Vintages New Release Collection – September 27, 2025

MATURE OUTLOOK 13 WELL-AGED WINES

FINE KOSHER WINES

SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

wines

of the month

Studies in complexity

AGRAMONT GRAN RESERVA 2015 DO Navarra, Spain 44663 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2 Made with Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has a bouquet of black currant, pomegranate, baking spice and coffee. A web of silky tannins encases flavors of black cherry, blackberry preserves, milk chocolate, aniseed, marjoram and lavender that endure into a pleasing finish. Score: 93 (Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast , Dec. 31, 2023) Medium-bodied & Fruity Featured in Age Before Beauty New at Vintages ARBOLEDA CARMENÈRE 2022 DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile 46284 (XD) 750 ml $18.95 2 The Las Vertientes Vineyard is a sort of mini-valley flanked by mountains of the Coastal Mountain Range, in the Aconcagua Valley, some 30 kilometers from the sea. Red fruits dominate but are accompanied by spices and the variety’s typical classic herbal notes. The fine texture is composed of firm, sharp tannins, the acidity is juicy, and on the finish, it is the herbs’ turn to dominate. Score: 93 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2025)

Full-bodied & Firm

SEPTEMBER 27

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

AGE BEFORE BEAUTY page 4

SHOP LCBO.com for all the products in this catalogue.

plus...

FINE KOSHER WINES page 22

What’s On / page 2 Product Info &

Tasting Notes / page 25 Shopping List / page 42 More Ontario to Love / page 44 Savings & Bonus Points / page 46

LOCAL FIND page 24

Product availability: Due to printing lead times, availability of some products in this catalogue may change and may vary by store location. For the most up-to-date product availability, visit LCBO.com.

A snapshot of exciting events, great wines to try, new collections, special offers and more. WHAT’S ON

IN-STORE NOW

The sheep of South Island, New Zealand, have an enviable view.

TOHU AWATERE VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2024 Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand 43361 (XD) 750 ml $22.95

TE PĀ MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand, sustainable 43360 (XD) 750 ml $18.95

FOR COMPLETE TASTING NOTES, SEE PAGE 32.

ROOTED IN TRADITION

Also look for:

As part of LCBO’s ongoing commitment to supporting diversity in the wine industry, we’re pleased to be releasing these two fine wines crafted by indigenous New Zealand producers. Tohu is the world’s first Māori-owned wine business. Their logo, derived from a koru pattern, symbolises growth, life and the natural world. Te Pā Wines founder and owner Haysley MacDonald traces his ancestry to early Māori settlers who landed in New Zealand 800 years ago. He holds the same commitments they did: respect for the land, keeping simple things in balance and being proudly independent.

TARRAS CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR 2020 (43605), another indigenous- made wine, from our September 13 release.

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CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL EDITION Are you reading a paper copy of this magazine that you picked up in a store? Did you know it’s also published in a convenient digital format? Find it at LCBO.com/vintages or sign up for Vintages Latest emails to get a link for every issue mailed right to your inbox.

ESSENTIALS COLLECTION

IN-STORE TASTINGS

Did you know? Now that you’ve learned a little about how vintage year and the age of a wine can affect its flavour and appearance (pages 4-21), you may wonder why when you peruse the Essentials Collection on LCBO.com, the vintage isn’t listed for any of the wines, nor are there scores or reviews from critics. This is because Essentials wines are always available at LCBO, so at any given time we might have one or two different vintage years of a particular Essential in different stores and on LCBO.com as inventory comes and goes. Our expert team provides assessments of the wines that will be consistent across vintages. You can find these tasting notes on LCBO.com.

From September 14 to October 11, we’re hosting special tastings on Fridays and Saturdays in 75 LCBO stores featuring a selection chosen from the 450+ Ontario VQA wines LCBO carries. Stop in to explore these themes: New​VQA wines Signature styles under $20​ TASTE LOCAL

Visit LCBO.com/vintages to see the full Essentials Collection.

Trending​wine styles Thanksgiving wines

Selection varies by store. Visit LCBO.com/events for details.

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When Montgomery Brewster treats his friends to bottles of 1961 Lafite Rothschild, or when James Bond orders a 1955 Dom Pérignon, everyone in the theatre (or streaming at home on the couch), no matter how little wine knowledge they possess, knows that these are special, expensive wines whose value is connected not only to their age but to the year they were made. This collection of 13 wines from vintages spanning 2006 to 2018 will help you learn about mature and maturing wines without requiring you to inherit millions from an eccentric wealthy uncle or access a secret-agent’s expense account. Explore a collection of wines from older vintages and learn the ins and outs of ageing. AGE BEFORE BEAUTY

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Time in a bottle Some of the wines in this feature are at the beginning of their journey, some are at their peak, and some have a few furlongs left in the race, but all can be enjoyed tonight. In their youth, wines offer what are called primary flavours: bold, ripe fruit such as plum, cherry and cassis in red wines and green apple, apricot and citrus in white wines. But over time, wine interacts with the air that seeps slowly through the cork, and tertiary (secondary) flavours like dried fruit, dried flowers, mushroom and leather begin to appear in reds, while honey, dried herbs, nuts and earth emerge in whites. Red wines become lighter, rounder and smoother, with their colour changing from ruby or opaque and dark to a red brick and then a brownish orange. White wines, curiously enough, become darker, moving from clear and bright to golden and amber tones.

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FORGET-BRIMONT 1 ER CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2014 AOC, France The 2014 is a 50/50 split of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and saw 10 years on the lees, resting horizontally in chalk cellars. From a sixth-generation winemaking family, it’s a classic expression that incorporates the very best of Champagne’s noted minerality and exuberance. Ready to be enjoyed now, it will continue to age into the early-to-mid 2030s. Rich & Complex 19996 (XD) 750 ml $129.95 2 To know if a mature wine is still viable, open and pour it as usual (taking care not to include any of the sediment that may have developed over time), then just as you would with a young wine, check the aromatics. If the wine doesn’t smell musty or off, take a small sip. If the taste is to your liking, the wine is still good to drink.

