WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 11, 2009

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 11, 2009
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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.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20
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1.La Chamiza Polo Professional Chardonnay Reserve 2007 Mendoza: 14%
ABV, good price for integrated tropical-vanilla-smoke tones. +93864,
$12.95, QPR: 91.
2.Viniterra Terra Viognier 2008 Mendoza: delicious fruity and fresh,
peaches. 14% ABV, unoaked. +57919, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3.Wakefield Chardonnay 2007 Clare Valley: ripe and juicy, balanced and
creamy oak. +711556, $15.95, QPR: 90.
4.Robertson Winery Kings River Chardonnay 2006 South Africa: long
length lives with you, lip smacking finish. +104810, $14.95, QPR: 90.
5.Sensation de Chateau Grand Bourdieu Blanc 2005 Graves: woody, with
some aged complexity. +107136, $18.95, QPR: 90.
6.Domaine du Pre Baron Sauvignon Touraine 2007: "sustainable", and
affordable zest with the Euro spin. +107128, $15.95, QPR: 90.
7.Feudo Montoni Grillo 2007 Sicily: delicious, loads of fruit character
and stone fruit tones. +116319, $13.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20
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1.Las Lomas Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Maule: excellent cabernet but soft
like merlot. Both organic AND Fair Trade. +917922, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2.Pargua II 2006 Maipo: first-rate blend (both cabs, carmenere, syrah,
merlot, petit verdot), delicious fruit, long finish. +83279, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
3.Delheim Shiraz 2005 South Africa: 14.5% ABV, fab Rhone knock-off,
ready soon. +959080, $16.95, QPR: 92.
4.Sonop Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 South Africa: delicious Euro
tones, organic and Fair Traded. +606160, $13.95, QPR: 90.
5.Chateau Hauchat 2005 Fronsac: extractive, all merlot and wood coming
into balance, needs a year of cellaring. +123489, $15, QPR: 90.
6.Cossetti La Vigna Vecchia Barbera d'Asti 2005: delicious upfront
fruit intensity, long enjoyable length, dense. +106278, $15.95, QPR: 90
7.San Silvestro Brumo Nebbiolo d'Alba 2006: light nebbiolo flavours,
but Italianate and "memories of Barolo" nevertheless. +101444, $16.95,
QPR: 90.
8.Mastroleo Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva 2004: fruity but off-dry on
the palate, lots of extract. +121632, $15.95, QPR: 90.
9.Sogevinus Burmester Red Douro 2006: 13.5% ABV, softly developing,
rush of fruit near finish. +114413, $16.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
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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. Calera Viognier 2006 Central Coast, +90217, $26.95 retail.
2.Vaisse Felix Chardonnay 2007 Margaret River, +903617, $24.95.
3.Domaine Roger Luquet Terroir Pouilly-Fuisse 2007, +907931, $29.95.
4.Eberle Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Paso Robles,
+105866, $28.95.
5.White Oak Merlot 2004 Napa Valley, "25th Anniversary", +678631, $36.95
6.Chateau Tourte des Graves Rouge 2005 Grave, +117630, $29.95.
7.Manuel Olivier Cuvee de Garde Pinot Noir 2005, +112581, $23.95.
8.Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Classico Riserva 2004, +930966, $26.95.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com