The best new bottles at the LCBO in November

The best new bottles at the LCBO in November

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 November.

Spirits

Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve

$69.95 | Scotland
The influence of the bourbon barrel has mellowed this whisky. The grain notes are subdued and wrapped in an American sweetness, which should please both bourbon and scotch drinkers. LCBO 10831

St. George Terroir Gin

$47 | California
Douglas fir supplants juniper on the botanicals bill for this gin, which comes from the U.S.’s oldest craft distillery. It would make for a seasonally appropriate base for your gin and tonic or martini. LCBO 481580

Forty Creek Victory

$79.95 | Canada
The spicy rye notes in this bottle, named to commemorate a battle won near the distillery during the War of 1812, are reined in under rich and concentrated caramel flavours. This is a very smooth sipping whiskey but feels equally at home being made into an exceptional Old Fashioned. LCBO 13511

Sparkling

Ferrari Brut Sparkling

$24.95 | Italy
A traditional-method sparkler made with 100 per cent hand-harvested chardonnay. It’s fresh and clean with lots of green apple fruit, some citrus notes and a subtle smokiness achieved from spending a minimum of 24 months on its lees. Vintages 352153

White

2017 Westcott Estate Chardonnay

$27.95 | Niagara
A prime example of everything that’s right with Niagara chardonnay right now. Fruit flavours of apple, peach, and pear are met with spice and vanilla from 11 months in oak. Vintages 424507

Red

2016 Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

$119.95 | California
A clear standout in a month loaded with premium California wine releases. A great gifting wine. It’s full bodied—decant before drinking if opening immediately. Vintages 14217

2016 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon

$59.95 | California
The fruit in this bottle is sourced from different sites throughout the Napa Valley. A perfect bottle to enjoy immediately, or cellar for a few years. Vintages 238261

2016 Palacios Remondo La Montesa Crianza

$25.95 | Spain
A complex wine with lots of mocha, black cherry, raspberry and spiced cherry. It has a mostly sweet fruit core, but a finish that swings back toward dry. Vintages 674572

2016 Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino

$19.95 | Italy
This wine, from a top-notch Brunello producer, is laced with finesse from a great vintage in Tuscany. It pops with red currant, cassis, gentle smoke and has a great acid punch. Vintages 333575

2017 Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

$17.95 | Chile
There’s great richness and concentration to this bottle, with hints of mint, raspberry, mocha and cherry. Over-delivers for its price point. Vintages 18721 (Nov. 23)

2018 Robert Oatley Signature Series G-18 Grenache

$19.95 | Australia
As a counterpoint to the big, heavy wines many consumers think of when considering grenache, this Australian version is a revelation. It’s as light as a pinot, with a full-on raspberry nose and a palate with pretty floral and herbal backing. Vintages 10524 (Nov. 23)

2017 Oreno

$86.95 | Italy
This fabulous Super Tuscan is producer Sette Ponti’s most well known as well as its most age-worthy. Layered and wonderful with big berry, mocha, herbal, smoke, blackberry and cassis notes. Vintages 735597 (Nov. 23)

2016 Solaia

$457.95 | Italy
A bucket-list Super Tuscan from Antinori, and one of the best ever under the Solaia label. Layered with rich mocha and blackberry, and approachable now yet ageable for decades to come. Vintages 987586 (Nov. 23)

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