WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 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. Fog Head Highlands Reserve Chardonnay 2009 Monterey County Highland
Series: a restaurant-styled wine, initially floral then fruity, toasty
and vanilla finish. Off-dry on the mid-palate. More a sipper. 13.5%
ABV. +158568, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Amaral Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Leyda Valley Chile:
minerality and citric tones (mainly lime, maybe rangpur as well) along
with modal character of grass and herbs, long long finish, fairly young
vines. 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +48025, $14.95, QPR: 91.
3. Thelema Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Elgin South Africa: some
floral quality, along with minerals and food-length finish. 13% ABV.
+203877, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Willy Gisselbrecht Tradition Pinot Gris 2008 Alsace: off-dry palate,
spicy body, dense, finishes dry. +641597, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau de la Greffiere Macon-La Roche Vineuse 2009: ripe, dense,
mandarin orange flavours. 13% ABV. Gold Medalist. Bargain price.
+205898, $14.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Tabali Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Limari Valley: concentrated
flavours, lovely development, great price. +58446, $14.95, QPR: 90.2. Cline Los Carneros Syrah 2006 Sonoma County: very spicy and
reminiscent of Northern Rhone, some age behind it at this point.
+955435, $17.95, QPR: 90
3. Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Maipo:
concentrated flavours of chocolate, pepper. A year in French oak. First
class cabernet sauvignon. 14.5% ABV. +684597, $15, QPR: 91.
4. Henry's Drive Pillar Box Reserve Shiraz 2008 Padthaway South
Australia: tight, lean, concentrated black fruit. Peppery and herby.
15% ABV. +90324, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau Haut-Cantiroy 2008 Graves: good development, maturing
nicely, earthy, smooth finish. +205559, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Hyot 2006 Cotes de Castillon: red fruit, merlot-driven,
great price, 12.5% ABV, gold medalist. +63537, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition 2009 Costieres de Nimes: syrah
really comes through, tarry, anise, mocha, good price. 13.5% ABV.
+143099, $14.95, QPR: 90.
8. Vecchia Cantina Terre di Rubinoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006:
nicely aged, nicely done. It has been awhile since the LCBO has had a
modestly priced VNM. +206862, $17.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Fog Head Highlands Reserve Chardonnay 2009 Monterey County Highland
Series: a restaurant-styled wine, initially floral then fruity, toasty
and vanilla finish. Off-dry on the mid-palate. More a sipper. 13.5%
ABV. +158568, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Amaral Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Leyda Valley Chile:
minerality and citric tones (mainly lime, maybe rangpur as well) along
with modal character of grass and herbs, long long finish, fairly young
vines. 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +48025, $14.95, QPR: 91.
3. Thelema Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Elgin South Africa: some
floral quality, along with minerals and food-length finish. 13% ABV.
+203877, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Willy Gisselbrecht Tradition Pinot Gris 2008 Alsace: off-dry palate,
spicy body, dense, finishes dry. +641597, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau de la Greffiere Macon-La Roche Vineuse 2009: ripe, dense,
mandarin orange flavours. 13% ABV. Gold Medalist. Bargain price.
+205898, $14.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Tabali Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Limari Valley: concentrated
flavours, lovely development, great price. +58446, $14.95, QPR: 90.2. Cline Los Carneros Syrah 2006 Sonoma County: very spicy and
reminiscent of Northern Rhone, some age behind it at this point.
+955435, $17.95, QPR: 90
3. Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Maipo:
concentrated flavours of chocolate, pepper. A year in French oak. First
class cabernet sauvignon. 14.5% ABV. +684597, $15, QPR: 91.
4. Henry's Drive Pillar Box Reserve Shiraz 2008 Padthaway South
Australia: tight, lean, concentrated black fruit. Peppery and herby.
15% ABV. +90324, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau Haut-Cantiroy 2008 Graves: good development, maturing
nicely, earthy, smooth finish. +205559, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Hyot 2006 Cotes de Castillon: red fruit, merlot-driven,
great price, 12.5% ABV, gold medalist. +63537, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition 2009 Costieres de Nimes: syrah
really comes through, tarry, anise, mocha, good price. 13.5% ABV.
+143099, $14.95, QPR: 90.
8. Vecchia Cantina Terre di Rubinoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006:
nicely aged, nicely done. It has been awhile since the LCBO has had a
modestly priced VNM. +206862, $17.95, 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. Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2008 VQA Vinemount Ridge
Niagara, +126433, $35.20 retail.
2. Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Sonoma County,
+210039, $34.95.
3. Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, +10421, $21.95.
4. Gautheron Chablis 2008, +207902, $22.95.
5. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Spatlese 2008 QmP Wehlener Sonnenuhr,
+197186, $21.95.
6. Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate 2006, +89284, $44.95.
7. Rodney Strong Merlot 2006 Sonoma County, +497933, $22.95.
8. Calera Pinot Noir 2008 Central Coast, +933044, $32.95.
9. Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale South Australia,
+683086, $54.95.
10. Selection Laurence Feraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +211474,
$42.95.
11. Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2005 Rioja, +209148, $24.95.
Niagara, +126433, $35.20 retail.
2. Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Sonoma County,
+210039, $34.95.
3. Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, +10421, $21.95.
4. Gautheron Chablis 2008, +207902, $22.95.
5. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Spatlese 2008 QmP Wehlener Sonnenuhr,
+197186, $21.95.
6. Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate 2006, +89284, $44.95.
7. Rodney Strong Merlot 2006 Sonoma County, +497933, $22.95.
8. Calera Pinot Noir 2008 Central Coast, +933044, $32.95.
9. Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale South Australia,
+683086, $54.95.
10. Selection Laurence Feraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, +211474,
$42.95.
11. Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2005 Rioja, +209148, $24.95.
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