VINTAGES Wine Picks & LCBO Wine Reviews

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 review coming soon...
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 review coming soon...
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 review coming soon...

MEGA SPILEO ASSYRTIKO 2024 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#31680) (XD) - $24.95 review coming soon...
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 review coming soon...
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 review coming soon...
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.

July 18, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summer Smart Buys + Orange Wines

2026-07-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the July 18, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). The feature story for this release is Summer Smart Buys, while Orange Wines serve as the mini-theme. In total, the release showcases 121 products, along with an additional 20 Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. It's a strong summer lineup, with white and rosé wines accounting for nearly half of the selection—ideal for warm-weather drinking. All the wines are readily available for purchase both online and at LCBO stores across Ontario.

We'll begin with the "Summer Smart Buys" feature, a theme that first appeared in August 2023 before returning last year. This year's selection includes 24 products: ten whites, ten reds, two rosés, two sake, and one sparkling wine. Six of those wines earn a place among my top recommendations in this release. Leading the white wines are the Creekside Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara, a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and an ever-fragrant Moschofilero from Greece. On the red side, my picks are a Gamay Noir from Niagara and a Grenache from Australia. Rounding out the feature is a fine Barolo from Piedmont, crafted, of course, from Nebbiolo—perhaps not the most obvious summer wine, but certainly one worth making an exception for.

My lone recommendation from the Orange Wines mini-theme is a Viognier from Chile. Orange wines are made by fermenting white grape varieties on their skins, much like red wines, resulting in wines with added texture, complexity, and their characteristic amber-orange hue.

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, the standout is a superb Amarone crafted from nearly equal parts Corvina and Corvinone, complemented by approximately 15% Rondinella. Close behind is a Rioja that is predominantly Tempranillo with a small proportion of Graciano. Other blends include a Greek red composed of 60% Syrah, 20% Merlot, and 20% Limnio, as well as a Côtes du Rhône red that blends 60% Grenache with 40% Syrah. Rounding out the mono-varietal selections are a Malbec from Argentina, a Merlot from South Africa, and a Gamay from Beaujolais.

My top white wine recommendations begin in Greece with a Santorini Assyrtiko sourced from ancient vines estimated to be 150–200 years old, alongside another fine Assyrtiko from Macedonia. Two white blends also make the list: a Soave composed of approximately 85% Garganega with the balance Trebbiano di Soave, and a Côtes du Roussillon blending Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, and Macabeu. Closer to home, Niagara is represented by a pair of lovely Chardonnays, a fine Sauvignon Blanc, and an excellent Riesling with just a kiss of sweetness. Completing the white wine selections are a Fiano from Campania and a dry Pinot Gris from Wairarapa, New Zealand.

My rosé recommendations include a Bandol composed of 65% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, and 15% Cinsault, along with a Côtes du Rhône Rosé made from approximately 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah. For sparkling wines, my picks include a Champagne blended from 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 25% Pinot Meunier, as well as a Loire sparkler crafted entirely from Chenin Blanc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 - AOC, France (#14081) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION MERLOT 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#26669) (XD) - $19.95
D'ARENBERG THE CUSTODIAN GRENACHE 2021 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#713040) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DE PONCIÉ BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES ROUGE 2022 - AOC, France (#48908) (XD) - $19.95
LOS CLOP PARAJE ALTAMIRA RESERVA MALBEC 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#49711) (XD) - $22.95 90+ pts wine review
BACHELDER KIRBY SINGLE VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2023 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45139) (XD) - $29.00
BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2018 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $32.95
KTIMA GEROVASSILIOU RED 2022 - Vegan, PGI Epanomi, Greece (#32378) (XD) - $38.95 OFE 91+ pts wine review
ROBERTO SAROTTO BAROLO 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#49375) (XD) - $39.95 91+ pts wine review
BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#300012) (XD) - $64.95

White Wine:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2024 - AOP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $16.95
MITRAVELAS WHITE ON GREY MOSCHOFILERO 2025 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#49094) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
PADDY BORTHWICK PINOT GRIS 2025 - Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#555516) (XD) - $19.95
JANARE FIANO 2025 - DOP Sannio, Campania, Italy (#528786) (XD) - $19.95
AHI KA BLACKMORE GROWER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Dillons Point, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41803) (XD) - $20.95
PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO 2024 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#946848) (XD) - $21.95
CREEKSIDE BACKYARD BLOCK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#341792) (XD) - $22.00 90+ pts wine review
BOUTARI ASSYRTIKO 2025 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#44246) (XD) - $23.95 90+ pts wine review
JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#25368) (XD) - $24.95
SIEGEL NARANJO VIOGNIER 2024 - Sustainable, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#37759) (XD) - $27.95
CHARLES BAKER LAUNDRY VINEYARD RIESLING 2024 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#46059) (D) - $34.95
CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2024 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95 92+ pts wine review
DIVERGENCE GRIMSBY HILLSIDE VINEYARD FRONTIER BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#51974) (XD) - $53.00 OFE 91+ pts wine review
ARGYROS CUVÉE EVDEMON ASSYRTIKO 2022 - PDO Santorini, Greece (#51195) (XD) - $116.95 OFE

Rosé Wine:

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2025 - AOC, France (#225003) (XD) - $23.95
BASTIDE DE LA CISELETTE LOU PIGNA BANDOL ROSÉ 2025 - AOC, Provence, France (#49431) (XD) - $26.95 OFE

Sparkling Wine:

LAUDACIUS MONTLOUIS-SUR-LOIRE BRUT NATURE SPARKLING - Traditional Method, AOP, Loire, France (#49418) (XD) - $31.95
FRESNE DUCRET LE CHEMIN DU CHEMIN BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#49032) (XD) - $68.95 OFE

Château de Rochemorin Pessac-Léognan 2022 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

2026-07-21T17:43:01.264-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Merlot-based red wine from Bordeaux's Left Bank that made its debut earlier this month in the July 4 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

The wines of Château de Rochemorin are produced by Vignobles Famille André Lurton, one of Bordeaux's largest and most respected family-owned wine companies. The Lurton family's ancestors, the Récapet, had been cultivating vines since the middle of the 17th century in the parish of Saint-Laurent-des Combes, not far from the famous village of Saint-Émilion. The know-how of the Récapet has been passed along to successive generations as they became liquorists by the middle of the 19th century.