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STRATUS WHITE 2007 6 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

85% new oak. Supple and expressive with tangerine, pear and apricot notes. Has some spiciness with a bit of fine toastiness. Has developed really nicely. Very subtle green hints and nice fine toasty notes. Lots of life in this still. Score: 92 (Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com, Aug. 11, 2024) Full-bodied & Rich 47592 (D) 750 ml $59.20 1 New at Vintages FLAT ROCK NADJA’S VINEYARD RIESLING 2016 6 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario This is a very pleasant juicy, intensely flavoured, fresh and superbly balanced riesling. It shows great drinkability. Look for complex, lifted, aromas of grapefruit/orange, lemon grass, pineapple and spice. It is very zesty and just off dry, with excellent concentration and depth. Delicious! Last tasted November 2017 when it won Best of Show at the Toronto edition of Gold Medal Plates. Score: 93 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Aromatic & Flavourful 578625 (M) 750 ml $45.00 2 Hazelnuts, chocolate, vanilla spices and touches of lanolin and tobacco to the dark cherries and plums. This is starting to gain tertiary complexity even though the cedary oak influence is still prominent, which actually serves to protect the wine from aging. Creamy, flavorful and long, with lots of juicy fruit and fine oak spices. Drink from 2026. Score: 93 (Zekun Shuai, james suckling.com, May 6, 2024) Full-bodied & Smooth 44870 (XD) 750 ml $51.95 3 IZARBE GRAN RESERVA 2007 DOCa Rioja, Spain (Chavarri)

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VINTAGES 9

Time travellers Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Syrah, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling.

Creating cellar-worthy wines requires skilled winemaking, perfect terroir, and the right grape in the right place. Not all wines will age. Typically, when people are speaking of cellaring wines, they’re talking about red wines. However, some whites such as Chardonnay and Riesling can age for decades, as can some traditional-method sparklers. Knowing which grapes and which regions will develop will help you purchase an older vintage, or something for your cellar, with confidence.

GOLDEN OLDIES

Our Cellar Collection monthly features are a great, ever-changing source for older and cellar-worthy wines from the world’s top producers and regions. Visit LCBO.com/vintages and click “Cellar Collection” to see what’s new (and old!).

For big reds like Bordeaux’s Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, structure and tannin are key factors to ageability; while for lighter reds like Pinot Noir (a seemingly delicate, ethereal wine), acidity, depth and overall balance allow for long life, especially in wines from premier cru sites in Burgundy. For white wines, the naturally high acidity in grapes like a Mosel Riesling or a Burgundian Chardonnay makes all the difference. Some of the most famously ageable wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Mosel, Rhône, Champagne, Rioja, Piedmont, Barossa Valley and South Africa. AGRAMONT GRAN RESERVA 2015 DO Navarra, Spain Made with Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has a bouquet of black currant, pomegranate, baking spice and coffee. A web of silky tannins encases flavors of black cherry, blackberry preserves, milk chocolate, aniseed, marjoram and lavender that endure into a pleasing finish. Score: 93 (Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast , Dec. 31, 2023) Medium-bodied & Fruity 44663 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2 Featured as our Wine of the Month New at Vintages

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What a difference a year makes Vintage variation and good vs. great years.

What makes a good vintage or a great one? It all comes down to the weather and, most importantly, the available sunshine (the engine of photosynthesis) in that year. Too much rain, too many overcast days, and cooler-than- or hotter-than-expected temperatures will negatively affect the health of the grapes, impacting flavour concentration, acidity, quality of tannins, and overall balance. Great vintages occur when the weather is perfect, providing the grapes with the ideal conditions to mature slowly, evenly and fully. Such conditions are especially important in the weeks leading up to and during the critical time of harvest.

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Different types of grapes mature at different times and under different conditions, which is why a great year for red wines doesn’t necessarily mean a great year for whites. Places like Bordeaux and Burgundy are famously vintage-driven. This is because their weather can be quite volatile and changeable, resulting in significant differences (a.k.a. vintage variation) from year to year. When all factors align, you get a great vintage, like 2005 or 2010 in Bordeaux, 2007 in the Rhône, or 2020 here in Ontario.

TERRENO MOMENTO MASSIMO 2016 IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy The Terreno 2016 MM (Momento Massimo) is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 30% Petit Verdot that completes two years in barrique. This is an exciting new submission from this estate from a vintage that has captured our hearts. The wine opens to inky dark fruit, seamless integration and soft concentration with full-bodied appeal. The bouquet is tightly held together thanks to a very direct and linear aromatic presentation highlighted by pencil shavings and crushed stone. The wine remains fresh and tonic throughout, yet it has the textural layering to pair with important cuts of beef. Drink date: 2022-2030. Score: 94 (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Feb. 9, 2023) Full-bodied & Firm 44854 (XD) 750 ml $49.95 2 New at Vintages

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DECANTING DECODED

Decanting a young red wine for 30 minutes (or several hours for particularly tannic wines like Barolo) will “age” the wine by allowing oxygen to soften the tannins while opening the wine’s aromas and flavours. Though this isn’t a scientific measurement (and keeping in mind that it’s impossible to replicate the true effect of time), you can think of one hour of decanting as approximating one year in the cellar. Decanting is also important for mature wines. A careful decanting will keep the sediment that develops over time out of your glass.

