Vintages New Release Collection – May 10, 2025

At LCBO, we’re focused on building a more sustainable future through our Spirit of Sustainability initiative, which celebrates trade partners who work to promote diversity and inclusion, community investment and sound environmental practices. Learn more at LCBO.com/sustainability .

STRATUS CABERNET FRANC 2021 6 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, sustainable, vegan “Cabernet Franc is Ontario’s Bordeaux red. It’s very suited to our climate. Regardless of the vintage, it will typically survive winters and produce a high-quality wine. This has that nice yin-yang between berry fruit and an herbaceous edge. It’s a little bit spicy, with flavours of dark cherry, raspberry, and pink peppercorn. It’s great with barbecue, steaks, stews and lamb.” (Suzanne Janke) 89 points ( Wine Enthusiast ) Medium-bodied & Fruity 412759 (XD) 750 mL $45.20 2

Stratus is celebrated for being the world’s first fully LEED-certified winery. But did you know that when Stratus’s state-of-the-art winery building opened in 2005, it was the first LEED-certified building in Canada? “It’s a great foundation, literally and figuratively,” says estate director Suzanne Janke. But it was just the beginning. “Through our explorations of how we could improve our environmental footprint,” Janke continues, “we knew that transportation was the biggest thing that wasn’t in our total control.” The weight of glass bottles as they move from production to consumer has a big impact on carbon emissions. After an extensive search for a new bottle, Stratus found a winner, coming in at 370 grams. “Our previous bottle was 790,” says Janke. “We moved to lightweight glass in 2021 for our entire Stratus lineup.” Stratus estimates the switch has saved over 5 kg per case, or 35 metric tonnes of glass weight per vintage. We all like to believe the bottle we put in the recycling bin comes back as a new bottle but, as Janke points out, “that’s really not the case. It often ends up in sub-products like pavement. Glass is made from silica sand which is a non-renewable resource, and it’s in jeopardy. So the idea of every place on the planet continuing to produce glass for a single-use moment … It’s not sustainable.” Stratus is working with Kitchener company Circulr on a bottle reuse program and released their first wine in second-use bottles on Earth Day (April 22) 2024. Knowing their history, it’s not surprising to see them at the leading edge.

STRATUS WHITE 2022 6 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, sustainable, vegan “This wine is sustainable because, as an assemblage, the components can really fluctuate based on the vintage and what Mother Nature gives us. It’s so aromatically delightful. On the palate, it’s fruity but lean and dry with beautiful layers of tangerine, melon, sometimes pineapple and mango. It’s very versatile with food – we call it a bit of a chameleon – and it’s very ageable.” (Suzanne Janke) 94 points (winesinniagara.com) Aromatic & Flavourful 660704 (XD) 750 mL $49.20 2

FOR COMPLETE TASTING NOTES, SEE PAGES 29 TO 30.