Hey, hey, hey fellow wine lovers! It’s a new year, and I’m back with my rundown of my top picks from the most recent LCBO Vintages selection, which I just love to do every two weeks when there is a new lineup released. This edition includes wines that were released on January 9, 2021. Thank goodness for this new release - the shelves were looking very bare after the pilfering that occurred by enthusiastic customers over the holiday season!

This first release of 2021 has a strong focus on value wines, or as the LCBO likes to call them, “Smart Buys”. As a result, there are a lot of great wines available for $25 or less. There is also a feature on organic wines.

I think this current selection includes some really great options for those who want to try new things without breaking the bank, as well as some great “everyday” wines. By everyday wines, I mean wines that are easy drinking and not very expensive, which makes them perfect for a casual sip with your evening meal - no special occasions required.

In total, 62 wines have been released for the enjoyment of wine lovers across Ontario. If you’re thinking that’s a lot of wine to shift through and to pick from, I understand where you are coming from. But hey, that’s why I am here with my handy-dandy list of top picks, ready to make your life, and your meals, better! :)

Check out a few of the wines that I think are worth your time and money, below. You’ll notice that I too have focused on value wines this time. Because it is possible to drink really great wine without breaking the bank!

And listen, I don’t get paid to recommend any of these wines. I only do so only because I personally find them compelling so you can count on the fact that I truly think they are worth your time. Now let’s get to it!

NOTE - If you’re shopping at the LCBO, remember that product availability will vary from location to location, and not all products last very long. Click the links below to check availability at your preferred store, or online.

All images below are taken from the LCBO website.

MY TOP FIVE PICKS THIS WEEK

iris vineyards pinot noir 2016.jpeg — **Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016 $29.95** **Product #15576**

Hailing from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, this is a 100% Pinot Noir that is sumptuous and rich and could easily be priced at 1.5 - 2 times what it currently is. There were only 1000 cases produced so it is certainly an exclusive item.
This wine has a heavier mouthfeel than most Pinot Noirs, which makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of food, from grilled meat to rich seafood dishes. Because of the refined tannins, I think it is splendid with a cured meat and cheese platter as well.
You can drink this wine now, or hold it for another 4-5 years and enjoy it at your leisure.
*90 points - Wine Enthusiast*

zuccardi q malbec 2019.jpeg — **Zuccardi Q Malbec 2019 $19.95** **Product #723478**

This is a stellar Malbec from the high altitude region of Uco Valley in Argentina. Nestled right in the foothills of the Andes, the terroir here is very special and lends itself to refined, elegant cool climate wines. To top it off, this wine is made by one of the most heralded wineries in all of Argentina.
This wine is worth getting excited about! It’s full of dark fruit and spice characters and has a dense and complex character that will keep you coming back for more. It’s so good that I usually buy 6-12 bottles of this whenever it is released. It’s hard to believe that it is only $20.
This wine will pair beautifully with grilled red meat, or grilled eggplant steaks.

gerard bertrand reserve speciale viognier 2018.jpeg — **Gerard Bertrand Reserve Speciale Viognier 2018 $14.95** **Product #147975**

I think Viognier is a very special grape varietal that is generally under-appreciated. And in this case, it’s coming from its declared home, the South of France, and from a very successful wine mogul, namely Gerard Bertrand.
You can expect this wine to be dry, light and inviting with floral, stone fruit and honeyed aromas and a spicy, lingering finish. It is an excellent choice for the price.
Pair this wine with mildly spiced creamy Thai curries and stir-fries or with cream-based Indian mains and watch it sing!

entre restanques et garrigues 2016.jpeg — **Entre Restanques Et Garrigues 2016 $19.95** **Product #15449**

From an appellation in the Southern Rhone region of France called Cairanne that is known for generating some great value reds, this is a rich and fruity wine that is perfect for colder weather. Made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, this wine is full of intense red fruit, herbal and floral notes. Definitely a full bodied wine, there is a certain lightness to its character that makes it very enticing. I bought and tried this wine on a whim and went back to the store to buy a second bottle!
This wine pairs really nicely with a lamb or chicken biryani. Drink now, or hold for 2-3 years.

*92 points - robertparker.com*

seigneur de grezette malbec 2016.jpeg — **Seigneur De Grezette Malbec 2016 $18.95** **Product #645374**

Hailing from Cahors in Southern France, this Malbec will be stylistically quite different from a Malbec from Argentina. Cahors is actually the original home of Malbec, and there are really top notch wines coming from this region these days. When comparing Malbec from Cahors to Malbec from Argentina, you can expect the former to have more tannins and complexity than the former, and therefore it is generally more age worthy.
And how can you go wrong at this price point?
I highly recommend this wine for someone who is looking to try something that is a little bit off the beaten path and not so popular that everyone you know who likes wine knows about it :)
*91 points - Wine Enthusiast*

And there you have it - my top wine picks from the current LCBO Vintages release! I hope you find something to buy and enjoy from this list. I’d love to hear all about it if you do!