SHOP SMART! TRY SAME DAY PICKUP This convenient free service is available in 500+ LCBO stores. Just visit LCBO.com, select your local store and shop from the available inventory. Choose Same- Day Pickup at checkout and your wine will be packed and waiting for you near the cash within 2 hours. Other ways to shop this release on LCBO.com: • Home Delivery (to your door within 3-5 business days) • Ship to Store (shipped FREE to your local store)

Scan here to shop now

MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile, dry farmed, estate bottled Real cabernet character with sweet tobacco, currant and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a long finish. Fantastic quality for the money. Drink now [through 2026+]. Score: 93 (jamessuckling.com, May 13, 2016) Full-bodied & Smooth 45086 (XD) 750 ml $32.95 2

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On your marks, get set, wait! A few basics for starting a cellar. If you want to start a cellar, you don’t need to dedicate an entire room to the enterprise. A closet, cupboard or a section of a wardrobe will do. What’s important is that where you store your wine is dark, cool, and free from vibrations, so don’t put it in the same room as your washer and dryer. Ultraviolet light, heat, and vibration all have a negative impact on a wine’s development. A consistent, cool temperature range of ideally 10-15 °C will encourage a slow, even maturation – as important in the cellar as it is in the vineyard.

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Cellaring properly doesn’t only apply to wines that will keep for decades, though. A wine that will evolve for 3-5 years will need the same care. Keep track of your wines and how they might be changing with a cellar-tracking app, or go old school and use a pen and notebook. Keep the original critic’s note and your initial comments about the wine so that you can compare and update your impressions as you enjoy each bottle over the years.

URBINA ESPECIAL RESERVA 2006 DOCa Rioja, Spain If you love mature, traditionally made Rioja, this will put a smile on your face. Made from Tempranillo and 5% Graciano and Mazuelo, it has the freshness and elegance you’d expect from the cooler Cuzcurrita zone, spicy French and American oak, fine-grained tannins and palate-caressing wild strawberry sweetness. Drink date: 2022-2026. Score: 96 (Tim Atkin, MW, timatkin.com, Rioja Special Report 2022 ) Medium-bodied & Fruity 10494 (XD) 750 ml $44.95 2 CHÂTEAU MONRECUEIL CASTILLON CÔTES DE BORDEAUX 2016 AOC, Bordeaux, France Very upbeat blackberries and plums on offer with a smooth, plush and slightly flinty edge to the finish. Neat, gossamer tannins here. Try from 2020. Score: 90 (jamessuckling.com, Jan. 14, 2019) Full-bodied & Smooth 22948 (XD) 750 ml $24.95 1

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Find your sweet spot Follow one wine over several years.

Wine critics often include prime drinking windows with their reviews (which you’ll see near the end of our product notes in this publication), but individual preference will always dictate when a wine is ready to drink. The best (and most fun) way to determine your inclination with various styles is to purchase several bottles of the same wine and follow its development over the course of a few years. Taste one shortly after you bring them home, make your own notes, and save your initial notes and the critics’ tasting notes, if there are any. Repeat the exercise in two years, then five years, then in as many years as you want. Tasting the wine at different points will help you zero in on your sweet spot. These two wines from this release are good options for trying it out: Cavino Nemea Grande Reserve 2018 and La Spinona Bergera Barolo 2015 (both shown opposite).

Open tonight or save for later?

For an at-a-glance indication of whether a wine will be good with tonight’s dinner or better in a few years, look at the small bottle symbol we include with every wine in this publication.

1 DRINK NOW / Enjoy tonight. There’s no benefit to cellaring. 2 DRINK OR HOLD / Can be enjoyed now, but can be matured further by cellaring. 3 HOLD / This wine can be enjoyed now, but it will further develop favourably if cellared under ideal conditions.

CAVINO NEMEA GRANDE RESERVE 2018 PDO Neméa, Greece For a wine to mature gracefully, it’s essential that it possess a core of vibrant acidity. This Agiorgitiko is sourced from vines planted on the slopes of one of Greece’s highest mountain ranges, where elevation, cool evenings, and cool breezes combine with plentiful sunshine to ensure it retains this precious acidity as it ripens. Look for red fruit, spice, vanilla and toast. Drink through 2030+. Full-bodied & Smooth 295618 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 2

LA SPINONA BERGERA BAROLO 2015 DOCG, Piedmont, Italy Black cherry, tar and truffle nose. A big, tannic wine with a lingering, earthy finish. Profound and precise. [Drink into the mid-2030s]. Score: 94 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2020) Full-bodied & Firm 577882 (XD) 750 ml $69.95 2

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TASTE THESE WINES

On Saturdays between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the tasting bar in 100+ LCBO stores, you can sample up to four wines from this feature selected by our in-store Product Consultants. Visit LCBO.com and scroll down to “LCBO Events” for details and store locations.

ERASMO RED 2015 DO Valle del Maule, Chile (Viña La Reserva de Caliboro)

This is the winery’s emblematic wine, and it’s from vineyards that Count Marone Cinzano planted on the banks of the Perquilauquen River in the deep Maule in the mid-1990s. Made with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and finished with syrah, the wine was aged in barrels for more than a year before being bottled in the winter of 2017. The house style at a bright moment. The blend shows red and black fruits as well as spices, and the body is generous but very well defined by firm and refreshing acidity. This is for the cellar. Score: 95 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2021) Full-bodied & Smooth 311837 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2

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CHÂTEAU TOUR DE SARRAIL 2012 AOC Bordeaux, France (Hubert de Boüard & Bernard Pujol)

Made from merlot (80%) and cabernets (20%) and aged 12 months in oak, this lovely blend is holding its character and quality well, 10 years on. As one would expect, some tertiary notes are peeking through the well-focused fruit, but the flavour profile remains well layered and attractive. The balance of solid fruit and fresh acid is very good, and the tannins are resolved. This harmonious wine should hold at this plateau for another three or four years, at least. [Drink through 2025+.] Score: 92 (Rod Phillips, undated) Full-bodied & Smooth 448829 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 1

Career highlights The life and times of

Château Tour de Sarrail 2012 Here’s an example of how a wine evolves over time, featuring the Bordeaux on this page.

2013 / Rich and bold with plentiful forward black and blue fruit, fresh herbs, and smooth but structured tannins.

2017 / Still maintaining its youthful colour and fruit, but with emerging dried fruit notes, leather and earth.

2022 / A good dollop of ripe fruit still present, but mature tertiary notes of dried florals, dried fruit and earth with suggestions of clove and tobacco. Colour turning noticeably to red brick.

