In what is now becoming a tradition, the September 4, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the 2nd "Smart Buys" release of the year. (The first "Smart Buys" release is always is the first release of the calendar year.) There is no mini-theme in this release, while the feature on local talent reveals (if you didn't know already) one of the top producers in Canada. All of these wines should be shelves across Ontario by this Saturday. And like recent releases, there are a number of VINTAGES Online Exclusive (VOE) wines and only available through LCBO.com.

We begin with the "Smart Buys" theme that features 25 wines, of which 4 are included among my top wine picks, and all are red wines. From France, the Rhône red is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, while the Languedoc red is a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 30% Mourvèdre. The other two wines are from Argentina - a Pinot Noir and a Malbec.



In local talent, Hidden Bench is the featured winery from Niagara's Beamsville Bench. They recently won "Best in Show" for one of their Chardonnays at the 2021 Decanter Wine Awards in London, England. Featured in this release are their Estate Chardonnay and Estate Pinot Noir, which are both part of the VINTAGES Essentials Collection. In addition, there is a fine semi-sweet Riesling, and their first ever Gamay.

Among my red wine picks from the rest of the release, the latest vintage of the iconic Purple Angel is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, while the Bordeaux from the great 2010 vintage consists of 74% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec. The Roussillon red is a blend of Syrah and Grenache from 60+ year old vines, while the South African red is made with 37% Pinotage, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. From Italy, the Chianti Classico is a blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo, while the Brunello is 100% Sangiovese.

From my white wine picks, the Portuguese wine is a blend of traditional varieties Códega, Rabigato, Gouveio, and Viosinho that was aged in Allier French oak barrels. The rest are all single varietal wines, including the Tuscan white that is made with Vermentino, while the Orange Wine (i.e. skin-fermented white) is made with the Gros Manseng varietal that is grown primarily in South West, France.


All of my rosé recommendations are dry in style, led by the Tavel that is made with 45% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 15% Cinsault, 8% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 4% Bourboulenc, and 2% Picpoul. The rosé from Provence is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 10% Rolle, while the rosé from Uruguay is 100% Pinot Noir. Lastly, the Champagne is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay.


Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ALPATACO PINOT NOIR 2019 - Patagonia, Argentina (#19386) (XD) - $14.95  review coming soon...
• PIATTELLI RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#452029) (XD) - $16.95  review coming soon...
• SAINT-ROCH VIEILLES VIGNES SYRAH/GRENACHE 2018 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#195107) (XD) - $16.95
• DOMAINE LA DÉCELLE RÉSERVE VALRÉAS 2017 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#14391) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
• KANONKOP KADETTE CAPE BLEND 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#21108) (XD) - $18.95  VOE
• LOSI QUERCIAVALLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#515478) (XD) - $19.95
• CLOS BAGATELLE AU FIL DE SOI SAINT-CHINIAN 2017 - AC, Languedoc, France (#561258) (XD) - $24.95
• MARCELO PELLERITI SIGNATURE CABERNET FRANC 2018 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#19387) (XD) - $29.95  FE
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE GAMAY 2019 - Unfiltered, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20422) (XD) - $29.95
• CHÂTEAU SIAURAC 2010 - AC Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, France (#309831) (XD) - $44.95  review coming soon...
• DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#113357) (XD) - $65.95
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2018 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $74.95

White Wine:

• ESTANCIA LOS CARDONES ANKO TORRONTÉS 2019 - Valle de Cafayate, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta, Argentina (#19394) (XD) - $16.95  review coming soon...
• RIGAL ORIGINAL GROS MANSENG VIN ORANGE 2020 - France (#20253) (XD) - $17.95
• PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2019 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#95802) (XD) - $18.95
• POCAS RESERVA WHITE 2019 - DOC, Douro, Portugal (#21538) (XD) - $19.95
• LAMMERSHOEK TERRAVINUM RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2016 - Swartland, South Africa (#19567) (XD) - $19.95  VOE
• LA FRALLUCA COSTA BIANCO 2017 - IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy (#20314) (XD) - $21.95  FE
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2018 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (M) - $24.95
• BACHELDER WISMER WINGFIELD OUEST VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520403) (XD) - $44.95  FE

Rosé Wine:

• MADO EN PROVENCE ROSÉ 2020 - AP Coteaux Varois en Provence, France (#19839) (XD) - $19.95
• GARZÓN RESERVA PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2020 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $22.95
• CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• VEUVE CLICQUOT LA GRANDE DAME CHAMPAGNE 2012 - Creators Edition: Yayoi Kusama, AC, Champagne, France (#20997) (XD) - $294.95  FE