Here are my top wine picks from the July 6 Vintages Release. You can also get all 68 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rosé and sparkling wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions.
Full Members can access all 68 wines that I reviewed as a text shopping list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores. (Stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so.)
They can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one click and access that list on their smartphone. This is one of the benefits of becoming a Full Member.
You can read the full details on my tasting and review process here. One of my reviews was quoted in the LCBO Vintages Catalogue for this release:
Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling 2011, Q.B.A., Mosel, Germany
Love it! There’s simply no better value on the shelf. Lime blossom gorgeous. The alcohol is refreshingly low, yet this is no wimpy wine: it’s packed with flavour. Perfect as an aperitif or companion to many dishes. Some terrific white pear and lime blossom on the finish. Try it with just about anything, but start with seafood. Pair with: pesto pasta with grilled shrimp, spinach quiche, green peas, Greek dishes, salad. Drink: 2012-2016. 599274 8.5% D 750 mL $13.95 Score: 91/100. Best Value White Wine
Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Old Schoolhouse Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand
Terrific lime-zestiness in this citrus-herbal Sauvignon Blanc. Refreshing and zippy: classic New Zealand style. I’m so delighted that this wine is back on the shelves again as it’s a classic of the Marlborough region. Top me up! Pair with: seafood salads, goat cheese with fresh baguette, poached salmon, Asian chicken salad, pork tenderloin. Drink: 2012-2015. 178319 13% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 93/100. Top Rated White Wine 
Templários Colheita Seleccionada Touriga Nacional Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, I.G.P., Tejo, Portugal
Love it! Smoky with black fruit and an earthy with a long finish. Smooth with an attractive dryness from the Cabernet in the blend. Great balance. Drink: 2013-2016. 332981 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 89/100. Best Value Red Wine
Xavier Cuvée Anonyme 2009, A.C., Châteauneuf Du Pape, Rhône, France
A gorgeous and robust blend of 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 25% Syrah grapes with the balance being 25% Counoise, Vaccarese and other grapes. Seductive nose of black cherry and blackberry liqueur, anise underbrush, cedar. Aromatic, complex, layered and deep with a very long finish. Worth every penny. Try with hearty meat dishes. Drink: 2014-2020. 337659 14.5% XD 750 mL $56.95 Score: 97/100. Top Rated Red Wine
Domaine De La Garenne Bandol Rosé 2012, A.P., Provence, France
Lovely field strawberries in this bone-dry, mouth-watering, medium-bodied number. Perfect as an aperitif or with salads. Pair with: grilled salmon, chicken skewers. Drink: 2013-2015. 323550 13.5% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. Top Rated Rosé Wine
Cave De Lugny Crémant De Bourgogne Cuvée Millésime Brut 2010, A.C., Burgundy, France
Stunningly great value! Wow! Toasty with crisp green apple fruit aromas. Your go-to bubbly for the next party so stock up now. Cave de Lugny is a co-operative of more than 250 estates. Previous vintages of this wine have won gold at the prestigious Concours des Burgundia competition. Great aperitif or companion to many dishes. Pair with: fried calamari, penne carbonara, autumn hodge-podge, barbecued lobster, apple strudel, seafood tempura, lightly grilled lake fish. Drink: 2012-2015. 183764 11.5% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 90/100. Best Value Sparkling Wine
Posted with permission of the LCBO.