2025 / Dried black fruit, dried tobacco, dried herbs, and delicate, silky-smooth, melted tannins.

In addition to the kosher wines in this feature and others that appear regularly in the Vintages New Release Collection, LCBO carries a wide selection from around the world, available online and in our stores. Visit LCBO.com and search “kosher” for more.

A KOSHER COLLECTION With Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot in late September and early October respectively, now’s the perfect time to pick up some superb kosher wines from our year-round selection. Whether you’re hosting a meal or giving a gift, these wines are sure to please.

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GALIL MOUNTAIN SYRAH KP Galilee, Israel

CARMEL SIGNATURE BLACK CABERNET SAUVIGNON KPM Galilee, Israel

BARKAN PLATINUM CABERNET SAUVIGNON KPM Upper Galilee, Israel

Dedicated to sustainability, Galil Mountain Winery is outfitted with rooftop solar panels to harness energy for winemaking. Smooth and generous with ripe blueberry, cherry and vanilla spice, this wine is nicely suited to grilled lamb and garlicky green beans. Full-bodied & Smooth 141580 (XD) 750 ml $23.70 1 Kosher for Passover

Founded in 1882 by Edmond James de Rothschild, Carmel is the largest winery in Israel. This elegant, complex wine shows ripe fruit, finely tuned oak spice and mineral. It would pair beautifully with brisket and roasted root vegetables. Full-bodied & Firm 44849 (XD) 750 ml $48.95 2 Kosher for Passover & Mevushal

Established in the 19th century, Barkan Vineyards opened a state-of-the-art winery in 2000. They focus on crafting exceptional wines while minimizing environmental impact. Brimming with lush, spicy dark fruit, this wine pairs well with beef ribs in pomegranate reduction. Full-bodied & Firm 44491 (XD) 750 ml $49.75 2 Kosher for Passover & Mevushal

FOR COMPLETE TASTING NOTES, SEE PAGE 37.

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FIND LOCAL

An insider’s guide to great Ontario wines.

I love it

because... It offers aromas of strawberry, raspberry and plum. 1. 2. The subtle, savoury earthiness makes this a perfect autumn wine. 3. It pairs with a variety of grilled foods including salmon, beef, and portobello mushrooms.

Sean Adams Ontario Wine Buyer

Gam-eh

Gamay may be best known for Beaujolais, but it’s found a second home in Ontario, where it was first planted in the 1970s. Niagara’s cool climate and ancient limestone soils help create distinct, impressive expressions that are turning heads the world over. Sorry not sorry, but we are just really good at it.

RAVINE GAMAY NOIR 2022 6 VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake 47390 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2 Light-bodied & Fruity 89 points (Decanter World Wine Awards)

FOR COMPLETE TASTING NOTE, SEE PAGE 29.

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

PRODUCT NOTES

SAKE

NAKANO KUNI ZAKARI MOMO PEACH SAKE Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Flavoured with Japanese white peach, this sake is sweet, juicy and bright with plenty of intense peach character. A lovely sipper that has a lower alcohol level than many sakes, it should be served lightly chilled. Try it in a variety of cocktails or mix it with sparkling wine for a unique take on a Bellini. 646000 (S) 300 ml $17.95 1

WANT TO SHOP CANADIAN? 6 Look for this icon to support products that are made in Canada. DRINKABILITY INDEX This index is intended as a guideline and reflects the collective view of our purchasing panel. 1 DRINK NOW: Enjoy tonight. There is no benefit to cellaring. 2 DRINK OR HOLD: Can be enjoyed now, but may be matured further by cellaring. 3 HOLD: This wine may be enjoyed now, but it will develop favourably under ideal cellaring conditions. SUGAR CONTENT Residual sugar content (e.g., 5 g/L ) is displayed on shelf signs and on LCBO.com. Perceived sweetness – ranging from Extra Dry to Sweet or XD , D , M , MS , S – is printed in this catalogue, on shelf signs and online. Please discuss specifics with a Product Consultant. WINE STYLES Every wine in this section includes a style (e.g. Full-bodied & Smooth, Aromatic & Flavourful) designed to help you quickly and easily choose products. ORGANIC PRODUCTS Wines designated as organic 4 contain 30 mg/L or less of free sulphur for dry wines (<50 g/L sugar); 35 mg/L or less for sweeter wines (50-99 g/L sugar); 45 mg/L or less for sweet wines (>99 g/L sugar). ALCOHOL CONTENT The alcohol/volume content for any product released by Vintages is available online. Visit LCBO.com/vintages and enter the product number into the search field. Products in this catalogue are available in stores and online in limited quantities. All reviews, scores, prices and content in this catalogue are accurate and current at time of printing. Prices are subject to change without notice. For up-to-date prices, visit LCBO.com/vintages. All prices include applicable container deposit and HST. Vintages cannot assume responsibility for typographical errors in this catalogue.

NAKANO KUNI ZAKARI NASHI PEAR SAKE Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Established in the city of Handa, the Nakano Sake Brewery first opened its doors as Marunaka Sake Brewery in 1844. It wasn’t until 1990 that the company officially changed its name to Nakano Sake Brewery and began to produce fruit liqueurs. Crafted with Asian pear, this crisp, lively sake has suggestions of pear, apple, buttercream and lemon. 13386 (S) 300 ml $17.95 1

UMEDA HONSHU-ICHI NIGORI SAKE Hiroshima, Japan

Umeda House was founded in 1916 and to this day, water for its sake production is sourced from runoff of Mount Iwtaki at a spot just 60 metres directly below the brewery. This nuanced sake offers notions of white pepper, roasted fennel, soy sauce, meat jus and mushroom, with a fantastic interplay of sweet and umami qualities. Sip with tandoori chicken or a mushroom omelette. 45727 (XD) 300 ml $12.95 1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 VINTAGES 25

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

SAKE CONT’D

SHERRY LA GUITA DO Manzanilla – Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain (Hijos de Rainera Pérez Marin) An expressive, balanced wine, with complex notes of lemon, almond, dried apple, spice, vanilla, nuts, and delicate licorice, plus a saline undertone. Excellent purity and authenticity. Dry 337022 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2

