WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MAY 14, 2011
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Konzelmann Winemaster's Collection Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2008
VQA Niagara: heavy-heavy Gewurz taste and body, off-dry, solid wine for
cheese, fruit or Asiatic food. +392357, $17.20, QPR: 90.
2. Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2008 VQA Okanagan: nice blend of BF and SS
wines, oak in back ground, but terrific with food. 14% ABV. +377770,
$19.95.
3. Wynn's Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2009: 13.5% ABV, juicy, good
oak-fruit balance, could improve. Food wine or sip, +468728, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Michel Delhommeau Cuvee Harmonie Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine 2009 Sur
Lie: minerals suggest fish, good price for tart food wine. +164624,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
5. Sols & Sens Cotes du Rhone-Villages Laudin 2009: 60% grenache blanc,
30% viognier, 10% rousanne. 13.5% ABV. Rich and ripe orchard fruit,
good weight. +223438, $13.95, QPR: 90.
6. Fillaboa Albarino 2009 Rias Baixas: orchard fruit plus tropicality
lading to a citric finish. Food wine. +214171, $15.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Konzelmann Winemaster's Collection Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2008
VQA Niagara: heavy-heavy Gewurz taste and body, off-dry, solid wine for
cheese, fruit or Asiatic food. +392357, $17.20, QPR: 90.
2. Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2008 VQA Okanagan: nice blend of BF and SS
wines, oak in back ground, but terrific with food. 14% ABV. +377770,
$19.95.
3. Wynn's Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2009: 13.5% ABV, juicy, good
oak-fruit balance, could improve. Food wine or sip, +468728, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Michel Delhommeau Cuvee Harmonie Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine 2009 Sur
Lie: minerals suggest fish, good price for tart food wine. +164624,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
5. Sols & Sens Cotes du Rhone-Villages Laudin 2009: 60% grenache blanc,
30% viognier, 10% rousanne. 13.5% ABV. Rich and ripe orchard fruit,
good weight. +223438, $13.95, QPR: 90.
6. Fillaboa Albarino 2009 Rias Baixas: orchard fruit plus tropicality
lading to a citric finish. Food wine. +214171, $15.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Rutherford Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa: delicious delivery
of black fruit, juicy and ripeness begins with the fabulous nose. 12.5%
ABV. +213777, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Elementos Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza: very much an
Argentine cabernet, MVC, 14% ABV. Value at this price level. +218974,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Jolien Schaal Syrah 2008 WO Elgin/Walker Bay South Africa: 13.5%
ABV, Euro-Rhone wine mode for syrah. +206581, $17.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages:
85% grenache, 10% mourvedre, 5% syrah, 14.5% ABV. Gold medalist,
action-value packed with fruit and grassiness. +224592, $13.95, QPR:
89.
5. Domaine Martin Cairanne 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages: unfiltered,
14% ABV, developing black fruit, dense body. +223461, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Tor del Colle Riserva Brindisi 2006: fruity, engaging, intense
vanilla, well-priced, 13% ABV. +211847, $12.95, QPR: 89.
7. Marchesi Torrigiani Torre de Ciardo 2006 IGT Toscana: delicious
Italianate flavours, some barn, chianti-style. 14% ABV. +212084,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Luigi Righetti Campolieti Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore
2008: Ripasso-of-the-month. +695890, $16.95, QPR: 89.
9. Dehesa Gago 2009 Toro: 14.5% ABV, heavy-heavy laden with flavours on
the back palate, long tannin finish, could lay down for a while.
+173120, $14.95, QPR: 89.
10. Vega Escal 2006 Priorat: full of flavours (smoke, black fruit, some
Rhone tones, long finish). 14.5% ABV. +210997, $18.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Rutherford Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa: delicious delivery
of black fruit, juicy and ripeness begins with the fabulous nose. 12.5%
ABV. +213777, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Elementos Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza: very much an
Argentine cabernet, MVC, 14% ABV. Value at this price level. +218974,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Jolien Schaal Syrah 2008 WO Elgin/Walker Bay South Africa: 13.5%
ABV, Euro-Rhone wine mode for syrah. +206581, $17.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages:
85% grenache, 10% mourvedre, 5% syrah, 14.5% ABV. Gold medalist,
action-value packed with fruit and grassiness. +224592, $13.95, QPR:
89.
5. Domaine Martin Cairanne 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages: unfiltered,
14% ABV, developing black fruit, dense body. +223461, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Tor del Colle Riserva Brindisi 2006: fruity, engaging, intense
vanilla, well-priced, 13% ABV. +211847, $12.95, QPR: 89.
7. Marchesi Torrigiani Torre de Ciardo 2006 IGT Toscana: delicious
Italianate flavours, some barn, chianti-style. 14% ABV. +212084,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Luigi Righetti Campolieti Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore
2008: Ripasso-of-the-month. +695890, $16.95, QPR: 89.
9. Dehesa Gago 2009 Toro: 14.5% ABV, heavy-heavy laden with flavours on
the back palate, long tannin finish, could lay down for a while.
+173120, $14.95, QPR: 89.
10. Vega Escal 2006 Priorat: full of flavours (smoke, black fruit, some
Rhone tones, long finish). 14.5% ABV. +210997, $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. Boony Doon Beeswax Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc 2008 Arroyo Seco Central
Coast, +95331, $29.95 retail.
2. Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2008 Santa Lucia Highlands
California, +958975, $34.95.
3. Truchard Chardonnay 2008 Carneros Napa, +60459, $34.95.
4. Henry Darnat Puligny-Montrachet 2007, +21080, $49.95.
5. Vincent Girardin Les Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2008, +207894,
$24.95.
6. Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2009, +247411,
$43.95.
7. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Sonoma County, +226944,
$22.95.
8. Norton Privada 2007 Mendoza, +148155, $21.95.
9. Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz 2007 South Australia, +309625,
$37.95.
10. Chateau Cherchy-Desqueyroux 2005 Graves, +125518, $21.95.
11. Massucco Barbaresco 2006, +214528, $27.95.
12. Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino 2004, +660746, $49.95.
13. Lar de Paula Reserva 2004 Rioja, +208207, $21.95.
Coast, +95331, $29.95 retail.
2. Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2008 Santa Lucia Highlands
California, +958975, $34.95.
3. Truchard Chardonnay 2008 Carneros Napa, +60459, $34.95.
4. Henry Darnat Puligny-Montrachet 2007, +21080, $49.95.
5. Vincent Girardin Les Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2008, +207894,
$24.95.
6. Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2009, +247411,
$43.95.
7. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Sonoma County, +226944,
$22.95.
8. Norton Privada 2007 Mendoza, +148155, $21.95.
9. Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz 2007 South Australia, +309625,
$37.95.
10. Chateau Cherchy-Desqueyroux 2005 Graves, +125518, $21.95.
11. Massucco Barbaresco 2006, +214528, $27.95.
12. Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino 2004, +660746, $49.95.
13. Lar de Paula Reserva 2004 Rioja, +208207, $21.95.
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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