In 1894, Léonce Récapet married Emma Thibeaud, daughter of an owner-vinegrower in Moulon, who set forth a dream to be fulfilled as he embarked on a winegrowing adventure. Léonce's passion for viticulture took root in the family and was transferred to the couple's only living child and heiress - Denise. In 1923, Denise wed François Lurton, a man from the city, and they settled at Château Bonnet. Together, they had four children, with the eldest being André, who was born in 1924. André Lurton was a man of quiet determination and remarkable foresight who dedicated his life to revealing the full potential of Bordeaux's diverse terroirs. He built a legacy based on discovery and had philosophy rooted in terroir – believing that wine should express where it comes from.

Château de Rochemorin has a long history that begins in 1520, when Jean de Amelin from the Périgord region arrived in Bordeaux. He was lord of the Rochemorin noble stronghold in Saint-Front d'Alemps and decided to invest in winegrowing. He set out to find a property and found Maison Noble de Beaubois, in the parish of Martillac, cleared the forest and planted vines as the Rochemorin vineyard was born. Rochemorin was passed through familial lines over generations until it was acquired in 1919 by a company that specialized in forestry and had little interest in viticulture. The estate changed hands one more time and eventually fell into decline, until 1973.

In 1973, Rochemorin was acquired by the visionary André Lurton, who tore down the trees and replanted the original vineyard. Today, Château de Rochemorin, with its unusual architecture, is situated at 56 metres above level, the highest point within the commune of Martillac, and on one of the highest gravelly hilltops in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The 42 hectares of red grape vines are planted on deep gravel soil, and the 14 hectares of white varieties have shelly sand soil, while the entire vineyard has a base of gravel on clay subsoil terroir. Château de Rochemorin is characterized by the great diversity of its terroir, as this variety of soils and appropriate grape varieties planted on each soil type results in minerally, expressive white wines, and fine, elegant red wines. The prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation was established as its own AOC in 1987 (it was previously part of the Graves AOC) and is equally famous for both its white and red wines.

This red wine is crafted using a blend of 65% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc that was grown on deep gravel terroir within a vineyard spanning 56 hectares. The vines average 20 years old and were pruned using a double Guyot system with debudding. After harvesting the grapes, they were sorted using an automatic system upon arriving at the cellar. It underwent fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with a patented cap-breaking system, followed by ageing for 12 months in oak barrels (30–40% new) with racking each trimester.

The growing season in Bordeaux in 2022 was atypical due to the extreme weather conditions. It began with an early frost in the spring, which affected the vineyard just as the vines were starting to bud. There was also a long period of exceptional drought conditions from May until the end of September. While these exceptional weather conditions resulted in lower yields, the end result was grapes in a perfect state of health at the time of harvest, which was earlier than usual and completed by October 4th. From a hot and dry vintage that produced excellent wines, let's see how this 2022 Bordeaux red wine from Pessac-Léognan is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE ROCHEMORIN PESSAC-LÉOGNAN 2022 - AOC, Bordeaux, France (#48823) (XD) - $39.95
This terrific blend of 65% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc is fresh and highly aromatic, with an engaging nose that has lovely dark fruited aromas of black cherry, currant, and blackberry, cocoa, and oak spice aromas with accents of barnyard and graphite all wrapped around a savoury core of wet earth. The medium-full bodied palate has a lighter feel to it with fresh acidity lifting the black fruit, currant, black cherry, blackberry, cocoa, savoury earth, and graphite flavours in a nicely balanced profile. Well-structured tannins are smooth and elegant, while leafy herbs and spice add further complexity on the slightly grippy mid-palate. Savoury earth and graphite notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy into the mid-2030s! Score: 93 pts

Other lovely wines by Vignobles Famille André Lurton can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

El Goru Rosado Garnacha Tinta 2025 (Spain) - Wine Review

2026-07-19T17:35:44.701-04:00

To celebrate Spain's World Cup final appearance, tonight's rosé wine review is a delicious, sustainable, and vegan rosé crafted with Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) from Spain that made its debut at the LCBO in last month's June 6th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is still widely available both online and in-stores across Ontario.

El Goru is a range of wines produced by Ego Bodegas. The husband and wife team of Santos Ortiz and Ioana Paunescu established Ego Bodegas in 2011 after settling in the Jumilla wine region of southeastern Spain, not far from the historical centre of Jumilla. Santos is of Spanish origin, while Ioana was from Romania, and with passion and effort they had a vision to produce high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Jumilla.

Ego Bodegas was built from the roof down on a spectacular farm in a prime, elevated area of Jumilla that was locally known as the carpenter's place. The farm is surrounded by old vineyards, with some vines over 50 years old, planted to Monastrell and offering a naturally beautiful landscape. After two years of hard work and focusing on Quality, Image, and Price, the couple launched Ego Bodegas based on a philosophy centred on ego, talento, and infinito – or self, talent, and infinity.

