeout night. While I'm not sure I like all of the pairing suggestions in the catalogue, the wines themselves are quite versatile and should pair well with a wide range of cuisines. It is also worth reading the tidbits of information throughout the feature, as they provide useful tips for pairing wine with different types of food. Sparkling wine is arguably the most versatile of all, and this release includes a unique Blanc de Noirs from Bordeaux made with Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Among the dry whites are Assyrtiko from Achaia in Greece and Encruzado from Portugal, while sweeter wines such as the Gewürztraminer from Alsace are well suited to spicy cuisine. The three red wine recommendations include a Côtes-du-Rhône Villages composed of 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre, and 1% other varieties; a Brunello di Montalcino made from 100% Sangiovese; and a Rioja made from 100% Tempranillo. Finally, the sweet Oloroso Sherry should be a lovely way to finish the meal with dessert.

While none of the four Austrian Grüner Veltliner wines are included in my list of wine picks below, it would be a wonderful opportunity for the curious wine lover to taste all four side-by-side and compare their differences. I’m sure each one will be delightful!

At the top of my red wine picks is an excellent Amarone crafted from 40% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, and 20% Rondinella. France contributes a trio of blends, including a Madiran made with Tannat, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon; a Roussillon red crafted with Grenache and Syrah; and a Minervois composed of Syrah and Grenache that was raised entirely in concrete and stainless steel. Other red blends include a Portuguese red composed of Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Alicante Bouschet, as well as a Niagara red made from 57.1% Cabernet Franc and 42.9% Merlot. The mono-varietal reds include a Barolo crafted from Nebbiolo, a Naoussa made from Xinomavro, and an unoaked Cinsault from Chile.

My top white wine recommendations begin in the OFE section, where there are five picks. The white from South Africa is a blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, 11% Clairette Blanche, 8% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc, and 5% Sémillon Gris, while the Greek white from Macedonia is composed of equal parts Assyrtiko and Malagousia. The mono-varietal OFEs include an Assyrtiko from Santorini, a Chardonnay from Niagara, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Central Otago in New Zealand. Italy also has three white wine recommendations: a Grillo from Sicily, a Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli, and a Pinot Grigio from Venezie. Rounding out the selection are a Chardonnay from McLaren Vale and a Verdejo from Rueda.

Among my top rosé picks in this release, the rosé from Provence is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 5% Syrah, while the Tavel is more than likely a blend of several varieties, similar to their estate rosé.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CASA SANTOS LIMA COLOSSAL RESERVA 2021 - Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#548867) (XD) - $15.95 89 pts wine review
LUIS FELIPE EDWARDS CINSO RESERVA CINSAULT 2024 - Vegan, Unfiltered, Unoaked, DO Valle del Itata, Chile (#51147) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
FEATHERSTONE GEMSTONE 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#46055) (XD) - $17.95 88 pts wine review
FORTANT GRANDS TERROIRS MINERVOIS 2023 - AOC, Languedoc, France (#20713) (XD) - $18.95
BURGO VIEJO RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#168823) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
PLAIMONT GÉOGLYPHE GRAND VIN 2019 - AOC Madiran, Southwest, France (#38859) (XD) - $20.95

LAFAGE NARASSA 2023 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#483313) (D) - $24.95
LA NERTHE LES CASSAGNES CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE VILLAGES 2023 - AOP, France (#494674) (XD) - $27.95 91+ pts wine review
APOSTOLOS THYMIOPOULOS NAOUSSA 2022 - PDO, Greece (#49582) (XD) - $27.95
QUERCECCHIO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#438580) (XD) - $40.95 91 pts wine review
FUMANELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#475053) (XD) - $64.95 93+ pts wine review
CASCINA SÒT BAROLO DI MONFORTE D'ALBA 2020 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#51591) (XD) - $64.95 OFE

White Wine:

MONTESPINA SOBRE LÍAS VERDEJO 2025 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#40788) (XD) - $16.95
SISTER'S RUN SUNDAY SLIPPERS CHARDONNAY 2024 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#50154) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
ATTEMS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - IGT Venezia Giulia, Firuli, Italy (#708073) (XD) - $19.95
PLANETA LA SEGRETA GRILLO 2024 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#39442) (XD) - $19.95
MEIA SERRA DÃO ENCRUZADO 2023 - Sustainable, DOC, Portugal (#51404) (XD) - $19.95
BORTOLUZZI PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2024 - DOC, Italy (#27621) (XD) - $23.95 89 pts wine review

MEGA SPILEO ASSYRTIKO 2024 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#31680) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review
KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU WHITE 2024 - Vegan, PGI Epanomi, Greece (#49573) (XD) - $24.95 OFE 91 pts wine review
DOMAINE WELTY BÉLÉNUS GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2023 - AOC Alsace, France (#49863) (M) - $25.95 91 pts wine review
TRIUS SHOWCASE WILD FERMENT WATCHING TREE CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#10053) (XD) - $34.95 OFE
PEREGRINE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (#32548) (XD) - $35.95 OFE
MULLINEUX OLD VINES WHITE 2025 - Unfiltered, WO Swartland, South Africa (#556597) (XD) - $39.95 OFE
ESTATE ARGYROS PURE SANTORINI ASSYRTIKO 2022 - Unfiltered, PDO Santorini, Greece (#51197) (XD) - $116.95 OFE

Rosé Wine:

VILLA AIX EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#668426) (XD) - $19.95
MARQUIS D'AQUERIA TAVEL 2025 - AOP, Rhône, France (#556274) (XD) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

CELENE AMÉTHYSTE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX - Traditional Method, AOP, France (#19031) (D) - $18.95 89 pts wine review

Fortified Wine:

GONZÁLEZ BYASS NUTTY SOLERA MEDIUM OLOROSO SHERRY - DO, Spain (#35204) (S) - $21.95

Umani Ronchi Vellodoro Pecorino 2025 (Abruzzo) - Wine Review

2026-08-17T17:41:50.365-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Pecorino from Abruzzo, Italy, that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the August 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Umani Ronchi, a highly respected and pioneering Italian wine producer. Umani Ronchi was established in 1957 by Gino Umani Ronchi in the comune of Cupramontana, in the heart of the Verdicchio Classico production zone of Marche in central Italy. A few years later, Gino formed a partnership with Roberto Bianchi and his son-in-law, Massimo Bernetti, who would eventually take over the company in 1968.

