Here's my top wine picks from the May 11, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It's a big release with 111 wines on offer, with the theme of the release focusing on the Classic Euro Regions. If you can get your hands on the magazine, also included in this release is a sneak preview of the wines in the May 25 release (more on this in a couple of weeks). All wines from this release should be available for purchase online and in-stores across Ontario by Saturday.

We'll begin with the theme titled "The Wine Pantheon - Classic Euro Regions" and it consists of eighteen wines from the six major wine producing regions of Europe - Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. Five wines from the theme are included among my top wine picks, starting in Greece with a lovely Malagousia. My lone recommendation from France is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is crafted with 39% Grenache, 33% Mourvèdre, 25% Syrah, and 3% Cinsault. There are a pair of wines from Italy - the Vino Nobile is Montepulciano made with 70% Sangiovese and 30% Canaiolo, while the white wine from Sicily is certified organic and crafted with 100% Grillo. The last wine from the theme is a Portuguese red that is featured on the cover and is a 50/50 blend of Tinta Roriz and Castelão.



Red wine recommendations from the main release starts with the Rioja that is composed of Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano, followed by the Riserva Chianti Classico that is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The only other blend is from Roussillon, and it is made with 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. The rest of the reds are all mono-varietal wines, including the lovely Cabernet Franc from Niagara.


There are a couple of white wine blend recommendations from the main release, with the Calabrian white a blend of Greco Bianco and Chardonnay, while the Roussillon white is composed of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. Local wines also showed well with a pair of lovely wines by Featherstone - a Sauvignon Blanc and an off-dry Riesling, as well as the Westcott Chardonnay, all from Niagara. You can also pick up a fine Torrontés from Argentina, or go off the beaten path and try an Albariño from Languedoc.



Among my pink wine recommendations, on the local front, we have a Niagara rosé that is a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 28% Gewürztraminer, while the Prince Edward County rosé is crafted using Gamay. Lastly, the Tavel rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Bourboulenc, and 5% Cinsault. Both sparkling wines are also blends, with the South African sparkling composed of 50% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay, and 1% Meunier, while the Cava is a blend of 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay.


Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• QUINTA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO 2020 - Vegan, Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal (#488015) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Vegan, sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $17.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Vegan, Perdriel, Mendoza, Argentina (#261891) (XD) - $18.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2022 - Vegan, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#261867) (XD) - $18.95
• BASTIDE MIRAFLORS SYRAH / VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE 2021 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#320499) (XD) - $19.95
• MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#288530) (XD) - $24.95
• FEATHERSTONE RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#38301) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $33.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#735407) (XD) - $64.95
• MUGA PRADO ENEA GRAN RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#743310) (XD) - $78.95

White Wine:

• LAURENT MIQUEL SOLAS ALBARIÑO 2022 - IGP Aude, Languedoc, France (#36005) (XD) - $16.95
• FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• SAINT-ROCH CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON CORBAROL 2022 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#175232) (XD) - $17.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2023 - Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
• FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#80234) (M) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95  review coming soon...
• MEGA SPILEO MALAGOUSIA 2022 - PGI Achaia, Greece (#36837) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• TENUTA IUZZOLINI MADRE GOCCIA 2022 - IGT Calabria, Italy (#36512) (XD) - $22.95  review coming soon...
  
• WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#424507) (XD) - $29.95  90+ pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2023 - Vegan, sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASA-DEA ROSÉ 2021 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#38296) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2023 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AP, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• MURVIEDRO ARTS DE LUNA BRUT NATURE ORGANIC SPARKLING - Vegan, DOP Cava, Spain (#25073) (XD) - $14.95
• GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (XD) - $22.95