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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Aug. 21/10 LCBO Vintages Release -- some tasting notes


WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 21, 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. Calamus Estate Reserve Riesling 2007 VQA Niagara: tasty, Alsatian
style of complexity, good body and length. +180877, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2. Featherstone Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009 VQA Niagara: zesty and
leafy, tasty body on mid-palate, long finish, typical MVC for sauvignon
blanc. +89011,$16.95, QPR: 89.
3. Folie a Deux Menage a Trois White 2008 California: basic aromatic
freshness, fruitiness (moscato), scrumptious patio wine. +665166,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
4. Angove Lon Row Chardonnay 2008 South Australia: fruit and oak in
balance, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +641779, $13.95, QPR: 89.
5. Mount Riley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough: delicious racy Kiwi
complexity, affordable, chill well. +981670, $14.95, QPR: 90.
6. Sparr Tradition Pinot Gris 2008 Alsace: great body and aromatics,
orchard fruit, lovely engaging finish, +176925, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Le Verger Chablis 2008: great price and value for a MVC
Chablis of minerals, citrus, long length. +181289, $18.95, QPR: 89.
8. Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt RK Riesling 2008 QbA Mosel: a quality
Moselle at 10.5% ABV, twist top, perfect for late summer. +733295,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
9. M. Codex Salterio Albarino 2009 Rias Baixas Spain: good floral
components on the nose, lots of body and with finishing acid. Value
priced. +2774, $15.95, QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Red 2008 California: soft and fruity,
oak and spices on finish, patio red. +665158, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Howling Moon Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 Lodi: dryer, berryish, good
spicing, much of the finish lingers, 13.5% ABV. +57356, $18.95, QPR: 90
3. Madrigal Merlot 2005 Napa: excellent price for a Napa MVC merlot
with a dry finish. Dried fruits on mid-palate. +184838, $18.95, QPR:
90.
4. Los Rosale Chapel Vineyard Reserva Carmenere 2008 Rapel: very ripe
tones but also some dried underbrush. +169490, $12.95, QPR: 89.
5. Vina Chocalan Syrah Reserva 2007 Maipo: very appealing syrah style,
14% ABV, +38513, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Ben Glaetzer Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 South Australia:
juicy, very appealing cabernet with lots of spices and black fruit.
+58099, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Chateau Auzias Petits Messieurs Cabardes 2008: very soft, supple,
North American appeal, patio red, character on the mid-palate. +177592,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
8. Le Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2007: loaded
with Rhone character and depth. +171371, $17.95, QPR: 89.
9. Cave de Tain L'Hermitage Queen of Syrah Cool Climate Syrah 2007 Vin
de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes: excellent syrah complexity, medium
body but good length, Affordable. +155283, $11.95, QPR: 90.
10. Burgo Viejo Crianza 2005 Rioja: it's almost impossible to find an
older oaked Rioja for under $15. But here it is. Enjoy the value.
+168815, $13.95, QPR: 91.
11. Honoro Vera Monastrell 2008 Jumilla: delicious fresh plums and
berries. +167684, $11.95, 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. Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2008 VQA Twenty Mile
Bench, +1552, $24.95 retail.
2. Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2007 Napa, +258186, $28.95 retail.
3. Balthasar Ress Riesling Spatlese 1997 QmP Hatenheim, +160762,
$21.95.
4. Andrew Rich Cuvee B Pinot Noir 2007 Willamette, +127043, $29.95.
5. Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2009 Victoria, +178897, $21.95 retail.
6. Two Hands Brave Faces Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro 2008 Barossa, +660035,
$24.95.
7. Chateau Garderose 2006 Lalande de Pomerol,+176941, $24.95
8. Rendola Brunello di Montalcino 2004, +181412, $36.95
 
 
 

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