The best new bottles at the LCBO in January
Toronto Life Wine Club
The LCBO is constantly adding new products to its shelves. We tasted our way through the new releases and put together a guide to the best new booze of the month. Here’s what to look for on store shelves in January.
Spirits
The Macallan Edition No. 5
$189.95 | Scotland
This annual release from Macallan is made from specially selected casks. If you’re not a collector of the previous editions, this would be a great starting point. Very smooth with notes of toffee and brown sugar that linger on the finish. LCBO 11856
Highland Park Valfather
$99.95 | Scotland
Located on the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland, the distillery uses local peat made from heather. The impact on the aromas and flavours in the bottle is much more subtle than Islay whiskies, where the smoke tends to dominate. Here, it merely adds a layer of complexity. LCBO 12595
Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice
$59.95 | United Kingdom
Those telltale Hendrick’s cucumber notes have been swapped for flowers in this limited edition bottle. It makes a great base for a martini that tastes like liquid summer. LCBO 12564
Sparkling
La Mascota Extra Brut Rosé Sparkling
$19.95 | Argentina
A traditional-method sparkling wine such as this is an unusual find at this price point. Aromas of toasted white bread mingle with citrus and hints of cherry. A perfect bottle for any winter entertaining. LCBO 11806
White
2017 Noble Vines Collection 446 Chardonnay
$18.95 | California
Heavily oaked and oozing with rich butterscotch and vanilla notes layered over coconut oil and pineapple—appealingly so if that’s your thing when it comes to chardonnay. Vintages 458687
2015 Pierre Sparr Sol Calcaire Riesling
$18.95 | Alsace
Rich and viscous with a nice mineral note on the finish, and a hint of sweetness that helps the apricot and peach dance on the palate. This one ticks all the boxes when it comes to a great riesling. Vintages 10683
2017 Riolite Il Poggio Guerriero Falanghina Beneventano
$15.95 | Italy
Most wine drinkers don’t have a lot of experience with the falanghina grape—in this bottle, it’s brimming with ripe fruit, white flower and honeyed aromas and flavours. It’s a bottle of sunshine to break through the depths of winter. Vintages 10950
2019 Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
$21.95 | New Zealand
The 2019s from the Southern Hemisphere are already here. This sauvignon blanc offers fantastic tropical flavours with a hint of that signature gooseberry and bell pepper pushing through on the finish. Vintages 663286 (January 25)
Red
2017 Coffin Ridge Back from the Dead Red
$19.95 | Ontario
The core of this wine is baco noir and marechal foch, with some welcome finesse from the addition of pinot noir and merlot. Instead of beefy and juicy, the end product is ripe and elegant. Vintages 260463
2014 Brella Pinot Noir
$16.95 | Oregon
An early contender for bargain of the year, this Pacific Northwest pinot is brimming with rich cherry aromas and flavours, mated with perfect acidity. Definitely worth stocking up on or cellaring. Vintages 514786
2016 See Ya Later Ranch Major’s Block Red Blend
$22.95 | British Columbia
Rarely do we see a red wine from B.C. at this price in Ontario, let alone at this quality. This doesn’t need any time in a cellar or decanting to enjoy. Just open and pour. Vintages 11815 (January 25)
2016 Francois Villard L’Appel des Sereines Syrah
$19.95 | France
The name translates to “the call of the sirens,” and it’s hard not to get sucked in by its rich aromas of red berry, licorice and cracked black pepper. The finish is elegant thanks to the soft tannins. Vintages 12978 (January 25)
2015 Château Les Tourelles
$15.95 | France
A gem of a Bordeaux that tastes like it just came out of the cellar after a long rest. The tannins are soft, the red fruit is plush, and there are whispers of smoke that make this much more complex than its price would suggest. Vintages 426247 (January 25)
Want these great bottles delivered to your home? Then check out our TL x Runner storefront.
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The LCBO is constantly adding new products to its shelves. We tasted our way through the new releases and put together a guide to the best new booze of the month. Here’s what to look for on store shelves in January.
Spirits
The Macallan Edition No. 5
$189.95 | Scotland
This annual release from Macallan is made from specially selected casks. If you’re not a collector of the previous editions, this would be a great starting point. Very smooth with notes of toffee and brown sugar that linger on the finish. LCBO 11856
Highland Park Valfather
$99.95 | Scotland
Located on the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland, the distillery uses local peat made from heather. The impact on the aromas and flavours in the bottle is much more subtle than Islay whiskies, where the smoke tends to dominate. Here, it merely adds a layer of complexity. LCBO 12595
Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice
$59.95 | United Kingdom
Those telltale Hendrick's cucumber notes have been swapped for flowers in this limited edition bottle. It makes a great base for a martini that tastes like liquid summer. LCBO 12564
Sparkling
La Mascota Extra Brut Rosé Sparkling
$19.95 | Argentina
A traditional-method sparkling wine such as this is an unusual find at this price point. Aromas of toasted white bread mingle with citrus and hints of cherry. A perfect bottle for any winter entertaining. LCBO 11806
White
2017 Noble Vines Collection 446 Chardonnay
$18.95 | California
Heavily oaked and oozing with rich butterscotch and vanilla notes layered over coconut oil and pineapple—appealingly so if that's your thing when it comes to chardonnay. Vintages 458687
2015 Pierre Sparr Sol Calcaire Riesling
$18.95 | Alsace
Rich and viscous with a nice mineral note on the finish, and a hint of sweetness that helps the apricot and peach dance on the palate. This one ticks all the boxes when it comes to a great riesling. Vintages 10683
2017 Riolite Il Poggio Guerriero Falanghina Beneventano
$15.95 | Italy
Most wine drinkers don’t have a lot of experience with the falanghina grape—in this bottle, it's brimming with ripe fruit, white flower and honeyed aromas and flavours. It’s a bottle of sunshine to break through the depths of winter. Vintages 10950
2019 Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
$21.95 | New Zealand
The 2019s from the Southern Hemisphere are already here. This sauvignon blanc offers fantastic tropical flavours with a hint of that signature gooseberry and bell pepper pushing through on the finish. Vintages 663286 (January 25)
Red
2017 Coffin Ridge Back from the Dead Red
$19.95 | Ontario
The core of this wine is baco noir and marechal foch, with some welcome finesse from the addition of pinot noir and merlot. Instead of beefy and juicy, the end product is ripe and elegant. Vintages 260463
2014 Brella Pinot Noir
$16.95 | Oregon
An early contender for bargain of the year, this Pacific Northwest pinot is brimming with rich cherry aromas and flavours, mated with perfect acidity. Definitely worth stocking up on or cellaring. Vintages 514786
2016 See Ya Later Ranch Major’s Block Red Blend
$22.95 | British Columbia
Rarely do we see a red wine from B.C. at this price in Ontario, let alone at this quality. This doesn’t need any time in a cellar or decanting to enjoy. Just open and pour. Vintages 11815 (January 25)
2016 Francois Villard L’Appel des Sereines Syrah
$19.95 | France
The name translates to “the call of the sirens,” and it’s hard not to get sucked in by its rich aromas of red berry, licorice and cracked black pepper. The finish is elegant thanks to the soft tannins. Vintages 12978 (January 25)
2015 Château Les Tourelles
$15.95 | France
A gem of a Bordeaux that tastes like it just came out of the cellar after a long rest. The tannins are soft, the red fruit is plush, and there are whispers of smoke that make this much more complex than its price would suggest. Vintages 426247 (January 25)
Want these great bottles delivered to your home? Then check out our TL x Runner storefront.){kind=link}