WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calamus Estate Riesling 2007 Niagara Vinemount Ridge: very Alsatian
in tone, long lingering finish, 11.5% ABV. +158642, $16.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cave Spring Estate Bottled CSV Gewurztraminer 2008 Beamsville Bench:
good bitterish finish, slightly smoothed out. +302059, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Viognier 2008 Mendoza: good stone fruit intensity,
best as sipper or with food. +507830, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Uby Colombard/Ugni Blanc 2009 Vins de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne:
excellent all round balanced fresh white that tastes like "wine" and
not apples, lemons, or other fruit. +151019, $11.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 North Coast: a steady fave
resto wine, balanced, good with food. +181685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Lagarde Altas Cumbres Malbec 2008 Mendoza: MVC, vanilla tones and
fruit, long length. +146381, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale: delicious fruit,
New World driven of course, twist top, 14.5% ABV. +158238, $14.95, QPR:
90.
4. Kim Crawford Merlot 2007 Hawkes Bay: soft, 13.5% ABV, good merlot
intensity and length, a food wine. +680967, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. La Clape Chateau Rouquette Sur Mer Cuvee Amarante 2007 Coteaux du
Languedoc: very good syrah hit, quality made product, and please check
out the great UPC design under the back label. +156273, $17.95, QPR:
90.
6. Cantina Valpantena Terre di Verona Ripasso Valpolicella 2006: rich,
ripe, and voluptuous. +117127, $17.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calamus Estate Riesling 2007 Niagara Vinemount Ridge: very Alsatian
in tone, long lingering finish, 11.5% ABV. +158642, $16.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cave Spring Estate Bottled CSV Gewurztraminer 2008 Beamsville Bench:
good bitterish finish, slightly smoothed out. +302059, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Viognier 2008 Mendoza: good stone fruit intensity,
best as sipper or with food. +507830, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Uby Colombard/Ugni Blanc 2009 Vins de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne:
excellent all round balanced fresh white that tastes like "wine" and
not apples, lemons, or other fruit. +151019, $11.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 North Coast: a steady fave
resto wine, balanced, good with food. +181685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Lagarde Altas Cumbres Malbec 2008 Mendoza: MVC, vanilla tones and
fruit, long length. +146381, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale: delicious fruit,
New World driven of course, twist top, 14.5% ABV. +158238, $14.95, QPR:
90.
4. Kim Crawford Merlot 2007 Hawkes Bay: soft, 13.5% ABV, good merlot
intensity and length, a food wine. +680967, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. La Clape Chateau Rouquette Sur Mer Cuvee Amarante 2007 Coteaux du
Languedoc: very good syrah hit, quality made product, and please check
out the great UPC design under the back label. +156273, $17.95, QPR:
90.
6. Cantina Valpantena Terre di Verona Ripasso Valpolicella 2006: rich,
ripe, and voluptuous. +117127, $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
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. Hidden Bench Rosomel Vineyard Fume Blanc 2007 Beamsville Bench,
+68825, $30.20 retail.
2. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2007 Twenty Mile
Bench, +56929, $40 retail.
3. Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, +173377, $24 retail.
4. Ironstone Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Sierra Foothills, +158774, $26.95.
5. Domaine Serge Laloue Sancerre 2008, +744086, $22.95.
6. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Green Label Syrah-Shiraz 2007
California, +90068, $24.95.
7. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 California, +521021, $26.95.
8. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Alexander Valley, +50427,
$24.95.
9. 3 Rings Shiraz 2007 Barossa, +15495, $21.95.
10. Bouchard Pere & Fils Cote de Beaune-Villages 2006, +714998, $24.95.
11. Vignamaggio Gherardino Chianti Classico 2007, +963512, $23.95.
+68825, $30.20 retail.
2. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2007 Twenty Mile
Bench, +56929, $40 retail.
3. Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, +173377, $24 retail.
4. Ironstone Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Sierra Foothills, +158774, $26.95.
5. Domaine Serge Laloue Sancerre 2008, +744086, $22.95.
6. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Green Label Syrah-Shiraz 2007
California, +90068, $24.95.
7. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 California, +521021, $26.95.
8. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Alexander Valley, +50427,
$24.95.
9. 3 Rings Shiraz 2007 Barossa, +15495, $21.95.
10. Bouchard Pere & Fils Cote de Beaune-Villages 2006, +714998, $24.95.
11. Vignamaggio Gherardino Chianti Classico 2007, +963512, $23.95.
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