Feb 20/10 LCBO Vintages Releases: Tipsheet

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2010
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is guide to thousands
of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and
spirits, at www.deantudor.com (since 1995). Creator of Canada's leading wine
satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. 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. Corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Okanagan: delicious
creaminess, 14.5% ABV, overripe voluptuousness. +618298, $17.95, QPR:
90.
2. Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Monterey County: good fruit
complexity at this price level, sauvignon zest is slightly muted.
+586149, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Chardonnay 2008 Mendoza: hard to pass up at this
level, buttery-burnet toast, 13.5% ABV. French oak. +801571, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Domaine Wachau Terraces Gruner Veltliner 2008 Austria: softer and
more floral than in the past, longer finish, sip or with food. +155812,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Agnusdei Albarino 2008 Rias Baixas: highly and brightly aromatic,
light lemons on finish. +146241, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Van Ruiten Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 Lodi: off-dry, jammy, juicy,
party wine. +58685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cristobal 1492 Oak Reserve Merlot 2007 Mendoza: dynamite blowout of
rich and oaky tones, black fruit and black chocolate. At this price,
buy it all!! +663096, $12.95, QPR: 93.
3. Cono Sur Vision Syrah 2007 Colchagua: 13.5% ABV, dense, chunky, not
yet ready but delicious. Some tomato and olive tones. +24661, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Evans & Tate Cabernet/Merlot 2004 Margaret River: a Bordeaux-style
wine with snap, ready now, affordable. +721548, $14.95, QPR: 91.
5. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2008 Barossa: ripe plums, spicy,
cedar, 15% ABV, twist top. +595306, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. The Winery of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2008 Stellenbosch:
North American style, twist top, 13.5% ABV, nicely affordable. +8748,
$11.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Ferrer-Ribiere Tradition 2007 Cotes du Roussillon: delicious
raspberry complexity, longer length. Organic. +148627, $16.95, QPR: 90.
8. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition 2008 Costieres de Nimes: very
Rhonish, ready now, good syrah hit for under $15. +143099, $14.95, QPR:
91.
9. Terres d'Avignon Les Cardinalices Grande reserve Cotes du Rhone
2007: well-integrated, aging gracefully, terrific fruit, anise, and
length. 14% ABV. +155473, $14.95, QPR: 90.
10. Giordano Maestri Italiani Nebbiolo d'Alba 2007: a plush Barolo-like
hit. +159483, $16.95, QPR: 90.
11. Monte Antico Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 IGT Tuscany:
undersuperTuscan style, affordable. +69377, $15, QPR: 90.
12. Duque de Medina Gran Reserva 2000 Carinera Spain: aging well, with
leather and some snappy tartness that's enough for food accompaniment.
+148494, $19.95, 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
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Wilm Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace, +156745, $26.95 retail (Kosher)
2. Domaine Chevallier Chablis 2007, +112227, $22.95.
3. Hugh Hamilton The Rascal Shiraz 2006 McLaren Vale, +595405, $26.95.
4. Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, +650754, $29.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com