In Abruzzo, Umani Ronchi initially operated as a négociant in the 1990s in order to craft wines from the region. In 2001, they marked the beginning of a new venture by acquiring roughly 30 hectares of organic vineyards in Abruzzo. Situated between the Gran Sasso and Adriatic Sea, the estate would go on to become Tenuta Centovie estate at Roseto degli Abruzzi.

Michele Bernetti, son of Massimo, joined the company as General Sales Manager in 1990. With Michele at the helm, the Bianchi-Bernetti families own and manage over 210 hectares of vineyards across Marche and Abruzzo. The philosophy at Umani Ronchi is based on sustainability and green viticulture, with a strong ethical approach and deep respect for the environment and its biodiversity. These guiding principles are manifested through precision viticulture, vineyard management, and the use of organic fertilizers. They also use low-impact packaging, lightweight glass bottles, and photovoltaic energy, which covers about half of the winery's annual needs. Umani Ronchi is deeply committed and recognized for its ecological and sustainable values. The winery is also a proud and founding member of the Istituto del Vino di Qualità – Grandi Marchi, an organization established in 2004 that brought together 18 of Italian wine's most important families that are also shaping the future for generations to come.

This white wine is made from 100% Pecorino, a grape that in the past was used more often as a blending variety thanks to its highly concentrated aromas, good alcohol content, and wonderful acidity. In 2005, Umani Ronchi's Pecorino Project began with the goal of discovering and developing native Adriatic varieties, as well as strengthening the winery's position as a top wine producer in Abruzzo. Pecorino had almost disappeared from vineyards because its naturally low yields made it unpopular with growers, but it has since become widely planted in Abruzzo and neighbouring Marche. According to local tradition, the grape gets its name because sheep (pecora) are known to eat the grapes.

The grapes for this Pecorino were grown at Umani Ronchi's estate in Roseto degli Abruzzi in Teramo, overlooking the Gran Sasso mountain. The vines were tended with strict selection and careful vineyard management led by the winery's agronomic supervisors, especially in the northern part of Chieti. The soils are mainly clay that is sandy, deep and relatively fresh, while the climate provides a good thermal diurnal range that promotes elegance and aromatic complexity.

It is also worth noting that previous vintages of this wine, some of which I have tasted previously, bore the Terre di Chieti IGT classification, while this vintage bears the new Terre d'Abruzzo IGT appellation. The new regional designation consolidates the eight IGTs that previously existed across Abruzzo into a single, common regional identity, helping to promote a stronger image for wines from the region.

To craft this wine, the grapes were carefully hand-harvested in September to preserve acidity. After lightly pressing the grapes, the must was rapidly cooled and underwent static decantation. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 16–18°C for about 10–15 days, without undergoing malolactic fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was matured on its lees in stainless steel tanks for about four months.

The growing conditions in 2025 in Abruzzo began with a cool and rainy start to the season, which replenished water reserves following drought conditions in 2024. Summer was warm and sunny, allowing for proper ripening, while large diurnal temperature shifts in August and September helped preserve freshness and aromatic intensity. A temperate harvest period avoided heat stress, resulting in healthy fruit with full phenolic ripeness. It was a vintage that marked a return to balance and normality, producing exceptional grape quality. Let's see how this 2025 Pecorino from Abruzzo is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2025 - IGT Terre d'Abruzzo, Italy (#289553) (XD) - $17.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose has lovely, concentrated aromas of ripe lemon citrus, yellow & white flowers, apple, pear, and spice, with undertones of leesy minerals and herbs. On the dry, weighty, medium-full bodied palate it is impressively concentrated with dry, ripe, and gently honeyed flavours of spice, lemon citrus, apple, pear, leesy mineral, floral, and herbs in a complex profile. It has a slightly viscous mouthfeel, along with fresh and juicy acidity. Lemon citrus, apple, pear, and spice notes taper to leesy minerals on the crisp, lip-smacking, and long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

El Goru Gold Mad Hairy Fella Monastrell / Syrah / Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Spain) - Wine Review

2026-08-15T17:39:12.365-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious blend that is predominantly Monastrell (a.k.a. Mourvèdre), with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in support. This vegan-friendly wine arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago and was featured on the back cover of the recent August 1 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Ego Bodegas, a small, independently owned winery that was founded in 2011 by the husband-and-wife team of Santos Ortiz and Ioana Paunescu. Santos is Spanish, while Ioana is originally from Romania, and together they settled in the Jumilla wine region of southeastern Spain, not far from the historic centre of Jumilla. The project was born from their passion and determination to produce high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Jumilla.

Santos and Ioana fell in love with a spectacular farm in the elevated area of Hoya Torres in Jumilla, locally known as the carpenter's place. The property offered a naturally beautiful landscape surrounded by old vineyards planted to Monastrell. Their approach was to build the winery project from the top down — or, more accurately, to build a commercially viable wine business from the ground up. In order to achieve their objectives of sales and profitability, they sought to find the right balance between three core concepts: Quality, Image, and Price. After two years of hard work, the couple launched Ego Bodegas, a wine brand based on the philosophy of ego, talento, and infinito — or self, talent, and infinity — reflecting their passion, learning, and dreams without limits.

