WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 8, 2011
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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. Peninsula Ridge Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2009 VQA Niagara: very good
consistency, MVC for Ontario chard, nice price for an oaked toasty
wine. +211490, $14.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cline Viognier 2009 North Coast California: dry version, with plenty
of honeysuckle perfume, 13.5% ABV. +128421, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Dominio del Plata Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2009 Calchaquiles
Valley: good aromatic sipper, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +1834, $11.95, QPR:
89.
4. Cave Vinicole Kientzheim-Keyserberg Anne Boecklin Pinot Gris Reserve
2007 Alsace: off-dry in mid-palate, intense fruit, Gold Medalist
(Paris). +106831, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Cave Vinicole du Vieil Armand Riesling 2007 Alsace: Gold Medalist in
Alsace, extremely rip and unctuous, MVC. +205807, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Les Bertrands Cuvee Tradition 2009 Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux:
Gold Medal (Paris), slightly off-dry citric complexity, good herbs too,
15% muscadelle for aromatics. +190967, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2009: the Loire Savvy
wines keep coming, very good SB complexity, grass, stone fruit, citrus,
needs food. +82305, $12.95, QPR: 90.
8. Les Costieres de Pomerols Beauvignac Viognier 2009 VdP d'Oc:
aromatic, food or sip, priced to sell. MVC. +525295, $12.95, QPR: 89.
9. Pfeffingen Gewurztraminer Spatlese 2008 Pfalz: off-dry food wine for
heavy cabbage-based and fatty foods, 11.5% ABV. +211417, $19.95, QPR:
89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Peninsula Ridge Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2009 VQA Niagara: very good
consistency, MVC for Ontario chard, nice price for an oaked toasty
wine. +211490, $14.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cline Viognier 2009 North Coast California: dry version, with plenty
of honeysuckle perfume, 13.5% ABV. +128421, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Dominio del Plata Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2009 Calchaquiles
Valley: good aromatic sipper, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +1834, $11.95, QPR:
89.
4. Cave Vinicole Kientzheim-Keyserberg Anne Boecklin Pinot Gris Reserve
2007 Alsace: off-dry in mid-palate, intense fruit, Gold Medalist
(Paris). +106831, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Cave Vinicole du Vieil Armand Riesling 2007 Alsace: Gold Medalist in
Alsace, extremely rip and unctuous, MVC. +205807, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Les Bertrands Cuvee Tradition 2009 Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux:
Gold Medal (Paris), slightly off-dry citric complexity, good herbs too,
15% muscadelle for aromatics. +190967, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2009: the Loire Savvy
wines keep coming, very good SB complexity, grass, stone fruit, citrus,
needs food. +82305, $12.95, QPR: 90.
8. Les Costieres de Pomerols Beauvignac Viognier 2009 VdP d'Oc:
aromatic, food or sip, priced to sell. MVC. +525295, $12.95, QPR: 89.
9. Pfeffingen Gewurztraminer Spatlese 2008 Pfalz: off-dry food wine for
heavy cabbage-based and fatty foods, 11.5% ABV. +211417, $19.95, QPR:
89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sumptuary Zinfandel 2007 Amador County: very good quality (oak,
black fruit, mocha). Load up!! +203869, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2. La Posta Pizzella Family Vineyard Malbec 2008 Uco Mendoza:
associated with the Catenas. Fine value for berries and fig jam.
+166298, $15, QPR: 90.
3. Majella The Musician Cabernet/Shiraz 2008 Coonawarra: delicious
balance of fruit and wood, 14.5% ABV. +142018, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Fairview Shiraz 2008 WO Coastal Region South Africa: delicious, good
backbone for black fruit and mocha and underbrush. Affordable to load
up. +626358, $14.95, QPR: 91.
5. Chateau La Fleur Terrien 2008 Lussac-Saint-Emilion: North American
style of bright fruit, merlot-based (70%). Enjoy now. +199059, $15,
QPR: 90.
6. Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde 2008 Minervois: garrigue,
mocha, black currants. +958629, $14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Tolloy Pinot Noir 2008 IGT Alto Adige: one of the best modestly
priced pinots I've had. Open in advance, decant once. +193441, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
8. Produttori di Govone Barbaresco 2006: light but okay nebbiolo wine,
MVC for the region, great price. +119503, $19.95, QPR: 91.
9. Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Crianza 2006 Rioja: Gold Medalist at
Bruxelles. Hard to find a more excellent MVC Rioja value at this price
level. +340844, $15.95, QPR: 91.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sumptuary Zinfandel 2007 Amador County: very good quality (oak,
black fruit, mocha). Load up!! +203869, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2. La Posta Pizzella Family Vineyard Malbec 2008 Uco Mendoza:
associated with the Catenas. Fine value for berries and fig jam.
+166298, $15, QPR: 90.
3. Majella The Musician Cabernet/Shiraz 2008 Coonawarra: delicious
balance of fruit and wood, 14.5% ABV. +142018, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Fairview Shiraz 2008 WO Coastal Region South Africa: delicious, good
backbone for black fruit and mocha and underbrush. Affordable to load
up. +626358, $14.95, QPR: 91.
5. Chateau La Fleur Terrien 2008 Lussac-Saint-Emilion: North American
style of bright fruit, merlot-based (70%). Enjoy now. +199059, $15,
QPR: 90.
6. Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde 2008 Minervois: garrigue,
mocha, black currants. +958629, $14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Tolloy Pinot Noir 2008 IGT Alto Adige: one of the best modestly
priced pinots I've had. Open in advance, decant once. +193441, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
8. Produttori di Govone Barbaresco 2006: light but okay nebbiolo wine,
MVC for the region, great price. +119503, $19.95, QPR: 91.
9. Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Crianza 2006 Rioja: Gold Medalist at
Bruxelles. Hard to find a more excellent MVC Rioja value at this price
level. +340844, $15.95, QPR: 91.
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. Chateau St. Jean Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Alexander
Valley Sonoma, +987131, $34.95 retail.
2. Dante Rivetti Bric co Riserva Barbaresco 2004, +208264, $46.95.
3. Neirano Barolo 2005, +994327, $25.95.
4. Renzo Masi Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2006,
+209478, $25.95.
5. Piccini Villa al Cortile Riserva Brunello di Montalcino 2004,
+205724, $42.95.
6. Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella 2006, +56267, $32.95.
Valley Sonoma, +987131, $34.95 retail.
2. Dante Rivetti Bric co Riserva Barbaresco 2004, +208264, $46.95.
3. Neirano Barolo 2005, +994327, $25.95.
4. Renzo Masi Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2006,
+209478, $25.95.
5. Piccini Villa al Cortile Riserva Brunello di Montalcino 2004,
+205724, $42.95.
6. Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella 2006, +56267, $32.95.
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