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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR OCTOBER 1, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR OCTOBER 1, 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 normally available
for re-tasting from another bottle.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinto Gris 2009 Four Mile Creek
Niagara: succulent and rich, 12.5% ABV, twist top, good finish.
+116582, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Cicchitti Torrontes 2010 Mendoza: another best value aromatic
Argentine wine, useful if there is a heat wave in October. 13% ABV,
succulence. +243204, $11.95, QPR: 89.
3. Valdivieso Reserva Chardonnay 2010 Leyda Valley: balanced wood
flavours after nine months in French oak barrels, lovely chardonnay
charmer, smooth despite 14% ABV. +981621, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough: good lingering
complexity, full of body and elegance. 14% ABV. +9142, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5. Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris 2008 East Coast NZ: ripe and
richer tones, more succulence., 13.5% ABV. +727255, $13.95, QPR: 90.
6. Dourthe La Grande Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Bordeaux: not an
intense savvy but a useful representation of white Bordeaux at its
finest. Crisp finish. +159640, $14.95, QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Perez Cruz Limited Edition Syrah 2009 Maipo: a major Rhone-type
blockbuster, 14.5% ABV, lots of spices and earth. +589812, $19.95, QPR:
89.
2. Domaine Les Yeuses Les Epices Syrah 2008 Vin de Pays d'Oc: an even
better wine, delicious Rhone MVC, yet some aromatics too. +177584,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Central Coast: juicy, traditional MVC
for California cab mainly from Monterey. 14.5% ABV. +57877, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Lamadrid Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Mendoza: great cab
presence, MVC, cassis all round, 13.7% ABV. +234518, $13.95, QPR: 89.
5. Zolo Malbec 2010 Mendoza: delivers value MVC for Argentine Malbec,
useful at Fall BBQs, 13.8% ABV. +183905, $12.95, QPR: 89.
6. Hickinbotham Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 South Australia:
unfiltered, 14.5% ABV, thick, unctuous deep red wine full of flavours.
+159632, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Wild Rock Gravel Pit Red 2008 Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Nay: great
tasting blend of merlot, malbec and cab franc, 14% ABV, twist top.
+163600, $17.95, QPR: 89.
8. Remo Farina Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2009: not the 2008 as
stated in the Vintages catalogue, so it is not as well-aged. At 13.5% ABV, it's the
"Ripasso of the Month" at the LCBO. +999946, $16.95, 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.
 
1. Le Clos Jordanne Talon Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 Vinemount
Ridge Niagara, +143974, $40 retail.
2. Yalumba FDW 7C Chardonnay 2008 Adelaide Hills, +244384, $23.95.
3. Domaine Les Vieux Murs Poully-Fuisse 2008, +241117, $23.95.
4. Henri Bourgeois La Porte du Caillou Sancerre 2009, +244806, $23.95.
5.Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2005, +579094, $38.95
6. Wolf Blass Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Coonawarra, +606939,
$27.95.
7. E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2007, +704908, $24.95 retail.
8. Rosehall Run Cold Creek Cabernet Franc 2008 Prince Edward County,
+149039, $22.95.
9. Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +246900, $46.95.
10. Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir 2008 Carneros Napa, +438697, $29.95.
11. Chateau Moulin de Sales 2003 Lalande de Pomerol, +245845, $29.95.

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