WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 30, 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. Paul Dolan Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Mendocino County: soft with some
rancio tones, typical California savvy with muted herbs. Organic. 13.5%
ABV. +46334, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2010 San Antonio Valley Chile: hits the
spot with the lovely fruit side of gooseberry and sweet fresh
grapefruit. Intense, 13.5% ABV, organic. +213587, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Tahbilk Marsanne 2009 Nagambie Lakes Victoria: label has not been
seen here in many years, it was a fave of mine. Always with great fruit
and body. Delicious succulence. +117945, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Cave de Hoen Pinot Gris 2009 Alsace: not as off-dry in the mouth as
indicated by the Vintages' descriptor. Gold Medalist. 12.5% ABV.
+196790, $16.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Paul Dolan Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Mendocino County: soft with some
rancio tones, typical California savvy with muted herbs. Organic. 13.5%
ABV. +46334, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2010 San Antonio Valley Chile: hits the
spot with the lovely fruit side of gooseberry and sweet fresh
grapefruit. Intense, 13.5% ABV, organic. +213587, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Tahbilk Marsanne 2009 Nagambie Lakes Victoria: label has not been
seen here in many years, it was a fave of mine. Always with great fruit
and body. Delicious succulence. +117945, $16.95, QPR: 90.
4. Cave de Hoen Pinot Gris 2009 Alsace: not as off-dry in the mouth as
indicated by the Vintages' descriptor. Gold Medalist. 12.5% ABV.
+196790, $16.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Finca Flichman Gestos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza: juicy cabby,
14.5% ABV, fleshy, slightly off-dry, ready now. A mix from two
vineyards (one at 1100 meters, the other at 700 meters). +199711,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
2. La Posta Cocina Blend 2008 Mendoza: from the Catena family, 13.5%
ABV, excellent composition from this almost-field blend. Affordable!
+199513, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Nativa Single Vineyard Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Maipo:
deep, juicy cabby MVC, lots of blackcurrants, mint, earth and mocha.
14.5% ABV, organic grapes. +975359, $19.75, QPR: 90.
4. Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Renaissance 2007 Corbieres: delicious
mocha, black fruit, dense structure. Gold Medal in 2009 plus additional
years of aging. 14% ABV. +148692, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Cave Saint Desirat Saint-Joseph 2007: all-syrah juiciness, light
oaking, lighter in alcohol (12.5%), more a food wine. Some great value
at this price level. +219378, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Macarico Rosso del Vulcano 2007 Basilicata: ripe, complex, mouth-
filling, food wine, good long finish. 13% ABV. +205880, $14.95, QPR:
89.
7. Leone de Castris Riserva Salice Salentino 2006 50th Vintage: tight
and chewy, developing nicely, but ready next year. Worth laying down at
this price. +597534, $16.95, QPR: 90.
8. Giordano Promessi Sposi Vespero Rosso 2008 IGT Toscana: North
American approachability for the NA style of quaffing. Fruity
sangiovese flavour. Sip or food. 14$ ABV. +72421, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Casa Gualda Plus Ultra 2006 Ribera del Jucar Spain: juicy, tarry
fruit, ready soon. Mostly petit verdot. +211011, $13.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Finca Flichman Gestos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza: juicy cabby,
14.5% ABV, fleshy, slightly off-dry, ready now. A mix from two
vineyards (one at 1100 meters, the other at 700 meters). +199711,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
2. La Posta Cocina Blend 2008 Mendoza: from the Catena family, 13.5%
ABV, excellent composition from this almost-field blend. Affordable!
+199513, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. Nativa Single Vineyard Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Maipo:
deep, juicy cabby MVC, lots of blackcurrants, mint, earth and mocha.
14.5% ABV, organic grapes. +975359, $19.75, QPR: 90.
4. Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Renaissance 2007 Corbieres: delicious
mocha, black fruit, dense structure. Gold Medal in 2009 plus additional
years of aging. 14% ABV. +148692, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Cave Saint Desirat Saint-Joseph 2007: all-syrah juiciness, light
oaking, lighter in alcohol (12.5%), more a food wine. Some great value
at this price level. +219378, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Macarico Rosso del Vulcano 2007 Basilicata: ripe, complex, mouth-
filling, food wine, good long finish. 13% ABV. +205880, $14.95, QPR:
89.
7. Leone de Castris Riserva Salice Salentino 2006 50th Vintage: tight
and chewy, developing nicely, but ready next year. Worth laying down at
this price. +597534, $16.95, QPR: 90.
8. Giordano Promessi Sposi Vespero Rosso 2008 IGT Toscana: North
American approachability for the NA style of quaffing. Fruity
sangiovese flavour. Sip or food. 14$ ABV. +72421, $14.95, QPR: 90.
9. Casa Gualda Plus Ultra 2006 Ribera del Jucar Spain: juicy, tarry
fruit, ready soon. Mostly petit verdot. +211011, $13.95, 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,
+126433, $35.20
2. Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2009 VQA Beamsville Bench, +146985,
$29.95
3. Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Napa, +258186, $44.95
4. Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2008 Sonoma, +275552, $22.95
5. Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Gold Series Red Meritage 2008 VQA
Niagara, +224675, $24.95
6. Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2008 VQA NOTL biodynamic,
+237065, $22.95
7. Sarasina Atrea Old Soul Red 2006 Mendocino, +214825, $27.95
8. Bacio Divino Janzen Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +232355, $47.95
9. Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +232371, $29.95
10. Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz 2008 Rutherglen Victoria, +225433,
$22.95
11. Henschke Johann's Garden 2007 Barossa, +946061, $54.95
12. Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Margaret River, +923565,
$29.95
13. Rustenberg John X Merriman 2007 WO Stellenbosch, +707323, $27.95
14. Rocca di Castagnoli Poggio A'frati Chianti Classico Riserva 2006,
+23358, $29.95
15. Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 1995 Rioja, +923748, $27.95
+126433, $35.20
2. Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2009 VQA Beamsville Bench, +146985,
$29.95
3. Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Napa, +258186, $44.95
4. Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2008 Sonoma, +275552, $22.95
5. Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Gold Series Red Meritage 2008 VQA
Niagara, +224675, $24.95
6. Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2008 VQA NOTL biodynamic,
+237065, $22.95
7. Sarasina Atrea Old Soul Red 2006 Mendocino, +214825, $27.95
8. Bacio Divino Janzen Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +232355, $47.95
9. Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +232371, $29.95
10. Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz 2008 Rutherglen Victoria, +225433,
$22.95
11. Henschke Johann's Garden 2007 Barossa, +946061, $54.95
12. Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Margaret River, +923565,
$29.95
13. Rustenberg John X Merriman 2007 WO Stellenbosch, +707323, $27.95
14. Rocca di Castagnoli Poggio A'frati Chianti Classico Riserva 2006,
+23358, $29.95
15. Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 1995 Rioja, +923748, $27.95
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