The wines of Ego Bodegas are crafted using a contemporary twist by combining traditional methods with modern techniques using their modern winemaking facilities to improve quality and efficiency, while continuously striving to seek out the best technology available. They cultivate approximately 20 hectares of vineyards within the Jumilla DO, all located in the provinces of Murcia and Albacete, and are planted with mostly native varieties. With a dedication to innovation, craftsmanship, and excellence in winemaking, the focus at Ego Bodegas is to produce high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.

The El Goru range is the Ego Bodegas' flagship range of wines and represents the heart and soul of the winery's identity. The name "Goru" comes from a local Jumilla nickname meaning "the big-headed one" or "big head", and adorns the label of each El Goru wine. The range was initially designed to showcase the Monastrell varietal, but now also includes wines crafted using other varieties such as this Garnacha Tinta rosé.

This dry rosé is crafted using Garnacha that was grown sustainably within the Jumilla wine region of Spain. Upon reaching maturity in the vineyard, the grapes were hand-harvested and placed in small capacity boxes in order to preserve the quality that was obtained during cultivation. This rosé was crafted using the Saigneé method, whereby the skins were macerated with the must for the time necessary to achieve the desired colour, after which the skins were removed from the tank. The juice then underwent a temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, and the resulting wine was used exclusively to create this Garnacha Rosé.

After four years of drought conditions, the 2025 vintage in Jumilla delivered an exceptional vintage that yielded high-quality grapes to produce well-balanced wines with good body, structure, and flavour intensity. The growing season began with damp conditions in March and April, followed by some hailstorms to the southeast in May. Summer heat helped ripen the grapes and led to a potentially earlier than usual harvest. From an exceptional vintage where presence in the vineyard was essential, let's see how this 2025 Garnacha rosé from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL GORU ROSADO GARNACHA TINTA 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Jumilla, Spain (#49815) (XD) - $14.95
Crafted with 100% Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache), this has a medium+ intensity nose that is ripe and slightly confected with strawberry, raspberry, and red cherry aromas, plus savoury hints of stony mineral and white pepper spice. The weighty, concentrated, and medium-full bodied palate is dry with delicious ripe strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, grapefruit citrus, and peppery spice flavours. It has a slightly crunchy and viscous mouthfeel, alongside juicy, well-balanced acidity. A touch of pleasant bitterness gives way to raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and spice notes on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

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

July 4, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Nothing But Chardonnay

2026-07-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the July 4, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). After the last release focused on wines not named Chardonnay, this release's feature story is titled "Nothing But Chardonnay" and is a Chardonnay wine lover's delight. Overall, this is a very good release with 99 products offered, and everything should be readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on the noble Chardonnay grape varietal. Of the fourteen wines featured as part of the thematic, six wines are included among my top Chardonnay wine picks. These days, Chardonnays tend to be crafted using various methods ranging from fermentation in stainless steel to concrete to various barrel types, and almost always aged in one of these vessels. Looking at my Chardonnay recommendations, the wine by Rustenberg was wild fermented using indigenous yeast and raised entirely in stainless steel tanks, while the Australian Chardonnay was wild fermented and aged in French oak barriques. The Novellum was mostly vinified in tank with a small portion aged in barrel. The complex versions are the wines by Henry of Pelham, Stratus, and Planeta, which were all fermented and aged in barrel.

My top red wine picks from this release begins in Bordeaux with the excellent Pessac-Léognan that is crafted with 65% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, while the Fronsac is made with 100% Merlot. Staying in France, the Côtes du Roussillon-Villages is composed of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Syrah, while the Régnié is from Beaujolais and crafted with Gamay. The rest of my remaining red wine picks are all mono-varietal wines, beginning with a pair of dynamite Pinot Noirs, one each from Prince Edward County in Ontario and Central Otago in New Zealand. From Italy, both Riserva Chianti Classico wines are made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Etna Rosso from Sicily is crafted with Nerello Mascalese.

There are a number of white wine recommendations outside of Chardonnay in this release, with the only blend coming from Costières de Nîmes in Rhône, and it is composed of 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 10% Marsanne, and 10% Viognier. From Greece, there is a fine Malagousia, as well as an Assyrtiko. There is also a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, followed by a Verdicchio from Marche. And lastly, there is a Picpoul from Midi, a varietal we don't see too often in our market.

Among my rosé wine picks, the only mono-varietal rosé is a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, while the rest are all blends. The dry rosé from Provence is composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, while the rosé from Abruzzo is a 70/30 blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano. The last rosé is a blend of Castelão and Cabernet Sauvignon from Portugal.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

LUIS GURPEGUI 147 ANIVERSARIO TEMPRANILLO 2021 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#37088) (XD) - $15.95
GREEK WINE CELLARS FLOWERS XINOMAVRO 2023 - PGI Macedonia, Greece (#49583) (XD) - $17.95
GÉRARD BERTRAND HERITAGE AN 1886 LES ASPRES GRENACHE/ MOURVÈDRE/ SYRAH 2022 - AOP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France (#413245) (XD) - $19.95
CHÂTEAU MAYNE-VIEIL FRONSAC 2019 - Sustainable, AOC, Bordeaux, France (#14469) (XD) - $19.95
HOSPICES DE BEAUJEU CUVÉE MARQUISE DE VAUDREUIL RÉGNIÉ 2023 - AOC, Beaujolais, France (#49860) (XD) - $23.95
FIRRIATO LE SABBIE DELL'ETNA ROSSO 2021 - DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#219592) (XD) - $26.95
LORNANO LE BANDITE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#230672) (XD) - $29.95
LOVEBLOCK PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (#313924) (XD) - $29.95 92 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DE ROCHEMORIN PESSAC-LÉOGNAN 2022 - AOC, Bordeaux, France (#48823) (XD) - $39.95 93 pts wine review
FÈLSINA BERARDENGA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#32304) (XD) - $49.95 92 pts wine review
CLOSSON CHASE CHURCHSIDE PINOT NOIR 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Unfiltered, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#265074) (XD) - $55.00

