WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 19, 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. Calamus Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 Niagara: juicy, ripe, long finish.
Twist top. +210062, $13.95, QPR: 90.
2. Alamos Viognier 2010 Mendoza: plenty of orchard fruit and flowers
here, long fruity finish. +507830, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Emiliana Adobe Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Casablanca Valley: ripe peachy
flavours come across with the citrus-herby zest. Sipper? Organic wine.
+211912, $12.95, QPR: 89.
4. Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough: zesty, balanced, long
finish, enjoyable Loire-ish wine. Sip or with food. Gold Medalist.
+686675, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine Saint-Remy reserve Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: a climate-
change wine, with more off-dry MVC for the variety. Slight bitterish
finish, but dense and concentrated flavours and body. +61150, $18.95,
QPR: 91.
6. Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbes Riesling 2007 Alsace: long
riesling finish with good MVC. Delightful. Best with food. +981662,
$18.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calamus Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 Niagara: juicy, ripe, long finish.
Twist top. +210062, $13.95, QPR: 90.
2. Alamos Viognier 2010 Mendoza: plenty of orchard fruit and flowers
here, long fruity finish. +507830, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Emiliana Adobe Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Casablanca Valley: ripe peachy
flavours come across with the citrus-herby zest. Sipper? Organic wine.
+211912, $12.95, QPR: 89.
4. Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough: zesty, balanced, long
finish, enjoyable Loire-ish wine. Sip or with food. Gold Medalist.
+686675, $15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine Saint-Remy reserve Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: a climate-
change wine, with more off-dry MVC for the variety. Slight bitterish
finish, but dense and concentrated flavours and body. +61150, $18.95,
QPR: 91.
6. Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbes Riesling 2007 Alsace: long
riesling finish with good MVC. Delightful. Best with food. +981662,
$18.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 California: a rock-steady value
wine, hitting all the California cabby notes. +537597, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Michel Torino Don David Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Cafayate
Valley Mendoza: high quality cab sauvignon (black currants, vanilla,
pepper) at this price. +974428, $12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2007 WO Coast Region South Africa: a value
blend of Bordeaux varieties with syrah, aged in new oak (on the nose),
mocha, cassis, and eucalyptus. +53124, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Chateau Saint-Roch Chimeres 2008 Cotes du Roussillon-Villages: 65
grenache/30 syrah/5 carignane blend, 14.5% ABV, off-dry finish. Late
winter BBQs?
5. Chateau Goudray Cuvee Excellence Rasteau 2009 Cotes du Rhone-
Villages: lovely black fruit from syrah and grenache, plums, smoke, and
the like. 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +195032, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Louis Bernard Reserve de Bonpas Cotes du Rhone 2009: a G-S-M but
heavy syrah-inflected in flavours, 14% ABV. +194969, $13.95, QPR: 90.
7. Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo 2008 IGT Maremma Toscana: lots of
black and dark flavours from berries and fruits, delicious length and
complexity. Italianate. +13755, $17.95, QPR: 90.
8. Herdade Paco do Conde 2007 Alentejano: lots of mocha but not off-dry
on mid-palate. Sip or food this treasure. +131821, $14.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 California: a rock-steady value
wine, hitting all the California cabby notes. +537597, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Michel Torino Don David Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Cafayate
Valley Mendoza: high quality cab sauvignon (black currants, vanilla,
pepper) at this price. +974428, $12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2007 WO Coast Region South Africa: a value
blend of Bordeaux varieties with syrah, aged in new oak (on the nose),
mocha, cassis, and eucalyptus. +53124, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Chateau Saint-Roch Chimeres 2008 Cotes du Roussillon-Villages: 65
grenache/30 syrah/5 carignane blend, 14.5% ABV, off-dry finish. Late
winter BBQs?
5. Chateau Goudray Cuvee Excellence Rasteau 2009 Cotes du Rhone-
Villages: lovely black fruit from syrah and grenache, plums, smoke, and
the like. 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +195032, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Louis Bernard Reserve de Bonpas Cotes du Rhone 2009: a G-S-M but
heavy syrah-inflected in flavours, 14% ABV. +194969, $13.95, QPR: 90.
7. Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo 2008 IGT Maremma Toscana: lots of
black and dark flavours from berries and fruits, delicious length and
complexity. Italianate. +13755, $17.95, QPR: 90.
8. Herdade Paco do Conde 2007 Alentejano: lots of mocha but not off-dry
on mid-palate. Sip or food this treasure. +131821, $14.95, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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 Vineyard Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2009 Niagara River, +225474,
$24.95 retail.
2. Davis Bynum Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley, +205815, $24.95.
3. Domaine Masson-Blondelet Villa Paulus Pouilly-Fume 2008, +702878,
$24.95.
4. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Proprietors' Grand Reserve Shiraz
2006, +33241, $24.95.
5. Candor Lot 2 Zinfandel California, +133389, $21.95.
6. Christian Moueix Napanook 2007 Napa, +212357, $53.95.
7. Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2005, +528356,
$51.95.
8. Abbazia Barolo 2005, +189787, $28.95.
9. Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +413179, $47.95.
10. Jean Leon Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Penedes, +401596, $28.95.
$24.95 retail.
2. Davis Bynum Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley, +205815, $24.95.
3. Domaine Masson-Blondelet Villa Paulus Pouilly-Fume 2008, +702878,
$24.95.
4. Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Proprietors' Grand Reserve Shiraz
2006, +33241, $24.95.
5. Candor Lot 2 Zinfandel California, +133389, $21.95.
6. Christian Moueix Napanook 2007 Napa, +212357, $53.95.
7. Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2005, +528356,
$51.95.
8. Abbazia Barolo 2005, +189787, $28.95.
9. Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +413179, $47.95.
10. Jean Leon Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Penedes, +401596, $28.95.
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