From the very beginning, Ego Bodegas has taken a contemporary approach to winemaking, combining traditional methods with modern techniques. With modern winemaking facilities and a culture of constant improvement, they strive to balance innovation with consumer demand while maintaining quality. Today, they have 35 hectares of vineyards, most of which are planted to native varieties, with a particular focus on Monastrell, which is exceptionally well adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of Jumilla. The soils are dark and calcareous, with good permeability and moisture-retention properties that help the vines endure periods of drought. The climate is continental and arid, influenced by the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the plateau of La Mancha to the west. The region also receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, making it one of the driest wine-growing areas in Spain. While the portfolio has expanded in recent years to include wines made from other varieties, Monastrell remains central to Ego Bodegas as they continue to innovate and craft wines of excellence.

Like the 2020 El Goru Gold Mad Hairy Fella I enjoyed last year, this red wine is a blend of 3 varieties, similarly composed of approximately 80% Monastrell, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were hand-harvested and selected through a strict field-selection process. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were carefully macerated until the desired wine profile was achieved. Throughout the process, a pump-over technique called pigeage was used, allowing for slower extraction and enhancing the expression of varietal aromas. The grapes underwent a meticulously temperature-controlled fermentation (max. 28ºC) to extract the full potential of each variety. The wine was then blended and transferred into new American and French oak barrels, and aged for 12 months.

The growing season across the southern wine regions of Spain, including Jumilla, was marked by extremely hot temperatures and several heatwaves. However, vines grown in areas accustomed to these extreme conditions endured the heat quite well. These hot and dry conditions also helped keep most disease and rot at bay. While yields were down once again, the fruit was highly concentrated. From a vintage rated as 'good', let's see how this 2022 Monastrell-based red wine from Jumilla, Spain, is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL GORU GOLD MAD HAIRY FELLA MONASTRELL / SYRAH / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#13621) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of approximately 80% Monastrell (Mourvèdre), 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose of ripe dark fruit, black plum, blackberry, and peppery spice aromas nuanced with subtle oak, earth, and violet. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has ripe black fruits, blackberry, black plum, spice, and violet aroma replays in a nicely balanced flavour profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the supple tannins have a pleasing, fine-grained texture. Slightly grippy with dark berry, purple fruit, earth, and smoky oak notes on the long, balanced finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

A few other delicious wines by Ego Bodegas are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Jerzu Antichi Bantu Cannonau di Sardegna 2023 (Sardinia) - Wine Review

2026-08-13T17:47:08.049-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cannonau di Sardegna (a.k.a. Garnacha/Grenache from Sardinia) that is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO and was part of the feature on wines from Sardinia in the August 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Jerzu Antichi Poderi, one of Sardinia's historically significant co-operative wineries, with deep roots in the viticultural traditions of the region that go back to the 12th century. While the cooperative itself was formally established in 1950, when a group of 18 winegrowers came together with a shared passion for wine, its history is rooted in the generations of grape growers who cultivated the vineyards of Jerzu and passed their knowledge from one generation to the next.

Today, Antichi Poderi Jerzu is made up of 408 members, all committed to fuelling a history that continues to move forward. Together, the member families tend 460 hectares of vineyards across a territory spanning 593 km² in Sardinia, the rugged Mediterranean island off Italy's western coast. Their vineyards range in elevation from 30 metres to a fairly lofty 786 metres above sea level.

Sardinia offers an extraordinarily diverse combination of hills and plains, coastal regions and inland areas, with considerable variation in topography and mesoclimate. The combination of Mediterranean maritime influences, cooling breezes, varied elevations and diverse soils and bedrock—including free-draining sands and gravels—creates highly favourable conditions for viticulture. With centuries of French and Spanish influence, the island is home to many important indigenous and international varieties, with Cannonau and Vermentino among its most important and widely planted grapes.

Antichi Poderi Jerzu is situated within the commune of Jerzu, in the province of Ogliastra, on the eastern side of Sardinia. The rugged terrain between the coast and the mountains has a long association with viticulture, particularly Cannonau, the local name for the grape commonly known elsewhere as Grenache or Garnacha. In 1972, Cannonau di Sardegna received DOC status, with Jerzu becoming one of the denomination's historically important production areas.

The co-operative winery has also been actively involved in partnerships with authoritative and recognized institutes to deepen the understanding of its territory. These studies have resulted in the identification of nine distinct sub-areas within Jerzu, each with its own particular characteristics, helping the cooperative to develop a more nuanced collection of Cannonau di Sardegna wines that express the diversity of the local terroir.

As a specialist in Cannonau (and, to some extent, Vermentino), Jerzu Antichi Poderi produces a range of wines across five distinct wine ranges, with this Bantu coming from its Selezione range. The grapes for this 100% Cannonau were grown in the Jerzu area. The vines average 20 years of age and are planted on calcareous-schist soils at approximately 400 metres above sea level, with southwest exposure.

To craft this wine, the grapes were harvested when they reached an optimal balance between acidity and sugars, typically in mid-September. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, followed by eight days of maceration in stainless-steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine remained in stainless steel for 10 months of maturation, followed by a further six months in 200 hL oak barrels in order to preserve the freshness of the fruit.

The climate in Sardinia can vary quite substantially depending on where you are located. In the northeastern part of the island, there was very little to no rain throughout the season, while the summer months were warm and arid, which resulted in an early and healthy harvest. Let's see how this 2023 Cannonau di Sardegna from Sardinia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JERZU ANTICHI BANTU CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA 2023 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#51716) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cannonau di Sardegna (a.k.a. Garnacha/Grenache). The lifted, medium-high intensity nose has plummy, wild berry, dark red cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate aromas mingling with rustic earth, Mediterranean herbs and spice notes. The medium+ weighted palate is dry and lively with fresh acidity lifting the spicy, peppery, wild berry, plum, Mediterranean herbs, cherry, earth, and pomegranate flavours. Pleasing bitter notes add a savoury component on the mid-palate, while the ripe and fine tannins have some youthful, chalky grip on the back palate. Nicely balanced flavours of spice, Mediterranean herbs, and wild berry taper to schisty minerals on the long, savoury finish. Quite unique and a recommended buy to enjoy over the coming 5 years! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Jerzu Antichi Poderi can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Margaret River) - Wine Review

2026-08-09T17:37:16.824-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River in Western Australia and made its debut at the LCBO in the August 1 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Byron & Harold, a wine company that was founded in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia in 2012 by Paul Byron and Harold (Ralph) Dunning. After a combined 60+ years in the fine wine business, Paul and Ralph came together to create Byron & Harold with a solemn pledge to find, package, and share the wine they love with all who share their appreciation of the romance, the history, the sheer pleasure fine wine brings to a shared meal.