White Wine:

LE JADE PICPOUL DE PINET 2024 - AOP, Midi, France (#350124) (XD) - $17.95
ZACHARIAS ASSYRTIKO 2024 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#588814) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
RUSTENBERG WILD FERMENT UNWOODED CHARDONNAY 2024 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#48202) (XD) - $18.95
NOVELLUM CHARDONNAY 2024 - France (#390781) (XD) - $19.95
FILODIVINO SERRA 46 VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO 2023 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#49371) (XD) - $19.95
MAS DES BRESSADES TRADITION BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, AOP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#701094) (XD) - $20.95 88 pts wine review
VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536201) (XD) - $24.95
SMALL WONDER LANDSCAPE CHARDONNAY 2024 - Tamar Valley, Tasmania, Australia (#50127) (XD) - $28.95
DOMAINE COSTA LAZARIDI SINGLE VINEYARD MALAGOUSIA 2024 - Vegan, PGI Drama, Greece (#30609) (XD) - $32.95 91+ pts wine review
HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#616466) (XD) - $34.95 91 pts wine review
STRATUS CHARDONNAY 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#267856) (XD) - $35.20
PLANETA CHARDONNAY 2024 - DOC Sicilia Menfi, Italy (#485102) (XD) - $56.95

Rosé Wine:

CASA SANTOS LIMA COLOSSAL RESERVA ROSÉ 2025 - Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#50311) (XD) - $13.95 88+ pts wine review
S DE LA SABLETTE COTEAUX VAROIS-EN-PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#23757) (XD) - $17.95
ERADUS SADIE ROSÉ 2025 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43353) (XD) - $19.95
TORRE ZAMBRA INCASTRO ROSA 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, IGT Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy (#50316) (XD) - $19.95 88+ pts wine review

Gorghi Tondi Maremeo Sauvignon Blanc 2025 and Dumè Frappato 2025 (Sicily) - Wine Reviews

2026-06-22T17:40:12.187-04:00

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, organic wines from Sicily. Both made their first appearance at the LCBO this month, with the Frappato arriving as part of the feature on chilled red wines in the June 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, while the Sauvignon Blanc landed over the weekend in the June 20 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these wines are produced by Tenuta Gorghi Tondi, a family-owned estate winery whose story begins with Dora Sala, the matriarch of the family and great-grandmother of sisters Annamaria and Clara Sala, who had a great love for nature, grapes, and the land. Dora was a strong, far-sighted, and innovative woman who was an inspiration to all the women in the family.

Situated in the extreme western part of the island of Sicily, Tenuta Gorghi Tondi was formally founded in 2000 by Michele, who had worked in the business for over forty years, and his wife, Doretta, who is the granddaughter of Dora. A few years later, their daughters, Annamaria and Clara, returned home from their careers and were surrounded by the family vineyards and wines, while facing a new challenge to build a future and bringing back the old dream of crafting premium wines in Sicily.

Today, Tenuta Gorghi Tondi is led by the two sisters, Annamaria and Clara, who carry on with the same determination and love for the land. The Sala family has always had a strong bond with their territory, especially the High, Medium, and Low "whirlpools" (the so-called "Gorghi") that are at the heart of an oasis, which is also the inspiration for the name of the winery - Gorghi Tondi, or Round Whirlpools. They have two properties within the Mazara del Vallo countryside, named Ramisella and San Nicola, and cover over 130 hectares of vines which overlook the horizon and are cradled by the sea breeze in Western Sicily. The winemaking philosophy at Gorghi Tondi is to produce high-quality organic and sustainable wines, in harmony with a unique and naturally gifted terroir.

As organic viticulture and sustainability are core values at Tenuta Gorghi Tondi, all the grapes are grown organically and certified since 2016, without the use of any synthetic chemicals. Emergency irrigation is practiced only if absolutely necessary to maintain the authentic aromas and flavours of the grapes. On the sustainability front, Gorghi Tondi uses clean energy to allow for sustainable development and to protect the ecosystem. In 2025, Gorghi Tondi achieved their VIVA and SOStain Sicilia certifications, which verifies their commitment to environmental performance, biodiversity protection, responsible water use, carbon footprint management, and sustainable vineyard practices.

First crafted in the 2021 vintage, the Maremeo is the Sicilian expression of Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were grown at approximately 25 metres above sea level in southwestern Sicily, in the countryside area of Mazara del Vallo, province of Trapani, in Contrada San Nicola. It comes from younger vines planted in calcareous and sandy soil that daily breathes the coastal breezes. This wine is from Gorghi Tondi's "Wines of Good Cheer" line, which aims to capture the essence of summer and the vital joy of the Mediterranean Sea's foam.

The Frappato comes from the same Contrada as the Sauvignon Blanc and was first produced in the 2017 vintage. The Dumè represents a fascinating original in the winemaking history of Tenuta Gorghi Tondi as they decided to test themselves for the first time with the indigenous Frappato, one of eastern Sicily's oldest and famous grape varieties. In the Sicilian dialect, the name Dumè literally means "ours or in our way", and Dumè was created with the desire to interpret this historic grape through the unique lens of the Mazara del Vallo terroir. The label for this wine is a lively tribute to the island's art and culture, and is inspired by the iconic geometries and colours of Sicilian ceramics.

