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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Vintages Wine Releases for March 14, 2009

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 14, 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.
 
WHITE WINES
^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Kankura Fleurs Blanches Chardonnay 2007 Colchagua Valley: value
priced smokey-oaky chardonnay from older vines. +96297, $12.95, QPR:
90.
2. Juniper Crossing Chardonnay 2006 Margaret River: great complexity,
balance of wood-fruit-acid in Euro mode. +90944, $18.95, QPR: 90.
3. Soljans Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Marlborough: very good
complexity, off-dry at entry, good aperitif wine. +91223, $17.95, QPR:
91.
4. Vrede en Lust Karien Chenin Blanc 2007 WO Paarl: another sipper-
party wine with distinction in MVC flavour. +101733, $14.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine Saint-Remy Vieilles Vignes Gewurztraminer 2007 Alsace: more
MVC, but dense body and flavour, bitterish aftertaste. +106872, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
6. Pierre Sparr Pinto Gris Reserve 2006 Alsace: juicy, off-dry aperitif
or with cheese. +983395, $18.95, QPR: 90.
7. Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett 1995 Rheingau: for lovers of older
Riesling, long lanolin finish. +90670, $19, QPR: 94.
8. Geil Riesling Kabinett 2007 Rheinhessen: excellent value for a
German Riesling, 10.5% ABV. +994764, $15.95, QPR: 90.
 
RED WINES
^^^^^^^^^
1. Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Clare Valley: deep, gold medalist,
nicely elegant. +744235, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2. Chateau Rousset Grande Reserve 2005 Cotes de Bourg: good balance and
approachability, ready soon. +731380, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3. Castel Oualou Cotes du Rhone 2007: good price for a MVC of the
region. +104893, $13.95, QPR: 90.
 
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. Roger Lassarat Terroir de Vergisson Pouilly-Fuisse 2006, +110288,
$26.95
2. Chateau de Tracy Mademoiselle de T Pouilly-Fume 2007, +106773,
$25.95.
3. Stag's Leap Winery Merlot 2005 Napa, +655399, $49.95.
4. Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2004
Barossa, +976423, $37.95.
5. Henschke Henry's Seven 2005 Barossa, +685578, $42.95
6. Domaine Duthel "Douby" Morgon 2007, +112557, $20.95.
7. Domaine La Haute Marone Gigondas 2005, +33845, $26.95.
 
 

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