Based in Western Australia, Byron & Harold focuses on producing wines from Margaret River and Great Southern, cool-climate winegrowing regions that benefit from their southerly latitudes and strong maritime influences. The winemaking philosophy at Byron & Harold begins in the vineyard as they seek out the best parcels of fruit in Western Australia in order to craft wines that wine lovers want to drink. Wines are crafted with flavours that are true to their variety and have provenance that reflects their origins.

Today, Margaret River is known for its outstanding viticulture, wine production, and international tourism, and as the leading wine region of Western Australia, it is respected and enjoys a reputation that is recognised around the world. Situated along the westerly coastal strip of southwestern Australia, Margaret River enjoys a Mediterranean-influenced maritime climate, with average annual rainfall of roughly 1,100 mm and the moderating influence of the Indian Ocean. The region's ideal winegrowing conditions include good winter rains to replenish soil moisture, warm summer days, long sunshine hours, and cooling sea breezes during the ripening period. This combination of maritime influences and diverse, well-drained soils helps produce consistently high-quality fruit with intense flavours.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is from Byron & Harold's "Rags to Riches" collection, a range of premium wines crafted using fruit from their vineyards in Margaret River. The name pays homage to the immigrants who arrived in Margaret River after the First World War. The Western Australian Government encouraged migrants to settle in the region and establish farms, and by 1922, more than 100 settlers had arrived. From humble beginnings and the challenges of carving out a living from the native bushland, Margaret River has evolved into one of Australia's—and the world's—most respected winegrowing regions, making the "Rags to Riches" name particularly fitting.

To craft this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit was harvested during the cool hours of the early morning. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were delicately crushed into static fermenters and inoculated with cultured yeast to begin fermentation. To extract colour, flavour, and tannins, while also encouraging aeration, pump-overs were conducted twice daily. After fermentation was complete, the wine was aged in French oak barriques until September 2024. The various parcels were then blended in tank and allowed to settle before undergoing light fining and filtration prior to bottling.

The 2023 vintage in Margaret River featured optimal, dry conditions, and mild weather that allowed for gentle and consistent ripening across all varieties. Budburst and vine development were delayed by about two to three weeks due to lower-than-average winter temperatures, but good fruit set resulted in healthy, and ultimately higher, yields. Although the spring growing season started slowly, summer brought glorious conditions, with consistent warmth in January allowing vine development to catch up. Ideal ripening conditions, combined with minimal disease pressure, produced inky, dense, and intense Cabernet Sauvignons with very fine tannin structure. Described as a once-in-a-decade vintage of the highest quality, let's see how this 2023 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BYRON & HAROLD RAGS TO RICHES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Vegan, Margaret River, Western Australia (#50142) (XD) - $23.95
Screw cap enclosure. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has lovely, fragrant, and open aromatics of medium-high to high intensity featuring ripe black & red currants, grilled herbs, blackberry, black cherry, evergreen, smoky oak, graphite, and spice aromas with earthy undertones in a complex profile. On the dry, ripe, and medium-full bodied palate it has plummy, black currant, black cherry, blackberry, evergreen herbs, oak spice, graphite, and savoury earth flavours, all supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Smooth, ripe tannins have good structure and a slightly youthful mouthfeel. Well-balanced throughout with sweet fruit notes on the mid-palate leading to graphite, spice, and savoury earth on the long, balanced finish. Enjoy into the mid-2030s. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Byron & Harold can be ordered through their Agent - Kylix Wines.

Planeta Frappato 2024 (Sicily) - Wine Review

2026-08-07T17:41:50.899-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent, organic Frappato from the Sicilia Vittoria DOC in Sicily that arrived at the LCBO after a one-year absence. It was featured as part of the thematic on wines from Italy's islands of Sicily (and Sardinia) in last weekend's August 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Planeta, a family-owned winery that ranks among Sicily's most respected and influential wine producers. Over the course of more than 500 years and 17 generations, the Planeta family has established deep roots on the island, playing an important role in the agricultural evolution of Sicily's diverse and complex landscapes.

The approach at Planeta leans towards openness and innovation, with the family's most recent history beginning in the early 1900s when Grandfather Vito transformed the small, family winery in Menfi, in western Sicily, into a thriving co-operative in a remarkably short period, laying the foundation for future growth and new opportunities. Today, Planeta operates six estates across Sicily, each chosen to express the unique character of its respective terroir.

The family's journey to Vittoria began in the late 1990s with the restoration of the historic Dorilli estate, centred around a grand country house on land long associated with the Planeta family. The first vineyards were planted in 1997, and the estate has since become the family's home for producing wines from Vittoria's distinctive red sandy soils. Rich in history and agricultural tradition, Vittoria has long held a special place in the family's story—so much so that earlier generations debated whether Vittoria or Menfi was the better place to cultivate vines.

Today, Planeta is led by two generations of the family—brothers and sisters, along with their children, nieces, and nephews—who share a common vision rooted in collaboration, respect for the land, and environmental stewardship. Their commitment to sustainable viticulture and thoughtful winemaking has earned Planeta an international reputation for producing wines that faithfully express the remarkable diversity of Sicily's terroirs.

I was first introduced to this wine five years ago with the 2018 Planeta Frappato, and it has been a consistently recommended buy ever since. Frappato is a rare variety planted mainly in Sicily and has a close genetic relationship to Sangiovese. There are only approximately 1,000 hectares of vines planted to Frappato, with Planeta cultivating theirs according to sustainable and organic standards in the red sands of Vittoria, where it reaches its ultimate expression, not far from the sea.