URAKASUMI HONJIKOMI SAKE Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

Crafted in an easy-to-enjoy style, this smooth, balanced, flavourful sake has excellent weight and a refreshing finish. Look for notes of custard cream, ripe banana and steamed rice. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled and pair with grilled fish or autumn vegetables. 26372 (XD) 720 ml $27.95 1

SPECIALTY WINES FRUIT WINE ARMENIA POMEGRANATE SEMISWEET Aragatsotn (Armenia Wine Company)

LIQUEUR

HAKUTSURU MOMOSHU NIGORI* Kobe, Japan

Made with peaches from Yamanashi Prefecture, this lively libation is like poached peaches in a glass. It offers a delicate balance of sweetness and gentle acidity, a rich, velvety texture, and a refreshing finish. Serve neat, on the rocks, with soda, or in your favourite cocktail. 45601 700 ml $21.95 1

I am a pomegranate fan, and this pale, medium sweet fruit wine captures impressive pomegranate authenticity – red fruit, pithy/seediness and con- siderable, pyrazinic greens and black pepper. It is medium bodied with some warmth, modest tannin and very good length. Chill fairly well. I would search for moderately spicy Mediterranean food pairings, rather than sipping solo. Tasted April 2025. Score: 90 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Medium 45619 (M) 750 ml $24.95 1 AYALA MAJEUR BRUT CHAMPAGNE AOC, France Intense, elegant nose, showing strawberries, lemon peel and pulp with a subtle, brioche character. Fine mousse with crisp long acidity and a lot of substance on mid-palate. Medium to full body, yet a cleansing, polished finish. 55% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 15% pinot meunier. Disgorged in 2024. Dosage 6g/L. Drinkable now, but best in 5-6 months, after developing more complexity. Score: 94 (jamessuckling.com, July 18, 2024) Rich & Complex 4143 (XD) 750 ml $84.95 2 CHAMPAGNE

FORTIFIED WINE PORT KROHN VINTAGE PORT 2017 DOP, Portugal

The low-yielding, dramatically concentrated 2017 Port Vintage is already something of a legend, so we’re delighted to have an example of this in our Top 50 Best In Show ... powerful aromatics of bramble, damson and sloe. It still has a perfumed quality, too, almost as if wild flowers and citrus skins had been macerated in the must ... It’s splendidly thick, weighty and concentrated on the palate, with rich tannins, low acidity and medicinal, apothecary notes ... For those who love to age Vintage Port, this will be a mid-term bet; the tannins need to soften a little, but catch it while the very ripe brambly fruits are still opulent, prominent and flower-freighted. Best in Show. Score: 97 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2024) Sweet 43543 (S) 750 ml $59.95 2

* Late arrival. Product may not be available at release time.

26 VINTAGES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

SHOP IN-STORE AND ON LCBO.COM | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

FORGET-BRIMONT 1 ER CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2014 AOC, France

MASOTTINA CONTRADAGRANDA VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DOCG, Italy

The 2014 is a 50/50 split of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and saw 10 years on the lees, resting horizontally in chalk cellars. From a sixth-generation winemaking family, it’s a classic expression that incorporates the very best of Champagne’s noted minerality and exuberance. Ready to be enjoyed now, it will continue to age into the early-to-mid 2030s. Rich & Complex 19996 (XD) 750 ml $129.95 2 Featured in Age Before Beauty

Fragrant aromas of lemon curd with dried petals, bubblegum and jelly sweet notes over chalky under- tones. Silky and seductive on the palate with a floral character and zesty acidity, ending in a steely finish. Drinking window: 2022-2025. Score: 95 (decanter.com, Jan. 6, 2022) Light & Fruity 45847 (D) 750 ml $20.95 1

SPARKLING WINE

FAUSTINO BRUT CAVA DO, Spain, traditional method

TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE SPARKLING RIESLING 2020 6 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, traditional method This is a riesling sparkler from an excellent cool climate site in Twenty Mile Bench. The nose is very lifted as expected from riesling with almost tropical pineapple, honey, light toast and petrol. Quite compelling. It is light to medium bodied, off-dry yet still so brisk and energized. Excellent flavour intensity and length. Tasted Nov. 2023. Score: 93 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Medium-bodied & Flavourful 38392 (D) 375 ml $14.95 2 ACKERMAN BULLE ROYALE CRÉMANT DE LOIRE BRUT SPARKLING AOP, Loire, France, traditional method This vibrant crémant is bursting with energy. The wine opens with guava, gooseberry, Asian pear and starfruit along with the faintest hint of dried herbs. The palate leads with tart green apple cloaked in lemon citrus. Open for a celebration or keep for yourself. Best Buy. Score: 91 (Reggie Solomon, Wine Enthusiast , Sept. 30, 2024) Medium-bodied & Flavourful 42057 (D) 750 ml $20.95 2

Beautifully made Cava with substance & elegance. Bright gold in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche, lemon, dried apricot, MacIntosh apples, pear, peach & honey- comb. Minimum 18 months ageing sur latte. Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with poached eggs on a bed of grape tomatoes. Highly Recommended. Score: 92 (Edward Rasiulis, twilightwines.com, Nov. 5, 2023) Medium-bodied & Flavourful 29948 (XD) 750 ml $16.95 1

CANADA – WHITE WINE ONTARIO

CAVE SPRING ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2022 6 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment This wine is sourced from the limestone-clay soils of the Cave Spring Vineyard, fermented using indigenous yeast and aged for several months on the fine lees prior to bottling. It’s ripe and dry, with bright, fresh acidity and a rich mouthfeel. Look for pear, citrus and tropical fruit tones with a touch of spice and mineral and pair with roast pork, smoked-salmon pasta, or vegetarian curry. Full-bodied & Rich 25235 (XD) 750 ml $27.95 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 VINTAGES 27