In 2025, the growing season in Sicily featured balanced climatic conditions, resulting in fresh, balanced wines of good quality, with coastal areas and those at higher altitudes particularly standing out. Let's see how this 2025 Sauvignon Blanc and 2025 Frappato from Sicily are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

GORGHI TONDI MAREMEO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#49062) (XD) - $19.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers a fine and intriguing mix of ripe lemon citrus and sea spray aromas nuanced with passion fruit, tropical fruit, peach, saline mineral, and grapefruit. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it is well-structured and lightly honeyed with spiced flavours ripe lemon, citrus, saline mineral, tropical fruit, and peach. It has juicy, well-balanced acidity, alongside a mineral textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Juicy, saline mineral and lemon notes taper to savoury on the long, textured finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

GORGHI TONDI DUMÈ FRAPPATO 2025 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#50571) (XD) - $22.95
100% Frappato. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is ripe and fruity with red berried aromas of black raspberry, cran-cherry, and strawberry joined by whiffs of smoky mineral and savoury earth. It's light-to-mid weighted on the dry palate with lovely spicy notes alongside black raspberry, strawberry, cran-cherry, and red plum flavours surrounding a core of savoury, stony minerals. It has fresh and vibrant acidity, along with slightly grippy textured tannins. The grippy mid-palate leads to raspberry and cherry notes that taper to savoury, stony mineral flavours on the long finish. Chill well for best enjoyment and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine & exciting wines by Gorghi Tondi can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

June 20, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Beyond Chardonnay + Rosés from Provence

2026-06-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my top wine picks from the June 20, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). The theme of this large release is titled "Beyond Chardonnay", while the mini-thematic takes a very brief look at rosé wines from Provence. With 117 products, this is one of the largest releases of the year, which includes a new batch of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). Overall, it is a very good release, and all the wines should be readily available for purchase both online and in-store at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story that is titled "Beyond Chardonnay" on the cover of the magazine, while in our media documents it's listed as "Anything But Chardonnay." Regardless, the meaning is the same, offering some fine white wines crafted using varietals not-named Chardonnay. In all, there are twenty delicious alternative white wines, of which five are included among my top white wine picks. The only blend among the bunch is a Côtes du Rhône Blanc that is crafted using a blend of 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc. There are a couple of Sauvignon Blanc wines, one by Hidden Bench in Niagara, and the other is by Eva Pemper in New Zealand, as well as a Verdejo from Spain. The last wine from the thematic is actually an Orange Wine (skin-fermented white) from Chile that is crafted with the Torontel varietal.

My top red wine picks from the main release begin in Tuscany with a Riserva Chianti Classico that is mainly Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Colorino in support. The 2021 Chianti Classico is crafted with 100% Sangiovese, while the 2022 Chianti Classico is a blend of mainly (92%) Sangiovese. From Spain, the 2015 Rioja is composed of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Mazuelo, and 10% Garnacha, while the 2019 Rioja is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano, and 2% Garnacha. Also from Spain, the Priorat is crafted with 43% Garnacha, 21% Syrah, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 18% Cariñena. The only other blend is from Chile, and it is composed of 65% Carignan and 35% Carmenère.

All of my white wine recommendations from the main release are mono-varietal wines and, somewhat ironically, it begins with a top Chardonnay from Argentina. There are also a trio of Sauvignon Blanc wines, one each from Marlborough, South Africa, and Sicily. Unique wines in this release include a Pinot Grigio crafted using the Ramato method, an Albariño from Uruguay, and the native Antão Vaz from Portugal.

Among my top rosé wine picks from this release, one is from the mini-thematic featuring Rosés from Provence, and it is composed of 50% Grenache Noir, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carignan, and 10% Syrah. There is a trio of local, dry rosés worth your attention, with the versions by Stratus and Queylus both crafted with 100% Cabernet Franc, while the rosé by Fielding is a blend of 60% Gamay and 40% Pinot Noir. The last rosé recommendation is from Spain, and it is a blend of Garnacha Tinta and Viura.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

GOMERSAL SHIRAZ 2022 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#49383) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
P.S. GARCIA MALA FAMA 2021 - Valle de Itata, Chile (#50282) (XD) - $19.95
THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR OLD VINE SHIRAZ 2023 - Barossa, South Australia (#50676) (XD) - $19.95
ZUCCARDI MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS MALBEC 2024 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#49616) (XD) - $19.95
CLOS DE TAFALL 2022 - DOQ Priorat, Spain (#574616) (XD) - $22.95
LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $23.95 91 pts wine review
CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#680496) (XD) - $24.95 90+ pts wine review

PLANETA PLUMBAGO NERO D'AVOLA 2022 - DOC Sicilia Menfi, Italy (#19491) (XD) - $24.95
ESCUDERO SOLAR DE BECQUER RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#49819) (XD) - $27.95 91+ pts wine review
MONCHIERO LANGHE NEBBIOLO 2023 - DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#50758) (XD) - $27.95
SEÑORÍO DE P. PECIÑA CRIANZA 2019 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#313726) (XD) - $30.95 OFE
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - 68th Vintage, Coonawarra, South Australia (#84996) (XD) - $44.95
KEINT-HE GREER ROAD SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#51802) (XD) - $49.95 92 pts wine review
CASTELLO MONSANTO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#719864) (XD) - $58.95 OFE