First crafted in the 2013 vintage, this red wine is crafted with 100% Frappato that was grown at Planeta's Mogli vineyard in the district of Acate in southeastern Sicily. The vineyard is situated at 70 metres above sea level and planted on sandy textured soils that are the main characteristics of the Vittoria area. Furthermore, the soil consists mainly of loose red sands with a structure of small dimension, moderately deep, and a layer of tufa that lies at about 90 cm, which crucially helps with water capacity and balancing of the water in the plants.

To vinify this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested and transported to the winery in small trolleys, after which they were destalked and pressed, then transferred into 114 hL and 150 hL stainless steel tanks. The grapes were stirred three times a day with very short pump overs of 10–20 minutes according to the phase of fermentation, as well as to protect the skins and fruit as much as possible. It was cool-fermented at the beginning, then raised to about 24°C to allow the final alcohol level to develop. After completing fermentation, the skins remain in contact with the wine for 10–13 days, then racked off. Malolactic fermentation was completed, followed by maturation, all in the same stainless steel tanks.

While the 2024 vintage in Sicily was characterized by a drop in yields, drought, high temperatures, and an early harvest, quality did not suffer as good ripeness levels were attained. It is considered to be a good to excellent vintage with exceptionally healthy fruit that produced balanced wines. In the Vittoria area of southeastern Sicily, the vintage is considered to be excellent as Frappato is suited to areas with low rainfall, along with the significant diurnal temperatures between night and day and cooling sea breezes. Let's see how this 2024 Frappato from Vittoria in Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PLANETA FRAPPATO 2024 - DOC Sicilia Vittoria, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $23.95
100% Frappato and certified organic, this has a fresh, fragrant, and medium-high+ intensity nose offering attractive dark red berried cran-cherry, strawberry, and red plum aromas mingling with fine spices, peppercorn, earth, mineral, plus a hint of blood orange adding further complexity. It's light-to-medium bodied on the dry palate with lovely cran-cherry, red berry, strawberry, red plum, savoury earth, and dried spice flavours. Some bitter notes appear on the mid-palate, while acids are crisp and fresh. Present and well-structured tannins offer a somewhat chalky textured mouthfeel. It's well-balanced with dark red cherry and spice notes tapering to earth and minerals on the long, savoury finish. Should drink nicely over the coming 5-6 years and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

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

d'Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2021 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

2026-08-05T17:40:56.762-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Grenache from the McLaren Vale in Australia. It arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on Summer Smart Buys in the July 18th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by d'Arenberg, a renowned and well-respected winery that was established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the McLaren Vale wine region of South Australia. With a long and rich history of winemaking, d'Arenberg has been passed down from one generation to the next and is currently led by Chester Osborn, the fourth generation of the Osborn family, who became Chief Winemaker at the family estate in 1984.

Today, the focus at d'Arenberg is to encourage each vineyard to showcase its personality by practicing viticulture and winemaking with minimal intervention. This is implemented by time-honoured techniques such as open fermentation, foot treading, and basket pressing, which allow the personality of the vineyard to shine. Furthermore, all d'Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are ACO Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. By using natural and environmentally friendly processes, this encourages strong root systems that penetrate the soil, which results in lively tannin structures, soil characters, and fine minerality. The environment, sustainability, and community are core values at d'Arenberg as they aim for net carbon zero by 2035 and pass on a sustainable business to the next generation.

Winemaking at d'Arenberg begins with Chester walking the vineyard rows and tasting grapes in order to classify and determine the ideal picking time for each individual vineyard. McLaren Vale is home to some of the oldest vines in the country, with some dating as far back as 1850. McLaren Vale also has a Mediterranean climate with a huge array of soil types, while its proximity to the ocean and cooling sea breezes make it an idyllic location for winegrowing. At the winery, each wine, from entry level to iconic, undergoes basket pressing, with all red ferments foot trod during fermentation, a labour-intensive action that is controlled, extremely gentle, and yields quality results. Importantly, all parcels remain separate until final blending.

The name of this wine comes from a time during the 1980s vine pull scheme when d'Arry Osborn refused to remove his old Grenache vineyards. Today, as keeper of nearly one-third of McLaren Vale's old bush vine Grenache, d'Arenberg has earned the title of "Custodian" of the variety.

To craft this 100% Grenache wine, small batches of grapes were gently crushed and transferred into open fermenters, after which foot treading was undertaken two-thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine was then basket-pressed and transferred into old French oak to complete fermentation and mature. The basket-fermented wine was then aged on its lees for 9 months, without any racking until final blending. After blending, it was bottled without undergoing any fining or filtration.

In McLaren Vale, the 2021 growing season began with a wet winter and spring that replenished soil moisture before a hot, dry November naturally reduced yields. Well-timed February rain refreshed the vines, while warm conditions accelerated ripening, resulting in one of the earliest harvests on record. Mild, dry autumn weather, punctuated by a few warm days in late March and early April, allowed Grenache and other late-ripening varieties to reach full maturity. From a vintage that produced both quantity and quality, along with it being considered as one of the best vintages of this century, let's see how this 2021 Grenache from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

D'ARENBERG THE CUSTODIAN GRENACHE 2021 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#713040) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this 100% Grenache has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that seems a bit tight, with deep aromas of red & black raspberry, black cherry, dried herbs, and toasted nut notes nuanced with peppery spice, stony minerals, and a touch of red florals adding further interest and complexity. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it has fresh and lively acidity, alongside ripe, fine-grained tannins with good structure. It has lovely red & black raspberry, black cherry, dried herb, peppery spice, and savoury mineral flavours. Well-balanced with juicy acids on the mid-palate leading to savoury, earthy mineral, and toasted nut notes with a slightly chalky texture on the long finish. Should dink nicely over the coming half dozen+ years and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

A couple of wines by d'Arenberg are widely available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

Cellier des Dauphins Réserve Côtes du Rhône 2023 (France) - Wine Review

2026-08-02T17:09:14.872-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Réserve Côtes du Rhône, a blend of Grenache and Syrah that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the July 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Union des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône (UVCdR), a co-operative winery founded in 1965 in the southeastern French region of Drôme Provençale by a group of local grower co-operatives. Today, UVCdR unites approximately 2,300 winegrowing families across the Southern Rhône Valley, cultivating more than 12,000 hectares of vineyards to produce wines from numerous Rhône Valley appellations, including several Crus.