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

CANADA – WHITE WINE CONT’D ONTARIO FLAT ROCK NADJA’S VINEYARD RIESLING 2016 6

STRATUS WHITE 2007 6 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake

85% new oak. Supple and expressive with tangerine, pear and apricot notes. Has some spiciness with a bit of fine toastiness. Has developed really nicely. Very subtle green hints and nice fine toasty notes. Lots of life in this still. Score: 92 (Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com, Aug. 11, 2024) Full-bodied & Rich 47592 (D) 750 ml $59.20 1 Featured in Age Before Beauty

VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment This is a very pleasant juicy, intensely flavoured, fresh and superbly balanced riesling. It shows great drinkability. Look for complex, lifted, aromas of grapefruit/orange, lemon grass, pineapple and spice. It is very zesty and just off dry, with excellent concentration and depth. Delicious! Last tasted November 2017 when it won Best of Show at the Toronto edition of Gold Medal Plates. Score: 93 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Aromatic & Flavourful 578625 (M) 750 ml $45.00 2 Featured in Age Before Beauty With “The Grange” now under the direction of winemaker Jonas Newman from neighbouring Hinterland, there is new luster to the wines of this historic property. This is a brilliant, detailed County chardonnay. It has a classic, almost Burgundian nose of hazelnut, peach/pear custard, toast and nutmeg. It is light to medium bodied, bright, elegant and lively. Just a touch sweeter than need be, but so well formed, with excellent focus and length. Tasted often Fall 2024. Score: 91 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Full-bodied & Rich 149021 (XD) 750 ml $29.95 2 GRANGE OF PRINCE EDWARD VICTORIA BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2023 6 VQA Prince Edward County

CANADA – RED WINE ONTARIO ADAMO LOWREY VINEYARD GROWER’S SERIES PINOT NOIR 2019 6 VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake Fruit for this wine was sourced from Lowrey Vineyard’s Pinot Noir block planted in 2008 and 2009. Elegant, complex and beautifully concentrated, it delivers ripe raspberry, black cherry, spice, leather, cedar, herbs, and toasty oak. Savour it with duck, pheasant, or a wild-mushroom salad. Medium-bodied & Fruity 47106 (XD) 750 ml $34.95 2 HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 6 VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, sustainable ... aged in French and American oak barrels ... for 18 months ... It has an inviting, expressive nose of black raspberries, dark cherries, ripe plums, cocoa, cassis, and cedary/perfume notes with rich spice box accents. It’s dense and juicy ... with a firm tannic backbone that displays an array of mature red berries, blackberry preserves, anise, smoky cedar plank, mulled herbs and toasty spices ... This is still evolving and cellaring is recommended. It will keep improving through 2039. Buy, hold and be blown away! Score: 94 (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, Oct. 29, 2024) Full-bodied & Firm 616433 (XD) 750 ml $47.95 2

MEGALOMANIAC NARCISSIST RIESLING 2024 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula

Off-dry, aromatic and graceful, with notes of peach, spring blossoms, lemon and mineral. Pair with spicy Thai or Indian food, chicken in a cream sauce, or semi-sweet cheesecake. Off-dry & Fruity 67587 (M) 750 ml $19.95 2

28 VINTAGES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

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BRITISH COLUMBIA INNISKILLIN OKANAGAN DISCOVERY SERIES ZINFANDEL 2021 6 BC VQA Okanagan Valley

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE 2022 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula This Bordeaux-inspired blend has become an Ontario classic. Look for a complex, plush, elegant wine, with layers of dark fruit, plum, cassis, oak spice and vanilla framed by smoke and wood. Always a savoury delight. Pair with beef or lamb stew or, as the winery suggests, pizza alla pala with prosciutto and cherry tomatoes. Medium-bodied & Fruity 594002 (XD) 750 ml $29.95 2

This spicy, complex, flavourful Zin was aged for 15 months in oak barrels. Brimming with voluptuous blackberry, mocha, vanilla spice, and Black Forest cake, it’s juicy and bright on the palate with a layered, lingering finish. Perfect for smoky ribs or a ragù lasagna. Full-bodied & Smooth 46639 (XD) 750 ml $32.95 2

NOVA SCOTIA BENJAMIN BRIDGE WILD ROCK RED 2024 6 Nova Scotia

PELLER PRIVATE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2022 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula

This Pinot was given 10 to 15 days of skin contact during vinification and was aged for 10 months in neutral French oak barrels. Sleek, satiny and elegant, it evokes cherry and pomegranate along with earthy notes and hints of dried mushroom. A lovely choice for duck confit, filet mignon or a mushroom risotto. Serve slightly chilled and savour through 2028. Medium-bodied & Fruity 355008 (XD) 750 ml $29.95 2

If you like Cabernet, this eclectic wine might be right up your alley. A blend of 72% Cabernet Franc and 28% Marquette, it’s silky and inviting, with suggestions of blackcurrant, cherry and herbs along with subtle smoky undertones. Light-bodied & Fruity 46302 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 1

ARGENTINA – RED WINE SUSANA BALBO CRIOS CABERNET FRANC 2022 Mendoza, sustainable

RAVINE GAMAY NOIR 2022 6 VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Aromas of olives, tea leaves, charcoal and ripe, baked currants and cherries. Juicy and fruity on the palate, with lightly chewy tannins, a medium body and a linear mouthfeel. Medium-length finish. Drink now. Score: 90 (Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling. com, Oct. 2, 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 46353 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 1

100% Gamay. Crushed red fruit aromas, some herbal notes. Palate with crunchy fruit, quenching acidity, and a spicy, savoury finish. Score: 89 (Panel, Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025) Light-bodied & Fruity 47390 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2 Featured in Local Find

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 VINTAGES 29

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

CHILE – WHITE WINE SECRETO DE VIU MANENT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Valle de Casablanca

CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO RESERVA ESPECIAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 Valle del Maule