White Wine:

VIDIGUEIRA ANTÃO VAZ 2024 - DOC Alentejo, Portugal (#50928) (XD) - $16.95
BERONIA RUEDA VERDEJO 2025 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#461327) (XD) - $16.95 review coming soon...
ATTEMS RAMATO PINOT GRIGIO 2025 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#111732) (XD) - $19.95
EVA PEMPER SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#48078) (XD) - $19.95
GORGHI TONDI MAREMEO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#49062) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2025 - Uruguay (#646802) (XD) - $23.95 91+ pts wine review
E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2024 - AOC, France (#290296) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
MATURANA NARANJO TORONTEL ORANGE WINE 2024 - DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#556217) (XD) - $24.95
SOUTHERN RIGHT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - WO Cape Coast, South Africa (#512277) (XD) - $24.95 OFE
LOVEBLOCK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#22851) (XD) - $24.95
HIDDEN BENCH ROSOMEL VINEYARD FUMÉ BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68825) (XD) - $29.95
CATENA ALTA HISTORIC ROWS CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, Mendoza, Argentina (#139964) (XD) - $39.95

Rosé Wine:

MUGA ROSÉ 2025 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#603795) (XD) - $17.95 88+ pts wine review
FIELDING ROSÉ 2025 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#53421) (XD) - $17.95
CHÂTEAU PARADIS ESSENCIEL AIX-EN-PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 - AOP, France (#48978) (XD) - $18.95 89 pts wine review
DOMAINE QUEYLUS ROSÉ 2025 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#32902) (XD) - $24.95
STRATUS CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, Estate Grown, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#43598) (XD) - $32.20

Illuminati RipaRosso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2023 (Italy) - Wine Review

2026-06-17T17:34:47.547-04:00

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious red crafted with Montepulciano from Abruzzo. It is a brand new arrival at the LCBO that landed on shelves across the province in the recent June 6th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Illuminati Vini, one of Abruzzo's historic family wine estates that was established in 1890 by Nicola Illuminati. He founded his first winery in the commune of Ripatransone, on the border between Marche and Abruzzo, and called it "Fattoria Nicò".

While this was the beginning of the family's history in wine, their familial history and character goes back much further in time with their ancestor, Pacifico Illuminati. Furthermore, their ancient patronymic surname means "illuminated by faith", while their coat of arms is a crescent moon and candle. These ancient symbols signified wisdom, devotion, and resolve, and were discovered, almost by chance, by more recent generations among old relics whose provenance was lost in time. In the past, the people in the village referred to the family as "grastielle", or "those who unite". The members of the Illuminati family were considered wise people who people could always turn to during a conflict, and always brought people together around a table.

In 1960, Dino Illuminati, grandson of Nicola, left Ripatransone and moved to the south to Controguerra, in Abruzzo, by the Teramo hills, which had a microclimate tempered by the Adriatic Sea and was protected by the Gran Sasso mountain range. In an area called Zanna, Dino purchased a farmhouse and 5 hectares of land, which is still Illuminati Vini's headquarters today and is surrounded by 110 hectares of vineyards.

Today, the winery is led by brothers Stefano and Lorenzo Illuminati, and Stefano's son, Nicola, who represent the 4th and 5th generations of the family. The philosophy at Illuminati Vini is that wine isn't just a craft, but a way of working in symbiosis with the land, and an idea refined from father to son, from choice to choice. Each generation has received something and added something, and together, the team carries forward a method that was built over 150 years of experimentation, preserves tradition, and continues to evolve over time.

Illuminati Vini has several lines of wines, with each wine having its own story and born from an encounter between a unique terroir and the knowledge of five generations of winegrowers. This particular red wine is from their RipaRosso line, which recounts the many facets of the Controguerra Teramo Hills, including geography, memory, and natural elements that define the character of the wines and the land that produces them.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Montepulciano that was grown in vineyards situated within the communes of Controguerra, Corropoli, and Torano Nuovo. The vineyards are planted between 200 and 270 metres above sea level, on medium textured soil that tends toward clayey. It was vinified using a traditional red wine method with long maceration of the skins in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 28°C. It underwent malolactic fermentation in steel, and was then aged in 25 hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels for 6 months.

The 2023 vintage in Abruzzo was marked by sweeping changes to the DOC which took effect that year, as well as climatic challenges. Like much of the country, Abruzzo suffered through rain and overcast skies throughout spring, which caused downy mildew, and resulted in drastically reduced yields. Summer was arid and warm, which caused many vines to go into hydric stress and slowed the ripening process. At the time of harvest, the grapes displayed uneven ripeness levels, which meant that severe selection was necessary to identify healthy grapes. Let's see how this 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ILLUMINATI RIPAROSSO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2023 - DOC, Italy (#269985) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap enclosure. Fragrant and open, the medium-high intensity nose has lifted, ripe and fruity aromas of black plum, black cherry, and spice notes layered over oak and grilled herbs in a slightly jammy profile. The weighty, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is dry and ripe with plenty of spice notes embedded with dark fruit, black cherry, black plum, currant, and herbal flavours, plus touches of smoky oak. Crisp acids are juicy and succulent, while the refined tannins have a slightly youthful grip. Spice and dark fruit characters lead to savoury, smoky oak notes on the long, well-structured finish. A food-friendly, recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Illuminati Vini can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Maison Fontan Tattoo Blanc 2024 (Southwest France) - Wine Review

2026-06-14T17:30:51.025-04:00

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng from Southwest France, that is a brand new arrival at the LCBO, landing in Ontario as part of last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 6th.

