TASTING NOTES: LCBO Vintages Releases July 4, 2009

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  JULY 4, 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 or so.
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1. Niagara College Teaching Winery Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2006
Donald J.P. Ziraldo Vineyard VQA St. David's Bench Niagara: creamy
butterscotch dominates, one for the woodies among us. +40634, $18.95,
QPR: 92.
2. Clay Station Viognier 2007 Lodi: very good balance, more a food wine
than a sipper, longer length with crispness. +25411, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc 2008 North Coast: longer finish, best
with food, refreshing and typical MVC for California Sauvignon Blanc. A
restaurant wine. +146258, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay 2007 California: another decent
restaurant wine exhibiting a juicy blend of fruit. +683847, $16.95,
QPR: 90.
5. Sileni Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough: a straight
ahead, MVC typical sauvignon from New Zealand. +662882, $16.95, QPR:
90.
6. Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris 2007 New Zealand East Coast: good
defining body, slightly grey-pink colour tones, lovely fruity MVC pear
aromas. +727255, $18.95, QPR: 90.
7. Beauvignac Viognier 2008 Pays d'Oc: classic summery viognier, useful
for doing food or sipping, south of France style. +525295, $14.95, QPR:
90.
8. Grandes Serres Les Portes du Castelas Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007: a
nifty blend of Rousanne, Marsanne, viognier, et al at a fab price. Just
peachy. +103697, $14.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Emiliana Organico Natura Carmenere 2008 Colchagua: fabulous textures
and mouthfeel, lots of mocha tones. +56887, $15.95, QPR: 90
2. Chateau de la Tuilerie Syrah/Grenache 2007 Costieres de Nimes: some
accessible syrah hits here, another winner from the south of France.
+126128, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Villa Giada Suri Rosso Barbera d'Asti 2007: affordable good quality,
long lip smacking finish. +117168, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Allegrini Corte Giara Ripasso Valpolicella 2007: juicy fruit, a wine
to suckle. +83964, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5. Torres Celeste Crianza 2005 Ribera del Duero: North American style,
fruit jumps right out at you and onto the BBQ grill. +672691, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
6. Ontanon Crianza 2005 Rioja: traditional style, 13% ABV, best with
food, but not in summer. +976910, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Pares Balta Mas Petit Garnatxa/Cabernet 2006 Penedes: 14.5% ABV,
good blend shows, fruity, organic wine. +114264, $14.95, 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. Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Monterey/Santa
Barbara, +59576, $29.95 retail.
2. Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc 2007 Napa, +221887, $22.95 retail.
3. La Chablisienne Vaulorent Chablis Premier Cru 2006, +111666, $38.95.
4. Z-52 Agnes' Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel 2005 Lodi, +104174, $28.95.
5. Cooper Mountain 20th Anniversary Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 Willamette
Oregon Organic, +127308, $37.95.
6. Chateau Cabannieux 2001 Graves, +125849, $29.95.
7. Le Tobele Amarone della Valpolicella 2005, +106898, $49.95.
8. Fortius Gran Reserva 1999 Navarra, +114363, $23.95.
9. Querciabella Chianti Classico 2006, +728816, $34.95.

 

 

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