WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 5, 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. Calina Chardonnay Reserva 2009 Casablanca/Limari Valleys: tropical
fruit and lumber for the woodies, nice balance, great sipper. +640912,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Zilzie Murray Darling Regional Collection Chardonnay 2009 Victoria:
loaded with goodness, oak, whiff of tropicality, toast-butter-vanilla.
Decent price. +186411, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. La Cave de Sigolsheim Reserve Particuliere Muscat 2008 Alsace: dry
muscat tones, excellent body, flowers and orchard fruit. Gold Medalist.
+202408, $15.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calina Chardonnay Reserva 2009 Casablanca/Limari Valleys: tropical
fruit and lumber for the woodies, nice balance, great sipper. +640912,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Zilzie Murray Darling Regional Collection Chardonnay 2009 Victoria:
loaded with goodness, oak, whiff of tropicality, toast-butter-vanilla.
Decent price. +186411, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. La Cave de Sigolsheim Reserve Particuliere Muscat 2008 Alsace: dry
muscat tones, excellent body, flowers and orchard fruit. Gold Medalist.
+202408, $15.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Diamond Ridge Zinfandel 2007 Howell Mountain Napa: balanced and
well-integrated MVC zinfandel complexity, good price. +205781, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Our Daily Red 2009 California: very good basic blended red wine,
reminiscent of the South of France. Fully Organic. +203851, $14.95,
QPR: 89.
3. Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2007 Horse Heaven Hills Columbia Valley:
hefty, chunky merlot featuring both red and black berries, drying out
nicely on the finish. 14.5% ABV. +209874, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. R.J. Vinedos Pasion 4 Merlot 2008 Uco Valley Mendoza: North American
styled merlot, with mocha and smoke, black currants, long finish.
+59287, $12.95, QPR: 90.
5. Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Founder's Reserve Shiraz 2007
Langhorne Creek: deliciously black (mocha, berries, eucalyptus), wood
on finish. Needs food. 14% ABV. +107904, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Le Grand Moulin 2008 Premieres Cotes de Blaye: an MVC
Bordeaux bargain for a Gold Medalist. Smoke, toast, black fruit,
complex finish. +198994, $15.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine de Peyanne 2009 Saumur: good cab franc MVC, nice and tart
for food, some berries on the nose. +197038, $13.95, QPR: 89.
8. Domaine Gardies Mas Las Cabes Rouge 2009 Cotes de Roussillon: rich,
developing, balance of fruit, hot 14% ABV, lots of dense body. +194894,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
9. Diego Conterno Baluma Nebbiolo d'Alba 2008: poor man's Barolo, but
see also below at $26.95. Evolving nicely. +189829, $18.95, QPR: 89.
10. Tenuta Moraia Pietracupa Bolgheri 2007: cabernet makes this a
Bordeaux-styled wine, extremely beneficial price, long finish. +211458,
$18.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Diamond Ridge Zinfandel 2007 Howell Mountain Napa: balanced and
well-integrated MVC zinfandel complexity, good price. +205781, $17.95,
QPR: 90.
2. Our Daily Red 2009 California: very good basic blended red wine,
reminiscent of the South of France. Fully Organic. +203851, $14.95,
QPR: 89.
3. Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2007 Horse Heaven Hills Columbia Valley:
hefty, chunky merlot featuring both red and black berries, drying out
nicely on the finish. 14.5% ABV. +209874, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. R.J. Vinedos Pasion 4 Merlot 2008 Uco Valley Mendoza: North American
styled merlot, with mocha and smoke, black currants, long finish.
+59287, $12.95, QPR: 90.
5. Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Founder's Reserve Shiraz 2007
Langhorne Creek: deliciously black (mocha, berries, eucalyptus), wood
on finish. Needs food. 14% ABV. +107904, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Le Grand Moulin 2008 Premieres Cotes de Blaye: an MVC
Bordeaux bargain for a Gold Medalist. Smoke, toast, black fruit,
complex finish. +198994, $15.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine de Peyanne 2009 Saumur: good cab franc MVC, nice and tart
for food, some berries on the nose. +197038, $13.95, QPR: 89.
8. Domaine Gardies Mas Las Cabes Rouge 2009 Cotes de Roussillon: rich,
developing, balance of fruit, hot 14% ABV, lots of dense body. +194894,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
9. Diego Conterno Baluma Nebbiolo d'Alba 2008: poor man's Barolo, but
see also below at $26.95. Evolving nicely. +189829, $18.95, QPR: 89.
10. Tenuta Moraia Pietracupa Bolgheri 2007: cabernet makes this a
Bordeaux-styled wine, extremely beneficial price, long finish. +211458,
$18.95, QPR: 89.
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. Jean-Max Roger Cuvee C.M. Sancerre Blanc 2008, +196667, $24.95
retail.
2. Maison Kerlann Chablis 2008, +158964, $21.95.
3. Frog's Leap Merlot 2007 Rutherford Napa, +707489, $44.95.
4. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Sonoma, +226944, $22.95.
5. Elderton Shiraz 2007 Barossa, +713024, $32.95.
6. Chateau Reysson 2005 Haut-Medoc, +199083, $21.95.
7. Abbona La Pieve Barolo 2005, +213132, $26.95.
8. Brancaia Tre 2007 IGT Toscana, +164715, $24.95.
9. Icario Vino Nobile di Monepulciano 2007, +203430, $31.95.
10. Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2007, +704346, $26.95.
11. I Casteil Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +739979, $34.95
12. Vina Vilano Reserva 2004 Ribera del Duero, +190736, $22.95.
13. Bodegas Lan Vina Lanciano Reserva 2004, +955096, $28.95.
retail.
2. Maison Kerlann Chablis 2008, +158964, $21.95.
3. Frog's Leap Merlot 2007 Rutherford Napa, +707489, $44.95.
4. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Sonoma, +226944, $22.95.
5. Elderton Shiraz 2007 Barossa, +713024, $32.95.
6. Chateau Reysson 2005 Haut-Medoc, +199083, $21.95.
7. Abbona La Pieve Barolo 2005, +213132, $26.95.
8. Brancaia Tre 2007 IGT Toscana, +164715, $24.95.
9. Icario Vino Nobile di Monepulciano 2007, +203430, $31.95.
10. Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2007, +704346, $26.95.
11. I Casteil Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006, +739979, $34.95
12. Vina Vilano Reserva 2004 Ribera del Duero, +190736, $22.95.
13. Bodegas Lan Vina Lanciano Reserva 2004, +955096, $28.95.
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
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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