Like the delicious 2022 Maison Fontan Tattoo T&M Rouge I tasted in December, this white wine is produced by the historic and family-owned Maison Fontan, a wine estate located in the commune of Noulens, within the Gers department of southwestern France.

The story of the Fontan family began in 1907, when the first generation moved to Maubet Farm in Noulens, and practiced mixed farming. The farm was then given as a wedding gift to Ésilda and Maximen Fontan, the second generation of the family. In 1975, the husband and wife team of Jean-Claude and Aline Fontan, who represented the third generation of the family, began transforming the property into viticulture. Their passion for viticulture played a pivotal role by helping instigate the development of Côtes de Gascogne wines.

In 2001, the fourth generation of the family took over the reins as siblings Sylvain and Nadège Fontan, son and daughter, respectively, of Aline and Jean-Claude, began managing the 80 hectares of vineyards. Together, the siblings have continued to develop the estate, with Sylvain taking on the role of winemaking and cellar master, while Nadège handles marketing and sales.

Until 2021, the estate was known as Domaine de Maubet, at which point it was rebranded as Maison Fontan. The farmhouse in which their great-grandparents moved into is still central to the estate as it is a place where people live, come together and work. Nestled among vines, the traditional Gascon half-timbered building is also a place where the natural world is listened to and respected.

Today, with immense pride and unfailing courage, the Fontan siblings continue down the pathway forged by their great-grandparents. With passion and respect for their forebears and the natural environment that surrounds them, the family has always practiced sustainable winegrowing, while common sense is de rigueur. The winemaking philosophy at Fontan is based on respecting nature and the environment, along with the belief that if they nourish the soil to the right extent, and if they take care of it, it will give their vines the best grapes. From soil to glass, the family takes a thoughtful and thorough approach to every phase of production to deliver wines that are safe, well-controlled, and consistently high in quality.

This white wine is crafted using a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Gros Manseng that was grown on clay-limestone and boulbenne, a very fine, siliceous, and silty-sandy soil that is excellent terroir for white wine varieties. The grapes were machine-harvested and placed into vats to undergo 8 to 12 hours of maceration with the skins, then pressed using a pneumatic press. In order to separate the juice from the solids, it was stored at 8°C for 5 days, then underwent alcoholic fermentation at 18°C for 12 to 18 days. The wines are then filtered, assembled, and stabilized, and kept in vats at 8°C until they are bottled and released, which takes place all year round.

The growing season in 2024 in the French wine region of Southwest was, like much of the country, a difficult one with challenging weather conditions. Coulure, millerandage, mildew, frost, and hail resulted in reduced yields, which followed a poor harvest in 2023. Let's see how this 2024 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng from Côtes de Gascogne in Southwest France is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MAISON FONTAN TATTOO BLANC 2024 - IGP Côtes de Gascogne, Southwest, France (#48562) (D) - $19.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Gros Manseng has a delicate, medium+ intensity nose that is ripe and sweet fruited with candied lemon, pear, apricot, floral, and tropical fruit aromas. On the medium-full bodied palate it is rich and flavourful with delicious ripe, candied lemon, citrus, apricot, tropical fruit, and pear flavours in a zesty, slightly off-dry (i.e. sweet) profile. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the candied lemon, citrus, pear, and tropical fruit notes taper savoury notes on a slightly sticky finish, with very good length. A quality wine that will be a crowd pleaser. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Their Tattoo Rouge is available on clearance at the LCBO, while the full range of Maison Fontan wines can be ordered through their Agent - KOLONAKI Group of Companies.

Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve Brut Sparkling 2018 (Niagara) - Wine Review

2026-06-12T17:43:58.540-04:00

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a beautiful bubbly that was locally crafted in Niagara using the traditional method. It returned to the LCBO in last weekend's June 6th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Jackson-Triggs, one of Canada's most recognizable wine brands. It was established as a wine brand in 1993 by Allan Jackson and Donald Triggs under their company Vincor. By 2001, the estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake was opened, and it became a flagship centre for premium VQA wine production. From the start, the Jackson-Triggs estate in Niagara was designed from the start to produce premium VQA wines, and is noted for its gravity-flow production facility, sustainable architectural design, and visitor experience centred around wine tourism.

Jackson-Triggs was one of the first Canadian wine brands to achieve national distribution, and by the early 2000s it had become one of Canada's largest wine labels. Jackson-Triggs helped introduce many Canadians (including myself) to VQA wines and supported the growth of the Niagara wine industry. In 2006, Vincor and all its brands, including Jackson-Triggs, were acquired by Constellation Brands, who managed it for a decade until the Canadian division was sold to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

Today, Jackson-Triggs is owned by Arterra Wines Canada. The estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake is planted with mostly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling vines, and also features an outdoor amphitheatre that hosts concerts throughout the warmer months. The modern wine estate of Jackson-Triggs is considered to be one of the landmark winery buildings in Canada as the 45,000 square foot facility combines both production and hospitality under one roof.

The estate winemaker at Jackson-Triggs is Chris Holman, who was raised in Burlington, Ontario. His interest in agriculture was sown when he spent time on his grandparent's farm. Chris is a graduate of Winemaking and Viticulture programs at both Niagara College and Brock University and has held winemaking roles at a number of wineries in British Columbia and Australia. Chris also led the VQA sparkling and white winemaking programs for Arterra Wines Canada at Niagara Falls Cellars. In early 2024, Chris was appointed estate winemaker at Jackson-Triggs.