As one of the Rhône Valley's largest wine producers, UVCdR has become one of the region's leading co-operative groups, with Cellier des Dauphins serving as its flagship brand. Introduced in 1967, Cellier des Dauphins has grown into one of the Rhône Valley's best-known wine brands, built on the co-operative values of its founding growers. The brand reflects a commitment to quality from vine to glass, while celebrating the collective spirit that has united generations of Rhône winegrowers. Its name—"Cellar of the Dolphins"—pays tribute to the historic Dauphiné region, which bordered the Rhône Valley in southeastern France.

In the vineyard, Cellier des Dauphins growers work their vineyards every day with concrete actions in favour of biodiversity. Their winegrowers have converted 3,000 hectares to High Environmental Value (HVE) certification, and 1,350 hectares to organic agriculture. Cellier des Dauphins is also committed to eco-design of packaging and is constantly seeking sustainable solutions to packaging, along with waste reduction and preserving natural resources.

I last enjoyed this delicious Rhône red when the 2019 Cellier des Dauphins Réserve landed at the LCBO five years ago, and while that vintage was predominantly (90%) Grenache with Syrah playing a very small role, the 2023 blend shifts to 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The grapes were selected from their best terroir in the villages of Richerenche, Vinsobres, Puyméras, Tulette, and Saint Maurice. The vineyards are situated at altitude in the lower Pré-Alpes north of Mont Ventoux, on terraces with a cooler climate where the sunny Mediterranean climate is cooled by the Mistral winds. The soil on these terraces is composed of clay limestone formed of sedimentary rock and pebbles. To craft this wine, the grapes were harvested when extra ripe to obtain maximum aromatic concentration and natural mellowness. It was traditionally vinified with the must macerating for two weeks at a controlled temperature, followed by extended wood ageing.

In 2023, the growing season began with a very dry start from January to March, which resulted in a relatively late budburst in early April. The Mistral winds blew frequently during the period between budburst and flowering—precisely when growers would have preferred calmer conditions. On the bright side, there were welcoming rains in May and June, followed by a warm and arid summer, which climaxed to 43°C in late August, which led to some grapes suffering sunburn and maturation issues. Rain at the end of August allowed the vines to recover and the grapes to resume ripening, although the fierce heat remained until the end of the month. This was a season that suited vines grown on clay soils (under rolled pebbles). The early harvest wasn't particularly good for Grenache as sugar ripening had often got ahead of phenolic ripening, which may help explain the increased proportion of Syrah in this vintage for this wine. Despite the challenges, this is a good vintage for red wines from the Southern Rhône. Let's see how this 2023 Côtes du Rhône red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 - AOC, France (#14081) (XD) - $16.95
This blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that takes some coaxing to reveal a fine mix of ripe black raspberry, garrigue, peppery spice, and black cherry aromas with warm stones and scorched earth notes adding further complexity. The medium to medium+ bodied palate is dry with ripe, plummy, dark cherry, black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, and peppery spice flavours nuanced with meaty, scorched earth, and stony minerals. It's supported by fresh, lively, and slightly tangy acidity, along with grainy textured tannins with good structure. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury black raspberry and scorched earth notes lingering on the long finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

A few wines by UVCdR bearing the "Dauphins" name are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

August 1, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Sicily & Sardinia

2026-08-02T05:00:00.000-04:00

Happy long weekend!

Here are my top wine picks from the August 1, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where the spotlight is on the wines of Italy's two largest islands—Sicily and Sardinia. This is a relatively small and less-expensive release, featuring 93 products with an average bottle price of just under $26. As always, the wines should be available both online and at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature on Sicily and Sardinia. Winemaking on these Mediterranean islands dates back more than 3,000 years. Today, Sicily ranks as Italy's fourth-largest wine-producing region by volume, while Sardinia is considerably smaller, ranking 14th. Although the feature includes just 10 wines—seven from Sicily and three from Sardinia—fully half are among my top recommendations. Highlights from Sicily include an excellent Frappato red and a refreshing rosé made from the same varietal. The only Sicilian blend comes from Tenute Orestiadi, combining 90% Nero d'Avola with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the lone white wine is made from Grillo. Representing Sardinia is a delicious Cannonau, the island's renowned expression of Grenache (Garnacha).

Continuing with my top red wine picks, Italy remains well represented, with the Chianti Classico predominantly Sangiovese with a touch of Merlot, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is composed of 90% Sangiovese and the balance split evenly between Merlot and Syrah. Also recommended are an impressive Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany and a classic Nebbiolo from Piedmont. Beyond Italy, Portugal offers a Douro red made from a traditional field blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Sousão, and old-vine fruit, while the Côtes du Rhône blends 70% Grenache with 30% Syrah. Rounding out the reds are an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia and a Jumilla red from Spain crafted with approximately 80% Monastrell (a.k.a. Mourvèdre), 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Among my white wine recommendations, Italy once again takes centre stage with three single-varietal wines: a Timorasso from Piedmont, a Garganega from Soave in Veneto, and a Pecorino from Abruzzo. The only blend is a Côtes du Rhône Blanc featuring Viognier, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc. Other lovely whites include a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, and a dry Pinot Gris from Australia. Closer to home, there are two lovely Chardonnays—one from Niagara's Twenty Mile Bench and another from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley.

