As we head into the holiday season, the main theme of the October 2, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on European Signature wines, while in the mini-theme we venture to the Pacific Northwest south of the border. For some bizarre reason the LCBO has also re-listed in this Release all of the rosés from the last Release. On a positive note, it's great to see the LCBO finally list the wines from the VINTAGES Online Exclusives (VOE) collection in the magazine! All of the wines slated to be in stores should be on shelves across the province by Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that is a light look at European Signature wines. This feature probably could've gone a quite bit deeper, but as it stands there are ten wines among the eight categories, and four wines are included among my top wine picks. First up is a Grüner Veltliner from the Kamptal region in Austria, and secondly there is a fine Pinot Grigio from the northern Italian wine region of Südtirol – Alto Adige. Lastly, the white wine from Portugal is a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho, while the 2009 Rioja consists of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, and 10% Graciano / Mazuelo.

From the mini-feature on U.S. wines from the Pacific Northwest, namely Oregon and Washington, only seven wines are listed, three from Oregon and four from Washington. Just one wine from this feature is among my top wine recommendations - a lovely Cabernet-based blend from Washington that consists of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 8% Syrah. Additionally, there is also a nice white wine from the same producer that is a blend of 77% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Chardonnay, and 1% Marsanne which is listed as a "Flagship Exclusive" and is only available at LCBO Flagship store locations.


Looking at my red wine picks, the Wine of the Month is the Côtes du Rhône-Villages that is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. Also from Rhône, the Costières de Nîmes red is a blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre. The Argentinean red consists of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, while the Cab Sauv from Chile is actually a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménere, and 5% Petit Verdot. Meanwhile, the 2016 Bordeaux is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, and lastly, the Madiran is comprised of 90% Tannat and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from 50+ year-old vines.



Among my white wine picks, the only blend is the White Meritage from Niagara that is made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. If you're into sweet wines, the latest vintage of the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel should be on your shopping list.

All of the rosés from the last Release are featured again in this Release, and my lone rosé wine pick is a dry rosé from Provence that is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah.


For Lady Gaga fans, there are a couple of Special Edition Champagnes from Dom Pérignon. The 2010 is a blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir, while the 2006 Champagne is a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. On the more affordable side of sparkling, the bubbles from Chile is a blend of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• AROMO PRIVATE RESERVE SYRAH 2019 - Valle del Maule, Chile (#14128) (XD) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU LE GRAND MOULIN 2016 - AC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#11326) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• PATERNOSTER GIUV AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2017 - DOC, Basilicata, Italy (#21458) (XD) - $18.95
• VIÑA CHOCALAN GRAN RESERVA ORIGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Sustainable, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#21467) (XD) - $19.95
• LA FERME DU MONT LE PONNANT CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - Unfiltered, AP, France (#171371) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO SYRAH/VIOGNIER 2017 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#19390) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...

• BERTHOUMIEU CHARLES DE BATZ MADIRAN 2015 - AP, South of France (#12979) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2016 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $27.95  VOE  90 pts  wine review
• HEDGES CMS 2018 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20491) (XD) - $29.95  review coming soon...
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $32.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CHURCHSIDE PINOT NOIR 2018 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#265074) (XD) - $42.00  FE
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $60.95

White Wine:

• LA FORTEZZA GRECO 2018 - DOC Sannio, Campania, Italy (#17744) (XD) - $15.95
• MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO / ALVARINHO 2020 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $17.95
• MARKUS HUBER TERRASSEN GRÜNER VELTLINER 2019 - DAC Traisental, Austria (#484956) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2019 - DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#83287) (XD) - $19.95
• ALLRAM STRASS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2019 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#14189) (XD) - $19.95
• KELLEREI BOZEN PINOT GRIGIO 2019 - DOC Südtirol – Alto Adige, Italy (#249466) (XD) - $19.95
• STUDERT-PRÜM MAXIMINHOF WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT 2019 - Estate bottled, Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#970129) (S) - $23.95  FE
• HEDGES CMS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20496) (XD) - $24.95  FE
• JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE MERITAGE 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#360297) (XD) - $25.95

Rosé Wine:

• VANDERPUMP ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#14808) (XD) - $29.95  review coming soon...

Sparkling Wine:

• UNDURRAGA TITILLUM BLANC DE NOIRS - Traditional method, Valle del Leyda, Chile (#21215) (XD) - $19.95
• DOM PÉRIGNON BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2010 - Creators Edition: Lady Gaga, AC, France (#20755) (XD) - $296.95
• DOM PÉRIGNON BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2006 - Creators Edition: Lady Gaga, AC, France (#20996) (XD) - $375.95  FE

Fortified Wine:

• BARROS COLHEITA TAWNY PORT 1998 - DOC, Portugal (#18603) (S) - $59.95  VOE