WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 3, 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 Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. 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 a re-tasting.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. 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 a re-tasting.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Stoney Ridge Warren Classic Chardonnay 2009 VQA Niagara: generous
spicy tones, dried fruit, balanced tropicality. 13% ABV. +224113,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Arboleda Chardonnay 2010 Aconcagua Costa: Midweight Euro style,
balanced, MVC character, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +606772, $15.95, QPR:
89.
3. Yalumba The Y Series Viognier 2011 South Australia: delicious floral
and apricots, aperitif or first course wine, twist top, 13.5% ABV.
+624502, $15.95, QPR: 89.
4. Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough: a tasty savvy with NZ
MVC. +734095, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Peron Blanc 2009 Graves: excellent price and value for a
white Graves, less minerally extracted than expected, needs a fish
course, 12% ABV. +26126, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chereau-Carre La Griffe Bernard Chereau Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2010
Sur Lie: bright, orchard fruit, minerals, long length for food. Needs
bivalves, +948182, $14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Sartori di Verona Marani Bianco 2009 IGT Veneto: nicely
concentrated, with partial BF and all lees aging. 13.5% ABV. +265405,
$16.95, PR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Stoney Ridge Warren Classic Chardonnay 2009 VQA Niagara: generous
spicy tones, dried fruit, balanced tropicality. 13% ABV. +224113,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Arboleda Chardonnay 2010 Aconcagua Costa: Midweight Euro style,
balanced, MVC character, twist top, 13.5% ABV. +606772, $15.95, QPR:
89.
3. Yalumba The Y Series Viognier 2011 South Australia: delicious floral
and apricots, aperitif or first course wine, twist top, 13.5% ABV.
+624502, $15.95, QPR: 89.
4. Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough: a tasty savvy with NZ
MVC. +734095, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Peron Blanc 2009 Graves: excellent price and value for a
white Graves, less minerally extracted than expected, needs a fish
course, 12% ABV. +26126, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chereau-Carre La Griffe Bernard Chereau Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2010
Sur Lie: bright, orchard fruit, minerals, long length for food. Needs
bivalves, +948182, $14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Sartori di Verona Marani Bianco 2009 IGT Veneto: nicely
concentrated, with partial BF and all lees aging. 13.5% ABV. +265405,
$16.95, PR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin Zinfandel 2010 Lodi: juicy and delectable,
good ol' brambleberry character, 14.5% ABV. Old vines' power. +678698,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
2. The Watcher Shiraz 2008 Barossa: dense and chunky, must decant
first. 14.5% ABV. +219196, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau de Parenchere 2009 Bordeaux Superiore: North American appeal
in softness and fruit, 14% ABV. For what it is, it needed a twist top,
not a cork. +268698, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine La Montagnette Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2009: good
syrah component, 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist, ready soon. +235002, $13.95,
QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Brie Prestige 2009 Bergerac: another good value wine,
using the same varieties as its neighbour north of it (Bordeaux),
slightly higher acid, 13.5% ABV. Go all the way and have it with a
brie! Gold Medalist. +61994, $13.5, QPR: 90.
6. Casa Emma Chianti Classico 2009: if Jane Austen was in Tuscany with
other Brits…MVC, ready now, 14% ABV, affordable. +56952, $18.95, QPR:
89.
7. Storia Antica Ripasso Valpolicella 2009: Vintages' "ripasso of the
month". +273672, $15, QPR: 89.
8. Ciconia Vinho Tinto 2010 VR Alentejano: needs some time to open up,
but all the juicy components are there. +266742, $15.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin Zinfandel 2010 Lodi: juicy and delectable,
good ol' brambleberry character, 14.5% ABV. Old vines' power. +678698,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
2. The Watcher Shiraz 2008 Barossa: dense and chunky, must decant
first. 14.5% ABV. +219196, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau de Parenchere 2009 Bordeaux Superiore: North American appeal
in softness and fruit, 14% ABV. For what it is, it needed a twist top,
not a cork. +268698, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine La Montagnette Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2009: good
syrah component, 14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist, ready soon. +235002, $13.95,
QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Brie Prestige 2009 Bergerac: another good value wine,
using the same varieties as its neighbour north of it (Bordeaux),
slightly higher acid, 13.5% ABV. Go all the way and have it with a
brie! Gold Medalist. +61994, $13.5, QPR: 90.
6. Casa Emma Chianti Classico 2009: if Jane Austen was in Tuscany with
other Brits…MVC, ready now, 14% ABV, affordable. +56952, $18.95, QPR:
89.
7. Storia Antica Ripasso Valpolicella 2009: Vintages' "ripasso of the
month". +273672, $15, QPR: 89.
8. Ciconia Vinho Tinto 2010 VR Alentejano: needs some time to open up,
but all the juicy components are there. +266742, $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. Hartford Court Four Hearts Vineyards Chardonnay 2009 Russian River
Valley, +95919, $47.95 retail.
2. Seresin Chardonnay 2008 Marlborough, +19190, $24.95.
3. La Chablisienne Montmains Chablis 1er Cru 2009, +265090, $24.95.
4. Paul Garaudet Vieille Vignes Meursault 2009, +26563, $47.95.
5. Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2010, +264945, $24.95.
6. Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Alexander Valley, +146878, $39.95.
7. Paraduxx 2008 Napa, +919662, $54.95.
8. Chateau La Fleur d'Arthus 2008 St. Emilion, +251702, $37.95.
9. Domaine Poulleau Pere & Fils Oak Aged Volnay 2009, +265025, $39.95.
10. Angelini San Leonino Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, +232413,
$25.95.
Valley, +95919, $47.95 retail.
2. Seresin Chardonnay 2008 Marlborough, +19190, $24.95.
3. La Chablisienne Montmains Chablis 1er Cru 2009, +265090, $24.95.
4. Paul Garaudet Vieille Vignes Meursault 2009, +26563, $47.95.
5. Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2010, +264945, $24.95.
6. Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Alexander Valley, +146878, $39.95.
7. Paraduxx 2008 Napa, +919662, $54.95.
8. Chateau La Fleur d'Arthus 2008 St. Emilion, +251702, $37.95.
9. Domaine Poulleau Pere & Fils Oak Aged Volnay 2009, +265025, $39.95.
10. Angelini San Leonino Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, +232413,
$25.95.
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