My rosé recommendations begin with a Loire Valley rosé crafted from Pinot Noir. Two rosé blends also earned a place among my picks: a Niagara wine made from equal parts Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, and a Luberon rosé from the Rhône composed of Syrah, Grenache, and Rolle. Rounding out my picks is a distinctive Blanc de Noir sparkling wine crafted exclusively from Gamay Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

EL GORU GOLD MAD HAIRY FELLA MONASTRELL/ SYRAH/ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#13621) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
JERZU ANTICHI BANTU CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA 2023 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#51716) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 - AOP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
QUINTA DO VALLADO VINHO TINTO 2023 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#41900) (XD) - $19.95
TENUTE ORESTIADI RISERVA IL ROSSO DI LUDOVICO 2020 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#388645) (D) - $21.95 91 pts wine review
BYRON & HAROLD RAGS TO RICHES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Vegan, Margaret River, Western Australia (#50142) (XD) - $23.95 90 pts wine review
PLANETA FRAPPATO 2024 - DOC Sicilia Vittoria, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $23.95 91+ pts wine review
RÉVA NEBBIOLO D'ALBA 2023 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#38310) (XD) - $29.95
CARPINETO FARNITO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - IGT Toscana Rosso, Italy (#996553) (XD) - $34.95 91 pts wine review
VOLPAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#953828) (XD) - $37.95
VITICCIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#599308) (XD) - $47.95 91 pts wine review

White Wine:

ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#41453) (XD) - $14.95
LES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, AOC, France (#18600) (XD) - $14.95
BRIGALDARA SOAVE 2024 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#23030) (XD) - $16.95
ANGOVE PINOT GRIS 2025 - Sustainable, South Australia (#50150) (XD) - $17.95 88+ pts wine review
UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2025 - IGT Terre d'Abruzzo, Italy (#289553) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
COLOMBA BIANCA RESILIENCE GRILLO 2024 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#49369) (XD) - $21.95 89 pts wine review
ZULL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 - DAC Weinviertel, Austria (#17497) (XD) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2023 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#545004) (XD) - $27.95
FONTANAFREDDA DERTHONA COLLI TORTONESI TIMORASSO 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#36416) (XD) - $29.95
BACHELDER CUESTA SINGLE VINEYARD FAR EAST, MAN! CRU NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#52011) (XD) - $45.00

Rosé Wine:

ORGANIZED CRIME ROSÉ 2025 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16296) (XD) - $19.95
CHÂTEAU VAL-JOANIS ROSÉ 2025 - AOP Luberon, Rhône, France (#707281) (XD) - $19.95
CARUSO & MININI FRAPPO FRAPPATO ROSÉ 2025 - IGP Terre Siciliane, Italy (#43979) (XD) - $19.95
JEAN-MAX ROGER LA GRANGE DÎMIÈRE SANCERRE ROSÉ 2025 - AOC, Loire, France (#490813) (XD) - $31.95

Sparkling Wine:

13TH STREET GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR SPARKLING 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39728) (XD) - $34.95

Madison Park Breakfast Gin Iced Tea (Québec) - Review

2026-07-29T17:26:28.734-04:00

Tonight's ready-to-drink alcoholic cocktail beverage landed at the LCBO as a brand-new arrival a couple of months ago and is currently on promotion, offering 20 bonus Aeroplan points until August 15th.

It is produced by 1769 Distillery, a family-owned and -operated distillery that was established in 2014 by the husband-and-wife team of Andrew Mikus and Maureen David. This urban distillery is located in the historic Seagram distillery site in the LaSalle borough of Montreal and was the city's first modern craft distillery. The "1769" in the name of the distillery commemorates the year of the first recorded commercial distillery in Canada, which was established in Québec City. As Montreal’s top-rated distillery, 1769 Distillery is a premier destination for award-winning products in Québec and is recognized as one of the best grain to bottle distilleries Montreal has to offer.

1769 Distillery handcrafts all of their products, and one of their newest creations is this Madison Park Breakfast Gin Iced Tea – a non-carbonated, ready-to-drink cocktail that was handcrafted using Madison Park® Breakfast Gin® as its spirit base. This ready-to-drink cocktail is a balanced blend of their artisanal black tea-infused bergamot gin that is combined with just the right amount of lemon and cane sugar, making it a naturally flavoured gin-based iced tea. It is crafted with 5.5% alc./vol., packaged in 355 mL cans, and is crafted to be savoured all year round. Let's see how this Madison Park Breakfast Gin Iced Tea from Québec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MADISON PARK BREAKFAST GIN ICED TEA - Québec, Canada (#48791) - $3.50 LTO 20 bonus Aeroplan points until August 15
Smells exactly like iced tea with hints of lemon citrus. On the palate it has a pleasing, tea-like texture and gently sweet lemon citrus and tea flavours, along with subtle botanical herbal notes on the mid-palate. Savoury tea notes linger on the crisp, refreshing, and dry finish. Goes down very easy and keeps you coming back sip after sip. Recommended buy for iced tea lovers!

The Madison Park Breakfast Gin is readily available at the LCBO (and SAQ), while the full range of Madison Park beverages can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Boutari Assyrtiko 2025 (Greece) - Wine Review

2026-07-27T17:31:10.918-04:00

I enjoyed the 2023 Boutari The Authentic Assyrtiko nearly a year ago, and while tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of the same wine, it does come to us with slightly simplified branding by removing "The Authentic" from the label. Nevertheless, this is a lovely white wine that arrived at the LCBO just over a week ago in the July 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the historic, renowned, and well-respected Boutari wine company that was established in 1879 by Ioannis Boutaris in Naoussa, Macedonia, in Northern Greece. As one of Greece's most influential and important wineries, Ioannis built Naoussa's first privately-owned winery and retail cellar in 1906, while also launching the production of the first Greek red wine that was bottled under the now-renowned "Naoussa Boutari" label.

Boutari was passed down along family lines from father to son with Stelios Boutaris, son of Ioannis, taking over the reins in the mid-1930s and laying the foundation of the wine company for years to come. In 1968, Giannis and Konstantinos Boutaris, the two sons of Stelios, took over the winery and ventured into vine growing by purchasing a vineyard in Imathia, in Central Macedonia of Northern Greece, and took the family business to new heights, including building their new state-of-the-art winery in 1978 in Stenimachos, Naoussa, a facility that would become their flagship winery as a centre for production, bottling, and ageing.

