The upcoming July 8, 2017 VINTAGES Release at the LCBO features Spain as its main theme, while the mini-thematic features Cool-Climate Chardonnay. These wines will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme, which features sixteen fine wines (and spirits) from Spain, seven of which are included among my top wine picks. From Bierzo, a wine region located in northwestern Spain, in the area just north of Portugal, there are two wines made using the region's primary red varietal - Mencía. From Priorat, a small DOQ located in northeastern Spain, the Torres Salmos is a blend of 40% Carignan, 40% Grenache and 20% Syrah. From Rioja, the Bordón Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo, while the LAN Gran Reserva is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo. Only two white wines were available from Spain, and my pick among the two is a fresh Albariño. For those with a sweet tooth, you'll want to check out the Solera Sherry which is a blend of 80% Palomino and sweetened with 20% Pedro Ximénez.


The mini-thematic coincides with the upcoming International Cool-Climate Chardonnay Celebration that will take place in Niagara later this month and lists ten wines that are considered cool-climate. Three Chardonnays are included among my wine picks - they are from Bachelder, Hidden Bench and Tawse, and all are from Niagara. Also in this Release, but not included as part of the Cool-Climate feature is a lovely Chardonnay from Closson Chase in Prince Edward County.


Red wines from the rest of the release include an organic wine from South Africa that is a blend of 50% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 5% Malbec. The latest vintage of the Cave de Roquebrun is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, while the Bastide Miraflors is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. Single varietal wines include a Gamay from Beaujolais, a Malbec from Cahors (Southwest, France), and a Nebbiolo from Piedmont.

Both of my top rosé wine picks are dry, with the Tavel consisting of Cinsault, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, while the Bandol is a blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• PAGO DE VALDONEJE MENCIA 2015 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#268805) (XD) - $14.95
• AVONDALE JONTY’S DUCKS PEKIN RED 2013 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#383547) (XD) - $15.95
• CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $18.95
• RIOJA BORDÓN RESERVA 2011 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#194753) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here  88 pts
• BASTIDE MIRAFLORS VIEILLES VIGNES SYRAH/GRENACHE 2015 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#320499) (XD) - $19.95
• LAURENT PERRACHON ROCHE BLEUE JULIÉNAS 2015 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#487165) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU LAMARTINE CUVÉE PARTICULIÈRE CAHORS 2012 - AC, Southwest, France (#441238) (XD) - $24.95
• DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2015 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#446484) (XD) - $24.95
• TORRES SALMOS 2014 - DOCa Priorat, Spain (#450734) (XD) - $31.95
• MAJELLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#301531) (XD) - $33.00  FSE
• LAN GRAN RESERVA 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#928622) (XD) - $34.95
• RÉVA BAROLO 2012 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#490045) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• MULDERBOSCH CHENIN BLANC 2016 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#675421) (XD) - $14.95
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#468728) (XD) - $17.95
• FOLLAS NOVAS ALBARIÑO 2015 - DO Rias Baixas, Spain (#488981) (XD) - $19.95
• DR. HERMANN ERDENER TREPPCHEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2010 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#181917) (S) - $20.95
• CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2014 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#148866) (XD) - $28.95  re-release  reviewed here  91 pts
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2014 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068817) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here  90 pts
• TAWSE QUARRY ROAD CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#111989) (XD) - $35.80
• DUCKHORN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#094375) (XD) - $35.95
• NORMAN HARDIE UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#184432) (XD) - $39.20
• BACHELDER WISMER VINEYARD FOXCROFT BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#512178) (XD) - $44.95  reviewed here  91 pts

Rosé Wine:

• FAMILLE PERRIN TAVEL 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#680801) (XD) - $19.95
• LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2016 - AP, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BENJAMIN BRIDGE BRUT SPARKLING WINE 2011 - Méthode classique, Nova Scotia, Canada (#381533) (D) - $49.95  FSE
• PIERRE PAILLARD BOUZY GRAND CRU BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#482836) (XD) - $64.95

Fortified:

• LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY - DO, Spain (#342931) (S) (500 mL) - $23.95

Dessert Wine:

• CAVE SPRING INDIAN SUMMER SELECT LATE HARVEST RIESLING 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#415901) (S) (375 mL) - $24.95