Search This Blog

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

July 24/10: LCBO Vintages Releases Notes


WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 24, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Clay Station Unoaked Viognier 2008 Lodi: off-dry aromatic pleasant,
emphasizing peaches. +25411, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Paul & Mallory Talmard Macon-Luchizy 2008: lush and full body,
slightly off-dry, great price for summer. +733956, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Joseph Verdier Domaine de la Colline Sauvignon Touraine 2008:
delicious sauvignon zest at this price level, flavours from front to
finish. +169656, $11.95.
4. Saint-Roch Grenache Blanc/Marsanne 2009 Vieilles Vignes Cotes du
Roussillon: harmonious, semi-aromatic, orchard fruit, believable price.
+175232, $13.95.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Jekel Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Arroyo Secco Monterey County: always a
personal fave, since the 1983 vintage, good wood this time out, but
needs more cellar time. +967893, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Familia Schroeder Saurus Merlot 2008 Patagonia: red fruit shows,
lots of body, better in the Fall. +167031, $13.95, QPR: 89.
3. St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Shiraz 2008 Barossa: juicy little devil,
twist top, 14% ABV, BBQ all the way. +166991, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Stellenrust Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 WO Stellbosch: heavy-heavy
tastes and textures, 15% ABV, best in winter time. +172593, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
5. The Winery of Good Hope Shiraz 2007 WO Stellenbosch: very Rhonish.
Buy it all at this price! +172577, $11.95, QPR: 92.
6. Chateau de Pena 2006 Cotes du Roussillon Villages: tasty, with depth
and complexity to its age. +178392, $13.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Les Yeuses Les Epices Syrah 2007 Vins de Pays d'Oc:
value=priced, great syrah hit of pepper, smoked meat, black fruit.
+177584, $12.95, QPR: 91.
8. Boutari Naoussa 2007 Greece: bargain price for this kind of smoky
grape-oak complexity. +23218, $11.95, QPR: 90.
9. Encostas de Estremoz Vinha Longa Reserva Red 2006 Alentejo:
delicious, heavy red wine, lots of fruit and mocha tones. BBQ for sure.
+168765, $16.95, 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.
 
1. Lailey Chardonnay 2007 VQA Niagara River, +131243, $25 retail.
2. Hollick Bond Road Chardonnay 2007 Coonawarra/Padthaway, +941922,
$21.95 retail.
3. Andre & Edmond Figeat Les Chaumiennes Pouilly-Fume 2008, +171470,
$21.95.
4. Tres Sabores ?Porque No? 2007 Napa, +186551, $29.95.
5. Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Margaret River, +923565,
$29.95.
6. Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 McLaren Vale, +730374, $23.95.
7. Chateau de Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2007 Cotes du Rhone,
+48884, $29.95.
8. Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino 2004, +149534, $38.95.
 
 

No comments: