The LCBO store at Avenue and Lawrence has 5 bottles of the 2018 Vacqueyras Rouge and 18 bottles of the Gigondas Rouge available for sale.

You can buy them at that store or they will ship as many bottles as you want to whichever LCBO store you prefer. You will then pay for them when you pick them up.

Please let me know if you would like to order some, how many bottles and to which LCBO store you would like them sent. I’ll arrange the rest.

2018 Vacqueyras Rouge – 14.5% Alc./Vol.        LCBO Product No. 766634                    $30.70 the bottle

This gorgeous, medium-bodied wine is made from 75% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre and 9% Syrah, hand-picked from vines that average more than forty-five years of age. The Mourvèdre and Syrah were aged in large oak casks for twelve months. It is a deep, pure garnet with complex aromas of plums, prunes, raspberries, black cherries, currants, new leather, Provençal spices with a note of black pepper and cloves. In the mouth it is fresh and lively with surprising complexity and excellent balance. And, oh those delicate, silky Palon tannins. This wine has lots of character, depth and substance and will go beautifully with roasted fowl and charcuterie. This lovely concoction is a real pleasure to drink right now and will continue be so for another eight to ten years.                                                    

2018 Gigondas Rouge – 14.5% Alc./Vol.                LCBO Product No. 766675                 $37.15 the bottle

This elegant Gigondas is made from 79% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 6% Mourvèdre hand-picked from seven hectares of vines averaging well over fifty years of age. The Syrah and Mourvèdre were aged for twelve months in new oak casks. It is a pure purple with a lustrous sheen and offers up pronounced aromas of blackberries, black cherry jam, pepper, roasted coffee beans, garrigue, pepper, clove and licorice. It is big and velvety  in the mouth with gentle tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Served just below room temperature, this most impressive wine will go perfectly with magrets de canard, wild game, roasts and medium cheeses. I’d decant it for at least an hour before drinking. It will cellar well for ten to fifteen years.