WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 6, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Konzelmann Reserve Gewurztraminer 2007 Late Harvest VQA Niagara:
loaded with Alsatian Gewurz character, off-dry Spatlese level, more
citric than bitter on the finish. +3992357, $17.20, QPR: 90.
2. Sebastiani Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma: Gold Medalist. Buttery, creamy
vanilla on finish, restaurant wine. +30791, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Rapel: very good sauvignon MVC,
modest finish for sipping. +396994, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Berton Vineyards The White Viognier 2009 SE Australia: twist top,
14% ABV, velvet in the mouth, peaches and tropical notes. +93435,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Lammershoek Chenin Blanc 2008 WO Swartland: some wood tones of
caramel and toast makes this an engaging wine. +58206, $18.95, QPR: 90.
6. Pierre Sparr Reserve Pinot Blanc 2008 Alsace: delicious, aromatic,
pleasing winter sipper or with food. +134635, $13.95, QPR: 90.
7. Mermont Picpoul de Pinet 2008 Coteaux de Languedoc: aromatic, deep
development, long finish, good price. But a summer wine. +148791,
$11.95, QPR: 90.
8. Dr.Fischer Riesling Spatlese 2003 Moselle Ockfener Bockstein: off-
dry sipper, intense aromatics from a great vintage, good with cheese.
+146340, $17.95, QPR: 90.
9. Luis Canas Fermentado en Barrica Blanco 2008 Rioja: a wood-aged
Rioja white, typical of the style but at a great low price. 13.5% ABV.
+146217, $14.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Konzelmann Reserve Gewurztraminer 2007 Late Harvest VQA Niagara:
loaded with Alsatian Gewurz character, off-dry Spatlese level, more
citric than bitter on the finish. +3992357, $17.20, QPR: 90.
2. Sebastiani Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma: Gold Medalist. Buttery, creamy
vanilla on finish, restaurant wine. +30791, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Rapel: very good sauvignon MVC,
modest finish for sipping. +396994, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Berton Vineyards The White Viognier 2009 SE Australia: twist top,
14% ABV, velvet in the mouth, peaches and tropical notes. +93435,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Lammershoek Chenin Blanc 2008 WO Swartland: some wood tones of
caramel and toast makes this an engaging wine. +58206, $18.95, QPR: 90.
6. Pierre Sparr Reserve Pinot Blanc 2008 Alsace: delicious, aromatic,
pleasing winter sipper or with food. +134635, $13.95, QPR: 90.
7. Mermont Picpoul de Pinet 2008 Coteaux de Languedoc: aromatic, deep
development, long finish, good price. But a summer wine. +148791,
$11.95, QPR: 90.
8. Dr.Fischer Riesling Spatlese 2003 Moselle Ockfener Bockstein: off-
dry sipper, intense aromatics from a great vintage, good with cheese.
+146340, $17.95, QPR: 90.
9. Luis Canas Fermentado en Barrica Blanco 2008 Rioja: a wood-aged
Rioja white, typical of the style but at a great low price. 13.5% ABV.
+146217, $14.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma: good character restaurant
wine, off-dry finish, hits all the right cab buttons. +640573, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2006 Mendoza: way underpriced,
brimming with Malbec intensity. +74922, $18.95, QPR: 91.
3. Andean Opi Rodolfo Sadler Malbec 2008: 13.5% ABV, food wine with
some toast and underbrush in the length. +144360, $12.95, QPR: 90.
4. Viu Manent Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Colchagua: Chile
character, good value cab with some Bordeaux complexity. +59196,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Small Gully Wines "The Formula" Robert's Shiraz 2005 South
Australia: twist top, but also 16.7% ABV. Nothing small about this
wine. +142935, $16.95, QPR: 90.
6. Nederburg Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 WO Paarl: lots of cab
sauv flavours, ripe and toasty, North American style of spicing.
+68767, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Delas Freres Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage 2007: delightful syrah hit,
definite value from the North Rhone. +701359, $19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Itynera Primitivo 2007 IGT Salento: 14% ABV, but good zinfandel
character of plumminess and the longer finish. +70805, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Buil & Gine Gine Gine 2006 Priorat Spain: 14.5% ABV, dense dynamite
of flavours after time. +67843, $17.95, QPR: 90.
10. Pagos del Rey Arnegui Crianza 2006 Rioja: quite rich for a Crianza,
hence value. Sports toast and new wood plus red berries. +146274,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma: good character restaurant
wine, off-dry finish, hits all the right cab buttons. +640573, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2006 Mendoza: way underpriced,
brimming with Malbec intensity. +74922, $18.95, QPR: 91.
3. Andean Opi Rodolfo Sadler Malbec 2008: 13.5% ABV, food wine with
some toast and underbrush in the length. +144360, $12.95, QPR: 90.
4. Viu Manent Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Colchagua: Chile
character, good value cab with some Bordeaux complexity. +59196,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Small Gully Wines "The Formula" Robert's Shiraz 2005 South
Australia: twist top, but also 16.7% ABV. Nothing small about this
wine. +142935, $16.95, QPR: 90.
6. Nederburg Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 WO Paarl: lots of cab
sauv flavours, ripe and toasty, North American style of spicing.
+68767, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Delas Freres Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage 2007: delightful syrah hit,
definite value from the North Rhone. +701359, $19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Itynera Primitivo 2007 IGT Salento: 14% ABV, but good zinfandel
character of plumminess and the longer finish. +70805, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Buil & Gine Gine Gine 2006 Priorat Spain: 14.5% ABV, dense dynamite
of flavours after time. +67843, $17.95, QPR: 90.
10. Pagos del Rey Arnegui Crianza 2006 Rioja: quite rich for a Crianza,
hence value. Sports toast and new wood plus red berries. +146274,
$15.95, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Chateau Souverain Chardonnay 2008 Alexander Valley, +158600, $24.95
retail.
2. Caves des Vignerons de Buxy Montagny Les Chaniots 1er Cru 2007,
+159020, $23.95.
3. Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet 2006 Barossa, +644039, $22.95.
4. Due Torri Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +724740,
$36.95.
retail.
2. Caves des Vignerons de Buxy Montagny Les Chaniots 1er Cru 2007,
+159020, $23.95.
3. Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet 2006 Barossa, +644039, $22.95.
4. Due Torri Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +724740,
$36.95.
2 comments:
We like that Malbec!
These wines look like exceptional values! I only see a few that I actually recognize on the lists, but I will have to search a few of them out. I'm thinking about doing a few articles about QPR and what it really means to get value in a wine. Cheers!
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