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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 26, 2011

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 26, 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. Camino del Inca Torrontes 2010 Cafayate: aromatics plus, spicy
berries, twist top, hot finish at 13.5% ABV. +82404, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Momo Pinot Gris 2010 Marlborough: lively off-dry character,
concentrated flavours, delightful full finish, 14.5% ABV. +163535,
$18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Lucien Albrecht Reserve Gewurztraminer 2009 Alsace: delicious, full
and ripe with only slight bitterness on finish, 13.5% ABV. +926931,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
4. Amani Chardonnay 2009 WO Stellenbosch: good balance of orchard fruit
and wood (new oak), 14% ABV. +687442, $17.95, QPR: 90.
5. Kurt Darting Riesling Spatlese 2008 QmP Ungsteiner Harrenberg: rich
and still evolving, still developing. 10% ABV. +963207, $19.95, QPR:
89.
6. Istituto Agrario San Michelle All'Adige Pinot Grigio 2010 Trentino:
Midweight but concentrated flavours, 13% ABV. +249540, $18.95, QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Benmarco Malbec 2009 Mendoza: some value here with French and US oak
used, 14% ABV. Whopping big flavours, smoothed by some added bonarda.
+657601, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 115 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Palo Santo
Vineyard Rapel: terrific composition, very Euro in style and mode
(black fruit and smoke, underbrush). +30965, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Chateau Canteloup 2004 Medoc: rare to find an older simple Medoc. My
sample had been nicely matured, 13% ABV. Buy it all. +243923, $14.95,
QPR: 91.
4. Valiano Poggio Teo Chianti Classico 2006: low price, modest finish but
rich flavours on mid-palate, 13.5% ABV. Gold Medal. +250563,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Donzel Tinto Reserva 2005 Douro: ripe and voluptuous wine for North
American tastes. Juicy. 13% ABV. +244707, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Palacio de Sada Crianza 2006 Navarra: good fruit, mix of French and
US oak, over 40-year old vines, 13.5% ABV. Another wine with a great
price, to go. Maturing nicely. Snap it up. +246736, $14.95, QPR: 90.
7. Las Moras Black Label Bonarda 2008 San Juan Argentina: cherries and
underbrush dominate, new French oak for 18 months, roasted and toasted
flavours, 14% ABV. +260901, $15.95, QPR: 90.
8. Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2009:
50syrah/30grenache/20mourvedre ratio, plumy, shows garrigue, long
finish for food, 13.5% ABV. +155804, $16.95, QPR: 90.
9. Du Cropio Don Giuva Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2005: delicious
herbs and aging component, baking well. 13.5% ABV. +250829, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
10. Feudi San Pio Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2008: Ripasso of the
month, 14% ABV. +181446, $15.95, 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 Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2009 VQA Niagara Twenty
Mile Bench, +34561, $65 retail.
2. Kistler Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay 2009, +183921, $72.95
3. Scott Family Estate Dijon Clone Chardonnay 2010 Arroyo Seco
Monterey, +99051, $23.95.
4. Henschke Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz 2005 Eden Valley South
Australia, +718601, $99.95.
5. Domaine Louis Jadot Beaune Theurons 1er Cru 2006, +42838, $45.95
6. Gaja Dagromis Barolo 2005, +92742, $64.95
7. La Vite Lucente 2009 IGT Tuscany, +747030, $39.95
8. Quintarelli Rosso Ca' del Merlo 2002 IGT Veneto, +958595, $84.95
9. Domaine Vincent Delaporte Chavignol Sancerre 2010, +251488, $23.95.
10. Milbrandt The Estates Syrah 2007 Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley,
+242487, $29.95.
11. Kim Crawford Small Parcel Corner 50 Merlot 2008 Hawkes Bay North
Island, +252320, $29.95.
12. Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2005, +922054, $41.95.
13. Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +976670, $29.95. 
 

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