Is there a better value Cabernet Sauvignon than this in Chile? I don’t think so. Sourced from 60 different vineyards in the Maule, Maipo and Rapel Valleys, it’s a big volume wine that never lets you down, with subtle, spicy wood, orange peel, bramble and blackcurrant pastille flavours and textured, layered tannins. Drink date: 2025-2030. Score: 91 (Tim Atkin, MW, timatkin.com, Chile Special Report 2025 ) Full-bodied & Smooth 30994 (XD) 750 ml $17.95 2

A juicy and refreshing sauvignon with delicious herbal tones and fruit flavors so fresh and nervy they make you think of citrus. Good weight on the palate, enough to accompany sea bass ceviche. It’s from the Las Dichas zone, on the western side of the Casablanca Valley, one of the coolest parts of this coastal region in Central Chile. Score: 92 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 540823 (XD) 750 ml $16.95 1

ERASMO RED 2015 DO Valle del Maule (Viña La Reserva de Caliboro)

CHILE – RED WINE

This is the winery’s emblematic wine, and it’s from vineyards that Count Marone Cinzano planted on the banks of the Perquilauquen River in the deep Maule in the mid-1990s. Made with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and finished with syrah, the wine was aged in barrels for more than a year before being bottled in the winter of 2017. The house style at a bright moment. The blend shows red and black fruits as well as spices, and the body is generous but very well defined by firm and refreshing acidity. This is for the cellar. Score: 95 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2021) Full-bodied & Smooth 311837 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2 Featured in Age Before Beauty MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 DO Valle de Colchagua, dry farmed, estate bottled Real cabernet character with sweet tobacco, currant and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a long finish. Fantastic quality for the money. Drink now [through 2026+]. Score: 93 (jamessuckling.com, May 13, 2016) Full-bodied & Smooth 45086 (XD) 750 ml $32.95 2 Featured in Age Before Beauty

ARBOLEDA CARMENÈRE 2022 DO Valle del Aconcagua

The Las Vertientes Vineyard is a sort of mini-valley flanked by mountains of the Coastal Mountain Range, in the Aconcagua Valley, some 30 kilometers from the sea. Red fruits dominate but are accompanied by spices and the variety’s typical classic herbal notes. The fine texture is composed of firm, sharp tannins, the acidity is juicy, and on the finish, it is the herbs’ turn to dominate. Score: 93 (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2025) Full-bodied & Firm 46284 (XD) 750 ml $18.95 2 Featured as our Wine of the Month

CASAS DEL BOSQUE BOTANIC SERIES LAS DICHAS SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023 Valle de Casablanca

The 2023 Pinot Noir Botanic Series, from Las Dichas, Casablanca, underwent fermentation with 40% whole clusters and was aged for eight months in concrete eggs and old oak casks. This ruby-red wine presents a spicy cinnamon character with a core of cherry and strawberry. Dry, light and faintly taut due to the stem tannins, it flows with a compact and lasting mouthfeel. This is a savory modern Pinot from the coastal region. Drinking window: 2024 2030. Score: 92 (Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, July 3, 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 44595 (XD) 750 ml $21.95 2

30 VINTAGES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

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URUGUAY – WHITE WINE

AUSTRALIA – RED WINE

GARZÓN SINGLE VINEYARD ALBARIÑO 2024 Maldonado

CLAYMORE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON SHIRAZ 2022 Clare Valley, South Australia The only thing that this wine will please more than the crowd are the wallets they carry ... this is all chocolate and blackberries with plums, root vegetables, cloves, bay leaves, soy and licorice. A touch of cassis on the finish ties it together. This is a savoury style with a supple texture, sleek tannins, good balance, fine acidity and real length. There is good intensity throughout and it will prove why it is so popular, over the next eight to ten years. Cracking value. Drink by: 2025-2035. Score: 94 (Ken Gargett, winepilot.com, Feb. 2025) Full-bodied & Firm 72652 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 2 SHANAHANS THE BARKING DOG GSM 2023 Barossa Valley, South Australia ... Aromatically, the wine leads with plum jam, aniseed, black cherry, fennel seeds and raw cocoa – all serving as entrée to the sweet, pure-fruited palate. The wine is shaped by ferruginous tannins, no doubt a product of the ancient ironstone upon which the Barossa is formed. This is a wine that nods to the old school, with layers of roasted meat, brick dust and chewy tannins, but it heads in a decidedly modern, medium-bodied direction. This is excellent ... Drink date: 2025-2038. Score: 94 (Erin Larkin, robertparker.com, April 25, 2025) Full-bodied & Smooth 20880 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 2

100% Albariño. Lovely precision of fruit, intense aromas of yellow plums, lemon skins and mineral undertones. Lively and crisp on the palate. Score: 94 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025) Aromatic & Flavourful 39017 (XD) 750 ml $40.95 2

URUGUAY – RED WINE

GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2023 Maldonado

100% Tannat. Capacious notes of spiced blueberry compote, red florals and a squidge of balsamic; full of juicy tension and verve with a persuasive fresh- ness that lingers. Score: 96 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025) Medium-bodied & Fruity 558916 (XD) 750 ml $21.95 2

SONS OF EDEN MARSCHALL SHIRAZ 2023 Barossa Valley, South Australia

AUSTRALIA – WHITE WINE THE BLACK CHOOK CHARDONNAY 2024 South Australia (Penny’s Hill)

Fresh and vibrant with luscious aromas of dark cherries, blood plums, dried herbs and black- currants. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving generous notes of mulberries, mocha, ferric earth and violets. A wonderful balance of fresh fruit with a savory undertone. Drink or hold. Score: 93 (jamessuckling.com, Oct. 23, 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 33499 (XD) 750 ml $23.95 2 Featured in Hand-Picked Gifts

Matured in French oak, this Chard balances bold, vibrant character with elegant restraint. It delivers notions of grapefruit blossom, stone fruit, green apple and almond in a lovely, creamy texture. Savour with a garden-veggie risotto or pan-seared seafood. Light & Crisp 45337 (XD) 750 ml $17.95 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 VINTAGES 31

