Here are my top wine picks from the February 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release, where the theme of the release focuses on five wine regions in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a pretty good release with many fine options, although the number of sub-$20 wines continues to dwindle.

We begin in the Southern Hemisphere where five well-known wine producing countries are featured. In total there are a combined 21 wines listed between Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, and six are included among my top wine picks. Argentina has three recommendations with a pair of lovely Malbec wines, as well as a Chardonnay. From Chile there is a Cabernet Sauvignon, and from South Africa there is a Merlot and a perennial favourite - Chenin Blanc.


Among my top red wine picks from the rest of the release, there are quite a few blends. We start at home in Ontario where the wine from Niagara is crafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Staying with Bordeaux varieties but moving to its namesake region, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru consists of mostly Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon completing the blend, while the Fronsac is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. Moving to Tuscany, the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo, and 2% Colorino, while the Annata Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese. Also from Italy, the wine from Sardinia is made with Cannonau (a.k.a. Grenache or Garnacha), while the Etna Rosso is crafted with 85% Nerello Mascalese and 15% Nerello Cappuccio from grown on volcanic soils.



The only blend among my white wine recommendations from the rest of the release is from Bordeaux it is composed of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon. Other white wines include a consistently well-made Verdicchio from Marche, and a lovely Chardonnay from Burgundy. For sweet wine lovers, look to the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel.


There are also a couple of lovely pink wines worth your attention. The Crémant sparkling wine is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and 10% Gamay, while the dry pink table wine is composed of 47% Cinsault, 42% Grenache Noir, 6.5% Grenache Blanc, and 4.5% Clairette.


Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION MERLOT 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#26669) (XD) - $16.95
• FINCA LALANDE ORGANIC MALBEC 2020 - Vegan, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28082) (XD) - $17.95
• JERZU MARGHIA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA 2020 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#508630) (XD) - $18.95
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Valle del Maipo, Chile (#431015) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• NICOSIA LENZA DI MUNTI 2018 - Sustainable, DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#28129) (XD) - $23.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA'S RED 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $25.00  review coming soon...
• EL ESTECO 1946 OLD VINES MALBEC 2021 - Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina (#19391) (XD) - $25.95
• CHÂTEAU DU GAZIN 2018 - AP Canon Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#26303) (XD) - $25.95
• CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE FIGEAC 2018 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#496661) (XD) - $29.95
• DIEVOLE NOVECENTO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#213926) (XD) - $45.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2021 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#28717) (XD) - $15.95
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $18.95
• VIÑA COBOS FELINO CHARDONNAY 2021 - Unfined and unfiltered, Mendoza, Argentina (#119099) (XD) - $19.95
• CASAL DI SERRA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2020 - DOCG, Marche, Italy (#268169) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  updated review soon...
• ANDRÉ GOICHOT MÂCON-VILLAGES 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#26439) (XD) - $22.95
• SELBACH TRADITION FEINHERB RIESLING KABINETT 2020 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#21031) (M) - $24.95

Rosé Wine:

• BONNY DOON VINEYARD VIN GRIS DE CIGARE 2021 - Central Coast, California, USA (#19526) (XD) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

• HENRI CHAMPLIAU BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Traditional method, AC, Burgundy, France (#20945) (XD) - $25.95  91 pts  wine review