During the 1980s, Boutari continued to grow and expand while highlighting Greece's various unique wine regions and vine-growing qualities, along with experimenting and cultivating both Greek and international varieties to create a series of experimental wines, some of which remain in the current portfolio. In 2022, a new chapter in the story of Boutari wineries began as they were acquired by holding company Hellenic Wineries, with Elias and Thomas Georgiadis as key investors. While no longer family-owned, the investor group has promised to preserve the heritage and further develop the Boutari name, while also continuing the long tradition of Boutari wineries.

Like the last vintage I tasted, this Assyrtiko is from Boutari's "Varieties" range, which focuses on Greek and international varietal wines from Greece's main wine producing regions and is crafted with passion and love. To craft this wine, the Assyrtiko grapes were selected from the mountainous regions of Florina and Pieria, in Macedonia of Northern Greece. A combination of both berry testing and analytical data determined the time of harvest in each vineyard, while all harvesting took place during the lowest possible temperatures of the day. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were strictly sorted manually, then underwent alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures using selected yeast strains. Upon completing fermentation, the wine remained in tank for aging by stirring its fine lees until it was bottled.

The growing season in Northern Greece in 2025 was a return to relative normality after a couple of tough harvests marked by major weather events. In 2025, the conditions were generally typical and featured no extreme weather phenomena, with June and July being notably hot and dry, while a diurnal temperature drop of 10°C nightly helped preserve acidity. Cold and rainy conditions arrived at the appropriate time, while heat during the day and cold nights ensured that the grapes developed full aromatics and phenolic ripeness. From a very good to excellent vintage, let's see how this 2025 Assyrtiko from Macedonia in Northern Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BOUTARI ASSYRTIKO 2025 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#44246) (XD) - $23.95
Fresh and slightly perfumed, the medium-high to high intensity nose offers engaging and complex aromas of yellow & white floral, lemon citrus, leesy mineral, yellow apple, and spice. The dry, medium-full bodied palate has a textured and slightly chewy mouthfeel with lovely, ripe, and gently honeyed flavours of yellow & white floral, lemon citrus, apple, leesy mineral and spice replays in a nicely balanced profile. Acids are juicy and well-balanced. Touches of pleasing, savoury bitterness appear on the mid-palate, and tapers to apple, lemon, and leesy minerals on the long, succulent, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Several other lovely wines by Boutari are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Los Clop Paraje Altamira Reserva Malbec 2023 (Argentina) - Wine Review

2026-07-25T17:45:25.240-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Malbec from the high-altitude region of Paraje Altamira within the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. It is brand new to the LCBO, arriving both in-store and online in last weekend's July 18 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

This Malbec is produced by Clop Wines, a family-run winery whose story begins after José Clop emigrated from Spain to the Mendoza region of Argentina in 1885. José built the Clop family's first winery in 1915, and the business was boosted by his grandson, Don Eraclio Ricardo Clop, in 1991 with a vision to find the best site for the production of premium wines of great depth and unique personality.

In 2002, Ricardo and his sons, Gustavo and Rubén, bought the current winery, not far from the original winery in the district of Fray Luis Beltrán, Department of Maipú, in Mendoza. By 2005, the Clop brothers took on the challenge of producing high-quality wines with the same vision as their father and great-grandfather. In 2007, they began exporting their wines, with the first export to the Island of Mauritius. In 2015, international acclaim arrived as they were awarded Best Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Today, Clop Wines continues to be run by brothers Gustavo and Rubén. They have decided to invest mostly in the oases where some of Argetina's best vines are grown: Agrelo and Valle de Uco. The structure and architecture of the winery mimics the first wineries in Mendoza and offers a large and convenient space for the reception and processing of grapes. To produce quality wines, Clop Wines combines age-old tradition with innovative, leading-edge technology.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Malbec that was grown in the Paraje Altamira appellation within the department of San Carlos, Uco Valley. The vineyard was planted in 2007 at an altitude of 1,070 metres above sea level on soil that is sandy with stones on the surface and a significant presence of calcareous material lying underneath. The area typically receives only 180 millimetres of rainfall annually, thus the vines are watered via drip irrigation.

To craft this Malbec, the grapes were hand-harvested in the second fortnight of April, and then brought to the winery for cluster and berry selection. The grapes underwent a cold maceration at 6°C for approximately 5 days with constant monitoring and assessment, followed by a traditional fermentation with indigenous yeasts between 26°C and 28°C for 15 days. The wine remained in contact with its skins to enhance mouthfeel and texture, after which it was separated from the skins by pressing. Malolactic fermentation was carried out with indigenous bacteria, followed by 12 months of ageing in new French oak barrels.

The growing season in the 2023 vintage in Argentina was the hottest year recorded since 1961. It was also another roller coaster of a vintage as La Niña left the country in a state of drought, including during the winter months which were unnaturally dry but with some polar influences. Spring frosts in Altamira mildly affected yields, which resulted in fewer berries and contributed to the power of the wines this year. From a very good to outstanding vintage in Altamira that produced minerally and age-worthy wines, let's see how this 2023 Malbec from Paraje Altamira in Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LOS CLOP PARAJE ALTAMIRA RESERVA MALBEC 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#49711) (XD) - $22.95
Elegantly well-balanced with a touch of reductive character, this has a lifted, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of violet, floral, peppery oak spice, blackberry, and black cherry, plus touches of stony/earthy minerals. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it is ripe and well-structured with violet, black & purple fruits, blackberry, and peppery oak spice flavours. Fresh acids are crisp and lively, while the tannins are quite structured and slightly grippy. Nicely textured throughout with purple and black fruits, and violet notes tapering to savoury, stony minerals on the long, gently chalky textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

A few other Clop Wines are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.