THE NEW RELEASE COLLECTION

AUSTRALIA – RED WINE CONT’D THOMAS GOSS McLAREN VALE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 McLaren Vale, South Australia This is splendidly expressed on the nose, showing blackcurrant, blueberry, rich floral, olive and toasted almond characters. The palate is equally attractive with excellent weight and succulent fruit intensity, beautifully framed by layers of fine-grained tannins, finishing persistent and structured. At its best: now to 2032. Score: 93 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, May 2024) Full-bodied & Smooth 36238 (XD) 750 ml $16.95 2

TE PĀ MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Marlborough, South Island, sustainable

It’s intense and enticing on the nose, showing passionfruit, kiwifruit, pineapple and lemon zest aromas, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that’s packed with juicy fruit intensity, superbly structured by fine texture and bright acidity. Classically expressed, offering fabulous drinking. At its best: now to 2028. Score: 94 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 43360 (XD) 750 ml $18.95 2

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 South Australia

THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Marlborough, South Island, sustainable It’s brightly expressed on the nose, showing green rockmelon, crunchy apple, lemon zest, and herbaceous aromas, leading to a flavoursome palate that’s succulent and lingering. Upfront and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2026. Score: 91 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Aug. 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 734798 (XD) 750 ml $18.95 1

Garnet color. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, mint, cocoa nibs, and brisket burnt ends with a velvety, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, delightful, medium-long finish imparting notes of cherry, blackberry, eucalyptus, and black tea with chewy, well-integrated tannins and light oak flavor. Lovely, absolutely lovely; a BTG or stocked up at home, this is a wonderful everyday drinker. Excep- tional. Score: 93 (tastings.com, Aug. 9, 2024) Full-bodied & Firm 142398 (XD) 750 ml $24.95 2 NEW ZEALAND – WHITE WINE LOVEBLOCK TEE ORGANIC SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Marlborough, South Island, sustainable Once again, this unique wine – which uses green- tea tannin extract in place of SO 2 as an antimicrobial and preservative – is entirely it’s own thing. A bright golden color, it’s like running through a later summer- time orchard, the fruit hanging heavy on the trees, the smell of hay and oats and sunshine. It’s round and slippery on the palate, a generous texture with just enough acidity to keep things flowing and not feel shrill. This reviewer finds it delightfully different. Score: 92 (Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast , Dec. 31, 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 14568 (XD) 750 ml $29.95 1 4 Organic product

TOHU AWATERE VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2024 Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island

Beautifully ripe and inviting, the bouquet shows ripe peach, Asian pear, lemon peel and white floral aromas, followed by a succulent palate offering silky texture and bright acidity. Splendidly balanced and lingering with a refreshing finish. At its best: now to 2027. Score: 93 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, July 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 43361 (XD) 750 ml $22.95 2

32 VINTAGES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

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SOUTH AFRICA – RED WINE

VILLA MARIA CLIFFORD BAY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, sustainable With its power and gorgeous fruit purity, the enticing bouquet shows kiwifruit, Granny Smith apple, nectarine and kaffir lime notes on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate displaying brilliant focus and persistency. Exuberant and lively with a pro- longed, mouth-watering finish. At its best: now to 2030. Score: 96 (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, March 2024) Aromatic & Flavourful 12631 (XD) 750 ml $23.95 2

KEN FORRESTER PAT’S GARDEN RESERVE 2020 WO Western Cape Aged in used barrels for 18 months, it has a fresh, minty bouquet with raspberry and crushed strawberry scents, darker fruit emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied and, I must say, very Bordeaux/Right Bank in style. Well balanced and slightly grainy in texture, with a dash of black pepper on the finish, this is a well-crafted wine from winemaker Shawn Mathyse. Drinking window: 2024-2030. Score: 90 (Neal Martin, vinous.com, Sept. 19, 2024) Medium-bodied & Fruity 45169 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 2

SOUTH AFRICA – WHITE WINE

ARMENIA – RED WINE

ALVI’S DRIFT PRIVATE CELLAR SIGNATURE RANGE VIOGNIER 2024 WO Western Cape This is an inviting, youthful wine that delivers well above its price point. It has generous aromas and flavours of lifted white flowers, peach, citrus and apricot. Simply a delight! Pair with a spicy chicken dish or vegetarian lasagna. [Ultra Value Wine Challenge did not include a tasting note.] Score: 90 (Ultra Value Wine

ARMENIA DRY RED 2023 Aragatsotn (Armenia Wine Factory)

This blend of the indigenous Areni and Haghtanak is sourced from vineyards between 1,000 and 2,000 metres elevation in the Vayots Dzor region, which is the home of the world’s oldest-dated wine (over 6,000 years old). Daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C and drop below 20°C at night, allowing for vibrancy and elegance in the wines. This one boasts juicy red berry, plum, spice and chocolate. Medium-bodied & Fruity 37742 (XD) 750 ml $21.95 2

Challenge, 2024) Full-bodied & Rich 18687

$14.95 1

(XD) 750 ml

AUSTRIA – WHITE WINE

LOIMER GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 DAC Kamptal, sustainable

Calm, cool, and collected with a label soothing to the eyes in mint-green. Discreetly aromatic with lime leaf, elderflower, ginger, almond, and fennel on the nose. Zesty but balanced with gentle lees and flavours of cucumber, white tea and mineral that mark the palate. Features a pleasant texture and notable persistence. Enjoy now or hold another 2-3 years. Tasted October 2024. Score: 90 (Sara d’Amato, winealign.com) Aromatic & Flavourful 142240 (XD) 750 ml $25.95 2 4 Organic product

SUTHERLAND CHARDONNAY 2021 WO Elgin (Thelema Mountain Vineyards) A compelling nose of struck flint, apple blossom, peach and cooling cucumber, chocolate with a silky sour cream palate and lime zest finish. Score: 95 (International Wine Challenge, 2023) Light & Crisp 146423 (XD) 750 ml $19.95 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 VINTAGES 33