VINTAGES: World Wine Watch for August 29, 2009 Release

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 29, 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.Henry of Pelham Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2007 Niagara: rich,
aromatic, barrel tones, fresh lumber for the woodies. +268342, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Cline Viognier 2007 California: good aromatics, bone dry but lovely
fruit finish, first course white. +128421, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Ironstone Chardonnay 2007 California: resto wine, hits all the right
balance notes of juice, acid, body, oak. +355776, $15.95, QPR: 90.
4. Urban Uco Torrontes 2008 Cafayete Valley Argentina: aromatics,
floral, some lemons but not peaches, more a food wine. +128645, $11.95,
QPR: 90.
5. McPherson Basilisk Marsanne/Viognier 2007 Central Victoria: full of
musky aromatics, brooding body, long finish. +678599, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Seifried Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Nelson New Zealand: very herby and
zesty, extreme, not for the faint hearted. +957670, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Tommasi Le Rosse Pinot Grigio 2008 IGT Venezie: very good structure
and taste, character in the body, not typical Italian PG. +910497,
$16.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1.Santa Duc Les Buissons Cairanne 2003 CdeR Villages: aging
beautifully, well-priced, spicy and peppers, long finish. +017079,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Chateau Mourgue du Gres Les Galets Rouges 2007 Costieres de Nimes:
delicious syrah hit, beautiful black fruit overtones, and mocha
development. +132548, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Clos du Bois Zinfandel 2006 North Coast: a resto value wine, coconut
barrel tones, 13.5% ABV, finishes off-dry, appealing. +38000,$18.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Red 2007 California: basic, ready,
slightly raisinated, quaffer or first course red. +665158, $15, QPR: 90
5. Casa Silva Reserva Merlot 2007 Colchagua Valley Chile: dusty fruit,
not yet ready, but affordable for a laydown of one year or more.
+718650, $14.95, QPR: 90.
6. Ballast Stone Merlot 2006 Currency Creek South Australia: very woody
but goody price. +127555, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Charles Back Fairview Shiraz 2007 Coastal Region South Africa: lush,
fruity syrah tones, but Euro style through the length. +626358, $16.95,
QPR: 90.
8. JJ Hand Made Wines Merlot 2006 Stellenbosch: well-rounded and
finished. +96586, $17.95, QPR: 90.
9. Tommasi Vigneto Le Prunee Merlot 2007 IGT Venezie: mocha and red
fruit tones, with some prune notes in the tannic finish. +24505,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
10. Lima Quinta das Amoras Colheita Seleccionada 2005 Estremadura:
good, solid black fruit tones, ready now. +131862, $12.95, 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. Delas Haute Pierre Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +74195, $35.95 retail.
2. Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel 2006 Napa, +903237, $48.95 retail.
3. Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel 2007, +942151, $28.95 retail.
4. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2007, +128926, $22.95.
5. Chateau Haut-Maurac 2003 Medoc, +125641, $24.95.
6. Lan Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +92862, $24.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com