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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Aug 7/10: LCBO Vintages Release notes


WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 7, 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. Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris 2008 VQA Four Mile Creek
Niagara: good citrus tones, some orchard fruit on the finish,
reasonable body, definite "gris" style. +116582, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Round Hill Chardonnay 2008 California: decent balanced chardonnay
with some wood complexity, 13% ABV, and well-priced. Gold medalist.
+311415, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Tanunda Creek Loan Semillon 2006 Barossa Valley: very good MVC for
the Barossa style, could be aged more, twist top – and organic!
+108092, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Baron de Hoen Reserve Particuliere Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace:
delicious Gewurz, spot on the style from Alsace, with a forgivable
price tag and excellent body. +169763, $15.95, QPR: 91.
5. Cantine Manimurci Impeto Greco di Tufo 2009 Campania: another great
summery wine, with minerals and citrus tones, unbeatable value.
+180752, $13.95, QPR: 90.
6. Caruso & Minini Terre di Giumara Inzolia 2009 IGT Sicilia: lovely
crisp finish, orchard fruit, great price. +180760, $11.95, QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Dos 2 Estacas Malbec 2008 Mendoza: basic, dryish MVC Malbec at 14%
ABV, with two years bottle aging after oaking in US and French wood.
+169433, $12.95, QPR: 89.
2. Fam. Schroeder Saurus Patagonia Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: very
Euro in style, dry long finish. +61986, $15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Santa Laura Laura Hartwig Reserva Merlot 2007 Colchagua: full juicy
flavours, delivers value. +640946, $13.95, QPR: 89.
4. Boxhead Shiraz 2008 South Australia: quality fruit bomb sipper, 14%
ABV. +166967, $15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Richard Hamilton Gumprs' Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale: complex but heavy
shiraz, black fruit and mocha. +600122, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Water Wheel Memsie 2008 Bendigo Victoria: North American in style
but emphasizes syrah over shiraz, good balance and fruit. +656637,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine de Poujo Madiran 2007: terrific finish and depth, many black
fruits and underbrush. +719674, $14.95, QPR: 89.
8. Apollonio Copertino Rosso 2004 Puglia: dynamite complexity right
through to the finish of dried fruit. Six months oak, 14% ABV, 70% aged
Negroamaro. +23226, $16.95, QPR: 90.
9. Francesco Minini Terre Avare Primitivo di Manduria 2008 Puglia: soft
and fruity, like a California zinfandel, but less expensive. +180307,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
10. Francesco Minini Corte dei Mori Nero d'Avola 2008 IGT Sicilia: rich
and full-bodied in that North American style through taste and fruit.
+180281, $13.95, QPR: 89.
11. Castello di Querceto Chianti 2008: a steal for a basic, well-made
chianti, 12% ABV. +164798, $12.95, QPR: 89.
12. Senorio de Sarria Crianza 2006 Navarra: very North American in
style – jammy, open, fruity, some wood. +167668, $12.95, QPR: 89.
13. Senorio de Unuela Edicion Limitada Reserva 2001 Rioja: lots of
coconut tones from wood aging, but decently priced older Rioja. Scoop
it up! +172536, $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. Beringer Chardonnay 2008 Napa, +84988, $24.95 retail.
2. Chappellet Chardonnay 2008 Napa, +186577, $44.95 retail.
3. Tamdem Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma, +173344, $24.95
4. Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma,
+944843, $34.95
5. Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +993279,
$39.95.
6. Farina LePezze Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +171587,
$31.95.
 
 
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com

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