WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 7, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Catena Chardonnay 2007 Mendoza: 14% ABV, stylish, edgy and smoky,
from higher altitude grapes. +918895, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2007 Maipo: MVC for
the toasty pear tones, butter. +342857, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Chardonnay 2008 Eden Valley: good creamy
consistency, smooth toasted at end, twist top, 14% ABV. +651349,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Louis Hauller Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: well-rounded, MVC muscat
tones, slightly bitter on finish. +141754, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Jean-Michel Sorbe Quincy 2008: very herby and delicious, citrus,
long engaging finish, refreshing, palate cleansing. +608877, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
6. Laurent Miquel Nord Sud Viognier 2008 Pays D'Oc: partially done up
in oak barrels for added succulence and vanilla complexity. +673236,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Catena Chardonnay 2007 Mendoza: 14% ABV, stylish, edgy and smoky,
from higher altitude grapes. +918895, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2007 Maipo: MVC for
the toasty pear tones, butter. +342857, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Chardonnay 2008 Eden Valley: good creamy
consistency, smooth toasted at end, twist top, 14% ABV. +651349,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Louis Hauller Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: well-rounded, MVC muscat
tones, slightly bitter on finish. +141754, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Jean-Michel Sorbe Quincy 2008: very herby and delicious, citrus,
long engaging finish, refreshing, palate cleansing. +608877, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
6. Laurent Miquel Nord Sud Viognier 2008 Pays D'Oc: partially done up
in oak barrels for added succulence and vanilla complexity. +673236,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Clos du Bois Sonoma Reserve Merlot 2006 Alexander Valley: soft,
black fruit and mocha, strong restaurant wine. +34900, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Round Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California: another good resto
wine, hits all the MVC cabernet sauvignon buttons. +526418, $14.95,
QPR: 90.
3. Bodega Francois Lurton Reserva Malbec 2007 Mendoza: quality mocha,
smoke and toast. Food wine. +903153, $17.95, QPR: 90.
4. Weinert Malbec 2004 Mendoza: good depth and tang, well-aged. 14.5%
ABV. +556795, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 115 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Quebrada
de Agua Vineyard Maule Chile: very tasty black fruit and cassis,
greater development possible. +30965, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier 2006 Barossa: Rhone style syrah shines
through. +524926, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Chateau de Lafaurie-Monbadon 2005 Cotes de Castillon Bordeaux: rich,
dense black fruit, great price. Buy it all! +140012, $15, QPR: 92.
8. Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde 2006 Minervois: good dense
flavours of black fruit, long long finish. +958629, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Notre Dame 2007 Corbieres: appears
sweeter than the Minervois above but structured the same (Grenache
replacing mourvedre). +106518, $16.95.
10. Château Val Joanis Tradition Syrah 2006 Luberon: 14% ABV, good
syrah hit, nicely priced to sell. +965616, $15.95, QPR: 90.
11. Les Vignerons du Castelas Cotes du Rhone 2007: good syrah Rhone
typicity, longer finish, more food than just party. +142125, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
12. Perrin & Fils Les Cornuds Vinsobres 2007 Cotes du Rhone: red fruit
and lovely finish, best with food. +566844, $17.95, QPR: 90.
13. Nuova Cappelletta Barbera del Monferrato 2007: biodynamic wine
shoes good fruit and density, longer finish. +719518, $16.95, QPR: 90.
14. A-Mano Primitivo 2007 Puglia: good standby, useful zinfandel-like
tones. +972588, $15.95, QPR: 90.
15. Poggio Al Tufo Alicante 2007 Maremma Toscana: deep, dense and
delicious, very Italianate, character in the structure. +70797, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
16. Marques de Valcarlos Reserva Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Navarra: raisin nose, stretched oak over palate, longer finish, needs
food. +928853, $17.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Clos du Bois Sonoma Reserve Merlot 2006 Alexander Valley: soft,
black fruit and mocha, strong restaurant wine. +34900, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Round Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California: another good resto
wine, hits all the MVC cabernet sauvignon buttons. +526418, $14.95,
QPR: 90.
3. Bodega Francois Lurton Reserva Malbec 2007 Mendoza: quality mocha,
smoke and toast. Food wine. +903153, $17.95, QPR: 90.
4. Weinert Malbec 2004 Mendoza: good depth and tang, well-aged. 14.5%
ABV. +556795, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 115 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Quebrada
de Agua Vineyard Maule Chile: very tasty black fruit and cassis,
greater development possible. +30965, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier 2006 Barossa: Rhone style syrah shines
through. +524926, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Chateau de Lafaurie-Monbadon 2005 Cotes de Castillon Bordeaux: rich,
dense black fruit, great price. Buy it all! +140012, $15, QPR: 92.
8. Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde 2006 Minervois: good dense
flavours of black fruit, long long finish. +958629, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Notre Dame 2007 Corbieres: appears
sweeter than the Minervois above but structured the same (Grenache
replacing mourvedre). +106518, $16.95.
10. Château Val Joanis Tradition Syrah 2006 Luberon: 14% ABV, good
syrah hit, nicely priced to sell. +965616, $15.95, QPR: 90.
11. Les Vignerons du Castelas Cotes du Rhone 2007: good syrah Rhone
typicity, longer finish, more food than just party. +142125, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
12. Perrin & Fils Les Cornuds Vinsobres 2007 Cotes du Rhone: red fruit
and lovely finish, best with food. +566844, $17.95, QPR: 90.
13. Nuova Cappelletta Barbera del Monferrato 2007: biodynamic wine
shoes good fruit and density, longer finish. +719518, $16.95, QPR: 90.
14. A-Mano Primitivo 2007 Puglia: good standby, useful zinfandel-like
tones. +972588, $15.95, QPR: 90.
15. Poggio Al Tufo Alicante 2007 Maremma Toscana: deep, dense and
delicious, very Italianate, character in the structure. +70797, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
16. Marques de Valcarlos Reserva Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Navarra: raisin nose, stretched oak over palate, longer finish, needs
food. +928853, $17.95, QPR: 90.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma/Santa Barbara/Monterey,
+356501, $32.95 retail.
2. Yalumba Viognier 2008 Eden Valley, +954644, $22.95 retail.
3. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2007 Twenty Mile Bench
Niagara, +33951, $21.
4. Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +73817, $21.95.
5. Murdock Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Coonawarra, +994210, $32.95.
6. Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2005, +512384, $35.95.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma/Santa Barbara/Monterey,
+356501, $32.95 retail.
2. Yalumba Viognier 2008 Eden Valley, +954644, $22.95 retail.
3. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2007 Twenty Mile Bench
Niagara, +33951, $21.
4. Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +73817, $21.95.
5. Murdock Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Coonawarra, +994210, $32.95.
6. Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2005, +512384, $35.95.
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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