WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 12, 2010
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. 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.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. 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. Morgenhof Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch: both
herby and full-bodied, delicious as a sipper or a food wine. +18507,
$13.95, QPR: 89.
2. Stellar Organic Winery Running Duck Chardonnay 2009 Western Cape:
very tasty, off-dry or low-acid in mouthfeel, some oak and vanillin.
13.5% ABV. +149856, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Morgenhof Estate Chenin Blanc 2008 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch: some
honeysuckle complexity from the combo of natural fruit aromas and added
oaking, well-integrated. +978544, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Rosewood Estates Semillon 2008 Beamsville Bench VQA: tasty stone
fruit, long length for food from the finishing acid. +177758, $18, QPR:
90.
5. D'Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2008 McLaren Vale: another
productive aromatic sizzler, ending with some honeyed tones. +656710,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Wakefield Chardonnay 2008 Clare Valley/Adelaide Hills: integrated
oak tones, neat balance. +711556, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough: delicious with
interesting herbs and development through to the engaging finish.
+677450, $19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Te Kairanga Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Martinborough: another quality
sipper from NZ, great mouthfeel. +32805, $16.95, QPR: 909.
9. Kuhlmann-Platz Muehlforst Gewurztraminer 2005 Alsace: off0-dry
finish but regular MVC. 13% ABV. +168864, $15.95, QPR: 89.
10. Chateau Le Bonnat Blanc 2007 Graves: an affordable Semillon-
sauvignon blend with enough complexity at this level, quality. +170274,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Morgenhof Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch: both
herby and full-bodied, delicious as a sipper or a food wine. +18507,
$13.95, QPR: 89.
2. Stellar Organic Winery Running Duck Chardonnay 2009 Western Cape:
very tasty, off-dry or low-acid in mouthfeel, some oak and vanillin.
13.5% ABV. +149856, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Morgenhof Estate Chenin Blanc 2008 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch: some
honeysuckle complexity from the combo of natural fruit aromas and added
oaking, well-integrated. +978544, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Rosewood Estates Semillon 2008 Beamsville Bench VQA: tasty stone
fruit, long length for food from the finishing acid. +177758, $18, QPR:
90.
5. D'Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2008 McLaren Vale: another
productive aromatic sizzler, ending with some honeyed tones. +656710,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Wakefield Chardonnay 2008 Clare Valley/Adelaide Hills: integrated
oak tones, neat balance. +711556, $16.95, QPR: 90.
7. Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough: delicious with
interesting herbs and development through to the engaging finish.
+677450, $19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Te Kairanga Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Martinborough: another quality
sipper from NZ, great mouthfeel. +32805, $16.95, QPR: 909.
9. Kuhlmann-Platz Muehlforst Gewurztraminer 2005 Alsace: off0-dry
finish but regular MVC. 13% ABV. +168864, $15.95, QPR: 89.
10. Chateau Le Bonnat Blanc 2007 Graves: an affordable Semillon-
sauvignon blend with enough complexity at this level, quality. +170274,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. De Grendel Merlot 2007 Durbanville: very good consistent Merlot
softness, and a large longer finish. +149849, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Queen of Hearts Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Santa Barbara: 14.5% ABV,
tons of black fruit, toasty, tasty, B-I-G. +135368, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2006 Victoria: the bottle fell over from the
weight of the six gold medals on the label. +935890, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Sticks Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Yarra Valley: tasty, food wine, long
long and enjoyable finish. +165910, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Tahbilk Shiraz 2006 Victoria: a personal fave of mine when it was
"Chateau Tahbilk". I still have some 1983 and 1985 left in my cellar.
This one can also be laid down. +214742, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau La Croix de Queynac 2003 Bordeaux Superiore: ready now. So
ripe it seems New World, but not overly sweet. +138636, $13.95, QPR:
90.
7. Villa des Anges Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Pays d'Oc: juicy, New World
style but finishes dry. +171967, $12.95, QPR: 90.
8. Les Piliers Syrah 2007 Costieres de Nimes: full of syrah complexity
at a ridiculous price. +678086, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Argiolas Costera 2007 Connonau di Sardegna: earthy, fruity,
delicious mushroom complexity and length. +99028, $17.95, QPR: 90.
10. Pedro Martinez Alesanco Reserva 2005 Rioja: typical Rioja at a
Reserva level, price makes it worthwhile. Nicely aged. +170092, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
11. Seniorio de Ardura Crianza 2006 Rioja: a bit youthful but emerging
tastiness, good Spanish intensity at this price level. +171447, $13.95,
QPRL: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. De Grendel Merlot 2007 Durbanville: very good consistent Merlot
softness, and a large longer finish. +149849, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Queen of Hearts Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Santa Barbara: 14.5% ABV,
tons of black fruit, toasty, tasty, B-I-G. +135368, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2006 Victoria: the bottle fell over from the
weight of the six gold medals on the label. +935890, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Sticks Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Yarra Valley: tasty, food wine, long
long and enjoyable finish. +165910, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Tahbilk Shiraz 2006 Victoria: a personal fave of mine when it was
"Chateau Tahbilk". I still have some 1983 and 1985 left in my cellar.
This one can also be laid down. +214742, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau La Croix de Queynac 2003 Bordeaux Superiore: ready now. So
ripe it seems New World, but not overly sweet. +138636, $13.95, QPR:
90.
7. Villa des Anges Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Pays d'Oc: juicy, New World
style but finishes dry. +171967, $12.95, QPR: 90.
8. Les Piliers Syrah 2007 Costieres de Nimes: full of syrah complexity
at a ridiculous price. +678086, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Argiolas Costera 2007 Connonau di Sardegna: earthy, fruity,
delicious mushroom complexity and length. +99028, $17.95, QPR: 90.
10. Pedro Martinez Alesanco Reserva 2005 Rioja: typical Rioja at a
Reserva level, price makes it worthwhile. Nicely aged. +170092, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
11. Seniorio de Ardura Crianza 2006 Rioja: a bit youthful but emerging
tastiness, good Spanish intensity at this price level. +171447, $13.95,
QPRL: 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. Morgan Highland Chardonnay 2007 Santa Lucia Highland, +953273,
$32.95 retail.
2. Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa, +189795, $74.95.
3. Domaine de Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +169771, $34.95.
4. Paolo Conterno Barolo 2005, +172783, $37.95.
$32.95 retail.
2. Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa, +189795, $74.95.
3. Domaine de Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +169771, $34.95.
4. Paolo Conterno Barolo 2005, +172783, $37.95.
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