Sep 3/11 LCBO Vintages release: some notes

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 3, 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.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Inniskillin Barrel Aged Pinot Gris 2009 VQA Niagara: bold flavours,
concentrated body and textures, long finish. Creamy from BA but not
toasty. 14% ABV. +177766, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Napa Ridge Chardonnay 2009 Napa: a restaurant wine, good MVC
intensity for a Cali chard. +213678, 89, $18.95.
3. Sebastiani Chardonnay 2008 Sonoma: a restaurant wine, good MVC
intensity for a Cali chard. +30791, $17.95, QPR: 89.
4. Zolo Torrontes 2010 Mendoza: dryish mode, food or sip, summer wine.
+183913, $12.95, QPR: 89.
5. Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Casablanca: good value for
a MVC savvy, 13% ABV. +211904, $12.95, QPR: 89.
6. Seresin Momo Chardonnay 2009 Marlborough: lightly toasted for a
different taste, 14% ABV, affordable. +247247, $18.95, QPR: 89.
7. Les Fosses d'Hareng Vouvray 2008: off-dry complexity is revealed,
great for summer and chenin blanc lovers. Gold Medal winner. +224287,
$17.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Cline Ancient Vines Carignane 2009 Contra Costa County: plums,
chocolates, cloves – back to school!! 14.5% ABV +32177, $19.95, QPR:
89.
2. Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa: a restaurant-ready
wine, MVC cab from Napa, 13.5% ABV. +73817, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. St. Supery Merlot 2007 Napa: delicious, fruit-driven, off-dry on
mid-palate, milk chocolate too (not mocha), 14.5% ABV. Great value for
a good merlot. +398214, $18.95, QPR: 91.
4. Chemin de Terre 2006 Oregon: a field blend type of wine (seven
varieties), 13.5% ABV. +234724, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Tierra Alta Reserva Carmenere 2007 Maule: good value, substantial
fruit upfront, some herbaceousness like a cab franc. 14% ABV. +236067,
$13.95, QPR: 90.
6. Gotham Shiraz 2009 Langhorne Creek South Australia: juicy with
terrific Oz shiraz MVC. Twist top. $14.5% ABV. +243048, $18.95, QPR:
89.
7. Maison Roche de Bellene Cotes du Nuits-Villages 2009 Vieilles
Vignes: candied, off-dry on the mid-palate, but very decent value.
13.5% ABV. Affordable pinot noir. +240473, $19.95, QPR: 89.
8. Tocchi Sagrantino di Montfalco 2004 Tuscany: blueberry assault but
aging well, with depth and full expression of the grape. Needs food.
14.5% ABV. +174664, $19.95, 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.

 

1. Benziger Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 Carneros, +172205,
$28.95 retail.
2. Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007 Napa, +45906, $44.95.
3. Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2006 Barossa,
+528356, $51.95.
4. Lammershoek Roulette 2006 WO Swartland SA, +58164, $25.95.
5. Rust en Vrede Estate Red 2007 WO Stellenbosch SA, +997742, $37.95.
6. Corte Majoli Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007, +81943, $33.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com