Vintages New Release Collection – August 2, 2025

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

PORTUGAL – RED WINE

BERONIA VIÑAS VIEJAS 2020 DOCa Rioja (González Byass)

DAC RED BLEND 2019 DOP Dão

This new French oak-fermented Tempranillo uses grapes from 50-year-old vines, hence its Viñas Viejas label. Clove and coffee bean aromas lead you into a palate of blueberry and blood orange, with textured tannins and supporting acidity. Drink date: 2024-2030. Score: 93 (timatkin.com, Rioja Special Report 2023 ) Medium-bodied & Fruity 16587 (XD) 750 ml $24.95 2

Alvaro Castro and his daughter, Maria, create a playful range of wines ... consistently among the best, and among the best red wine buys in Portugal. Their 2019 is a blend of touriga nacional and tinta roriz (both 30 percent) with jaen and alfrocheiro. It has the taste of wild blueberries, all skin and little fruit, then the finish races with scents of cracked green peppercorn, black currants and thyme. An elegant and resoundingly cool mountain red, this has a seductive texture on the finish ... the spiciness seeming to last for minutes. What Dão should be. Score: 94 (Joshua Greene, wineandspirits magazine.com, March 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 41893 (XD) 750 ml $23.95 2 FIUZA DUCADO DO INFANTE RESERVA RED 2022 DOP Tejo A rich, smooth wine, this is full of black fruits and ripe background tannins. With its structure softening and its black plum flavors coming to the fore, the wine is developing well. It is certainly worth aging further and will be ready to drink from 2025. Best Buy. Score: 90 (Roger Voss, Wine

PUELLES GRAN RESERVA 2015 DOCa Rioja

This is a beautiful Gran Reserva Rioja, a blend of tempranillo (95%) and garnarcha, graciano, and mazuelo (combined 5%). It was matured 24 months in a 50-50 mix of American and French barrels. The fruit is complex and well structured, with dark fruit to the fore and highlights of spiciness. The fruit-acid balance is perfect, and the tannins are nicely integrated and just perceptible. This fine wine is drinking beautifully now and will easily hold to the late 2020s. Score: 95 (Rod Phillips, Feb. 2024) Full-bodied & Smooth 30222 (XD) 750 ml $27.95 2

Enthusiast , April 1, 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 44950 (D) 750 ml

$13.95 2

SPAIN – RED WINE

ALCEÑO TWELVE 12 MESES MONASTRELL 2021 DOP Jumilla, vegan Minty oak, vanilla and briar to the ripe, rich

blackberries and some mocha chocolate. Juicy and flavorful on the palate with a peppery edge to the rich blackberries. Abundant and fine-grained tannins extend to a long, flavorful finish. An excellent monastrell. Drink now, but can hold well in the next three to five years. Score: 92 (Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com, June 2, 2023) Full-bodied & Smooth 398925 (XD) 750 ml $17.95 2 4 Organic product

A permanent collection featuring 200+ fan-favourite and signature wines, available year in, year out.

Check it out at LCBO.com/vintages

40 VINTAGES SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025