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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 12, 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. Rutherford Ranch Chardonnay 2009 Napa: restaurant-ready wine,
balanced, lots of fruit, lightly wooded cream-like texture. +136382,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Kuhlmann Platz Pinot Gris 2008 Alsace: rich, ripe, yet dry finish,
Concentrated flavours on the mid-palpate, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 90.
3. Casa del Bosque Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Casablanca: good MVC,
intense character but modest body. 12.5% ABV. +974717m $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc 2009 WO Western Cape: tasty, dry chenin
like savvy but bellowed by some BF wine. 13.5% ABV, +739995, $14.95,
QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Chateau Lafon Cuvee Classic 2006 Listrac: juicy, new style but some
mushrooms too. 12.5%, good value (already 5 years old). +165399,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
2. Sampietrana Vigna delle Monache Riserva Salice Salentino 2006:
delivers the delicious goods, very North American appeal for a fat,
fleshy, fruity wine. 13.5% ABV. +247908, $15.94, QPR: 90.
3. Bod. I Marin Duque de Medina Gran Reserva 2000 DO Carinena: great
maturing complexity in this decade old wine, 12.5% ABV, black fruit and
wood. +148494, $18.95, QPR: 90.
4. Vina Requingua Toro de Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008
Curico: delicious cabby feel, black all the way, long rich finish. 14%
ABV. +39362, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Henry's Drive Pillar Box Red 2008 Padthaway: despite 14.5% ABV, a
modest finish, but still a decent Oz shiraz. +685941, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Chateau La Cheze 2005 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux: basic MVC for a
six year old Bordeaux, enjoyable. +244038, $18.95, QPR: 89.
7. Villa Girardi Bure Alto Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore
2009: Ripasso of the month at the LCBO, 13.5% ABV. +161844, $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.
 
1. Hidden Bench Chardonnay 2009 Beamsville Bench Niagara, +68817, $32
retail.
2. Closson Chase Beamsville Bench Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, +230904,
$39.95
3. Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2009 Twenty Mile Bench
Niagara, +33936, $30.
4. Domaines Schlumberger Kessler Riesling 2007 Alsace Grand Cru,
+61176, $25.95
5. Maison Roche de Bellene Vieilles Vignes Chassagne-Montrachet 2008,
+241158, $49.95
6. Flat Rock Gravity Pinot Noir 2009 Twenty Mile Bench Niagara, +1560,
$29.95
7. Unum Wine Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa, +236075,
$34.95.
8. Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2008, +47639, $28.95
9. Two Hands Zippy's Block Single Vineyard Shiraz 2008 Barossa, +89516,
$59.
10. Chateau Beau-Site 2004 Saint-Estephe, +967844, $37.95.
11. Chateau Le Caillou 1998 Pomerol, +45682, $49.95.
12. Rene Bouvier La Justice Gevrey-Chambertin 2008, +241075, $44.95.
13. Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, +650754,
$27.95.
14. Ruffino Modus 2007 IGT Toscana, +912956, $28.95.
15. Senior de P. Pecina Reserva 2001, +82156, $29.95.
 
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

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