WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 17, 2009
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing <deantudor@deantudor.com>
Always at www.deantudor.com since 1995. Also visit my "Wines, Beers and
Spirits of the Net Compendium", a guide to thousands of news items and
RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits.
My tastings are based on MVC (Modal Varietal Character); ratings are
QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated
wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the
release for wine writers or product consultants. Also, some defective
or corked wines are not available for re-tasting.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing <deantudor@deantudor.com>
Always at www.deantudor.com since 1995. Also visit my "Wines, Beers and
Spirits of the Net Compendium", a guide to thousands of news items and
RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits.
My tastings are based on MVC (Modal Varietal Character); ratings are
QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated
wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the
release for wine writers or product consultants. Also, some defective
or corked wines are not available for re-tasting.
WHITE WINES
^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Lake & Mendocino Counties: typical MVC
of California SB, with fruit on mid-palate. Organic. +86249, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
2.Bodega Lurton Reserva Chardonnay 2008 Argentina: light, 12.5% ABV,
twist top, French style. +591743, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3.J & F Lurton Flor de Torrontes 2007 Mendoza: good fruit, top notes
quickly get to you. +55475, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4.Parri Estate Viognier/Chardonnay 2007 Southern Fleurie Australia:
typically rich, with a citric finish from the Chardonnay (45%). 13%
ABV. +17319, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5.X & Y Chardonnay 2006 Margaret River: yummy, full body, still good
for food, racy finish and spices. +48561, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6.Kuhlmann-Platz Riesling 2006 Alsace: MVC for style, dry mode.
+106724, $16.95, QPR: 90.
RED WINES
^^^^^^^^^
1.Angels Gate Pinot Noir 2006 Niagara: MVC, some barnyard, longer
finish, no Ontario cranberry tones. +90779, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2.Bonterra Merlot 2006 Mendocino County: best with food. Organic.
+984724, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3.Chalone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Monterey: fruity, all round
California pleaser. +104190, $18.95, QPR: 90.
4.Don Eugenio Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Mendoza: bargain, snap it
all up. +32094, $13.95, QPR: 93.
5.Santa Ana La Mascota Malbec 2006 Mendoza: great finish, depth and
fruit. +93880, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6.Baron Philippe de Rothschild Reserva Carmenere 2007 Rapel: 14.5% ABV
packs a wallop, with mocha tones and gaminess. +37945, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7.Santa Carolina Barrica Selection Syrah 2006 Maipo: full and lush,
14.5% ABV, fair price. +34959, $14.95, QPR: 90.
8.Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2006 Langhorne Creek: full, rich, peppery,
14.5% ABV. +90266, $18.95, QPR: 90.
9.Parri Estate Shiraz/Viognier 2006 Southern Fleurie Australia: best
wine tasted like a Cote Rotie at one-quarter the price. +48488, $18.95,
QPR: 94.
10.Bergwater Vineyards Reserve Merlot 2005 South Africa: dynamite on
mid-palate (i.e., just explodes), bursts with fruit on to the finish.
+79475, $16.95, QPR: 91.
11.Winery of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2007 Stellenbosch: 14%
ABV, basic cab-merlot blend at a great price. +8748, $12.95, QPR: 90.
12.Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2006 Rhone: 14%, one-third aged
in French oak, 50/50 syrah and Grenache. +56684, $18.95, QPR: 90.
13.Angio Archeo Primitivo 2006 Salento: value and depth are here.
+101410, $12.95, QPR: 90.
14.Donna Giovanna Rosso del Salento 2005: North American style and
fruit, with syrah tones. +106369, $16.95, QPR: 90.
15.Bodegas Victoria Pardina 2005 Carinena Spain: smoke and black fruit
dominate. +82453, $17.95, QPR: 90.
16.Bod. Franco-Espanolas Rioja Bordon Crianza 2004: MVC is very good,
long development, spicy, dried black fruit. +103531, $16.95, QPR: 91.
