WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 21, 2012
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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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
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1. Kunde Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Sonoma Valley: zesty,
citric, good savvy MVC, not your typical Californian sauv blanc. 13.8%
ABV. +67363, $18.95, QPR: 89.
2. Wolf Blass Premium Selection Chardonnay 2007 South Australia: rich,
ripe, unctuous, 13.5% ABV, twist top. +394908, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3. I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico 2009: rich melons, citric
finish, good lasting body. 12.5% ABV. +269969, $19.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Kunde Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Sonoma Valley: zesty,
citric, good savvy MVC, not your typical Californian sauv blanc. 13.8%
ABV. +67363, $18.95, QPR: 89.
2. Wolf Blass Premium Selection Chardonnay 2007 South Australia: rich,
ripe, unctuous, 13.5% ABV, twist top. +394908, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3. I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico 2009: rich melons, citric
finish, good lasting body. 12.5% ABV. +269969, $19.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. 13th Street Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara: loaded with flavour, no oak,
robust finish. 12.5% ABV. +270504, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Ridgepoint Merlot 2009 VQA Twenty Mile Bench: complex, chocolate,
good savoury finish. +270488, $17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 California: a good example
of a US restaurant-ready wine, 13.8% ABV, sip or with food. +38034,
$19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Concha y Toro Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Marchigue: delicious – it hits all the right and the high notes of
blackness (fruit, coffee, chocolate, fungi). At this price, buy it all.
No regrets, +256693, $14.95, QPR: 93.
5. Yabby Lake Cooralook Shiraz 2008 Heathcote Victoria: delicious
Rhonish complexity, affordable, 14.5% ABV. +262451, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Chateau de Treviac 2008 Corbieres: North American appeal, stylish
fruit of GSM-like, 14.5% ABV. With food or sip. +670505, $15.95, QPR:
89.
7. Spadina Una Viola Signature Syrah 2008 IGT Sicilia: god Rhonish
style wine, with North American fruit bomb appeal, 13.5% ABV. +17162,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Sassoregale Sangiovese 2009 IGT Maremma Toscana: tasty cherries,
baked aromas, jammy middle, to a savoured finish. 13.5% ABV. +251785,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas Castano Reserva Pozuelo 2006 Yecia: very good blend, mostly
monastrell, 13.5% ABV, nicely aged. Ripe and juicy, although tones of
the 30% of the international blended grapes seem to dominate. +35485,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
10. Ignacio Marin Old Vine Garnacha 2008 Carinena: old vines dominate
the jammy flavours, nicely oaked, underbrush and forest floor. Gold
medalist. 13% ABV. +214205, $15.95, QPR: 90.
11. Menhir Salento Primitivo di Manduria 2007 Puglia: juicy, North
American appeal, especially for zinfandel lovers. 15=4% ABV. +268086,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. 13th Street Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara: loaded with flavour, no oak,
robust finish. 12.5% ABV. +270504, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Ridgepoint Merlot 2009 VQA Twenty Mile Bench: complex, chocolate,
good savoury finish. +270488, $17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 California: a good example
of a US restaurant-ready wine, 13.8% ABV, sip or with food. +38034,
$19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Concha y Toro Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Marchigue: delicious – it hits all the right and the high notes of
blackness (fruit, coffee, chocolate, fungi). At this price, buy it all.
No regrets, +256693, $14.95, QPR: 93.
5. Yabby Lake Cooralook Shiraz 2008 Heathcote Victoria: delicious
Rhonish complexity, affordable, 14.5% ABV. +262451, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Chateau de Treviac 2008 Corbieres: North American appeal, stylish
fruit of GSM-like, 14.5% ABV. With food or sip. +670505, $15.95, QPR:
89.
7. Spadina Una Viola Signature Syrah 2008 IGT Sicilia: god Rhonish
style wine, with North American fruit bomb appeal, 13.5% ABV. +17162,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Sassoregale Sangiovese 2009 IGT Maremma Toscana: tasty cherries,
baked aromas, jammy middle, to a savoured finish. 13.5% ABV. +251785,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas Castano Reserva Pozuelo 2006 Yecia: very good blend, mostly
monastrell, 13.5% ABV, nicely aged. Ripe and juicy, although tones of
the 30% of the international blended grapes seem to dominate. +35485,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
10. Ignacio Marin Old Vine Garnacha 2008 Carinena: old vines dominate
the jammy flavours, nicely oaked, underbrush and forest floor. Gold
medalist. 13% ABV. +214205, $15.95, QPR: 90.
11. Menhir Salento Primitivo di Manduria 2007 Puglia: juicy, North
American appeal, especially for zinfandel lovers. 15=4% ABV. +268086,
$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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands,
+958975, $34.95 retail.
2. Faiveley Puligny Montrachet 2008, +241125, $51.95.
3. Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles 2009 Barossa, +723940, $29.95.
4. Chateau Le Castelot 2006 St. Emilion Grand Cru, +245472, $34.95.
5. Chateau Haut Selve Reserve 2006 Graves, +235424, $29.95.
6. Fontanafredda Reserva Barolo 2005, +967141, $49.95.
7. Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos 2009 Bierzo, +675207, $21.95.
8. Vina Herminia Reserva Tinto 2004 Rioja, +236927, $25.95.
+958975, $34.95 retail.
2. Faiveley Puligny Montrachet 2008, +241125, $51.95.
3. Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles 2009 Barossa, +723940, $29.95.
4. Chateau Le Castelot 2006 St. Emilion Grand Cru, +245472, $34.95.
5. Chateau Haut Selve Reserve 2006 Graves, +235424, $29.95.
6. Fontanafredda Reserva Barolo 2005, +967141, $49.95.
7. Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos 2009 Bierzo, +675207, $21.95.
8. Vina Herminia Reserva Tinto 2004 Rioja, +236927, $25.95.
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