LCBO Vintages Release Nov 21/09

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. Creator of
Canada's leading wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.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. Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 14 Chardonnay 2008 Casablanca Valley:
elegant and expressive of the Burgundian connection. +30940, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Domaine Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2008: basic MVC for
sauvignon blanc, refreshingly youthful, a bit more fruit than others.
3. Terres Blanches Muscat Sec 2008 Pays d'Oc: excellent muscat upfront
aromatics, value. +653188, $13.95, QPR: 91.
4. Kurt Darting Riesling Kabinett 2007 Durkheimer Michelsburg Pfalz:
off-dry, delicious as a late course white wine, good concentration of
riesling. +950212, $16.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Hahn Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Central Coast California:
fruity oak tones, vanilla, cloves especially. +57877, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa: restaurant-ready wine with bags
of cabernet sauvignon character. +25106, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3. Lucas & Lewellen Queen of Hearts Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Santa
Barbara County: useful cabernet, ripe and accessible, appealing fruit.
It engaged me. +135368, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Dona Paula Estate Shiraz/Malbec 2007 Mendoza: excellent blend, with
each grape supporting the fruit of the other. +998492, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5. Luis Segundo Correas Las Acequias Malbec 2005 Mendoza: an oak-
infused red fruit wine with mocha. +138412, $14.95, QPR: 90.
6. Tabali Reserva Syrah 2007 Limari Valley Chile: syrah! Hot pure
Rhone. +662692, $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. Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Chardonnay 2007, +128280, $29.95
retail.
2. Craggy Range Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Hawkes Bay NZ, +132043,
$41.95 retail.
3. Domaine Bernard Defaix Coye de Lechet Chablis 1er Cru 2007, +950667,
$31.95.
4. Domaine de la Rossignole L'Essentiel Sancerre 2007, +141143, $24.95.
5. Antinori Castello della Sala Cervaro Della Sala 2007 Umbria,
+512376, $54.95.
6. Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa, +711663,
$129.95.
7. Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Alexander Valley Sonoma, +943472,
$89.95.
8. Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa, +996405, $49.95.
9. Monte del Fra Lena di Mezzo Amarone Della Valpolicella 2006,
+134528, $44.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com