WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 1, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Angels Gate Mountainview Chardonnay 2007 Niagara: wooded, 8 months
in toasted French oak, 13.5%. +116384, $18.95, QPR: 90
2. Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris 2007 VQA Four Mile Creek:
body and soul, slightly off-dry, summer sipper or first course wine
accompaniment. +116582, $17.95, QPR: 90
3. Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2008 VQA Twenty Mile Bench: floral
entry, dry complexity on finish. +80234, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2008 WO Elim South Africa:
delicious, good off-dry in mid-palate, not as nervy as other New World
sauvignon blanc. +96537, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007: great viognier nose (50% of
total), good floral complexity, long enjoyable finish, first course
food wine or summer sipper. +290296, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Hans Lang Riesling Spatlese 1992 QmP Hattenheimer Hassel: 10.5% ABV,
17 years old and never been kissed, still fresh. Buy a lot of it at
this price. Very off-dry and intense. +127100, $18.95, QPR: 92.
7. Miguel Torres Vina Esmeralda 2008 DO Catalunya: this wine has always
been one of my fave quaffers for summer, 11.5% ABV, 85% muscatel and
15% Gewurz, and 100% aromatic floral complexities. Perfect for summer
sipping, absolutely fresh from 2008 vintage. +113696, $12.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Angels Gate Mountainview Chardonnay 2007 Niagara: wooded, 8 months
in toasted French oak, 13.5%. +116384, $18.95, QPR: 90
2. Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris 2007 VQA Four Mile Creek:
body and soul, slightly off-dry, summer sipper or first course wine
accompaniment. +116582, $17.95, QPR: 90
3. Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2008 VQA Twenty Mile Bench: floral
entry, dry complexity on finish. +80234, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2008 WO Elim South Africa:
delicious, good off-dry in mid-palate, not as nervy as other New World
sauvignon blanc. +96537, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007: great viognier nose (50% of
total), good floral complexity, long enjoyable finish, first course
food wine or summer sipper. +290296, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Hans Lang Riesling Spatlese 1992 QmP Hattenheimer Hassel: 10.5% ABV,
17 years old and never been kissed, still fresh. Buy a lot of it at
this price. Very off-dry and intense. +127100, $18.95, QPR: 92.
7. Miguel Torres Vina Esmeralda 2008 DO Catalunya: this wine has always
been one of my fave quaffers for summer, 11.5% ABV, 85% muscatel and
15% Gewurz, and 100% aromatic floral complexities. Perfect for summer
sipping, absolutely fresh from 2008 vintage. +113696, $12.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2005 Columbia Valley: wall-aged,
13.5% ABV, big Merlot, restaurant ready. +263418, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Aresti Reserva Merlot 2006 Curico Valley: juicy and herby, long
length, better next year but good price to retain in your cellar.
+726760, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Deep Woods Estate Block 7 Shiraz 2007 Margaret River: good Euro
style syrah, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +109355, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Robertson Winery Prospect Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 South Africa:
juicy, mocha tones, some smoke on the finish. +687814, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5. Robertson Winery Wolfkloof Shiraz 2006 South Africa: good syrah
component, mostly Euro style but with US oak coconut flavours. +626341,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Domaine le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007:
off-dry fruit on mid-palate, a grenache-syrah-mourvedre (GSM) blend,
14.5% ABV, true to Euro style. +127167, $11.95, QPR: 90.
7. Tsantali Reserve Nemea 2003 Greece: well-balanced, good aging, taut
enough for BBQ and lamb. +13524, $14.95, QPR: 91.
8. Terra D'Aligi Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005: fat, New World
style appreciation, juicy. +994616, $15.95, QPR: 90.
9. Cantina Parroco Nebbiolo Langhe 2007: faster maturing nebbiolo, a
thinner Barolo at a great price, and ready sooner. +117192, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
10. Castellani Chianti Riserva 2004: very Italianate, and strong cherry
flavours. +970707, $14.95, QPR: 90.
11. Bod. Olarra Cerro Anon Reserva 2004 Rioja: needs two more years,
but it is a dramatic wine, complex Rioja, worth the wait. +114306,
$18.95, 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. Angels Gate Old Vine Chardonnay 2005 VQA Beamsville Bench, +116350,
$23.95 retail.
2. Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Paso Robles, +25205, $29.95.
3. Mr. Riggs Cabernet 2007 Coonawarra, +126896, $23.95.
4. Chateau Cherchy-Desqueyroux 2005 Graves, +125518, $23.95.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Angels Gate Old Vine Chardonnay 2005 VQA Beamsville Bench, +116350,
$23.95 retail.
2. Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Paso Robles, +25205, $29.95.
3. Mr. Riggs Cabernet 2007 Coonawarra, +126896, $23.95.
4. Chateau Cherchy-Desqueyroux 2005 Graves, +125518, $23.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
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