^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Lake & Mendocino Counties: typical MVC
of California SB, with fruit on mid-palate. Organic. +86249, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
2.Bodega Lurton Reserva Chardonnay 2008 Argentina: light, 12.5% ABV,
twist top, French style. +591743, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3.J & F Lurton Flor de Torrontes 2007 Mendoza: good fruit, top notes
quickly get to you. +55475, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4.Parri Estate Viognier/Chardonnay 2007 Southern Fleurie Australia:
typically rich, with a citric finish from the Chardonnay (45%). 13%
ABV. +17319, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5.X & Y Chardonnay 2006 Margaret River: yummy, full body, still good
for food, racy finish and spices. +48561, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6.Kuhlmann-Platz Riesling 2006 Alsace: MVC for style, dry mode.
+106724, $16.95, QPR: 90.
RED WINES
^^^^^^^^^
1.Angels Gate Pinot Noir 2006 Niagara: MVC, some barnyard, longer
finish, no Ontario cranberry tones. +90779, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2.Bonterra Merlot 2006 Mendocino County: best with food. Organic.
+984724, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3.Chalone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Monterey: fruity, all round
California pleaser. +104190, $18.95, QPR: 90.
4.Don Eugenio Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Mendoza: bargain, snap it
all up. +32094, $13.95, QPR: 93.
5.Santa Ana La Mascota Malbec 2006 Mendoza: great finish, depth and
fruit. +93880, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6.Baron Philippe de Rothschild Reserva Carmenere 2007 Rapel: 14.5% ABV
packs a wallop, with mocha tones and gaminess. +37945, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7.Santa Carolina Barrica Selection Syrah 2006 Maipo: full and lush,
14.5% ABV, fair price. +34959, $14.95, QPR: 90.
8.Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2006 Langhorne Creek: full, rich, peppery,
14.5% ABV. +90266, $18.95, QPR: 90.
9.Parri Estate Shiraz/Viognier 2006 Southern Fleurie Australia: best
wine tasted like a Cote Rotie at one-quarter the price. +48488, $18.95,
QPR: 94.
10.Bergwater Vineyards Reserve Merlot 2005 South Africa: dynamite on
mid-palate (i.e., just explodes), bursts with fruit on to the finish.
+79475, $16.95, QPR: 91.
11.Winery of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2007 Stellenbosch: 14%
ABV, basic cab-merlot blend at a great price. +8748, $12.95, QPR: 90.
12.Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2006 Rhone: 14%, one-third aged
in French oak, 50/50 syrah and Grenache. +56684, $18.95, QPR: 90.
13.Angio Archeo Primitivo 2006 Salento: value and depth are here.
+101410, $12.95, QPR: 90.
14.Donna Giovanna Rosso del Salento 2005: North American style and
fruit, with syrah tones. +106369, $16.95, QPR: 90.
15.Bodegas Victoria Pardina 2005 Carinena Spain: smoke and black fruit
dominate. +82453, $17.95, QPR: 90.
16.Bod. Franco-Espanolas Rioja Bordon Crianza 2004: MVC is very good,
long development, spicy, dried black fruit. +103531, $16.95, QPR: 91.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are ready to enjoy right now. Consumers
could buy and bring to those restaurants with corkage programs.
1.Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz 2005 Clare Valley, +57257,
$27.95.
2.L'Enclos du Chateau Lezongars 2005 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux,
+729145, $25.95.
3.Domaine Latour-Giraud Marangues La Fussiere 2005 1er Cru, +86967,
$30.95.
4.Cantina Terre del Barolo Vinum Vitae Est Barolo 2004, +101246,
$29.95.
5.Castello di Neive Barbaresco 2005, +674044, $23.95.
6.Frescobaldi Castiglioni Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese 2006 Toscana,
+974394, $23.95.
7.R.Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza 2002 Rioja, +692780, $26.95.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are ready to enjoy right now. Consumers
could buy and bring to those restaurants with corkage programs.
1.Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz 2005 Clare Valley, +57257,
$27.95.
2.L'Enclos du Chateau Lezongars 2005 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux,
+729145, $25.95.
3.Domaine Latour-Giraud Marangues La Fussiere 2005 1er Cru, +86967,
$30.95.
4.Cantina Terre del Barolo Vinum Vitae Est Barolo 2004, +101246,
$29.95.
5.Castello di Neive Barbaresco 2005, +674044, $23.95.
6.Frescobaldi Castiglioni Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese 2006 Toscana,
+974394, $23.95.
7.R.Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza 2002 Rioja, +692780, $26.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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