This lovely sparkling wine was crafted using a blend of 53% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, and 5% Pinot Meunier that was predominantly hand-harvested from their estate vineyard. Each varietal was whole-bunch pressed, clarified, and fermented separately. The base blend was carefully assembled to create an elegant and balanced wine. Secondary fermentation occurred in bottle with carefully selected yeast, and was aged on lees (sur lie) for five years.

In 2018, the growing season began with a cool spring, which delayed the start. In early May, the vines started taking off and made up for lost time, and enjoyed the ideal, hot and dry summer days from June to August. With above-average temperatures, the hot summer was perfect for grape development for all varieties. As harvest season approached, things got challenging as the weather shifted to high heat, humidity, and a bit of rain. Thin-skinned grapes and early-ripening varieties, such as those for this sparkling wine, were harvested at optimal quality thanks to ideal growing conditions throughout the summer. Let's see how this 2018 vintage traditional method sparkling wine from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2018 - Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#234161) (XD) - $34.95
Blend of 53% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, and 5% Pinot Meunier that was aged on its lees for 5 years. The medium-high intensity nose has a slightly mature feel to it with elegant and complex aromas of poached apple/pear, toasty brioche, pastry, autolytic, lemon citrus, and yeasty minerals. It is mid-weighted and dry with lovely, tangy apple, pear, lemon citrus, toasty, brioche, and yeasty mineral flavours in a complex profile. It has small, very finely beaded bubbles, alongside crisp and fresh acidity. Apple, pear, and lemon notes give away to toasty, leesy minerals on the long, savoury finish. Enjoy on your next special occasion. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Jackson-Triggs can be found not only at the LCBO, but also at Great Estates, Wine Rack, and Arterra Wines Canada.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Note:

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

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

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

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

Hello Summer! Here's my top wine picks from the June 6, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where "Glou Glou" is the title of the release. In all, there are 104 products offered in this release, with the ongoing theme throughout being wines for summer drinking, which includes over a dozen rosés. All the wines should be readily available for purchase both online and in-store at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story titled "Glou Glou", which is actually an onomatopoeia (i.e. words that imitate the sound it's meant to describe.) In the wine world, "glou glou" wines are easy-drinking, refreshing, and not overly serious wines. Furthermore, glou glou wines are often meant to describe chillable red wines. Of the 18 chillable reds that are included in the feature story, four are included in my top wine picks and are ideal for summer drinking. Up first is a Frappato from Sicily, followed by a Cinsault from Chile. The other two chillable red wine recommendations are blends, with the Rioja composed of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Viura, while the Portuguese red from Vinho Verde is a blend of 70% Alvarelhão, 15% Pedral, and 15% Verdelho Tinto.

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

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

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

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

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

BISQUERTT CRAZY ROWS CINSAULT 2024 - DO Secano Interior, Valle del Itata, Chile (#48197) (XD) - $16.95 88+ pts wine review
ILLUMINATI RIPAROSSO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2023 - DOC, Italy (#269985) (XD) - $17.95 88+ pts wine review
MONTE SCHIAVO MARZAIOLA LACRIMA DI MORRO D'ALBA 2024 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#50813) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
ANSELMO MENDES PARDUSCO VINHO VERDE 2023 - DOC, Portugal (#50869) (XD) - $18.95
ARTUKE 2024 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#49423) (XD) - $19.95
TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2023 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review

GORGHI TONDI DUMÈ FRAPPATO 2025 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#50571) (XD) - $22.95 90 pts wine review
ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - Sustainable, Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $23.95
MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#977629) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
STONEHAVEN RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#49433) (XD) - $29.95
WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $33.95 91 pts wine review
ORENO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95 94 pts wine review

White Wine:

MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#933424) (XD) - $16.95
FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
SAN FELICE VERMENTINO 2024 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#222802) (XD) - $18.95
KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY RIESLING 2024 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#49836) (XD) - $18.95
MAISON FONTAN TATTOO BLANC 2024 - IGP Côtes de Gascogne, Southwest, France (#48562) (D) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
HUIA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#659979) (XD) - $21.95
TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2024 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95
TSIMBIDI MONEMVASIA KYDONITSA 2024 - PGI Laconia, Greece (#33254) (XD) - $27.95

Rosé Wine:

EL GORU ROSADO GARNACHA TINTA 2025 - Vegan, Sustainable, DO Jumilla, Spain (#49815) (XD) - $14.95 88+ pts wine review
BODEGA GARZÓN ESTATE PINOT ROSÉ DE CORTE 2025 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $19.95
KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2025 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2025 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $23.95
HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2025 - VQA West Niagara, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $26.95 91 pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Note:

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

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

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

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

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely bubbly crafted in the traditional method with 100% Mauzac from Limoux (Languedoc). This arrived at the LCBO late last year in the December 20th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (and is likely sold out by now), while the Cuvée Françoise Brut Blanquette de Limoux arrived in the recent May 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

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

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

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

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

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

To craft this sparkling wine, the grapes were hand-harvested, then pressed using direct slow and low pressure. Only the freshest juices were selected for this cuvée. It underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and was aged on its lees for an average of 30 months. In the Brut Nature style, no dosage was added.

Tasting Note:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT NATURE BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $22.95
100% Mauzac aged on its lees for 30 months. The open, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers a fine mix of lemon citrus, leesy mineral, and ripe apple aromas with touches of toasty brioche, white floral, autolytic, and savoury characters. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is dry and gently honeyed with delicious, sliightly tangy flavours of apple, lemon, and citrus tapering to savoury, leesy minerals, and toasty brioche. It has fresh acidity and crisp bubbles, along with a fine mineral texture. The mineral notes carry through to the long, savoury, and textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

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